v.17.04.09



Newsheet of the Mountain Clan

718 * Blackfalds, Alberta * CANADA TOM OJO * 1-403-885-2991            
www.inewhistory.com           c/o heritagedatabank@gmail.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Member: Heritage Canada Mountain Parks Aboriginal Advisory Forum
Nations of Jasper Camp Administrator/Host Nation, 2011-2014 Nations of Jasper Assembly
ALBERTA HISTORIC SITES INTERACTIVE SITE
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Volume 3:08								August 2016
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Tanisi. Hello again. Welcome the Mountain News.
www.inewhistory.com/mtnblog.html

Back copies of Mountain News


NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP)
The Gang That Couldn't Walk Straight. Rachel in Blunderland! What a bunch of 
morons.Suing themselves and the Electric companies for the $2 Billion dollars
that it is going to cost the taxpayer because NDP policies are raising the 
cost of Electricity.

The good news is that the deficit is right on track, at 14-15 BILLION dollars,
and the spending increases are right on track. SPEND! SPEND! SPEND! There is
more where that came from - the Taxpayer.

It took Harper 10 years to get $8 Billion in debt. It took the NDP 2 years to
add another $6 Billion.

The only thing the NDP know is how to squander other people's money. Belly Up
To The Trough Girls, it's our turn. What? Me Worry?

Now they want to tax you to pay for their next election campaign.

Rachel is doing her best to emulate the Great Ontario Green Experiment which 
has bankrupt that province.

If only the dumb voters would understand NDP they would love them. 

The NDP were always the Party of The People, the neglected, the underdog. The
only thing this bunch has done for the people "steal" their money and raised
the costs of everything.

Welcome to the NDP world. The real world does not exist in their view of the 
universe.

Dead In The Water. Barring a miracle (which the NDP naturally believes in) these
guys are doomed to oblivion after the next election. Not even Olivia Chow could
save them.

CONSERVATIVES
More morons. 'Nough Said.

LIBERALS
We have heard much good talk in the past. All sounds good. Seems there is now
some serious re-organizing going on in Ottawa, and it is sounding good. There
is the Missing Women Inquiry, which will add another report to the 30 that have
already been done without results. There is now also a serious inquiry into the
National Energy Board pipeline hearings and the apparent problems there (see 
more below).

IDLE NO MORE
Yup, sure are. Idle Again? Protests and activism are too much bother, arn't 
they? 

BLACK LIVES MATTER
Yea, and in Canada the Aboriginals are Canada's Niggers. Every aboriginal 
killed by a firearm in the past ten years was shot by a policeman.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A consortium including the Mountain Cree have begun the planning process to
develop a $10 MILLION dollar development of the Cultural Heritage Temple 
Mounds site in central Alberta. This would preserve and protect the site, 
develop the site, and make it available to the public to visit and use the 
site. The site is 1,000 years old, an old First Nations ceremonial and farming
village. It has/had burial mounds, temples and temple mounds, a village with
main street, ponds and farmsteads. We are currently undertaking fundraising 
activity and have some conditional promises for some $3 MILLION. The government
of Alberta, of course, has no interest.

Moving ahead with the purchasing.

We are also looking at purchasing a 7,000 sq. foot Business Center for offices,
stores, cafe, and accomodation. Will have some jobs available. Caretaker, 
Housekeeping, Cafeteria.

See also
Publication
pictures

PIPELINES
Yup, Dead In The Water.

Supreme court ruled that Northern Gateway - previously approved by the government - can not
go on, that the approval was not legal. According to the Supreme Court Northern Gateway did
not properly meet it's obligations to consult with and engage with the Aboriginal parties affected,
and the Government of Canada did not insure that there was proper consultation and engage-
ment, as it was legally required to do (see Delgamuukw vs. Canada). Trans Canada/NOVA
has gone so far as to tell First Nations groups to get lost.

This, of course, means that the same holds true for Enbridge Line 3, Nova 2017
Expansion, Nova Wolverine, Trans Mountain, Trans Canada Energy East and Trans 
Canada XL. They can not move ahead until such consultation and engagement is done.

Had a nice meeting with representives from Natural Resources Canada, National
Energy Board and various government offices affected involved in finding out
how and why these hearings failed and what should be done to correct the issue.
Some very nice people; seem to be quite sincere. Along with me at the meeting
was Gordon Mountain, Odin Fromhold, Will Willier and Norine Saddleback as our 
support team. Feedback says we did good.

See also 
Delgamuukw vs. Canada)
Pipelines
Pipeline Hearings
Mountain News, November
Mountain News, December
Mountain News, January
Mountain News, February
Mountain News, May
Mountain News, June
Mountain News, July

ASSOCIATION OF FIRST NATIONS ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND HISTORIANS
The aboriginal community has for years had qualified archaeologists and historians.
They have never been employed by or contracted by the pipeline firms - who by
law must give priority employment qualified First Nations persons and firms.

AFNAH now has a membership of 41 qualified professionals which, by law, 
should be hired or contracted by the pipeline firms.

ATCO POWER
Still ticked off over the feast mismanagement. Have not heard anything about
what they plan to do now. 

