Trent University’s Newest College to be Named Gidigaa Migizi to Honour Professor Doug Williams

To honour and celebrate the memory of the late Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams), Trent University is naming its sixth college will be named Gidigaa Migizi College.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The Gidigaa Migizi College is being built on the east bank of the Symons Campus in Peterborough. The building will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students and classrooms, faculty offices and student spaces. The University expects it to open in the fall of 2028. The new college crest, scarf and colours will be unveiled next year.

“This naming is a testament to Trent’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage,” said Marilyn Burns, vice president of Trent communications and enrolment. “Gidigaa Migizi, a respected elder and a pillar in the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg and Trent communities, has left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and educate our students for generations to come. Gidigaa Migizi College will stand as a beacon of knowledge, diversity, and respect, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and learning that is at the heart of Trent University.”

The professor, elder, and community leader was known for his dedication to Trent students and for protecting Anishnaabeg's treaty rights.

The decision to select an Anishnaabe name for the new college was a recommendation of the University’s Champlain Report to honour the treaty and traditional territory on which Trent University sits, according to a press release. Meaning ‘spotted eagle’ in English, the name Gidigaa Migizi College was recommended by the University’s Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council and approved by Trent’s Board of Governors.

“Gidigaa Migizi was a giant both at Trent and in the Anishnaabeg nation. He was a champion of knowledge, of learning, of students and of our community,” said Anne Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation Elders Council member. “In our culture, eagles are held in high esteem and symbolize honour, respect, strength, courage, and wisdom. These are all characteristics we want Trent students to embody.”

Migizi was one of the first graduates of Trent University’s Native Studies (now Indigenous Studies) program. After graduating, he remained involved with Trent, helping shape academic programs, administrative policies, and cultural practices and advancing education about Indigenous peoples.

He was co-director of the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program and a professor at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Migizi served on the University’s Indigenous Education Committee and the Elders Council. Before joining Trent as a student and then as a faculty member, Gidigaa Migizi was a bricklayer who helped build Champlain College at the University.

Migizi was an active negotiator for the legal recognition of treaty rights. His greatest accomplishment in this arena was the advocacy work he undertook in the precedent-setting case R v. Taylor and Williams, working through the court system to bring legal recognition of pre-confederation treaty rights through the interpretation of Treaty 20, 1818. As a result of this landmark case, he defended the right to hunt and fish for signatories to the Williams Treaties as stated by Trent.

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Missy Knott Becomes First Curve Lake First Nation Resident Appointed to Ontario’s Art Council

Missy Knott has become the first person from Curve Lake First Nation to be appointed to Ontario’s Art Council (OAC) announced on Monday.

It has been more than fifty years since there was an appointee from the riding of Peterborough-Kawartha, with Missy Knott being the first ever from Curve Lake Frist Nation. Photo courtesy of MPP Dave Smith.

The OAC is the province’s primary funding body for professional artists and art organizations, made up of a 12-member volunteer Board of Directors according to a press release. They are community leaders with a variety of expertise in the arts, all appointed throughout the province. They foster the arts – both in creation and production- to enrich Ontarians' lives, communities and economy. The OAC's grants and services to professional, Ontario-based artists and arts organizations support arts education, Indigenous arts, community arts, crafts, dance, Francophone arts, literature, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theatre, touring, and visual arts.

Knott is a singer/songwriter who gained popularity for her unique style and has released music since 2009. She uses her experience of growing up in Peterborough and her relations to Curve Lake First Nation and infuses the two community experiences into her music. She has returned to Curve Lake First Nation for her latest journey of starting a not-for-profit record label, Wild Rice Records.

The record label began in 2018 and helps with youth outreach, mentorship, recording and community connections. Missy uses her record label to guide Indigenous youth to follow their passions and talents. In providing the support she wished she had when she entered the music scene, she continues to inspire and promote the next generation of local artists. She has been active in Indigenous music, using her songs to speak to the matters close to her and her community. In 2017, she was nominated at the Indigenous Music Awards for EP My Sister’s Heart.

“I had the privilege of first working with Missy in the lead up to the Special Hockey International Tournament in Peterborough back in 2017,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “I am so happy that someone who has used her talents to give back to our community as a positive role model is be appointed to the Ontario Arts Council.”

