MNR and UCCM
MANITOULIN – Improved communications between the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) was the main focus of a meeting held by the two parties recently.
Ken Gibbons, Espanola area MNR supervisor with the MNR said the meeting was similar to one held in February with Game and Fish Clubs around Manitoulin, looking at how to improve communications. �The UCCM representatives brought up their concerns with cormorant controls, and they along with the Fish and Game Clubs are very interested in seeing something done to control them,� said Gibbons.
�What we plan to do is sit down together at future meetings and develop a list of items that can be discussed at local levels,� said Gibbons. Other issues such as treaty rights and land claims will have to be discussed with higher levels of government, he said.
Another meeting will be held in the near future between the MNR district manager and Martin Bayer, Tribal Chairman of the UCCM to discuss what can be discussed and looked into at the local level, said Gibbons. Bayer was unable to be reached for comment on the recent meeting with the MNR, prior to press deadline.
Marriage – A Fine Art
Kelly Enns
As the wedding season approaches and in celebration of our beautiful wedding section dedicated to all who are planning their special day, we offer our sincerest of congratulations! Marriage is a serious matter and should never be taken lightly. In fact, what could present more of a challenge than to take two completely different people, put them into one house and expect them to live happily ever after? If we spend a few moments looking around at the number of people who have managed to spend half a lifetime together we are encouraged that with love, trust and respect marriage can be successful.
There are many ingredients that go into a successful marriage, The obvious and most important one is LOVE, of course. Love… what hasn�t been said, sung or written about this word? You just know when it hits you. Don�t you remember that sharp pain in your tush when cupid shot you with that arrow? Ouch!
Trust… this is a very important part of any relationship. The trick here is to keep the trust in your marriage. You know, like �Honey, I trust you�ve taken out the garbage,� or �Dear, I trust you haven�t spent the rent money at the mall.�
Respect… If you don�t have your mate�s respect, this can present a huge problem. Your spouse has to respect you every morning, no matter how scary the bed head or how nasty the morning breath (this part may also require a great deal of courage).
I suppose that a successful marriage is like an egg. Strong, yet delicate, so you handle with care. While no marriage is perfect, you need love, trust, and respect to have a good marriage. At least those, to me, are three very important ingredients to bind a couple for life!
REMEMBER: “Getting married is easy. Staying married is more difficult. Staying happily married for a lifetime should rank among the fine arts.” – ROBERTA FLACK
Business Beat
Rita Gordon
Many thanks to those that called to let me know they missed my column in the last two issues of The Recorder. Unfortunately, I was one of the lucky ones that came down with the horrendous flu that has been going around this winter and because I very rarely get sick, this one really put me under the weather! It also likes to hang around – pray you don�t get it!
Well, this will be my third attempt to get the toll-free number of the Chamber correctly printed in this column. It is 1-800-698-6681. Sorry! Speaking of the Chamber, there was a good turnout at the network meeting held this past Thursday at the Shaftsbury Inn in Little Current. Resumes for the millennium co-ordinator position with the Chamber are currently being accepted and can be mailed to Elinor Dee at the Gore Bay office.
Don�t forget to complete and mail out the questionnaire sent out by M.P.P. Mike Brown a few weeks ago. Also, take the time to read the millennium bug guide that was mailed out by the government of Canada. It will be of definite interest to all those in business and is a very informative piece of information. If you wish to speak to local experts, contact Dylon Whyte of Gore Bay.
Ron�s Bookkeeping in Little Current, Rainbow Accounting, Barnes and Barnes, Joan Sheppard in Mindemoya, and Harasym Tax & Bookkeeping in Manitowaning are some of the places on the Island that will complete tax returns. It�s that time of year again, and all will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Manitoulin Telephone (also known as Amtelecom Group Inc.) customers can pick up their phone books at Buie�s General Store in Spring Bay, the post office in West Bay, Carl�s Trading Post in South Baymouth, Ham�s Marine in Manitowaning, the post office in Wikwemikong, Calvin Pearson�s residence in Providence Bay, the municipal building in Tehkummah and at Manitoulin Telephone�s office in Mindemoya.
Rita Gordon�s business column appears Wednesdays in The Manitoulin Recorder. If you have business news of interest to Manitoulin Island and area, write her c/o Gordon�s Park, Hwy. 6, Tehkummah, Ontario P0P 2C0, fax her at (705) 859-2470, or email at [email protected].
Chiefs to get Input on Use of Casino Profits
Tom Sasvari
MANITOULIN – After an agreement was reached last December on a formula being used to divide revenues from Casino Rama, it was decided that community input will enter into decisions being made by the members of the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Island as to how Casino Rama profits will be used in their communities.
