JANUARY 2018 VOLUME 21 - NUMBER 1 FREE Sasakamoose scores Order of Canada medal Fred Sasakamoose carried an Eagle Staff from Duck Lake to Saskatoon over four days to open the Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Gathering in 2012. Leadership like that has led Freddie to receive the order of Canada. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) IN THE RUNNING? Chief Bobby Cameron has yet to announce whether or not he’ll be seeking another terms as Chief of the FSIN. - Page 3 ROYAL TREATMENT Saskatchewan artists and musicians are getting ready for a great year in 2018. - Pag e 6 GETTING IT RIGHT Eagle Feather News talked to some folks who made New Year’s resolutions last year. Here’s their update. - Page 12 LEANNE’S A QC Saskatoon lawyer Leanne Belle - garde has received the pres - tigous designation of Queen’s Council . - Page 14 LIGHTING IT UP This Prince Albert electrician has By Chelsea Laskowski After a few more phone calls, Sasakamoose says launched his own business and For Eagle Feather News he came to understand that the Order of Canada is one has switched on a successful Weeks ago, when Fred Sasakamoose found out he of the highest honours in the country, which symbolizes venture . - P age 14 was becoming a member of the Order of Canada, he “what it takes to give a portion of your life to your com - nearly hung up on the woman on the other end of the line. munities.” At first, Sasakamoose thought the woman was Sasakamoose is known in Saskatchewan for pro - The Year in Preview Edition trying to sell him something. Her attempts to explain the moting sports to Indigenous kids, and is best-known Coming In February - Health & Wellness Issue Order of Canada, an honour in “white society” that across Canada for being the first Aboriginal NHL Sasakamoose was unfamiliar with, were made more player. CPMA #40027204 confusing when she started speaking French. • Continued on Page 2 Eagle Feather News JANUARY 2018 B2eing outspoken is a duty to youth, Sasakamoose believes • Continued from Page One puck for the game after a special ceremony where it was support as well,” he says, because “that’s what our Nearly 63 years ago Sasakamoose played the first announced that he is one of the 86 people across the young people need nowadays to become successful.” of his 11 games with the Chicago Blackhawks over two Sasakamoose recently asked higher-ups at the Oil - seasons. He knows his NHL career was brief before re - ers to donate 30 tickets for Ahtahkakoop youth to attend turning home to Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, but his an Oilers and Colorado Avalanche game in early Feb - memories of that time are strong. He recalls that his ruary. self-described “red skin” didn’t make any difference on The kids will do a morning skate while in the city, the ice. watch practice, and meet players like Connor McDavid, “That’s where it started my life, not to think of Sasakamoose says. He says at first, he was told his re - yourself highly but to be able to participate, to (know) quest was too great, but he insisted. that you could play the same level of hockey (as oth - “A lot of times I feel like I’m a pain in the ass to ers).” a lot of people but it’s what it gives me to do,” he says. Sasakamoose At 84, Sasakamoose’s schedule is full. He travels says as a St. all over Canada to speak to kids, including an upcom - Michael’s Indian ing trip to Moose Factory, Ontario to speak about the Residential School power of sports, and grants all interview requests that student, he was come his way. Above, Freddie shows his grand - given a second-level He takes pains to represent his people with children the holy grail of hockey. education. Sports, strength and to watch his language, but he does not want Left, Freddie was honoured by the though, were a great to hide his past mistakes. Edmonton Oilers in January equalizer and he “I think the role model of your life, sometimes a where he dropped the ceremonial says through hockey lot of people think you’re an angel, but you’re not,” he first puck at a game. “I gained the closest says. relationship with all country to become a member of the He is so outspoken now, he says, because it’s his sports people, with Order of Canada. duty to let “our young people in the future, (know) people itself.” Wuttunee, who is now presi - they could do better than me ... to have somebody say Sheldon Wut - dent and CEO of Saskatchewan ‘Well, you know, I want to be like Freddie. Well, Fred - tunee of Red Pheas - First Nations Natural Resource Cen - die was not the best, but he was the first, but also, I ant Cree Nation