JUNE 2013 VOLUME 16 - NUMBER 6

FREE SaskTel honouring youth for 15 years

Gayle Morris, widow of Randell Morris and Ken Keesey, VP of Business Sales and Solutions for SaskTel presented Jarrod MacDonald with the Randell Morris memorial Award at the SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

SHE’S A PRINCESS! FNUC held its 35th annual Spring Pow Wow in May. Attendance was down but the enthusiasm remains high. - Page 16

TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS Anne-Marie Cey has been there and done that and now she’s sharing her experiences as a business owner. - Page 19

RESPECTING THE HAIR Jen Dubois has opened a new salon in Regina and its all about Awards recognize 120 exceptional young people providing service with a tradi - By Andréa Ledding winners were presented with their awards, scholarships, tional touch. - Page 20 For Eagle Feather News and custom star blankets, made each year by Eva Lizotte. he fifteenth annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Donny Speidel was emcee for the program, PROUD RIDER Awards, presented by the Wicihitowin Founda - including a half-time dance interlude featuring three of Neal Hughes is hoping the Riders Ttion, once again recognized the province’s highest his daughters, and three other male dancers, all in a can bring the Grey Cup back to achieving young people. variety of styles. Saskatchewan at this year’s big Over 900 people attended to witness the record Winners of the Community Service Award this year game in Regina. - Page 30 number of nominees — 120 exceptional youth. were an entire group, the Chief Paskwa Education Centre “We have had a record number of nominees and the High School from Pasqua First Nation, who created a SHARP SHOOTER momentum leading up to gala each year is growing,” film on the after-affects of drinking and driving. INCA grad Richard Agecoutay noted committee chairperson Colleen Cameron, adding Zachary Thomas from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, has carved out a great career as that the awards were important not only to the youth but who attends the Reindeer Lake School in Southend, took a CBC Hockey Night in Canada their families and communities, “for the inspiration the home the Culture Award. cameraman. - Page 32 awards and recipients generate.” The Education Award was presented to Logan The Awards were presented May 24 at TCU Place Sanderson of James Smith First Nation, who attends Welcome to our in downtown Saskatoon. Carlton Comprehensive in Prince Albert. National Aboriginal Day Edition Every youth is highlighted on the stage with a bio Skylar Meechance of Red Pheasant First Nation, Coming In July - Graduation Issue before the winners are announced, so after supper, the attending North Battleford Comprehensive, won the nominees were all applauded and lauded before the final Enterprise Award. CPMA #40027204 • Continued on Page 3 2 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 3 New award honours Randell Morris • Continued from Page One Moosomin First Nation and Sakewew Darien Kequahtooway of Sakimay High School. First Nation took the Leadership Award The final award was a special home to Yorkton Regional High, while category, named for the late Randell Bailey Pelletier of Cowessess First Nation Morris, president of SIIT. Jarrod and Regina’s Michael A. Riffel Catholic MacDonald of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation School brought home the and Marion Graham Collegiate, who had Technology/Science Award, and Branden been nominated for and Education Award, Bear of Muskoday First Nation and was very honoured to receive it. Saskatoon’s E.D. Feehan Catholic High “It was really surprising, I had School, won the Spirit Award. assumed I just wasn’t going to win one The Fine/Performing Arts Award and when they chose me it was exhilarat - went to Cecelia Lumsden of George ing,” said MacDonald in a phone Jack Okanee, Damien Daniels and Ryan Wahobin received the Sports and Recre - Gordon First Nation and Saskatoon’s interview. ation Award at the SaskTel Youth Awards. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) Evan Hardy Collegiate. “It’s an awesome event to have that exceptional person, and I went to school Aboriginal youth to rise to the responsi - Delaney Ross of Canoe Lake First many people that come and support just with his daughter who graduated last year, bility and leadership of the future gener - Nation and Bishop Lloyd Middle School the youth, it’s really special.” and she is an awesome person too.” ation as tomorrow’s leaders, physically, in Lloydminster won the Female Sports MacDonald says he believes in The Wicihitowin Foundation was mentally, and spiritually. & Recreation. working hard at whatever comes your created as a legacy to First Nations Wicihitowin is Cree for “helping each Male Sports & Recreation was shared way, whether it’s sports, education, or Veterans, 50 years after the Second World other.” Veterans were present and were by three young men who formed the basis other opportunities, and the support of his War, to honour their service by nurturing honoured in the Grand Entry. for an award-winning lacrosse team family is also very valuable to him. together: Damien Daniels of Muskeg His older sister, Debrah, won the Lake Cree Nation and Blaine Lake Female Outstanding Achievement Award Composite High, Ryan Wahobin of in 2010 and is succeeding at the Univer - Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation and sity level now. MacDonald intends to go Saskatoon’s Bethlehem High, and Jack to Montreal’s McGill in the fall, where he Okanee of Thunderchild First Nation and will study biology and life sciences. Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate. “My parents have been really good Timara Fontaine of Clearwater River for keeping me focussed on what’s really Dene First Nation and La Loche important,” he added. Community School was the Female “It was such an honour, out of all Outstanding Achievement Award Winner, these amazing youth, to be selected for while the Male Outstanding Achievement this award. Award went to Dmitri Kaypeaysewat of “I know Randell Morris was a really 4 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 Thank goodness for the youth in these trying times

t is going to be difficult to put on a actually hit the dated, lied to and take action. Sadly, even if this meeting is happy face for National Aboriginal criteria to be a Métis when they couldn’t called, the governance is so messed up that Day this year. Times are tough in Local in the MN-S. break her, the it would not matter. I There was a 43 per ‘others’ made up Lateral violence and bullying have Indian and Métis country right now. Some of it can be blamed on government, the rest cent decline in voter stuff about her and taken over the politics of the Métis Nation. we own as a community. turnout last election spread untrue Many folks that have been around a long The federal government under Prime and 40 per cent less rumours about her time say relations in the Nation are the Minister Stephen Harper should take attendance at the last personal life and worst ever. All this at an important time responsibility for much of the current MNLA. The report relationships. This when we are negotiating hunting rights and situation we face. Here we are few days called for a renewal of governance and was just one person’s experience, but as with huge court wins with the Manitoba past the fifth anniversary of the Govern - change. she spoke, dozens of people were nodding Métis Federation land claim and the ment apology for the Residential Schools Regardless of the pressing issues, the their heads in agreement. Daniels Decision that deemed Métis and we have not seen any sincerity or intent meeting was attack and defend all around. The event erupted into a near brawl as Indians under the Constitution, the timing to change. There is a select group of leaders in the a table of people were challenged by an on a political collapse couldn’t be worse. Funding has not increased for MN-S that are deliberately attacking those Area Director. Fingers were pointed, On behalf of all Métis people in education or housing, the government has they oppose and no dirty tactic is off limits. voices were raised and eff bombs rained. Saskatchewan, we beg of the Métis leaders stalled and protested releasing Residential Underhanded meetings, lawsuits, I had to channel my dad’s voice as I called to get to the table and work for the best school documents to the Truth and Recon - malicious rumour spreading, attempts by for order. It didn’t help. interests of all Métis people, not just some. ciliation Commission, government bills individuals to take over the MN-S bank The Provincial Métis Council was If that doesn’t happen, people will turn have been rammed down the throats of account and signing authorities are all nasty then told by the people to go into another their backs and you can almost bank on the Canadians and most Aboriginal political moves in play here. room and come out with a meeting date for fact that funding will be withdrawn. organizations are facing 20 to 40 per cent Oh, and by the way, representatives cuts to their budgets. from the provincial and federal gover ment The cuts to the political organizations were in the room witnessing the entire are brilliant strategies for the government gong show that day. For those that set out and their mandate. What better way to to sabotage that event, job well done. It continue status quo than to cut at the knees could not have gone better for you. Shame. the very organizations that are fighting to • • • improve things in our communities? One shining light that makes us forget • • • the political nightmares that abound is the The federal government doesn’t have SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of to worry about running the Métis Nation- Excellence. This annual gala that recog - Saskatchewan out of business. Some Métis nizes and rewards our outstanding young politicians are doing a good enough job of people celebrated their 15th anniversary it on their own. this year. I had the opportunity to host the Métis They had a record number of Nation-Saskatchewan State of the Nation nominees and guests this year as TCU public gathering in late May and the Place in Saskatoon was packed. Just sickness in the community erupted in a watching the young people and hearing meeting full of anger, malice, disrespect, their stories of success and triumph over bullying and backwards politics. It was adversity always puts a spring back in our truly a sad day. step ... always. As a sign of things to come, when I So, dear friends, do us all a favour and arrived for breakfast before the event, the take a young person out to National police were already there removing a Aboriginal Day festivities in your disruptive person who had threatened MN- community. Encourage them in their S Secretary May Henderson. The future leaders of Saskatchewan were honoured at the SaskTel Youth Awards. culture and education and help them stand Then a report created by the consult - proud. ing firm, Delloite, was presented on the Marlene Hansen took the microphone a Métis Legislative Assembly. The meeting We do, as Aboriginal people, have State of the Nation. It is scary. and she spoke eloquently about women in went nowhere and the day ended with much to be proud of and we must continue Only 30 of the 130 Métis Locals the Métis Nation bullying each other people lining up to sign a petition to call to build up our children so that some ways beyond belief. She was harassed, intimi - for a general meeting for Métis people to of the past become just that. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 5 Missing good friends; finding moose nose in T.O.

