Thank you to Darren Okemaysim for permission to use this photo of himself with Robert Falcon Ouellette (Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre) in the Parliamentary Library in Ottawa on 22 March 2018. This photo acknowledges a really proud moment for nêhiyawêwin: we’re so proud of both of you! I hope this moment is the first of many!
At my request, Darren provided the following comments about his work there.
Nikî-nitawi-itwêstamawâw awa okihci-nîkân-apiw ita Ottawa ispihk kâ-kî-niski-pîsimohk. Kî-mâmiskôtam tânêhki anohc piko êkwa ta-itwêstamâcik kinistam-iyiniwak pihcâyihk ita kihci-nîkân-apiwikamikohk, kâhkiyaw nistam-iyiniwak ta-pêhtâcik wî-âpacihtâtwâwi opîkiskwêwiniwâw. Anohc êkw êkwa ati-kitâpahtamok kwayask êkwa nohtê-wîc-âtoskêmêwak kâhkiyaw nistam-iyiniwak ta-pihtikwatâhkik kipîkiskiskwêwininawa.
ᓂᑮᓂᑕᐏ ᐃᑘᐢᑕᒪᐚᐤ ᐊᐘ ᐅᑭᐦᒋ ᓃᑳᐣ ᐊᐱᐤ ᐃᑕ ᐅᑕᐘ ᐃᐢᐱᕽ ᑳᑮᓂᐢᑭᐲᓯᒧᕽ ᙮ ᑮ ᒫᒥᐢᑰᑕᒼ ᑖᓀᐦᑭ ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᐱᑯ ᐁᑿ ᑕᐃᑘᐢᑕᒫᒋᐠ ᑭᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᐱᐦᒑᔨᕽ ᐃᑕ ᑭᐦᒋᓃᑳᐣ ᐊᐱᐏᑲᒥᑯᕽ , ᑳᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑕᐯᐦᑖᒋᐠ ᐑ ᐋᐸᒋᐦᑖᑤᐏ ᐅᐲᑭᐢᑵᐏᓂᐚᐤ ᙮ ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᐁᐠᐤ ᐁᑿ ᐊᑎᑭᑖᐸᐦᑕᒧᐠ ᑿᔭᐢᐠ ᐁᑿ ᓄᐦᑌ ᐑᐨᐋᑐᐢᑫᒣᐘᐠ ᑳᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑕᐱᐦᑎᑿᑖᐦᑭᐠ ᑭᐲᑭᐢᑭᐢᑵᐏᓂᓇᐘ ᙮
I went to interpret for MP (Robert Falcon Ouellette) in Ottawa in March. He addressed why it is important today for interpretation of First Peoples’ languages in the House of Commons, for all First Peoples’ to be heard should they choose to speak their language. They are now looking closely at it and are very willing to work in bringing in our First Peoples’ languages.
In 24 March 2018 interview, Robert-Falcon Ouellette talks about addressing the point of privilege that led to this moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAO5nuQSQFQ&feature=youtu.be
