Position Paper
Duncan Malcolm Michano
Council Position. Pic River First Nation
Duncan Malcolm Michano
Council Position. Pic River First Nation
Band Elections Sept 26, 2009.
Hello. Here are some of my thoughts on the issues confronting our First Nation, its leadership and its people.
Elections and Leadership:
Over the years we have had a pretty stable governing body. This is in part to you the electorate who have decided that stability is sometimes better than constant change. This stability has allowed us to put programs and projects in place that have allowed us to move ahead instead of stagnating like some other communities. A 2 year term does not give council much time to develop programs and processes. It takes a lot of time and work. If council is constantly changing no one has the time to complete new projects / programs / processes. So the stability has been good.
As far as voting goes remember that you have the right to vote for anyone you wish.
But please come out and vote. It is important.
Hello. Here are some of my thoughts on the issues confronting our First Nation, its leadership and its people.
Elections and Leadership:
Over the years we have had a pretty stable governing body. This is in part to you the electorate who have decided that stability is sometimes better than constant change. This stability has allowed us to put programs and projects in place that have allowed us to move ahead instead of stagnating like some other communities. A 2 year term does not give council much time to develop programs and processes. It takes a lot of time and work. If council is constantly changing no one has the time to complete new projects / programs / processes. So the stability has been good.
As far as voting goes remember that you have the right to vote for anyone you wish.
But please come out and vote. It is important.
Also remember, when you are deciding to cast your votes, to balance the council with a mixture of the old and new. Male and female.
You need some older/ experienced councillors to provide the stability and corporate knowledge that can only come with being on council for some time.
Balance this off with some who have been there for a few years and also with some who are new and have the drive and new thinking to inject new ideas into the system.
Also think of the female members of council. They have proven invaluable in the past and I think there are not enough of them on council.
So in the final analysis we need and should have a good balance of experienced / slightly experienced / new / council members both male and female. This is the kind of council that provides good continuity for coming years and also provides a variety of education, ideas and skills.
Education System:
I firmly believe in a strong education system with good programs and curriculum. A strong educational background makes a good foundation for dealing with the problems and issues that our children and community members face out in the world. We must not short change them. Our teachers and others in the education system are doing the best they can with the resources they have and it is a credit to them that we have put so many people through College and University. However, the building blocks for a good education starts in elementary school. Our elementary school system is underfunded by the Federal Govt. We do not get the same amount of funding that the Province provides to the Provincial School Boards. So our educators have less resources to work with. We need to continue to pound the Federal Govt to increase the funding so that our children receive as much or better than the children who attend Provincial Run Schools.
Right now we have put a lot of our own money, from Rama and elsewhere, into the Elementary School system to ensure that the shortfalls are covered off.
When I look at what the AFN ( Assembly of First Nations ) is doing in Ottawa I see no drive to try to secure additional funding for First Nation elementary schools. We have to start with them to ensure they are doing the work they have been sent to Ottawa to do.
Our Elementary School Building:
This building was built in the early 50’s and has been added onto over the years. Although the building is well maintained, there are still issues I think need to be addressed :
1. The main portion of the building was built in the early 50’s. I went to school there in Gr 6, 7 and 8. So take a look at my wrinkles and grey hair. That school is almost as old as I am.
See the photo above in the right hand corner.
The building on the right was the old school that most of us older generation started in. The light blue one was built sometime in the early 50’s. I started in Gr 6 there.
The building on the right was the old school that most of us older generation started in. The light blue one was built sometime in the early 50’s. I started in Gr 6 there.
2. See the light blue coloured shingles?? These were the original shingles on the building. They were hard fibreglass type shingles that we now know to contain asbestos. These shingles were removed when the building was upgraded in the 70’s ?????? ( Not too sure of date ). However the point I’m trying to get at is that if there was asbestos in those shingles where else was there asbestos?. At that time the Dept of Indian Affairs, as it was then called, was in the habit of using a material called “ Zonolite” in for insulation in buildings on First Nation Communities. Zonolite contains vermiculite a type of asbestos. Asbestos can cause lung cancer. See info on the WWWeb. Google “Zonolite” and “ Vermiculite”. How do we know that the insulation in that old school is not of the dangerous type.??? A study is needed.
3. The air quality in that building leaves something to be desired. One can smell the stale air in the building. This is because there is no air exchange system in the building. This allows Carbon Dioxide levels to rise throughout the day as the only new air into the building is when a door or window is opened. All commercial type buildings, where there are people working, are required by law to exchange air completely at least once per day.
4. The layout of the buildings and the use of portables is also not conducive to a good classroom / learning experience.
What is required is a comprehensive study of the school building and portables by a consultant NOT tied to INAC. This will give us a truthful assessment of what the issues are in the school building.
What is needed is a new school building with a gymn, science lab and shop. Design input could be assisted by staff.
Last winter children from the School Wrote TO All Members Of Council as part of a letter writing assignment. To their credit I believe all councillors wrote back.
See some of the letters written to council during the winter of 2009 in the 2 posts below this one.
So let’s listen to these young voices and build them a new school they deserve and want.
I see unprecedented construction and repairs of residences for our community members. Even the police are getting a new building and there is talk of building a new Admin Building. So lets not forget our children and give them every opportunity to develop as well educated community members and leaders.
P.S. Thanks to all the council members who gave me a copy of their letters.
Land Claim:
As usual the Fed and Prov Govts are stalling in dealing with this issue. This is costing us but we will persevere and continue.
So let’s listen to these young voices and build them a new school they deserve and want.
I see unprecedented construction and repairs of residences for our community members. Even the police are getting a new building and there is talk of building a new Admin Building. So lets not forget our children and give them every opportunity to develop as well educated community members and leaders.
P.S. Thanks to all the council members who gave me a copy of their letters.
Land Claim:
As usual the Fed and Prov Govts are stalling in dealing with this issue. This is costing us but we will persevere and continue.
Drugs and Alcohol:
It seems the drug issue gets worse with each passing year. I can’t impress on every one how serious a problem this is. Particularily with prescription drugs which seem so easy to get. Parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol will have a difficult time providing for their children and acting as good role models. In my opinion, the people who are addicted are victims of a system that somehow has let them down and of unscrupulous dealers / sellers who care nothing about the destruction of the lives of the people they are selling to.
We need to go after the dealers / sellers of drugs in our community and go after them hard. Even to the extent of banning them from our community.
Other Issues.
Other issues facing council which need to be dealt with are :
Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Housing, etc. This paper is getting too long so I’ll quit at this.
Remember. Vote as you please but THINK before you vote. And please. Get out and vote.
Meegwetch. Duncan Malcolm Michano.
Check this out on the Pic River Website at: http://www.picriver.com/ ( Council Position Papers )Also check it out on my Blog Site at: http://politics-mishomis.blogspot.com/
Other issues facing council which need to be dealt with are :
Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Housing, etc. This paper is getting too long so I’ll quit at this.
Remember. Vote as you please but THINK before you vote. And please. Get out and vote.
Meegwetch. Duncan Malcolm Michano.
Check this out on the Pic River Website at: http://www.picriver.com/ ( Council Position Papers )Also check it out on my Blog Site at: http://politics-mishomis.blogspot.com/