he thing about getting old, older is Chokecherry Sauce, are full of dressing it up. Didn’t I tell you that Bing that good friends start leaving us. Moshom’s Old Time medicine. Crosby use to come north to fish and he The circle that sustained and Pemmican, A handful of always asked for moose nose and my T Dandelion and them and a handful mother, your great grandmother, always nourished our spirits and intellect for years starts to get smaller and the world Fireweed Salad, of other things dressed it up for him. feels lonely more often. Steamed Burdock to boiled up can cure YW: Who on earth is Bing Crosby? Yes I know it is all a part of the cycle name but a few. diabetes. One last funny story and its about a of life but it still sucks! I am going to miss Thanks to nearly YW: If that’s moose nose, too. I could not find a single Terry Boyer and Elijah Harper. They were every trapper and the case how come one in Saskatchewan. great storytellers, fun to be around and hunter in Saskatchewan, the call for food so many of us have diabetes? So while I was doing a conference in kind and gentle friends. has been answered and my freezer is OW: Cause we’re too lazy to go into Toronto I mentioned that I had everything Good men who loved their land and overflowing. the water to dig them up that’s why! for this dinner but… Well guess what? A people and who worked tirelessly for By the way, did you know this food YW: Nokom that’s not a very nice lady bank manager stood up and said, “I their common good. Much love goes to is full of all those good things those health thing to say. have one I can give you. It’s all clean, I’ll Susan and Kate Boyer and to Anita people keep telling us to eat. Vitamins, OW: But it’s true. Not just us, but bring it in the morning.” Harper. Kinannaskomitinowow. minerals, iron, protein, good carbs and everybody. All this talk about good health Next morning as I watched her walk Thank you for sharing your loved it’s organic too. hah! We’d all be healthy if we just put toward me I thought, “no one is going to ones with us. All the food those creatures eat is some effort into helping ourselves. This believe this. I am one of those busy kokums, medicinal. On top of all that, this food is food is good for us. These animals are A lady banker in a business suit and chapans who multi-tasks all the time. full of good stories. clean. They are vegetarians, not full of high heels handing over a tightly wrapped Among my many projects, is producing Muskrat, for example, was one of goodness knows what kind of food and moose nose on Bay Street in front of the a show and catering a 10-course dinner several creatures that were saved along shot full of penicillin. No wonder we’re Royal Bank of Canada.” of wild food for an upcoming conference. with Elder Brother when the world was always getting sick. I brought it home on the plane In other words I am re-creating an “Aen destroyed by water. YW: Oh Nokom there you go getting praying it wouldn’t melt and drip down ball Metif,” or in English a “Halfbreed When all the other bigger animals all political and preachy again. There, the from the overhead onto anyone. Can you Ball.” had tried and failed he was sent down to nose is clean I burned all the hair off, its imagine having to explain that to an Air The show, which will be woven the bottom of the huge lake to find a as smooth as … Hey do you think anyone Canada Stewardess? LOL. between each course of food, is being handful of mud so they could try to will eat it? My friends Terry and Elijah would performed by some of Saskatchewan and rebuild the earth on Turtle’s back. OW: Of course they will. I’m have loved that story. Have a good day. Canada’s most talented artists. People like He went down twice and the last time Gilbert Anderson who is both an opera down they were sure he had died it took and a folk singer, Yvonne Chartrand, a him so long to come back up. contemporary and traditional dancer, But come up he did with a tiny Rajan Dorner, a classical violinist and handful of mud and Creator taking pity Michif fiddle player and there are many on them gave Elder Brother the power to more. recreate the earth that we know today. The evening will end with three An old, old ,kiyas ago story. But, you hours of old time dancing with music by know, often-new stories are also made. Juno Award Winner Donny Parenteau For example a young woman from Prince Albert. As our nokoms would learning from an old lady to clean and have said “ah bah, kah moochikun.” cook a moose nose in modern times can I am not doing it alone, of course. be interesting. Imagine you are eaves - There are 20 wonderful men and women dropping. coming from around Saskatchewan and YW: Oh my god Nokom, this nose across Canada to help me cook it and has snot in it! stage it. OW: Most noses do, my girl, and Yummy food like Candy Coated don’t turn yours up. That nose is clean, Beaver Tail, Muskrat Pate, Rabbit in that old moose used it to dig up lily pads so he could eat the roots and those roots

ELdErs GAthEriNG Displays of traditional crafts, and medicinal plants were shared with visitors at the Northern Saskatchewan Elders Gathering held in the historic Métis community of Pinehouse . Many of the plants, all harvested near Pinehouse are used in teas and medicines for centuries by elders. Also at the event, youth learn how to traditionally prepare wild game from elders. Several moose, beaver, ducks and varieties of fish were harvested and prepared in traditional styles for those attending the gathering. The cultural program also featured keynote speakers and entertainers including Eekwol, Dallas and Phil Boyer, The Outlaws, The Asham Stompers, Maureen Belanger aka Kookum Ernestine and Alphonse, the inspirational Shannon Loutitt, Clay DeBray, Guy Lonechild and Chief Clarence Louie. (Photos by Gaylene Poulin) 6 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 Summer stories

hey say there are summer stories had a sniff in pro golf up to the PGA and there are winter stories. And, level, as has my youngest daughter, traditionally, the story-telling Leila, as an alumnus and captain of T the USC college golf team, on the was done in accordance with certain protocols. women’s golf side. I love summer and I love the Following them around took me summer stories, to many amazing golf destinations even as I admit including one in my ignorance of Nagoya Japan for all the protocols. the Junior World Stories are Golf champi - formally known onships. as ‘history’ when In the they are all put baseball world together, and this my favourite monthly paper Indian player at National Aboriginal Day is has set this month as ‘history month’. the big leagues is still Boston’s Some of my favourite stories are Jacoby Ellsbury, who recently stole summer stories about summer sports: five bases in one game. I suspect he Friday, June 21 baseball and golf in particular. may be just as good and good-looking Everyone knows that golf is now as the fabled first Indian to play major ––– Let’s celebrate! ––– a ‘traditional’ summer sport: there are league baseball, Lou Sockalexis. ‘Indian Golf Tournaments’ every - His story is told in Brian where, in Canada and in the U.S.A. McDonald’s “Indian Summer: The Not everyone plays but many do, Forgotten Story of Louis Sockalexis including some well-known the First Native American in Major Saskatchewan and national personal - League Baseball” published in 2003. ities amongst the indigenous crowd. It is a must-read, along with the Some familiar names who may be biography of ‘Satchel Paige’ the caught enjoying a day on the links African-American legend who played include Joe Quewezance, Wayne on touring teams before the days of Morris, George Peeace, Chief Darcy Jackie Robinson and the major Bear, Frank Royal and Guy leagues allowing Black players to Lonechild, the latter following into participate. the category of a real player. Western Canada has had some Del Riley was the best golfer, legendary tournaments, run in places hands down, amongst the national like Indian Head, Sask. and Lacombe, Chiefs of the AFN, even as Ovide Alberta. In the days before television, Mercredi deserves a nod for his occa - this sport was much more popular in sionally magic short game. towns across the West, who absorbed Willie Littlechild can handle Black players where the major himself alright on the course as he leagues would not. I was told that the can in politics and law as well as Cuban team once played in Lacombe, ‘Masters’ competitions in swimming. where I had a chance to play many Grand Chief Nepinak in years ago when I was on the pitching Manitoba would be the best roster for the Saskatoon Liners. swimmer, of course, and be able to North America does not monop - acquit himself decently with a golf olize the love of sports among indige - club as well. A posthumous nod must nous people. surely be given to Jim Sinclair and his My friend, Murri Elder, and son Kenny. statesman Bob Morgan who is an So, dear readers, chalk up golf up occasional visitor to Canada and there in the traditional stuff, in the Saskatoon, is the co-founder, along same way that ‘Matrimonial Cake’, with indigenous Aussie Rules legend elsewhere known as ‘Date Squares’ Syd Jackson of the Australian Aborig - has become a traditional dessert right inal Golf Association, which is still up there with Rice Pudding. Oh, and running national championships after Chinese food, too, is a traditional 30 years of operation. food, is it not? Bob and some mates from USA At the big league level we had and Australia recently teed it up at Notah Begay of New Mexico, who Pebble Beach, a place to which impe - played college golf at Stanford with cuniosity barred my attendance. I Tiger Woods and who has now hear rumours they will be headed this become a TV commentator after a way again soon. decent PGA career. May you have the joy of our short My son, Dan, won the Canadian summer, and make some stories for Junior title at Moon Lake when it was telling: cobbling our social history played here in the ‘90s, and he has story by story. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 7 Lots in store for National Aboriginal History Month

By Carla Ardell For Eagle Feather News he name of our province is a story in itself. It was a choice between TBuffalo, a source of life, and the Cree word meaning swift moving water. Both choices were linked to the lifeblood of aboriginal existence. Ultimately, the name Saskatchewan was chosen to represent the two main rivers flowing through our territory. This little known fact is one of the reasons why June has become important to Canadians. Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway, founder of National Aboriginal History Month, says this month is all about “raising the social consciousness of people” and it Board members of Regina Aboriginal Professional Association at a planning meeting for June’s National Aboriginal has been a success so far. History Month During her term as President of the Month is now upon us, there are plenty of FNUniv Elders’ Helper. Association emphasizes that National Regina Aboriginal Professionals Associ - activities for everyone. Relationship building is another goal Aboriginal History Month is for all ation BigEagle-Kequahtooway took the The Regina Aboriginal Professionals for Cherish Deegan, current president of Canadians because it brings to life initiative to start National Aboriginal Association is planning different events the Professionals Association. Canada’s past, changes the present and History Month because she saw the need for each week in June. “That component is critical in the empowers the future. for it. This year, the events were developed success of not only Regina, not only New this year is the Associaiton’s “If we don’t do it, no one will,” said to engage youth in a more practical way. Saskatchewan, but all Canadian Aborig - social media launch. People are encour - BigEagle-Kequahtooway. For example, First Nations University inal people,” she said. aged to take pictures each day for a photo National Aboriginal History Month (FNUniv) is hosting a Tipi Teachings event. Other partners such as North Central contest and post them with the hashtag has grown in the last six years – from a Elders will teach values to youth, the Family Association and Standing Buffalo #NAHM2013PhotoADay. local Regina initiative – to a cross-Canada most important being respect. Fighting Sioux Lacrosse Team are For further information on activities celebration. “If you have respect for yourself, you bringing in youth to take part in events. in your area see http://www.rapanet - As National Aboriginal History stay out of trouble,” says Roland Kaye, The Regina Aboriginal Professionals work.ca/. 8 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 New partnership aims to increase number of First Nations foster homes By Kristine scarrow This new initiative to recruit foster For Eagle Feather News families will be in addition to the recruit - new partnership between ment work that is already being done by Saskatchewan Foster Families the Saskatchewan Foster Families Asso - AAssociation (SFFA) and ciation. The two organizations will work Foxvalley Counselling Services Inc. in in partnership, something that Fox Regina aims to increase the number of believes is important. First Nations foster homes. “We are new at this. The SFFA has Since February 1, with funding been very helpful. They’ve given us provided by the Ministry of Social support, encouragement, and materials to Services, Foxvalley is focusing on recruit - aid in recruitment. ment in the southern part of the province, “We couldn’t do it alone. By us specifically Treaty 4 territory. working together, we can accomplish “There are a high number of Aborig - more than we could if we worked at inal children in foster care,” Foxvalley recruitment individually.” Counselling Services Inc. Executive The Saskatchewan Foster Families Director Mark Fox says. “Aboriginal Association provides resources, training, homes are needed.” and advocacy for foster families through - In addition to providing multiple out the province to support their work as preventative programs aimed at support - caregivers. ing families, Foxvalley provides coun - “We are excited to partner with selling services and training to the Foxvalley with regards to recruitment,” community. says the Association’s executive director “Meeting with the SFFA, we came to Deb Davies. Mark Fox of Foxvalley Counselling Services and Deb Davies of the Saskatchewan the decision to work together.” Fox says. “The recruitment of First Nations Foster Families Association at the signing of their agreement. “We’ve attended powwows, Treaty foster families is crucial because currently Day events, and have visited the First 66 per cent of children in out-of-home provide life skills, love and guidance,” Those interested in learning more Nations University of Canada. care are Aboriginal (Status, Non-status says Davies. about becoming a foster parent can “We’re putting the word out with other and Métis). “It also means being part of a profes - contact Foxvalley Counselling Services community based organizations, the school “Becoming a foster parent is so sional team that has the ability to make a Inc. directly at (306) 757-5100 or call the boards, and through a Facebook page specif - much more than providing food, clothing remarkable difference in the life of a foster parent recruitment line at 1-888- ically created for recruitment,” Fox says. and shelter. It’s the opportunity to child.” 276-2880. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 9 10 Eagle Feather News - Health JUNE 2013 JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 11 Lots to celebrate, lots to deal with on National Aboriginal Day

