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The Saskatchewan Indian, Volume 4, Number 1, January 1974
[On Cover]
College Trains Media Techs p 29
The Saskatchewan Indian
The Monthly Publication of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians
1114 Central Avenue
Prince Albert
Saskatchewan
Second Class Mail
Registration No. 2795
Return Postage Guaranteed
Editor — Richard Scott
Reports —
Joan Beatty
Donna Pinay
Lloyd Brass
Archie King
Kim Standingready
Editorial Board —
John Gambler
John Ursan
Cliff Starr
This paper is the official voice of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. It is intended to serve as an effective vehicle for Indian opinion in this province. Signed articles and opinions are the opinions of the individuals concerned and not necessarily those of the Federation.
Readers write
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
official replies
Re: The Saskatchewan Indian — December 1973 Issue — Yorkton Chiefs Reject I.A.B. Capital Budget
Dear Editor:
I read the above article with considerable interest, and in particular the paragraph concerning capital deficits. I do not know where you obtained your figures from, but they are incorrect as far as this District is concerned. You have stated we are faced with a deficit of $113,000. At the most, our deficit may run to $20,000 at the end of March 1974 providing all commitments are met. Our present cash balance stands at approximately $39,000 which is being held to honour commitments as accounts are submitted for payment. Should we find ourselves in a deficit position at the end of March 1974, it will not be at the expense of other Districts. The overexpenditures for each Band will be charged against their 1974-75 capital budget and accounts held for payment until April 1, 1974.
It seems to me that one of our major roles in this Department is to promote harmony and cooperation among the various Indian Associations rather than create dissension. There is sufficient dissension when correct information is used. The use of incorrect information adds fuel to the flames and creates hard feelings between the various District Chiefs Organizations. Surely this is not our purpose.
The article further states that four other Districts are seeking extra dollars to complete housing projects. Since there are only five Districts in the province, this indicates that Fort Qu'Appelle District requested additional funds this year. Again, this is not the case. We did, however, request additional capital funds for 1974-75. Some of the Bands in the District also applied for funds for housing under the various grant and loan programs available. This is a mark in their favour and will not jeopardize other Districts capital budgets.
This District did not complete the Capital Program as planned due to a shortage of funds. But rather than continue the program and overspend at other Districts expense, the program gound to a halt in late December. The problem, along with seven re"( commendations, was put to the Chiefs at a meeting in December. All recommendations ( except one) were approved by the Chiefs. As a result, we will stay within 2% of our total capital budget for this fiscal year. I consider this responsible action on the part of the Chiefs in this District.
I feel the correct information should be provided to the Yorkton District Chiefs. I see no point in one District criticizing another for unfair practices when this is not the case.
Would you please therefore inform the Chiefs in your District of the true picture of this Districts operations as soon as possible to clear up any false notions that may have been created.
Please feel free to circulate this letter to the District Chiefs.
Original Signed by E. J. Belfry, District Superintendent of of Community Affairs, Touchwood File Hills Qu'Appelle District.
Clarification
Dear Editor:
In response to your October edition of, "The Saskatchewan Indian" — page two, under "Northern Notes", your reporter accuses the Chief and Council for "seemingly lack of interest" in submitting applications for the L.I.P. for Sturgeon Landing, Denare Beach, Sandy Bay and Deschambeault Lake. I wish to clarify that "lack of interest".
Sturegon Landing: L.I.P. submitted by Jerry Fisher from Social Services, (Creighton) and a representative from Manpower in Flin-Flon, Manitoba.
Denare Beach: submission by Flin Flon Friendship Centre which includes Denare Beach.
Sandy Bay: submission by Metis Society.
Deschambeault Lake: I was with Mr. Syd Read and Chief Albert Ratt at Sturgeon Landing when the inquiry. came in asking for application for Deschambeault. He said he would phone D.N.S. in La Ronge and find out, then if not, I was to go and make application, but I never got the answer from Syd Read. Since many agencies were taking part and since Deschambeault is "seemingly" under D.N.S. power, I did not wish to duplicate applications without first consulting the other agencies.
Philip Ratt, Community Development Worker
Federation of Saskatchewan Indians
Pelican Narrows, Sask.
According to Department of National Health and Welfare statistics, births among the Indian "' population in Saskatchewan were at an all-time high in May of 1973 when 137 children were born.
EDITORIAL
Present school programs and curricula for Indian children in Saskatchewan are in need of drastic reform. Our children are finding school education irrelevant and uninteresting and it does not equip them with the skills to participate in the constructive development of their physical and human environment. Our children become frustrated and fail to see any purpose in the endless hours of academic chores.
Nor does the education system assist them in gaining an awareness of themselves as individuals and heirs of a uniquely farsighted and humane culture. Our children learn very little of the. history of their people, their art forms and 'the values by which their forefathers lived. Such isolation of the child from his history and culture is psychologically destructive.
Earnest efforts are now being made to create school programs that take into account the cultural needs of the Indian child. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian's Cultural College is leading in this regard, forging new tools and techniques for Indian education, as are several of this province's bands, who, responding to particular local needs, are constructing unique and exciting school programs of their own.
This country's educators have so far lacked the capability or interest to develop appropriate curricula in Indian history and culture. Perhaps this had been fortunate since some of the non-Indian scholars who have attempted to produce literature on Indians have shown a callous lack of appreciation for the history and culture of the Indian people.
We know now that it is absolutely essential that Indian people create their own courses on Indian history and culture. Only they can assure the authenticity of the subject matter.
We have also learned that for a teacher to instruct our children effectively they must have a thorough understanding of our traditions and an appreciation of our culture.
We have learned that there are people among ourselves who have mastered on their own initiative aspects of our culture and that these make the best teachers of our children. We have learned that academic knowledge is useless unless it helps to create in the child a positive self-image and provides him with the life skills required for a productive and rewarding life.
Most importantly we have learned from the continuing failure of white educators, missionaries, academics and government that the one effective way of giving the Indian child a meaningful education is to allow local control of education. Only in this way can there be harmony between the values of society and educational programs. Only in this way will school programs reflect social priorities and the needs of the children. Only in this way will there be sufficient flexibility to modify and enrich the education of Indian children in response to their own interests and the changing needs of time.
We have learned our lessons in the school of frustration and failure and now we must use what we have learned to bring about changes. Government has acceded to Indian demands and recognized their right to local control of education and committed itself to implementing its principal. It is now up to our Band Councils to effectively carry out their plans for local control of education and respond with imagination and enthusiasm to the desperate needs of our children.
Search lasts 21 days
Four die in crash of DNS plane near Cumberland / by Joan Beatty
CUMBERLAND HOUSE — All four men were found dead in the wreckage of the Cessna 185 twenty-five miles northwest of Cumberland House on January 3, 1974 after 21 days of what was described as the biggest air search in Canada.
The men, pilot Paul John of Cree Lake, Lionel Deschambeault of Cumberland House, Rod Morrison and Cliff Stanley both from La Ronge, failed to reach their destination enroute to a meeting from La Ronge to Creighton on December 12, 1973. Mr. Deschambeault, who had been in La Ronge on business, was catching a ride home to Cumberland House while the other three men were planning to proceed on to Creighton.
La Ronge is 140 miles north of Prince Albert and Creighton is near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border at Flin Flon, Man.
The aircraft, leased by the Department of Northern Saskatchewan, was found amidst a thicket of willow scrub west of Cumberland House about three miles west of Pine Bluff near the Mossy River. According to Vern Brooks, a DNS employee, it is estimated the plane crashed into the Mossy River delta area near top speed at an angle. "The engine of the plane went about three feet into the frozen muskeg," he said.
