March 4, 2021

Winnipeg
3° C, Fair

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Winnipeg Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
Opinion Analysis

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

By taking a risk, a chance to inspire

Kevin Chief By: Kevin Chief
Posted: 4:00 AM CDT Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Children decked out in We are all Treaty People T-shirts played a big part in Thursday’s celebration of the 146th anniversary of the Treaty 1 signing.</p>

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Children decked out in We are all Treaty People T-shirts played a big part in Thursday’s celebration of the 146th anniversary of the Treaty 1 signing.

We are always in a good place when we are willing to learn together. There are examples of how to take risks and succeed. There are always opportunities to move forward in a positive way.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 5/8/2017 (1307 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

We are always in a good place when we are willing to learn together. There are examples of how to take risks and succeed. There are always opportunities to move forward in a positive way.

The ceremony that took place Thursday at the Manitoba Museum was a celebration, and with good reason. The central message of the event — the Winnipeg Free Press’s decision to mark the 146th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 1 with an acknowledgment that, as the T-shirts worn by 200 young Winnipeggers in attendance said, "We are all Treaty People" — was delivered with sincerity and a sense of purpose, but also in a way that allowed the young crowd to feel joyful and proud.

When I saw the old pictures at the Manitoba Museum of those historic treaty signings, there was joy and pride in the agreements reached by the Indigenous Peoples and those of European descent who had come to this territory to build a home, too.

But for too long in this city and province, there has not been pride or joy surrounding this important document — in large part because there has been a lack of understanding about treaty.

My father had many obstacles in life, but loved his son as much as any father could. He wanted to carry a set a burdens for me so I could be free of it. One of the last things I remember him saying is, "I want you to be proud of who you are."

He died far too young from alcoholism and never saw the full benefits of the agreement that was signed at Lower Fort Garry on Aug. 3, 1871.

However, there are new opportunities for all treaty people, like those children in the bright yellow T-shirts, with even brighter eyes, who watched Thursday’s event — an event which, I confess, had me more than a little nervous.

The positive outcome was anything but guaranteed. The newspaper’s gesture could have been rejected. And part of what matters about this is that the Free Press, under the guidance of editor Paul Samyn, was willing to take the risk.

It brought to mind an experience from my own youth, during my first year as a member of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen basketball team.

I had been recruited out of high school with great expectations, but my rookie season was not going well. During my very limited on-court time as a first-year player, I was not producing results; instead of scoring, I was committing turnovers.

I was frustrated, until coach Bill Wedlake offered a bit of wisdom — he called me into his office and said, "I’m not concerned that you’re making mistakes; it’s the kind of mistakes you’re making that’s driving me crazy."

It wasn’t that I was missing shots; it was that I wasn’t taking shots. And it wasn’t that I was turning the ball over; it was that those turnovers didn’t happen as a result of driving to the basket. Coach Wedlake wanted my mistakes to be the result of trying to make my teammates better.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

Paul and the Free Press were willing to try something. I think by taking that risk, and by admitting that there have been times in the past that the newspaper could have done better, the Free Press has shown leadership that might inspire other Manitobans to consider the role that treaties have played in all our lives.

Leadership is a tricky thing. Sometimes, it means taking direct action or speaking out loudly in order to accomplish a goal; other times, leadership requires taking a step back and supporting the voices of others who have struggled to make themselves heard.

Hopefully, the leadership that was shown this week will allow other people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to join the conversation that was sparked by elder and former treaty commissioner Dennis White Bird when he first suggested that "We are all treaty people."

The Aug. 3 editorial that declared the Free Press has been "published since 1872 on Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Métis" was historic, as no major Canadian daily has ever made such a gesture. The editorial was as powerful as it was sincere — and testament to the power of truth in building understanding.

And the Free Press has demonstrated, through its words and actions, how Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can both be stronger when there is a will to come together in the spirit of treaty.

Kevin Chief is vice-president of the Business Council of Manitoba and is proud to stand with all of us as treaty people.

Kevin Chief

Kevin Chief
Point Douglas constituency report

Kevin Chief was the NDP MLA for Point Dougla until 2017.

   Read full biography

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top