MARCH 2008 Volume 11 - Number 3

Free Search goes on for missing women

By Chelsea Jones she was in town. But her medication, purse, and vehicle “We still suspect foul play and are investigating all For Eagle Feather News remained at home. When she didn’t come back for days avenues.” her family began searching. In an interview, Morton explained that there’s not mily Osmond loves dogs. She kept nearly 20 of Three days later, the RCMP declared Osmond a enough evidence to confirm foul play, but enough that them on her small acreage at the edge of Kawa- missing person. She became one of 18Aboriginal women a reasonable person could suspect something criminal. catoose First Nation. currently missing in Saskatchewan. “Anytime you have an elderly woman that mys- As she aged, the foster mother and trained chef often RCMP searched a two-kilometre radius around the teriously vanishes you can’t say aliens abducted Estayed home to care for the dogs, and because arthritis house for two days. They tried to search by plane but her ... you’ve gotta suspect something happened to kept the 79-year-old hinged to a cane. Neighbours and weather conditions were poor. her.” family would bring meat for her canines, but few people drove into her yard, which was north of Quinton. She pre- ferred to be alone. Last September, her grandson went to visit, but couldn’t find her anywhere. Osmond’s family assumed

MEET CHERISH FRANCIS She’s APTN’s correspondent for Saskatchewan. - Page 2

Myrna LaPlante has been searching for her aunt, Emily Osmond, since last September when the elderly MARIA CAMPBELL woman went missing from her home on the edge of the Kawacatoose First Nation. Columnist Maria Campbell reminds us how important After the RCMP left, Myrna LaPlante, Osmond’s He said the RCMP investigates disappearances as books are. - Page 5 niece, didn’t know whom to call next. She had to do her much as possible, and declares foul play as a precaution own research. She asked Elders for guidance and con- when they can’t decide why somebody has gone miss- tacted the FSIN Women’s Commission, which supports ing. MASTER CRAFTPERSON families of missing people. She had to keep looking. “Once we think there might be a criminal part it is “Other people might have known that these re- hard on the family because we have to keep that closer Caroline John is 88 and still sources were available, but I didn’t,” she said. “I've to the vest,” Morton said. “If bad guys realize we’re in- going strong. never been on any other search before.” terested in something they start to cover up their tracks.” - Page 15 Community members and family members contin- City police forces and the RCMP maintain that ued to search. Some rode horseback, others drove their job is to support the family and follow up on cred- quads. Those on foot crawled through thick bush and ible tips in an ongoing cases. Whoever reports a person IN THE EXECUTIVE SUITE sharp tress for days. missing is supposed to keep searching. Eagle Feather News pays a visit LaPlante made sure volunteers had food and a place “I really take exception to that,” LaPlante said. to SaskTel’s Colleen Cameron. to stay. The rooms were full, and the coffee pot ran con- “They’re there to lead. They need to stay with the fam- - Page 22 stantly. ilies for longer than that.” “At one point I thought I wouldn’t go back to work Every missing person file in Saskatchewan lands on I was so busy. It was non-stop until the snow came.” Det. Const. Michelle Solomon’s desk. She is the Miss- HE’S A MILLIONAIRE! Meanwhile, the police were interviewing and inves- ing Person Coordinator for the Regina Police Service. DarwinHeadtookseveralshots tigating tips. Osmond’s picture was released to the Her job is to make sure police don’t miss anything. andendedupscoring$1million. press and they waited to get calls from the Crime Stop- She gets four or five calls each day about somebody - Page 27 pers program. The calls never came. Another search was who has gone missing. Yet there are only 90 people in held, this time expanding 10 kilometers around Os- Saskatchewan who haven't been found – 61 are male mond’s house. and 29 are female. Welcome to our On Nov. 11, LaPlante received an e-mail from the Solomon explains that most people who are re- Salute to Aboriginal Women Issue RCMP saying foul play was suspected. She wrote back, ported missing return within two weeks, and others Coming In April: asking for an explanation. Sgt. James Morton, an aren’t missing at all – they’ve just been disconnected Arts & Entertainment, Education & Training RCMP officer working for the Yorkton General Inves- from whoever reports them. CPMA #40027204 tigation Section replied. • Please turn to Page 19 2 Eagle Feather News MARCH 2008 APTN correspondent Cherish Francis encouraged to balance culture, education

By John Lagimodiere ficult to deal with. Dealing with death. Of Eagle Feather News Those stories hit close to home. Having If you watch APTN, you know all to go talk to people and ask the question about Cherish Francis. She covers the why, you know. news in Saskatchewan … all of What is you favourite thing to do Saskatchewan for the APTN National in your spare time? News. No small feat but this talented 23- I am a volleyball coach. Head coach year-old from Nekaneet First Nation is for Team Sask North American Indige- fearless, qualified and a natural in front nous Games Bantam Girls. Doing clinics, of the camera. We threw seven questions playing volleyball and spending time at her and here is what she came back with my daughter, Peyton who is 15 with. months. We go out for walks and I take her to pow wows. I am a fancy shawl How did you get to be on the Na- dancer and when I have the time I get out and get to as many pow wows as possible tional News? Cherish Francis is orginally from Nekaneet and now covers all of Saskatchewan … with the career it is hard to balance, I was raised on Nekaneet, but grad- as APTN’s national correspondent for the province. uated from Maple Creek Composite high but I try to get out as much as possible. What is your favourite colour? school in 2002, and then went to Leth- bridge Community College, where I Green. Because of my birthstone, I graduated from their broadcast journal- was born in May (emerald). If you were stranded on a desert ism program in 2005. Within two weeks island and could take a movie, a CD I was working in broadcast journalism at and a book, what would you take? CTV in Prince Albert then to CTV Cal- gary and now I am the APTN National Celestine Prophesies for the book, News Saskatchewan bureau correspon- Nellie Furtado’s newest album because dent. she is awesome and Canadian. And for Best thing about your job? the movie it has to be the Back to the Fu- Meeting all the people. Covering the ture trilogy! Who is your role model? unique stories Aboriginal people have to offer. Things are changing, the demo- I grew up looking up to my uncle graphics are changing in Saskatchewan and my aunt. My uncle, Larry Oakes, and it is nice to see all the positive stories was Chief of Nekaneet. He taught me coming out of the province. how to balance my culture and educa- Most challenging? tion. Looking at him as a role model and Covering the hard tragedy stories. all the great things that he did, that is how The event at Yellow Quill was very dif- I got to where I am. MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News 3 Healing begins with truth and reconciliation

By Darla Read fects of the legacy of residential schools. For Eagle Feather News He says he and his six brothers and seven sisters are fathered by five differ- crowd of around 400 people ent men. heard a heartbreaking tale that “My poor mother was sexually will be one of many heard over abused.And today she’s in the old folks the next five years as the Indian Residen- home. Can’t even defend herself or tell Atial Schools Truth and Reconciliation her story,” Quewezance told the crowd Commission begins. through tears. In preparation for the commission, “And half of my brothers and sisters Aboriginal and church leaders embarked are still using drugs and alcohol. And on a mini, cross-Canada tour called “Re- that’s the hurt we talk about.” membering the Children” that stopped in Quewezance says it’s hard to forgive Ottawa, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and and forget, but says survivors have a re- Saskatoon. sponsibility to stand up and share their This tour was meant to prepare the stories during the Truth and Reconcilia- public for and promote the upcoming tion Commission so that the rest of commission, which allows survivors to Canada understands what happened dur- tell their residential school experiences ing that dark period. in order to document and create a public “They could give all the survivors record for a research centre and archives. across this country a million dollars. It There will also be a study on the impacts will never take the pain or the memory that residential schools have had on away. Because the attitude when the an- Aboriginal people, all of which will be nouncement was made when survivors used to educate Canadians on what hap- were going to get money, ‘There goes pened in residential schools. the Indians again, more money.’ And Members of the clergy addressed that attitude’s got to change across the the crowd that was mostly non-Aborig- country, within this province and within inal in Saskatoon, and then people also this city.” heard from a survivor, Ted Quewezance, Quewezance says it’s not very often who is also the Executive Director of the that he feels anything, but says he was National Residential Schools Survivors emotional at the opening of the tour in Society. Ottawa when each of the clergy stood Quewezance asked audience mem- and apologized for their churches’ role in bers to picture their favourite child or residential schools. grandchild as he told his story of a little He says now it’s the government’s boy on the Keeseekoose First Nation. turn, and he called on the Prime Minister “I was raised by my grandparents. to take responsibility and apologize for the It’s all I had was my grandparents,” said government of Canada’s role in the legacy a choked-up Quewezance. of residential schools, something that “And the Government of Canada, drew loud applause from the audience. Indian Affairs, come and dragged me away from my An emotional Ted Quewezance (above) grandpa. And to my addresses the Remembering the grandpa, ‘If you don't let Children tour that made a stop in this little boy go, you will Saskatoon. (Left) Spiritual leaders of be going to jail.” the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Quewezance attended Churches, along with representatives the Gordon’s Indian Resi- of the Roman Catholic Church, and the dential School near Pun- Assembly of First Nations, participated nichy for seven years, and in a multi-city tour to promote the work from the age of five to 11 of the upcoming Indian Residential years old, he was sexually Schools Truth and Reconciliation abused by people he trusted. Commission. Here FSIN Chief From a family of 14 Lawrence Joseph and Ted Quewezance, children, Quewezance says Executive Director of the National Resi- all of them have felt the ef- dential Schools Survivors Society join the religious leaders. 4 Eagle Feather News - Editorial MARCH 2008

We’ve made our first decade and couldn’t have done it without you!