The sighting of the aircraft was made about 3 P.M. January 2 by another government plane piloted by Ron Wilson, along with Bill Richards, a senior DNS official, and Larry Horne, a DNS Conservation Officer pilot.
The men, well experienced northerners, were retracing the approximate 160 mile flight plan from La Ronge to Cumberland House, an area previously searched, when they located the wreckage with only a portion of the tail end of the aircraft showing, barely visible from the air.
Search teams were immediately notified and within twenty minutes, the Armed Forces Search and Rescue personnel arrived to mark the area but were unable to land that day due to darkness.
A helicopter, with personnel from the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Transport, Cumberland House RCMP and Coroner Sandy Munson from Cumberland House as well, took off Thursday morning for the crash scene but were unable to locate it. An Armed Forces Twin Otter relocated the downed aircraft and the investigation team moved in.
After all four bodies of the men were transported to Cumberland House, an inquest was opened by Coroner Sandy Munson. The bodies were then taken to Saskatoon where an autopsy took place. The inquest will reopen if required. Investigations into the crash of the aircraft are still continuing and to date, the Ministry of Transport has not as yet released any report as to the cause of the tragedy. However, it is believed all four men of the light aircraft died on impact. According to Brian Cousins, Director of Communications for the Department of Northern Saskatchewan, a total of 825 search hours were put in by twenty-six civilian aircraft with the search teams co-ordinated by Doug Schweitzer, Assistant Deputy Minister for the D.N.S. Captain P.K. Yates of the Defence Department co-ordinated the Military's search operations, who are believed to have put in about the same number of hours, using eight or nine military aircraft.
Hundreds of people from La Ronge and northern Saskatchewan gave up their Christmas holidays and festivities to join in the search.
When they met their fate, the victims of the plane crash left behind them eleven fatherless children and four widows.
Paul John, the twenty year old pilot of the aircraft, was a bridegroom of three days. He was from Cree Lake, and employed as a Conservation Officer pilot for the Department of Northern Saskatchewan. He was better known as "P.J."
Lionel Deschambeault, 35, of Cumberland House was married with six children. He was Chairman and elected member of the recently formed Municipal Council of Northern Saskatchewan. He was also "Mayor" of the Cumberland House local council.
Mr. Morrison, twenty-eight, was married with three children. The Morrison family had just recently moved from Edmonton to La Ronge where Mr. Morrison was employed as Assistant Director of the Economic Development Branch of the D.N.S.
Thirty-one year old Clifford Stanley, a long time resident of La Ronge, served as a Tourism Consultant with the Provincial Government's Economic Development Branch. He is survived by his wife and two children.
All four men were buried on January 9 in four separate funerals with large crowds packing the churches where memorial services were being held for the deceased men. Despite way below zero temperatures, a number of people who couldn't get into the churches, waited outside.
Paul John, pilot of the ill-fated aircraft, was buried at Patuanak following services at the La Ronge United Church and one at the Roman Catholic Church in Patuanak.
A memorial service for Rod Morrison was held at the La Ronge United Church. Mr. Morrison's body was cremated in Saskatoon.
Clifford Stanley was buried at La Ronge after a service was held at the La Ronge Anglican Church.
Lionel Deschambeault was laid to rest at his home town of Cumberland House after a service was held there.
[Photograph]
Wreckage strewn over wide area (Photo by Nipawin Journal)
[Photograph]
lnvestigators quarantine crash site
[Photograph]
Bush bides crash site (Photo by Nipawin Journal)
Buried at Patuanak
Mayor says pilot 'the best'
Pilot Paul John had been the first Treaty Indian in Saskatchewan to obtain Commercial pilot's license.
LA RONGE — Whenever an airplane tragedy occurs, the question of possible human error emerges and the recent tragic deaths of Paul John, Lionel Deschambeault, Rod Morrison, and Cliff Stanley in a plane crash 28 miles west of Cumberland House, proved no less.
On January 4, 1974, a day after the downed Cessna 185 with the four men were found dead, Harry Hougton, Mayor of La Ronge, rebuked persons who doubt the capabilities of northern pilots. "Southerners believe that pilots of the North fly by the seats of their pants and are not good flyers," he said.
Twenty-two year old Paul John was the pilot of the aircraft, and the Mayor of La Ronge was replying to questions raised as to the flying capabilities of Mr. John.
Paul John, better known as "P.J.", a registered Chipewyan Indian from the Patuanak Indian Reserve in northern Saskatchewan, received his private pilot's license on April 27, 1971 through the Department of Indian Affairs. On March 24, 1972, he became the first Treaty Indian in Saskatchewan to receive his commercial pilot's license.
Mr. John, while learning to fly, was employed by Athabasca Airways in Prince Albert, at the same time apprenticing for engineering of airplanes. The Saskatchewan Indian newspaper did a feature article about him on October 1971, at which time he expressed his hope of eventually flying as a commercial pilot for Athabasca Airways.
After successfully qualifying for his commercial pilot's license in spring of 1972, he went to work for Athabasca Airways in La Ronge as a "bush pilot" fulfilling his dream. He worked for Athabasca Airways for 18 months before taking employment with the Department of Northern Saskatchewan as a Conservation Officer pilot. While in La Ronge, he met Judy, his bride of three days.
The Mayor of La Ronge expressed his shock at the "cruelty and irresponsibility at a time like this to question the ability of these men who have proven themselves time and time again.'' The Mayor further expressed his belief that "pilots from Northern Saskatchewan are among the best you will find anywhere."
Bill Jackson, Manager of Athabasca Airways in La Ronge where Mr. John was employed for 18 months, said he had no doubts of Mr. John's flying abilities.
According to Vern Brooks, employee of the Department of Northern Saskatchewan, "P.J." was a keen pilot.
Investigations as to the cause of the crash of the aircraft, which was being leased by the Department of Northern Saskatchewan, are still continuing by the Ministry of Transport. There has been no official report of their findings to date.
Paul John was buried on January 9 at Patuanak following services at the United Church in La Ronge and also one at the Roman Catholic Church at Patuanak. Both churches were overpacked with friends and relations of "P.J." to pay him their last respects.
The News
Fur prices soaring; setting new records at international sales
REGINA — "Fur prices are excellent and will continue to be very high," Adam Cook said, manager of the Saskatchewan Fur Marketing Service, 1100 Fur Marketing Service in Regina.
The Saskatchewan Fur Marketing Service, established in 1944 for the benefit of Saskatchewan trappers, holds regular fur sales in Regina with buyers from Europe, Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, United States and Canada.
"Active interest from all these countries resulted in many record prices set at the last sale of the Marketing Service on December 7," Mr. Cook said.
Cross fox sold 50% higher, lynx 40% higher, muskrat 25% higher, with badger, bear, and timber wolf selling at much higher prices. Wild mink sold at firm prices with advanced prices for medium and small sizes. Beaver prices were average to lower but prices were higher for medium and small sizes.
Fisher and raccoon sold at a much higher price with squirrel and weasel being in excellent demand and therefore being sold for very good prices.
The following are the prices established at the sale of December 7 in Regina:
Badger. . . . . $ 57.00 $ 10.14
Bear . . . . . . 250.00 83.04
Beaver . . . . . 5.1.00 18.60
Cross Fox . . 82.00 63.72
Red Fox . . . . 60.00 43.35
Lynx . . . . . . 120.00 78.51
Muskrat . . . 3.75 2.17
Otter . . . . . 70.00 42.00
Squirrel . . . . 1.20 .77
Wolf (coyote) . . . . 60.00 39.79
Timber Wolf . . . . 90.00 71.18
According to Mr. Cook, if trappers anywhere in Saskatchewan are interested in selling their fur through the Fur Marketing Service, they may send their fur directly to the Saskatchewan Broad Street, Regina or they can get hold of their local Conservation Officer in their area. "If a trapper wants an advance payment on his fur, we will give him one up to 50% of the estimated value of his fur and the balance will be forwarded to him after a sale is held," Mr. Cook said. He also said that advance payment can be handled by a Conservation Officer or from Regina, depending what the tapper wants. On a question of how these advance payment compare to what private fur buyers will pay, Mr. Cook said: "They will pay a few more dollars than what we pay in advance but this is their final payment." Indications are for continuing excellent demand and extremely satisfactory prices for the Marketing Service's upcoming sales, according to Mr. Cook.
