Lieutenant Governor and Governor General Visit First Nation Communities in Ontario’s North

TORONTO, June 8 – In an unprecedented joint vice-regal visit to Ontario’s North, His Honour the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, accompanied by Grand Chief Stan Beardy of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, will visit two First Nations communities, Wunnumin Lake and Mishkeegogamang, on Tuesday 12 June. These visits will highlight partnerships forged by the Lieutenant Governor between the people of Ontario and aboriginal communities, to bring hope to Native children and youth and to show them that others care. Specifically, the day will showcase the Lieutenant Governor’s four literacy initiatives. In two book drives, in 2004 and 2007, 1.4 million books were provided to establish libraries in First Nation communities across northern Ontario, northern Quebec and Nunavut. In 2005 his School Twinning Program built lasting bridges by linking nearly 150 aboriginal schools in Ontario and Nunavut with non-aboriginal schools across Ontario. In 2006 he established 36 Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camps in 28 northern fly-in First Nations communities, and launched Club Amick to provide books and newsletters to 5000 aboriginal children in Ontario’s North.

VISIT TO WUNNUMIN LAKE FIRST NATION – Tuesday 12 June 2007/9:00 AM

His Honour and Her Excellency, together with Grand Chief Stan Beardy, will take part in a literacy event and present books collected in His Honour’s recent book drive to the Lydia L. Beardy Memorial School. The morning will also include visits to the day care, seniors’ home, and nursing station, culminating in a community ceremony and feast and a performance of the Wunnumin legend, a tale of how the community came to be.

VISIT TO MISHKEEGOGAMANG OJIBWAY NATION – Tuesday 12 June 2007/3:00 PM

His Honour and Her Excellency, accompanied by Grand Chief Beardy, will tour the community and visit Missabay School, before taking part in a ceremony and celebration attended by all 134 Chiefs of First Nation communities in Ontario, followed by a community feast and square dance.

Both communities have received thousands of books collected in His Honour’s book drives. Lydia L. Beardy Memorial School in Wunnumin Lake is twinned with Terrace Bay Public School in Terrace Bay. Missabay School in Mishkeegogamang is twinned with East Lambton Elementary School in Watford. Wunnumin Lake is the site of an Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camp which will run for five years, and all local children aged five to ten are members of Club Amick.

For further information: Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Tel. (416) 325-7780, www.lt.gov.on.ca; Jenna Young, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Tel. (807) 625-4952, www.nan.on.ca; Isabelle Serrurier, Rideau Hall Press Office, Tel. (613) 998-7280, www.gg.ca