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DECEMBER 2008 Volume 11 - Number 12 Free Santa makes a quick visit to the North By Darla Read For Eagle Feather News anta came early this year for nearly 1,600 children living in the province’s far North. Not only did he come two weeks before Christmas, but he traded in his Children in Saskatchewan’s North were thrilled to receive a Ssleigh and reindeer for something much faster: visit from Santa Claus thanks to Transwest Air. a Saab twin turboprop aircraft. It was the annual Santa Takes Flight by Transwest Air, a private airline company in Saskatchewan that specializes in flying to northern communities, many of whom actu- ally own some of the planes and lease them back to the company. For the past nine years, Transwest has loaded up its plane with gifts bought by itself and some sponsors, ‘Santa’s helpers’ (Tran- swest’s staff), and the media to deliver pres- ents to the children in the Athabasca region. This year the group traveled to Wollaston Lake,Fond du Lac, Stony Rapids, and Black FIGHTING RACISM Lake. A new organization, Sasipenita, Santa first arrived to a packed gym at Wol- has been formed to combat laston, where there were more than 400 children racism in the province. and their parents eagerly awaiting his arrival. - Page 3 They sang Christmas carols until they heard Santa’s famous belly laugh, “Ho, ho, ho!’ Santa was also treated to some young- WORKING FOR WOMEN sters singing Oh Come All Ye Faithful in BevJacobs,presidentofNWAC Dene. has earned a Governor- The fact that Santa has visited her com- General’s Award. munity for nine years is not lost on Hatchet - Page 6 Lake First Nation Chief Rosalie Tsannie- Twenty-month-old Kaylan Tsannie fromWollaston Lake lets Burseth. POLICESERVICEHONOUR Santa in on her Christmas wish list. •Continued on Page 13 Saskatoon’sPoliceServicehas been honoured by the FSIN. -Page10 NAAA AWARD Rev. Stan Cuthand will be honoured for a lifetime of achievement. - Page 12 LITERARY GIANTS MariaCampbellwastheguest speaker at the Sask. Book Awards. - Page 20 Welcome to our Santa arrives at his first stop Christmas Edition up north at Wollaston Lake. (Photos by Darla Read) Coming In January: A Look Back at 2008 CPMA #40027204 2 Eagle Feather News DECEMBER 2008 DECEMBER 2008 Eagle Feather News 3 Sasipenita to combat racism By Andrea Ledding tendance records at the Diefenbaker Centre. Many or- For Eagle Feather News ganizations and individuals, including Monica Goulet ignitaries and community leaders joined as part of Saskatoon’s Cultural Diversity and Race Re- honorary chairman Gordon Tootoosis and lations Committee, supported the Frank Exhibit. Mak- provincial Minister of First Nations and Métis ing an exhibit for the First Nations peoples in the wake Relations June Draude in sharing their vision: a traveling of events like the Starlight tours and the disappearances Dexhibit celebrating the contributions, achievements, and and murders of Aboriginal women and children seemed strengths of First Nations and Métis people. a logical next step. To be known as Sasipenita, the fledgling organiza- Goulet suggested the name “Sasipenita” for the in- tion held a fundraising banquet in late November in teractive exhibit. Saskatoon. In her regional dialect of Swampy Cree, it means “Our goal is to raise $1.6million in the next five “never give up” – or, “to get back up after being years,” said Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, who is the knocked down.” Goulet is one of about 20 board mem- Coordinator for Saskatoon’s Cultural Diversity and bers, including representatives from both school boards, Race Relations Committee, and chair of the Sasipenita the Western Development Museum, the City of Saska- Board. toon, and the University of Saskatchewan. “We plan to have it hit the road in 2013.” “This is an important initiative for our city and our Their hope is to have a premier national or even in- province,” said keynote speaker June Draude, pledging ternational exhibit, combining visuals, text, multi-media support from the provincial government. BECKY SASAKAMOOSE KUFFNER and artifacts to create a hands-on experience which en- “We need to stop racism and the shadow it casts.” “We need to eliminate misconceptions regarding gages and educates. By appealing to many learning Draude noted that when the devastating impact of the treaties, and understand the sacredness.” styles and making history come alive, the goal is to pro- the holocaust was highlighted in the Frank exhibit, Mandatory treaty education has been one provincial mote understanding and respect for First Nations and many thoughts turned to the Aboriginal people in the priority – Bill McKnight was present from the Office of Métis people and ultimately reduce racism. province. the Treaty Commissioner. McKnight noted that fulfill- Gordon Tootoosis was suggested as honorary chair “The more we understand each other the harder it ing the treaties means bringing about understanding, given his accomplishments and advocacy of native is for racism to thrive,” said