y, how time flies. It seems like just yesterday that we were covering the election of a new Métis President by the name of Clem Chartier. It was February of 1998 and the first cover story ever in Eagle Feather News was about Chartier’s win over Jimmy MDurocher to grab the reins of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan. That was ten years ago. Now Chartier is President of the Métis Nation Council and Eagle Feather News is still around. When I started this venture with my partners at the time, we had no plan, no experience and absolutely no idea what we were doing. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that it felt like the right thing was being done. Det. Const. Michelle Solomon is the missing person coordinator for the Regina Police Service. That right thing is portraying Aboriginal people in the media that In that role she investigates the numerous cases of missing women in the province. In this are not a. Crooked Chiefs b. Gang members c. Stabbing victims. month’s cover story, Chelsea Jones examines the challenges facing families and police. Those are the perceptions one may get of the Aboriginal commu- nity in Saskatchewan if you were to stick to reading and watching mainstream media. Letters to Eagle Feather News The reverse is actually the truth. There are so many regular First Nation and Métis people out there that are stars and community he- roes that we can’t cover them all. The norm is not violence and cor- Eagle Feather News invites letters from our readers. ruption. The norm is family, community and friendship. The norm is We reserve the right to edit for legal, grammatical and space reasons. You can email your views perseverance, laughter and celebration. and opinions to us at [email protected] or mail us at: Yes, there are tragedies, but for too long the bright side of our P.O. Box 924, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 3M4 communities has been ignored. That is why we started doing what we do and it is also why we continue to do what we do. It has not been easy. Like many businesses, there were times Yellow Quill family this for the rest of his life. He did not do this on when the money just wasn’t there … many times actually. But for- purpose or with any malice, but is being treated tunately many important people and organizations have also believed needs support, not judgment as if he purposely killed his children. in what Eagle Feather News is all about and helped save us. We don’t I have seen it often, from people who were often express our gratitude enough to those that have helped us suc- My heart is broken for the two little girls, not ‘red, yellow, brown, black, beige’ etc.; ceed over long odds so I would like to take this time to mention some and their families, who froze to death in drinking to excess and forgetting their chil- important people. Saskatchewan. dren overnight or whole weekends and having Most importantly, the support of my wife Deirdra Ness has been Their father and family must be so devas- to phone around on a Sunday or Monday to fig- pivotal. Sticking together through the ups and downs of a business tated. The media and general public have def- ure out when and where they forgot them. is tough, especially with a young family. Without her undying sup- initely done these little angels an injustice by fo- Junkie parents, selling their kids’ tiny bod- port, knowledge and occasional kick in the pants, we would not be cusing on the perceived problems of their ies for a sick pervert to have sex with, in ex- here. She is a special woman and I am blessed to have her on my community instead of on the tragedy of their change for drugs (and the wackos who have sex team. deaths. with these little angels, while providing their Also a special thanks to Riel and Willow, our two future paper Yes! Their father was intoxicated. No! It is parents with disgusting, evil drugs so they can deliverers who put up with daddy and his grumpiness around press not an excuse, But, it is an explanation. Alcohol continue to rape these children’s tiny bodies time because those darn writers are late getting copy in again! is legal and their father made a huge, fatal mis- and souls). I also have to thank the Bank of Mom and the Bank of Mom-in- take. I want everyone to think real hard before Law who came through with family loans when the banks turned their He did not commit a heinous crime. He is passing judgment on this young man from backs on us. not the first nor will he be the last to drink to ex- Saskatchewan who made this tragic mistake in The support we have received from women in our family and cess and it has nothing to do with race, religion, judgment. community is certainly one reason why we dedicate our March edi- colour, creed etc. It has everything to do with If you have ever, even one time, drank or tion to women and their success. I wish we could do more. alcohol. did drugs while you were responsible for a Our staff of Faith McLean and Warren Goulding is a joy to The city where I live is ravaged by alcohol child, then you must thank your lucky stars that work with and they are top shelf employees and people and I am and drug abuse or, many times, both. I have the child is safe! proud to call them friends. We also have the best stable of writers of seen many people lose everything: Pride, self- Remember this always: “There, but for the any paper in Saskatchewan. They are the heartbeat of our community, esteem, self-respect, children, spouses, homes, grace of God, go I and you, and you, and a community we try to reflect in our pages every month. vehicles and in some cases their lives. you...” A special mention must be made of the folks at Saskatoon Credit No! Not like some are assuming, none of Please give this distraught young man the Union (Which is now known as Affinity Credit Union). They were the people I am talking about are from The love and support he so desperately needs. This the one institution that stuck their neck out to keep us afloat at times. Nippising First Nations; every last one is as family does not need another tragedy. We appreciate the support. Caucasian as bleached paper. Thank You, Peace, Love & Compassion The fine printers at Transcontinental who take care and pride in Yes, these little angels’ father made a tragic Sharon and James Turncliffe making our paper as crisp and pretty as it is play an important part. mistake in judgment. Yes, he will be haunted by North Bay, Ontario We have been with them from the start and that consistency shows in the quality of our product. But when you really break it down, we would not be here without the support of our advertisers that fund our entire operation and our readers, who make our advertisers happy. We don’t do this for our- selves. We bring you Eagle Feather News every month to help build community and to provide a free and independent press where First Nation and Métis voices can be heard without a non Aboriginal filter, censorship or political bias. Our community deserves no less and we intend to keep doing it for as long as you let us. Megweetch, Marci Cho, Merci and thanks for allowing us to do what we do. [email protected] MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Opinion 5 Books treated with the same respect we give the old people

The wind was a torrent of darkness books, my brothers and I could recite flour that was derived from bulrushes well with our teacher. I remember eaves- among the gusty trees, almost all of them from memory. which was not only good to eat but was dropping on a Grade 7 class one The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed Like all moms, ours was pretty a medicine as well. afternoon. (I attended a one room school) upon the cloudy seas, special. She was tiny, gentle with an iron This story meant that we would go Our teacher was talking about Merlin The road was a ribbon of moonlight will and for her nothing was impossible to the marshy slough with kokom and dig and his magic and I interrupted to tell her over the purple moor, and for sure everything was a great story. up bulrushes and get a lesson on how to that Old Naychan, who was visiting our And the highwayman came riding, Even poverty, make medicine and house right now, could perform great Riding, riding, which we had in thickening for soup feats just like Merlin, as well as magic, The highwayman came riding up to the abundance, and no, said kokom, why he even did a shaking tent. old inn-door. became a story that we never had bread Needless to say that did not go over was guaranteed to long, long ago. well. When I got home mom had to As Mom’s voice half sang the words teach a great life Mom also explain to all of us that it was best we of the poem, my imagination would take lesson and “who believed in discus- keep this kind of information to me to the Bodmin Moor and the romantic said rabbits were sion and debate and ourselves because if we didn’t we could figure of the highwayman would become poor people’s this was especially fail our grades. my dad riding across an open meadow food?” encouraged after she’d read to us or after Books have remained an important being chased by game wardens, who Why they were so special, Mom one of the kokoms told a story so it was part of my life and the lives of my were, in the 1940s, the kings men. said, that the rich folk in England, had always easy to compare our situation and siblings and our children. We are all avid And my mom, with her braided game keepers to protect them, and “just lives to those we found in books and readers. Books are treated with the same black hair became Bess, the highway- taste this meat pie, it’s made from rabbit, surprisingly, the similarities were more respect we give the old people in our man’s sweetheart and the landlord’s venison and grouse, cooked at Camelot, common than not. lives. black-eyed daughter, plaiting a dark red just the way King Arthur loved it.” In fact, I thought our poverty was I cannot even begin to imagine a love knot into her long black hair. We’d hear about the great battle nothing compared to that of the many world without them and so in this issue My imagination as a child was as fought at Bannockburn, in Scotland as characters in those stories. I must admit I honor all the moms, kokoms and huge as the stories Mom read to us and we ate bannock with our dinner and however, that as I got older, I realized chapans who make books and stories a it wasn’t hard to turn a dreary boring day learned that it was not our traditional that it was no wonder the British were so part of their children’s lives. into one of excitement and adventure. bread and that we never really had bread good at colonizing, they’d had lots of Hearing stories told or read by My mom loved books and in our until Europeans arrived and introduced practice in Ireland and Scotland, and as people who love you is as healing as it is home they were treated with the same flour. my cheechum pointed out, “with their educational. Books and stories give us care and respect as my kokoms and When my brother asked what we own people too.” keys to worlds inside and outside of “ki cheechum, who were the storytellers in used for flour before they came, Mom Once we started school, all this mam to nay chi kun now,” (our mind). our small community. called our kokom to tell us all about the discussion at home did not always sit There can be no finer gift. And although we didn’t have many Where are our warriors, where are our leaders?

remember as a child watching the that of Native women. I often ask myself wrong but when we hear of an Indian to invite the family and friends of these movie Conspiracy of Silence, the where our men are in all of this. Warriors, woman that has gone missing, how come women to tell their stories for them. That true story of the rape and murder of I think they call themselves. Doesn’t that our leaders and we as people don’t have way people won’t remember how they Helen Betty Osborne. She was from The only apply to the men who fought for us our own search parties? How do we died, instead they will get a glimpse of IPas, Manitoba and she was a good and what was and should be ours? contribute to the efforts of finding them? how they lived and loved before, like all student. She was someone’s daughter, I think now it applies to gangs and I don't think we do, as much as we should human beings do. someone’s niece, someone’s friend and thugs. Really anyway. We rely on Another issue I would like to address she was Native. I was angry and couldn’t though, where’s the law to do all the is racism. I don’t think it will ever go stop thinking about it for days. the pride in selling work and when away but the least we can do is educate Our own justice system is pretty life threatening they come back each other. There are people out there much predictable. When and if the men substances to your empty handed, we who believe that we as Indian people are are found guilty they don’t get much own people? complain. alcoholics, dirty, lazy and on welfare. time, and chances are they are put into Where’s the pride When is the Well I know a lot of people who fit that protective custody. in having your last time one of our description and they’re not even Indian. Annie Mae Aquash was also members locked leaders or even I remember giving a non-Native a murdered. She spoke not for herself but up behind bars? ourselves, have toonie outside the mall. His clothes were for her people. She too was someone’s Most of all, where’s the pride in repre- walked up to a street worker or a drunk torn and tattered and his breath smelled granddaughter, someone’s daughter and senting a rag? and asked, “Hey my friend, is there like liquor. I didn’t judge him at all most of all, someone’s mother. She was Well I think it’s safe to say that we anything I can do to help you?” because I knew he had his own story and also Native. I admire her immensely for can no longer depend on our men like our When do we as people ever do that? he was doing what my people do every her ability to walk her talk, a trait that women were once able to.Yes, you were We don’t, instead we walk away when day … survive. most of us, including myself, have to once warriors, you were once braves and they walk towards us. What if they just I used to think that I was racist and I work on.As a woman, she didn’t limit you were once leaders. There was also a want to ask for help or guidance? hated that I felt that way. I was pretty herself to walking behind the men or time that we as women felt safe. I take Walking away from each other is our much just holding a 500-year-old grudge. even beside them. Instead she knew she great pride in knowing that as women we problem. For the sake of upcoming generations, could do more, so she walked in front of can walk alone and together. The issue of Native women being and myself I choose to work on that. them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not picking murdered or suddenly disappearing, Weas a country and even as a people I am shocked at the number of on our guys in jail, I speak also to our played a huge part in why I want to be a claim to be equal. How could we be missing and deceased Indian women in leaders who suddenly appear on televi- journalist. I refuse to let them be remem- equal if we can’t even accept each other’s our country and beyond. I am more sion when one of our women are found bered as street workers, that is just differences? I have many non-Native amazed at how many actually go or gone missing. They speak of the lack something the ignorant would do. friends, mostly white. I know not every unsolved and still remain as cold cases. of justice we receive and the lack of Instead, I want to respectfully tell their Indian is that drunk Indian and I know A great majority of the missing persons effort the law takes in trying to locate stories and who they were as people and that not every non-Native is ignorant. flyers in surrounding communities are these many women. I don’t know if I’m as women. So with that said I would like [email protected] 6 Eagle Feather News MARCH 2008 Tales from a long winter passing