I will be doing a field (TLU/TEK) project for ATCO in the Jasper area in late
September for 4 days. I have room to hire 2 more people on the project. Same
terms as last one. If you are interested let me know.  

INDIAN STATUS (reprint from last month)
Several years ago the Government of Canada recognized the ASINI WACHI NIHIYAWAK
(Mountain Cree) BOBTAIL TRADITIONAL BAND as a legitimate and legal Non-Treaty
Band. The AWNTB operates under Traditional Law, and membership is according to
Traditional Law. As such, AWNTB has broad membership rules and can accept 
members that have been excluded by other bands. In theory, it would now even
be possible for transfers between existing Treaty bands and the AWNTB.
 
AWNTB is currently attempting to track the descendants 
of the Bobtail Band who did not enter Treaty or who 
withdrew from Treaty, as these would be elegibel for 
membership.

ROSSDALE BURIAL AREA
Nothing new.

For more information go to Rossdale

DID YOU KNOW
Canada is the largest supplier of Oil to the United States.
Even if Canada builds more pipelines there are limits. By 
treaty the US can demand that Canada delivers 1/3 of it's
oil to the U.S. (at below world price).

JOBS
The following Jobs may still be available to Mountain 
members

Fundraiser
Kider-Morgan Trans-Canada Pipeline, Edmonton District: 
	Engineer
Social Media Blog Editor

KLASSIC KARS
Blackfalds
   
1977 Olds; G+; $7,500.00
1967 Cougar (early production; rare serial 900), matching #'s; VG; $14,000.00
1967 Cougar (early production/week 2; rare), matching #'s; VG; $8,000.00

WHAT IS A CHIEF?
Among the Cree the person we know today as Chief was known as an OKIMAW. With
the advent of reservations, a reservation (Government) chief became known as
an OKIMAKAN. 

Both terms come from the High Cree O KICHI-MAW, "Important/Big person".

The difference is that OKIMAW meant "Influential/Important Person", sometimes 
translated as 'Chief', 'leader', or 'boss'. OKIMAKAN means 'Immitation Chief"
or Pretend/Not Real Chief'.

Right from day one of the Reservation Chiefs, when chiefs became elected, they
were known as OKIMAKAN, rather than OKIMAW.

This was because the old people realized right away that these OKIMAKAN were 
no longer the same as the OKIMAW. They were bureaucrats, politicians and government
agents. They were owned by the government, not by the people. Their first duty
was to administration and the government, no longer to the people.

Chiefs are elected, but it was not always so. Long ago someone was asked how
an OKIMAW had come to be a Chief, and who had made him one. The answer was 
"Nobody made him chief, he just got to be that way."

Chiefs were not elected. They became chiefs because people chose to listen to them
and to follow their leadership because of the Chief was a good hunter, looked 
after the welfare of his people, and a wise man.

Chiefs were noted for their interest and care of the people who trusted them
and relied on them. Chiefs were known to help those of their followers who needed
help. They took a personal interest in each and everyone in the band. Those 
Chiefs who did not soon lost their followers.

In times of hardship, Chiefs were known to give away all they had in order to 
help others. In 1885 Big Bear gave away all he had to the captives of the Cree,
so that they would have shelter and blankets while he and his family, in the end, 
had nothing. In good times, all that a Chief had given out would be returned or
replaced. Often he was given extra gifts in appreciation of his generosity and
leadership. Everyone also knew that in hard times he could be counted on to use
his wealth for the benefit of all.

At the core of the system was the Patriarchy.

Father was automatically the head of the family. If he headed a large family,
say over 50 persons, he was automatically a 'chief'.

The Chief was litterally the Father of his people.

If such a family head was found to be wise, a good hunter, and the protector of
the interests of his people, he attracted more followers. The more followers he
attracted, the higher was his recognition as a chief, a KICHI OKIMAW ("Big Chief")
and KICHI KICHI OKIMAW, "Head Chief".

Cree bands were usually made up of sub-bands, essentially nuclear family groups,
normally numbering 2-3 lodges (20-30 persons).

Among the Cree being a Chief was not the same as being a Boss.

Rather, he had little or no authority other than his credibility, his record and
his powers of persuasion.

Chieftainships were often inherited within a family, normally going to the eldest
son or, commonly, to a Son-in-Law.

Even though a Chieftainship might have been inherited, there was no guarantee
that he could  hold  his position.

Normally among the Cree when the Chief died the band dispersed, either to go
join other relations in other bands, or to new bands under one or more of the
sons or son-in-laws. Because of such dispersion, at Treaty 6 some bands numbered
as few as 36 persons.

If one of the successor bands proved to be under capable leadership the chief
would likely attract back some of these members to re-constitute a successor band.

If a Chief could no longer look after the interests of his people, or a part of 
his people, the people abandoned the chief. Usually this happened when the Band
became too big and too diverse. Usually a group would split away under a new 
OKIMAW of their choosing. In that way they would continue to have a Chief who
cared about their interests, without having to fight for it, and still continue
to be on friendly terms with their relations. Often they would continue to 
regard the old chief as Head Chief of several bands, but no longer the Chief 
who represented them on a daily basis.

