We need Leaders.

We cant live in fear of speaking out, by some of the comments people don't trust the C&C it should,nt be that way We need leaders to preserve our culture , our language, and  land. , at meetings they  were open and  free to speak. not just th e chief  .   There should be no secrets from the members . And when they go some where there should be a report as to why they have traveled on our behalf. This is our home and we  the right to have a say in all matters the effect  us our land and our children. And our money  .   If we lose our language our traditions . Then what? We need leaders the speak for us , that fight for us and that work for the members. We don't need politicians. We need a few more people on council . with less pay . People who run for the people not the money. Who really care. Our children need to know there history , and where they came   from   how we got here   . They don't no. Every one has  to be treated equal there is no balance here any more.

Step Up

Step up and help people when they need it. We use to be the sharing , caring people.as native people we help our brother out. Stand up for your rights , what do you fear? You have rights . Why do so many worry about there jobs , what about the way things are here you complain but say nothing i guess if you have a job that's all that matters. One day your going to wish you had.

What Makes A Healthy Community?

Clean and safe physical environment, Peace. equity and social justice. Adequate access to food,water shelter  ,income safety, work and  recreation for all. Adequate access to health care services. Opportunities for learning and skill development. strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks. Workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well- being.  Wide participation of residents in decision- making. Strong local cultural and spiritual heritage. Diverse and vital economy. Protection of the natural environment. Responsible use of resources to ensure long term sustainability.

Environment

When Rama had an Enviormental group , which i was chair of. We were looking  at ways of saving our Band money in the way of different energy sources. the fire hall and new day care had not been built yet and asked that C&c take into consideration solar panels for energy., for all new buildings. Just common scenes, We also wanted by-laws to protect our wetlands, we wanted community composting, and  recycling program that would have made money not cost us would have created jobs and add much more life time to the landfill. When i walk around Rama at night i see empty buildings with lights on and we are heating these buildings .The  Environmental group wanted our children to have there own peace garden at the school, to have them compost and  have there own gardens. WE wanted a environment dept, that would look at the impact to the land and water before anything was built .Enviornmental programs in the school and wind power for the community. I left after i realized that i was banging my head against the wall . We did get a recycling program in Rama but one that is failing.

What Are We Doing To Mother Earth

The more parking lots  that are put on OUR land means more  road salt. Which destroys vegetation and trees it poisons are wildlife and destroys  soil. It kills fish and impacts fresh water ecosystem.More and more we are loosing our trees and our sacred plants. Trees are a  source of oxygen and absorb carbon dioxcide a green house gas from the air. They are homes for wildlife  and give us wood ,fruit and medicine. Trees provide shade in the summer reducing heating and cooling cost.    And in the winter keep us warm by shielding us from the wind and snow. The less trees the more flooding. We wanted a natural walking trails at the park and water front . Not roads ,If we are going to plant flowers then plant the ones that should be here.Same for the trees . The walking trails at the water front  have destroyed alot of the medicines and trees. Never mined the cost Lets put our money into replants  trees not big rocks. We need to protected the environment for the next generation.

IT Is The Chippewas Of Rama.

In 1996 the Chippewas of Rama Chief and Council changed the name Rama to Mnjikaning with out consulting the community. The whole matter of our name and who we are has created stress for many, particularly our Elders, who were not   consulted on this change.  We were known as the Ojibwes or Chippewas of Lake Simcoe and Huron. We came into this area in the 1700,s. Our Chief was William Yellowhead (Sr). known as Musquakie ( Mayawassino, Waisoindebay, who died in 1864 aged 95-100yrs. The elder Yellowhead maintaining his alliance to th British was wounded in the war of 1812 defending York (present day Toronto). Four years later at the desire of his father the son, also called William Yellowhead assumed the position of Chief of the Ojibwas of Lake Simcoe and Huron. In the early 1800,s while treaties were signed by Chiefs Yellowhead, Snake and Assance. Yellowheads,s people continued to move around and for a time there was a settlement on Chief Island then known as Yellowhead island. In 1830 the Chippewas of Lakes Simcoe and Huron under Chief Yellowhead, settled at the Narrows(present day Orillia while Chief Snake and his people went to Snake Island and Chief Assance took his people to Coldwater. Under pressure from the non- native government in 1836 surrender of the Narrows now named Orillia took place. With no land base,in 1838 Chief Yellowhead and his people combined their annuity money to purchase 1600 acres on th eastern shore of Lake Couchiching and moved there 1838-1839. The written record calls us the Chippewas of Lakes Simcoe and Huron, and we moved to the eastern shores of Lake Couchiching, present day Rama Reserve located within Rama Township, Simcoe County and Huronia. Our People the Chippewas of Rama worked hard to build a new community on land deemed uninhabitable by the settlers. Our churches, businesses, our sports teams are named after Rama our mail comes to Rama, Rama Road runs through our community.A community survey in2004 found that 151 respondents identified with Rama while 56 preferred Mnjikaning. In  October 2007 a petition with 244 signatures, supporting our name as  chippewas of Rama was submitted to Chief and Council. While Chief and Council could have changed back to Rama via a BCR they decided to have a referendum, on May 23 2008 . The Chippewas of Rama voted to  for the name acquired in th1800,s   by Irene Snache and Cheryle Snache