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Norway House Conference Debates Growth ProspectsBy BOB LOWERYNORWAY HOUSE, Man. (Staff) — An unprecedented threc-duy conference concluded here Friday at this historic transportation crossroads coin* munily of 3,500 Inhabitants just north of Lake Winnipeg.There were two unique elements in the meeting, Chief Jean Folster explained. It was the first time the residents of the Norway House Indian band and the various non-treaty Indians represented by.. Mayor Wayne Fleit and the community council and John Tait, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, came together to consider how to develop their total area together.Another significant feature, the chief said, was that the expert resources people from out-s i d e were mainly Norway House people who had taken a variety jobs in Winnipeg and other parts of the province. They were invited home specialty to contribute Iheir ideas about how the growth of Norway House can he stimulated.It's been wonderful to have this meeting with our people who have left us and been so successful at their work in many parts of Manitoba,” said Manitoba’s first lady chief. “A lot of valuable things were explained and some big .new ideas raised. I would like to see meetings like this happen often..Ken Albert, the conference co-ordinator, estimated that more than 50 people took part in the working session of the conference of which about 20 were native Norway House people who returned home fori the occasion.Other visitors who took pari In the work, of the conference j included Dave Courchene, | president, Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, William Thomas, regional director of the Indian affairs department, Ron Me-Brydo, Manitoba northern af-i fairs minister, and Harvey Rostrum of Manigotagan, MLA for Rupertsland.The number one priority dis-1 cussed at the conference was, in the words of one participant, “full employment,” The feeling of the meeting seemed to be, that to achieve this goal some1 major projects would have to be set up, possibly within the framework of the Northern j Manpower Corps or other fed-1 eral or provincial agencies which could make a substantial number of job opportunities.Those participating also were1 In agreement that such ventures should be operated by: the local people. One project being proposed is for the con-1 stniction of a sawmill capable o f producing seven million board feet of lumber a year.Rod McKenzie, director of Northern Manpower’s employ-1 nient services, reported that a regional office will be opened at Norway House Feb. I. ITei introduced the new regional| manager, Jack Grieves of Oxford House who will take up residence here immediately-Mr. Grieves with his staff offour employment consultants will be responsible for the remote communities of Oxford House, Island and Guds Lake and the cast side of Lake Winnipeg from iierens River and Poplar River to Manigotagan.A manpower inventory will be taken of people available for employment in these communities as well as. Norway House, their present skills and what projects the community considers would be most advantageous in adding to. their capabilities.The discussion covered education, economic development, family relocation to Thompson, cultural enrichment, trapping and fishbig, medical health services, social development and the control of alcoholism.In many cases the conference delegates complained of being given a “token direction of their affairs. They raised this especially in relation to committees which assist with the running of the hospital and the school system, There was a strong opinion favoring real authority and decision making power being placed in both of these communities,In the ,ease oil the school committee the conference will propose that a committee or board be elected by popular vote which would represent and act for the entire community.Mr. Albert said Mr. Mc-Bryde who was present Thurs-d a y indicated that Norway House become the recipient of a. local radio station, similar to that operating at Cross Lake, if the federal government will match the provincial government's input into Native Communications. According to the conference co-ordinator M r . McBryde said the provincial contribution would be $75,000.During his day and a halfstay Mr. Courcbeue took part in the economic development committee discussions as did Mr. Boslrum.This is the one time I know of, when all parts of this community got together to talk about how to develop the whole area,’1 Mr, Bostrum said. They arrived at some good firm priorities and are very determined t o follow them through. They ire also, determined ta do it themselves.”
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Sat, Jan 26, 1974
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 17 Aug 2023
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