Second payment a 1st for FFM Corporation
PRINCE ALBERT — The Fresh water Fish Marketing Corporation, established in 1969 to act as salesman for fishermen from the Prairie Provinces and the Northwest Territories, recently announced that second payment totalling $800,000 will be paid to fishermen for catches made between May 1 and October 31, 1973.
According to Pete Moss, President and General Manager of the Corporation at a press conference held in Winnipeg, it is the first time the Corporation has made a second payment in one season. Mr. Moss said fishermen can expect to receive their cheques before the end of February.
However, Mr. John Folkins, Saskatchewan Zone Manager for the Corporation, Prince Albert is optimistic the cheques will be out earlier than anticipated. Mr. Folkins pointed out this is just "an interim payment and not a final payment." "Another payment will be paid to the fishermen in two or three months after this payment," he said. According to Mr. Folkins, fishermen can expect the following amounts for each species of fish listed: Whitefish — from 1¢ to 3¢, Jackfish 1¢, Trout 2¢, Pickerel 5¢, Tulibees 1¢ to 2¢, Sturgeon 30¢, Mullets ½¢, and Goldeye 2¢.
At the press conference, Mr. Moss also said something will be done to improve fish and ice handling facilities at Selkirk, Manitoba. The fish plant at Selkirk, Manitoba was destroyed by fire on September 15, 1973.
Mr. Moss also said the Corporation may have the possible marketing of fish eggs to Japan and rough fish to Australia.
Willard Ahenekew named to head New Arts and Crafts council
NORTH BATTLEFORD — Indian people associated with Arts and Crafts in the province met recently at the Clarendon Hotel in this city to elect a Provincial Arts and Crafts Advisory Committee for more direct input in the Arts and Crafts Program being implemented by Indian Affairs.
In the past, Arts and Crafts in the province had no direct contact with the National body in Ottawa and communication was very poor. The provincial body lacked progress because of the lack of direct input by Indian people into the program. A majority of the decisions were made in Ottawa, overlooking provincial needs and creating a communication gap. With the establishment of the advisory committee, it is hoped this will be rectified.
Terms of reference of the committee were set out at the meeting following a lengthy discussion and it was unanimously agreed that the committee would:
1. Review current operation and projected plan of the Department's Indian Arts and Crafts Development Program.
2. Provide direct input into Department of Indian Affairs on the development of its policy and implementation of the Arts and Crafts program.
3. Meet with Indian Affairs for on-going discussions and periodic review of program progress.
4. Four meetings to be held annually and provision for four alternate meetings of the committee, plus one yearly general meeting with the board of directors.
5. The Provincial Indian Arts and Crafts Advisory Committee must be free from pressures and influence of all political groups and associations.
The Provincial Advisory Committee consists of the following people: Willard Ahenakew, Chairman (Prince Albert); Norma Bird, Secretary (Fort Qu'Appelle Handicraft); Sharon Bear, (Yorkton); Mrs. J. Bill (Chitek Lake); Maria Shephard (Regina Handicraft); Agnes Albert (Battlefords Handicraft), Mrs. C. Sanderson ( La Ronge Handicraft).
New book: unavailable
KINGSVILLE, ont. — A deluxe edition of the autobiography of Jack Miner has been published but it is unavailable to the public. A copy is being presented to the teacher accompanying every busload of students visiting the late naturalist's bird sanctuary as a result of a grant by the Lawson Foundation.
Parent teacher meet attracts 100 guests
WHITE BEAR — The people on White Bear Reserve, approximately 130 miles from Regina, Saskatchewan was host to a parent-teacher meeting recently.
About one hundred parents and children, Department of Indian Affairs officials, six teachers from the Marieval Residential School, Rev. Bob Hyde, Father Suroviak, Manor; Elder and Sister Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Francis, Regina; and the Carlyle teaching staff were entertained at the White Bear School.
The guests were taken on a tour of the Reserve, with the White Bear Arena, the Band office, P.F.R.A. Community Pasture as the main points of interest.
A lunch prepared by the women on the Reserve was served, which included deep fried bannock. The White Bear Kindergarten and Nursery Classes, under the direction of Joyce Hogg, Laura Bigeagle and Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Lone thunder, were part of the entertainment. They performed a pow-wow with Everett Standingready doing a solo dance for the visitors. The singers and drummers who helped the children were Armand McArthur, Francis Lonechild, Elmer Lonethunder, Maurice McArthur and Kelly Lonethunder.
Maurice McArthur, a wellknown singer in Southern Saskatchewan, sang a variety of songs to make the entertainment for the night complete. After the entertainment was over, a panel discussion followed with many interesting questions thrown forth to the panel: Chief Bill Standingready, Armand McArthur, Chairman of the White Bear School Committee; Louis Whiteman, Administrator, Marieval Residential School; Tyronne Fisher, Social Counsellor for IAB, and Mr. H.J. Sawatski, Principal of Carlyle School. The evening was sponsored by the White Bear School Committee.
Early meet forced by pressing issues
PRINCE ALBERT — Clifford Starr, Executive Director of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, has called for a special meeting of all Chiefs in Saskatchewan for February 12, 13 and 14, 1974 to be held at the Travel Lodge in Saskatoon.
The Chiefs, representing 67 Indian bands in the Province, have been called together because of a number of pressing issues that must be dealt with immediately. The annual all chiefs conference, usually held in March or April, may not be necessary this year after this meeting is held; Mr. Starr said.
Items for the tentative agenda include discussions on the Indian Affairs Department regarding capital budget allocations for regions and districts, as well as the structure, policies, and delivery systems of programs by the Department. The Chiefs salary and core funding for bands, trends in education, policy of federal schools, tuition and capital agreements, Indian control of Indian education, the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College, National Indian Brotherhood Housing Policy, Hospital Boards Legislation, DREE Agreement, Alcohol programming, Road Municipal Agreement, Policing Proposal, Community Corrections Proposal, Mineral and Oil Rights, and the '74 Summer Games are also included on the proposed agenda. Time has also been alloted for the Chiefs to "Speak Out."
However, according to Mr. Starr, final approval of the agenda must come from the Chiefs. A copy of the proposed agenda has been sent out to all the Chiefs for their consideration and for any changes or additions they wish to make on it.
Some of the special guests asked to attend the meeting include the Minister of Indian Affairs, the Honourable Jean Chretien, and the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Otto Lang. However, Mr. Starr said the attendance of these two Ministers has not yet been confirmed but it is hoped they will be present for at least one day of the conference.
[Photograph]
Cliff Starr
Pelican to get high school
PELICAN NARROWS — The Pelican Narrow Reserve, one of the seven reserves of the Peter Ballentyne Band, are in the beginning stages of getting a high school built on the reserve with construction to begin sometime in 1974, according to Philip Ratt, a member of the School Committee for the Pelican Narrows Reserve.
Pelican Narrows does not have a high school but it has two elementary schools, a Catholic school and an Anglican school. "When the high school is completed, students from both of the elementary schools will be attending it,'' Mr. Ratt said.