“It is an honour to sit on the Ontario Arts Council Board of Directors,” said Knott. “It is and has always been important to me to foster a creative vision and help artists realize their voice and their passions. Success is not an individual achievement but the result of learning, engaging, collaborating and hard work. The same is true of communities, and I am so happy to be a part of this one.”

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Curve Lake First Nation Athletes Bring Back Five Medals From North American Indigenous Games In Halifax

Curve Lake First Nation representing Team Ontario is bringing back five medals including one gold, two silver and two bronze from Halifax in the 2023 North American Indigenous Games in softball and soccer.

(From Left to Right) Top Row: McKenzie Taylor, Softball; Danika Jacobs, Soccer; Abagail Jacobs, soccer; Grady Taylor, Softball and Quinn Jacobs, Softball. Bottom Row (softball): Jeffery Jacobs, Quinn Jacobs, Carter Jacobs, Tristin Williams, Ryker Jacobs, Louis Jacobs, Josh Knott and Grady Taylor. Photo courtesy of Curve Lake First Nation.

McKenzie Taylor was the lone gold medalist for U16 Female Softball. Team Ontario split the finals with Team Manitoba for gold due to weather cancellations for the playoffs.

The following are Team Ontario’s results for U16 Female Softball:

• Game 1, July 17: 9-0 win vs. Alberta

• Game 2, July 17: 9-4 win vs. Nova Scotia

• Game 3, July 18: 7-3 loss vs. Manitoba

• Game 4, July 19: 8-1 win vs. British Columbia

• Game 5, July 20: 12-3 win vs. Saskatchewan

• Game 6: July 20: 15-2 win vs. Wisconsin

• Gold Medal Game: vs. Manitoba (cancelled)

Danika and Abagail Jacobs were able to take home silver for Team Ontario in U19 Female Soccer. Ontario went undefeated with a 3-0-1 record in their preliminary pools (Pool B) but fell short in the finals to Team Alberta, 5-1.

The following are Team Ontario’s results for U19 Female Soccer:

• Game 1, July 17: 9-0 win vs. Nova Scotia

• Game 2, July 18: 6-2 win vs. Wisconsin

• Game 3, July 19: 0-0 draw vs. Saskatchewan

• Game 4, July 20: 2-0 win vs. Saskatchewan

• Finals, July 22: 5-1 loss vs. Alberta

Grady Taylor and Quinn Jacobs were the lone boys who brought back medals for Curve Lake, earning bronze in U16 Male Softball representing Team Ontario. They had a 2-2 record in the preliminaries that qualified them for the bronze medal match that they won 12-5 vs. British Columbia.

The following are Team Ontario’s results for U16 Male Softball:

• Game 1, July 17: 13-3 loss vs. Saskatchewan

• Game 2, July 18: 11-4 win vs. Nova Scotia

• Game 3, July 18: 5-4 win vs. British Columbia

• Game 4, July 19: 14-7 loss vs. Manitoba

• Silver Medal Game, July 12: 12-5 win vs. British Columbia

The U19 Male softball team had finished in fifth place and had nine Curve Lake First Nation members (one coach and eight players).

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Curve Lake First Nation Sends 10 Athletes to North American Indigenous Games In Halifax

Curve Lake is sending ten young athletes to represent Team Ontario in the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax, N.S. in five days of competition beginning Monday.

Photo courtesy of NAIG 2023.

Representing Curve Lake for Team Ontario are Louis Jacobs, Carter Jacobs, Rivor Taylor, Tristin Williams and Josh Knott who are all teammates for U19 Male Softball. Abagail Jacobs and Danika Jacobs are entered for U19 Female Soccer. McKenzie Taylor is the lone athlete for U16 Female Softball while Quinn Jacons and Grady Taylor are in U16 Male Softball.

The event started on Saturday and runs until July 24 with opening ceremonies that began on Sunday. There are 756 Indigenous Nations with over 5,000 athletes competing in 15 different events in this year’s games according to the official NAIG website.

The following is the schedule for Team Ontario with Curve Lake athletes:

U19 Male Softball

• Monday, vs. Manitoba at 10:15 a.m.

• Tuesday, vs. Nova Scotia at 8 a.m.

