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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sioux Valley to spend $2M on portable classrooms
BRANDON — The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation will invest more than $2 million in portable classrooms as 90 students will be transferred from Sioux Valley High School in Brandon to the community in the fall. The move was prompted by serious concerns about the safety and suitability of the building, Sioux Valley Chief Vincent Tacan told the Brandon Sun. Tacan said council made the decision due to the building's aging infrastructure, potential asbestos contamination and an outdated boiler-based heating system in the basement. 'Would you put your child in a school that has asbestos?' he asked. 'We won't gamble with the health of our students or staff anymore. That building was supposed to be temporary, now we're nearly 10 years in.' Originally built in 1914, the former Fleming school was purchased by the community in partnership with the Brandon School Division as an interim measure while awaiting a new facility, Tacan said. 'It was originally designed for younger students, not high schoolers, and has fallen into further disrepair over the years.' Sioux Valley had hoped to be on track for a new, permanent school, but a recent letter from Indigenous Services Canada dashed those expectations. In the letter addressed to chief and council and shared with the Sun, Kandice Léonard, ISC's regional director general for Manitoba, stated: 'Indigenous Services Canada has not committed funding for the design and construction of a new school … Sioux Valley Dakota Nation remains included in the department's prioritization process for future investment consideration.' The news left the community disheartened. 'There was a perception in the community that a new school was coming. That was not true,' Tacan said. With no confirmed government funding, Sioux Valley is moving ahead with its own funds to secure the portable classrooms. 'We're funding this ourselves because we have to,' Tacan said. 'It's what our children deserve.' The new portable setup will return about 90 students to their home community, sparing them from about three-hour-long daily commutes to Brandon-area schools such as Crocus Plains, Vincent Massey and Neelin High. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. The portable classrooms will be delivered and installed ahead of the 2025–26 academic year, Tacan said. The community is also seeking support from other organizations and is open to partnerships to expand or enhance the temporary facilities, particularly to secure a gymnasium, he added. Tacan said Sioux Valley's struggle is not unique. 'There are 63 First Nations in Manitoba, and many of their schools are in rough shape,' he said. 'Now we have wildfires in the north, and the resources are being stretched even thinner.' — Brandon Sun
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sioux Valley to spend $2M on portable classrooms
BRANDON — The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation will invest more than $2 million in portable classrooms as 90 students will be transferred from Sioux Valley High School in Brandon to the community in the fall. The move was prompted by serious concerns about the safety and suitability of the building, Sioux Valley Chief Vincent Tacan told the Brandon Sun. Tacan said council made the decision due to the building's aging infrastructure, potential asbestos contamination and an outdated boiler-based heating system in the basement. 'Would you put your child in a school that has asbestos?' he asked. 'We won't gamble with the health of our students or staff anymore. That building was supposed to be temporary, now we're nearly 10 years in.' Originally built in 1914, the former Fleming school was purchased by the community in partnership with the Brandon School Division as an interim measure while awaiting a new facility, Tacan said. 'It was originally designed for younger students, not high schoolers, and has fallen into further disrepair over the years.' Sioux Valley had hoped to be on track for a new, permanent school, but a recent letter from Indigenous Services Canada dashed those expectations. In the letter addressed to chief and council and shared with the Sun, Kandice Léonard, ISC's regional director general for Manitoba, stated: 'Indigenous Services Canada has not committed funding for the design and construction of a new school … Sioux Valley Dakota Nation remains included in the department's prioritization process for future investment consideration.' The news left the community disheartened. 'There was a perception in the community that a new school was coming. That was not true,' Tacan said. With no confirmed government funding, Sioux Valley is moving ahead with its own funds to secure the portable classrooms. 'We're funding this ourselves because we have to,' Tacan said. 'It's what our children deserve.' The new portable setup will return about 90 students to their home community, sparing them from about three-hour-long daily commutes to Brandon-area schools such as Crocus Plains, Vincent Massey and Neelin High. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The portable classrooms will be delivered and installed ahead of the 2025–26 academic year, Tacan said. The community is also seeking support from other organizations and is open to partnerships to expand or enhance the temporary facilities, particularly to secure a gymnasium, he added. Tacan said Sioux Valley's struggle is not unique. 'There are 63 First Nations in Manitoba, and many of their schools are in rough shape,' he said. 'Now we have wildfires in the north, and the resources are being stretched even thinner.' — Brandon Sun
