MAY 2013 VOLUME 16 - NUMBER 5

FREE Sports key to healthy lifestyle for kids

Lac La Ronge Band teams swept the FSIN Youth Hockey Championships this year. Coach Kevin Roberts and his son, Sage, were key members of the Novice entry in the tourney.

STUDENT LEADER Max FineDay is the new president of the U of S Students Union and he’d like to help make some key changes. - Page 7

NEW CHANCELLOR Blaine Favel is a familiar face in Saskathcewan political and business circles and now he has a new job. - Page 11

CEO’S PERSPECTIVE Pinehouse Business North’s Julie Ann Wriston talks about the benefits of mining. It’s a subject she knows well. - Page 15

AWARDS AND REWARDS Fiddler Donny Parenteau has won his share of awards but he’s finding some other rewards in his life. - Page 25 WRITER PRAISES READING Author Lisa Bird-Wison says books are important and feed our spirt . Read, read, read, she says. - Page 27 Welcome to our PROUD FATHER Sports, Youth & Mining Issue Kevin Roberts, Director of Sport Culture and Recreation for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, poses with his son, Sage, Coming In June National Aboriginal Day Edition a member of the Novice La Ronge 89er. Roberts coached the team, one of five La Ronge teams to win its division at the FSIN Youth Hockey Championships. Roberts is convinced the band’s sports program is helping young people to become CPMA #40027204 better students and live healthier lives. See story on Page 31. 2 Eagle Feather News MAY 2013 MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News 3 Stepping Stones to career success By Chris Tyrone Ross vibrant throughout the career fair. Students For Eagle Feather News were intrigued by the interactive S.I.I.T. bus or 13 years, the Stepping Stones equipped with Internet, computers and career Career Fair hosted by File Hills choices. FQu’Appelle Tribal Council in Regina, Twelve-year old Jordan Pelletier, a has become one of the most anticipated and Grade 7 student at Judge Bryant, talked about largest events for Aboriginal Youth in why she came to stepping stones. Saskatchewan. “I just wanted to learn the many choices This year’s career fair took place at the that people have, what I could do (before I Credit Union Eventplex at Evraz Place in grow up and become a teenager) instead of May. It attracted over 1,500 Aboriginal youth sitting alone in my basement being on the from Regina and area between the ages of computer,” she said. 16-30 who interacted with almost 100 career “I want to become a graphic illustrator, booths. Adding to the festivities was their or a graphic designer. I found a ton of what 2nd Annual Art Contest, which honoured I’m looking for. I just learned a ton of new winners and runners-up at an awards things here, ” added Pelletier. ceremony at First Nations University of One event newer to Stepping Stones Canada (FNUniv) the week before. was the 2nd Annual Aboriginal Youth Art “To start at a young age like this, Contest. Winners and runner-ups were elementary and high school, it gets the honoured at a small ceremony at FNUniv. students thinking about what they want to “It helps with the youths’ self esteem,” Key-Lee Rook, was the first place winner of the art contest held in conjunction do when they’re done school,” volunteer explained Dubois. “A lot of them think with Stepping Stones Career Fair. (Photo by Chris Tyrone Ross) organizer Jennifer Dubois explained. they’re not going to win and what’s the point “I just ran into a student today who said of entering but it’s really good motivation ‘I think I want to get into nursing’ and that for them. Our winners were very surprised helps them make their decision about the that they won and it just helps boost their self path they want to take – that stepping stone.” esteem and encourages them to participate What makes Stepping Stones so unique in further events such as this,” Dubois added. is its interactive booths, which gives youth First place winner, Kay-Lee Rock, was the opportunity to do what professionals do excited to win the prestigious award of for a day. From being a camera person at the $1,000. Access Cable booth to trying on fire fighter “I was actually pretty shocked, cause outfits to taking a turn at carpentry or looking at the other contestants’ work, I was checking out the high tech bus of the thinking I was going to be a runner up or in Canadian Marines, it’s all interactive and second or third place, and I was just surprised also includes many informational booths that and happy.” give youth a different kind of excitement for Other winners included; Ashley Prosper any career. (2nd place, $500), Ariel Ironeagle (3rd place,

Alisha Morton, a Grade 8 student at Judge Bryant School in Regina and Raven Thomson, 15, also in Grade 8 at Judge Bryant Elementary School in Regina check out the brick laying display at Stepping Stones Career Fair. Fourteen-year old Alisha Morton, a $250) and runners up Rayna Ellis, Kolton Grade 8 student at Judge Bryant School in Raven, Niomi Geddes, Kaitlyn Wesaquate, Regina and Raven Thomson, 15 checked out Aaliyah O’Watch and Christen Gall. the brick-laying booth and found the event Runner up, Kolton Raven summed up exciting and important. the entire Stepping Stones event the best “I think it’s important because kids can when he interpreted his art work which was get an idea of what they want to be when they a piece of the Hollywood and LAX signs of get older,” said Thompson Los Angeles, California. Morton added, “I get to see new things “What this means to me, is this is the and experience it.” place where I want to go in the future, like to As for what they would like to be when live my life, so this is what I came up with in they finish school, Morten wants to go into mind, I actually planned it this year, so this the mining industry and Thompson hopes to is where I want to go, I probably want to be a monster truck driver. become a famous artist” Throughout the one-day event, the Living proof that Aboriginal youth still excitement of other young people was dream big. 4 Eagle Feather News MAY 2013 StatsCan numbers don’t add up in Saskatchewan he Statistics Canada numbers do to get in the game in tons of entry level not tell the full story of the Aborig - developing our labour jobs but there inal population in Saskatchewan. resources. We are is nothing stopping T close to having a young people from First, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Cons gang cut funding to the organi - potash mine on- being an accountant, zation that does the counting and made the reserve at human resource census non-mandatory. This led to Muskowekwan. This person or an changing forms and sending out less of will be the first such engineer. You just them so we saw a low response rate this operation in Canada. have to want it. year because of the new policies. The uranium Mining Week runs Second, we Métis and First Nations industry has been involving Aboriginal May 26-June 1. Check out the Mine are sneaky and hard to count and some people for decades and the people of Rescue demonstrations at the Prairieland First Nations refuse access to government Pinehouse are celebrating a groundbreak - Park on June 1. Interesting stuff. head-counters. ing business deal with Cameco. • • • Lastly, both the Federation of All of the potash mines in Bill Mintram is a guy who always Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Saskatchewan are looking for workers, and knew he wanted to work with youth. A Métis Nation-Saskatchewan provide much so are all their contractors. Some say it is SUNTEP graduate and teacher by trade, different numbers than the Census data. a boom fueled by expansion and will die Bill has travelled the country with Indian Who are we to believe? down, but Pam Schwann, the Executive Residential School commission, lived in StatsCan says according to the 2011 Director of the Saskatchewan Mining Ottawa, worked for the Treaty 4 Student Census there are 157,740 Aboriginal Association tells us that though the Success program, the City of Saskatoon at BILL MINTRAM people in Saskatchewan representing 15.6 numbers will be reduced, however, both the ME TAWE TAN program and eventu - Director. This is exciting news for the per cent of the population. This breaks as a result of expansions that require addi - ally landed at the Saskatoon Indian and community as Bill has lots of background down to 52,450 Métis 94,160 registered tional new staff, and because the existing Métis Friendship Centre as the program with grassroots groups like UAS, he is tied Indians and 9045 non-status Indians and employees are largely eligible to retire in manager. in with the next young leaders in the First some ‘others’. Nation and Métis community and he is a Now, when President of the MN-S proud Métis who knows the importance of Robert Doucette speaks, he refers to the culture and its role in creating whole 100,000 Métis in Saskatchewan. And often people. The people of Saskatoon who speakers from the Federation say they access the Friendship Centre just got real represent 130,000 First Nation people lucky. Congrats on the big job Bill. across Saskatchewan. This makes for more • • • than 50,000 people over the StatsCan And finally, there was a Tipi raising at numbers. SIAST Wascana Campus in Regina this And going back to the holder of the month as part of their 23rd annual Aborig - bank, we have Indian and Northern Affairs inal Cultural Awareness event. The event Canada reserve maps and contact handouts has grown from its beginning but the goal from December 31, 2001 that talk about has remained the same, to provide cultural the total Registered Indian population in awareness and enhance pride in the Saskatchewan of 108,801. And we are Aboriginal cultures. pretty sure that there have been some SIAST has close to 3,000 Aboriginal babies born in the last 12 years. students in its campuses across the Obviously there is some conflict there. province helping to train the next genera - What everyone does agree on tion of young people for the labour market. however is that the First Nation and Métis As the Joint Task Force has said, culture is population is young and growing rapidly. important. Good job SIAST. With a median age of 20 compared to 40 SIAST’S Wascana Campus in Regina held a tipi raising in May. • • • for the rest of the province, it is plain to see See you next month for our June the future is young and Aboriginal here. the next decade, there will continue to be With the retirement of Executive National Aboriginal History edition that With the young demographic, now is a significant number of permanent job Director May Henderson, it was a natural includes our Annual Aboriginal History the time for First Nation and Métis people opportunities. move for Bill to take over the reins of the These are great jobs. Sure there are Friendship Centre as the new Executive and Trivia quiz. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News 5 Old lady mining can be fun and lucrative

