I really like that Patrick Madahbee talks about moving forward in a positive way and working with Rama, part of the Anishnabek Nation Family. Do you think this means we will 're-join' the Union of Ontario Indians and take up the fight against the HST now that the 35% case has been lost? What are your thoughts?
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/business/82704662.html
A community member perspective...
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
An open letter/E-mail to Chief and Council
Chief Stinson Henry & Members of Council;
Is this your convoluted idea of accountability?
Laughable.
Less than 24 hours notice for a community invitation?
Give me a break.
Have another open forum community meeting before the budgets are due.
Then you might be able to call yourselves accountable.
And I challenge all the councilors to speak up and voice your opinions.
And try not sitting together like you need each other to hide behind.
Try sitting amongst the people instead of together at the front of the room.
Enough of the arrogance.
Shawna L. Snache
shawnas@csolve.net
705.326.3213
705.238.3298 cell
Is this your convoluted idea of accountability?
Laughable.
Less than 24 hours notice for a community invitation?
Give me a break.
Have another open forum community meeting before the budgets are due.
Then you might be able to call yourselves accountable.
And I challenge all the councilors to speak up and voice your opinions.
And try not sitting together like you need each other to hide behind.
Try sitting amongst the people instead of together at the front of the room.
Enough of the arrogance.
Shawna L. Snache
shawnas@csolve.net
705.326.3213
705.238.3298 cell
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
http://www.nfb.ca/film/encounter_with_saul_alinsky?_fb_q=1
Who are the participants in this video? It's pretty damn awesome and enlightening~!!
Who are the participants in this video? It's pretty damn awesome and enlightening~!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Borrowed from another First Nation....An achievable dream
OUR VISION
To be an economic, independent, self-sustaining, self-governing First Nation where all Members share a strong cultural identity based on a profound understanding of who we are and on a clear sense of connection with our cultural origins. A community that lives in peace with all of creation, maintains a healthy balance between the individual and collective needs, and works productively with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, based on a sense of mutual respect and equality. Where Members rightfully come together and virtuously establish a strong sense of self-esteem, respect for each other and who work together for the well being of all. A First Nation in which the youth have a positive future and the Elders hand over a strong and thriving community to the next generation.
To be an economic, independent, self-sustaining, self-governing First Nation where all Members share a strong cultural identity based on a profound understanding of who we are and on a clear sense of connection with our cultural origins. A community that lives in peace with all of creation, maintains a healthy balance between the individual and collective needs, and works productively with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, based on a sense of mutual respect and equality. Where Members rightfully come together and virtuously establish a strong sense of self-esteem, respect for each other and who work together for the well being of all. A First Nation in which the youth have a positive future and the Elders hand over a strong and thriving community to the next generation.
The numbers don't lie......
as of 1:35 this afternoon, the number of 'hits' recieved is at 1044. just to note, the counter does not count the same computer twice, so you can check the blog 100 times from the same computer and the counter only counts it once. So that's 1044 different and separate computers (or pairs of eyes) that have read our blog.
i am noting this to be courteous of cathy edney and chief and council so that they understand what the numbers mean.
we understand that community members no longer wish to be outspoken about the issues on other forms of social networking like the facebook group and that's fine. we understand that you are aware that facebook is monitored nowadays, by communications and chief and council. we get that. if i had a job to protect i would be hesitant as well but we need to start moving away from that culture of fear and intimidation. anyone can comment on this blog anytime and choose to remain anonymous. or if there's a particular thread you'd like us to talk about e-mail thegroupforaaf@gmail.com and we WILL respect your privacy. we want to educate our members and allow them a freedom of speech they don't currently enjoy as a band employee or member. we are not against chief and council. we are not ANTI anybody. we simply want to see the fairness that we all deserve in this community.
peace out.
i am noting this to be courteous of cathy edney and chief and council so that they understand what the numbers mean.
we understand that community members no longer wish to be outspoken about the issues on other forms of social networking like the facebook group and that's fine. we understand that you are aware that facebook is monitored nowadays, by communications and chief and council. we get that. if i had a job to protect i would be hesitant as well but we need to start moving away from that culture of fear and intimidation. anyone can comment on this blog anytime and choose to remain anonymous. or if there's a particular thread you'd like us to talk about e-mail thegroupforaaf@gmail.com and we WILL respect your privacy. we want to educate our members and allow them a freedom of speech they don't currently enjoy as a band employee or member. we are not against chief and council. we are not ANTI anybody. we simply want to see the fairness that we all deserve in this community.
peace out.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
From the Ten Year Community Visioning...