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brandon evacuees move to Sioux Valley owing to baseball tourney
BRANDON — As many as 100 wildfire evacuees staying at two hotels in Brandon had to temporarily relocate to Sioux Valley Friday. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vince Tacan said rooms at the hotels had been pre-booked by visitors attending the Wheat City Classic baseball tournament this weekend. 'We were at a CFS meeting when we were asked to help,' he said. 'We're expecting to take in between 60 and 100 people at Sioux Valley, since there's no room left in Brandon.' The Canadian Red Cross said about 100 evacuees in Brandon had to be relocated on Friday. 'At times, due to circumstances beyond our control for room availability, people may need to transfer locations for temporary accommodations,' a Red Cross spokesperson told the Brandon Sun in an email. 'We recognize that emergency evacuations can be stressful, and our teams are doing their best to help people during this difficult time.' Tacan said he expects evacuees will likely return to the hotels Monday after the tournament concludes. Sioux Valley prepared to house individuals in community spaces such as the school, community hall and the Dakota Oyate Lodge, which may extend hours for meal services. The First Nation is co-ordinating 'security and volunteers' to support the temporary guests. Tacan emphasized his community is committed to stepping up in a time of need. 'This is very last minute, but we're doing what we can,' he said. 'People need a safe place to go, even for just a few days.' Alternative accommodations are being considered across Brandon and elsewhere in the province. A community leader, who asked to remain anonymous, said dormitories at Brandon University have been discussed as an option. Lois Ruston, president of YWCA Westman, confirmed that women's shelters in the province, including theirs, have been on standby to support the evacuees. 'We've been working collaboratively with shelters across Manitoba for the past week to accommodate people displaced by wildfires,' she said. 'Due to confidentiality, we can't disclose how many are with us or when they arrived.' — Brandon Sun
Winnipeg Free Press
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brandon firefighters race to Lynn Lake to protect buildings from flames
BRANDON — Five Brandon firefighters and two of the fire department's officers have been summoned to help protect Lynn Lake, which has been evacuated owing to the wildfires burning around it. All five are trained paramedics. They, along with a shift officer and a training officer, left Brandon early Thursday, said Brandon Fire and Emergency Services Chief Terry Parlow. 'They won't be fighting any forest fires,' Parlow said. 'They'll have two focuses once they get to Lynn Lake. They'll be going around the community making sure there are no hot spots in the urban centre of the town.' They will also protect properties by erecting and manning sprinklers. Lynn Lake, which has a population of 600, is about 1,157 kilometres north of Brandon. Except for essential workers, everyone was evacuated Monday because of an out-of-control wildfire north of the community, estimated at 7,000 hectares in size. Parlow put out a request to see if anyone was interested in making the 12-hour drive, and said he had 30 people sign up. 'First and foremost, we just wanted to make sure that we answered the call that Premier (Wab) Kinew put out, which is to help out as much as we can as a fire service. So, we're just doing what we need to do. This is important for our fellow Manitobans,' Parlow said. The teams will be deployed for up to six days at a time on a rotating basis. Each team will leave when the new crew arrives. 'We'll get updates from our team as well as the province as to where they need us next. And it might not be Lynn Lake, so the next team might be going somewhere else,' Parlow said. More than 17,000 residents of northern communities scrambled to escape advancing wildfires this week, as the City of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Mathias Colomb First Nation issued mandatory evacuation orders. Brandon, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie have stepped up by taking evacuees, the majority of whom have arrived in Winnipeg. As of Thursday afternoon, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said about 300 evacuees are being housed in Brandon hotels, with another 200 in Portage la Prairie. Most of the evacuees in Brandon are from Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Fawcett said, adding that it was quite possible Brandon could expect more arrivals. 'Things are changing quickly,' Fawcett said. 'Everybody is prepared for more.' Fawcett, in a Thursday news release, extended his thoughts and support to all First Nations and municipalities impacted by the wildfires, while sending thanks to those fighting the fires in all capacities. 'We are profoundly grateful to all of the first responders and volunteers working tirelessly to protect our fellow Manitobans,' Fawcett said. — Brandon Sun