here is only one day a year when Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment inal peoples in Saskatchewan. Myths and June is also the month when we Canadians come out to celebrate rate for Aboriginal people is about 12 per misconceptions about Aboriginal celebrate Father’s Day so Happy Father’s Aboriginal culture. June 21 is cent, compared to about four per cent for workers fly around many work places. Day to all the dads that participate in the T Saskatchewan as a We have a co- children’s lives and show respect to the National Aboriginal Day. The other 364 days of the year are not so much of a cele - whole. According to worker who mothers of their children. bration. the politicians, the remarks about Shame on those men that deny their Aboriginal people still fill the prisons problem with much “Indians” never children and abuse their women. Shame and provincial jails, our children are of the Aboriginal showing up the day on those men that have multiple children dying in foster care and our women go population is that we after a pay day and with different women and don’t support missing from the streets in many are not qualified to it seems like every these children in any way. For goodness Canadian cities and still there is no public fill the vacant “Indian” has the sakes use a condom or some other form outcry. But we will celebrate your positions, therefore nickname, Chief. of birth control. Why do some men think regalia, dancing and artwork June 21. they can justify looking outside Canada Aboriginal people often have to its okay to walk away from their Did you know that the fastest and for skilled workers. They say we need to work with people who make no bones children? You can leave a relationship youngest growing population in Canada stay in school and take the training about their dislike for “Indians”. Who but you should never leave your children. is the Aboriginal population? Yet we also To be fair, why do some women have the highest unemployment rate refuse to let the fathers see their children? compared to any other ethnic group in When we leave a job because we If he is supporting his children (and he’s Canada. Why? not abusive)he has every right to see his Saskatchewan is apparently in an don’t feel comfortable we are called kids and spend time with them. Parents economic boom. There are so many jobs have got to stop using their children as that companies have to hire people from lazy and told that we don’t want to weapons when they split. Think of your Ireland or the Philippines to fill those children and do what is best for them. positions. The Saskatchewan govern - work. Really? We just don’t want to Until next month, take care and be ment says it doesn’t have the qualified kind to one another. Your children are people to keep up with the demand. The work with jerks! watching. Ekosi. First Nation population in Saskatchewan Thank you for your emails, and is over 120,000 and that is not including needed to apply for these vacant wants to continue working in these toxic letters. Always nice to hear from the the Métis and Inuit. Surely the govern - positions. Will they really hire us if we’re environments? When we leave a job readership. You can write to me at Eagle ment could fill those positions with qualified? Depends who you ask I guess. because we don’t feel comfortable we are Feather News c/o Sandee Sez PO Box qualified Aboriginal people before Obviously, geographic isolation and called lazy and told that we don’t want to 924 ST Main, Saskatoon, S7K 3M4 looking outside of the country. Really! transportation needs play a significant work. Really? We just don’t want to work Saskatchewan or send me an email to According to the Saskatchewan role in the unemployment rate of Aborig - with jerks! [email protected] 12 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 Running has my body going in right direction ’ve been running since this last April. It’s not just myself, and I abused ourselves. Our bodies have I haven’t run in over 30 years and because I live in the created even more become wounded places and the echoes because the life of a writer is a seated mountains and the trauma on top of of our trauma live in them. I views where I run are what I already We need to get in touch with them life, I’d allowed myself to get very out of shape. spectacular. carried. again. So the process of getting back into It’s not because I So for decades I When we do, we heal. Not healthy shape was hard. But now, I’m get that whimsical, banked a whole lot everybody needs to become a runner but running over five miles at a time. I’ve lost elevated ‘runner’s of negative energy we do need to exercise. We need to a lot of weight and find myself sleeping high’, though I do and and it had nowhere honour our bodies. more, eating less and owning a lot more it’s awesome. It’s more because when I to go. It just sat inside me. Waiting. We need to address the trauma we energy than I have for a long time. run I am in my body. Every foot fall Trauma lives in the body. It’s more carry through therapy and then through I’m never going to be a champion. centers me in the now. than a mental and emotional burden. a healthy relationship with our bodies. But I didn’t set out to be. No, I’m content Every breath, laboured at first, My trauma resides in different places We can learn to exercise our own to be able to do the distance I set out to smoother later, becomes a union with the in my body and when I would get freedom. run regardless of how long it takes me. earth, the sky, the road, myself. When I triggered and re-experience events and We can run, walk, swim. Bike or My goal is to run and finish my first run I am grounded in who I am. I am 57. feelings, it expressed itself somewhere dance toward it. I know this to be true. marathon sometime in the fall of 2014. I am a runner. in my body. I used to ache with it. I My body always tells me when I’ll be 58 by then. When I feel connected to my body I shook. I cramped. I wasn’t comfortable something is not right with it. That’s true The challenge of running 26 miles is feel better. Exercise gets me to a place in my own skin. for the trauma I still carry as well. what my running is all about. Or at least where I feel peace. I run without an iPod But when I run and exercise I get in When I am connected to it, there’s it was in the beginning. or a music gadget of any kind. I prefer to touch with my body. I feel centered in something I can do about it. In the old I’ve discovered that there is more in hear the sound of my breathing. myself. days my emotional triggers seemed to it for me. I’ve come to eagerly await my I prefer the sound of birds, the wind, The old wounds and terrors that used come out of nowhere and I would be runs. Every morning when my training the slap of my feet on pavement or to live in parts of my body are replaced gone. Nowadays, I am centered on my says that this is a running day, I am filled gravel. That’s music to me. I want to with a joy in expressing myself physi - physical self. From that place I can use with expectation. experience myself running because it cally. I like the feel of my body moving therapy tools to deal with discomforts. Gone are the dreaded days when my feels so good to be in my body. and I like feeling connected to myself. I will always carry trauma. But I can breath was hard in my lungs and my legs See, I am a survivor of trauma. When Why is this important? Well, many learn to manage it so it never overwhelms like concrete. Nowadays, beyond a few I was young I was subjected to all kinds Aboriginal people in Canada carry me again. age-related injuries, I have run pain free. of abuse. Later in my life, when all that trauma of one kind or another. That’s the whole secret. I’ve come to love it. went unhealed I learned how to abuse Many of us have been abused and/or Being in my body keeps me safe. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 13 New book honours FSIN’s first 65 years By Fraser Needham facts and photographs that chronicles the For Eagle Feather News years 1946 to 2011. The book was offi - he Federation of Saskatchewan cially launched on June 4 in Saskatoon. Indian Nations has come a long FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde says the Tway over its first 65 years and it is book is dedicated to First Nations celebrating this period in a new book. veterans for the important work they did Our History is a collection of stories, in getting the organization up and running

The FSIN executives Dutch Lerat, Bobby Cameron, Kim Jonathan, and Chief Perry BellgardeMinister as well as Minister Jim Reiter and Zane Hansen of SIGA pose with veterans at the launch of the FSIN book, “Our History.” (Photo by Shelleymikephotography.com) in the post Second World War period. or its work with the Saskatchewan “We always say our First Nations government in promoting treaty veterans saw what it was like to be equals education. He says the key to the orga - when they were fighting in World War nization’s success has been its ability to One and World War Two with their non- remain unified. Indigenous brothers and sisters,” he says. “The FSIN has been around for 65 “But when they came back to years and it’s that strong unity, that Canada, they became Indians again and collective voice, that keeps us together,” they came under the jurisdiction of he says. “You always have differences Indian Affairs, the Indian agents, they but people see that vision about keeping didn’t go to Veterans Affairs. So they felt the collective strength together. In unity and saw that injustice and inequity and there is strength.” they wanted to change and do something The FSIN head says First Nations about it – getting organized – so they laid people have long learned that they need the foundation, they started working to tell their own stories and that’s what together, they started hosting meetings.” this new book is all about. Bellegarde adds the FSIN has lots to “It’s worthwhile to tell that story,” be proud over is first six and a half he says. “It’s worthwhile to lift up our decades of existence whether it be jobs heroes and our leaders. It’s a very and revenues generated by the important history that can’t be forgotten. Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, “So, having this book launched is a the First Nations University of Canada way of education and awareness.” 14 Eagle Feather News - Gabriel Dumont Institute JUNE 2013 Gabriel Dumont Institute offers range of scholarships

