Mentor Andy Yesno, Eabametoong First Nation
On September 22, 2022, a friend, colleague, teacher, and mentor Andy Yesno (Eabametoong First Nation) passed away.
Andy Yesno, Eabametoong First Nation. Andy passed away on September 22, 2022. He was a friend, colleague, and mentor. He will be sadly missed by many, including myself. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in Andy’s office, in Fort Hope, on January 29, 2014.
Andy was a descendant of “Yesno”, a Chief and signatory to Treaty 9 (1905). He was a grandfather (Choomish), a husband (a-we-gee-ahgan), a father (ween dede), and a brother (indawemaa). To me, he was a friend (do-dem), colleague, teacher (key-key-no-hah-mah inini), and mentor.
I met Andy in 2001 at a meeting in Thunder Bay where we both delivered presentations. He was a powerful orator and his message moved me to ask for help. He invited me to his community of Fort Hope where my far north, First Nation journey began.
Andy served his community in many ways, but two stand out to me. He was the senior advisor to Chief and Council and he was the one who often outreached and mentored many people, like myself, who had little insight about the ways of First Nation people.
Andy adopted the name Andy1 (Andy bezhig) and I was Christened Andy2 (Andy niizh), which simplified discussions at the meeting table with Chief and Council.
Some highlights of my time with Andy1 include:
2002: he provided guidance related to a Memorandum of Cooperation (ween-dah-mah-gay-win on-jay we-tah-no-key-me-te-win) between Eabametoong First Nation and Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
2002: he delivered cultural awareness sessions to technical staff, officials, and the entire executive of the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The only time I saw him struggle was during the session with the technical geological staff when he admitted to me that he could not connect with them, yet he did not give up.
2002: he advised on, and facilitated the signing of, a communication project between Eabametoong First Nation and Ontario Geological Survey.
2004: he guided Eabametoong First Nation in their collaboration with Natural Resources Canada, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and Chikak-Communications on the development of a video entitled “Our Community…Our Future: Mining and Aboriginal Communities”, which involved multiple communities, but which encouraged frank perspectives from First Nation people spoken in their native languages.
he guided the preparation for, and execution of, community visits by Government Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Government officials.
he interpreted our technical information, and shared with us community questions, at many band information meetings - a special skill.
On a personal side, Andy1 opened his home to us, shared his family, and showed me how his family practiced their traditions on the land. On two winter road trips, he patiently answered my questions and explained the ways of a First Nation community, the role of the community head people (neganii), and the social and political issues.
Sometimes, he explained things in a way that required careful listening. When the audience, like myself, needed a more direct answer, he responded bluntly and directly, followed by a smile.
He had two sayings that stick with me. One was “walk the community streets, where people will see you, ask who you are, and over time, will get to know you”. He was correct.
His second expression was “it takes time, but it will all make sense”. Andy1 and I joked about “Indian time” (his words) and geology time. Both are connected (gidinawendimin) - the Anishinaabe are people of the land and geology describes the physical land. Both reveal their insights, but only at the right time, to people who listen and look. Yes, he was correct. It does takes time.
But, we are sad when that time comes. Andy Yesno’s passing leaves a deep hole in our sad hearts. But, like a flower whose bloom fades and falls to the ground, we understand his seeds of knowledge have spread and live on. We will smile again in the early spring (ziigwan), when the cold sadness loosens its grip on our spirits.
To Christine and the rest of the Yesno family, I am thinking of all of you. May your find peace despite the sadness of your loss.
Meegwetch (thank you), Andy1, for the risk you took and all you shared. I apologize for my poor Anishinaabemowin, but as you once reassured me, “they are laughing with you, not at you”. Pee-nah-mah mee-nah-wah. Gashkendam, Andy2
November 23/22; Facebook post: Sept 26/22