very once in a while I come across some intriguing stories I want to pass on. They arrive in their own often mysterious way and when the time seems ripe they are shared. Here are some stories for a long winter passing. The buffalo had disappeared from Manitoba by the 1850s. Their loss and the Emessage of Christianity became somewhat garbled together by a would-be Saulteaux prophet. His brief revitalization movement prophesied that Noah’s Ark would appear in the sky and then come to rest in the Inter lake region of Mani- toba. Noah himself would open the ark and great herds of buffalo would then come forth to cover the prairies once more. Jesus himself had spoken to the prophet and had told him this great and good miracle could not happen unless his followers lavished upon him enough presents to make it so. These words from the mouth of the prophet did not go over very well. He was ridiculed and people quickly lost interest. The spectacle of Noah’s great ark descend- ing upon the Earth needless to say did not happen. I once heard a good ethnocentric story when I was in Montana. Ethnocentric means a people seeing themselves as the true source of all that is human and good. The story goes a certain Blackfoot Indian died and went across to the other side. By some miracle his life was restored and he told his people he had traveled to the other world. He told them they must learn Cree while they lived because it was the only lan- guage spoken in the Indian heaven. It is significant the story refers to a Blackfoot’s experience because the Blackfoot were old enemies of the Cree. My old dad has spent many years retranslating the Bible into Cree. The task was necessary due to the many errors and misinterpretations in the original translations. For example, Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding upon a donkey. The original trans- lation had Jesus riding upon a jack rabbit. It appears the translator was trying to in- terpret a donkey as a jack ass but somehow wound up with jackrabbit instead. Then there is the nativity scene. A camel is described as an ugly horse. In the creation stories cats are presented as dangerous spiritual entities. There is a family of dark cat-like creatures known as misi pishew the water lynx to the woodlands Cree or mizi bizew the water panther to the Ojibway. They are creatures of deep water and rapids. They are an enemy of the thunderbirds and companions of giant serpents. They have the face of a cat with jagged scaly ridges upon the back and have a tail longer than their body. The dominant males wear long curving horns. They are related to copper and their scales can be found upon the Earth as nuggets of copper. The woodland Algonquian peoples such as the Cree and Ojibway found this dangerous spirit reflected in the symbolism of the British Empire. Through their eyes the British lion appeared to be a dangerous and cruel misi pishew. The prancing lion appears in both the coat of arms of Great Britain and the coat of arms of Canada. Three yellow lions on a back ground of red represent the British monarchy. The story goes a medicine man from Western Canada received a vision of a ter- rible and cruel cat traveling about the world causing pain and suffering wherever it went. This spirit must be stopped, he was told, and he was told what to do to end its terrible rule. The evil cat was the spirit of Great Britain and its rule was the British Empire at its height. It was said Britannia ruled the ocean waves as the misi pishew ruled the waters of the Algonquian country. This medicine man makes a long and difficult journey to England. He is helped by an Englishman and a ceremony is prepared for the great battle to follow.The med- icine man opens a spirit bundle and brings forth the hide of a Great Plains Grizzly Bear. It is this spirit of the great prairie land who is to make war upon the English misi pishew. The misi pishew is commanded to come and come he does. The enraged Grizzly Bear rises from the earth and stands for the first time on English soil. The Grizzly overwhelms the misi pishew and tears it to pieces until only the twitching tip of its tail is left. Aspirit cannot be killed but something dangerous can be transformed into some- thing harmless. Britain was once the most powerful country on Earth. Following the Second World War, heavily in debt, with its Empire breaking apart, Britain went into a deep decline it has never really recovered from. It is said when a First Nation woman from Western Canada receives a bad dream it is really the resentful twitching tail of the English misi pishew causing mischief. The message is clear. In the end the Indians will win. This is the story as I heard it. MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News 7 Publisher puts his heart into Eagle Feather

t seems like yesterday that a rather stories that are relevant and honest, As Eagle Feather News marks its people in the world and truly one of wide-eyed, string bean of a guy include lotsa pictures, but, most tenth anniversary, we thought it was time Canada’s most accomplished writers, strolled into my office accompanied important, get it out on time. Do it to do a little refurbishing, perhaps clean graces our pages. by a more talkative partner; both seeking weekly, monthly or quarterly, but publish up the old rag somewhat. Funny thing Then we have the likes of the erudite Icounsel regarding the publication of a it when you say you are going to. It is the happened on the way to the re-tooling Winona Wheeler, who has taken over the fledgling newspaper, something called only way to build trust. shop. The old look, we decided, wasn’t space occupied for so many years by her Eagle Feather News. Ultimately, so bad after all. beloved mother, Bernelda. This month, The taller chap, slimmer in those pre- John would be the Publishers love Paul Chartrand, the wise prof from non-smoking days, arrived with a rather surviving partner to re-design their Manitoba is contributing to Eagle unpronounceable last name, but an and Eagle Feather newspapers. Feather. earnest look that spoke volumes about News would Sometimes it gets a SandraAhenakew, one of the early his integrity and character, even if he was publish on time, little ridiculous. staffers at Eagle Feather, contributes a too tall to be a real publisher. every time. Perhaps you will great column every month. Several About ten years ago, John Lagi- When you’re recall the others, including John Cuthand, Mike modiere and Rick Manns came to see reading Eagle StarPhoenix’s Gosselin and Blue Pelletier make myself and Bill Peterson, former Feather today weird ‘vertical outstanding contributions every issue. publisher of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, you’re flipping the pages of a paper that masthead’ of a few years ago. Cost a lot John has always encouraged young the Saskatoon Free Press, the Kingston grew out of one man’s passion for and of money to create, and then even more writers to hone their craft and offers his Whig-Standard and so on. Since Peterson pride inAboriginal people. John learned time and cash to dump when the ‘new pages as a springboard for these people. and I had been in the newspaper business the newspaper business on the run. He’ll look’got old before its time. For the last three months you’ve been since the time of Gutenberg, admit he made some mistakes along the Eagle Feather, we determined, didn’t reading and enjoying a column written Lagimodiere and Manns figured we way, but they were always for the right look so bad. Maybe not Toronto or by young Deidre Badger. From the might have some nuggets to offer. reasons. Vancouver cool or trendy, but just about beginning, Deidre promised to tell it like We were both more than happy to Truth be known, John wasn’t always right for our market. John opted to use it is, and she hasn’t disappointed. Watch share whatever we had, since both of us much of a businessman. He trusted too something called Bodoni Poster for great things from this aspiring jour- love nothing more than to talk about many people, was too good to some of Compressed as his headline font a decade nalist. newspapering. the vagabonds and n’er do wells – myself ago. Still looks fine. We use drop caps to The always lovely Faith McLean, I don’t recall the specifics of what included – who darkened the hallways at begin stories – more magazine-like than the long-suffering wife of Winston we told the rookie publishers, but I do the old office onAvenue N South. Oh, newspaper – but it works for us. McLean, juggles advertising sales duties know that John seemed to have a more the stories those walls could tell. So we did a little cleanup, moved a with motherhood these days and makes solid grasp – perhaps a healthy fear – of But to his credit, John always kept few things around and did some a vital contribution to the success of what had to be done to make Eagle his eye on the target. Whatever chaos tweaking on the front page, but Eagle Feather News. Feather fly. His partner, on the other might have been going on around us, the otherwise, Eagle Feather remains pretty It has been a great run, rocky at hand, had some visions of grandeur, I paper was always Job One. Eagle Feather much the same. Feels comfortable, times, but credit must go to John Lagi- figured. Talk of expanding the circulation News came out on time, it got better readers tell us, and we like that. modiere for putting his heart and soul of the new paper to many thousands, every month and eventually it gained a Appearances don’t, of course, tell the into something that has evolved into a reaching to the Pacific were … to be foothold in a crowded media market. whole story. There are some pretty slick valuable part of Saskatchewan’s publish- frank … foolish. Other publications that promised the publications that just don’t cut it in terms ing world. He took many risks and no I suspect I told the duo what I had world to theAboriginal community came of substance. doubt suffered through a few sleepless advised a previous publisher who had and went. John and his crew ignored the When I look at Eagle Feather today, nights. But it worked. tried to crack the Saskatchewan market threats from some competitors to sink the I marvel at the quality of writers that are Congratulations, Ranger. We love with a newspaper that would focus on good ship Eagle Feather. “Steady as she occupying various corners of the paper. you. Aboriginal people and issues: write goes,” John would say. Maria Campbell! One of my favourite [email protected] 8 Eagle Feather News MARCH 2008 Feb.conferencedealtwithurbanAboriginalissues By John Lagimodiere and we need to move from process to ac- Theatre Company, the Young Thunder “We want to empower our people to tell Of Eagle Feather News tion. We cannot operate in isolation and Drum group and First Nation comedian us where they see the UAS going in the need to lever resources from the Don Burnstick who brought down the next few years. This is a community here is a growing trend in Canada provinces. Aboriginal people are Canadi- house. driven process, the solutions are out there of Aboriginal people moving into ans and can access all those opportunities For Docken, the conference was a but we need to hear from the people that urban settings. This creates a out there. success, but there is still more work to are feeling it and living it. dilemma for governments that want to “We do not blow our own horn do. “We need to move our people out of ensure that monies forAboriginal people T enough. I urge you to be bold and bring “We will be conducting a public con- poverty and we need the whole commu- and programs are properly directed. forward ideas. When we get results, we sultation on March 31,” said Docken. nity to do that.” To address this need, the Urban Abo- riginal Strategy was created in 1998. Pi- lot projects are underway in eight urban centres: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto and Thunder Bay. The pilot projects are intended to test new ideas on how to bet- ter respond, through partnership, to the local needs of urban Aboriginal people. A conference was recently held in Saskatoon to discuss the success and fail- ure of UAS projects and to share how there can be more success. Judging by the response to the conference, success is soon to follow. “We really had an opportunity to col- laborate and engage and learn from each other,” said Dwayne Docken, who is with the Saskatoon UAS group. “You can tell by the atmosphere and the crowd. You could feel the power in the room when people are all hearing and seeing the same thing and under- standing the issues we have as Aboriginal people.” Over 300 delegates flooded the Delta UAS Youth From the back left, Mike Tanton, facilitator is joined by Tim Fox of Calgary, Wabs Whitebird from Toronto, and in front Bessborough for two days of networking Amanda Foote from Calgary, Tala Tootoosis, facilitator from Saskatoon, Ashley Norton from Regina, and Felissa Watt and workshops ranging from author War- from Thompson who met in intense meetings during the conference to provide a template for what the youth need to be ren Goulding discussing missing women included in the Urban Aboriginal Strategy. and engaging the police to youth meet- ings discussing ways to engage youth in get more investment.” the UAS process. The conference themes were Linking Diana Gherrien is from Toronto, and Learning and Leveraging and providing is a UAS committee member. those tools to delegates to take home “I learned a lot of the structure and with them. how to do future planning and the vision. “The Urban Aboriginal Strategy al- We need to market and create awareness lows for true community cooperation and of UAS and what is happening in the understanding of issues of aboriginal community for us to be successful,” said people that allows us to direct resources Gherrien. to those organizations that serve Aborig- Fred Caron, Assistant Deputy Minis- inal people,” said Docken. ter of the Office of the Federal Interlocu- “It is nice to see our people move tor also stressed the importance of aware- forward and become part of society and ness of UAS projects. it is always good to come together and “We have the reality that our govern- share the success and our stories. The ment does not like programs. Unless we government needs to hear the hard work can demonstrate results and success we that the community organizations and are vulnerable,” said Caron at his people on the ground are doing.” keynote address to the delegates. The conference also had a banquet “The UAS sites need strategic plans that showcased the Saskatchewan Native

