Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 30, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba Under the authority of The City of Winnipeg Charter, the Community Committee listed below will conduct PUBLIC HEARINGS for the purpose of allowing interested persons to make submissions, ask questions or register objections in respect of the application(s) listed below. Information or documents concerning the applications and a description of the procedure to be followed at the public hearings are available for inspection by calling 204-986-2636 to make an appointment at Unit 15-30 Fort Street, or by visiting the City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding holidays; or on-line at http://www.winnipeg.ca RIEL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 Time: 10:30 A.M. Location: City Hall To participate in the hearing, register online at winnipeg.ca/publichearings or by phoning 204-986-4228 by 12:00 noon the business day preceding the meeting. You may also participate in the process by submitting your comments in writing. THIS HEARING CAN BE VIEWED ON LINE AT: https://winnipeg.ca/council/video.asp RIEL COMITÉ MUNICIPAL AUDIENCE PUBLIQUE Date : Le vendredi 21 février 2025 Heure : 10 h 30 Lieu : Hôtel de ville Pour prendre part à l’audience, inscrivez-vous en ligne à winnipeg.ca/audiencespubliques ou par téléphone au 204-986-4228 avant midi le jour ouvrable précédant la rencontre. Vous pouvez également participer au processus en soumettant vos commentaires par écrit. CETTE AUDIENCE PEUT ÊTRE VISIONNÉE EN LIGNE À: https://winnipeg.ca/council/video.asp A4 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS I LOCAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 Native Americans under threat in Trump’s U.S. I N one of his first executive orders, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the secretary of the interior to “submit a plan within 90 days” that explores legal pathways for the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina to receive “full federal recognition.” The Lumbee claim to be the larg- est Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River with around 60,000 members. They were granted state recognition in 1885 and partial federal recognition from Congress in 1956, but the lack of “full” recognition means they have been denied federal funding for education, health care and other services. Lumbee officials were vocal in their support of Trump during the 2024 presidential election and Trump prom- ised them last September he would grant them their wish. “I love the Lumbee Tribe,” Trump said while signing the order. “They were with me all the way.” This sounds positive but — as with most things since Trump took office — there’s chaos. Trump’s recognition of the Lum- bee has been condemned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who also inhabit North Carolina and have argued for more than a century that the Lumbee are not a tribe but a “self-identifying” mixed-race group that has little ancestral and cultural connection. “The Lumbees have a history of shifting claims, including claiming Cherokee ancestry and other histori- cal tribes,” Cherokee Principal Chief Michell Hicks said in a statement. “Ex- perts have repeatedly found that their claims cannot be verified through historical or genealogical evidence.” According to their own self-pub- lished tribal history on their website, the Lumbee are “survivors of tribal nations from the Algonquian, Iro- quoian, and Siouan language families, including the Hatteras, the Tuscarora, and the Cheraw” and — unlike most U.S. tribes who separated from urban communities — moved to cities and intermarried with other cultures and groups. Achieving federal recognition means the Lumbee claims will com- pete with the Cherokee for the same lands, rights and programs. In other words: territory, money and power. It’s just another example of the incredible chaos produced by the new president in and between Native American communities across Turtle Island. Just this week, Native American leaders across the United States were scrambling after the Trump admin- istration made the abrupt decision to freeze federal grants and loans — effectively stopping nearly a billion dollars in essential funding for tribal health care, youth programs, schools, environmental projects, farming and law enforcement. On Tuesday, a Washington judge granted an injunction to stop the Trump order and keep the money flowing. At the same time, due to Trump’s order to round up and deport millions of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal agents questioned, detained and harmed Native Americans. “My office has received multiple reports from Navajo citizens that they have had negative, and sometimes traumatizing, experiences with fed- eral agents targeting undocumented immigrants,” Navajo president Buu Nygren said in Arizona. Trump’s aggression has “raised concern among our tribal members, particularly regarding the poten- tial targeting of our community by immigration agents,” Chippewa Cree Tribe chairman Harat BaRete said in Montana. The moves have provoked tribes to lawyer up and evoke tribal rights. “The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is in the process of assessing the legal effects of the unlawful and unconstitution- al Trump administration executive orders and will fiercely defend against any threat to the sovereignty,” an- nounced president Kathleen Wooden Knife in a published statement. The relationship between the U.S. government and 574 federally rec- ognized tribes is one of the most im- portant administrative and economic relationships for our neighbour to the south. The annual