Draude,citing a 2005 race harmony and opportunity; the two signatories of the rights, Kuffner said. A recipient of the Order of Canada, relations survey where 70 per cent had observed acts of treaties meant that all would benefit as treaty people, like his father and sister, Tootoosis has credits as an racism against First Nations people. living together, sharing land and livelihood. artist, a band chief, and a veteran actor sharing the screen with such luminaries as Brad Pitt and Sir An- thony Hopkins. “I’m proud to be involved in this,” Tootoosis said, adding he’d be trying to make every meeting. “I expe- rience racism still – especially in Saskatchewan. It’s one of the biggest heartaches – but I understand it.” And, hopefully, understanding is what will ulti- mately eliminate the roots of racism. As First Nations contributions are brought forth to unlearn stereotypes, build community, and restore and enhance pride in First Nations and Métis communities by “telling their stories”, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginals will in- crease awareness of their shared and individual histo- ries. The inspiration for Sasipenita came after the suc- Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, Michael Bantjes, Dianne Craig, Gordon Tootoosis, Monica Goulet, Shannon cess of the Anne Frank Exhibit in 2005, which broke at- Loutitt and Dana Soonias of the Sasipenita board. (Photo by Andrea Ledding) 4 Eagle Feather News - Editorial DECEMBER 2008 Plenty to be grateful for in 2008 ovember was a rather uplifting month. Not necessarily because it is just before December and Christmas, but because of what I witnessed. Many of our people were honoured in for their participation in the community, primarily in the sports world. NElder and veteran Tony Cote, the grandfather of the First Nation Winter and Summer Games was awarded the Order of Saskatchewan, our province’s highest honour. He received the honour because of his lifelong commitment to youth through developing programs and infra- structure for them around sports. Who, as a kid did, not like sports? The teamwork that built you up and the teammates who became lifelong friends. The fun travel to a tournament. Getting better and mastering a move. The feeling of accom- plishment you get from being healthy and successful. Prime Minister Stephen Harper confers with Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison earlier this Who, as a youth, once they went away from sports, began to smoke, year during a visit to Saskatchewan. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) drink, do drugs and hang out and break things? Lots of us have. It is proven that sports can keep youth on the good track. Folks like Tony Cote knew that and he did what he did and has been rewarded. Harper Newsmaker of the Year Eugene and LornaArcand also understand the importance of sport for youth. Both of them were entered into the North American ell, it was kind of an easy pick this So we had a $300 million election that no- Indigenous Games Hall of Fame this summer in Cowichan B.C. Eugene body wanted and Prime Minister Harper was and Lorna have been involved in NAIG since it’s inception in 1990 and year to decide on Newsmaker of the re-elected with a ‘strong” minority govern- have done remarkable things for the Games and for the thousands of Year. We entered 2008 with ment. The Liberals were decimated under the youth who have benefited from the programs they have established. Stephen Harper as our prime minister, leading bumbling Stephan Dion, the NDP made gains, The community took time in November to honour them, laugh with Wover a raucous House of Commons that was them, and to present them with Star Blankets as a small sign of our split down ideological lines and split by hate but not enough and the Bloc grew in spite of gratitude for all their hard work. A very deserving couple indeed. and mistrust. the Conservatives. Then the Regina Pats host a First Nation and MétisAwareness night Just the kind of atmosphere you don’t After the election Harper talked of states- at the Brandt Centre. Events included hoop dancing at centre ice, the want in government, especially one that is in manship and working with the other parties national anthem in Cree by the beautiful and talented Stacey Cyr, First a minority government. for the betterment of Canada, especially in Nation politicians at centre ice and hockey legends Reggie Leach and But at least the parliamentary system was these tough economic times. Freddie Sasakamoose in attendance. The place was electric and packed working and we could trust the system some- Then in his economic update, Harper tried with Indians. Very cool. what. There was also lots of pressure on Prime to sell an ideologically driven bit of clap trap And then we get a press release from the National Aboriginal Minister Harper to apologize for the Indian that would bankrupt the Liberals and force Achievement Foundation announcing that six of the 14 recipients in Residential Schools.

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