hrough the Gabriel Dumont Scholarship Foundation II (GDSF), the Institute has been administering scholarships for Saskatchewan’s Métis since the early 1980s. TThe scholarship fund is based on a $2.5 million dollar capital investment. Schol - arships are awarded on the interest earned on the fund’s principal. A Scholarship Trustees and Selection Committee awards scholarships twice per year. NAPOLEON LAFONTAINE SCHOLARSHIPS Napoleon LaFontaine was instrumental in organizing the Association of Métis and Non- Status Indians of Saskatchewan. Over the years, he devoted himself to developing social and educational policies for Aboriginal people. These scholarships are named in recog - nition of his many contributions. The Napoleon LaFontaine Economic Development Scholarship Program was estab - lished to encourage Saskatchewan Métis to pursue full-time education and training that enhances social, cultural, and economic development. The Napoleon LaFontaine Schol - arships are awarded as follows: Entrance, Undergraduate, Graduate, Graduation, Loan Remission, and Special. GDC GRADUATE STUDENT BURSARY PROGRAM The Gabriel Dumont College Graduate Student Bursary Program is designed to provide financial support for full-time graduate studies at the Masters or Doctorate level. The intent is to encourage Saskatchewan Métis to pursue full-time graduate studies and conduct research in fields relevant to Métis people. SASKENERGY—MÉTIS INCORPORATED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM In 1998, SaskEnergy made a five-year commitment to GDI to fund annual scholarships. Since then, SaskEnergy continued to provide the scholarship funds on an annual basis. In 2009, SaskEnergy and GDI signed a new five-year, $50,000 agreement. Under the new agreement, Métis students entering or continuing undergraduate degrees or diplomas in select fields of study will be eligible for the scholarship funds. Congratulations to all 2013 GDI graduates! SASKTEL MÉTIS SCHOLARSHIP (Photo by: Alexandria Powalinsky of Eye of the Beholder Photography by Alex) The SaskTel Métis Scholarship is a three-year pilot project that began in May 2009. The scholarship represents a partnership between SaskTel and GDI for the joint funding of Métis-specific scholarships. The scholarship distributes $16,000 annually to Métis students pursuing post-secondary accreditation in fields of study related to telecommunications. GDI-CAMECO SCHOLARSHIP The GDI-Cameco Scholarship, established in 2010, is a four-year pilot project aimed at supporting Métis students studying in fields related to Cameco. The scholarship is cost shared and provides five annual awards of $1,300 each to Métis post-secondary students in trades, business administration, commerce, computer science, and other fields related to Cameco’s operations. GDI-SASKATOON HEALTH REGION SCHOLARSHIP GDI and the SHR have partnered to provide 17 scholarships of $1,000 each to Métis students in pursuit of post-secondary education leading to health careers in a number of targeted fields. The scholarship assists the SHR to build a representative workforce for the health region, and it supports Métis students to pursue post-secondary accreditation in targeted health careers – both key SHR outcomes. BASIC EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Established in 2009, the Basic Education Scholarship supports Métis Basic Education students in their transition from school to work and/or further training. GDI T&E initiated this scholarship because students often struggle with the transition from school. Awarded based on a number of criteria, the scholarships are available to DTI students who are enrolled in level 3 or level 4 programs. SASKATCHEWAN INNOVATION & OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND Introduced in 2011-2012, the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship Fund combines contributions from the province with private, corporate, not-for-profit, and fundraised donations to award as much as $100,000 in scholarships to GDI students each year. Award priorities are in the trades, health, education, business, transportation, and other programs that have a direct link to employment. BHP BILLITON-GDI SCHOLARSHIP GDI’s newest scholarship offering comes from a partnership created with BHP Billiton in 2013 which will provide $20,000 in new scholarships for Métis students. BHP made a $10,000 donation that was matched by the GDSF. Eligible students will be Saskatchewan-resident Métis, will demonstrate academic success and financial need, and will be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-secondary institution pursuing a degree, diploma, certificate, or apprenticeship in Trades, Business Adminis - tration, Commerce, Computer Science, or any other field related to the industry of BHP Billiton in Saskatchewan. Eight awards of $2,500 each will be awarded over the course of 2013 under GDSF deadlines and processes. GDI is also proud to announce that the 2nd Annual GDSF Golf Tournament raised around $21,000 which will be matched by the provincial government under the Advantage Scholarship program to bring the total to $42,000 to support Métis students! Thank you to all the sponsors, participants, and staff who made the tournament such a success! For more information, deadlines, and application forms, please visit www.gdins.org/scholarships. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 15 National Aboriginal Day history quiz - How smart are you? Good luck! 8. The North American Indigenous 16. Bernard Fowler performed with a. Riel Lagimodiere Games will be held in what Stevie Salas at last year’s National b. Reagan Harding 1. What historic land settlement Saskatchewan city in 2014? Aboriginal Day Live concert in Regina. c. Delby Powless agreement that involves 26 Bands a. Saskatoon With what famous rock band did he d. Alex Collins celebrated its 20th anniversary this b. Elbow sing back up vocals for over 25 years? past September? c. Regina a. Chester Knight and The Wind 19. This Mohawk blues musician is a. Treaty 6 d. North Battleford b. Rolling Stones most often compared to Robbie b. Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) c. The Tragically Hip Robertson of The Band. c. Powley Decision 9. Wapeton’s Kim Jonathon became d. Jellyroll Kid a. George Leach d. Treaty 4 the first woman elected to this organi - b. Eagle and Hawk zation last year? 17. Saskatchewan’s first paranormal c. Derek Miller 2. This First Nations actress recently a. FSIN TV series is coming soon on APTN d. Stevie Salas walked the Red Carpet with Benicio b. CSIS and was shot mostly in and around Del Torro at the Cannes International c. APTN Saskatoon. It is called: 20. National Aboriginal Day Live is Film Festival to promote their new d. CBC a. Right Away, More Unsolved Mysteries broadcast live from two Canadian film Jimmy P? b. The Other Side cities every year. Last year it was a. Jennifer Podemski 10. This recent court ruling c. Cha! Just Thinks He Sees Dead People Winnipeg and Regina. What cities are b. Andrea Menard established Métis people as ‘Indians’ d. Ghost Stories From the Rez... hosting the celebration this year? c. Michelle Thrush in Canada. a.Winnipeg and Whitehorse d. Tantoo Cardinal a. Sparrow Case 18. This Saskatoon lacrosse player b. Winnipeg and Yellowknife b. Daniels Decision currently has a full scholarship to c. Winnipeg and Iqaluit 3. This musician, best known for c. Powley Decision Lake Erie College in Ohio. d. Winnipeg and Fort St. John playing in the band Sylvie with her d. Lagimodiere’s Ruling husband Joel Passmore, recently finished law school. 11. This historic figure best known for a. Tessa Desnomie helping stop the Meech Lake Accord b. Riva Farrell Racette recently passed away. c. Kinnie Starr a. Harry Daniels d. Berlene Snakeskin b. Elijah Harper c. Gordon Tootoosis 4. Who wrote the Buffy St. Marie d. Rene Highway biography ‘It’s My Way’? a. Joseph Boyden 12. The government’s Omnibus Bill b. Kenneth T. Williams sparked this worldwide Aboriginal c. Blair Stonechild movement in late 2012. d. Louise Halfe a. American Indian Movement (AIM) b. Idle No More 5. This play by Kenneth T. Williams c. Eagle Feather News Rebellion was inspired by Canadian Senator d. Occupy Regina Lillian Dyck. a. Thunderstick 13. This late great actor’s first movie b. Bannock Republic was Alien Thunder in 1974. c. Gordon Winter a. Gordon Tootoosis d. Cafe Daughter b. Floyd Crow Westerman c. Russel Means 6. In May, Dolores Sand sang the d. Charles Bronson Canadian National Anthem in Cree, French and English at this major 14. The Idle No More movement was national sporting event held in initiated in this Canadian city. Saskatoon. a. Vancouver a. Stanley Cup Playoffs b. Toronto b. Memorial Cup c. Montreal c. Calder Cup d. Saskatoon d. World Junior Hockey Championships 15. This award-winning supernatural 7. This Métis hockey player from crime drama TV series starring Meadow Lake won a Stanley Cup Andrea Menard was shot in with the L.A. Kings last year. Saskatoon and Duck Lake. a. Jordin Tootoo a. Blackstone b. Dwight King b. Cashing In c. Jordan Nolan c. Wynter d. Jon Mirasty d. Rabbit Fall

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. 1 16 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2013 2013 First Nations University Spring Po By Brayden Benjoe sents all aspects of healing and each jingle represents each day in a year.” For Eagle Feather News Oakes says the FNUniv powwow is one of her favorite powwows, and she heodore Bison says he was proud that he had the opportunity of dancing looks forward to representing the University this upcoming powwow season. his heart out for those who are unable, because they are unhealthy, disabled Behind the scenes, Richard Missens, Chair of the FNUniv powwow committee and elderly or incarcerated, at this year’s 35th Annual FNUniv Spring had concerns about the powwow’s attendance after the change in their schedule. Powwow Celebration. “My biggest concern was to let the people know (about postponing the TBison began dancing powwow at the age of two and carried on his traditional powwow)”, said Missens. “They travel from all over.” lifestyle by the good influence of his parents Roy and Carla Bison from the Ocean The FNUniv Spring Powwow Celebration opened up doors to dancers and man First Nation. singers from all across the country on the weekend of May 11. “When I became a teenager I started realizing that I was getting a lot of respon - “This is the longest-standing powwow in Saskatchewan and hit a milestone this sibilities as a young man, I wanted to be a good role model.” year, being the 35th Annual Powwow. It is the kick off Not only does Bison see the powwow trail as a way for youth to the powwow season,” Missens said. to stay out of trouble, as a father, he says, “I want my kids to know “The attendance was down this year, as well as the that their father stayed away from those kinds of things (drugs and dancer count was down. Last year we had a little over alcohol). I want to be a good role model for my children.” 600 and this year we had 478 dancers.” After the change in schedule, the powwow committee did what they could to reassure everyone that the powwow would still go on. “To have faculty, staff and students as part of the University engage with the powwow, it really adds something different to us. It really shows our pride as First Nations University, celebrating culture, song and dance,” suggests Missens. “This year we celebrated something I think is pretty unique. We had on Friday (the day before the powwow) the first Alumni homecoming. We welcomed represen - tatives from our 4,000 Alumni.” The Alumni Association hosted a Round dance Friday night before the powwow, which welcomed the Alumni and people from all over. “That was really unique. They brought a lot of people in and the place was just jumping.” Alumnus and dancer Robyn Morin is a Contempo - From left going clockwise, newly rary Women’s Fancy Shawl Dancer and Crowned FNUniv Princess Whitney participated in the powwow event. Oakes, Women’s traditional dancer “It was still a good a powwow. It’s not and FNUniv student Emery-Rose the amount of people that make up the Assiniboine, Elder Eula Hotomani powwow. catching up with friends, Tiny Tot “It’s the vibe, the singing and the Lilyanna Thomson and Crazy Horse dancing. Everybody still came together in Bison. (Photos by Mike Dubois) a good way and enjoyed their selves.”

