Re: “School board may increase student support,” vol. 12, no. 10, April 1, 2005

First I would like to introduce myself. I am an Aboriginal Law and Advocacy student who is sponsored with CSB as well. I am finishing off my last year in my program at Negahneewin/ Confedera-tion College in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I have four children with me and yes, it is hard to live on a fixed income, but I still manage to survive to an extent.

When it comes to entertainment, I can’t really go anywhere with my kids. The high cost of living in a city affects me. Living in Thunder Bay is expensive. I have to pay rent, hydro, water, and gas for my place and that really puts a dent in my pocket. It would be nice if CSB does increase financial support. I do know what it’s like to have to pay for your medication, dental and eye care, it can really put you in distress.

But I don’t blame CSB or CHB for these situations. They do have policies and procedures they follow under the JBNQA. It’s the act itself that puts our people in distress when it comes to getting an education outside the boundary that colonized the Crees under the JBNQA.

When the act was signed in the 1970s it came with loopholes or should I say, “read between the lines.” The government gave the Crees control over their health, education and economic development – if you stay within the territory.

So there’s the thin line. Educate your people, but lose your health benefits. This is where the distress comes into affect. From my understanding, when this agreement was signed it also broke free from the Indian Act that gives Aboriginal people health benefits, but not James Bay Quebec Crees. This is the reason why we don’t qualify for health benefits outside the territory.

But we shouldn’t give up our education. There are ways to work around these barriers. We need to advocate for our people, ask local pharmacies and dental if they can work something out with CHB. Don’t give up your education. I do know for a fact that some local walk-in clinics don’t except the Quebec health card. This is another barrier where we have to pay from our own pockets. But most hospitals would take the card.

Being a Cree under the agreement can be a strain at times when it comes to getting an education, but my advice is to never give up your dream just because both governments want the Crees to stay within the boundary of the Act. I had a hard journey to succeed and now I will be graduating this year. Thanks to the Cree School Board for sponsoring me and letting me fulfill my dream outside the territory.

Laura Jonah

Waskaganish

Student in Thunder Bay, ON