he topic of the month is ‘mining’ ‘lamb eh’) mini could make a few acid rain. None of this is any good for and the first thing I thought about skirt made out of an bucks selling them life on this earth but high demand for was old ladies and bargain bins. old fashioned ball to fancy dancers. sources of power, minerals, jewels, and T gown. Mom took Old lady mining is jobs, spurs ever more industrial mining. Some of the best times I had with my grannies and aunties were spent digging apart old coats and not only good fun, Long before Europeans arrived for gold in used clothing bags, bins, made new ones, it can also be Indigenous people mined minerals and garage sale tables, and second-hand unravelled old lucrative. metals for personal use and trade. Red stores. sweaters and knitted Old lady ochre (hematite) was mined and used to When I was a kid, bags of used new ones with mining is about make pigment used in rock paintings and clothes were dropped off at our local matching mitts, toques, and socks. recycling and has nothing in common for ceremonial body painting. Salt was Friendship Centre where our late mom As a young apprentice I learned a with industrial mining. mined from brine springs along lakes, worked as the director. Every second few mining and recycling skills. For many opposed to mining, it is quartz was mined for arrow heads, and Saturday was rummage sale day. We’d Haggling at garage sales requires consid - not so much about extracting resources copper was pit mined to make tools. get there early to set up the tables, empty erable diplomacy. Knowing when the from the earth, it’s more about how There was much mining going on out those bags, and organize the clothes. Sally Ann restocked the shelves is much and how they are extracted – how way back then but like old lady mining You’d think being the first ones important to get the best pickings. Sale the earth is treated during and after the it did not scar and poison the land or there we’d get first dibs ... but nooooo. bin surfing is much like house hunting extraction process and the unquenchable create huge amounts of wealth for the Mom insisted we could only shop for on a budget. You need to look past the greed that drives the industry. 1%. Nor did the use of these substances ourselves after everything was all picked wrinkles, stains and missing buttons. In open pit mining the pit is poison and scar the land. The difference over and the best stuff carried away. Focus on the quality of the fabric and expanded until there are no more between then and now is in the changing “There are little girls who need these envision how it can be transformed. resources left. All life in immediate area nature of value systems. clothes more than you,” she’d tell me. Old jeans were transformed into is destroyed and it leaves behind a huge A way of life based on a spiritual Allowance back then was 25¢ a week fashionable denim skirts by cutting them waste land. Hydraulic fracking drills connection to the land did not condone and everything at the rummage sale sold open, re-sewing, and adding a few deep into the earth and inject a fluid that destroying the land to make a living. Do for 5¢ so a gal could get some good deals strategic patches, embroidery or beads. fractures rock to release natural gas. That we really need all the things we want and if there was anything left at the end of They also made excellent patchwork fluid contains dangerous carcinogens are we prepared to destroy our world for the day. quilts, quite popular among snagging- and toxins that contaminate local short-term gain? Part of the thrill was watching age men. groundwater and drinking water. Or can we find happiness in a outdated and ugly pieces be transformed We grabbed all the otter fur and long Some fracturing fluid is left in the simpler lifestyle that protects our world into high fashion kohkom designer haired sheep skin we found – add some ground forever and the extracted fluid is for future generations? What can we do clothes. I had a gold lame (pronounced nice beadwork and wrap ties to the otter left in open pits where harmful to reduce the demand that feeds indus - clean and comb the sheep hair, and you compounds contaminate air and create trial expansion? 6 Eagle Feather News MAY 2013 Amending the Indian Act: Bill C428 ou The wills and can’t estates provisions make a may go, but more ‘Y must be done to silk purse out of a sow’s ear’. So goes recognize and the old saying. protect First Given the political Nation authority controversy about over family and amending the reserve lands Indian Act, which is universally viewed matters. The modern Treaties expressly as outdated and inappropriate, one might recognize this authority. picture the making of amendments as For example, the Maa-Nulth Treaty the knitting of the silk purse while 2007 includes the power to make laws tiptoeing through a mine field. Yet the respecting adoption, child custody, child current federal government is care, social development and solem - committed to the task. nization of marriage of Maa-nulth That is the clear statement of citizens. intention in Bill C428, the private The effect of Bill C428 as intro - member’s bill introduced by duced opened up the prospect of provin - Saskatchewan MP Rob Clarke, which is cial laws intruding upon Treaty and receiving government support. As may aboriginal rights. Canadian courts estab - be expected, there is a long lineup at the lished the legal force of Cree law in current hearings of the House of family matters as far back as 1867 in the Commons Standing Committee on famous Connolly v. Woolrich case. Aboriginal Affairs on this controversial My understanding is that the bill. What are the basic aims and Committee will recommend that the contents of Bill C428? provisions be removed and that the The least controversial feature matter be the subject of further study. might be the provisions that would do A prime object of Bill C428 is the away with some of the worst provisions removal of the Minister’s discretionary which were clearly meant to give power authority over band by-laws. One’s to Indian agents to run the everyday lives confidence about the effectiveness of of folks living on reserves: the Indian the current provision is eroded by the residential school provisions, the remaining authorities that are scattered outlawing of free trade of reserve agri - throughout the Act and the continuing cultural products and the administration provision that the Minister remains the of wills and estates of reserve residents administrator of Indian affairs on by Indian Affairs. reserves. The current proposal is that by- Yet both opportunities and potential laws become valid upon publication by pitfalls reveal themselves. ‘Indian prescribed means. control of Indian Education’ has become However, the power of the Minister a catch-cry that makes anything that and Cabinet to make regulations resembles unilateral federal action as continues, and other provisions not in controversial in the extreme, as Bill C428, such as the amendments in evidenced by the opposition to the the notorious omnibus Bill C45, appear intention to enact new federal education to continue the role of the Minister in the legislation. administration of local affairs on Section 32 which prohibited free reserves. trade of Indian reserve agricultural All this leads to increasing products except as dictated by Indian complexity in an already overwhelm - agents has a fascinating history, much ingly complex statutory scheme of of it written by historian Sarah Carter, governance from Ottawa. Ambiguities daughter of the late Roger Carter who abound. Litigation looms. founded the University of Saskatchewan There are options to amending the Native Law Centre. Act. Some were proposed by the Royal Introduced in 1881, s.32 has been Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in viewed as a means of political control 1996 but they have been largely over - and a reaction to the complaints to looked by all sides. Ottawa of local non-Indian farmers One firm conclusion offers itself. In about being outdone by the agricultural Canada you cannot change the state of success of Dakota farmers in western affairs under which people have been Manitoba. Reason compels the conclu - administered for many generations in sion s.32 must have contributed to the accordance with the idea that motivated decline of the reserve Indian economy. the Indian Act in the first place: that is, The repeal of s.32 suggests the that those Ottawa people know better creation of innovative means of than Indians how to run their own affairs promoting Indian agriculture today. at home. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Education 7 New U of S students’ president wants to ‘Indigenize’ the university By Fraser Needham “We need to see language and culture represented a new Indigenous students’ centre on campus. Construc - For Eagle Feather News here if we want Indigenous students to feel like this is tion on the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Centre is set to begin he times they are a-changin’ and Max FineDay is their campus, and not just visitors here, but welcomed this spring and the new building is expected to be part of that change. The 22-year-old FineDay is and accepted for who they are.” completed by late 2014. Tthe newly elected president of the University While many students view a new Aboriginal of Saskatchewan Students’ Union and one of a students’ centre as a positive thing, others have number of Indigenous students who have become complained the multi-million dollar facility is a politically involved at the university. luxury the U of S cannot afford during these times Many First Nations and Métis students became of fiscal cutbacks. Things turned nasty over the issue active in the Idle No More movement this past winter recently in an online open forum Facebook page and spring. However, things appear to have really where some student comments against the centre started to change more than a year ago when Jared were deemed racist and had to be removed. Brown was elected as the U of S’s first Aboriginal FineDay says he doesn’t believe the student student president. This has been followed by a very body is divided when it comes to Aboriginal issues active Indigenous Students’ Council and now the but he does believe there is some way to go in terms election of FineDay, who is a member of the Sweet - of creating better awareness and understanding. grass First Nation. “There is a lack of knowing, people can go Aboriginal enrolment has been up and down at through their whole adolescence without ever the university over the past few years. However, talking to an Indigenous person,” he says. overall, Indigenous students make up less than one “So, they just learn about Indigenous people per cent of the total student population at the U of S through the news, or their family who may not be – so there is a long way to go in terms of achieving a well versed on the issues. And that’s where we get representative balance. stereotypes, that’s where we get the sort of racism University President Ilene Busch-Vishniac says that we see sometimes.” one of the top priorities of the institution is better Nevertheless, he says he sees things changing Aboriginal engagement and FineDay wants to hold in a positive way as evidenced by the fact that the her to account on this. He says if the U of S wants to last two student presidents – himself and Brown – attract more Indigenous students, it has to become a are Aboriginal and elected by both Indigenous and more welcoming place to them. non-Indigenous students. “We still have half of all first year Aboriginal In his run for president, FineDay ran a straight - Max FineDay would like to see the University of Saskatchewan students dropping out,” he says. “The educational forward campaign that focused on pocket book become a more welcoming place for Aboriginal students. success rates don’t paint a pretty picture. So, one of issues and making campus life more affordable for the things I want to work with the administration on is FineDay says in terms of making Aboriginal students students. And this, not surprisingly, is something all Indigenizing the academy, for lack of a better word. feel more comfortable, one step in the right direction is students can clearly relate to. 8 Eagle Feather News - Education MAY 2013 Education Task Force presents Province with 25 recommendations By John Lagimodiere is not having a drivers license,” said Joint Of Eagle Feather News Task Force Chair Gary Merasty at the ithin days of receiving the Legislative Building where the report was report, the Province of released. WSaskatchewan started to “Small things like that can be implement recommendations of the Joint corrected with smart investments by the Task Force on Improving Education and provincial government. If we want Employment Outcomes for First Nations Aboriginal people engaged in the and Métis People. Because of the report, economy, the report provides solid recom - approximately 2,600 more on-reserve mendations that can help.” students will receive access to driver The Joint Task Force is an integral education. part of the Saskatchewan Growth Plan as “We know that one major barrier to introduced by the Premier on October 16, Task Force Chair Gary Merasty shares a moment with FSIN Vice Chief Simon employment for many Aboriginal people 2012. The final report will be used to Bird and Education Minister Russ Marchuk. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) reach the target of reducing the difference perous future.” in graduation rates between Aboriginal Merasty and his fellow task Force and non-Aboriginal students by 50 per members Rita Bouvier and Don Hoium A comprehensive protocol cent by 2020. presented 25 recommendations to the The spirit of the report goes much government, but collectively they agreed beyond supplying driver’s education on that the first one was the most important. reserve. “We recommend that the Province for overcoming Candida “The Joint Task Force represents a proclaim First Nations and Métis unique undertaking, crossing jurisdic - languages as the original languages of tional boundaries and the partners need to Saskatchewan. This is key because (Part 2) the inflamed gut can’t absorb them. be commended for this bold step,” said language is the root of the culture and so Fatigue and bloating set in. New food here are a lot of companion Merasty. “We have concluded, as many very important,” added Merasty. allergies usually appear. diseases, and symptoms that can others have, that a path of reconciliation “We travelled this province from end Vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids from occur in define stages – bowel based on the principles of mutual respect, to end and you can see the different chal - T flax oil inhibits inflammatory chemicals. and bladder problems, heartburn, recognition, and reciprocity holds the lenges geographically,” said Merasty. Probiotics are used to re-establish colonic chronic indigestion, sinusitis, eczema, greatest promise for a shared and pros - • Continued on Page 9 acne, chronic headaches, muscle pains, flora. Ginger tea helps to take down the earaches and sensitivity to odors, for inflammation. Licorice extract also example. reduces inflamma - The list also tion and helps includes: allergy normalize gut reactions – extreme mucous irritability, memory membrane. Nail lapses and the fungus usually inability to concen - begins as painful trate. Central swelling on the nervous system finger or toe tops, reactions – extreme irritability, chronic which later develops into pus around the fatigue often followed by acute depres - nails. sion, gland and organ dysfunction, If the infection occurs under the nails hypothyroidism, adrenal failure, hypo - it may cause a loss of the nail. Apply tea glycemia, ovarian problems, infertility tree oil on affected areas several times a and lack of sex drive can be associated day. Seeing a physician for medical with Candida. advice is also recommended. Skin infec - Protocol for overcoming Candida, tions characterized by itch, scaly skin which strengthens the afflicted organs and patches. Candida lesions are usually red- glands, especially the liver, restores looking pustules that appear in moist normal metabolism and promotes places like the groin, underarms, navel, friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal anus, buttocks, or webbing of fingers and tract. Rebuild the immune system. Stim - toes. Crusts that form on the scalp usually ulating immune well-being throughout cause hair loss. the healing process supports faster results. Food change is the most effective Candida may affect any part of the body. way to rebuild strength and immunity A wide range of syndromes can be from fungus overgrowth. Test for food caused by Candida infection. The most sensitivities but keep in mind that sugars common sites include nails, ear canal, and refined foods will allow the yeast to esophagus, intestine, vaginal tract and the grow again. urinary tract. The allergy-immune A breakfast suggestion would be compromised response of Candida, oatmeal and blueberries; for lunch a bowel-diseases – breaches in the gut wall homemade soup, humus, protein vegeta - and too much gut permeability allows bles (raw), for supper chicken, fish, brown foreign food and toxin molecules into the rice, wild rice, cooked carrots, broccoli, bloodstream where they are attacked by salads, coleslaw are some ways of eating the immune system. healthy. Drink eight glasses of water a Nutrient deficiencies occur because day. Green tea also creates a healthy food treatment plan. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Education 9 MN-S, FSIN laud education report • Continued on Page 9 more fully in “From paying over $20 for a burger the months in Stony Rapids to paying $5 for the same ahead.” burger in Swift Current, we know each The report region is unique and each region has their was praised by own solutions so there can’t be a cookie the Federation cutter process. But we know for sure the of importance and benefits of strong Saskatchewan language and culture.” Indian Nations Starting in May 2012, the Joint Task and the Métis Force travelled to 16 communities holding Nation- 83 individual and public consultations Saskatchewan. with over 1,000 people. The final report “I am glad identifies themes that emerged from the they recom - voices of consultation participants, mended research and submissions in four target proclaiming areas – early childhood, prekindergarten First Nations to Grade 12, post-secondary and labour- and Metis force attachment. languages as the Task Force members Gary Merasty, Rita Bouvier and Don Hoium in the Legislative building at the release “On behalf of the Government of original of their final report Voice, Vision and Leadership: A Place for All. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) Saskatchewan, I want to recognize and languages of thank Task Force Chair Gary Merasty and Saskatchewan,” Government of Saskatchewan for making This report is a great start in investing in members Rita Bouvier and Don Hoium said MN-S President Robert Doucette. Early Childhood through Post-Secondary our future, as our First Nations continue for their work over the last 12 months,” “The report also lays out many things education, and employment issues a to be the largest untapped resource in this said Education Minister Russ Marchuk. that we need to do, but we also need a priority,” Bird said. territory we call Saskatchewan. “I am pleased to see that several of the roadmap or timetable to implement this.” “Thank you to the grassroots partici - “If this new way of working in collab - recommendations align closely with the FSIN Vice Chief Simon Bird was on pants, the stakeholders who shared their oration is any indication of what we can work government has committed to hand for the release. stories and innovative solutions, and to do together, then it’s only natural that we already in our Plan for Growth, and we “On behalf of the 74 First Nations and the members of the task force who as First Nations have a very strong role to look forward to reviewing the final report the executive of the FSIN, I thank the thoughtfully brought voices to our people. play in the future.” 10 Eagle Feather News - Health MAY 2013 Beware of snagging season just around the corner