Chief Albert Ratt, Councillor Andrew Custer and Philip Ratt, a member of the School Committee of that reserve, were in Prince Albert recently to tour various high schools in town, studying grymnasiums and facilities of the different high schools. They visited the Riverside High School, the Prince Albert Technical High and the Prince Albert Indian Student Residence. The group also went to see the Onion Lake Indian School, a school owned by the Onion Lake Band. "By visiting these different high schools, it gave the band members an idea of what kind of facilities they can have at their school and with the visit to Onion Lake, it showed them that it can be done,'' Herman French said. Mr. French is with the education staff of the Department of Indian Affairs in Prince Albert, who toured the various schools with the group.
At the last Prince Albert District Chiefs meeting held at La Ronge in November, a resolution had been passed requesting the lndian Affairs Department to come up with funds for such tours.
On the same resolution, the Chiefs requested the Department of Indian Affairs to also provide funds to hire a Project Co-ordinator to assist the Band Council in developing plans for the construction of a Federal school.
However, the Pelican Narrows Reserve has still not decided on who their Co-ordinator will be. According to Nick Wayliw, District Superintendent of Education, IAB, Prince Albert, the Band are having a meeting very shortly to decide on the matter.
Mr. Ratt said the new high school will have a gymnasium as well as facilities for carpentry courses, cooking facilities, science labs, motor mechanics, etc., as well as modern classrooms.
Key Band Office now located convieniently on it's reserve
KEY — The Key Band made history recently at their Reserve by having a Band Office relocated onto the reserve for the convenience of the local people.
The former Band Office was in the town of Norquay, approximately ten miles north of Keys Reserve. The Band paid for office space in the town of Norquay for approximately four years before deciding to move onto the Reserve. Chief Sterling Brass is the brilliant man responsible for making headway in having this much-needed facility right on the reserve.
This Band Office is now centered within walking distance from the more populated part of the Reserve. It is located near the all-season road which runs through Keys.
Chief Brass and his Band Council are running the office for the time being. His Councillors are Alice Papequash, Vernon Brass, Edwin Brass and Spencer O'Soup. Chief Brass, experiencing a year as leader of his Band, claims he receives a good deal of excellent co-operation from his Councillors.
In the near future Chief Brass will have a staff consisting of a Welfare. Administrator, a Band Manager, a Steno, and a Sports Director. They will carefully select the people who will be working in these positions. Chief Brass quotes "our workers will become a reality when things tend to slow down a bit." The Key Band has made quite a few changes within the Reserve since Sterling took over as Chief about a year ago. He recreated a sports grounds in a site where his forefathers used to hold sports days and various gatherings. He has regular monthly meetings with his people.
His future plans are to plant fish in one or two of the lakes on Keys. Hybrid saskatoon berry bushes will be planted in the springtime. He is also constructing a community pasture which is to be leased out. He is also having a trappers training course this winter.
Chief Sterling Brass welcomes all resource people from the Federation of Saskatchewan lndians and the Indian Affairs Branch to drop into his new Band Office to exchange ideas.
He quotes, "It would give my people a great lift to come over and see a part of our world. We seemed to be always isolated."
Job readiness program begins on two reserves
Job readiness training programs developed by the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College are currently underway on two Saskatchewan reserves.
At Onion Lake the training program is stressing welding and carpentry. Individuals are taught basic welding skills need for common machinery repairs to car, buses, and farm equipment.
The training is expected to aid administrative programs now being operated by the reserves as well as serving the everyday needs of the trainees and their community. At present, the closest welding shop to Onion Lake is thirty-five miles away in Lloydminster.
Eventually it is hoped a service station can be set up on the reserve. The job readiness training program will make it possible for students to get the training required to being such an operation.
Currently skills are also being taught at Onion Lake. Thirteen new houses are built each year on the reserve and employment is available to those completing the course. Another Basic Job Readiness Training Program was begun in early January on the Montreal Lake Reserve. Fifteen students are enrolled. Here the program was designed to serve people, who, because of their isolated location, have not had the opportunity to increase their basic educational levels.
It is hoped that the training programs at Montreal Lake will prepare students to enter directly into the labor market or go on and receive further training through various programs which are offered.
Further training would require, however, some understanding of the cultural values and habits dominant in Canadian society. Thus the program at Montreal Lake concentrated in two main areas.
Firstly, academic upgrading is made available. Grades three through ten can be taken by anyone desiring to do so, and in an attempt to deal with changing cultural, economic, and social programs, an Indian Life Skills Course is being offered.
The programs are being offered through the Community Development Department of the College.
Prince Albert Winter Festival gets boost from lndian Centre
PRINCE ALBERT — The Prince Albert Indian-Metis Friendship Centre, with Director Alec Primeau and Assistant Director Victor Thunderchild, is going to be busier than ever during the annual Prince Albert Winter Festival to be held February 17-24, 1974. The Friendship Centre, representing all native people in the area, is more involved in the festivities this year than it ever has been, according to Mr. Thunderchild. Mr. Thunderchild outlined the various events and programs the Centre is going to be involved in during the celebrations.
Snowshoe Softball World Championships — This is the third time this event is going to be held with cash prizes for both the ladies and men. The event, to be held on February 23 and 24, has an entry fee of $10.00 which will be refunded when the team shows up. There is an eight team limit for each category. Mr. Thunderchild said they are looking for teams to challenge last year's world snowshoe softball champions, the R.C.M.P. team and the Prince Albert Vicsinettes. If you are interested in entering a team or want to play, contact Victor at the Centre.
This year, the Indian-Metis Friendship Centre is going to be hosting a show consisting of Indian talent which will be held on February 23 with two shows at the P.A. Recreation Centre. A well-known Indian singer and radio host of Moccasin Telegraph, Ivan McNab, as well as Indian composers and singers Winston Wuttunee and Maurice
McArthur will also be present. Mr. Thunderchild said they are still looking for Indian talent which can consist of singing, dancing, etc. If you are interested, phone Victor and let him know. First fifteen items to enter will be accepted.
Again this year, the Prince Albert Indian & Metis Friendship Centre is looking for a queen candidate to sponsor in the Queen Pageant held at the beginning of the festival. If you are interested, contact the Centre.
The Friendship Centre will be hosting a banquet and dance for all the "dog mushers" on February 22.
The Centre is also instrumental in bringing in a well-known Indian dance troop, "the Inter Tribal Prairie Dancers" to participate in the festivities. These dancers performed before the Queen during her recent visit to Regina as well as in the States and across Canada.
For further information on the various events you may wish to enter, contact the Indian & Metis Friendship Centre at 764-3431 or write 1409 - 1st Avenue East, Prince Albert.
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Executive and Directors of the F.S.I. held their first meeting with the newly appointed district representatives recently at the Cultural College in Saskatoon. The meeting was intended primarily to familiarize district reps. with F.S.I. programs.
IAB takes on its own workers
OTTAWA — The Indian Affairs department is at war again with its own youth resources workers branch.
Danny Goodleaf, chief co-ordinator of the branch, was ordered last week to resign or be fired because of alleged misuse of department funds.
Mr. Goodleaf said here he has no intention of quitting. If the department fires him, he said, he wants the reasons in writing so he can appeal the dismissal in the courts.
The youth resources workers branch was established last year and has been a sore spot with some department officials ever since.
John Ciaccia, then assistant deputy minister of Indian Affairs, who established the branch to assist Indian Youth on reserves, defended the actions of the group at one stage against attacks, saying there were employees in the department who hated Indians.
Saskatoon Urban Indians hold successful Christmas Pow wow
A successful Christmas powwow, sponsored by the Saskatoon Urban Indian Society, was held at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon on December 14 and 15th. Dancers and
singers from all parts of Western Canada as well as some from the United States attended.