On occasion some chiefs simply were not interested in leadership, such as in 
the case of Chipewyan. As his followers moved out to other bands his band ceased
to exist. Nontheless, he was still recognized as a "Chief", though his influence
in the community was now neglegible. The position of OKIMAW was, in essence, 
a lifetime titular position.

Rarely did Cree bands exceed 180 persons before it split into new bands.

The Mountain Cree themselves split into several bands after the death of PESEW,
but all came to recognized Bobtail, PESEW's son, as Head Chief of the Mountain
Cree bands. At it's peak, the Mountain Cree consisted of  17 bands (including
5 Stoney and 1 Iroquois) who had close kinship ties. In addition, another 7 
bands recognized Bobtail as Head Chief.

Today some persons claim that they should be recognized as a Chief, because 
they are the descendant of a chief.

However, Chieftainship was not directly hereditary. While an active chieftainship
might be inherited by the eldest son, it was not automatic and did not automatical-
ly mean that the position or title passed to the next generation. The position
always had to be earned.

Chieftainships died out in some lineages, while new chieftainships came into 
being under capable leaders.

(Continued next month)

See also
Bobtail Band
Maski Piton's Band publication
Louis Joseph Piche publication
Jacques Cardinal publication
Mountain News, November
Mountain News, December
Mountain News, January
Mountain News, February
Mountain News, March
Mountain News, April
Mountain News, May
Mountain News, June
Mountain News, July

Birthdays:
I am still missing most of you so send me your birthdays so I can get them 
included. Sorry the ones I missed last month.

	Twin, Jackie                    Sep 01
        Sargeant, Melissa               Sep 06
	Bone, Donna                     Sep 13, 1969
	Champagne, Marvin               Sep 26, 1960

REGISTER!
If you want to get the monthly Mountain News send me your e-mail. Let other 
family members know too.

SCHOOL GRADUATION
Do Not Forget! This year I am offering to give a Graduation Gown to any of 
the girls in the family who graduate (matriculation/University Admission) from
High School, from College (Certificate/Diploma) or University (Bachelor Degree).
The offer is open to families registered with the family society. So register.

HONORING CEREMONY
I would like to propose that next year the family sponsor an Honoring 
Ceremony and Giveaway in honor of all our family members who have died. I
pledge $1,000.00 towards such a ceremony.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK
The offer from Jasper National Park for preferential treatment (waived fees)
for members of the family is still open. To enter into an agreement with 
Jasper I need the participation of two family elders to sign the agreement.

Back Issues: www.inewhistory.com/mtnblog.html

BOOKS

They are available from any bookstore, amazon.com or lulu.com. Lulu is cheapest.

Tell our premier@gov.ab.ca what you think this.
_______________________________________________________________________________
In Memoria
 
Sisip Pimotew O Koma (c1610-), Atspu (c1630-), Sisip Pimotew (c1650-),
Ki Tonahew Api (c1715-1808c), Kona Wapa (c1715-1774c), Anthony Henday
(c1735-), Ente Iskwew (c1735-), Ente Iskwew O Ka Sisa (1755-), Louis
Joseph Piche (c1776-1843), Magdalene Apitas Iskwew () Piche, Ki Tonahew
Wiyan () Hughes (-1819) Piche, Jacques Cardinal (c1777-1839), Piyesiwak
Chak Petit Couteau (-1848), Pesew Iskwew (Piche) Cardinal (c1800-),
Alexis Bobtail Piche (c1810-1900), Susanne (Cardinal) Kline (c1805-),
Jean Baptiste Cardinal, Weasel Mountain (c1850-), Asini Wachi Pime, 
Isabelle Piche, Susanne (Dion) Mountain, Adam Mountain (c1850-), 
Pikwanis Bugle (c1867-), Magdalene (Klyne) Schock (-1952), Joseph 
Cardinal (1890-), Justine (Cardinal) Penner, Felix Cardinal, Isdadore
Desjarlais (1903-), Mike Mountain (1908-), Julia (Cardinal) Mountain,
Magloire Cardinal, Lawrence Mountain (1918-1988), Leo Mountain (c1911-
2005), Kathleen (Cardinal) Mountain, Elsie (Cardinal) Quintal, Willi
Fromhold (1923-1993), George Mountain (-1994), Sam Bone, Maryanne 
Mountain (1944-1980),  Stanley Ross Mountain (1938-1980), Noral Mountain,
Philippe Mountain (-1986), Elizabeth Mountain (-2005), Adam Mountain 
(-2005), Ashley Mountain (-1993), Joan A. Mountain (1962-1995), Cory
Mountain (-2005c), Edna Mountain (1960-2005), Irene Mountain (1958-1994),
Jane Mountain, Lawrence Francis Mountain, Leo Mountain (-2004), Lester
Mountain Cardinal, Norman Malone Mountain, Brian Bone, Carrie Bone,
Ruby Mountain (1964-2016), Henry Bugle (-2016)
MOUNTAIN CREE 
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