The negotiations on this formula has meant that First Nations are closer to having control over $220 million in net profits which the casino has already generated. An article in the March issue of Anishinabek News points out that it has been in trust with the Ontario Casino Corporation, earning low interest for the last two years.
The amounts coming to UCCM communities at the end of March include: Ojibways of Sucker Creek – $600,000, Sheguiandah – $470,000, Sheshegwaning – $530,000, M�Chigeeng – $1,130,000, Wauwauskinga (Whitefish Falls First Nation) – $770,000, and Zhiibaahaasing – $660,000.
During March, the Chiefs of Ontario will be negotiating a final agreement with the province and if negotiations go well, the First Nations will then receive this money and can decide where and how to spend it. M�Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare said in the Anishinabek News article that he feels it should not be a band council which makes the decision on where the money is to be spent. Community meetings will be held for public input before hand.
Sheguiandah Chief Richard Shawanda reiterated that his band council wants to get community input on how to spend the money; however, he noted that he would like to see it used for things which the government doesn�t already provide for, such as purchasing more land for the community.
Wauwauskinga Chief Leona Nahwegahbow said that no plans have been made yet on how they are going to spend their portion of money, although she pointed out that the money should go toward investments in the community.
Zhiibaahaasing Chief Irene Kells said the money will be used to make improvements in the community, and she will also be asking band members for input on where the money can best be spent.
In Sheshegwaning, Chief Albert Cada indicated that, for spending monies it receives, the priority should be on things which help the community grow. As well, the community could look at a recreation facility with an indoor rink for the band.
Sucker Creek Chief Diane Abotossaway said, in the Anishinabek News story, that her council will wait until all the chiefs meet later in March before making any decisions on where their monies will be directed.
Since opening, Casino Rama has been very popular and it is expected that about $100 million will be generated on a yearly basis for the Anishinabek First Nations
Farmer’s Beat
Manitoulin News and Views
Brian Bell
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A beef expansion project is in the works. This submission to NOHFC will consider eligible capital improvements to beef operations in the Manitoulin region. A working committee is in the process of writing up the Phase 1 proposal, so anyone interested should contact the Ag. Office as soon as possible. This project entails an increase in whole farm income over an evaluation period. For eligibility, timeline and specific questions, contact the Office for a copy of the project details.
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Remember the 33rd annual northeastern agricultural conference and trade show. This will be held April 9 and 10 at the NLARS in New Liskeard. For more information call 705-647-8525, extension 222 or 1-800-461-8750.
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Seed corn orders will soon be placed for this season�s crop. While we experienced an incredible growing season in 1998, with ample heat units for later maturing corn, common sense should prevail when deciding on the maturity of the hybrids. Consider the historical heat unit rating for the region.
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Farm Safety Week is March 10-17. �Springtime should be safety time on the farm�. Contact the farm Safety Association at 1-800-361-8855 or check out their website at
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Courses! For those who attended the beef health management sessions #1 and #2, please mark your calendars for the hands-on session, slated for Saturday, April 17. Please note this is a change from Saturday, April 10.
MSS Students to Display Art at Sudbury Gallery
Neil Zacharjewicz
M�CHIGEENG – Budding artists at Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) are being given an opportunity to display their works. Three students from the high school have had work accepted for a show at the Art Gallery of Sudbury, following a juried competition of students from across the Rainbow District School Board.
According to art instructor Patty Johnstone, four works were chosen for the show. Marcus Mohr’s pastel featuring a man icefishing has been accepted, as well as his acrylic painting of a cardinal in winter. A pastel landscape by Erin Gordon will be presented, as will a native stylized eagle painting by David Oshkabewisens.
Johnstone indicated that Bob Little, an art teacher at Lockerby Composite School, is arranging the show. Every year he performs this function for students of the board. Now that MSS has been included in the Rainbow District School Board, it is eligible to contribute works as well. This year�s show is entitled �Emergence 1999,� and it runs from March 25 to April 18.
In addition to the four juried works, the school was asked to submit five other two-dimensional works, and five three-dimensional works. Already selected were four ceramic pots by Mohr, Oshkabewisens, Mel Stevens and Lesley Mayhew. A pencil drawing and an acrylic painting of goalies by Shane Wesolowski, a work by Rebecca Smith entitled �Woman On the Rocks,� and a piece by Medeine Trebinevicius will also grace the show.
This is one of the many new opportunities open to the art students at the school, Johnstone said. The school was commissioned to supply 27 ceramic bowls for the Taxation Centre in Sudbury. In fact, the program has been so successful for the Taxation Centre, similar facilities in other communities are looking at using the idea. MSS students also had an opportunity to show their work when Johnstone accompanied several of their masks to the International Women�s Day celebration, held on March 6 in Sucker Creek.