The opening ceremonies were attended by Attorney-General Roy Romanow, Mayor of Saskatoon, Bert Sears; and Senator Sid Buckwold, former mayor of Saskatoon.
In his opening remarks, Attorney-General commented upon the beauty of the traditional dancing and expressed the hope that this would continue on to
Female Performer - Jeannette Goodwill of Standing Buffalo; youngest Male Performer - Byron Goodwill of Standing Buffalo; All-round Male Performer - Joe Roan of Robb, Alberta; All-round Female Performer - Noreen Gilbeault of Winnipeg; Female Special Performance - Charlotte Wolfchild of Rocky Boy, Montana; Male Special Performance - Arsene Tootoosis of Poundmakers.
The hand game champions were the Cree-Chipewa Singers of Rockey Boy, Montana. The the Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Dancers were awarded the trophy for Dance Troupe Performance and the Winnipeg Dance Troupe was awarded a trophy for travelling enrich the cultural diversity of the furthest distance. Roy Saskatchewan. The Mayor of Akachak of Fort Qu'Appelle and Saskatoon welcomed all visitors to the city and to the pow-wow, while Senator Buckwold brought greetings from Ottawa. Gifts were presented to the three and various chiefs and war veterans were introduced. A familiar figure at many summer pow-wows, ''The Sasquatch" entertained the audience with his peculiar methods of dance, facial expressions and occasional jumps at the audience. Champion hoop dancer , Joe Roan of Robb, Alberta, also performed along with Bill Brittain of Gordon's School who is learning the dance . Several dancing clubs were in attendance and performed at intervals throughout the two day event. Accommodation and meals were · available at the Friendship Centre and Museum. The Pow...wow Committee had decided not to hold competitions but to award trophies to those they felt deserved some recognition for their efforts and performance. The winners were: Youngest Page 12 The Saskatchewan Indian Roberta Bear of Little Pine were awarded Youngsters Special Perfo~mance trophies. Ed Lavallee, chairman of the Pow-wow Committee, estimated the dancers to number about 230. Much effort went into the pow-wow and Ed would like to thank all those who helped by billeting visitors, cooking meals and all the other tasks involved in making a pow-wow a success. According to the Department ?f National Health and Welfare, mfant deaths among Indians in Saskatchewan showed a decline last year with 52 deaths as compared to 86 in 1972. Dad says the energy crisis isn't , going to affect us too much, because he's been conserving · for it for a long time. January 1974 Ahenakew tells emerging teachers Attitudes ·a classroom function must become our own masters , ties of hard work, punctuality, we must become self-reliant." ' and that you will spare no effort "We cannot be looking to govin learning about the culture of ernment and other people for your own people and in gaining help - we must depend upon ouracademic excellence so that you selves. Just as I alone dream will be good teachers . . . our my dreams, I alone can fulfill children will be the main benemy dreams .'' ' ficiaries." "And the only way to ·do that The Chief said he expected Inis through hard work and that is dian education to encourage in an attitude that has to be dechildren "their own incentive to veloped in our classrooms ,': the seek out the truth and beauty of Chief said. . life and of living with their fellow He told the second year's enman. ' ' rollment of I.T .E.P. students '' Another beneficiary will be the " We hope and expect that you land we live in. We can teach will engage in self-improvement others living on our land of the in a disciplined way, that you importance to exist in harmony will attempt to build the qualiwith the beauty of nature around us, rather than rape and destroy it. ' ' , Speaking to opening ceremonies , for the College's Indian social worker program , Chief Ahenakew said something had gone wrong with the Indian's Treaty right to education . " Instead of working for us, it has worked against us. Instead ·of imparting to our childAs I know that many of you will be coming in for this event , the ren confidence in themselves, Annual Prince Albert Winter Festival will be held from the 16th of the system of education has February to the 24th ... _-. For all you beautiful girls, the Prince planted ~eds of self-doubt in Albert lndian-Metis Friendship Centre is looking for a candidate to them. " sponsor in the Queen Pageant which will be held during the "celebra" Instead of stimulating in our tions." . . . . . The Friendship Centre is also looking for "Native children the desire to learn the Talent" for a show to be held during the festival. So all you "country skills to make life a productive and western stars", this might be your chance to get to Nashville ... and joyful experience, it has An All Chief's conference has been called by Clifford Starr, Executive filled them with the agony of failDirector of the F.S.I., which is to be held February 12, 13 and 14 at ure and despair.'' the Travel Lodge in Saskatoon . More information will be sent to all He said the social workers prothe Chiefs regarding the meeting .. . .. Ray Ahenakew, Sports Cogram was part of the attempt to ordinator for the Prince Albert District, has been appointed Director bring education back into the of the F.S.I. Sports and Recreation Program. Bill Fairs, former hands of Indian people. NonDirector, resigned effective January 31 . ... . I would like to remind Indian social workers have "failyou to feel free to send in your opinions, disagreements or agreeed utterly" and he pointed to ments that you may have in relation to articles by this paper or on the need for ' ' social workers any matters relating to Indian people. We'll be glad to publish them trained in the Indian tradition ..... We also need jokes, preferrably "indian jokes" ..... Lastly , and educated to work with Indians." as the ending of the Old Year and the beginning of the New Year was Chief Ahenakew said Indians not so happy for some people, I would like at this time to express my themselves were going to provide sincere sympathy to all the families , relations, and friends of the the services to their people that four men who recently lost their lives in a tragic plane crash in "non-Indians with plenty of uninorthern Saskatchewan. All four men died while striving for the versity education and lots of I.Q. betterment of northern Saskatchewan. All of us who are from the have been unsuccessful in proNorth will always be indebted to them ..... viding. " With control of education firmly in the hands of Indian people , one of their goals will be teaching children the attitudes necessary to survive in today's world , says Chief David Ahenakew of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. In addresses that launched the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College's Indian Social Workers program and the Indian Teachers Education program in Saskatoon recently, Chief. Ahenakew said, "The proper development of attitudes is the function of education." Chief Ahenakew said the classroom was •the place where, "We Northern Notes January 1974 The Saskatchewan Indian Page 13 Ahenakew named to sports director's job The Federation of Saskatchegrams involve many more people and be more than just an organi~an Indians has appointed Ray Ahenakew direczation of sporttor of . its Sports ing events . and Recreation Mr. Ahenakew Department . Mr. stated that while Ahenakew, 31, the Department takes over the of Indian Affairs directorship from does not have a Bill Fairis , who recreation dehas been head of partment , he has the Sports and good communiRecreation decation with them. He expressed partment since the hope for fuits inception four ture cooperation years ago. The with the Departdepartment has a staff of ten ment of Indian Affairs in uppersons. Ray Ahenakew grading recreaMr. Ahenakew is a member of tional facilities the Sandy Lake reserve near on reserves in Prince Albert but has made his Saskatchewan. home in Saskatoon for most of his life. Mr. Ahenakew has a good background in sports , having been a member of the Saskatoon Quaker hockey club for three years . Mr. Ahenakew said he would like to see more recreation directors courses held with a new approach designed to benefit the bands at large rather than just individuals completing the course. As well, he would like to see area workshops held for two or three days every three months or so. Mr. Ahenakew experessed the desire to see recreational pro- Death in automobile accidents was the greatest single killer of Indian people in Saskatchewan last year with a .total of 30 lives lost. . According to Department of National Health and Welfare sources , fire was the second greatest killer , accounting for six lives. Page 14 Tbe Saskatchewan Indian AlienThllnder • prelll1ere soon SASKATOON- The world premiere of Alien Thunder, filmed at a cost of one-and-a-half million dollars near Duck Lake in the fall of 1972, will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Saskatoon, February 15th. Alien Thunder is based on the life of Almighty Voice, who was killed in a shoot-out