Bison feels a strong connection with his style of dance, which is a representa - tion of a horse. This style of dance is inherited through the Southern Oklahoma tribes such as the Cheyenne. “When you see the men’s fancy dancers dance they’re lifting up their arms and their legs and they’re trying to have perfect posture doing these moves,” Bison explains. “What that represents is when a horse shows off. It starts bucking. It starts puffing out its chest. It starts rocking its head or kicking out, dabbing the ground with its hoof. That’s what those dance moves represent. It is a very masculine dance.” Another proud participant was Whitney Oakes, who just completed her first year at the FNUniv in the Faculty of Arts. She was chosen as the 2013 Miss FNUniv Princess. She feels that her role as the new Miss FNUniv is to assist others to identify with the importance of post-secondary education. “In this day and age we need education to survive. We can no longer rely on high school diplomas.” Oakes says. Oake’s, who is an old style Jingle dress dancer, respects her style of dance. “Old style jingle is more about being graceful. It is a healing dance. It repre - JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 17 owwow Celebration 18 Eagle Feather News - National Aboriginal Day JUNE 2013 CBC special asks: What Do Indians Want? By diane Adams the students take that away from the experience, as well. She that surprise them,” she added. For Eagle Feather News paired Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal students in pairs to Fiddler says the show is less about differences, and more ou’re going to want to lock your radio on CBC for put together each part of the show. about what brings us all together. National Aboriginal Day. Students from the Indian “It was a good way to show the students (what Indians “(People will hear) stories about language, stories about YCommunication Arts Program (INCA) at First want), but also a good way to send that message out to others: culture, but not just Aboriginal culture because the whole point Nations University and CBC Saskatchewan have produced ‘Look our stories aren’t that different!’” Fiddler said. of the show is to show that everybody has a culture, everybody a radio special for June 21 called What Do Indians The show tackles what Indians want in a whole variety has a language, everybody wants those things,” she said. Want? “Everybody wants an education, everybody Merelda Fiddler, Current Affairs Producer at wants a better future,” she added. CBC Saskatchewan and INCA instructor is behind Kristy Auger and Liam Avison are the student the student special. She says the show is a response hosts of What Do Indians Want? to Idle No More. Auger, originally from Fort St. John, British “I decided I wanted to do What do Indians Want? Columbia, says it was surreal to sit in the hosting when Idle No More started, because everyone kept chair, put on the headphones, and hear her own voice saying ‘I don’t understand what they want!’ she said. behind the show’s funky upbeat theme music. Fiddler says the confusion around it really “I kind of felt like I couldn’t really believe it!” bothered her. she added. “’Why are they protesting? Why are they roun - Auger says she learned a lot from working on- dancing in the mall?’ It was something that really stuck and hosting the show. She hopes others will take with me,” Fiddler added. something from hearing it, as well. Months passed, and Fiddler says she waited for “I hope that (non-Indigenous listeners) are able the right opportunity to put together the show. She to understand Indigenous people better,” Auger said. knew the moment had come when she walked into She hopes the stories inspire Indigenous people this year’s INCA Summer Institute. FNUniv INCA students Liam Avison and Kristy Auger surround CBC to take action. “When I saw that we had almost a 50/50 split of producer Merelda Fiddler. “(I hope it) Inspires them to continue doing good Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal students, I thought, what things in their community and learn new things,” a great idea to show people that what Aboriginal people want,” of areas—from sports, to health, to education and language. she added. she said. Some students put together short, emotional docu - People can hear What Do Indians Want? on CBC Radio “There are some specific things – but in the long run, mentaries about their own personal stories, while others One in Saskatchewan from 4-6 pm on June 21. That’s on Aboriginal people want the same things everybody else wants, booked interviews. Listeners can even expect to hear from 102.5 FM in Regina, 94.1 FM in Saskatoon, and 540 AM which is to be equal to be everybody else in Canada,” she Wab Kinew, one of the heads of Idle No More and a former across the province. added. CBC Reporter. People can also hear a one-hour version across Canada Fiddler says she hopes the show will help listeners under - “People can expect to hear some really excellent on during CBC Radio One’s Network Show, The Story from stand what Aboriginal people want for themselves, but that students,” Fiddler said. “They can expect to hear stories Here, on June 19 and Wednesday, June 26 at 11 p.m. JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News 19 Seminar heard from front line Métis entrepreneurs

By Fraser Needham first marriage. Too much time spent at work For Eagle Feather News took a toll on her personal life. tarting your own business can come Now, a few years later and a job at the with both financial and personal University of Saskatchewan in between, Scosts. Just ask Anne-Marie Cey. she is back with a new business. This time around it is a gym called Snap Fitness located in the Lawson Heights area of Inspire 2013 offered tips for Métis men and women entrepreneurs. Saskatoon. Cey says the reason she ventured back 5 event was hosted by the Clarence director of the Clarence Campeau Devel - into the world of private enterprise is she Campeau Development Fund. opment Fund. She says starting a new likes the flexibility that comes with owning One of the other featured speakers was business can certainly be a daunting task your own business. Plus, she admits she Shelley Keyes of S.K. Transitions. Her but one of the goals of the seminar is to has never been very good at taking company focuses on helping people make provide information to people and let marching orders from others. In other both life and career changes. them know that there are a number of words, she enjoys being her own boss. Keyes says once people have taken the options available to help get a fledgling “I learned a number of things from time to think about and decide what they business off the ground. owning my first business,” she says. “I really want to do with their lives, the rest “That’s the biggest thing, is that learned you can’t do everything yourself usually falls into place. they’re somewhat at a loss on where to go and you need to bring other people in. I “I spend lots of time talking with for help or assistance,” she says. “And we have brought in a bookkeeper to help with people, and not talking, listening with have ten different programs and services this business so I can concentrate on the people about looking to create meaning that we are trying to let everyone know things I am trained in and am good at – and fulfillment in their life,” she says. that we have available and they’re not marketing and communications of the “And when you do that, sometimes it alone. business.” ANNE-MARIE CEY takes you in business avenues, sometimes “There are some great programs out Cey was one of the keynote speakers it doesn’t. there, all they have to do is ask and we can Her first foray into the world of private at Inspire 2013 in Saskatoon, a one-day “And for me, following that passion give them a hand.” entrepreneurship was a digital photogra - seminar for Métis women and youth who I had led to a business, it’s kind of hard to About 75 women and youth from all phy business. Not only did Cey eventual - may be thinking about getting into or believe.” over Saskatchewan registered for the ly leave the business but it also cost her a expanding an existing business. The June Monica Brunet is the economic seminar. 20 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers JUNE 2013 Miyosiwin Salon makes Cree beautiful

By Nicole Akan other, one on one, teaching For Eagle Feather News Eagle about himself.” en Dubois says her dream of One of Dubois’s clients is opening a salon that follows Chasity Delorme. JFirst Nations protocols for “I trust her,” says hair is now a reality. Miyosiwin Delorme. “I’m very protective Salon opened in Regina on May of my hair and she understands 1. that. Dubois chose the name “To another hairstylist, Miyosiwin, which is a Cree word they wouldn’t understand the meaning beauty. spirit that is attached to hair. “I have that strong connec - “To them hair is hair,” says tion now, showing people First Delorme. Nations culture,” she said. “Now people have “That’s what makes me feel somewhere to go,” says good, staying true to my roots.” Delorme. “I would recommend Dubois learned about hair it to anybody but definitely to traditions from her husband, Aboriginal men and women. Mike, who was raised with the (Now) they have a salon that teaching that only his family understands cultural sensitivi - members could touch his hair. ty.” When he and Jen started dating, Jen Dubois has female he waited seven years before he clients who are trying to grow would let her see him with his their hair and will only cut it on hair out. a full moon. She always asks her clients if they want to keep “Having my hair out in front Jen Dubois, owner of Miyosiwin Salon in Regina and her son Eagle in her home based hair salon. the hair, to dispose of in their of someone other than my family (Photo by Mike Dubois) was a big step for me,” he said. own way. “Hair is a source of power,” he says. every day. It’s part of being a healthy Eagle’s hair. Mike says this is an “It’s about reclamation,” says “It’s a connection to your spiritual side. person.” important time for mother and son. Dubois. “Bringing back our (cultural It teaches you a lot about being patient, Jen Dubois takes 30 minutes every “There is at least one portion of the teachings) and making them main - learning to care for yourself. Take time morning to braid her five-year-old son day when they are interacting with each stream.” JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers 21 Cree teachers see increasing interest By Kristy Auger “The students did a Tansi song, puppet show and For Eagle Feather News played Cree charades,” says Cote. tats Canada says indigenous languages are Cook has been teaching Cree for seven years. declining, but the experience of Cree language “It is our identity,” says Cook. “A lot of our words Sinstructors tells a different story. come from our culture and come from the environment.” The 2011 census says that 17 per cent of those who He agrees with Cote’s assessment that interest is identified as Aboriginal could speak their languages actually growing. fluently, down from 21.5 per cent in 2006. Although “I do see a lot of people enjoying it and I think that’s census results have been criticized, due to low partici - the key. It is our identity. Without it, we’re not ourselves.” pation of Aboriginal people, the results are still alarming. But according to some Cree language instructors, an opposite trend is emerging and interest appears to be Cree language workshop rising. Robert Cote is a teacher at Ochapowace First Nation who started teaching Cree four years ago at Kakisiwew to be offered in July School. Belinda Daniels will be hosting a Cree “I have a couple of students that are really doing well language workshop at Oskayak High School in in Cree,” he says. “You’re starting to see more of it in Saskatoon on July 22 -25. our school. “When you have that Cote says it was a proud moment when their Grade connection to language, you 1 students sang O Canada in Cree for a presentation. also have that connection to “The ability to know your language and your culture, land,” says Daniels. “And that’s what makes us Cree and Saulteaux,” says Cote, when you have language who attended Origins of Cree Syllabic’s Conference on and land, you have a June 4-5 in Edmonton with a group from Ochapowace. complete, whole identity,” Angel Scott was one of the students who attended. Daniels has been “It was very interesting,” she says. teaching Cree professional - Taking students to language conferences is just one ly for 14 years and doing the thing Cote is doing to build interest in learning their Cree language program - language. He also took them to the First Nations Univer - Robert Cote’s students Ashley Bear and Jalynne ming at the University of sity to experience a class with Cree instructor Bill Cook. Sparvier, practicing their Cree. Saskatchewan for seven years. BELINDA DANIELS She says language is culture and tied to the land. “When I teach or travel or do workshops, I introduce myself as a Nehiyaw and I am of the Nehiyawak peoples of this land, this land we call Canada or Turtle Island.” You can register for the workshop by going to the University of Saskatchewan languages depart - ment website. Participants will receive a certifi - cate from U of S upon completion. 22 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers JUNE 2013 Hunt is on for summer jobs Mr. Answer Guy on By taryn riemer For Eagle Feather News ith only a month of school left, high school students are wondering where to look for summer jobs. After conducting a quick survey of what kind of ‘when men’s IQ’s drop’ Wemployment services there are for Aboriginal high school students it was clear there are options all over Saskatchewan. For students at White Bear First Nation their high school has developed a rela - with the lizard brain hi-jack, though hirley Nautsbegone of Crutwell tionship with the businesses in the community and surrounding towns. for men it is much more intense. And writes, “Mr. Answer Guy, when “I like to say the community sees a need for the students to be active in some sort they both responded with anger, we fight, I can see my husband of good way,” said Murray Bird, Principal of White Bear Education Complex. S contempt and disgust at the turning into Bird said students who want a summer job often approach him for help. squirrel’s primal roar. a moron. Students can find employment in the community, at the golf course and the school, Interestingly enough, Explain.” he said. women come down from We men As for students in the city, there are also options. this fight or flight response tend to be In Saskatoon, the Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) has been hiring faster than men. In fact, lousy at Métis students for summer positions for more than five years. CUMFI hires two Métis this system makes us fellas conflict in students each summer to do numerous jobs like working in supported living homes so focused we can become relation - or in wellness centres. bonkers, longer. ships, and “We try to give them a variety of work so they have lots of things to put on their Why? In the cave-man as time passes we can become more resume,” said Shirley Isbister, CUMFI President. days, dudes had to maintain a state of moronier as time passes. There are • Continued on Page 23 perfectly good, science-like reasons vigilance for extended periods of time, for this. to keep our fabulous looking babes Let’s say your husband is and the yard monkeys safe. Mothers- emotionally available and ready to in-laws were optional. But I digress. listen to you with an open heart 50 per Today, in times of stress, or cent of the time. Some women will say distress, we still rely on our cave-man that is way too high, and guys might wiring. We may even perceive you as agree. But let’s say 50 per cent. a sabre-toothed elk or something. We Now let’s say you are emotional - may stonewall, run away, or get upset, ly ready and willing to listen to him and angry. 50 per cent of the time. Some women Rumour has it some men entertain will argue that is way too low. The fantastic thoughts of erecting stadium dudes will mumble differently – sized slingshots to fling their woman quietly, because we are really not that to the moon. Of course, real men stupid. never, ever raise their hand to their That means the chances you are woman. Real men honour their both ready for a healthy, rational women, which explains the absence conversation is 25 per cent. In other of slingshots in the countryside. words, 75 per cent of the time neither Of course, you know you are often of you has much of hearing what the the first to calm down from a fight, but other is freaked out about. your husband is still stewing and It gets worse: Some sciency-types doesn’t want to talk about anything. say couples are emotionally available And if he does talk, he may end up only 9 per cent of the time! So 91 per escalating the situation, moronilly. cent of the time, the odds that they will While this is natural, it is not agree on the colour of snow are pretty healthy. We need time to shift our slim. gears down. Docticians say guys need The chances for miscommunica - at least 20 minutes or more to come tion is astronautical. down from the trees we happen to be There are extra reasons why your swinging from. husband is getting dafter and dafter, By now you are wondering, “Ok, and they have to do with how we are smart guy, how I do help my idiot constructed, evolution-like. husband?” As humans we come equipped First, he needs a man-cave. It with a general alarm system to help us must be festooned with his favourite cope effectively with emergencies that sports team and feature a messed-up could cause injury. 3D big screen TV and recliner. Send The heart speeds up, adrenaline is him in there for some peace, because pumped into the body, blood pressure damn, woman, we crave peace! rises, especially to the areas of the Second, slip on your slinkiest brain devoted perceiving and dealing negligee or fanciest flannel cape. Slap with danger. Attention becomes very on some makeup and stink-good. focused with tunnel-vision and tunnel- After 20 minutes, flounce into his hearing. man-cave doing your best imitation of Some people call this the lizard Britney Speers or Christina Agricul - brain hi-jack: the higher functions of ture and give your warrior some the brain shut down while the giddyup. simplest, instinctive parts kick into I mean, if our IQs have to drop, overdrive. IQ levels plummet. let’s make sure they are dropping for In the old days when men and the right reasons. women were startled by, say, a Dirk says, Never start something razorback squirrel, they both reacted you are never going to fin... JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News- Business/Careers 23