ansi Eagle Feather News readers. The theme this month is Youth and Sports; kindness. Who knew it could be so simple? We don’t need to have money (like Oprah) no better time to talk about relationships because young people think about to make our relationships work but we do need to have commitment and awareness shacking up or marriage and believe me, sometimes marriage can feel like a of our partner’s needs and our own needs as well. Intimacy is a crucial part of all T relationships so don’t forget to hold hands and smooch once in contact sport. Only in fairy tales do couples live happily ever after. The awhile (no hickies). reality is that relationships take work. Whether you are shacked- Pow Wow season is upon us so beware the professional up or legally married, the truth is if you don’t nurture your rela - weekend snaggers. They roam from Pow Wow to Round dances tionship it will fail. It’s like a garden, you plant seeds, water and leaving a trail of broken hearts along the way. Ever sick! pick the weeds. If you don’t take care of your garden there won’t Don’t forget about the ball tournaments and summer games be too many vegetables because they will be overrun by the weeds which are also great places to hook up. These folks are the and bad seeds. professional players. They catch your eye, and then steal your I am not the relationship guru like Dr. Phil, nor do I have the heart. By the end of the tournament they toss you and your illusion of happily ever after like Cinderella. I am on my second marriage and the heart into left field and move onto the next game. thought of throwing in the towel (or anything else I can get my hands on) has crossed In all seriousness, when you do find that special one, be kind, love and be respect - my mind a few times over the last 20 ful. Don’t take each other for or so years. granted. When things get tough, Many people enter a relationship Only in fairy tales do couples live happily and they will get tough, remember with rose coloured glasses. Women, in the commitment you made to each particular, have been fed happily ever ever after. The reality is that relationships other. There really is calm after a after by fairy tales and movies. They storm. dream of their perfect wedding day and take work. Whether you are shacked-up or Sometimes things don’t always put little thought into the marriage. work and couples split. When this What happens after the wedding day legally married, the truth is if you don’t happens do it with grace and and the parties done and the gifts have respect. Don’t let violence come been opened? into play there is no place for Reality happens. Couples get into nurture your relationship it will fail. violence in our lives or in our ruts and routines and before they communities. Tapwe. realize it they are upset with their spouse for not helping out with the chores, leaving Thank you for your letters and emails it is always nice to hear from the readers. the toilet seat up, or not replacing the toilet paper. I have heard friends argue about You can write to me at Eagle Feather News C/O Sandee Sez PO Box 924 ST Main, the stupidest crap and end up throwing in the towel on their relationship. Saskatoon, S7K 3M4 Saskatchewan or send me an email to After years of watching Oprah I think I have it figured out: love, respect and [email protected] Until next month, take care and be kind to one another. Ekosi. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Education 11 Blaine Favel appointed Chancellor of the U of S By John Lagimodiere Bank of Canada and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Of Eagle Feather News Authority. Favel was also a senior diplomat as the laine Favel, president and CEO of Calgary-based Counsellor on International Indigenous Issues with the One Earth Oil and Gas Inc. and an influential Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and Interna - BFirst Nations leader in the province and the tional Trade, served as a special advisor to the Assembly country, has been appointed chancellor of the Universi - of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, and was ty of Saskatchewan. a panelist on the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Favel, who will be the fourteenth person to hold the Reconciliation Commission. position of chancellor, will take up his duties July 1 for As chancellor, Favel will preside at university a term of three years. He will replace Vera Pezer who convocation ceremonies, confer degrees, chair Univer - was first elected in 2007 and served a full two terms. His sity Senate and take a seat as an ex officio member of appointment was confirmed at a meeting of University the Board of Governors. Senate April 20 based on the recommendation of a joint “Mr. Favel brings to our university a strong repu - nomination committee. tation as a positive force for change and his experience “I am honoured that the senate of the University of aligns closely with our institutional priorities,” said Saskatchewan is confident in my ability to fulfill this President Ilene Busch-Vishniac. esteemed position,” said Favel. “I very much look “We look forward to his contributions as an Aborig - forward to sharing the story of the University of inal leader, a business leader and a person with an Saskatchewan everywhere I go. extensive background in governance.” “One of my goals as chancellor is to be a champion Favel said he believes Saskatchewan’s current and advocate for this world-class institution, a univer - resource boom and the challenge of educating and sity that is making a difference in the world on many employing Aboriginal people are two areas where the fronts.” University of Saskatchewan can play a positive role in Favel earned a bachelor of education degree from shaping the province’s economic and social future. the U of S in 1987, then went on to receive a law degree “I believe, as chancellor, I will have the oppor - from Queen’s University in 1990 and a master’s of tunity to bring together the university and the various business administration degree from the Harvard communities it serves in the spirit of common Graduate School of Business in 2001. In 2012, the U interest in order to deliver on the promise of growth of S awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree. and prosperity.” BLAINE FAVEL He was Chief of the Poundmaker Cree Nation and served as Grand Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations from 1994-98. During that time, he led the development of the First Nations Task Force to meet with Sask. First Nations and Métis youth his spring First Nations and Métis youth will have an opportunity to participate in a dialogue on Teducation and employment challenges, and identify the types of supports they believe would be most helpful to them in achieving their goals. The Aboriginal Youth Task Force chaired by Saskatoon Fairview MLA Jennifer Campeau and vice- chair Saskatoon Greystone MLA and Legislative Secretary for First Nations Engagement Rob Norris plans to visit 12 communities across Saskatchewan. The task force will hold meetings in Regina, Saskatoon, Stony Rapids, Moose Jaw, Fort Qu’Appelle, Yorkton, La Ronge, La Loche, Ile a la Crosse, Prince Albert, Sandy Bay and Pelican Narrows. “This is an important step for our government to identify and respond to grass roots issues as experienced by young people who are directly impacted by them,” Campeau said. “This information will help the govern - ment improve programs that assist to transition youth into education and the workforce as stated in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth Vision 2020 and Beyond.” “We want to hear from First Nations and Métis youth about what works, what does not work, and what they think we need to do to make programs targeted toward young people work better,” Norris said. Young people aged 16-25 are being invited to meet the task force near these communities. Participants will have the opportunity to share their education or skill development plans and activities, and for those already working, a chance to recount their experiences transi - tioning to the workforce. Feedback will be shared with government decision-makers on an ongoing basis, to inform and guide initiatives that impact First Nation and Métis people. 12 Eagle Feather News MAY 2013 I’m very comfortable in this brown skin ’m brown. It’s the second or third care to cover with I think of love about skin. I think about the smell of thing I notice about myself every adequate layers when when I think about them, all soapy and clean and how morning. The others are that I’m the cold descends. It’s skin. I think about warmth has a smell too when you I the thing we wash late nights and concentrate. alive and that I have things to get done by the end of the day. with the most disci - rolling over and I think about innocence and Depending on the state of my pline and it’s also the feeling the warm immense possibility. When you hold a bladder, the second thing is sometimes thing we recognize skin of my wife’s baby close to you, that’s the promise its shuffled. In any case, but by the time I when we touch each body against me in skin holds. make it to the bathroom and walk by the other. our bed. They bless you when you feel their mirror, the fact that I am brown works its Strangely, it’s also the first thing we I think how grateful I am. I think skin. They are the closest beings to way into my consciousness. recognize when we see each other. I how nothing else in the world measures Creator and they give you that proximity Brown. Rich, deep and luxurious. A know there are a lot of people around up to that feeling. when you hold them. brown man engaged with the process of who say, “I never notice the color of his I think about the way I want to I think about touching when I think living one more time. skin.” remember that connection – skin first, all about skin. I think about the fact that our I like that. At 56 I’ve grown comfort - But the fact that they even have to of me wrapped around her. I think about first physical act when we’re born is able in my own skin. It’s taken some make that statement is proof that they do. how her skin leaves a lingering presence reaching out – the desire to touch work but I am definitely at ease being People of color understand perfectly the on my own. Skin, I suppose, has a someone. who I am. I thought about this as I lazed notion that all of us enter a room skin memory. I think how powerful that is. I think on the deck letting the blazing spring sun first. I think about elders when I think about what Creator gave us with that first fall all over me. We can’t help it. It is our most about skin. I think about the wonderful instinct. Our primal instinct is to reach I wasn’t tanning. When you’re obvious attribute. roadmap of experience and story and out, to belong, to be accepted, to be brown a tan is something that’s just When I think of skin I think of teaching that resides in each wrinkle and where love exists. redundant. I was simply laying there chasing flyballs on a baseball diamond. line on their faces. So I think about unity when I think letting the feeling of rest wash over me. I think of how wonderful the sun felt on I think about things like pride and about skin. I think how important it is that My skin was hot to the touch. I loved the my arms and face – the skin of them. I spirituality and cultural strength. I think we all share that first deliberate act of feeling. think of how alive I felt, and how even about their wisdom. I think about the reaching out. Skin is the largest organ in our in my fifties the sun on my skin energizes tremendous resource that they are, the We reach out in innocence, without bodies. Most of us never think of it that me. free and open university of their experi - fear or judgement, to touch another way. To us, our skin is the thing we work I think of the elastic feel of it when ence with a tuition based on the cost of a because it’s our strongest desire. hard at darkening in the summer, soften I was younger and how elegant the lines question. How great it would be if we could with moisturizers in the winter and take and wrinkles make me look nowadays. I think about babies when I think remember that everyday. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News 13 14 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2013 Conference introduces Indigenous grads to prospective employers