near Duck Lake in the 1890's. The young Indian had been arrested for killing a cow on his wedding night, escaped from jail, murdered to protect himself while on the run, and then met his end in a Saskatchewan bluff. Almighty Voice is played by Gordon Tootoosis of the Poundmaker Reserve. Indians from the Beardy-Okemasis Reserve near Duck Lake also participated in the making of the movie. ''HECK .....I WOULD'VE GOTTHEON£ WITHTHE811 RED NOSEn,o, IF I HADN'TRAN OUT Of SHELLS." January 1974 SPORTS _ommentary Cote Chiefs take trophy · By Lloyd Brass It was barely over a century ago that bands of roving Indian people from different tribes would gather together periodically for days and challenge each other in feats of strength, skill and stamina. The Indian people -who reluctantly signed Treaty number four gave up the freedom of roving their beloved land for promises that they would be looked after by the Crown as ·her own children . From then on, the Indian people were not allowed to hold gatherings or move from one area to another freely because of the whiteman's fear of Indian people joining . forces ' to regain thefr freedom of the land. It was then the initiative for sporting events became dormant. Gone was the long distance runner. Gone was the mighty sinewy warrior who carried great packs of wild meat on his back for. miles after a hunting expedition. Gone was the marksman who used only his cunning and a bow and arrow to. down · quarries such as the great moose, the majestic buffalo and the mightiest of them all, the grizzly bear . After 100 years living on small patches of land in Canada, the Indian people have realized the great skills their forefathers possessed have not been ·hereditory. They have to be developed from childhood. On almost ever y Reserve within the past few years leaders have been stressing the need for recreation on the Reserve. The Cote Band has been preparing to revive a large Indian gathering to commemorate the lands we lost 100 years ago. It is anticipated that all the Indian people of Saskatchewan will join in this celebration. 1974 January Various noteworthy people will be invited to open and close this four day affair around the midd~e paft of August of 1974. It is hoped that the new Governor General of Canada and the Premier of Saskatchewan will be invited and various other leaders. A march past of the athletes will officially open the games. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals will be presented to the winning athletes upon the completion of each event. The summer games will be geared . toward the theme of "Today, Youth for Tomorrow". The Bantam Boys and Girls age level will be the ones to compete in this historical event. It is anticiapted that approximately 600 boys and girls will be on hand to ,compete. Each area will play off ~eir events before the allotted date. The winners of each area will compete against other districts to make a Provincial Champion in each event. The events will be made public in the next issue along with the deadline for the date of birthdays and other specific require- . ments. · After several gatherings and comparing of figures and facts the F .S.I. recreation directors and the Cote Council have con- . eluded to have only the bantam age level to participate. They have arrived at this decision because the Federal and Provincial Governments are not wholly supporting this Historical Pro. gram. They each submitted a small fraction of what had been anticipated they would give. In the near future, hopefully, these games will include all the other age groups. This event will boost the morale of the Indian people who look forward to the revival of the Great Indian ' Athlete. COTE RESERVE - The third annual Boxing Day Hockey Tournament, held at the Cote Arena in spite of only a five team entry, was considered successful. The opening game was between theSt. Philip's Maple Leafs over the Badgerville Eagles -bya score of 7 to 4. The Cote Selects were out-hustled by the Cote Chiefs Junior B's in 'the second round by a score of 4 to 1. The Roblin North Stars re.ceived a bye to face the St. Philip's Maple Leafs for the semi-finals. The North Stars won its way into the finals by a score of 8 to 1. Roblin and the Cote Chiefs faced off for the · final game, breathing fire. They both came out hitting and skating at breakneck speed. The Chiefs scored the first five goals before Roblin could reply with any. After three period.s of regulation time, the Chiefs triumphed by a margin of 11 to 4. Andrew Quewezance of the Cote Chiefs accepted the honor of receiving the Championship Trophy for his team. A runner-up trophy was given to the Roblin North Stars, while St. Philip's received the third prize money. Individual trophies went as follow,s: Best goa}ie,· Gary Hudye of the Cote Chiefs; ,the best defenceman, Hubert Andres from the North Stars; the highest point-getter and most valuable player awards went to the outstanding performance of Charlie Cyr for the Cote Chiefs. • •••• . The death rate among Indians m Saskatchewan showed a slight d~cline last year _when 241 people ~1ed as compared to 252 people m 1972. ····~ The Saskatchewan Indian Page 15 Each works with Indian Associations Early this year the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians hosted a two day workshop in Saskatoon. It brought tog~ther many groups directly concerned with Indian education in Saskatchewan. Represented at this workshop were the Saskatchewan Indian Teacher Association, the Saskatchewan Indian Child Care Workers Association, the Counsellor Technicians Association, , the Saskatchewan Indian Language Instructors Association and Indian Teach,er Aids. The workshop was held in hopes of developing communication among these organizations, each of which works directly with Indian students. Discussion on the coordination of efforts by the groups, perhaps thr~ugh the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College in Saskatoon, occupied children meet for workshop much attention . As well, each association pre .; sented the objectives and problems they faced in their jobs. The role to be played by the · Cultural College was also studied. At present schools on Saskatchewan reserves are under federal jurisdiction but are controlled by band councils. It was pointed out that programs and ·1egislation regarding education outside the Indian Act tended to weaken band councils. It is hoped that after. band councils regain control of their education affairs a new educational system can be developed. The Department of Indian Affairs has traditionally played off school committees and band councils against each other, · thus weakening the band councils position. 1 Representing the Childcare WorJ(ers Association were, left, Delores McLeod (~e~ret), Myrtle Goodvoice ( Prince Albert), Bill Brittain (Gordon's), . Shirley Lucyk (C.W.A. President), and Janet Molnar ( Muskowekan). Page 16 The Saskatchewan Indian At the local level it was felt by many that teachers should develop more effective programs and methods of com~unication with native children, and that parents must be consulted and brought into educational programs. The improvement of working conditions for students and teachers wa·s also an area of great concern. Sol Sanderson, S.I.C.C. Director and Jack Sikand, College Co-ordinator, outlined the role of the Cultural College for the benefit of the delegates. They poin.ted out that the College would tailor its role to suit the needs of the provincial associations and of the native student. The programs of the College are currently ·under review and a restructuring of the College is under consideration. The College hopes to develop an administratioljl section, a library and computer system, and an audio-visual section in addition to present facilities. Academically the College would like to set up a professional division which could offer accredited courses, seminars and workshops. To do all this the College needs a permanent building with room for labs, classrooms, . convention facilities and, perhaps, offices for the housing of provincial organizations. One · of the first steps in improving native education in Saskatchewan, delegates felt, was recognizing the importance of Native languages. In August of 1973 the Saskatchewan Indian Language Instructors Association was formed. Currently there are twenty-one Indian language instructors. Cree is now being taught in schools at Lebret, Beauval, Onion Lake, Big River and in many other reserve January 1~74 schools. Since the language instructors must develop their own program and curriculum as well as take qontrol of classrooms, they wish to be recognized as professionals on the same level as teachers. They would also like to improve · working conditions for teachers and students. In the future it is hoped instruction can be offered in more Indian languages. teacher aides pointed out they There are eight student resihad a responsibility in the _area dences in Saskatchewan with of promotion of Indian heritage from 50 to 300 students to a and culture. residence. There are nearly The teacher aides felt that the 100 child care workers in Sasklack of confidence many Indian atchewan . students have