In front, Elder Mike Maurice, Marie Adam and Angie Chief are joined by their cohorts Dwayne Docken in the back with Crystal LaPlante, Peggy Robillard, Marlene Klassen and Elders Mary Lee and Peter Bishop as organizers and committee members for the 2008 UAS Conference in Saskatoon. MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Health 9 Laughter truly is the best medicine

ome days you’re the bug and There is always a positive aspect to the There are other parts of your life contagious emotion and a natural some days you’re the wind- events we perceive as negative. that are more deserving of your energy diversion. shield. Whatever the day, If something is bothering you, try and attention, right here, right now. It brings other people in and breaks whether you’re the bug or windshield, to identify what the positive outcomes Personally, I have found laughter down barriers. Best of all it is free and Sit’s important that we take care of are. Change your outlook, and the to be the best medicine. Many studies has no known side effects. ourselves. things that used to have shown that So tune into your favourite sitcom When most of us think about bother you will laughing lowers on television. Read a funny book. Call a taking care of ourselves, we tend to bother you less. blood pressure, friend and chuckle for a few minutes. It focus exclusively on the health of our Soon they won’t reduces stress even helps to force a laugh once in a bodies. bother you at all. hormones, while. Therefore, the steps we take to stay Sometimes, the increases muscle You’ll find your stress melting away healthy tend to come from the outside anger and sadness flexion, and boosts almost instantly. Laughter is one of the – for example, watching what foods we that zap our immune function easiest ways to free you from the mind’s eat or doing a certain exercise routine. energy are very deep-seated. We may by raising levels of infection-fighting constant thought process and find inner Yet the most powerful healing not even be aware they are there at all. T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called peace. comes from the inside. Our emotions For example, few of us would Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which It will make you more alive, and how we deal with them have just consider ourselves angry or sad people, produce disease-destroying antibodies. healthier, and more creative. Simply as much effect on our health as the yet many of us waste our energy Laughter also triggers the release of relax into the enjoyment. foods we eat and the exercises we dwelling on things that upset us long endorphins, the body’s natural You will discover in yourself a practice. ago. painkillers, and produces a general sense natural talent for rejoicing in life. You Having balanced emotions doesn’t The event may have happened in of well-being. The body’s healing may even laugh your way to enlighten- mean never being angry or sad. It is the past, yet we spend our precious system responds favourably to positive ment. natural to feel angry and sad. However, energy reacting to them in the present. attitudes, thoughts, moods, and emotions Yes, it’s that good. Remember to if we get stuck in these emotions, they Instead of letting go of these experi- (e.g., to love, hope, optimism, caring, laugh-a lot-every day. can wreak havoc on our health. ences, we hold on. intimacy, joy, laughter, and humor), and I enjoy hearing from our readers. So how do you let go of negative Every now and then, we take them negatively to negative ones (hate, hope- Send your questions and comments to emotions? It is something easier said out and look at them, then put them lessness, pessimism, indifference, Eagle Feather News c/o Sandee Sez PO than done, but it is not impossible to away, saving them for another day. I anxiety, depression, loneliness, etc.). Box 924 Station Main, Saskatoon S7K do.You can start by trying to see things am so quilty of this. Whenever you Soyouwanttoorganizeyourlifeto 3M4. that upset you from a different angle. start thinking about the past, just maintain as positive a focus as possible. Or you can email me at Everything happens for a reason. remember:You don’t need it anymore. Humour is a universal language. It’s a [email protected] 10 Eagle Feather News MARCH 2008 Laflammelearnedtoholdherheadhigh

haron Laflamme (right) speaks to the Celebrating Innovation in First Nations Education: New Paths, Best Practices in Saskatoon. Laflamme is a well- known and respected educator in the province. Currently she is the principal at the Muskoday First Nation Community School. SShe told the crowd her path hasn’t always been easy, as she faced a lot of racism and discouraging words along the way. However, Laflamme earned her teaching de- gree with Distinction and won many awards and scholarships. “I learned to hold my head up high, and to put to shame what those past educators had tried to do to me. I was not a borderline mental retard after all,” she says. “I was not going to amount to nothing. I was not assimilated. And, I was no longer ashamed of who I was as an Indian.” Laflamme told conference delegates it’s important for First Nations children to have strong role models in the classroom and to explain to children that they need to go to school so they can go on to post-secondary education. Laflamme says she didn’t have such a role model until she was in university, but she says it made a big difference in her life. “For the first time in my educated life, I had an Aboriginal professor. She was from the Arctic area, and so knowledgeable about her culture. She instilled within me a sense of power and helped inspire a voice that lay so silent within me for so long. She empowered me with the confidence that had never been instilled within me during my school years. I wanted to be what she was.” MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News 11 Bill C31: Understanding the Indian Act’sMembership Code

By Paul L.A.H. Chartrand, IPC the model of the small nuclear family dren’s kinship to their father. quiring an advanced education. For Eagle Feather News that the draftsman of the Act would have LB, when he grew up, could marry Bill C31 has changed in many ways ill C-31, once approved by Parlia- been familiar with in 1876. Let us think of whomever he pleased and start a new In- the operation of the Act’s code that has ment in 1985, became an the nuclear family as Mom and Dad and dian family recognized by the Act’s code been described. amendment to the IndianAct.(‘the their two children, little brother (LB) and because he would become a male head of For example, equality of the sexes Act’) TheAct’s membership code came little sister (LS). family descended from the original char- has meant that since 1985 neither men nor Bunder constitutional suspicion after 1982 Let us now deal with each one of ter group through his Dad. women acquire full status by marriage. because s.15 of the 1982 Charter of Rights them and see how they fit into the ‘nu- LS, when she grew up, might marry (They can acquire ‘band membership’, required ‘equality of the sexes’and the clear family’model that centred upon the an Indian within the meaning of the code, which can be understood as ‘partial sta- code did not seem to produce the same or male head of family. or she might marry someone else. If she tus’) equal legal treatment of men and women. The first generation Dad belonged married an Indian, she maintained her Bill C31 also entitled thousands of The Act had first been passed into because he was the male head of a family original ‘Indian status’ under the Act, as persons to acquire status if they had been law in 1876 and its code had been that belonged to a community that the the daughter of a male head of family. excluded for certain reasons that are con- amended several times before. federal government accepted as a group She also acquired a new or double tained in the Act. From the beginning, the Act applied of ‘Indians’. status as the spouse of a male head of The Act has never defined, or even only to those persons included in its def- Mom belonged because she was mar- family. Her residence might change. She tried to define, the Cree, Ojibwe, Dene or inition of ‘Indian’. These persons were ried to Dad. It did not matter whether she might go and live on her husband’s fam- Métis. Its membership code has only de- entitled to reside on Indian reserves and was an ‘Indian’ or Métis, a Swede or a ily’s reserve, and she might be joined into fined those individuals who would be were subject to the burdens and benefits Ukrainian. She was an ‘Indian’ within his ‘band’. recognized by the government as mem- of government policy. the meaning of the Act, or had status, be- A ‘band’ is the word the Act uses to bers of ‘Indian bands’ (now sometimes These folks were those who belonged cause of her relationship to the male head refer to a group entitled to live on a re- called ‘First Nations’ in recent amend- to the groups that the government recog- of family. serve. ments to the Act) and who would there- nized as groups of ‘Indians’when it either That is the ‘kinship’ factor in opera- If LS married someone not a status fore fall within federal policy. signed treaties or set aside reserves for tion in the code. No man who did not be- Indian, regardless if he were a Cree or All ‘Indians’ in Canada are defined them. At that time it was not difficult to long to the original charter group could Ojibway or Métis, or Swede or Ukrain- the same way, regardless of Treaty or recognize First Nations as distinct, inde- acquire Indian status by marrying an In- ian, she would lose her status as a daugh- tribal or national identity. pendent societies. dian woman because the code focused ter of a male head of family. The right of self-determination and The first thing the Act did was to ig- on the male head of family. There were other features in the Act’s self-definition is a right of the people and nore the views of the First Nations about In 1876 no one would have thought code, including the ‘double-mother rule’, not a right of the government. who belonged with them. Instead, the Act of the idea of a man challenging the Act which cut off status to children of two That right is not engaged by the terms set up a membership code based on by trying to marry a male head of family! generations of non-Indian spouses who of the Act. ‘lifestyle’ of individuals. LS and LB had ‘status’ or fell within married a male head of an Indian family. Bill C31 has opened a Pandora’s Box This means those who lived with, or the meaning of the code because they This kind of provision is often called of difficult questions about various issues according to the ways of the original were children of a male head of family. a ‘blood quantum’ factor. Other provi- concerning the membership code in the groups that had received political recog- The ‘kinship’factor works not only ‘side- sions ‘enfranchised’or cut off status to in- Indian Act. nition as being groups of ‘Indians.’ ways’ within a generation, as in the case dividuals for a variety of reasons that also An understanding of the Act’s code The membership code of the Act was of the Mom, but also ‘up and down’ the changed from time to time. and how it works is a starting point for built around the male head of family in generations, as illustrated by the chil- Examples include war service or ac- many of these questions. 12 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment MARCH 2008 Louise Halfe an intimidating literary force

