February 2021
THE WINTER EDITION OF THE PILASKW NEWSPAPER IS NOW ONLINE!
You can now consult the latest edition of the W8banaki Pilaskw online by CLICKING HERE.
THE 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT IS NOW ONLINE!
We invite you to CLICK HERE to consult the Abenaki of Odanak Council’s 2019-2020 Annual Report.
January 2021
IMPORTANT NOTICE | New health measures as of January 9
The provincial government has announced new health measures effective January 9. These measures will have the following impacts on community services:
Council Office
The Council office is closed to visitors until February 8. However, the various services will continue to be offered by telephone or e-mail.
Health Center
The health center remains open and continues to offer its services. However, we encourage remote consultation whenever possible.
Library
The library remains open but will exceptionally close at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in order to respect the curfew.
We would like to remind you of the importance of respecting the instructions in order to limit the spread of the virus.
For more information, visit the Quebec government’s website on Coronavirus disease.
Thank you for your collaboration,
Management Team
December 2020
November 2020
For APTN chief executive Monika Ille, leadership means honouring her Nation’s history
Monika Ille is a member of the Abenaki First Nation of Odanak in Quebec. She serves as chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, or APTN, and has had a 25-year career in the media industry.
A recent graduate of the McGill-HEC Montréal executive MBA, she wrote her final paper on Indigenous women’s leadership identity, a subject she thinks about daily in her role as the leader of a national network that highlights stories made by and for Indigenous peoples.
To read the column, CLICK HERE.
IMPORTANT NOTICE | Addiction Accommodation and COVID-19 – Expanded Component
The exceptional context of the COVID-19 pandemic is creating complex situations for First Nations communities, particularly for people struggling with addiction issues.
The special benefit service for addiction treatment will be exceptionally open to all First Nations members living in communities and requiring urgent treatment. This opening of the benefit ends on March 31, 2021.
Expanded component: For the accommodation costs for First Nations living in community within the framework of a stay in an addiction residential resource.
Eligible Provider:
– Any Indigenous person living in a community with proof of residence.
Are not eligible for the Special Benefit – Expanded Component for Addiction Treatment of Indigenous Services Canada:
– Indigenous people who are not permanently residing on a community.
For more information, you can contact the Odanak Health Centre at 450.568.6766.
IMPORTANT NOTICE | RESPECTING PUBLIC HEALTH INSTRUCTIONS
The announcement of cases of COVID-19 in the community of Odanak may cause some confusion as to the instructions to be followed according to each person’s condition. Therefore, we would like to remind you of the rules issued by the Public Health:
- Instructions for people with COVID-19 in home isolation
- Instructions for people who have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19
- Instructions for people with COVID-19 symptoms
- Instructions for people awaiting screening or a COVID-19 test result
The Abenaki Council of Odanak expects all residents of the community to respect the guidelines that apply to their situation.
If you are a direct witness to a situation where you know that a person who has been in direct contact with a person who has COVID-19 or is awaiting a test or test result is not following the rules that apply to their situation, you can contact public safety by calling 911 or by reporting it as a private message on the Corps de police des Abénakis Facebook page.
Thank you for your collaboration!
The Management
Aln8ba en fête – Online Holiday Store
The arrival of winter marks the launch of Aln8bak en fête – the Abenaki Museum’s online holiday boutique – created in partnership with community artisans.
To access the store, CLICK HERE.
Enjoy your shopping! 🎁
THE WINNING LIBRARY OF THE “COUP DE COEUR DES MAIRES”!
We are proud to announce that the Awikhiganigamikok Library has won the “Coup de cœur des maires – Edition 2020” contest and was awarded a $500 gift certificate to be used in a bookstore in our region.
Many thanks to Florence Benedict, Councillor, for her participation, and to Kyle Dufresne for his novel, without whom the library would not have had the chance to be a recipient of this award.
Cultural appropriation – The Abenakis of Odanak and Wôlinak take a firm position
The Abenakis wish to emphasize their firm opposition to any movement of cultural appropriation by self-proclaimed groups or individuals.
Proud of their rich cultural heritage, the members of the W8banaki Nation have always shown great openness in sharing their culture, traditions and rituals with Canadians, including Quebecers. However, this openness has unfortunately led to cases of cultural appropriation. Indeed, rich in the knowledge transmitted by members of the W8banaki Nation, a growing number of self-proclaimed individuals are claiming to belong to the W8banaki Nation, claiming to be their descendants for various purposes.
Allies and collaborators of the Nation
The Abenakis are the sole guardians of their culture. Although they are open to creating cultural ties with non-native collaborators, the integrity of these ties remains essential. Thus, under no circumstances is it permitted for a collaborator to instrumentalize his or her link with the Nation in order to take advantage of it.
Collaboration with Sylvain Rivard
Having collaborated with Sylvain Rivard for several years, notably within the framework of the activities of the Musée des Abénakis, the Nation wishes to specify that it does not recognize in any way his claims regarding Abenaki descendants. Thus, no forum should be offered to him as a cultural representative of the First Nations. No Wabanaki institution, including the Musée des Abénakis, will collaborate with Mr. Rivard on future projects. Over time, Mr. Rivard has been able to build a profitable cultural credit with the Abenakis, and this, despite all identity recognition. The Nation denounces such an approach and hopes that this denunciation will serve as an example to discourage any other person claiming to belong to the Nation.
About the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki
The Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki, founded in 1979, is a Tribal Council regrouping the Abenaki communities of Odanak and Wôlinak. Its first mission is defined in three key elements: representation, development and administration.