The Dominion - Maya Rolbin-Ghanie

First Nations Budget

Moira Peters — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:28:56 +0000

Executive Director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal, Nakuset, speaks to media at a women's policy meeting with Michael Ignatieff in March 2010.

Walk4Justice Activists

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:22:13 +0000

Frontline Walk4Justice activists Bernie Williams, centre, and Gladys Radek, right.

Sutikalh 5

dru — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:05:13 +0000

Nine years have passed since the resort was planned, and Hubert "Hubie" Jim has lived at the camp since day one. "We set up this camp to protect the environment, the animals' lives, our mothers' lives, the air we need to breath, the water we need to drink," said Jim. "We must continue to grow spiritually to protect what is left. There is not much left. The main objective of this place is to unify and lead by example in protecting a way of life, and the lives of many who cannot speak for themselves. The plants, the animals, everything." Photo by Maya Rolbin-Ghanie

Benjamin Nottaway

dru — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:35:37 +0000

Barriere Lake traditional chief Benjamin Nottaway. Nottaway was jailed for two months after the Algonquin community organized a highway blockade to pressure the government to uphold an agreement it signed with Barriere Lake.

Crowd Members at the Walk4Justice in Ottawa

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:07:53 +0000

An onlooker at the Walk4Justice rally on Parliament Hill holds a traditional drum.

Walkers 4 Justice on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:02:05 +0000

Some of the many Indigenous women and men who walked across Canada to draw attention to systemic abuses against First Nations women.

Kid with sign

dru — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:33:00 +0000

A girl holds a sign during a blockade of highway 117 in northern Quebec by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

#16 BLS- Keeping up the Pressure

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:56:10 +0000

"The community will pursue Cannon wherever he is publicly, and we will only stop when Cannon honours his word, and ensures his Conservative government oversees a leadership re-selection, then stops meddling in our affairs for good," said Thusky. Above, he speaks to a crowd at a demonstration in Montreal, outside of Premier Jean Charest's office.

#11 BLS- Ousted Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:25:17 +0000

In March 2008, Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl deposed the acting chief, Benjamin Nottaway, and empowered a minority faction -- composed mostly of people living off-reserve -- as the new leadership. This was the third time that Indian Affairs had meddled in the internal governance of Barriere Lake. The Tribal Council representing the Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake, Wolf Lake, and Timiskaming, continues to recognize and work with deposed Chief Nottaway and his Council.

#9 BLS- Leadership Interference

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:11:11 +0000

Above, a community member presents the Three-Figure Wampum Belt. According to Algonquin custom, contemporary relations with the federal and provincial governments are based on the historic agreements recorded by Wampum, recognizing the Algonquin Nation and stipulating their involvement in any questions regarding their traditional territory. Repeated interventions by Indian Affairs to replace or manipulate the Algonquins' customary government, say elders, violate the mutual recognition contained in the agreement.

#8 BLS- Scrapping the Agreement

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:05:21 +0000

Just before the planned implementation of the Trilateral agreement in 2001, Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault pulled out, leaving the community to pay for remaining research on traditional land use. To date, the province has ignored a 2006 recommendation which would have involved providing the community with a share of the revenue.

#1 BLS - Geographical Location of Barriere Lake

Maya Rolbin-Ghanie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:35:35 +0000

The Algonquin community of Barriere Lake lies 5 hours to the northwest of Montreal. Travelling on Highway 115, the distance between towns widens as cottage country winds down and logging roads intersect the highway. In the midst of a prime cutting zone sits the Barriere Lake Reserve, created in 1961 without consultation with the community's customary chief and council.

Samantha-Lee Chew Quinn

dru — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:33:36 +0000

Samantha-Lee Chew Quinn, of the South Asian Women's Community Centre (SAWCC), which has been working for nearly thirty years with the population, immigrants and refugees, who will be directly affected by the proposed changes of Bill C-50.

Anti-C-50 demonstrators

dru — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:32:34 +0000

Demonstrators outside of Immigration Minister Diane Finley's speech in Montreal.

Finley Attendees Regard Protesters

dru — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:30:25 +0000

Audience members from Immigration Minister Diane Finley's speech emerge briefly to regard demonstrators.