By Mike Gosselin “Liar,” I thought. “You are only Aboriginal Recording for ‘What It For Eagle Feather News saying that out of pity.” Takes.’Oh yeah, he also received nine, I was, of course, praying she actu- yes nine, nominations for the nyone assigned to review a ally meant it. Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. poetry book by the likes of Now, sitting here with mesmeriz- What a slacker! … Saskatoon’s Mykal Louise Bernice Halfe is faced ing words from The Crooked Good Gambull Band was #1 on the with attempting to constructively floating around in my head, I must Missinippi Broadcasting Corporation’s Acriticize greatness. find an intelligent way to effectively Aboriginal Top Five in February with It just so happens I am required to review this powerful new book. the song ‘Forget About You’. The year review her new collection of poems The problem is Louise Halfe ex- 2008 has already proven to be a good entitled The Crooked Good and, con- plores themes of love, culture, pain, one for the do-it-yourselfer and Mykal sidering I am a poet who writes in a woman, family and history with vigor- Gambull is now heard on MBC non-orthodox style, am 100 per cent ous truth and power and does so with daily…The City of Saskatoon installed intimidated by her … in a good way. amazing imagery, meticulous descrip- its latest public art piece at Shaw Cen- I’ll tell you why. tion and effortless flow. tre. ‘Delegates: Chiefs of the Earth and During the Anskohk Literature If you have read her 2004 release Sky’ by Arthur Renwick was unveiled Festival this past October, I graciously Blue Marrow you’ll know what I mean. in early March and, according to the accepted a request from my friends at The Crooked Good builds on her City, is a “seven-piece suite of multi- the Saskatchewan Native Theatre explosive ability to take readers on a media works using landscape photo- Company (SNTC) to perform a 15- roller coaster ride and does so as e- graphs of various sites; each landscape minute poetry reading at Emerging kewskit or Turn-around Woman – who is named after a warrior involved in Writer Night. I happily accepted and leads readers to the brink of emotional one of the many battles and treaty ne- planned to read my selected poems exhaustion. In a good way. gotiations that occurred”… Please for a group of, well, emerging writers. Beyond that, there is little left to check out John J. Cook’s new website, As I nervously sat in the foyer at describe how The Crooked Good af- it’s pretty jazzy: www.johnjcookmu- SNTC preparing for the well-inten- fected me as a reader. I laughed, cried, sic.com John J. Cook is an ultra-tal- tioned heckling I would surely receive experienced anger, felt ashamed of be- ented singer/songwriter from Peter Bal- from SNTC staff and some writer ing a man and damned for having Eu- lantyne Cree Nation and is the hardest friends, I was horrified with a sudden ropean blood. I also felt damn proud to working do-it-yourselfer I know. Two realization five minutes before show be Metis. original recordings, ‘Deceit’ & ‘Baby!’, time – the crème de la crème ofAbo- When asked about her rituals, su- charted for a total of 12 weeks on MBC riginal writers began to trickle in. perstitions or routines regarding writ- Radio – and he recorded them in his First it was Maria Campbell (she’s ing such a powerful collection of po- basement! ... Movie of the Month: always early), then Neal MacLeod, ems, Louise Halfe’s spiritual vibe and ‘There Will Be Blood’ starring Daniel Marilyn Dumont and ten seconds be- indescribable aura emanate from the Day-Lewis…send comments, events, fore taking the stage it happened … computer screen in her emailed re- rants and feedback to: the most gifted, powerful and poignant sponse. [email protected] Aboriginal poet I have ever read “I started writing The Crooked LOUISE HALFE walked by me, smiled and strolled Good in my heart a thousand years ago coolly into the theatre … it was, of … I am most inspired to write in the course, Louise Halfe. mornings when my censor is still My palms began to sweat, knees asleep, I am most productive when the started to shake and my stomach moon is entering the exposition of her turned more fiercely than a BC high- belly … writing itself is a ceremony, a way. I was scared and it showed in type of prayer.” my performance. Stunned, I am left to wonder if this After missing cues, slurring words response is a poem I missed in The and fiddling with my book, I glumly Crooked Good. walked off stage with my head staring For all intents and purposes, I give at the ground. As I neared Louise The Crooked Good a 4.5/5. Louise Halfe’s table, I could feel her piercing Halfe loses half a mark because she in- eyes staring into the depths of my tor- timidates me … in a good way. tured soul. ••• I forced my head up to look at her This and That: As if Donny Par- and she smiled at me and said only enteau needed more accolades. What two words, two words that have since am I saying? Of course he does. The caused me a great deal of stress, self- ever-popular Parenteau has been nom- doubt and mystery. She said “good inated for a 2008 Juno Award for Best job.” MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment 13

Sheri Pelletier SNTCartauctiongreat with her piece that sold for over $700. Sheri was one of the artists forartistsandtheatre who provided works of art By John Lagimodiere Doepker and Sheri Pelletier, the crowd for the SNTC Of Eagle Feather News had many options of style and price to auction. choose from. Auction expert and all he ExpressionsArtAuction hosted around good guy Orest Murawsky kept by the Saskatchewan Native the bidders hopping with many paintings Theatre Company was another selling for over $1,000 with some top- very successful fundraiser for the ping the $2,000 mark. Tgrassroot theatre company. Master of Ceremonies Gordon For the fourth year running, SNTC Tootoosis also got in on the auction by and its arts guru Ernie Scoles pulled to- donating his hat and his scarf for bidding. gether the best collection possible of es- Successful bidders, Cheryl Loadman for tablished and emerging Aboriginal the autographed hat, and Michelle artists’ work and offered it for sale to the LeClair Harding who purchased a scarf public.

Cheryl Loadman and Michelle LeClair Harding sent Gordon Tootoosis home minus some clothing ... actually his hat and a scarf from the SNTC art auction.

Most times, the artist and the theatre Gordon ‘stole’ from the set of Hank split the proceeds of the final bid, creat- Williams First Nation, contributed al- ing a win-win situation for the artists and most $1,000 to the total at the end of the for the youth and communities that ben- night. They also get to go out for lunch efit from the SNTC programs. with Gordon, which was really the icing From original Alex Janviers work to on the cake. pieces from emerging artists like April 14 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment MARCH 2008 MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment 15 Caroline John master craft person still going strong at 88 By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News

arolineJohnis88goingon89andisstillsoproficient athercraftthatherworkhaswoninternationalawards and is sought out as corporate and Christmas gifts around the nation. CBorn and raised at Cree Lake in northern Saskatchewan, John has been working her trade since she was 14. “She has been doing this all her life,” said her daughter Mary Jane Klassen. “She will make anything. She gets lots of requests. “She gets the size, tells them the time it will be ready and that’s it.” The hit of the last FSIN Assembly were the coat and gauntlet mittens that English River First Nation Chief Ralph Paul gifted toTriple Five Energy Chairman Nader Ghermez- ian to commemorate their business agreement. When the jacket was unveiled, there was an audible gasp through the crowd. Caroline John and Triple Five Energy Chairman Nader Ghermezian show off his new handcrafted jacket. “The jacket is made out of moose hide and the fur is ot- ter,” said Klassen of her mother’s work. luks using mink or beaver. really picked up the skill from my mom and she is really tal- “She tanned the hides and worked the furs herself to “She does her own design and can make those mukluks ented,” added Klassen. make it soft to sew. She hand made everything herself, and in about two weeks.With mitts, she is a pro and it goes faster. “My mom is not one to sit around without doing some- it took about a month to make. My mom also makes muk- She does all her beadwork. She has some of the most beau- thing with her hands. This work keeps her entertained. It is tiful beadwork. It is well put together the way it is sewn and not like work to her. The tanning, we help her out, but she very professional.” also knits and braids rugs. She donates her work to draws Caroline John has made some beautiful pieces in her and fundraising events once in a while.” day.She once sold a mink outfit to a gentleman who entered Mary Jane Klassen does not see her mom slowing it in a contest in Albequerque and it won first and second down or giving up the pastime that brings her so much joy prize. Her work is known to demand thousands of dollars and peace. with the jacket and mitts that were presented estimated to be “Now we live in Patuanak and have a really good life. worth $2,000. Mom raised 12 children and adopted two more and my dad All of the materials that John uses are provided locally. was a trapper and fisherman,” said Klassen. “My brother still traps in the Cree Lake territory so we “She is one amazing woman. She is healthier than the get the furs that are not the best for market and mom turns rest of us together.She keeps active that’swhy.She has done Caroline John (right) shows off some of her work with the them into beautiful things. Since I took early retirement I a wonderful job of raising us. I couldn’t do what she did to help of her daughter, Mary Jane Klassen. have started to learn how to do it as well, but my sister Rose tell you the truth.” 16 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment MARCH 2008 Burnstick proud to be known as one funny Indian