By Fraser Needham types when it came to Aboriginal people. For Eagle Feather News However, through education, he eventual - he Inclusion Works Aboriginal ly overcame these negative attitudes and jobs conference brings together became a big promoter and employer of Tnew graduates with prospective Indigenous people in his workplace. employers in the hopes of combating high “And a year and a half later, this Indigenous unemployment and setting gentleman was putting Aboriginal people young people on the right path with a job. to work,” he says. “But it took him over a year and a half, to internalize for himself a lot of the stereo - types, the negative attitudes he had built up. But he became a champion, a change agent. I’ve seen this work across this country and it’s about over - coming this great disconnect.” CBC National News anchor Peter Mansbridge was one of the keynote Kelly Lendsay says non-Aboriginal employers need to learn more about the speakers at the conference. In positive qualities Aboriginal workers bring to the workplace. his address, he challenged all non-Aboriginal business “Events like today are about employ - movie star Adam Beach. Beach says acting leaders to take some respon - ment but it’s about something bigger,” he saved him from a life of gang violence and sibility for high Indigenous says. “It’s about asking the specific he has never looked back. He says it is unemployment rates by questions but also asking bigger questions important for young Aboriginal people to changing persisting attitudes as well. Employment, for sure, starts with dream big and never lose sight of their and hiring young Aboriginal a nurturing, culturally supportive envi - goals. Shawn Atleo stressed the importance of education. ronment for every child to learn.” “If you look at my story today, I could The conference closed out with a say I am a victim, I could say I am a Inclusion Works 13 took speech from First Nations television and survivor,” he says. place in Saskatoon from April 29 to May 1. This conference is about more than introducing new graduates to employers. It is also about changing negative attitudes that continue to persist in the wider workplace. Kelly Lendsay, president of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, says changing the mindset of some non-Aboriginal employers can take time but it is achiev - able. He tells the story of one employer he ran across many years ago, who suffered from a number of negative stereo - Adam Beach said acting saved him from a life of gang violence. people in their workplaces. “Here’s what continues to bother me,” he says. “Most Canadians have known about that unemployment gap all their lives. Yet, the problem persists. The pity of it is we don’t know what we are missing by not finding work for all those young people.” Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo was also one of the featured speakers at Inclusion Works. He says the path to successful employment starts with a positive, healthy and culturally supportive environment Peter Mansbridge challenged business leaders for Aboriginal children to be to do something about youth unemployment. educated within. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 15 Mining benefits from a CEO’s perspective By Roberta Cross “Without the community, industry Gateway program. For Eagle Feather News wouldn’t be as prosperous,” she says. “I was like a sponge,” says Wriston. hen everyone’s got the “And industry contributes value back into “Willing to learn from every experience same perspective, the community.” and every person in every way I could.” “W conversation doesn’t Pinehouse Business North provides Working with communities meant change,” says Julie Ann Wriston about her general contracting service and renova - producing practical results quickly. contribution to the mining sector in tions to the mining sector. Through their Wriston is currently completing a Saskatchewan. partners, they can also provide earth Masters in Business Administration in “Different viewpoints promise the moving, electical equipment, instrumen - Economic Development. It is providing best solutions.” tation, electrical and welding services. her tools and strategies to grow Pinehouse Wriston is the Chief Executive The company’s focus for the next year is Business North as a community-owned Officer of Pinehouse Business North, a waste management. business. mining services company owned by the “This is really appropriate for us,” Wriston has a new and fresh perspec - Northern Village of Pinehouse. says Wriston. “We can put our values to tive on mining. She probes and questions “I am almost the complete opposite work, stewarding the environment in the issues that people with more experience of a typical mining engineer,” observes North.” in the sector take for granted. This Wriston. “I’m Aboriginal, I represent a “The people who work for us are approach allows Pinehouse Business northern community, and I’m a woman.” passionate about being Pinehouse North and its partners to reach practical With a ready laugh and a clear voice, Business North employees. We respect solutions based on common interests. JULIE ANN WRISTON Wriston is confident in her own value them, support them and empower them to “The sector needs more women for and the strength of Pinehouse Business be the leaders in the company. This that reason,” says Wriston. in terms of male-female balance in lead - North. strengthens us as a company, and While profit is important, it’s not ership,” says Wriston. Pinehouse has a collaboration increases the quality and level of service everything. Wriston includes “the value Except for leading companies like agreement with uranium companies we can give.” of prosperity, and hope, and well-being in Pinehouse Business North. She acknowl - Cameco and Areva Resources, which Wriston acknowledges the small wins our youth in the workforce, and the health edges that the mining sector is rough-and- includes work with Pinehouse Business and successes that are getting Pinehouse and vitality of the community” in her tumble, and that she does not have long- North. According to Wriston, this rela - Business North to be a big player in the business calculations. standing personal networks that more tionship agreement gives the community mining industry. Wriston holds herself to a high experienced people might have. equality with these global businesses, “Feedback from our industry clients standard, believing that this encourages “Fortunately, I’m not afraid. You’ve and creates an “implicit obligation to and partners is that PBN does excellent colleagues and business partners to do the got to argue it out and focus the conver - work together.” work.” same. She also knows what supports her. sation on common interests. I came to the Wriston compares the relationship Wriston’s business skills developed “As a woman, I keep culture close to table,” says Wriston of being a female between the Pinehouse community and when she worked with communities in the my heart, part of my driving force.” CEO in the mining sector. “And my job is industry to a dance. Business Ready Investment Development “The mining sector is 30 years behind to stay there.” 16 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2013 Sports rituals for young athletes

John L: Statistics Canada released the John L: Fair enough. We all know that Even more strange? He firmly digs in John L: Riiiiight. Please. Continue. results of its 2011 National Household children and youth in athletic programs his feet in that box, placing most of his Dirk: These are not your run-of-the- Survey concerning Aboriginal People in are more likely to stay in school, avoid weight on his back leg. And he never mill obsessive-compulsive disorders. Canada. It found that 28 per cent of teenage pregnancy, and lead healthier takes his eye off the pitcher! These acts of phylactery – or juju if Aboriginal people are children under the lives. They also tend to avoid the John L: Um, well, that is the very defi - you will – work to conjure up myste - age of 14 years old. Here to comment on criminal justice system. nition of batting, Dirk. rious powers. Other magical customs these findings is Dirk Dashing. Dirk: Exactly. And I have advice all Dirk: Maybe, John. But I think all include not washing equipment for an Dirk: John, what these results prove the youth of Canadistan can use to children should adopt voodoo entire season, or only wearing red on is what many non-Aboriginal people help them practices like these if Sundays like Tiger Woods, or only have long suspected, and Aboriginal succeed, even if they want to excel. I wearing your cup on the inside of your people have known – we are fantastic - you are red, mean, this Rodriguez hockey pants if you can believe that. ular in bed. white, black, guy is mega-rich and John L: Phylactery? Really? John L: I’m sorry. Fantasticular? magenta or has dated fabulous Dirk: I’ve been reading the diction - Dirk: It refers to something or plaid. This is looking babes like ary. Tough read. Near as I can figure, someone that is both fantastic and advice that Madonna and Cloris the aardvark is toast, and the zebra ballsy. And what the survey suggests comes from my Leachman. may have done the crime at the zoo. is that not only are we great at the extensive and John L: I can’t wait to It’s not written very well – it reads like carnal arts but we are becoming more almost mythic hear what you have to a catalogue of words and their important to, and potent in, society. athletic history plus 20 minutes on the say about hockey. meanings randomly put together in John L: Surely the growing young Internet getting this column ready. Dirk: John, did you know that there some kind of alphabetical order or aboriginal population is cause for Did you know, John, that most elite was a Wayne Gretzky fella who had a something. concern for policy makers. I mean, if we athletes are superstitious? peculiar habit of using a bladed stick John L: That’s all the time and space we don’t improve results in education and John L: Why, yes, of course. Almost all to manoeuvre a blackened disc of have for you this month, Dirk. Once training we are looking at a social and athletes have a ritual of some sort. For rubber around a sheet of ice. I am told again, you’ve proven that you only economic catastrophe. some it’s the order they put their gear on, this sheet of ice could be slippery appear to have all the answers. Dirk: That’s right. A healthy home and or a prayer, believing it will improve under certain conditions. To avoid Dirk: I don’t have all the answers a good job are critical to raising their performance. injury he tended to glide across the ice John, because I haven’t been asked all healthy, successful children. Healing Dirk: John, some rituals are simply – in a “skating” fashion – with his the questions yet. from the residential school system, a bizarre. Did you know that before head up! Lately, hockey performers great education, knowledge of tradi - taking a swing at a pitch Alex have begun growing Obi Wan Dirk says, So we have lots of youth. How tional identity – these are all important Rodriguez of the New York Yankees Kenobi-like beards during playoff about a fountain of smart? strategies. Sports are vital too. always steps into the batter’s box. competitions. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 17 Athabasca Catering has been serving Sask’s mining industry since 1992 By Darcy McKenzie For Eagle Feather News ot just another Saskatchewan business success story, the Athabasca Catering Company is a catering service phenomenon for the province’s burgeoning Nmining sector. Established in 1992, the company’s beginning was a humble one with only 50 or 60 employees and one client, Cameco, to prove it had what it takes to be a food, housing and janitorial service provider in Saskatchewan’s mining industry. Chief Operating Officer Ray Edwards has witnessed it all. Edwards, a proud Montreal Lake band member who was raised in La Ronge, is a career employee who started when the company began in 1992 as a camp cook at the Rabbit Lake mine. “It was a challenging time for me personally, and the company. We were both new to the industry which had such a high demand for quality service,” Edwards states. A 20-year employee, Edwards worked in virtually every camp Athabasca Catering services, moving up the corporate ladder from camp cook to ultimately the Chief Operating Officer. Edwards says the key to the company’s success is quite simply, the people. “Our employees really make the difference. It’s the different and inter - esting people you meet and work with that has made my journey with Athabasca very satisfying,” Edwards said. One hundred per cent First Nation owned and operated, the company is a partnership between Kitaski Management Limited Part - nership, Hatchet Lake, English River, Fond du Lac and Black Lake First Nations. Kitaski is the managing partner and is owned by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Seventy per cent of the more than 600 employees at Athabasca are First Nation or Aboriginal. For the company, one of the biggest chal - lenges is recruiting and retaining qualified employees. “The demand for higher education is just the reality of our growing and changing industry. There is a major focus on safety and that requires training and education, which unfortunately is a challenge for many people living in isolated northern Ray Edwards started out with Athabasca communities,” Edwards said. Catering as a cook. His 20 year career path Although it is not a prerequisite has now led him to be their Chief Operating to employment with Athabasca, Officer. industry observers believe it won’t be long before anyone seeking employ - ment in the mining industry, including catering, will need to have a Grade 12 diploma. “Our business has more than tripled in the last five to ten years and that is putting a lot of demand on companies like Athabasca. Education and training will be key to keeping pace with our clients if we are going to continue to grow and prosper,” Edwards said. In fact, Athabasca’s business and client portfolio is poised to continue on its path of growth and success. In 1992, Cameco was the company’s only client. Today, Athabasca services Cameco, Areva and Golden Band Resources in the mining sector, and SaskPower and Valard Construction LP in the construction sector. Because safety is one of the highest priorities in the mining and construction indus - tries, Athabasca recently added an entire safety division to its operations to keep pace with companies like Cameco, where safety is its highest priority. “From the President of Cameco to the employees in their mines, safety is priority one and we need to ensure our company and staff are committed to the same standard,” Edwards concluded. Athabasca Catering’s head office is located in Saskatoon, however 90 per cent of the company’s employees work in its northern camps and construction sites. 18 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2013 SRC strives to maximize benefits for northern residents during Athabasca abandoned mine cleanups