• Tuesday, vs. Alberta at noon

• Wednesday vs. Eastern Door and the North at 8:15 a.m.

• Thursday vs. British Columbia at 1 p.m.

• Thursday vs. Saskatchewan at 5 p.m.

U19 Female Soccer

• Monday, vs. Nova Scotia at 8 a.m.

• Tuesday, vs. Wisconsin at 8 a.m.

• Wednesday vs. Saskatchewan at 8 a.m.

U16 Male Softball

• Monday, vs. Saskatchewan at 4:15 p.m.

• Tuesday, vs. Nova Scotia at 10:15 a.m.

• Wednesday vs. Manitoba at 10:15 a.m.

• Wednesday vs. British Columbia at 5 p.m.

U16 Female Softball

• Monday, vs. Alberta at 7:30 a.m.

• Monday, vs Nova Scotia at 3:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, vs. Manitoba at 11:30 a.m.

• Wednesday, vs. British Columbia at 9:30 a.m.

• Thursday, vs. Saskatchewan at 8:15 a.m.

• Thursday, vs. Wisconsin at 12:30 p.m.

All games can be streamed via Youtube on NAIG’s official channel.

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Curve Lake First Nation Educational Department and Otonabee Conservation Celebrate World Turtle Day with Mikinaak Trail Signs

The Curve Lake First Nation Cultural Centre and Otonabee Conservation are raising awareness about local turtles with the installation of Mikinaak trail crossing signs along the Jackson Creek Trail and at Curve Lake First Nation.

photo courtesy of otonabee conservation.

May 23rd is World Turtle Day, a day to increase respect for and knowledge about one of the world’s oldest creatures – turtles or in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway), Mikinaak.

According to experts, turtles are the most threatened of the major groups of vertebrates, more so than birds, mammals, and fish with about 75 per cent of turtles worldwide being threatened or already extinct. All of Ontario’s eight species of turtles are at risk of disappearing.

Mikinaak crossing signs will be mounted on kilometre marker posts along the Jackson Creek Trail, providing trail visitors with a QR code that connects to the Turtle Guardians Sighting Report Form; when turtles are spotted along the trail, visitors can report their sighting to help advance turtle conservation efforts.

Turtle education signs will also be installed at Curve Lake First Nation and along the Jackson Creek Trail. Text and species names of Ontario Turtles have been translated into Anishinaabemowin, the local dialect of the Ojibway language.

“As a result of colonization, Anishinaabemowin has lost many words, sounds, and phrases that will never be regained,” explained Anne Taylor from the Curve Lake First Nation Education Department. “That includes some of the turtle species included on these educational signs. Where possible, the traditional turtle species names have been used but new names have been created for some species, based on what makes these turtles special to the Curve Lake First Nation community.”

Anishinaabemowin is predominantly a spoken language. Efforts are underway to include QR codes that link to audio clips of Curve Lake First Nation Elders speaking Anishinaabemowin species names so that visitors can hear the pronunciation of the local dialect.

For more information or to report a turtle sighting visit turtleguardians.com/report-sightings which will help advance turtle conservation efforts.

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Three Curve Lake Players Selected to Represent Team Ontario In 2023 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

Mikayla Williams, Emerson Taylor and Sidney Wakely of Curve Lake are headed to Winnipeg to represent Team Ontario in the 2023 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships held from Sunday to May 13.

Williams (left), Taylor (middle) and Wakely (right) are all from the same bloodline from Curve Lake. Photos courtesy of Mike Williams.

Williams is the lone Curve Lake representative for the Ontario female roster as a defenseman. She played 30 games and three playoff games with the U18 Okanagan Hockey Academy Female Prep of the U18 Canadian Sport School Hockey League. She logged one assist and two penalty minutes for the season.

Taylor played left wing for the Mississauga Reps U16 AAA in 26 games this season in the U16 AAA Greater Toronto Hockey League. He had one assist and four penalty minutes during that span. He makes the team as an alternate.

Wakely played 43 games for the Port Hope Panthers of the Provincial Junior Hockey League this season. He had six goals and 13 assists, tying the team for fourth in the latter category. He had two goals and six assists in 19 playoff games. He also played for the U15 AAA Peterborough Petes in the 2019-20 season.

