JUNE 2017 VOLUME 20 - NUMBER 6 FREE Centennial baby hits another milestone Kara ffolliott will soon turn 50 on July 1. She is Canada’s first Centennial Baby girl, born at 12:18 a.m. in Regina, Saskatchewan. She currently lives in Abbotsford, B.C. (Photo courtesy of Kara ffolliott) THREE DEGREES! Dana Carriere participated in the U of S powwow and had lots of reasons to celebrate. - Page 3 YOUTH LAUREATE Josh Butcher’s hard work is paying off and he’s now enrolled in the College of Medicine.. - Pag e 7 RUNNING FOR DAD Landon Sasakamoose recently lost his father but he isn’t letting that tragedy stand in his way. - Page 14 CAPTURING STORIES Trudy Stewart’s documentary, From Up North, has captured some painful stories . - Page 20 BASEBALL ICON The baseball community has found an ideal way to honour the memory of Joe Gallagher. - P age 21 National Aboriginal Day Edition By K.D. Sawatzky “My Mom was in labour for like 38 hours and Coming In July - Graduation Issue For Eagle Feather News they made her hold off so that I could be the first baby Every year, when her birthday comes around, girl born in Canada,” she said. Kara ffoliott’s parents told her about the day she was CPMA #40027204 born and how special it was. • Continued on Page 2 Eagle Feather News JUNE 2017 M2 ove over Pamela Anderson, Kara was number one • Continued from Page One ford, B.C. and have two grown children. Despite their age difference of 17 years, ganizers asking them if they were going “I was born at (12:18 a.m.). She When it comes to being the they met and fell in love and had 15 chil - to have Centennial Babies participate. could have had me sooner, she said, and youngest of 15 children, ffolliott has no dren. “She said, I was their 15th child so it was pretty spe - complaints. “One thing we know about ‘My sister is the cial for them.” “It was great,” she said. “It’s like our family is that we were always first Centennial ffolliott is the youngest child of a you always had a friend. You always had loved,” he said. “My parents were Baby and I think Métis family from Saskatchewan. She is somebody to play with. I was pretty such good people and so good with you should hon - also the first baby girl born on July 1, spoiled I’d say. I had it a lot easier than each other … like two peas in a our her and so 1967, making her Canada’s first Centen - the rest of them did. I spent a lot more pod.” they sent me a nial Baby girl. She still has commemo - time with my Mom, too. That was really The significance of their Cree parcel in the rative coins from the Royal Canadian good. I can’t imagine not having all those heritage, paired with ffolliott’s mail with mo - Mint and a centennial medallion with a siblings.” Centennial birth mentums … and certificate signed by then Secretary of ffolliott wasn’t the only one of her isn’t lost on Ott. a note,” said State Judy LaMarsh. siblings to move away. Some made their “If it was - ffolliott. But when it comes to national way to Alberta and one is in Nova Sco - n’t for a Cree James Ott, recognition, ffolliott and her siblings are tia. woman we who lives in quick to point out that another woman is While her siblings continually re - would not exist Last Mountain officially recognized as the first Centen - mind her that she’s a Centennial Baby, here as a fam - Lake, thinks nial Baby girl. That woman is none other something ffolliott didn’t find out about ily,” he said. Kara should be than Pamela Anderson, who is originally until later in life was her Métis heritage, “But we are part able to take in from Ladysmith, B.C. which can be traced back to the 1700s. of this country. the festivities in the nation’s capital. In her bio for the Canada Walk of ffolliott’s maternal grandmother, We’re immi - “They should recognize her to go Fame, Anderson’s birth is clocked at 4:08 Dora Venne, was born in 1901 in Ba - grants, but out to Ottawa,” he said. a.m. a good four hours later than ffol - toche in what was then the Northwest we’re not immi - But if that doesn’t pan out, ffol - liott’s recorded time of birth. ffolliott Territories. Venne’s parents, Alexandre- grants. We have liott suspects her husband will plan said she’s thought of writing them but Marie Venne and Aldina Marcelin were been here.” something for her 50th. Although she’s has decided to let it be. born in St. Norbert, Manitoba. Two ffolliott a bit hesitant because she’s dealing with ffolliott was born Kara Marie Ott at Saskatchewan towns, Aldina and would love to a common annoyance at this time of Grey Nuns Hospital, now Pasqua Hos - Marcelin, are named after Marcelin and go to Ottawa to ffolliott at age 11 in a year. pital, in Regina. She grew up in Fort her father. The Marcelins are buried near take in Canada clipping from The Fort “I keep telling him I don’t want to Qu’Appelle and met her husband in high Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. 