Eagle Feather News caught up with Mark Calette, who recently joined the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) team. Mark was previ - ously with Parks Canada and is now the Community and Aboriginal Liaison for the Cleanup of Abandoned Northern Sites Project (Project CLEANS). Mark is very happy to be a part of the SRC team and is looking forward to continuing his work in developing relationships with communities and Aboriginal peoples. How many properties up North is SRC in charge of cleaning up? SRC is managing the repair and improvement of 38 sites in Northern View of the Gunnar Mine site during summer 2011. The buildings and headframe have since been Saskatchewan. Of these sites, there are two that are larger in scope removed due to safety concerns. (Photo provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) and complexity. These sites are the Gunnar mine and mill, and the Lorado mill. The Because the mine sites that SRC is managing were abandoned in the 1950s and 1960s, other 36 satellite sites were primarily feeder mines for Gunnar and Lorado and, are the funding for the remediation is coming from the provincial and federal govern - much smaller in scope to remediate. ments. In more recent times, mining companies are required to set aside money to How long is a ‘typical’ mine site facilitate any decommissioning or remediation that may be required after a mine ceases cleanup and what does it involve? production. There is not a ‘typical’ time frame for Do you have a policy of hiring First Nation and Métis people for these projects? mine site cleanup. The time required to SRC has a strategy to maximize the return benefits to the residents of the Athabasca repair and improve an abandoned mine Basin during the remediation of these sites. Although our environmental remediation would be a function of size, location, group has aboriginal employees, SRC does not directly hire for site work. Through previous site information, type of an open and transparent procurement process, SRC retains the services of consultants production and how the mine was left and contractors to complete the work. However, during the procurement process, SRC during abandonment. As a general includes specific provisions that the consultants or contractors must follow to maximize reference, the Lorado mill site may take local benefit. SRC then makes sure the consultants or contractors fulfill these provi - 10 years, where as a smaller satellite sions during site work. As an example, during the recent asbestos removal and demo - mine may take one to two years. lition work at the Gunnar site, half of the work force came from the surrounding Similar to length of time, each site communities. The majority of this local work force consisted of First Nation and Métis. involves a level of effort related specif - What are the long term benefits of the remediation projects for northern residents ically to the characteristics of the site and Aboriginal people’s living in the Athabasca region? itself. What is similar between sites is A long term benefit through remediation of these sites would be the environmental the basic framework which is followed. and safety risk reduction for residents visiting or living in proximity to these sites. A This framework is typically: site assess - secondary benefit would be possible increased utilization of the sites for hunting, ment, development of a remedial action fishing, trapping and food gathering activities. plan, imple - mentation of the plan, post Mark Calette is the Community and remedial Aboriginal Liaison for the Cleanup of monitoring Abandoned Northern Sites Project for the and entrance Saskatchewan Research Council. into institu - (Photo provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan tional Research Council) control. Has there been much environmental damage from these sites? When the mines were abandoned, there was little decom - missioning. Because of this, the sites may pose a risk to the surrounding environment. The risk would be dependent on the size of the site, how the site was left, what contam - inates were onsite and if the site is in proximity to something that may spread contaminates (i.e. water). How does a regular citizen report environmental issues or mine site issues? The best way a citizen can report environmental issues would be through contacting the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. As part of SRC’s management of the mine sites, it meets regularly with members and leaders of the communities in proximity to the sites. Through these meetings, citizens and leaders are able to provide feedback to SRC regarding local environmental and mine issues. SRC would pass on any of this information to the appro - priate authorities. Do the mining companies bear the cost of this? If not, who? MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 19 Canada-India nuclear agreement good news for northern Saskatchewan By Fraser Needham people it will create. For Eagle Feather News “It will mean literally billions of anada and India have signed a dollars worth of sales of major nuclear agreement that is Saskatchewan uranium into these two Csure to increase both jobs and markets, it will mean new jobs,” he investment in northern Saskatchewan. says. The Canada-India Nuclear Coop - “And that’s important for a eration Agreement was announced in number of reasons I referenced Saskatoon last month. When the earlier. In the case of Cameco, they agreement comes fully into effect, it have one of the best records of will allow Canadian companies to employing Aboriginal people in our export controlled nuclear materials, province. In terms of front line, good equipment and technology to India quality mining jobs, over 40 per cent for peaceful purposes in accordance of their workforce is First Nations and with the nuclear non-proliferation Métis northerners working in the agreement. industry. India is the fourth largest energy “This is a solid record that we consumer in the world and its electri - hope is replicated in other industries.” cal demand is expected to triple in the Cameco Vice-President Gary next 25 years. Merasty cautions the full benefits of As one the world’s major uranium the agreement for his company are suppliers, the agreement has major likely some time away but it is still a implications for mining companies tremendous opportunity. such as Cameco and Areva that “What the government has done operate in northern Saskatchewan. is facilitated by opening the door and Premier Brad Wall says along now it’s for us to go in and get the with a previous nuclear agreement the business,” he says. “It doesn’t mean country signed with China, the we are selling $3 billion of uranium Canada-India agreement is great news tomorrow. It means we have the for Saskatchewan’s uranium industry opportunity to get in there, get the for both the investment and job business and that will have an impact opportunities for northern Aboriginal on Saskatchewan.” 20 Eagle Feather News - Education MAY 2013 Miyo-Pimatsowin means healthy living for Thunderchild students By Jessica Iron Joseph was because they saw the Grade 7s and 8s For Eagle Feather News struggling, and the teachers struggling. hunderchild First Nation has taken They needed change, so why not do a daring and innovative approach something like this?” said Conner. Tto their education system. For the He has witnessed great changes in the past year they have funded a Grade 7 and students since the beginning of the year. Grade 8 program called ‘Miyo-Pimat - They’ve grown more confident, cooper - sowin’ which means “healthy living” in ative, adventurous and responsible as a Cree. result of Miyo-Pimatsowin. Simply put, students are offered “I just can’t believe it, honestly, that hands-on, experiential education I get paid to do this. I was so worried about outdoors, while also learning Cree coming in to teach and just hating being teachings and traditions. inside all day and struggling with the Two teachers deliver the program. students, but it’s totally been the opposite. Charlie Conner teaches the students These grades are awesome to teach and outdoor skills while his female counter - they have so much energy.” part, Christine Thomas, focuses more on Miyo-Pimatsowin will continue next the cultural aspect. year. Christine Thomas will not be “It was the idea of Chief Delbert returning, so Thunderchild will be looking Wapass,” said Conner. “It was based on Morgan Kahpeysewat and Sheridan Sunchild on Waterhen Lake during a for a culturally knowledgeable female programs like Saskatoon’s EcoQuest, class excursion. teacher who loves being outdoors. Nakânêtân and EcoJustice. We are one of But we have two classrooms – the other the only types of programs like this on any has round tables and chairs.” First Nation in Canada. Naturally the students have grown to “These projects involve outdoor, love spending time outside learning valuable hands-on and project-based learning. All skills. of these programs have a focus on envi - “We’ve worked on fire-building, fishing ronmental responsibility. The unique with a net, filleting and deboning fish and thing about Miyo-Pimatsowin is that it cooking on a fire. With dog-mushing, they’ve does all these things, but also focuses on been learning how to ride the sled, unharness Thunderchild history and culture. the dogs, working with the dogs, learning “Each student should have a real about the lines – which is the lead dog. grasp on their personal identity as a Thun - “There’s so much to learn. Camping is derchild Cree, a Sask resident and a the same thing. You’ve got to look after Canadian citizen. We do this through yourself, and how to tent with people. They sessions with Elders, cultural ceremonies, have to learn how to set up a tent, and take unique trips and imparting responsibili - down a tent, too,” said Conner. ty,” said Conner.

Teacher Charlie Conner & students at the Trappers Festival in The Pas.