By John Lagimodiere ica, Saskatchewan people have got it. They charities. I sponsor a sports team, I sponsor Of Eagle Feather News know how to laugh at themselves, they Elders, food banks and I am always in- Originally from the Fort Alexander have the humour. volved in giving back. I have benefited lots First Nation in Northern Alberta, Don They are very passionate about certain … once you take so much, you get sick. Burnstick has overcome addiction to be- things. It does not matter where you are, An Elder told me that white people come the nation’spreeminent First Nation north or south they know how to laugh. chase money and that is why they get sick comedian. In demand around Canada for I call Saskatchewan my springboard; sometimes. his presentations on sobriety and youth, he they are the ones that basically made me. He told me if I was doing this to make also has a loyal and rabid following of his I always get excited to go back. money, I would get sick. Be kind and gen- raunchy, but eff-bomb free, stand up com- I will be there in a couple weeks with erous he said. I have learned how to give edy act. a new show during the Treaty conference that back. The man knows how to get an audi- with all new material. A lot of people think I am rich. I am ence to connect and react. We caught him We see you have a tour coming not. I give away lots. People see you on on his cell phone while preparing for a through in April. TV and they think that you are rich. show with all new material to be per- I was always taught to give back and I am more famous than rich. I am formed in Saskatoon during the AFN you have to keep the circle strong so I de- looking forward to seeing Saskatchewan treaty conference in March. vote some of my time and energy to char- again. Saskatchewan has done so much for ity. me, I am looking forward to now giving Burnstick is a one-man laugh machine. Why did you get My tour in April will benefit some back. sober? I was surrounded by drugs and alcohol and every- one was doing them. I was 21 and I had some choices. Death, jail or sobriety. I chose sobriety. I was a freak of na- ture because I was sur- rounded by it but I made it. I thank the Creator every day that back then there was no crack or crystal meth or AIDS for that matter. The de- cision was easy for me. Now that you are sober, what is the best thing about spreading that word? Once is awhile I will have a person come up to me and say they heard me talk and tell me that I inspired them to quit drinking. That feels good. There is trouble out there. To find a social Native drinker is very really rare. I use humour to promote the message right … people who come to my show, they are going to laugh but they will also get the message. What is the difference in crowds between Aborig- inal and non? I think the laughter. Non- Aboriginal crowds are very analytical. When you tell them jokes about Aboriginal people, they hold back. It’s funny because they can tell Indian jokes to each other, but once they see an Indian up there telling jokes they can’t deal with it. Only after awhile they start laughing. They look around the audi- ence and when they see Na- tive people laugh, they jump in. In the first part of the show they are uncomfortable and they start squirming but they loosen up. Indian people just love to laugh, they are easy. Why do you love Saskatchewan so much and visa versa? Saskatchewan is my mistress. Of all the places I have been to in North Amer- MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Arts & Entertainment 17 Programdesignedtoempowerwomen

they graduate about 300 women a year tional Development Agency) and Pel- costs the community $100 per mod- locally. letier noted that it the AWFT program ule,” explained Pelletier. The course describes itself as “de- is also supported by NWAC – Native She also explained that although signed to empower Aboriginal Women Women’s Association of Canada typically it takes eight to ten days to by building leadership and business through a national strategic partner- deliver the entire program, it is also skills, and fostering greater participa- ship. very flexible and can be customized to tion in their community and econ- CESO itself is a non-profit, volun- the specifications of the community omy”. teer-based organization that has been ordering it. Focusing on practical knowledge , providing Volunteer Advisers since CESO is also offering a program the workshop helps participants im- 1967. for Residential School Survivors prove communication skills – both oral These people use their talents and which covers financial planning for and written, personal skills, job find- experience for assignments interna- the payouts and the common experi- ing and entrepreneurship, and effective tionally and in Canadian Aboriginal ence payment, including modules on participation in local government – communities. CESO is also funded by banking, personal finance which cov- LUCY PELLETIER governance skills such as being a donations from individuals and corpo- ers areas such as budgets and credit By Andrea Ledding board or council member. rations, and Pelletier noted that locally, cards, frauds and scams, wills and es- Of Eagle Feather News Essentially, it tries to take the mys- the Royal Bank of Canada has been tates, investing, and entrepreneurship. tery out of personal, business, opera- providing sponsorship of the AWFT Pelletier explains that they are anadian Executive Service tional, and organization finances. program. planning to deliver at least 15 work- Organization (CESO) is a not- Five workshops make up the se- “The Royal Bank picks up the ex- shops in the region, seven of which for-profit organization that ries: Building Personal Skills, Com- penses for the program, so that it only have already been done. “helps to build proud independent munication Skills, How To Start Your Ccommunities.” CESO Aboriginal Own Business, Skill Development for Services aims to build Aboriginal Boards, and Budgeting/Financial Man- communities and businesses in gover- agement. It is now running in many nance and economic development, provinces across Canada, with much using knowledge and skill transfers success. from Volunteer Advisors. The module on starting your own Since its inception in 1969, it has business ranges from topics such as successfully linked Aboriginal indi- writing business plans to the impor- viduals, businesses, organizations and tance of having a mentor. The fi- communities with professional Volun- nances module touches on personal, teer Advisors in over 40,000 projects. business, and band finances, providing An innovative organization that much hands-on practical material and builds on the volunteer assistance of information. successful business leaders and ex- One participant called it “A great perts, CESO has been running a pro- learning experience. The presenters gram for five years now called “Abo- were a wealth of knowledge. Enabled riginal Women For Tomorrow” some women to network and have (AWFT). probably obtained small contracts Lucy Pelletier of CESO explained from each other and have found un- that the target audience is Aboriginal known skills in the other participants.” women who are unemployed and want She also added that she was “very to start their own business or develop impressed with most of the presenters’ themselves further in their careers. ability to understand Aboriginal “It was first piloted in Women in Business.” Saskatchewan five years ago, and has Nationally, CESO is funded by had a very high success rate across the INAC (Indian and Northern Affairs country,” said Pelletier, adding that Canada), and CIDA (Canadian Interna- 18 Eagle Feather News - Education MARCH 2008 Students experience Saskatchewan’sdiversity first-hand

hat an experience,” says Intercultural one, by name, and know about their family, and learn Leadership Program (ILP) student about their values and traditions, and gain an under- Chantelle Renwick. standing of their experiences within their own com- “This is the type of learning that will help shape munities and with the broader society.” “Whow I come to know the world and the people around For more information about the Intercultural me along my journey to becoming a leader.” Leadership Program, contact Annette Ermine at 790- Renwick, who also works for the Saskatchewan 5950 extension 3233 or email aermine@firstnation- Public Service Commission, is one of 16 Intercultural suniversity.ca Leadership Program (ILP) students, who organized visits to a dozen communities in Regina, to meet peo- ple and explore cultures they had not known before. Intercultural Leadership Program is offered at First Nations University of Canada, and is funded by ILP students learned about East Indian culture. Saskatchewan’s Crown Investments Corporation to train Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students for lead- I was most interested in learning about the Hare Kr- ership roles in organizations like the Saskatchewan ishna because I have friends who are East Indian and crowns, which want to celebrate diversity in the work- feel like I didn’t know enough about their culture. place. “I was thrilled by Jai Ram and his wife Hansa’s “It’s one thing to read about intercultural commu- presentation and the way that they included us in nication,” says ILP professor Shannon Avison. “It’s everything – including the fantastic food. I really another to meet with people in their temples, or think that is the best way to learn.” mosques, or collective farms, or synagogues, and “Each student became something of an expert on visit with them about their experiences abroad and in the community they were researching,” says ILP pro- Saskatchewan.” fessor Joanne Goodpipe. The ILP students were responsible for seeking out “It was up to them to teach us the protocol of the communities they wanted to know about, contact the community we were entering, so we were less worried community and identify its leaders or spokespeople, about doing or saying things that would offend. It cre- brief the other students on the practices and protocols ated a very safe environment for sharing and learn- of the community, and facilitate the visits. ing.” “Without an assignment like this,” says Renwick, Nigel Middelkamp is completing ILP as a minor “it would be hard to approach other cultures. Having along with a Bachelor ofArts in International Studies. this assignment meant we were able to approach other “When I did the visits, I learned that we shouldn’t cultures in a comfortable, structured way, with sup- be ethnocentric when encountering other cultures. port from the instructors and the other students.” Just because we see the world in one way doesn’t “I totally enjoyed facilitating the Hare Krishna mean the rest of its inhabitants see it the same way.” class,” says Renwick. “I’ve never taken religious “That was the goal of the project,” says Avison. studies, and I had little exposure to Eastern religions. “We wanted the students to actually know some- MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Education 19 System didn’t work well for Pauline Muskego’sfamily