in themselves Shirley Lucyk, pre-sident of stemmed from a lack of knowthe Saskatchewan Child Care ledge of their own history and Workers Association, outlined culture. They also complained to the workshop delegates some of a shocking lack of accurate 'of the duties and objectives of literature on Indians available her association. for the students. The child care workers are The teacher aides feel they responsible for seeing the stuBegun 1940's must be organized so they can dents in the residences receive Teachers who teach on reserve adequate care. In addition they · fend for themselves and gain a schools are paid by the federal, much greater say in educational must promote the mental and rather than the provincial gov".' physical development of the matters. The aides said they are ernment. In Saskatchewan these professionals and must be recogchildren and provide a good teachers are represented by the nized as such. environment for them, she said. Saskatchewan Indian Teachers Although child care workers Association; a union organization are qualified personnel, many Counselors which began in the early 1940's. with certification in _ welfare This association provides an work or teaching, she said, they About · three years ago Indian feel more training programs opportunity for reserve teache~s people began to provide their own are necessary. They also hope to meet as a group and discuss counsellors. At that time they new methods and policies in Into establish better lines of comwere known as "counsellor munication with parents, teadian culture. ajdes''. Gradually the counsellor chers, and other organizations At present the Saskatchewan aides took over most of the since they feel -present condiIndian Teachers Association or counselling of Indian students. SITA, is . concerned · that they tions for the students and themAn association of counsellormay soon lose many qualified selves need improvement. They technicians was subsequently teachers to provincial teaching also feel that the child's family formed. . positions. At present provincial allowances should be sent to One area of prime concern teachers are paid as well as the children in the residences for them, is the lack of pride federal teachers, hence many for use as spending moeny, Mrs. . many Indian students have in teachers will likely leave · the Lucyk said. their heritage and culture. Julia reserves to accept jobs elseMr. Lucyk also recommended Pitzel, speaking on behalf of the where. Provincial teachers salathat courses in Indian history, counsellor technicians, said ries are expected to increase culture and language be made school and living environment of by 15%soon. available to the child care the native students must be imSITA president Frank Remarworkers, and education-leave prov~d. . chuk outlined SITA's objectives for upgrading courses also being She also said that native counas the pr,omotion and furthering made available _to them. sellors, because of a common of Indian education and fellowAs educational services expand heritage and .culture with the ship. - Further, he stated SITA a new and greater role in the students, were in a very . good attempts to foster professional classrooms will have to be position to counsel native stugrowth and secure for teachers played by the teacher aids. More dents. teacher aides must be trained a greater influence in education To aid the organizations rematters . and this was the main concern presented at the two day workof the teacher aides at the conshop, Jack Sikand of the Culturference. Childcare al College spoke of setting up Teacher · aides must · assist in ·courses, workshops, and semithe classroom and he Ip with inMany Indian children and stunars to II\eet their needs. Course struction, provide out of classdents live in residences while content, would be tailored to they are going to school. Ob- room supervision, examine meet the needs of the individual. course content and coordinate viously supervision and care Delegates at the workshop were their efforts with teach~rs must be provided for these presented with a list of prepared youngsters. - The Saskatchewan through mutual consultation and courses to be taken back to the lesson planning . In many cases Child Care Workers Association reseves for discussion and coma teacher aide may be responformed in April of 1972, attempts ment. to fill this need. sible for a classroom. The January19'1t Tbe Saskatchewan Indian Page 17 In Briel F Orty StU d en ts for 2nd course Forty students have been enrolled in the second offering of the Indian Teacher Education Program. They came from all over Saskatchewan and ·began their classes on January 3rd. Out of ·the twenty-seven students who started I.T .E.P. last year there are nineteen still enrolled . The new students started an orientation program which will upgrade their academic standards to a grade twelve level. Classes include1 reading skills, mathematics, · note -and essay writing, library research and a class in Education Education. This orientation will last for eleven weeks and then the students will spend five· weeks in the classrooms of various schools practice teaching. The first group of I.T .E.P. students enrolled last year, are taking the subjects required for the first year of the Standard "A" teaching certificate which include English 102, Physcology 101, Education 101. They are taking two · second year level classes in Mathematics and Social Studies. After eleven weeks of classes they too will be prac- 'Ja,zm ?at~ I)\· Art Irvin Manageme~t is the most important part of the farm busines~. Management is the art of handling all phases of the farm operation. Farming is complicated and requires large investments. The farmer must not overcapitalize on manchinery . The actual value of machinery should be approximately $30 per a~re ?r ~ess. He should seed only varieties recommended for his district. The. 1974 recommendations are available at your nearest Ag. Rep. office. The seed bed must be properly prepared and the seed sown at the proper depth . Cultivation should accompl~sh the maximu~ possible weed kill at the lowest possible cost. Livestock production requires management decisions which ar~ equally i1;11portant.~rrowing required capital a,t the best possible terms is a necessity. The ability to make the right decisions can make or break the ~ra~ . Page 18 Tbe Saskatchewan Indian . Goals and objectives require careful thought and unde~s~nding. The right selection of priorities is _equally_~mportant. Rea~istic predictions of forthcoming economic conditions are essential. Predicting the future can be difficult, particularly when ~e farmer does not have all the information necessary for analyzing problems and alternatives. Every farmer should have in his home the Guide to Farm Practice arid literature applicable to his particular farm needs. These are available free of charge at his nearest Provincial Agriculture Representative office. He should also use the service offered by this office. If the Ag. Re.p. cannot answer. your questions he can find the answer for you. Read farm business forecasts. Subscribe to reliable farm magazines. Study correct f~rming procedures and then practice what you study. The following statement applies to every occupation. "The more you study and more you practice the better you perform . · There is no limit to how efficient you can become." tice teaching for five weeks. They will return to take an Intersession class in Physical Education this summer. Hired· to assist Don Barnett and Myrtle Adsous with counselling duties is Mary Claus. She is a Mohawk Indian · from Six Nations in Ontario. Together with Cecil King the four will have nearly sixty students enrolled in I.T.E .P. Children play • piano COTER~ERVE - The piano students from the Cote Band put on a Concert by entertaining in -the field of music . Janet Severight, who is the wife of Reverend Joe Severig~t, is the teacher who had the patience for the past few months to teach young girls and boys the secret of the piano. They had put on a demonstration before and already the improvement is greatly in evidence. The students who are taking piano lessons are: Denise Cote, Claudette Severight, Jacqueline severight, Elaine Papequash, Debbie Shingoose, Marion Whitehawk, Faye Cote, Vernon Cote, Rosella Cote, Beverly Whitehawk, Joan Cote and Rhonda Severight. Reverend Joe Severight held the responsibility of Master of Ceremonies. Being an expert musician himself , he accompanied Elmer Cote, who plays the violin, to a few lively numbers. A singer by the name of Mona Lisa Severight showed no emotion of shyness as he sang "Help Me Make It Through The Night" . She was accompanied by Mrs. Joe Severight on the piano. She did not sing false, she was on note. And do you know what? Mona Lisa is merely three years old. January 1974 r Centre Metis elected were Willard Short, Vicki Wilson, Dianne Deschamps and Claude Petit. This board is only temporary until the end of the fiscal year in March when new election_s _will be held again. elects new ·directors · ties agreed that the re$idence was a fire hazard, endangering the lives of 40 children. According to Mr. Korchinski, "It is costing the department