They also learn standard subjects in They’ve gone canoeing and kayaking the classroom, but even that atmosphere and learned how to tan hides. In the winter is much more relaxed than most students they’ve gone snowshoeing, and built dog are accustomed to. houses. On one of their trips they attended the “I didn’t know if it was going to work Trapper’s Festival in The Pas where students because it was so different,” said Conner. were able to participate in dog-sled races. “In our classroom we have couches in a “One of the reasons Chief and circle and that’s where we do our work. Council wanted to bring in the program MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Gabriel Dumont Institute 21 “Not mentioned in the local history books”: The Road Allowance People of Saskatchewan fter the Métis at Batoche were defeated … [they], became landless wanderers, exiled in their own land and cheated of Atheir birthright. In the Qu’Appelle they gathered at Lebret, Katepwa, St. Marthe de Rocanville, St. Joseph’s, and St. Lazarre. They are the families not mentioned in the Jubilee Year history books, those dark-skinned people who lived on the road allowance or by the river, hunted grouse and deer year round, sold cordwood, fence pickets, and half-wild ponies, and sent their children to school with gopher-meat sandwiches in their lunch-pails. —Trevor Herriot, Qu’Appelle Past Present Future: Tales of Two Valleys. http://quappelle.mendel.ca/en/tales/whoscalling/downto/index.html. Historical amnesia is insidious. For too long, the Métis—who were only mentioned during the fur trade and the 1869-70 and 1885 Resistances—disappeared from our national and regional historical narratives. Of course, the Métis were here all along. However, as the quote above indicates, you won’t find many Métis families mentioned in the province’s local history books, which focus on “Pioneer” history. In them, no mention was made of Métis midwives like Tillie Rose Trottier (née Whiteford) who helped countless newcomers birth their children or to Métis men like Willow Bunch’s Alexandre “Cathou” McGillis who guided French Canadians to the site of La Veille (Gravelbourg) in 1906. Very few know that in Lipton, Saskatchewan, the local Métis and First Nations taught Jewish immigrants how to chink and construct log cabins. These little known vignettes speak to the Métis’ marginalization in our collective memory. The 1885 Resistance had a deleterious impact upon the Prairie’s Métis, which contributed to a fractured historical narrative. Although only a few hundred Métis took up arms, the region’s Métis were stigmatized as “rebels.” As a result, the Métis were socially, economically, and politically marginalized—although some “bourgeois” Métis were successful in business and politics. Most Métis, however, lost out in the new social and economic landscape in the Prairie West as newcomers flooded the Many Métis families were left landless following the Resistance at Batoche and region. the loss of land through fraud and government malfeasance. This led to the sad The Métis lost their tenure to their land through the fraudulent Scrip system. chapter of Métis existence known as living on the Road Side Allowance. Further still, restrictive game laws in the three prairie provinces meant that many Métis went to prison or had to pay steep fines because they hunted out of season and without mandatory licences. Unable to pay taxes on the land or having clear legal title to it, ensured that most Métis were squatters. Most Métis squatted on Crown Land on the approaches to rural roads commonly known as “road allowances.” Since they paid no taxes, most Métis were unable to send their children to school as universal school attendance in the province didn’t become mandatory until the mid-1940s. Others lived in the northern bush, or near First Nations reserves, provincial and federal parks and forests, garbage dumps, or along the fringes of cities. The Métis became known as the “Road Allowance People.” The Road Allowance period (roughly 1900-1960) is a key but little known component of Métis history and corporate identity. However, very few have a sense of how widespread these communities were. In fact, hundreds of Road Allowance communities existed in the Prairies from 1900 to 1960. They include Maria Campbell’s Spring Valley, along the fringes of Prince Albert National Park, “Little Chicago” in the Qu’Appelle Valley, “Tokyo” near Yorkton, and Ste. Madeleine, Manitoba near the Saskatchewan border. These are four communities that have been written about; unfor - tunately, we don’t have stories for hundreds more. The dissolution of these Road Allowance communities began during the Depres - sion. Through the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act, community or “Co-op” pastures where created, forcing many Métis out of their shanty communities. In places like “Little Chicago,” Métis families were loaded on rail cars, watched their homes burned, and were sent to parkland destinations like Green Lake. Such ethnic cleansing was actively encouraged by local RM officials, but was not written about and discussed in the larger society until recently. At this time, many Métis began moving to the province’s cities to make a living while others went to Métis farms in Lebret, Baljennie, Crescent Lake, Crooked Lake, Duck Lake, Glen Mary, Lestock, and Willow Bunch. As late as the 1970s, homeless - ness, housing, and property ownership were still matters of grave concern for the province’s Métis. The Gabriel Dumont Institute is working on a Saskatchewan-based Métis Road Allowance project that will document this little-known period of our shared history. It will include an atlas and oral histories. If you would like to contribute – by way of information, photographs—or if you would like to be interviewed for this project, please contact Darren Prefontaine at 306.657.5711 or at [email protected]. Article by Darren Prefontaine Images courtesy of Edwin St. Pierre and the late Gilbert Pelletier 22 Eagle Feather News - Education MAY 2013

Left to Right: Awasis President Lisette Denis, Cort Dogniez, Maria Campbell and Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner George Lafond at the Awasis Aboriginal Education Conference on April 25. Campbell, Dogniez honoured at AWASIS conference

By Fraser Needham on that knowledge years ago. And to remind people that For Eagle Feather News when they’re gone, we don’t have that anymore. It’s like ort Dogniez says Aboriginal education has come losing a whole library.” a long way in the last few years but it still has a Cameco Vice-President Gary Merasty was the Clong way to go. keynote speaker at the conference. Merasty was once a Dogniez works for the Office of The Treaty Commis - teacher and he says educators really need to focus on sioner promoting treaty education in Saskatchewan class - some of the achievements they have had in Aboriginal rooms and he was honoured for his work at the Awasis education in a short period of time as they tackle the chal - Aboriginal Education Conference in Saskatoon last lenges that lie ahead. month. “There are a lot of successes out there and there’s a Dogniez says Indigenous education has made major lot to be proud about in a very short period of time that’s strides in the province in recent years and especially since been achieved in the First Nations and Métis education - some treaty education became mandatory in the al community and we really need to shout this out from classroom in 2007. However, he adds many teachers still the hill,” he says. don’t feel comfortable incorporating treaty education “We really need to use them as assets in beginning to into their curriculum and his office is working hard to address some of the gaps we see out there and some help them overcome this obstacle. of the challenges.” “The challenge there is that so many teachers don’t feel equipped,” he says. “They don’t feel they can do this in a safe, respectful manner. And, at the same time, they are challenged because they don’t have the content. “So, they didn’t receive this stuff when they went through the education system and they didn’t get it when they went to university.” However, Dogniez says as teachers become more acclimatized with teaching treaties in the classroom and the education level on them increases in the general public, treaty education in the province should become a smoother process. Métis author, broadcaster, playwright and filmmaker Maria Campbell was also honoured for her contributions to Aboriginal education at the conference. Campbell is the author of the 1973 groundbreaking memoir Halfbreed as well as several other renowned works. She is currently working on an extensive historical research project that looks at the roots of violence against Indigenous women. In a presentation to educators, Campbell stressed the tools to incorporate Aboriginal education in the classroom are often right within one’s own community. She says female Indigenous elders can be a great source of knowledge but teachers need to go out into the community and talk to them. “The most important thing I was trying to say today, is to remind people, the most valued resource we have in our communities is the old women and the knowledge that they carry,” she says. “And the way they taught, and shared, and passed MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Education 23 24 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture MAY 2013 Students honour residential school survivors By Fraser Needham a book that honours residential school survivors. Journey For Eagle Feather News To Truth is a compilation of short stories, poems and he use of residential schools to educate Aborigi - drawings. The book was released on April 23 in nal children is a dark chapter in Canada’s history Saskatoon. Tand the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian As part of the research for the project, students talked Nations wants to ensure this chapter is never forgotten. to their parents, grandparents and other relatives in their As part of this effort, the FSIN has commissioned communities to find out what it was like to attend resi - First Nations students from all over the province to create dential schools. Tyra Stonechild is a Grade 10 student at Eagleview Comprehensive High School in Onion Lake First Nation. Her drawing placed second in the picture category and made the back cover of the book. She says she did not know much about the hardships students attending residential schools went through before researching the project. However, through talking to various relatives, it opened her eyes on a number of levels and Stonechild says it will take more than an apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to undo all the pain. “Those people must be really heartbroken,” she says. “That apology, I don’t think could do anything and we can never forget. It’s going to be here forever and we are going to remember it. It’s just really sad.” Mimi Stanley is also a Grade 10 student at Eagleview Kristy Sutherland, a Grade 11 student at Bishop School in Onion Lake. Her article placed first in the short James Mahoney High School, with her drawing that story category. placed first in the picture category and also made the She says many people within her community are still front cover of the book. resistive to talk about their experiences in residential “The focus of the project is to have our youth honour schools but those who did speak told stories of some of all those who experienced life in the residential schools. the terrible things that went on. The era of silence is now over,” FSIN Vice-Chief Edward Tyra Stonechild, a Grade 10 student at Eagleview “I found out most of the people I talked to were beat “Dutch” Lerat says in a release. Comprehensive High School in Onion Lake First and abused when they were in residential schools and “It is our hope that this publication will be a part of Nation whose drawing placed second in the picture they’re still hurting today,” she says. the healing process.” category, with FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture 25 Hard work pays off for award-winning Donny Parenteau By Diane Adams Awards and a trip to the Juno Awards in for eight awards, and took home four for Shawanda who would win the Juno For Eagle Feather News his home province. Album of the Year, Aboriginal Artist of Award for Aboriginal Recording of the rince Albert’s Donny Parenteau is “In life, you’re only going to get out the Year, and All Star Band in the Fiddle Year. going to have to clear some room of it what you put into it,” Parenteau said. and Specialty Categories. Parenteau says it’s his other job – Pon the trophy shelf. “(The award nominations) are your peers He was also nominated for a motivational speaking – that soothes his Northern Saskatchewan’s fiddling saying ‘good job.’” Canadian Country Music Award in Juno disappointment. and country music sensation spent April Parenteau was nominated for a Juno September. Parenteau is a staunch anti-bullying capping off a whirlwind year with four Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Parenteau is quick to credit more activist, and this summer he will travel wins at the Saskatchewan Country Music Year. At the SCMA’s, he was nominated than a year of non-stop work putting to Alberta, B.C. and Nova Scotia together and promoting his new album, speaking to students about getting along. Bring it On. He says he’s looking forward to one The album features appearances by trip, in particular. Streetheart’s Kenny Shields and “The day after the Junos, I got home Canadian R&B star, Jully Black. and I opened up this email and I was still Parenteau says he made many sacri - a bit upset and still a bit down for not fices to get the album ready – working winning,” he said. non-stop days, and taking his work all The email was from a school in Nova over Canada, and as far as Paris, France. Scotia. The email invited Parenteau to “Last summer, there was five days go work with students there in the wake physically that I could take off to spend of the Rehtaeh Parsons tragedy. with my family,” he said. Parenteau says that email put things Despite the shower of nominations into perspective. and four wins from Saskatchewan’s “If that is what it comes down to – country music industry, Parenteau says keep your award,” he said. “I’d rather do he was disappointed not to win at the that. I don’t need an award to do good Juno Awards. It was his third Juno nomi - (things). I don’t need something on my nation. wall to say ‘You’re doing the right thing.’” “I’m always happy to be nominated. He says he’s fighting to end bullying Would I like to win? Yes. Was I disap - so his four-year-old daughter has a better pointed I didn’t win? Extremely,” he said. world to grow up in. Held in Regina this year, Parenteau “It’s more important to me,” he said. was a hometown favourite for a Juno “Spreading the good by taking care of Award – Canada’s national music this bullying issue, trying to stomp that awards. In the end, it was Crystal to the ground.”

Donny Parenteau’s role as a motivational speaker gives him satisfaction beyond his success as an award-winning fiddler. 26 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture MAY 2013 P.A.’s Fine Arts Festival inspires participants uring the Prince Albert Grand dancing, and we do same and eventual - Council’s annual Fine Arts oratory. We do ly we could have a Festival in April, I had the very things for drama, province-wide arts D first Nations’ festival. That would fortunate opportunity to judge jigging and square-dancing. language and be the ultimate goal, The energy in the gymnasium was many, many cate - but coming up with electric as people filled the stands to gories of art.” the funding and watch the highly anticipated dance While the gym coming up with the routines. features student people who would I had no idea how involved judging artwork around the periphery, it is often have the time to do it would be huge,” could be, but it was intense! I must the center of gym that receives the most said Stapleton. admit I was blown away by the talented attention. “But, it’s been a great run,” said dancers. I wish I could have awarded “My favorite aspect is watching the Stapleton. “We’ve gone 22 years now and them all first place. dancing because every year they get we look forward to seeing a lot more years.” I was also able to catch up with one better and better,” said Stapleton. If there’s an artist, entertainer or of the organizers, Shona Stapleton, who “When I first started working the event that you think should be featured has undoubtedly been a significant festival there were kids dancing in their in Eagle Feather News, give me a shout contributor to the growing success of regular clothes, just dancing in at: [email protected]. the PAGC Fine Arts Festival. whatever, and there were only one or See you next month! SHONA STAPLETON

Square dancers were a big hit at the PA Fine Arts Festival and according to organizer Shona Stapleton, they get better and better each year.

