(1971/1972) In the summer, I was working on a student LIP project painting houses, we were painting the hall and Chief, Toussant Michano came out said a few things about us fooling around, then asked me if I knew “dictation." "Nope," I said, "but I can write fast". "Well than this afternoon there is going to be some people here for a big meeting, and I need good note takers." So I went home to get cleaned up for this job and come into the hall at one pm. This was the first time I heard about a new National Park coming to the area. There was all kinds of discussions, a lot of back and forth between the suits and the Chiefs. There are a couple of incidents that really stood out for me; one was when there was a 9 million dollar offer from the suits to the Chiefs and Toussant said "there is no way I am taking money to give up my rights that money will be spent in a year, and my people will not be able to eat." At the time, I had no idea that they were taking hunting and fishing rights. After that there was a break and a lot of Chiefs were gathering together, when they came back to the tables, the Indian Affairs guy ended up sitting next to me. I was in-between him and Toussant and he says, “Okay lets get serious, we are here, for not us, but we do this for the kids tapping me on the shoulder.” I did not learn until later that he was the Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chretien. (1975) In February, I started working on a short contract for Parks Canada as a trainee in Finance for personal reasons. (sick baby) While I was there I read every file there was to read on this place. In 1976/1977, I worked at the band office, during this time I attended some band meetings with Parks Canada. This was during Judd Buchannan and Warren Allmond's reign as the Ministers of Indian Affairs. The employment training programs had been already going on with the Wardens not a whole lot of other employment or training opportunities were happening. This time period would have been during Parks Canada’s requirement for public sessions in management planning and/or signing of the federal provincial agreement. There were always a lot of discontent and reminders to the government that the land they were developing was “Indian land, our land and water for us to protect” I recall someone making that statement but I do not know who. In 1978, I started working for Parks Canada again, sometime after that year Parks had an Open House session to talk about the plan, back then there was plans for a hotel, store, restaurant, transit system to Oiseau Bay and potentially further, opportunities for our people to do guided hikes down the coast on land and water. During a break Camille Nabigon was looking at a Map on the wall and I went up to him and asked him what he thought about all these plans. The Director for Parks Canada was within ear shot, and Camille tells me and looks at him, this cannot happen, I have my trappers cabin right here and you want to build a track right through it?? The Director than said “don’t worry you still have your trapping ground and rights, we will build you a cabin anywhere you want it.” That plan was later downsized significantly. Fast Forward to the early 1989-1990’s I was the HR/Finance Manager for Pukaskwa and Camille comes into the Park Office with his loud voice and says to me “where is the boss, I am coming to make good on my new trapping cabin.” So I point him off to the superintendent’s office. After Camille’s visit, the Superintendent comes into my office to question me on this because Camille told him I knew all about it. My response was referencing that meeting, and what I had heard. (Oral History needs to be considered I tell him) 1997-2010 I was the Field Unit Superintendent, and in every business plan presentation that I brought forward to National Office, I reminded them that Pukaskwa National Park could not sustain itself without additional resources and without the support of the First Nations, the only way this could happen is honor the commitments that were made during park establishment, It seemed like I was always doing a re-education to that level and never getting anywhere. I once approached the CEO and asked if they could consider co-management of some kind let the First Nations put in some revenue development projects and help sustain the operations of the trails and campgrounds and other infrastructure. These requests were always dismissed as it is not the way we operate, even though my constant reminders of Parks Canada mandate was founded upon aboriginal traditions of preserve and protect for all time that is the practiced culture of our people. (Hopefully, others can make that dream a reality) After my retirement from Parks Canada, I focus on my community, balancing the protection of the land and waters, while ensuring self-sufficiency through business development, I will always remember that dream I had and the interpretation given to me from Antoine Mosses, I guess I had lived my dream.
Miigwech to all who support our values. - Sharon
J a nu a r y 2 0 2 2
T h e B i i g t i g o n g C u r r e n t
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