Youth Employment Training Initiative participants are looking for work. Program broadens students’ horizons • Continued from Page 22 employment in a job. For Regina students looking for jobs, The next summer students will be the First Nations Employment Centre has placed in a government-based job for a program called Youth Employment eight weeks. Training Initiative (YETI). During the final summer in the YETI The three-year program is for high school program, students will be placed in a job students who have completed Grade 11. that is in the area of their post-secondary Over the next couple years, students education. can return to the YETI program to “A focus of the program is getting a advance their work skills and experience. view of a world that they may have previ - The first summer, students get certifi - ously been intimidated to apply to,” Erica cates including First Aid and safe food Beaudin, Urban Service Manager of handing followed by two weeks of Regina Treaty Status Indian Service. 24 Eagle Feather News - Sask Culture JUNE 2013 Full story of Métis in southern Sask. will soon be told By Andréa Ledding For Eagle Feather News ntold stories of historical Métis communities and families are the focus of a collaborative project Ubetween the Swift Current Museum, Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), and Métis artist/curator George Gingras. Rachel Wormsbecher explains that between her museum, Heritage Canada, and Parks Canada, a lot of research had been done on the Métis communities and it was a good time to pull it all together. “We contacted GDI for a partnership,” said Wormsbech - er. “George is a visual artist who will do paintings that depict the history — places like Fort Walsh, Val Marie, Saskatchewan Landing, Maple Creek, Cypress Hills, Eastend.” The paintings, along with an artist’s statement and cura - George Gingras and Métis Elder Cecile Blanke in front of Lac Pelletier, (formerly known as Lac La Plume). torial panel with historical terms, regional history, and families, will tour the southwest corner of the province with stops in Swift Current, Maple and that it’s critical it be added to the province’s history.” Creek, Shaunavon, Sceptre, Eastend, and Medicine Hat in 2014 and 2015. Grants and The Métis cart trail went all the way to Battleford, Shmon added, and is still visible support have come from Heritage Canada, Sask Heritage, and SaskCulture, along today. Added to the physical history was the work of Darren Prefontaine, known for with extensive support and research from GDI, in particular Darren Prefontaine and his quality research and knack of pulling it into a cohesive package as with his award- Karon Shmon. winning book on “Gabriel Dumont: Li Chef Michif.” “The previous work GDI was contracted to do by Parks Canada was to ensure the “This is going to round it out and bring life to it, to focus on a few lesser known Métis story in southern Saskatchwan was being told in their parks — Grassland and places and show Métis lifestyles, the essence of Métis culture,” said Shmon. Cypress Hills/Fort Walsh,” explained Shmon of GDI’s involvement researching One element George Gingras will be including is the Métis philosophy of the regional history. infinity sign, which he describes as “our relationship to time neither linear nor circular, “This was an extension of that knowledge that that story really hasn’t been told, but looped: the past, but the future, too.” Another element present in each of his ten site research visits was the Prairie Hawk. “I wanted to get a feel for the travel that our ancestors did some 200 years ago, walking that land with their oxen and their Red River cart and the supplies they brought,” said Gingras. “The distance they went and the connection they had with land, how do you put that in words? Even looking at the prairie sky. The vastness. “Knowing I stood in the trail of this Red River Cart that was made 200 years ago and was still there.” Ahtahkakoop continues to pass on its rich history By Andréa Ledding high school students in the Cree 10, 11, For Eagle Feather News and 12 classes who spent time with five htahkakoop School has just Elders. published a book that “Our kids loved it, they were asking Awas a collaboration questions that we never between the youth and the even thought of. You community Elders, an never know what kids are Aboriginal Arts and Culture thinking and some of the Leadership Project with responses from the Elders support from SaskCulture. you’d never think of, “The kids sat with our either.” Elders, and the Elders spoke One example was about some of the ceremoni - how convenient life is al things and transferred that now with instant every - knowledge to the kids. Then thing and central heating, the Cree teacher and the but some youth wondered Elders translated it into Cree,” explained how people kept warm and stored food in principal Shaun Sasakamoose, adding winter, in earlier times and in traditional that the book also features artwork from ways. the young people, between ten and 20 • Continued On Page 25 JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News - Sask Culture 25 Transfer of Anishnaabe culture a long process By Andréa Ledding the language. That’s good you know,” 78. When he straightened out he had to dential School legacy, have all decreased For Eagle Feather News Papequash suggests. come home and relearn the language and significantly as the community works ey First Nation, with support “In Cree country you see kids talking I’m glad he did that. I speak very little, together, acknowledging individuals from SaskCulture, has been the language. But here on my reserve me, but I’m learning,” said Papequash in along with the collective strength of their Ktargeting knowledge transfer of there’s very few that speak the language a phone interview. culture, the identity in their language, the Anishnaabe culture, language, and tradi - and we need to really, really focus on “Residential school, that’s a dark vision and importance of ceremony. tions from their Elders to their youth all that.” cloud over us. I did a lot of healing on “We need to start coming together and while acknowledging the challenges and They ran a winter weekend program myself and I understand what happened healing together and live like one big intergenerational effects of Indian Resi - with teachings responding to questions — rough times, trauma. I see a lot of happy family. But yes, we have to dential Schools, but focusing positively asked by the young people – sweats and people quit drinking and using, and that’s acknowledge the past and what happened on reclamation and the overall importance round dances and feasts, all built around the farthest they go, and that’s good in a to us, too. The Residential Schools left a of the Anishnaabe identity. Anishnaabe language and culture – and a way but also not good because there’s not big grey area over us and continue to harm “Down here we’re Saulteaux people, two-week culture camp takes place enough healing going on. us,” he said. we do things differently from the Cree. August 15 to 25. “Look inside and start there. It’s our “But what’s number one is the It’s good to watch other cultures also,” Papequash explains how closely own stuff inside that divides us.” wellness of the people. If people aren’t noted Chief Clarence Papequash, who has culture/language loss is linked to the Resi - Papequash adds that Key First Nation well, how are they going to do anything— been integral to bringing the programming dential Schools. His own parents spoke has no gangs, lots of good positive role work or anything? You can have all kinds to his community through the Aboriginal their language at home, but in his gener - models, and violence, drinking, and drugs, of jobs but if you’re not well, how does it Arts and Culture Leadership Project. ation, he and his brothers were scared to, all problems in the past as part of the Resi - help?” “But there are a lot of kids that, it and had to come home and learn it later in seems to me, if they don’t learn the life, often after dealing with many lost language they run to another culture, years under addictions. speak English. We’re Anishnaabe people, But now they have Elders coming in language is identity. to the community to teach, people like “Like some communities, like Peter Nippi, Myles Musqua, Frances Bird, Yellowquill First Nation, they’re strong and Campbell Papequash. in the language, you see little kids talking “My oldest brother, Campbell, he’s History for ‘children’s children’ • Continued from Page 24 First Nation has published. Their The interview, transcription, and community created and published a translation process went on for several history and archive book of what has gone weeks, ending with a book launch on June on since treaty times entitled, 6 with a lunch and public viewing, with “Ahtahkakoop: The epic account of a the book being a real community project Plains Cree Head Chief, his people, and and art object. their vision for survival, 1816-1896” “We’re binding it ourselves — it’s not which was launched in 2000 by a real traditional book, it looks like it’s all Ahtahkakoop Publishing, so they are rugged from the 1800s,” noted continuing a trend-setting literary tradition Saskamoose. that perhaps others will follow. “It’s a huge endeavour for our staff, it took a lot of time.” Personal time was given by the principal, vice-principal Charlotte Campbell whose idea it was initially, and Emily Weenonis, the Cree teacher. “It was (Charlotte Campbell’s) idea to try and get some of that knowledge written down, and not in English but in our own language so we’d have something to transfer to our kids,” he added. “Our community motto is: Let us not think of our children but our children’s children — to leave a legacy behind.” This is not the first book Ahtahkakoop 26 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture JUNE 2013 Métis artist Baerg aims to push new boundaries