She explained that the festival first two groups that had costumes. Now began 22 years ago when an education they’ve all got costumes and they’re all consultant thought there weren’t enough handmade and they’re all gorgeous events around that showcased First outfits. And they have so much fun Nations talent. He got a committee doing it, just watching their energy is together and enlisted 200 students. like giving yourself an energy boost.” Stapleton joined the committee 19 years A festival of this magnitude doesn’t ago and has witnessed the festival gain get far without help. in popularity ever since. “I’ve got a really great team. It takes “This year we registered over 1,700 a lot of work and a lot of loyalty and students and chaperones,” said commitment to the festival. And the Stapleton. “That’s not including committee as a whole are very observers and the families of the kids.” important. If I didn’t have the The PAGC brings thousands of committee, it would be very hard,” said people from all over northern Stapleton. Saskatchewan into Prince Albert for its She also acknowledged many four-day festival every year. Costs for sponsors of the festival, including: participants are high, but Prince Albert’s PAGC, Northern Lights Community economy benefits from those staying, Development Corporation, Areva, eating and shopping in the city. Cameco, PotashCorp, Norstar Screen Considering the festival’s growth, Printing, Prince Albert Inn, Pronto Stapleton maintains that they continue Airways and Westwind Aviation. to hold many of the same events every Stapleton hopes PAGC’s success year. inspires other groups, too. “We still have jigging, square- “You know what would be dancing, country-line dancing, and awesome, is that there was talk once creative dancing. We do singing, we do about other tribal councils doing the MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture 27 Cause really, it’s all about the cake

think it’s safe to say (unless my impressive. The Stress, 1. The theme should always be – sisters and sister-in-law are reading birthday kid balloons and “how dirty can I get?” I’m no expert on this, in which case I’m screwed) that wears a badge 15-odd kids do children but their favourite colour I on his/her not mix well appears to be dust; children’s birthday parties are out of control – like a giraffe on a slip’n’slide. puffed up chest together. I’m 2. Lots of candles because kids Birthdays used to be a cake, candles, making them always the love fire, especially boys and I know this one present and chubby brown faces the sheriff of person in the because my brother’s nickname grown crowded around the kitchen table. The SugarMelt- corner (nearest up was Smokey the Fire-starting Bear; cake was homemade and the icing was town. There are to the chips) 3. If the action is slowing down, dotted with coloured sprinkles and tasted fancy venues with teenaged party asking the important questions: “Why is throw in some puppies and run; like melted candles. leaders, sometimes dressed up in smelly this party so big? Who are all these kids? 4. Award prizes to the kids for Only two birthdays stand out: on my giant mouse suits. There are gift bags for Does anyone mind if I mainline this every goddamn thing they do – like eighth birthday, my parents accidentally all the guests (yes, kids get gifts for guacamole?” walking upstairs without falling. Kids rented the erotic cartoon, Fritz the Cat, attending a birthday party. I was born in Then I figured it out. Children’s like feeling like winners even though and us kids watched a good portion the wrong damn decade.) birthday parties are a massive quid pro statistically, most of them are not. before anyone noticed. (I still need There are giant ice cream cakes in quo dealie. You put on a kickass party And the piece de la resistance: someone to explain parts of that movie any shape you want. Cakes in my day for a bunch of kids and then in return 5. Serve a gluten, peanut-free, to me.) And on another birthday, I got a came in only one shape– a lumpy those kids invite your kid to their parties. sugar free, low fat, ice cream cake – bike and I pranced around the living rectangle. And then you don’t have to watch your which isn’t possible but just claim that it room in a celebratory manner until I I’m cool with all these newfangled kid for those two hours…times ten. is. tripped over my bike and fell down. (I ideas, particularly the ice cream cake, but That’s like 20–oh-so-sweet — childfree Now some of you may be saying, now understand why the other kids what’s scary is the mommy and daddy hours. “but wait, Dawn, I like spending time bullied me.) meltdowns that go something like this: It is in the best interests of every with my kids. They don’t suck the life out Birthdays have evolved from that “Why is the food not done?” parent to knock it out of the park every of me like tiny energy-vampires.” slug-like state. Birthdays today have “I can’t control the physics of food time a birthday rolls around. So, as a In which case, maybe you don’t need themes like Princess Party, Hogwartz combustion.” person with no kids and therefore lots of to have such an impressive party. Maybe School of Magic or John Hughes’ “You had one thing to do! You’re so time to think about pointless things (such the theme of your party is enjoying one Breakfast Club (not a real theme but if useless!” as how come X-men’s Mystique doesn’t another’s company in which case you do use it, please invite me). “Why are you such a total b— wear clothes? Just because you’re blue expensive decorations and toys aren’t There are decorations on the ceiling, birthday boy! Oh hey Mikey, mommy doesn’t mean you’re not naked), here are necessary. Because let’s face it – the cake which as a short person, I always find and daddy are having a talk. Go play.” some ways to improve your kids’ parties: is where that money belongs. Bird-Wilson ‘knee-deep’ in new projects Lisa Bird-Wilson’s first collection of short fiction, Just Pre - you were matched with a knitter who read your book and tending, has just been published by Coteau Books and is then created a knitted article? in stores now. Meanwhile, Lisa has just returned from the LISA: My knitter, Bonnie Zink, made me a knitted 2013 Saskatchewan Book Awards, where her first book, Métis sash. I haven’t seen it yet but I’m looking for - An Institute of Our Own: A History of Gabriel Dumont In - ward to wearing it at my book launches. When I was stitute was nominated and short-listed for the Aboriginal asked if I wanted to do Fictionistas with the knitting Peoples’ Publishing Award. Lisa, current President of theme I was like – that’s so weird … and awesome. the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, a Director at Gabriel EFN: Tell us a bit about the cover, because it’s very Dumont Institute, and a mother of seven (who runs striking. marathons and plays soccer in her spare time) managed LISA: Thank you, I absolutely love the cover and de - to fit in a few minutes to tell us a bit about her latest book. sign. It incorporates photography by KC Adams, a re - EFN: Lisa, tell us what we can look forward to in Just ally talented Winnipeg Indigenous artis t. Pretending? Some of your fiction has been previously EFN: What are some of your thoughts on the importance nominated for the Journey Prize, or published in literary of Aboriginal storytelling in contemporary culture? magazines and anthologies. LISA: Our stories are important—we need to keep LISA: Yes. A few of the stories in the book are re- telling traditional stories and also keep pushing the workings of previously published stories, but many are boundaries with the contemporary ones. I am con - new and/or newly edited. There’s a real theme running stantly impressed by the creativity and range Aborig - through them about belonging, identity, and kinship— inal writers and artists display. There are just so many important issues for Aboriginal people, but when talented people out there. you’re adopted, these themes are somewhat magnified. EFN: Other upcoming projects? At least that’s my experience. I hope readers will like LISA: The instant I was finished working with the ed - the new stories and find something in the themes that LISA BIRD-WILSON itor on this book, I jumped into another project so I they can relate to. spent almost a year working on revisions, back and could avoid re-working the stories any further in my EFN: Can you describe some of the process that goes into forth with the editor, but it is totally worth it in the end. head. I needed to mark them as ‘done.’ I’m knee- publishing a book? EFN: Where can we hear you read? deep now in two new projects: a poetry collection LISA: Everyone’s talking about how book publishing LISA: I will be launching in Saskatoon on May 21 at based on archival photos and documents from the is a dying industry. I hope that’s not true but when you 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson, Regina on May 30 at 7 George Gordon First Nation and a biography about hear about large publishers going under it’s a big p.m. at the Artful Dodger, Winnipeg on May 31 at Mc - Jim Sinclair. I’m really excited to be researching and concern. It’s already really difficult to get a book pub - Nally Robinson, and Prince Albert at the PA Arts writing for these projects. They feel really fresh. lished—a long, long process, full of rejection. Writers Centre on June 2 at 2 p.m. My book can be ordered EFN: Congratulations on this latest book, we look forward need fortitude—you’ve got to take a lot of kicks in the online from Coteau, or picked up at readings, or book - to it. Any closing thoughts? teeth. But when you finally do get a book accepted— stores like McNally. It’s also available as an e-book. LISA: Books are important. They feed our spirit. it’s like Christmas. And then the real work begins—I EFN: And this is also part of the FictionKnitstas Tour – Read, read, read all you can. 28 Eagle Feather News - Sports MAY 2013 Coach passing on words of memorable mentor By Diane Adams tackle the issues Aboriginal coaches and athletes face. For Eagle Feather News “It deals with racism in sport, a holistic view of or a young athlete, a great coach can be unfor - coaching, and the unique situations that a coach might gettable. Daniel Olver remembers the best find themselves in,” Olver said. Fcoach he ever had – and can tell you what made Olver says the module also teaches coaches that him so memorable. it’s okay to incorporate cultural practices into their “In the practice he ran us hard, he worked us coaches. He says that could mean anything from incredibly hard,” Olver said. “He would stop the smudging to storytelling. practice, sit us in a circle, then he would begin to tell He says the module also looks at the right ways to a story.” handle racism on the ice, in the field or on the court. That coach would then tell his athletes a story – a “(It teaches) dealing with racism when it occurs, story with a message about perseverance, teamwork and giving the right response,” he said. “When we see or sportsmanship. racism in sport, and … we see the coach acknowledges “I know for myself and my teammates, we really the racism right away and helps deal with it in a latched on to this event in practice, it built an incredi - positive way” ble respect for that coach,” Olver said. Olver says it’s those teaching techniques that will That coach, in part, laid the groundwork for Olver keep athletes engaged. to dedicate his life to sport. A wrestler since Grade 4, “I saw how (coaches) adapted the practice to Olver, a Métis, is now the Aboriginal Sports Coordi - engage the athletes and they keep coming back,” Olver nator with the Remai Centre in Saskatoon. He also runs said. the Aboriginal Coaching and Officials program with In Saskatchewan, that’s a lot of Aboriginal athletes the Coaches Association in Saskatoon. to engage. While Olver says his main focus is training Olver says First Nations and Métis coaches have Aboriginal coaches, he’s also adamant the Aboriginal barriers to accessing coaching training. He says Coaching Module is a great tool for all coaches in existing training sometimes isn’t culturally sensitive, Saskatchewan. is too expensive or is in an inconvenient place. “With the growing demographic of the Aborigi - Now, he’s working directly with communities to nal people in Saskatchewan, and more Aboriginal bring coaching training to them. With the First Nations people becoming involved in sport, people will find Summer Games just two months away, he says he’s they are coaching Aboriginal athletes,” he said. anxious to get as many young coaches trained up in Olver says the module helped him to understand time for the big event in Muskoday in July. why that memorable coach in his past, who wasn’t At the centre of the program is the Aboriginal Aboriginal, has stuck with him. He says it was the Coaching Module. The module is a way of teaching storytelling that hooked him – and he hopes more non- coaches to look at coaching culturally, and how to Aboriginal coaches will learn from that. DANIEL OLVER “It just made sense,” he said. Scoles shares love of golf through Dunes Golf League By John Lagimodiere for Youth Tournament, a four person Of Eagle Feather News scramble being held Wednesday, May 22. rnie Scoles is a golf nut. The This tournament includes entertainment renowned artist and entrepreneur and a steak dinner, and represents a great Ecan always be found out at the golf way to get back on the links while giving course. Dakota Dunes Golf Links to be back to the community. more precise. “This year we are going to outfit a “I love golfing,” says Scoles. “Golf couple of First Nations with golf kits. Some challenges you both mentally and physi - of these kids in the North or isolated areas cally. It is a great sport and everyone should have never had a chance to even swing a have the chance to play it.” club,” said Scoles. Ernie is President of the Dakota Dunes “I love the game and these young Casino Men’s and Ladies Golf League at people can learn a lot about patience and the Dunes. And now that this dastardly themselves from the game.” winter has finally released us from her The entertainer this year is none other grasp, the golf course has dried out and they than the irascible Don Burnstick. He is in are ready to hit the links. town for two shows May 21, and then he “There are a couple new things this will host the golf tournament the next day. year for the League. First we have taken on Between visiting on the course and a major sponsor with the Dakota Dunes emceeing the meal and prize bonanza, folks Casino coming on board,” said Scoles of will get a good dose of Burnstick humour. the League that is now in its seventh year. “People love Don, he makes them laugh,” “And we have also moved our regular added Scoles. “Plus he has a great and positive tee time. Now we golf on Sunday after - message and lessons about addictions. He noons, a real prime tee time.” makes you laugh and think, that guy.” Part of what the League does is to help So, if you want a good time and to promote and support junior golfing. It all support junior golfers call Mike Jacobs at starts with the 3rd annual Dakota Dunes Dakota Links Golf Club (306) 664-4653 Casino Men’s & Ladies Golf League Golf or Ernie at (306) 280-2876. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Sports 29 Sports gave Daniels a purpose in his life Name: Joe Daniels coaches and officials. GOZ: Your sons are kicking some Position: Operations major butt in judo. Why did you put Manager for the Regina them in martial arts? 2014 North American JD: When my two young sons where four and five they seemed to be getting into Indigenous Games (NAIG) disagreements with each other. I figured Sports Played: hockey, that a contact sport would help them identify different ways to vent their frus - football, track and field, Joe Daniels is seen here with a couple athletes at the 2008 North American Indige - tration with each other. I have cousins that nous Games in Cowichan. cross country running, have been national champions from basketball, volleyball, golf, George Gordon First Nation. My boys are old … three goals, two fights and a puke from Saskatchewan. He was truly a trail - wrestling finishing up their fourth year in Judo and in between the first and second periods. blazer when he was playing and I believe the instructors (are) fabulous. Judo has a GOZ: Do you agree with the latest idea he opened the door for many other Favourite Sport: Hockey rich history in the teaching of the 7 Judo to remove body-checking from peewee? Aboriginal Hockey player as well. Favourite Team: Virtues. My kids have JD: I think with the Honorable mention goes out to Jordin been exposed to these proper coaching Tootoo! Edmonton Oilers virtues through judo that this really GOZ: If you could play in the NHL and I see them using should be a non- during any time period, when would it be? GOZ: You’ve been involved in Aborig - these virtues in their issue. JD: I think today would be great, the game inal Sport as a player, coach and everyday life. has come a long way! builder for many years. What does it GOZ: I'm so sorry GOZ: Who is the GOZ: If you had to choose a most- mean to be working on 2014 NAIG in your favourite best Aboriginal feared goon of all time, who would it Regina? hockey team is the hockey player of be? Pro or not. JD: It is a dream come true for me. I was Oilers. It must be hard. As a loyal fan all-time (excluding JD: Brent Wahpoosyan. He was a goon on all three bid committees for Regina and I'm sure you have the solution to fix our publisher John Lagimodiere of but also a scorer. Brent never played in the it was an emotional announcement when their playoff drought. course)? NHL, he played in the Native Hockey we won the bid to host the Regina 2014 JD: I think the big thing with the Oilers is JD: I’m a huge fan for Fred Saskamoose League! NAIG. that they are a young team and they will GOZ: Why is sport so important for need some more experience to be able to our youth? make to the playoffs and win the Stanley JD: From my own experience, if it was Cup! not for sport, I should be dead or in jail. It GOZ: Name your all-time starting gives young people purpose and Oilers line-up, excluding Gretzky belonging that is needed in their lives. because we all know he’d be in there. GOZ: How far has Aboriginal Sport JD: Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Jordan come in the last ten years? Eberle up front. Grant Fuhr in net. And on JD: The First Nation Games has seen D, Paul Coffey and the new kid on the increased numbers of participants, there block Justin Schultz. are new coaches and officials that have GOZ: What was your best hockey joined the sport system. Kidsport numbers memory as a player? in Saskatchewan are at all time highs. JD: I remember my first game playing Jr. However there is still room for increased B. hockey with Piapot Eagles as a 19 year participation and room for growth with