re - tre of Excellence, says Sasakamoose could do better.’” members Sasakamoose looking on as he learned to was a role model to him as he played hockey growing Even for himself, Sasakamoose had wanted to get skate as a young boy at Sandy Lake. At the end of De - up. to the Olympics to play hockey. While that wasn’t in the cember, Wuttunee was among those to join “Even though I didn’t make the NHL I still gained cards for him, he says he hopes by pushing for people Sasakamoose at Edmonton Oilers centre ice at a game some great opportunities through the game of hockey to give opportunities to young Indigenous people that against the Blackhawks. Sasakamoose dropped the and now I guess the onus is on me to help give back and he will make a change for the better. Eagle Feather News JANUARY 2018 3 Political junkies certain to get their fix in 2018 By NC Raine riginal governments,” he says. tion issues, education and suicide pre - For Eagle Feather News “It will be interesting to see what vention initiatives carrying on into 2018, From shocking decisions by foreign position they take regarding our people,” the future Chief will have his or her governments, to major announcements added Winston McLean, political colum - hands full working with the FSIN. from Saskatchewan's provincial govern - nist at Eagle Feather News, who says re - “The challenge is being relevant,” ment, 2017 was one of the more memo - building the economy will be the new said McLean. “For the last decade, espe - rable, and sometimes alarming, political premier’s biggest challenge. cially under Harper when all the funding years in recent memory. “Will they take a more progressive was cut, a lot of talent was lost. With 2017 now firmly in the rear- view about getting us engaged in the “Now the question is becoming, can view, its time to turn our attention to economy and education system so we the (FSIN) make itself relevant and ef - some of the major political stories to can all prosper together?” fective like it was in the ‘70s and ‘80s?” watch for in Saskatchewan in 2018. Ken Cheveldayoff, Tina Beaudry- The province’s first, and perhaps Mellor, Gord Wyant, Alanna Koch, and most significant political event of the Scott Moe are the five candidates com - year, comes on Jan. 27, as the peting to replace Wall. With less than Saskatchewan three weeks left in the leadership race, Party elects a there are no clear-cut favourites to win. new premier to The New Democrats in replace the retir - Saskatchewan will likewise have some ing Brad Wall, new faces, as they elect a new leader on who served the March 3. party for ten The two leadership candidates, years. The Sask. Trent Wotherspoon and Ryan Meili, have Party faces quite similar platforms, including calling some daunting for more protection for Crown corpora - challenges after tions, a $15 minimum wage, and the pro - BRAD WALL a budget that cut tection of local voices in health care. spending and “They are fairly evenly matched. I increased taxes, think each candidate has a constituency and a $1.2 bil - within the party that supports their par - lion deficit. ticular vision and style,” said Garcea. “They “But the really interesting thing that have to find has emerged is interim leader Nicole Sa - someone who is rauer ... and to what extent she will be - acceptable and come a de facto leader even though she appealing first might not be the official leader.” to the majority Sarauer has maintained that she will of the caucus, not enter the leadership race, but Garcea then to the elec - believes she is a person to watch for the GORD WYANT torate, which is future of the NDP leadership. a challenge in In late July, the Métis Nation – light of the high Saskatchewan will hold a long awaited standards of ap - legislative assembly. It will be the first peal and accept - MNLA in three years. ability that Mr. Questions of leadership legitimacy Wall enjoyed,” have long plagued the MN-S, with such said Joe Garcea, questions hampering the efficiency and Political Sci - effectiveness of government and their ence Professor ability to provide services to members, at the Univer - says Garcea. sity of “One hopes that an assembly can be Saskatchewan. accomplished where the focus is on sub - KEN CHEVELDAYOFF Garcea stantive issues rather than leadership le - says to look for gitimacy issues,” he says. the Sask. Party to lean towards a candi - “It will be interesting to see if they date who is best placed within the party can have an assembly where they get on to adopt a team approach rather than rul - with the more important issues of the ing by individual will.