150 celebra - Qu’Appelle Times in do anything because of my allergies,” school. They married, lived in North Bat - According to ffolliott’s older tions. Her older 1978. She is the youngest she said. “I’d be happy to stay in town, tleford and Saskatoon for a time, and brother, James Ott, their father, George sister Agnes of 15 children from a but if I got a trip to Ottawa that’d be then made the trek to Vancouver Island Ott, was going to become a priest and wrote a letter to Métis family. (Photo cour - awesome. I’d deal with my allergies for his work. They now live in Abbots - their mother, Vivian St. Laurent, a nun. Canada 150 or - tesy of Kara ffolliot) there,” she laughed. Eagle Feather News JUNE 2017 3 U of S Powwow celebrates achievements of Aboriginal students By NC Raine to be part of the powwow. the high school students. “In addition to recognizing the For Eagle Feather News One of the attending University “As an alumnus, that’s one of the graduates, it’s also a cultural celebra - In celebration of the academic graduates was Dana Carriere, a Business things I cherish most.” tion and opportunity for all students, achievements of the 2017 graduating Administration Masters student. On her “It’s an amazing feeling to know Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, to par - Métis, First Nation, and Inuit high school third degree, Carriere had attended the you’ve earned a diploma to take with ticipate in the celebration and have an and university students across the Powwow in previous years and found you to the next stage of your life,” said educational opportunity,” said Joseph. province, the University of the experience to be one of great com - Chancellor Romanow. For students of all walks of life at Saskatchewan held its ninth annual Grad - munity and support. “The University of Saskatchewan any stage of their academic career, the uation Powwow. “As a Cree/Metis woman, I felt is a leader in Indigenous scholarships Graduation Powwow continues to be an and Indigenous success. We’ve been at important reminder as to the history on the forefront and will continue to be, which our province is built. with your cooperation.” “I think specifically of those stu - Attendees were also treated to a dents graduating from programs like number of Indigenous traditions and cer - medicine, law, education. These gradu - emonies, including a competitive drum ates are going to take on jobs that serve and dancing competition featuring hun - not just an Aboriginal community, but dreds of participants from across the wide community as a whole,” said Canada. Joseph. Roughly $25,000 in prize money “So, recognizing that and showing was awarded, and the proceedings were them who they are as Indigenous people streamed live online via the University graduating from the University is an im - of Saskatchewan website. portant message for everyone.” University graduate Dana Carriere, a Business Administration Masters student danced and celebrated her third degree at the U of S Powwow. (Photo by NC Raine) The celebration was attended by beautiful, love, and empowered. It is spe - more than 1,800 children from 35 cial to just have a day to celebrate your - schools across Saskatchewan. self, and to have your family and com - “The population of Aboriginal peo - munity celebrate you,” said Carriere. ple in the province is growing signifi - “Our culture is so important and to cantly, and these youth that are going to be able to incorporate First Nations and school and getting their education, Métis culture and ceremony into our cel - they’re going to be leaders in the com - ebrations at the University, it demon - munity,” said Graeme Joseph, Team strates the strength and pride that we Leader of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit have as Aboriginal people.” Success at the Aboriginal Students’ Cen - The celebration was also attended tre. by a number of dignitaries honouring the “We want to show that Aboriginal graduates, including Saskatoon Tribal students can come here, be successful, Council Chief Felix Thomas, University and go on with their lives with an edu - of Saskatchewan President Peter Stoich - cation behind them.” eff, and University Chancellor Roy Ro - Approximately 386 Aboriginal manow.