Sasktel Honouring Youth for 15 Years
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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.