he first thing I noticed when I went creating an electric fusion of past and future, Nomadic Bounce, his latest installation, Urban Shaman, Winnipeg; Esplanade Arts to the Mendel to see the Jason Baerg: a feat difficult to achieve in a harmonious covers a huge expanse of space, immedi - & Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat; and Returning series was the palette. way. But he succeeds. ately drawing in the viewer for closer Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery. T On one wall are 13 tondos, or round inspection. Baerg spends a great deal of time Bright cheery yellows and lively blues immediately struck me as the perfect colors canvases of wood, painted in acrylic, which “The Nomadic Bounce Series supports researching and gathering inspiration from to give life and movement to the seemingly make up the series, the notion that we around him. celestial-inspired artwork. Relations. Across from have been travelling “We have responsibilities as artists to I prefer to view art before I learn about this, on another wall, since the dawn of drive our disciplines forward; for example, it, to make my own observations and guess sits a large assembly of time,” says Baerg. as a dancer or a choreographer. How are you what the artist is trying to convey before the various colorful shapes “This work is advancing your craft or your art?” asks mystery is forever stunted by truth. So, I was including stars and inspired by various Baerg. happy when I interviewed Baerg and he thunderbolts which 33-second video “Formally I aim to push new boundaries praised the relationship between artwork join together to create loops that I shot on in digital interventions in drawing, painting, and audience. a gigantic eagle my numerous and installation. Experimenting with inno - “My work is constructed with the feather, also known as journeys. Paintings vative media is critical to my creative audience included. Art is a dialogue and the the Nomadic Bounce series. Both are were created from these video loops; one set vitality,” said Baerg. conversation between the producer and arresting displays of his creativity and reflect went under the lasers to create the multiples. He has just opened a new exhibit in observer are a chance for change. Intensions the unique way he gathered his inspiration. Thematically, the work evokes emotional Ontario called Kisci-Okima-Achak. It is a in all productions are to leave the viewer The tondos from Relations reflect the reactions to the relationships we have with series of laser-cut metal works associated with more to consider, be it directly related research he spent in residency the people and places that with Cree cosmology. He has also opened to the formal aspects in art, or how the work at the University of Lethbridge created our constitutions – our an exhibit, along with nine other artists, affects them on cerebral levels,” said Baerg. where he studied prophecies families and the land we are called: Aboriginal Expressions: National Baerg is a Métis artist who was born in concerning 2012. Through a born of.” Capital Commission Confederation Sarnia, Ontario but grew up in Prince Albert. combination of abstraction and With his exhibit on tour Boulevard Banners 2013. Also, Baerg is He is currently doing a one-year Aboriginal computer-generated elements across Canada, Baerg could excited to have been selected for a summer Curatorial Residency in Sarnia at the Judith he arrived at the 13 circular insist each gallery conform to residency at the School of Visual Arts in and Norman Alix Art Gallery. tondos, which resemble a galaxy of planets. his series, but instead he takes a flexible New York City. Baerg leaves room for the audience to “It was through a lot of research that I approach and assembles his art in unique If there’s an artist, entertainer or event gather their own interpretations, which I came to discover traditional knowledge and and interesting ways, according to the that you think should be featured in Eagle think is an incredibly mature approach to our indigenous understanding of the rela - gallery. Other locations on the tour include: Feather News, give me a shout at: art. And the blend of traditions and technol - tionship between the sun, the moon, the Mann Art Gallery, Prince Albert; [email protected]. ogy reverberates throughout the room, earth and ourselves,” said Baerg. Gallery@501, Strathcona (Edmonton); See you next month! JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture 27 Three Greats and an Uncle My great, great, great, uncle is marches through sand on hot days Gabriel Dumont who, according to which were about as fun as getting a Wikipedia, was a great hunter, fighter massage from Edward Scissorhands. in the Métis Resistance and a keen Still I distinguished myself as a military strategist and if his pictures are warrior. I was digging a trench with a accurate – owner of a prodigious beard. fellow soldier. According to the laws of genetics, He was being lazy so he said he had therefore, I must be as awesome as him to go to the bathroom. Two hours later, or at least have I found him the potential to hiding in the be as awesome. woods Take the great polishing his hunter part: I’ve rifle. never technical - Since I ly been hunting had already but I’m pretty dug three sure I’d be good quarters of at it. For the trench by instance, I’m stealthy. myself and had sweat pouring down My roommates often walk into the my sunburned face, I was a little kitchen, where I’m standing in the dark, perturbed. I gave him the tongue and then scream, “Holy sh*t! Where did lashing of his life. you come from?” (Why am I standing I’m pretty sure he had PTSD by in the dark? Because I’m stealing their the time I was done with him. Check. corn chips but that’s not relevant right Gabriel Dumont was also known now) as a military strategist. During his Hunting also involves the ability to battles at Batoche, he employed some stay completely still and camouflage guerilla techniques like stringing a wire oneself into your surroundings. I across the river to destroy the smoke - watched the entire first season of Game stack on the Canadian military’s boat. of Thrones in one sitting and at one As his great, great, great niece, I’ve point, my roommate accidentally sat on been known to throw out some genius me. Check and check. military strategy as well. Hunters are also known for their Like once I set up two of my girl - good eyes. I wear glasses and have since friends with the same guy (within six I was six years old but it hasn’t stopped months of each other) and they found me from being an able marksman. out while we were walking through I can walk into a crowded pow Ikea together. wow or hockey tournament and I can It went down something like this: tell you how many good looking guys one girl was like, “Jack is such a funny are in that room in less than 20 seconds guy.” And the other replied, “Oh you flat. know Jack?” “Yes we dated, Dawn set Within 30, I can tell you which ones us up.” Then they both looked at me. are attached (that’s because the safe I was on the spot, too far from the guess is always – all of them.) Check. exits, clearly out-numbered and smack Now let’s talk about the warrior dab in the middle of the knife aisle. part. I trained as an infantry soldier for So in a moment that probably one summer in the Reg forces (Bold made my ancestor plenty proud, I made Eagle III – booyah!). myself throw up, claiming that the I was hoping to leave the army as a Swedish meatballs were bad. lean mean fighting machine. After eight Now this doesn’t reveal me so weeks of training, much as a military strategist as it does I was exactly the same weight but I a liar (and a jerk, I guess) but I’m going could do 20 push ups with a minimum to count it as a half point since I of tears. managed to leave Ikea with both I also joined the army because I friendships intact and only slightly thought there would be cool obstacle smelling like puke. Check. courses to run like in the movie Stripes. Clearly if Uncle Gabe and I were There weren’t any because this was the in the same room, we would basically low budget Canadian army. be indistinguishable, except for the We actually used potatoes for facial hair part. grenade training: “Incoming! It’s a Thanks to my First Nation Yukon Gold! It has eyes!” ancestors, I’ve managed to save However, there were physical chal - literally thousands in waxing. lenges, like ten-mile long rucksack Meegwetch. 28 Eagle Feather News - Sports JUNE 2013 Northern kids enjoy on-ice experience with ex-NHLer By Fraser Needham them that they might want to For Eagle Feather News attain something like this as hockey camp led by an ex-NHLer followed by they grow up and continue a chance to watch the best junior hockey players their careers as hockey Ain Canada compete against each other the same players.” night – sounds like a pretty good deal. Steven Thatcher, And that is exactly the deal about 45 students from principal at Father Porte the far northern Saskatchewan communities of Fond du Memorial Dene School in Lac, Black Lake and Wollaston Lake got when they flew Black Lake, adds the school into Saskatoon on May 22 for a one-day hockey camp used the trip as a reward for with Rich Pilon, a gritty defenseman who played more students who have been than 600 NHL games. That was followed by tickets to working hard and improving Memorial Cup action hockey between the Saskatoon throughout the year. Blades and Portland “Most times you select Winter Hawks that night. students, you always go for Northern All-Stars the best ones but this time we Day was paid for through went for students who had a cooperative effort good attendance, good between the companies marks, but also the students Cameco, Areva, who are improving in the A good effort in the classroom earned 45 students from the North a trip to SaskPower and West year and some are average Saskatoon to participate in a hockey camp and watch a Memorial Cup game. Wind Aviation. students who never seem to Jonathan Huntington, get to go anywhere,” he says. just give them something to push themselves a little. who works for Cameco “We thought we’d bring them down and let them When it comes to skills, and this is what it is, a skills day, and was also the director experience a day trip to Saskatoon.” the only person you are competing with is yourself. And RICH PILON of volunteers and spon - Pilon played 15 seasons in the NHL, most with the that’s life.” sorship at the Memorial Cup, says the idea behind the New York Islanders. Pilon originally hails from St. Louis, The Northern All-Stars Day was just one of a number event was to give the students a memorable day that they Sask. of events targeted toward Aboriginal people during normally wouldn’t have been able to take part in. He says the idea behind the day was for the students Memorial Cup week. Prior to the May 19 game between “I hope that the students, when they come, experi - to learn some hockey skills while having fun at the same the Blades and the Halifax Mooseheads, Dolores Sand ence a few things,” he says. “One, they get to experience time. sang the national anthem in English, French and Cree. the hockey camp and the feel for the Memorial Cup but “You don’t want to challenge them to the point that A number of Aboriginal war veterans were also on hand I also hope that they see maybe a dream sparkle within when they get off the ice, they feel crappy,” he says. “So, for the event.

JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News - Sports 29 Lacrosse star shoots for law career Name: Reagan Harding but I still love box lacrosse. GOZ: Having been a standout football player who Sport: Lacrosse could’ve at least played CIS and possibly pro, why Current Club: New Westminster did you choose to pursue lacrosse after high school? REAGS: I don’t know about pro, but in all honesty my Senior Salmonbellies heart is in lacrosse. Football is a great game but also U.S. College: Lake Erie Storm extremely physical where your career can be done within seconds from an injury. I wanted to stay healthy and play Position: Forward the game that I love at a college. Shoots: Right GOZ: Did competing in other high level sports make Favorite Number: 11 you a better lacrosse player? REAGS: Of course other sports help with athleticism, Nickname: Reags but playing hockey was an easy transition into lacrosse Other competitive sports played: because they are such similar games. GOZ: Educate those of us not lacrosse savvy … who’s Hockey, Football, Track and Field the best Aboriginal lacrosse player of all time? Reagan ‘Reags’ Harding is a Métis lad from REAGS: Delby Powless. Saskatchewan currently tearing up lacrosse rinks and GOZ: All indications are you’ll be playing pro before fields all over Canada and the U.S. He’s on a full schol - you know it. Where would you like to end up in a arship to Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio where league like the National Lacrosse League if given the he was named All-American by the United States Inter - opportunity? REAGAN HARDING collegiate Lacrosse Association, All-ECAC First Team REAGS: It would be a great All Conference and the ECAC All-Tournament Team. opportunity, but I imagine Reags was somewhere out East. also drafted GOZ: Knowing lacrosse 17th overall isn’t going to last forever, by the what are planning to do Western with your education? Lacrosse REAGS: I plan on pursuing Associa - a career in law. tion’s GOZ: Okay, here’s the (WLA) New scenario. You’re tied in the Westminster waning seconds of the big Salmonbellies, for whom he plays in the offseason. game. You get fed a nifty a Despite his busy schedule, Eagle Feather News caught pass in the slot and you’re up with Reags for a little Sports Chat. one on one with the goalie. GOZ: First off, how are you enjoying the Wet Coast? And ... REAGS: It is a beautiful place to live as long as its not REAGS: If I had a step on a raining. And the people are great. opponent I would probably GOZ: Lacrosse is huge in the Lower Mainland. Do just throw a fake and shoot you find it more ‘lacrosse crazy’ out here as compared for where the goalie is weak, to other places you’ve played? nothing fancy. REAGS: It’s crazy out here! Vancouver is a hotbed. In places like Coquitlam and New Westminister, kids start when they are toddlers. Where I come from it’s only sports like hockey (that start early). It’s nice to see. GOZ: Aside from the obvious, what are the main differences between box and field lacrosse? Is field faster because there’s more room to move? REAGS: Field is actually slower. It’s a game of strategy because there is no shot clock, as apposed to box where everything is tight passing, scoring and physi - cality. The floor is also smaller with a 30 second shot clock GOZ: Do you prefer one over the other? If so, why? REAGS: I prefer field because I can use my athleti - cism more. I learned to play with both hands, making me more ambidextrous than most people. So field favors my playing style a bit more 30 Eagle Feather News - Sports JUNE 2013

Veteran Rider hopeful 2013 will be a Grey Cup year

By Fraser Needham after games and practices than there once were but For Eagle Feather News he has learned a lot about lasting in the league from eal Hughes is hoping the Saskatchewan another Saskatchewan boy – former teammate and Roughriders can recapture the spirit of all-star offensive lineman Gene Makowsky. N2007. “You can’t miss too many workouts or you’ll That’s the last time the Roughriders won the fall behind,” he says. “And that’s something I Grey Cup and the CFL team is hoping to do it again learned from Gene Makowsky who stuck around when it hosts the league championship in Regina for years. He’s got the most games played ever, so this November. you learn form a guy like that and he definitely The Regina-born Hughes was in his fourth year showed me the way on how to take care of myself.” with the Riders in 2007 and he says he remembers The Saskatchewan Roughriders open the both the year and the Grey Cup well. season at home on June 29 against the Edmonton NEAL HUGHES “My favourite play of all time was in the Grey Eskimos. Cup,” he says. “It was victory and that’s at the end of the game when the quarterback takes the knee and the clock ran out and it was almost surreal that we did it. I remember standing there, looking at the scoreboard in awe.” Hughes says what made the Riders so special in 2007 was that it was all about the team and there were no individuals. He says last year’s Rider team had a lot of talent but was also inexperienced. Nevertheless, with most of the 2012 squad returning to training camp in Saskatoon this year, Hughes says he sees the right balance between younger players and veterans for the team to make a potential run at a league cham - pionship. “Learning the Canadian game isn’t easy when you’re coming straight from the American game,” he says. “And it definitely takes some time, it’s a learning curve, so we’re looking forward this year as those guys come out as veterans and showing us what they can do.” He also says the recent return of veterans John Chick on the Hughes knows his defensive line and Rey Williams at linebacker is sure to help the own family, at least, team. The Riders also added all- star receiver Geroy Simon to their lineup in the off-season. would go “absolutely Being from Regina, Hughes is fully aware of what type of crazy” with a home magnetic effect pulling off a Grey Cup victory at home would have field championship on the CFL’s most loyal fan base. For now, though, he says he is trying not to think that far ahead but admits he knows his own family, at least, would go “absolutely crazy” with a home field championship. The tenth year Rider is also one of a few Aboriginal players in the CFL. His Métis heritage comes from his grandmother who grew up in Lebret, just east of Regina. Hughes says through part of the Riders’ outreach work, he has visited many First Nations reserves and Aboriginal communities throughout Saskatchewan where he encourages young people to do positive things with their lives and tries to show what is possible if you put your mind to it. He adds he recently visited La Ronge where the community has started a football program. Just shy of his thirty-third birthday, which is considered senior in the rugged game of professional football, Hughes says he is still having lots of fun playing the game and has no immediate plans of retiring. He admits there are a few more aches and pains JUNE 2013 Eagle Feather News - Sports 31 Volunteers needed for 2013 Summer Games

By rafique Bhuiyan For Eagle Feather News Muskoday hosting Games from July 15 to 19 ob Cote remembers what it was like to compete at the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer RGames, and the importance of volunteers to hosted by the Thunderchild First Nation. This year, support young athletes. That’s why, as an adult, he’s Juno award winner Crystal Shawanda will be doing his part. performing to bring cultural diversity to the games, “My dad, Tony Cote, started the Games,” says Cote, says Bear. a volunteer for this year’s summer games. “I was an “This year we need approximately 500 volunteers athlete, I was a coach, and now my kids are involved.” to make the event a success,” says Elwin Bear, games It is a great chance to get involved with volunteer co-ordinator. “We are putting a volunteer community and do something for First Nations youth, booth in the city of Prince Albert Gateway Mall”. he says. The Games office is recruiting volunteers by His whole family will be volunteering at this calling out to the public and contacting volunteer year’s summer games. groups in Prince Albert and Birch Hills to explain The Muskoday First Nation is hosting the 2013 how to become a volunteer. games in partnership with the city of Prince Albert Although people are signing up every day, more and the town of Birch Hills. volunteers are still needed, says Elwin Bear. From July 15 to 19, Prince Albert is expecting “Anybody who wants to be a volunteer should go approximately 5,000 people, which includes 3,500 to Prince Albert City Police or their local police or athletes between the ages of 11 to 18. RCMP office across the province to do the criminal They will compete in six different sports record search,” says Dean Bear, adding volunteer including archery, athletics, canoeing, golf, soccer criminal record checks are free. and softball. All the events, such as the opening and Being a volunteer does have its rewards, he says. closing ceremonies, concert, and many other events The Games will end with a volunteer apprecia - require hundreds of volunteers. tion night banquet in Prince Albert. Volunteers will “It doesn’t matter, if it’s an hour, or a day, or an receive gifts that reflect how much time they entire week, we love to have people come and be part dedicated. A volunteer jacket is one of the nicest gifts, of our legacy,” says Dean Bear, games marketing and Bear says. promotional co-ordinator. Volunteer application and other information about In 2011, about 400 volunteers and 3,000 athletes the Summer Games are available on the website, ELWIN BEAR were actively involved in the games which were www.2013fnsg.ca. 32 Eagle Feather News - Sports JUNE 2013 He shoots, he scores! A chat with a CBC camerman By Paige Kreutzwieser So, what’s an average day for you games. We’ve got robotic cameras high scored at the far end, I spin around and get For Eagle Feather News during playoffs? on the glass. There’s a camera following fan reaction. If it’s scored at my end, I’m ichard Agecoutay has always It’s a 14-hour day. I get to the rink at 8:30 the hero when he scores and one on the going to the hero. loved hockey. He played as a kid a.m. I’m assigned to shoot both skates – guy in the penalty box, or who coughed Whenever I get an opportunity, I try to be Rgrowing up in Regina. When he home and visitors. Then run into the up the goal. There’s cameras assigned to innovative. I started hanging the camera enrolled at Saskatchewan Indian dressing room, grab clips, and then grab shoot the benches and coaches, and over the boards during line shifts and Federated College (now First Nations the press conference with the coach. Once cameras that zoom up to the general goals. The producers were saying, “Wow, University) in the 1980s, he played that’s done, the cycle starts again with the managers’ boxes. this guy loves his job. He’s giving us looks hockey for the SIFC Chiefs. next team. If there’s a shift in the game, our assign - we’ve never seen before.” That elevated He left Saskatchewan to pursue a to a players’ walk during the anthem, career in television. After working in where we march up and down the teams. Calgary, Banff and Whitehorse, he got a These are all part of enhancing the job at CBC. Agecoutay has worked for viewers’ experience. You’re showing CBC for 13 years—three years in Iqaluit interesting things. Instead of just wide and ten in Toronto. Since arriving in shots, you’re showing the players concen - Toronto, Agecoutay has worked for shows trating or praying. like Marketplace, Dragon’s Den and Fifth What’s the biggest challenge of your Estate. But, for the hockey lover, shooting job? for Hockey Night In Canada (HNIC) is a Some people think we’re just following dream come true. the puck. I say, “Try following a puck shot How did you get the opportunity to by Zdeno Chara.” These guys are profes - work for HNIC? sional athletes. It’s the fastest sport in the One of the senior camera operators said, world. I did the all-star game in Ottawa “Hey Richard, do you ever shoot hockey?” when Chara broke the record shooting 108 I said I did hockey for Cable Regina (now miles an hour. My camera was directly Access) but, that was 30 years ago. He behind the net and I’m standing right passed my name onto the sports producers behind the glass. My shot is him shooting, CBC camerman Richard Agecoutay behind the camera at the Winter Classic. and I started doing in between the benches. then zooming into the radar … and I’ve How long have you been shooting for And shooting the game? ments change. If Crosby is on the ice, seen him shatter glass. HNIC? On any game, we have up to 28 cameras, someone shoots Crosby. We have six Where do you see yourself going from I’ve been on the road with hockey for each with an assignment. There’s the main cameras that follow the top three players here? almost seven years. Really intensely in the game camera. There’s net cameras on each team. I’m in the bottom left I’ve yet to be on the ice for the final last three years, since I’ve been doing operated robotically by guys with corner, so I’m containing the action on the Stanley Cup interview. This year I want playoffs. joysticks. Basically, they’re playing video ice and looking for goals. If the goal is to be crossing that off my bucket list.