The Guardian
26-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
A Hutterite chicken butcher covered in blood … Tim Smith's best photograph
The Hutterites are an Anabaptist movement – they believe in adult baptism and pacifism. Like the Mennonites and the Amish, they emerged from the Radical Reformation in central Europe in the 1500s, but unlike them they live communally, with all goods and property shared among members of the community. Today, Hutterite colonies mostly exist on either side of the US-Canada border, where there are more than 500 of them. In 2009, I was driving through Canada's Manitoba prairies in search of interesting photos for the newspaper I work for, the Brandon Sun, when I spotted some women working in the garden at Deerboine Colony. I knew a little about the Hutterites but not a lot, and pulled over to ask if I could make some pictures. The women were friendly and agreed, and I spent the afternoon chatting and photographing them. One of the young women took a flip phone out and took some pictures of me while I was working. Until then, I would have assumed Hutterites avoid modern technology in much the same way Amish and many Mennonite communities do. But this woman had almost exactly the same phone as I did, and that's what hooked me. I had a series of discussions with the colony's minister, Tom, who was open to me coming back to learn more and take further photographs. At the time I thought: 'Here's a personal project I can sink my teeth into outside of my job and freelance work, and maybe spend a year on.' I've now been visiting Hutterite colonies for more than 15 years – a few dozen of them so far. I remain fascinated by their way of life, and want to show it in as nuanced a way as possible. The colonies are very self-sufficient. Their members grow and raise the overwhelming majority of the food they eat. Deerboine has a poultry barn, and the life of an egg-laying chicken is about nine months. Every year there's a turnover as new hens are brought in for peak egg production and the last batch are slaughtered. When this photograph was taken, in 2015, I think they had around 11,000 chickens, and every able-bodied person in the community helped out in the two days of butchering. The first time I approached Tom to ask whether I could photograph the process, he made a deal with me. He said: 'If you help out in the morning, you can photograph in the afternoon.' The chickens are stunned with an electric rod, then decapitated, then they go in a big drum that removes all the feathers before the carcass goes down a sort of assembly line to be cleaned and packaged to be frozen. I helped out with the cleaning part. I was vegetarian at the time, so it was an interesting experience, but it was fascinating to see how everyone worked. Justin Hofer, who you see here, really stood out. Seeing him covered in blood, I wanted to make a portrait that showed this is hard work, and not pretty. About 80 to 90% of my Hutterite work is fly-on-the-wall documentary stuff, just waiting for things to happen, while the portraits tell the story a bit differently, giving more of an insight into individuals. They also terrify me, because I'm a fairly socially awkward person. This portrait draws viewers in: you want to know the story behind it. Why is this young man covered in blood? It's a little shocking, and people in mainstream society can be uncomfortable with the idea of where their food comes from. Justin has since left the colony, as young Hutterites occasionally do, although some later return. They tend to do very well in the outside world as they have a reputation for being intelligent and hard-working. But there's clearly a huge draw to the kind of community life Hutterites practice – that closeness, not having to worry about losing wages if you get sick, or who's going to take care of you. There's a lot of joy and laughter. I can definitely see the appeal of Hutterite life. Born: Ottawa, Canada Journalism and photography at the Western Academy of Photography, Victoria, 'So many documentary photographers. Amy Toensing was the first photographer whose work I really connected with. Lynn Johnson, Ami Vitale, Stephanie Sinclair, Natela Grigalashvili, Lucas Foglia, Terra Fondriest, Larry Towell – too many others to name.'High point: 'Any moment I get to spend photographing people who are gracious enough to share their lives with me, and especially when I'm out at a colony. I'm always happy there.'Low point: 'The deterioration of photojournalism as a viable career, especially in Canada, feels like a continual low point that gets lower every year. Making a mistake while doing my job also always feels pretty low, even if it's as simple as spelling a name wrong in a caption.'Top tip: 'Invest in time over any other aspect. Gear doesn't matter. Find something to photograph you're curious about and want to keep going back to again and again.'
