For the last couple months, Thompson resident Jason Cook has been lobbying the city to see if they will take any action to commemorate his deceased father Henry Cook, who was an influential trapper and pioneer in the early days of Thompson.
Cook first brought this issue to the city’s attention at a Nov. 21 recreation and community services committee meeting, and returned to the Mary Fenske Boardroom on Dec. 19 with a specific list of steps council could take to, in his eyes, recognize his father’s contributions.
According to Cook, this could be accomplished through creating a number of local landmarks and/or programs in his father’s name, including: a street name; a log cabin; a treatment centre; a bust or statue; a scholarship fund; and/or residential units
Cook said he developed this list through talking with members of his family and representatives from Vale.
“If there is any other way that we could come to consensus or an agreement with the parties involved, by all means, that’s what I’m looking at,” said Cook.
During the Dec. 19 meeting, Cook also addressed the skepticism that’s mounted against his campaign, specifically with regards to his claim that his father allowed Inco (which has since been purchased by Brazilian mining giant Vale) to set up operations on his land in 1956 after a major nickel ore body was discovered.
Several members of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) have since argued that this piece of land has always belonged to them, whereas Cook is using the Manitoba government’s Registered Trapline (RTL) system to prove his point.
“My father was given this territory … to use as a trapline,” he said on Dec. 19, promising to bring documents that definitively prove that fact to future meetings. “I want the committee to be aware of actually what has happened and this is not made up stories of my doing. I’m going by the facts that were carried out from the people that passed them on to me.”
Cook also mentioned that Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle recently recognized his father’s contributions to the City of Thompson in front of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba on Dec. 6.
“Henry Cook passed away in 2000, leaving behind a legacy that connects past traditions to present day northern communities,” said Bindle during a two-minute address to the assembly.
Coun. Dennis Foley wrapped up the Dec. 19 meeting by saying that this is just the first step in a long process and that the committee will possibly be looking into broadening the scope of this project going forward.
“We’re going to be looking at the tribute policy and then possibly looking at forming a committee to recognize multiple first builders of the City of Thompson,” said Foley. “So as that progresses or comes to fruition we’ll definitely be in contact with you.”
The next step in this process will likely take place at the following recreation and community services committee meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 16.
