The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Catherine Imam Chronicle staff Until recently, the Native Indian population in the Kitchener-Waterloo area was almost invisible. Even many Natives failed to realize that they were not alone. The Weejeendimin (Ojibway for "walking together") Native Resource Centre has been changing this situation. In the two months since its opening. Carolyn Musgrove. Beth Stadeittatier and Verda Worsley, the Centre's staff, have been working hard to reach all the Native people in the area and bring them together. "There was just never a centre " Native people in this area before," Musgrove said. “I came to Kitchener in 1975 and it was three years before I realized there was an organization for Natives." The organization referred to by Musgrove is the Ontario Metis and Non-Status Indian Association (White Owl). It was this group that conceived the idea for the Centre and now supervises the operation. "The whole group had wanted a centre for a long time," said White Owl president Elaine Garner. "Then the opportunity for the Canada Works program came up so we wrote a proposal and submitted it. It was about six weeks from the time of the proposal until the time it was approved." Canada Works grants are made available through the Ministry of Employment anti, Irnpitrrathtn: . Nine but it is firmly Established, the Centre is trying to meet a variety of needs found in the Native community. A major priority of Worsley's is compiling a resource kit for natives and people interested in natiye culture: -- "It will contain the addresses of Indian centres throughout the province," she said. “It will also have information on current Native issues as well as a few pages on the history of the Native community in this area." The staff also hopes to have a speaker from Indian Affairs come in to talk to local Natives about status. "Status has become such an important issue right now," Worsley said. Those" most affected by the issue are Native women who lost their status by marrying non-native men. Both m tempers 'ttighttt on man than we mam _ ttttemit-da/tttim-tra-ttttgrasses-ttttttt :1, when teams Mauve! tartmmtattttttttrt. 'ttitttgtg','it 'tFttteittttttritattdt- aware. 1ttttt Itgtgrttad away ttHtiertt-ittte, tttttte 'ttttttttttti at ttrrtMu.ntetstittgmtttrgmu'itrtitIattiet,trRttatt _etttstimirteteta%iqtitntitrrtoitgttttt1Nttestmttattqe's V :a‘nths '1e3r, , » . WM» has: he gt-tttttqt-' In ate mama... ... 'lg/ff/et/de',',',,'.' an new a an“ an tttttttttt tttatt' was!» W. as m a - and "Mb . gimma'm -tar.g.Airm.Stttt"t9tt't ijitutetiatatt . amalgam; tttittte Wftet1tttt W!“ tttttty .'perttssmm1trtredjmeethrtttetivastratr-a,aiaat WWW“.WMM“W A A v_v_- _, A A AIM W.trtrutritttttit, tttit/at'":'-)- m. m U ntyty1t_t"_ii,_tiyeti:i air to _1jlriil_lll)ij'/ll HA meeting; . C, parents ")ilrtry5itir' _irto. _ttilk_tis tyt:lhttryit" ,aVenues. Stadelbauer and Musgrove were in this category. Only recently did they have their status reinstated. Worsley faces a very different situation. Both her parents were status Indians but chose to disenfranchise in order for her father to get a job in Toronto. The out! of tho WWW“: Mauve Rm cm (Hi to right); Verda Worthy. Both Stadolbauor and Cudyn Metrotte.cae-or--, "it meant that we eouldn't live on the reservation 1Gllotrf and we had to give up all the bene ts that come with status," Worsley said. "My father really regretted the decision afterwards." Worsiey is now fighting to be reinstated. One of the most important services offered by the Centre is counselling referral. People often come in looking for Helping Natives feel at home V N "i"'. ‘v’ ' - _": " VI!“ V _fW8tr: .m‘ ,rq.' r.yltlrqlltlllVS,lttMR,. 'tttne, 'i1atiiiiiilttrii'bi"qttittr'jito,"w muggy-m'ulu'm'mugwqu . . " I n “ (ei/rl"'")", ic' new “null" _ l _ ' .'.r "I don’tknw 'tta by in 'ttirttttetMttrdmrtr on they» Whisks“ auctioning a mm?!» gigging-Kw; Liiiik hummus“- _ ui. g ttttttttt : ' /mrery,gaat-dttratstap" mmuaa'wmgtmwwh 'sate-Nitrates-tttje-hart) "ttst. A Artatttorr'tseWs, _ wum'bybnn’a «unmammwmnmm AitrrtMa,ertttttatttt,rtttitrt't M"hndl.. _tqttstt.i,itqjtetAttat't"6'"t-it, T . _ t%ttiati'ttiit as“? ttrqttate at I! 'tr't.6e.4.tttA, aqtttttiMti. by 'srtt-ttt1t-tt'd1. lrriBrJt " W information and assistance in areas such as employment, housing and education. "We refer them to agencies where they can get the kind of help they need," Worsley said. "Evin if they just want to talk, we're here for them," Musgrove added. One of the biggest tasks facing the Centre right now is a complete enumeration of the area's Native population. Stadelbauer has been working at this job full time since the end of The Centre also provides an advocacy service for local Natives. "If someone might have to go to court, we'll go along just to be with them and make sure they speak for themselves," said Worsley. t.ATiytuto-tttxE.-t-,amEs.tes--+ rttiesmotriittuatatr9ihtii1miti0iA. ttt'l'lti,iit m. sl,'itt,tt'i'tl'les', Mel-he 1m. q «have: m _ mvw. 'rprr9rttrrtty.tr1reltt "trr-Air-Es,":-')?!'!?.::, " "iiiri'ii'ri _..- -iari.rkiriii 'TW' _ a "Wt., , an mamas-mm ‘WM mmbmuummmmm “mummw.ma "iamsttst'eedtte my W 'ietkrytr:ir' “my: "e1a80Hattestrtthetti." Studebauer said. "We “than” no at-ttJe-." Staderiba.eriseu-ttye-eeastratt" mstherr-wyef,ytat_tritlereted -erateGoeUA,ca_deeaaHthe sau-dint-a-et"-. . 'tve-de-ae-eh-omit' sour,” denial. “It’swuuka leatgtimetethish." Thea-eat-ra-ai-at . ,vorhah-tertrehqtHHattve comm-ttrt-ter-ire-rits exrtttrraihee$tne.. "The-h-et-dt-ages eve-e,'itetMmst-eorhts eNroedtnatemthe-rams."Adtrttaaatd ettBdmasaeetmttiirrteeeatmtirneamire crafts." So far, the Centre has sponsored two workshops on bead won-k aid no on traditional Native moths. “Wehdawonancomelnndteach people how to more com soup and bonnet." “name said. “we is also trying to amuse Native language cusses. “The popular dialect in this are. is Ojibwey," she said. She mentioned that Natives aren‘t the only people Interested in the workshops. "A lot of non-Indians are interested in Native culture," she said. “The workshops have been about In" and Right now the Centre. along with the whiteowlgrxmp,isintheproeessof planning a Native display for the annual Multicultural Festival to be held in Victoria Park on the Canada Day weekend. The White Owl display was among the most popular at last year's festival. "We sold 100 dozen cobs of corn last year and could have sold more if we had it," Worsley said. They plan on having a teepee set up and will be selling corn soup, hannock and lemonade as well as coin on the cob. There-will also be an arts and crafts table where people can purchase hand-made necklaces, earrings, vests and moccasins. These items are on sale year-round at the Centre. The Weejeendimin Native Resource Centre is located at 265 King St. E., Kitchener. 'ueeoeertar_terthetrteentsrs,thtere ,;, w“ of