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Curve Lake's Sierra Jacobs Selected to 2022 Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival

Curve Lake’s Sierra Jacobs is headed to Calgary for the 2022 Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival, representing team ‘Little NHL’ in the U15 platinum division.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Ice Kats.

Jacobs’s team is comprised of all First Nation female hockey players in a four-day tournament.

She is also a member of the PGHA GP Wealth Management U15 Peterborough IceKats. Her teammate Cece-Lyn Beaulne of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation is also joining her as part of the Little NHL team.

The team’s schedule is as follows:

• Friday vs Surrey Falcons at 11:45 a.m.

• Friday vs San Jose Jr. Sharks at 7 p.m.

• Saturday vs. Winnipeg Titans at 5:30 p.m.

• Sunday vs. North Central Impact at 10 a.m.

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Peterborough Laker and Curve Lake Resident Drafted to the NLL's Philadelphia Wings

Peterborough Jr. A Lakers and Curve Lake’s Deacan Knott has been drafted 38th overall in the 2022 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Wings.

File photo.

The 20-year-old goaltender was selected 38th overall and joins Paul Day, Lakers general manager with the Wings.

Knott is the only Wings draftee who has no college commitment so he is eligible to report to the team’s training camp. All other drafted players will not be seen by the Wings until next year.

The Curve Lake resident won gold with Canada at the World Junior Box Lacrosse Championships. Knott made 46 saves on 55 shots en route to a 16-9 win for Team Canada over Team Haudenosaunee in the finals.

Knott was named All-World First Team for all goalkeepers during that tournament.

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Peterborough Jr. A Lakers' Deacan Knott Wins Gold at World Junior Box Lacrosse Tournament

Peterborough Jr. A Lakers and Curve Lake’s Deacan Knott won gold at the International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) World Junior Lacrosse Championship at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Man. on Sunday.

Knott (pictured) had a 12.00 goals allowed on average, fifth-best in the tournament. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Jr. A Lakers.

Knott made 46 saves on 55 shots en route to a 16-9 win for Team Canada over Team Haudenosaunee in the finals.

The 19-year-old made an assist in the championship game that led to a shorthanded goal by teammate Silas Richmond.

Knott was named All-World First Team for all goalkeepers. He is eligible for the 2022 National Lacrosse League draft.

Former Laker and Brooklin Lacrosse Club assistant coach Gavin Prout was Canada’s head coach.

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Curve Lake Honoured By Lakefield Chiefs In Partnership At Last Regular-Season Game

Curve Lake First Nation was honoured with a plaque unveiling by the Lakefield Chiefs to celebrate their partnership in their last regular-season game on Tuesday.

(from left to right) Carson Hartwick, Lakefield Chiefs assistant captain; Shawn Dunbar, Chiefs general manager; Michael Battaglia; Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor; Anita Locke, Lakefield Ward Councillor: Jeff Jacobs, Deputy Chief of Curve Lake First Nation; Assistant General Manager of Lakefield Chiefs Junior Hockey Club George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager and Jake Hagen, Georgina Ice assistant captain. Photo courtesy of the Lakefield Chiefs.

The plaque is located in the main lobby of the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre that describes the team’s history and affiliation with the Curve Lake First Nation.

Another sign had a land acknowledgement statement of being on the treaty and traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg.

(from left to right) George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager; Shawn Dunbar, Chiefs general manager; Jeff Jacobs, Deputy Chief of Curve Lake First Nation and Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor. Photo courtesy of the Lakefield Chiefs.

The Chiefs have been under fire in recent years for the use of Indigenous logos and names for the team’s branding. The plaque explains the team was formed in the 1960s by then-Curve Lake First Nation Chief Dalton Jacobs. The logo (also used by the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks) is a symbol of strength and perseverance.

“The community and the players that come play for us, they know our winning culture,” said George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager. “I think they need to understand how we were made and come from.”

As part of the team’s continued partnership with Curve Lake First Nation, the team will wear orange warm-up jerseys with the “Every Child Matters” slogan on the front.

Lakefield fell to the Georgina Ice 4-1 with Carson Hartwick as the lone goal-scorer for the Chiefs.

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