The MNO Youth Council received a special gift from the
MNO Veterans’ Council at the 2018 MNO AGA in
Peterborough. Pictured are MNO Veterans’ Council
President Joseph Paquette, Region 2 Youth Council
Representative Paul Robitaille, MNO Youth Council
President Mitch Case, Region 1 Youth Representative
Kelly Duquette, Region 4 Youth Representative Taylor
McNally, Region 6 Youth Representative Aly Dusome,
Region 7 Youth Representative Jordyn Playne and MNO
Veterans’ Council Senator Guy Mandeville C.D.

Submitted by Greg Garratt, MNO Veterans’ Council Secretary/Treasurer

When Irene Robitaille, a Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizen from Penetanguishene, was visiting a friend in the hospital, the patient in the next bed was cold, so she set out to find a blanket.

Even with the extra blanket, the man, whom she learned was a veteran, was still cold.  On her next visit to the hospital, she gave him a fleece honour blanket that she had made.

He was so grateful that she thought of Métis veterans and was inspired to make 30 more for the MNO Veterans’ Council to present to Métis veterans to honour their contributions.

One of those blankets was presented to the MNO Youth Council by the MNO Veterans’ Council at the MNO Annual General Assembly in Peterborough.

The MNO Veterans’ Council puts great energy into supporting the development of Métis youth, educating them on Canadian Forces careers and keeping the torch of remembrance burning.

The blanket is a symbol of the support and guidance the MNO Veterans’ Council provides Métis youth and the blanket will honour Métis youth who choose to serve in the Canadian Forces.

The special gift has sparked the idea for a province wide beading project, which is still being developed.

“We'll be asking Métis youth from across the province to bead and then send us a flower of any shape, size, pattern or colours,” said Region 2 Youth Representative Paul Robitaille in an email. “We are also encouraging them to tell us why that flower/pattern is meaningful to them. From there, the MNO Youth Council will arrange and sew the flowers onto the blanket and then connect them using beadwork to form one cohesive piece.

“Essentially it will become a province-wide Metis youth collaborative art project.”

Posted: Sept. 21, 2018

CHANGE OF COMMAND PARADE

On the 26TH June 2018 at 1030 hours, the Canadian Forces Postal Unit, CFB Trenton held a Change of Command parade at Baker Island, 47 Island Park Drive, Trenton ON.    Guests were seated by 1020 hours.   The ceremony was presided by the Commander of the Canadian Forces Joint Operational Support Group, Colonel Carla Harding, CD.   Major Jane Ann Swim, CD will relinquish command of the unit to Major Pauline Hancock, CD.    The Change of Command was followed by a reception.

Metis Nation of Ontario Veterans Council Senator Guy Mandeville, CD was an invited guest to witness the Change of Command between Major Swim and Major Hancock.    Senator Guy Mandeville has been an avid supporter of the  Canadian Forces Postal Unit at CFB Trenton and since his retirement from the Canadian Forces has worked in many roles within the CF Postal Unit doing jobs such Postal Museum curator, historian etc.

Submitted by: MNOVC Senator Guy Mandeville, CD

WOMEN IN THE SHADOWS

The Grand River Metis Council in conjunction with the Kitchener/Waterloo Region Museum at 10 Huron Rd, Kitchener, Ontario on the 18th June 2018 viewed the film “Women in the Shadows” a 1991, 55 minutes National Film Board (NFB) film directed by Norma Bailey and written and filmed by Christine Welsh to “Reconcile with her Metis Past”.

Filmed on location in Saskatchewan from the Qu’Appelle Valley to Hudson Bay, the documentary traces the filmmaker’s quest for her Native foremothers in spite of the reluctance to speak about Native roots on the part of her relatives.   The film articulates Metis women’s experience with racism in both current and historical context, and examines the forces that pushed them into the shadows.

After the viewing, David Neufeld, Education Coordinator at the Waterloo Region Museum held a panel discussion with question from the audience.  The panel consisted of Grand River Council President Jennifer Parkinson, Councillor Diane Kilby and MNO Veterans Council Senator Guy Mandeville.    The evening was very enjoyable with many questions being asked and replied.   The audience found it very insightful and many did not the realize that the Metis hid their identity for fear of being branded traitors to Canada since the  Northwest Rebellion of 1885.   The Metis coming of age arrived with the repatriation of Canada’s Constitution in 1982.   We are still struggling with Provincial and Federal Governments for real recognition/reconciallation.

This film even though made in 1991 is still relevant today and should be viewed by all Metis as it is an eye opener and will bring to the forefront why some of our parents would not confide in their children their ancestry.     All Metis present expressed their pride in the Metis Nation and thanked the Kitchener Museum for their support in the National Indigenous Week presentations.

Submitted By: Guy Mandeville CD, MNOVC Senator

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 28;
• Millbrook, Nova Scotia, on May 28;
• Indian Brook, Nova Scotia, on May 28;
• The Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken, Ontario, on May 29;
• Beauval, Saskatchewan, on May 30; and
• Victoria, British Columbia, on May 31.

• Support offered to Indigenous veterans by their communities during the transition process;
• Quality of services offered to Indigenous veterans by Veterans Affairs Canada;
• Specific needs of Indigenous veterans living in remote areas;
• Specific issues affecting:

• 
  
  • First Nations veterans (on- and off-reserve);
  • Métis veterans;
  • Inuit veterans;
  • Modern-day Indigenous veterans; and
  • Indigenous reservists.

• Treatment of Indigenous veterans who served in the Second World War and the Korean War;
• Issues concerning veterans who served with the Canadian Rangers; and
• Services offered to Indigenous veterans who served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Metis Flower Decals .....................only $5.00 each.

contact : [email protected]

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