budget for Indian Af- fairs is US$4.7 billion, which not only oversees the administration of tribes and delivers essential programs, but operates as the conduit to how land, rights and power are shared between Indigenous nations and the U.S. gov- ernment. This budget is on the chopping block due to Trump’s anti-diversity/equity inclusion and “efficiency” plans — the question is how much. Then there is the ongoing saga of Trump’s end of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also called “birthright citizenship.” In one of this first executive orders, Trump eliminated it, justifying those he deemed “illegal” and therefore must be removed by ICE. A federal judge quickly blocked the order tem- porarily after nearly two dozen states mounted a legal challenge. Native Americans have always been in a unique position in relation to the 14th amendment as they are obviously born in the U.S. but also predate it. After a long legal debate, tribal citizens were granted U.S. citizenship in 1924. Defending the Trump order to end birthright citizenship in court, justice department officials stated that be- cause tribal nations are “sovereign,” Native Americans do not have the right to U.S. citizenship. “The United States’ connection with the children of illegal aliens and temporary visitors is weaker than its connection with members of Indian tribes,” the justice department said. “If the latter link is insufficient for birthright citizenship, the former certainly is.” This means that Indians, like im- migrants, are fit to be removed under Trump. Chaos. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca Wilson elected grand chief of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs BRITTANY HOBSON NEWLY elected Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson has vowed to offer the same support to First Nations leaders in the province that her predecessor once gave her in 2022. Wilson, who was then chief of the Long Plain First Nation near Portage, had called former grand chief Cathy Merrick to ask for help ad- vocating for the search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain women from her community after police rejected a search for safety reasons. The two leaders would eventually stand side by side at the forefront of a movement de- manding a search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. “I had reached out to her for her support … and she didn’t hesitate. She immediately said that she would support me in the work that I needed to do,” Wilson recalled. “That’s what I want to do for our leadership today … I will make sure that they feel sup- ported every single day.” Wilson, 38, was elected the new grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs during a byelection on Wednesday prompted by the sudden death of Merrick last fall. She won in the first round of voting by securing 37 of the 61 votes. Former York Fac- tory First Nation chief Leroy Constant and Sapotaweyak Cree Nation band councillor Bava Dhillon, the two northern candidates, tied for second place with 10 votes each. For- mer Peguis First Nation chief Glenn Hudson received four votes. Following her win, Wilson was wrapped in a traditional blanket while chiefs formed a circle around her. Wilson stood with her eyes closed, at one point wiping away tears. Premier Wab Kinew offered words of en- couragement Wednesday afternoon. “On behalf of the province of Manitoba, I want to congratulate her. This is good news for all Manitobans because we’re going to be able to work to advance living conditions and economic opportunity for First Nations people in Manitoba,” he said. “When that happens, it benefits all of us.” Kinew met with Wilson and the families of Harris and Myran shortly after his NDP party came into power in 2023, and made a commit- ment to search the Prairie Green Landfill. At the time, Wilson said the conversation was a welcome move following the previous Progressive Conservative government’s op- position to a search, and their subsequent choice to highlight their refusal during the provincial election. Jeremy Skibicki was convicted of first-de- gree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran and two others — Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found in the Brady Road landfill, and an unidentified woman known as Buffalo Woman. A search of Prairie Green began late last year. Wilson said she will continue the work Mer- rick started, as well as advocate on the issues such as resource opportunities, economic sovereignty and support for mental health and addictions. Betsy Kennedy, chief of War Lake First Na- tion in northern Manitoba and the assembly’s acting grand chief, said much work needs to be done to advocate for equitable resources for children and youth. “The next grand chief will listen to our leadership. Right now it’s Jordan’s Principle,” Kennedy said, referencing the federal pro- gram that is supposed to ensure First Nations children receive timely access to educational and health supports. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said Wilson has big shoes to fill, but that the chiefs respect her ability to stand up and command attention. “She’ll make her own way as a grand chief. She will be able to take them in the direction that they need to go.” — The Canadian Press PHOTOS BY JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Kyra Wilson takes part in a ceremony after the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs selected her as grand chief in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Kyra Wilson (centre) is congratulated by family and friends after her election as the new AMC grand chief. NIIGAAN SINCLAIR OPINION ;