- Leadership
- Community Dynamics
- General Growth
Letter to the Editor
click the link to the the Letter to the Editor in Thursdays Packet from band member Shawna Snache.
click the link to the the Letter to the Editor in Thursdays Packet from band member Shawna Snache.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Welcome 2010
2009 Saw the Group for Accountability and concerned community members achieve alot. The Group sent a letter to the editor of the Packet & Times which brought APTN to the community in June where they did a bit of an expose piece on the corruption of power and politics in the community. This momentum allowed us to put pressure on Chief and Council and an open community meeting was held in June. The turn out was good and members were given the opportunity to tell Chief and Council how they felt about the issues. Although there is much work to be done still we have created this blog, a facebook group and a twitter account to keep community members informed, both of what were doing and what Chief and Council is doing. We put pressure on the Chief and the Administration to get involved in the fight against the HST, something the other 133 First Nations were doing, but Rama was still waiting for their auditors to give them a "report". We kept the pressure on and Novembers Ojibway Times newsletter saw them printing the Band Council Resolution wherein they are stating their position against the HST. We advised Chief and Council that a unity rally against the HST was occuring at Queens Park and we 'advised' them that they should be sending a bus or a van to show their support. We attended that rally and showed our support in the fight against the HST.
In the mean time we, the Group for Accountability were studying the financial information for the band that we obtained through INAC after their MANY ATTEMPTS at stalling the process. INAC had to send us all of the audited financial statements that we requested (2002 to present) through an informal request for information. We attended every community meeting held in 2009 and began to host our own meetings out of the Church hall. We chose to discontinue those open Church hall meetings after it was discovered that someone was attending our meetings with the sole purpose of disclosing what was said to members of council (parking lot politics). We did not feel it was fair to the people who were showing up to share in confidence their experiences and frustrations, only to have them told to Chief and Council. So we discontinued that meeting format for the time being and have been continuing to meet in each others homes. Followers of this blog, community members; we want you to know that we have identified our priorities for 2010. We want you to know the fact that it is an election year is not lost on us. We want you to know that members of this group have an ACTUAL PLAN that would allow us to put an end to council being drunk on power and greed, administration that has no checks and balances in place or policies to govern them and an end to parking lot politics. Decisions affecting your life and the lives of our children SHOULD NOT BE MADE IN A PARKING LOT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A PICKUP TRUCK. That is wrong on so many levels and we've seen it work for those that are affiliated but the exact opposite is true if you are not. We have a better way, a safer way and a fairer way for all band members. We expect 2010 to be a challenging year, an exciting year, but mostly a year meant for change.
In the mean time we, the Group for Accountability were studying the financial information for the band that we obtained through INAC after their MANY ATTEMPTS at stalling the process. INAC had to send us all of the audited financial statements that we requested (2002 to present) through an informal request for information. We attended every community meeting held in 2009 and began to host our own meetings out of the Church hall. We chose to discontinue those open Church hall meetings after it was discovered that someone was attending our meetings with the sole purpose of disclosing what was said to members of council (parking lot politics). We did not feel it was fair to the people who were showing up to share in confidence their experiences and frustrations, only to have them told to Chief and Council. So we discontinued that meeting format for the time being and have been continuing to meet in each others homes. Followers of this blog, community members; we want you to know that we have identified our priorities for 2010. We want you to know the fact that it is an election year is not lost on us. We want you to know that members of this group have an ACTUAL PLAN that would allow us to put an end to council being drunk on power and greed, administration that has no checks and balances in place or policies to govern them and an end to parking lot politics. Decisions affecting your life and the lives of our children SHOULD NOT BE MADE IN A PARKING LOT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A PICKUP TRUCK. That is wrong on so many levels and we've seen it work for those that are affiliated but the exact opposite is true if you are not. We have a better way, a safer way and a fairer way for all band members. We expect 2010 to be a challenging year, an exciting year, but mostly a year meant for change.
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