DEFENDING CHAMPS Kelly Bitternose was the Men’s Club Champ and Chrissie Quewezance was the Women’s Club Champ last year in the Men’s and Ladies League at the Dakota Dunes Golf Links. 30 Eagle Feather News - Sports MAY 2013 NAIG an event for the entire community By Darcy McKenzie nous Peoples, this event is for everyone. It’s to compete with other cities in North For Eagle Feather News inclusive and we are looking for the partic - America to win the hosting rights. Regina he countdown is approaching for ipation of the whole community,” 2014 fended off Halifax, Nova Scotia and more than 6,000 indigenous NAIG CEO Glenn Pratt said. London, Ontario to host the 2014 NAIG. Tathletes as organizers prepare for Established in 1992, the North The Regina bid committee was the 2014 North American Indigenous American Indigenous Games feature 16 inclusive to the community with represen - Games (NAIG) being hosted in Regina, different sport competitions. Some of the tatives from the Federation of Saskatchewan July 20 – 27. events include archery, baseball, boxing, Saskatchewan Indian Nations, City of With a little more than a year to prepare lacrosse, rifle shooting and golf just to Regina, Province of Saskatchewan, Metis the City of Regina for the indigenous sports mention a few. Nation Saskatchewan, University of Regina and culture showcase, organizers say the For a complete list of events and and several cultural and community repre - GLENN PRATT world-class event is for the entire schedules visit: www.regina2014naig.com. sentatives. community. In similar fashion to any major athletic The games committee and 2014 NAIG something we can all be proud of,” Pratt said. “The Regina 2014 North American games style competition, the Regina, Board of Directors work to ensure the event Anyone wanting to be a volunteer of Indigenous Games are not just for Indige - Saskatchewan host society committee had is representative of the entire host the 2014 NAIG can visit the games website community. or call the NAIG Head Office in Regina, “While the Regina 2014 North Saskatchewan at 1-800-453-7239 or email American Indigenous Games is about sport organizers at [email protected]. and achievement, it’s also a celebration of Organizers and the City of Regina are North American Indigenous culture. Our also anticipating large crowds of spectators Mission is to host an Indigenous, multi–sport from all over North America, and especially and cultural event that celebrates Regina, people from the host city and area. Pratt says Saskatchewan, Canada and the cultural the committee and games sponsors say that diversity of North America,” Pratt said. will produce a welcomed economic shot in Pratt says organizing efforts are going the arm for the City of Regina and area. well, however there are still plenty of “The economic impact on the City of volunteer opportunities for anyone who Regina and surrounding communities can’t wants to help and experience this world-class be overstated. It’s estimated there will be sporting and cultural event. up to $30 million dollars brought into the “There is still a lot of work ahead of us, city and businesses leading up to and during but with our partners and community the games,” Pratt stated. Team Sask members at the 2008 Games in Cowichan, British Columbia. involvement I know this is an event that will Eagle Feather News will keep readers (Photo by Warren Goulding) be remembered as one of the best and continually updated as the Games approach. MAY 2013 Eagle Feather News - Sports 31 Winning just the icing on the cake: Roberts Kevin Roberts is the Director of Sport Culture and Recreation for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (Conflict alert! And a former Eagle Feather News staffer!). He was the coordi - nator of the recent FSIN Youth Hockey Championships which were dominated by his home Reserve which swept the five titles available … not bad. We tracked down Kevin for his thoughts on the event.

La Ronge 89ers swept the FSIN Youth Hockey Championships. What exactly is an 89er? The 89ers team name came about in 2005 when we started our minor hockey program upon the completion of construction of the JRMCC Arena on our reserve. In honoring our history, the team name 89ers is used to commemorate the year 1889, the year Lac The La Ronge Indian Band 89er’s Atom team was one of five teams from La Ronge that swept the titles at the FSIN Youth La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) signed the Hockey Championships. Adhesion to Treaty Six under the Chief Ialways look at our sports program through James Roberts Band. a prevention-model angle. Kids who are What was your personal highlight of the active tend to do better in school and cause weekend? less mischief. Health wise, hockey is one of Above all, my personal highlight was best cardiovascular games you can play. getting back on the bench again and Here a kid can also improve coordination, coaching the Novice 89er team that my son strength, flexibility and agility. Hockey is Sage played on. As his biggest fan, it was a also a team sport, so youth who play learn great, rewarding experience for me person - the value of working as a team towards a ally to share and celebrate in his first major common goal, developing communication achievement in hockey, memories we can skills and listening skills and respect for cherish for a lifetime. authority and rules. Individually, I would What was the biggest challenge coordi - expect our players to develop self-confi - nating this massive event? dence, patience, self-esteem and sports - The biggest challenge coordinating this manship. I firmly believe, by putting a child event was explaining to team managers and in a hockey program, you are creating a coaches that there were deadlines to meet in lifelong enthusiast and health-oriented indi - terms of submitting SHA rosters, band veri - vidual which are great starting points that fication forms and entry fees. I hired a can lead to life success. Winning champi - referee coordinator, Remi Mike, he onships is just icing on the cake, creating organized their game schedules. Courage good young people is our most important Bear was the off-ice officials coordinator goal! and his crew handed all game sheets and running the score clocks. Tanya Toporowski from Jemini 4 Arenas did up the scheduling for the 6 divisional tournament draws. All three people definitely made my job much easier. How many young people are in the hockey program in La Ronge? In La Ronge we have two minor hockey systems, JRMCC Minor Hockey, on- reserve, and La Ronge Minor Hockey, in town. This season our JRMCC Minor Hockey program had IP (Pre-novice), Novice, Atom and Bantam teams, so about 60 kids. Because of numbers, La Ronge hosted the Peewee team and we hosted the Bantam team. There was no midget team this year, as seven boys from last year’s midget team all played in Beardy’s AA program this year. What has been the benefit to the youth from your sport program? 32 Eagle Feather News MAY 2013