• Continued from Page One When Daleen was reported missing, po- have acted right away at the beginning before moving forward with the search. Also, going missing isn’t a crime – lice investigated, but there was no search. (Daleen) might be here with us today.” LaPlante says she’s lucky to have an sometimes people leave because they don’t Muskego and her husband hired a private in- They have a candlelight service each employer who gave her some time off work want to be found. In those cases, the police vestigator.They paid him to research tips that year on Daleen’sbirthday,and for four years last fall, and still lets her conduct some will find them and make sure they’re safe led him around the country – from Edmon- they’ve done an annual walk from their search business from her desk in Saskatoon. without disclosing their location. ton and Calgary to Regina and Vancouver. home in Onion Lake to Saskatoon to raise Much of Osmond's family lives and works “The reason somebody’s missing “He gave us a good rate because he awareness about missing women. Next year, out of province, and there isn’t much they could be anything,” she said. “You'd be knew what we were going through but he they hope to make the walk national. can do but keep up to date. limiting yourself if you thought that any began costing too much,” Muskego said. Cox said Daleen’s file is still active, but “Sometimes when I’m involved with missing person acts this way because Eight months had passed, and by the next steps have to be kept quiet. Any work or family it just comes flooding back they”re this age and this race. It could be Christmas, Daleen still hadn’t contacted her leaked information could jeopardize the in- to me that this just can’t be real,” she said. “It anything you imagine.” family. The case was pushed from general vestigation. escapes you for a while and it just comes City police services and the RCMP investigations to the major crimes unit. Po- “I’d say in this case there’s nothing back.’ have different procedures. Generally, lice carried out a forensic investigation on more that we can do than what we’re doing,” She sends out e-mails, distributes though, when somebody is reported miss- her car, which had been found about two he said. posters, answers the phone, and keeps in ing the file becomes a high priority if the weeks after she went missing. Both the RCMP and city police agree touch with the RCMP. Right now, she’s missing person is a child. “It looks like it will be ongoing and we that more resources are needed to find miss- helping to plan more searches for the spring If not, the file goes to officers who don’t want it to get put aside under a lot of ing people. Solomon said she would like to and hoping to raise enough money to offer conduct interviews to find out about the files,” said Sergeant Glenn Cox, a detective see a second person in her position because awards for tips. person’s habits, friends, recent activity, on- in the Historical Case Unit for the Saskatoon there are enough cases to keep most of the “Even now it’s constantly on my mind. line communications, or anything else that Police Service. Cox has been working on force busy. It’s the last thing I think about when I go to could help in the search. Daleen’s case for nearly a year.The first of- Cox says that even though the police bed every night,” LaPlante said. “I can’t Then they hit the ground to search and ficer who dealt with the case is now retired. can bring in more officers to assist, they ever give up hope. Not ever. She’s some- distribute information on websites. If they As the Muskegos began running out of could use more manpower, just like any where.” can’t find anything helpful, the file changes money to pay the private investigator, they company. Yet, only Osmond could control her shape – it can become a cold case file, or a began to follow up on the tips themselves. For Muskego, the search is draining, but dogs. Many were put down because they historical case. In other words, it is an in- They rely on neighbours and organizations she won’t stop looking as long as she can were wild, even though a forensic patholo- vestigation that isn’t over yet. It all depends like FSIN, Sisters in Spirit, and ChildFind to earn money. gist confirmed that no dog was behind Os- who is missing, and who is investigating. help them advertise Daleen’sdisappearance. “It’slike walking into valleys, deep val- mond’s disappearance. The investigation will never stop until There’s also a company in Lloydminster leys, and when you get into those valleys The landscape around the acreage is the missing person is located. that makes free posters for them. you have to hold on so hard,” she says, still. Copies of the Joy of Cooking wait in- The system doesn’t work for Pauline Muskego has been happier with the po- holding back tears. side for her on a shelf. Muskego. Her daughter,Daleen, went miss- lice’s work lately, though it hasn’t always Meanwhile, LaPlante works in Saska- Nobody comes around to visit any- ing in May 2004. The 29-year-old, one year been that way. toon and travels to her family farm, near Os- more. away from becoming a teacher, left her hus- “We have to keep in contact (with the mond’s, most weekends. She follows up on But when the snow melts, people will bandandthree-year-old daughterat homefor police) to see if they’re doing anything to tips from psychics that the RCMP don’t al- appear and they will search until Osmond a night out. She never came back. help us,” she said. “I think if they would ways deem credible, and consults Elders is found. 20 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers MARCH 2008 Two First Nation members to sit Enterprise Saskatchewan Board members ChairHon.LyleStewart Bill Cooper Minister of Enterprise Myrna Bentley and Innovation Hugh Wagner on Enterprise Saskatchewan board Chair Gavin Semple Mark Frison, Hon. June Draude Craig Lothian By John Lagimodiere strongest leaders agree to sit as Enterprise Gary Merasty David Marit Of Eagle Feather News Saskatchewan Board members, and I look forward to working with them in the days and months ahead,” Crystal McLeod Michael Fougere he Government of Saskatchewan has announced Stewart said. the names of ten individuals who have agreed to “Thank you to those who expressed an interest or accept positions on the Enterprise Saskatchewan who nominated individuals. Individuals who where Board of Directors. not selected will automatically be considered for the T“Over the past few months, we have asked the gen- Sector Teams or Strategic Issues Councils.” eral public and hundreds of The Board will have organizations to submit two First Nation people on nominations for individuals it. Gary Merasty, former to represent a cross-section Grand Chief of the Prince of Saskatchewan people on Albert Grand Council and the Enterprise Member of Parliament, is a Saskatchewan Board of Di- Vice President at Cameco rectors,” Enterprise and In- and was named to the novation Minister Lyle board after being nomi- Stewart said. nated by the PAGC. Also “I am pleased to an- named was lawyer Crystal nounce that ten very tal- McLeod. McLeod has had ented and well-respected CRYSTAL McLEOD a great month as she was GARY MERASTY individuals have agreed to also named to the board of let their names stand as the First Nation Bank of Canada. members of this new and exciting Board.” “It will be an exiciting and hopefully fruitful un- The provincial government received over 300 dertaking for the province of Saskatchewan,” said nominations from across Saskatchewan, representing McLeod about Enterprise Saskatchewan. business, labour, Aboriginal people, municipalities, “The economy of Saskatchewan is ripe with op- co-operatives, post-secondary institutions, agriculture porunities for industry and Aboriginal people to come producers and the resource sector. Selection of the together in strategic and economic partnerships for Board members was also based on a non-partisan scor- mutual benefit. It is my hope that the board can be in- ing system, along with achieving a balance for gender, fluential in giving direction to the government of age and geographical location. Saskatchewan to continue to grow our economy in “We are fortunate to have ten of our province’s Saskatchewan.” MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers 21 Sky is the limit for ambitious Thunder Employment By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News

arryle Weekusk has his work cut out for him. There is a thriving young First Nation community out there that is sadly underem- ployed. There are also many skilled trades that are Ddesperate for young blood to replace an aging workforce and to feed a rabid economy. He is working hard to bring those two groups together on the Internet. Weekusk is the general manager of Thunder Em- ployment, a database of skilled Aboriginal workers that he uses to hook up with industry looking for workers. The service is free to the employees, but the employers do pay a fee. “We also provide a cultural support to the employee and the company, which is our most important function. We will assist in the coping with the homesickness and other issues. We will often bring an Elder or I help out,” said Weekusk. Many times, harassment on the job site drives many employees back home and out of good paying jobs. Weekusk, a welder who has over 20 years experience in the trades, brings his experience to the table. “I know how hard it can be. The discrimination was Darryle Weekusk knows about the challenges facingAboriginal workers and he’s determined to help others. the hardest part. I had no idea. I know all the barriers and giving them an opportunity at a high paying job is toon to Fort McMurray and is making $50 per hour. I that the Aboriginal worker will face. The homesickness. the best part,” added Weekusk. want to keep on getting as many guys out there that I Being treated differently. “One of our guys is regularly flying out of Saska- can.” “Sometimes it is hard, but I tell those young guys if you stick to your guns and come to work everyday and show them you are better than them, it will work out.” Thunder Employment, owned by Thunderchild First Nation, is into its eighth month of service and is already picking up potential employees from around the province. “We just keep selling our services. We are a staff of two and we have a consultation department and all of a sudden we got some calls from the Mohawks and groups in Alberta who like the idea. It will be a like a monster.com but Aboriginal,” said Weekusk. With the economy booming and desperate for skilled workers, the folks at Thunder Employment may be on to filling a dire need. “There are lots of opportunities out there,” said Weekusk. They have received lots of attention and even Pre- mier Brad Wall, who recently visited Thunderchild, was impressed. “The Premier was at our reserve and he wants to take us to a conference in Manitoba, and we will be do- ing a demo for their industry people. Our biggest chal- lenge is the marketing, but with the strength of the In- ternet, if we do this right, we could be the most viewed site in Indian country.” The true test of success is finding jobs for Aborig- inal people, and it is also the reward for the welding vet- eran. “Getting the exposure for the Aboriginal worker 22 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers MARCH 2008 Colleen Cameron at home in SaskTel’sexecutive suite

By John Lagimodiere What is the most challenging as- Of Eagle Feather News pect of you job and career? olleen Cameron is a familiar face I think the hardest part is juggling. in the Saskatchewan business For many people, especially being a community. A member of mom of a young child (Luke who is 13) Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation, she and their sports and their life and my Cgrew up in Saskatoon and has a degree work … it is juggling. from the University of Saskatchewan. I juggle my work, family, and my After a short stint at the Saskatoon volunteer committees that I sit on. I am Tribal Council, SaskTel hired her in 1997 a multi-tasker and it can be challenging, when they started the Aboriginal Cus- but it is also worthwhile. tomer Services division. Tell us about the SaskTel Youth Other than a five-year secondment to Awards and what it means to you. the Office of the Treaty Commissioner We are celebrating our tenth year where she was in charge of public educa- and are very excited about it. Some proj- tion on Treaties and Treaty education, ects don’t continue on and we have made she has spent her entire career with the it ten years and every year it has grown. telecom giant and is now a customer The committee takes a lot of pride in service account manager. the enjoyment of the youth that we see at Colleen Cameron (left) and her sister Roberta Bear are heavily involved with the SaskTelAboriginal YouthAwards of Excellence. We asked her for her thoughts on the event. SaskTel is the title sponsor youth, role models and being successful and of course the Wicihitowin Founda- What tips do you offer to young take care of yourself. in your career. tion hosts it. women out there that want to be big First impressions mean a lot if you This year we are doing a poster business executives or be successful? want to make a good impression, smile, How did those five years at the showcase of ten past award winners who It is all about attitude. Be respectful, learn new tools and try to be a better em- OTC help you now as a business exec- have continued on and done very well for primarily of yourself. Anyone can have a ployee for you. utive? themselves and their community. job, but it is what you take out of that job The end result is we all want to be It allows us as a company to under- These posters will be distributed to make it meaningful. successful, both at home and in business. stand the Aboriginal market and how we, throughout schools in Saskatchewan. We Be a good team member so that peo- Balance your personal life and merge it as a service provider, can use that knowl- have lots of role models and we need to ple can talk to you. Be direct. with your professional life and then you edge to understand how many factors re- identify them, showcase them so that lit- Go to work, show up on time and are on your way. late. tle kids who see these posters can look at I learned lots about treaty, gover- it and say “that can be me” or identify nance, policy and contemporary and his- with that person. torical issues. It is key to know the com- As an awards committee it is great to munity and its needs for anyone working honour and celebrate these youth and in the Aboriginal market at any level. their families and their communities. Everything is connected and you Who is your role model? need to have a sound understanding of I have had lots. My family of course. that to be successful in this market. My dad, mom and sisters are awesome. Best thing about your job? I have had many workmates that I look I work with great people. SaskTel is up to and I sit on lots of committees and a great organization. They are very open learn from other women on those boards. to the Aboriginal people and market. These people are role models be- They give me the tools to be a successful cause they make people feel comfortable. employee, to be a team member. To learn from one another, we need to be You learn great skills at SaskTel that comfortable. These women role models also allow you to be a great person. have these gifts. They teach through di- alogue. MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Business/Careers 23

Meadow Lake Tribal Council Chief Helen Ben is representative of an encouraging trend in First Nation politics. We are seeing more women become Chiefs and Councilors. One basis for this may be the fact that almost 75% ofAboriginal university students are women. Here, Chief Helen Ben discusses an important issue with Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice Chief Guy Lonechild at the last Federation Assembly. 24 Eagle Feather News MARCH 2008

neet’s first female Chief. She topped the incumbent by10 votes, a respectful margin based on the size of her electorate. “At that time my win was a victory for the band and for women because it sym- bolized a major political shift, a change,” said Pahtayken. She laughed when it was pointed out that all the votes she has been involved with have seem to have had some historical significance for her band. This March she will go into her band election as the incumbent Chief. She hopes that the people will give her another mandate to finish what she started. She uses the casino referendum vote as an example of what her community can achieve when they work together.

