The time has come for some change
- John Lagimodiere | September 14, 2021
There comes a time in everyone’s career when you are done. You need change. You run out of steam. Maybe it becomes too stressful. Perhaps you are out of ideas. Could be all the previous. Like me.
After 24 years of publishing a monthly paper and seven years of feeding a daily news website, Dee and I have made the decision to leave the media industry at the end of December and hand off Eagle Feather News to the next generation.
This is a difficult decision. It has been a discussion for the past five years, but it never seemed to be the right time. And what if no one wanted to take it over and continue telling the stories of Indigenous people in a good way, while being committed to building community and the next generation of Indigenous journalists?
As we started sharing the news, great people began contacting me to ask questions and express their interest in the future operation of EFN. And while I don’t know exactly what EFN 2022 will look like, we are pretty sure it will look like something, just without us!
The opportunity to publish this paper has been a blessing. We have met and worked with so many incredible people and many of them are friends to this day. And the experiences and events we have witnessed through the paper have blown our minds.
But it really is time. My passion is pooped. Our consulting work is growing and needs more attention. We just had to make the decision and believe that EFN will continue. Evolve.
We would like Eagle Feather News to be with the right group of people who can keep it going in their own image. Maybe you are interested? Serious inquiries are welcome. We look forward to the process of mentoring and supporting the next generation. Email me thoughts john@eaglefeathernews.com
Well, now that that little piece of business is over, coming out of summer and getting back to school is welcome, but I fear this fall will be worse than last year for COVID disruptions. This Delta variant is wicked mean and contagious, and we have a large swatch of unvaccinated people, that anti-vax crew, those vaccine hesitant and the poor kids under 12, that are vulnerable. Throw in back-to-school, people being less vigilant at the many community events now happening and we are heading for a storm. The Muskeg Lake Cree Nation has already closed its school because of a COVID surge in its community.
To encourage vaccinations, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Indigenous Services Canada, Northern InterTribal Health Authority and First Nations Partners came together to launch the first phase of a vaccine auto-notification system in Northern Saskatchewan. They are phoning everyone in the north to remind them of vaccines and where they can get them.
In a very innovative way to stimulate vaccination, the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan has launched a contest giving away prizes worth over two million dollars to any Métis citizen that is vaccinated or gets vaccinated two days before the multiple draw dates. Weekly prizes are up for grabs and, importantly, lots of prizes for young people. Excellent leadership from the Métis-Nation Saskatchewan executive and health department. Well worth the investment.
Over at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, they recently erected a Ceremonial Teepee in front of the FSIN Building that is currently under construction in Saskatoon at Kahkewistahaw Landing, a soon-to-be urban reserve near the airport in Saskatoon. The giant logs are 400 years old and came all the way from BC. The building will be the permanent home of the FSIN. It will also be home to the five candidates who win executive spots in the FSIN election at the end of October. COVID delayed last years election so now we see all five positions up for grabs in one election. The excitement! Glad we get to cover one more FSIN election.
Speaking of elections, the federal vote is Monday the 20th of September. We need to get out and vote as Indigenous people. Support candidates that have your morals and values and have a good policy plan for Indigenous issues. Seeing as how we are leaving the news media soon, for the first time in 20 years, we have a lawn sign for a candidate. How could I not support Dawn Walker-Dumont? Indigenous. Educated. Author. Playwright. Mom. Comedian. But our sign is one little blip of red in a neighbourhood full of blue signs. Still going to vote though. You should vote too.
And get vaccinated please.