Chief Alice Pahtayken’s leadership was given a boost with a referendum win. Nekaneet referedum vote a vote of confidence for chief By Solomon Cyr ForEagle Feather News n a cold January day, Chief Alice Pahtayken of the Nekaneet First Nation is in Regina to conduct band business relating to her Tribal Council. On that day she traveled eight hours from her reserve located just minutes from Maple Creek in the southwest corner of the province. OExcited because she just won a major victory, the Chief doesn’t hesitate to express her happiness. The victory was a vote that took place on January 11, 2008. It was a band referen- dum on whether or not the Nekaneet membership would like to designate a portion of their Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreement towards buying and converting land into reserve status. In the case of Nekaneet, this vote is significant because the land in question is the home to the new multi-million dollar Swift Current Living Skies Casino. It was required that 134 yes votes be collected in or- der to ratify the process. That night 146 yes votes came in. This is seen as a major victory for Nekaneet and for Chief Pahtayken as the casino is expected to be one of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority’s most profitable. The vote is also a major victory for the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council because it now further secures the FHQTC’s interest in the Casino development. Tribal Vice-Chair person Myke Agecoutay was pleased with the outcome of the vote. “Chief Pahtayken and the people of Nekaneet have provided our Tribal Council with the means to move for- ward and we thank them for that.” Rodger Pahtayken, Chief Pahtayken’s husband, ex- plained how she overcame opposition to win the vote. “She was strong through it all and she didn’t want to give up because she knew that the energy she invested was for the good of her people,” he said. “Sometimes her opponents were mean to her, and I couldn’t understand how she was able to go on.” When asked what the positive outcome of the vote meant to her Chief Pahtayken was candid in her response. “To me this is a personal victory that I worked hard for, and the outcome I see positively as a referendum on my leadership as Chief for the past term.” She made history in 2005 when she became Neka- MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News 25 Belanger women share special day

By John Lagimodiere people have had to go through over the Of Eagle Feather News centuries of claiming our rights as people and especially her rights as a First Na- e had the chance to chat with tions Woman. Trena Belanger, an employee My mother, in the sixties and a now of First Nation University of student of social work at FNUC, having Canada in Saskatoon. She wanted to to give her first born daughter (me) up to share with us the story of her family and W the system that swore everything will be the five generations of First Nation OK, but later come to the realization the women represented here. her baby left her at one month of age into 11 different foster homes before the age Tell us about yourself. of nine months old only to have the grace I was raised in a foster home in a of her foster mother tell Social Services small town outside of Regina, and then I on the day I was to be moved to another was reunited with my mother at the age home, she said “no”, that this little one of 16. That is when I met my biological has gone through enough. family. It was such a great eye opener of I was raised in that same foster life, when you realize exactly were you Left to right in back is Myrna Desjarlais, Emma Pratt, and Trena Belanger. On home all my life. come from and the background of life the floor isAmber Belanger and Carsyn Belanger. Emma is the Great Great My daughter Amber, very artistic, that was missed, such as my culture, but Gramma, Myrna is the Great Gramma and Trena is the Gramma followed by very strong willed, very compassionate at happy to explore and get to know those her daughter Amber her granddaughter Carsyn. This was a special day as five what she does. Amber is finishing her missing links. generations of women got together to appreciate family. The eldest was born in cosmetology in Regina. She is a wonder- That was a few years ago and since 1923 with the newest arriving in 2005. ful mother to her two children Carsyn then, I have had three beautiful daugh- are covered. What is different now for special. and Romen. ters, my oldest, Amber, now 24, with a your granddaughter compared to your Has the role of women in your And Carsyn, well, she came into this family of her own, having my first grand- kokom’s times? family changed? If so, for the better or world singing, she was literally singing. daughter Carsyn. The difference now is all the technol- worse? The nurses laughed, but we all knew What is it like to have five gener- ogy. My Gramma loves bingo and loves The role of women in our family has Carsyn had a lot to sing about. ations of women in your family all to- her dogs. Carsyn loves her Treehouse changed for the better. I look at the inde- For all five strong wonderful very gether like that? channel and her mom’s spaghetti. Al- pendence and strength of each of us, talented women to be together was so To have had all five women together though I remember going to see my stemming from my gramma. special, we will have more times like was so surreal; we couldn’t even bring gramma a few years back and coming Our strength and support of all our that especially getting the youngest and ourselves to grasp the reality of it. To see into her home and watching her play achievements over the years has giving the oldest together, will bring more mem- Gramma so perky and spry and my Nintendo, that was so awesome to see. us goals and plans for our future and to ories to us all. mother so proud as a peacock, I had to But, just watching them interact, continually achieve goal after goal after The Belanger family have more than join in and smile from ear to ear at the Carsyn hugging my gramma and goal. just us, we are a strong family and very quality and the strength each of us Gramma smiling at how pretty she is. In Something to look forward to see proud to be from Ochapowace First Na- brought together in one room. My our busy lives and living miles apart, where the next five generations of Be- tions Gramma has seen so much history our That is quite a range of years that these moments are very rare and very langer women will take us. 26 Eagle Feather News - Sports MARCH 2008 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games in Regina this month

he 2008 Saskatchewan First Joseph traded after MVP season an impressive showing during the said after his remarkable feat. Nation Winter Games will be Canada West Playoffs. Despite the guar- Head, who was wearing a sweater The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted by the File Hills Qu’Ap- anteed berth, the lady Huskies won their autographed by hockey legend Bobby have traded Kerry Joseph, the CFL’s pelle Tribal Council from March 23 - 27, first round playoff series before losing a Orr, said the Hall of Famer helped him a most outstanding player last season, and in the City of Regina. hard fought three game series to the lot. T a third-round draft pick in 2010 to the The Winter Games are designed to Alberta Pandas. “He told me to try drown out the Toronto Argonauts for offensive tackle showcase the talents of all the First Their first crowd, focus on the net, take your time, Glenn January, Nations athletes from around the game will be breathe and relax.” defensive lineman province. First Nations culture, against the third Head, who played recreational Ronald Flemons, a teamwork, and community strength are seeded McMaster hockey until he was 25 years of age, was first-round pick this points of emphasis at this years event. Marauders Friday randomly chosen from 8.6 million on- year and a second- Events will take place all over March 7, at 6:00 line entries. rounder in 2010. Regina. The Kinesiology Building at the p.m. The winner He received a one-time payment and Despite filling University of Regina will play host to all keeps its national- said he will use the money to pay off his the needs of other the volleyball matches. Sherwood Twin championship mortgage and help plan for his children’s positions with the Arenas and other not yet specified arenas hopes alive, while future. arrival of OT January and DL Flemons, will have all hockey and broomball the loser drops to the consolation pool. He also plans to keep his sawmill this trade will not be forgotten by the events take place there. Regina’s Defending national champion Simon job!“I’d hate to do that every day but Rider faithful. Questions will arise Catholic School Board will supply facil- Fraser enters nationals with the top seed everybody was rooting for me, it was an surrounding the team’s lack of loyalty to ities for the sport of badminton and will and a 32-2 overall record. They’re amazing feeling,” he said. a player who just last year took a pay cut be used as accommodations for all the followed by UBC, McMaster, Regina, of over $125, 000 for the good of the athletes. This year’s demonstration sport Memorial, Saskatchewan, Toronto and Random Thoughts!! team. is curling and all matches will be played Laval. What Joseph wanted was to simply Give me a million dollars and see if at the Caledonian Curling Club. be paid similar to other star quarterbacks I show up to work! … Goodbye Brett Regina and the surrounding busi- Our newest millionaire around the league. A salary of $300,000 Favre, you were the greatest quarterback nesses will host over 4,000 First Nation or more. Darwin Head, a 35-year-old sawmill I ever saw play … Seriously, does youth, coaches, chaperones and Games worker from Prince Albert, scored 15 anyone know (or care) who won the volunteers. Huskies to host goals in 24 seconds to win the TSN Scott Tournament of Hearts? … Congrat- There will also be a fundraising Million Dollar Shootout. ulations on great careers to a few friends event on March 24, 2008. ShaneYellow- CIS Championships In front of 18,630 screaming fans at of mine. Andrew Spagrud (4 time 1st bird is scheduled to appear at the Casino GM Place in Vancouver, he shot the team all conference and the Canada Regina and opening for him will be local The University of Saskatchewan pucks in from the opposite end blue line, West’s all time scoring leader), Rob artist Terry-Ann Strongarm. Doors open Huskie Women’s basketball team will and became Saskatchewan’s newest Lovelace, Kyle Grant (school’s all time at 7:00, show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets host the CIS Championship in millionaire. leader in 3’s), and Jordan Harbridge are available at 1-306-332-8200.Ask for Saskatoon. “People do amazing stuff when they …They helped resurrect a Huskie Men’s Shelley Walker. The Huskies earned a sixth seed with have a chance at a lot of money,” Head Basketball program! MARCH 2008 Eagle Feather News - Sports 27

Hockey fan Darwin Head of PrinceAlbert celebrates as he wins $1 million in TSN’s Chevrolet Malibu Million Dollar Shootout contest last month. Head scored 15 goals in 24 seconds into an open net from the far blue line at General Motors Place in Vancouver to win the grand prize. The event was televised live on TSN. 28 Eagle Feather News JANUARY 2007