many dollars and cents on just the operation and maintenance of the building," he said. An alternative between adding , extensions onto existing houses and building two group homes were put before the band council with the construction of the group . homes to be started as soon as wssible, according to Mr. Korchinski: The student residence houses 40 children but every year applications are received for admittance exceeding the limit. The band council asked, "What are On Thursday, January 17 the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre · in Saskatoon held an election for l3oard of Directors. In December, six of the nine members resigned with the e.xception of Shirley Harper, Irene Demick and Nora Thibodeau. ONION LAKE - The Rom~n 1 These elections showed, results - Catholic Student Residence here, of the long battle for concerned built 'in 1927·by the Oblate Fa th.. Natives in Saskatoon who felt ers, will close its doors at the the existing board was not doing ' end of the l9 73-l 974 school term in June ,; according - to Emile an efficient job. During the week Korchinski, Regional Superintenyou going t.o do with the re$t· of long sit-in last March many of dent of. Education, Department the 20 ltids if we are only going the people pressed for equal f I d. Aff • to be ·allowed two group home$?" representation for treaty Indians o ~ ian ai~s. .. , . -The· ,band council are·. asking and non-status or Metis. . ~t a meeting betwee~ .the r ~ -that _~o11rgroup .homes be _built to Newly elected to the Board of Om~n L~~ ~~nd ~ouncll and ':accommodate the 40 ·. children Directors were four Treaty Indian Affair_s m Regma on_Ja~- ": but accqrding to ·Mr.· Korch.inski, Indian~ - Dave Knight, Peter u~ry .3, 1974, .a lengthy d1sc~s- . .. "How niany of these children.-·do Cote, Bernice_,,Bighead and Fred s1on devel?ped on- the, closmg actually need to stay at the resiof the ~s1dence and both par :., dence?' ~ Yayakeekoot. The non-status or R. C. residence at Ollion Lake to close soon j POSITION'AVAIL-ABLE ' \ . JOB TITLE: Program Coordinator to work in the North Battleford and Meadow .Lake Districts for the Indian Homemaking Program , DUTIES: To visit assigned reserves regularly to meet the homemaking needs of Indian women. To coordinate activities of instructors in the district. To assist instructors in any major problems they may come across. QUALIFICATIONS:·Familiarity with reserves in the assigned districts. Ahl~ to get along with people. Free to · travel, and free from family problems. , Some knowledge of the Indian Homemaking Courses that are held on reserves. Preferrably some experience in working with Indian women. SALARY: To be negotiated. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:February 28, ·1974. APPLY TO: Indian Home01akingProgram, S.I.W.A. cl o Indian Culture Centre Emmanuel & St. Chad Univenity o.f Saskatchewan SASKATOON,Saskatchewan Telephone: 343-1994 This Competition is Open to B~th Men and Womei:i Juaary 1974 at talent night LEB·RET "Drum solos, country and western singing, and guitar picking'' was the scene at a talent night when participants . and ,suppoi;-ter from near and far, gathered at the Qu'Appelle Student Residence in Lebret, approximately 60 miles , from Regina, just before Christmas. The best talent .was judged by the amount of the pledges received from the audience for his or her favorite contestant. Mrs. Georgina Bellegarde and her daughter Arlene, from the File Hills District ; walked .aw,ay with first prize -with .pledges totalling $96.20. : Not far behind was Mr. Charlie Bellegarde and his son . Harry, from the Little Black Bear Reserve, who made $90.94 in piedThe Saskatchewan Indian Page 19 ~ Dieter passes 93rd birthday for approval. The Local Initiatives Program , LIP) for this winter is undertaking an experiment in local citizen participation in the process of making decisions to ex- REGINA - Mr. Fred Dieter, well known for being a ''practical man and believing in earning everything he got", celebrated his 93rd birthday on December 31 at the home of one of his sons, Walter Dieter, in Regina. Mr. Dieter, whose wife passed away several years ago, is in good health for his age and is able to "get around even though he uses a cane due to arthritis in one knee. According to one of his daughters, Eleanor · Brass of Peace River, Alberta, Mr. Dieter was a suGcessful farmer and one of the first students to be placed on an · "Indian Colony", a successful ·pilot project to teach Indians how to farm. Mr. Dieter, who now resides at the Regina Parkside Nursing Home, has four sons living yet and two daughters. They are: 1 Harold, Wilfred, Robert and Wal- · ter; he is also the father of the late Mervin Dieter who recently passed away and who was with the staff,,of the Saskatchewan Indian newspaper. His two daughters are Eleanor Brass of" Peace River, Alberta and Mrs. Robert Bear of the Muskoday River, located a few miles out of Prince Albert. Steve Pooyak amirie proposals for LIP projects ' and to suggest the order of priority in which projects should be approved, having regard to the conditions and needs in the comm unities . We'd like to make a correction on our December issue on the recent elections at Day Star Reserve . Elected were: Steven Kapay as Chief , Sidney Buffalo and Leslie Kinequan · as Councillors. We incorrectly reported Morris Kinequan had been elected as one of the Counci11ors. It ;:ii;:~i,\t) :a, "I Ill, 11.~ ANSWER Yes ... you can cance l the deal by sending a registered letter or telegram to the seller at his last known address. A WISE CONSUMER WILL to see that the salesman is licensed in Saskatchewan under The Direct Sellers Act. Simply ask to see his licence. A consumer should also be sure that he really needs an item before he buys it. REMEMBER! Steve Pooyak, Chief of Sweetgrass, was recently appointed to serve on the Constituency Advisory Group ( CAG) for the North Battleford area regarding the recommending of Local Initiative Programs , LIP) to the Minister of Manpowe.r and Immigration The Saskatchewan Indian CORRECTION: CHECK Group appoints Pooyak advisor Page 20 Other CAG Membership will total 10 persons . including the LIP Project Officer for the area, representatives from the community at large , from local government , from voluntary and social agencies, and persons who have successfully operated previous LIP . Projects. In addition, it was announced that the local Canada Manpower Centre Manager would attend all meetings as an observer and also in a resource capacity. 1 The Direct Sellers Act provides a four-day "Cooling-off Period" during which the consumer may cancel a door -to-door sale. If the sale is cancel'led within ' 4 days the consumer is entitled to a refund within 15 days. For assistance with a consumer problem contact: SASKATCHEWAN DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS 1739 Cornwall St ., Regina, Sask . Telephone: 525-8791 1549 - 8th St . East, Saskatoon, Sask. Telephone: 373-3202 · January 1974 f Appelle Student Residence · with the profits made going towards the purchase of new club jackets. They made · $621 in profits at the end of the evening. ges. Ha.rry Bellegarde was also the youngest contestant to participate. Mrs. Justine Strongeagle and Mrs . Mary Dubois from the Fort Qu' Appelle District took third place with $86.80 in pledges. In fourth place was the Grade Four class of the Qu' Appelle Student Residence , with Mrs. A:nna Crowe, their teachers, ac-companying them. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Ivan McNab, from the Communication Department of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. Ivan also gave his contribution by belting out a couple of songs during a lull in the show. The talent night was sponsored by the St. Pauls SRC of the Qu'- I ♦ Police attelllpt new approach COTE RESERVE - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are trying a new approach to the people at Cote Reserve since last 'fall by helping out in Recreational Programs. Constable Brian Marshall from the Kamsack - detachment has, Public Service Fonction publique Canada Canada THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN Career Opportunities as Ships Officers Canadian Coast Guard · Ministry of Transport Sydney, Nova Scotia January 1974 The Canadian Coast Guard College at Sydne y, Nova Scotia , has a number of vacancies for young men and women, who have a desire for a se.afaring life , to train for four years as navigation or ma ri ne engineering officer cade t s. Cadets rece ive a monthly allowance and yearl y va t ation a s well as free uniform issues , free textbooks , free board and lodging. QUALIFICATIONS To be considered for admission , students must have reached the 17th but not their 21st birthday as of September 1, of the year of enrollment ; succe ssfuliy com- pleted secondary schoo~ 1 Grade 11 or 12, according to provincial educational standards) with algebra , geometry , trigonometry , physics and French or English language at graduation level ; a pre-employment medical. Applicants graduating from secondary school in 1974 are eligible to apply . Knowledge of either the English or French language is sufficient for appointment to these positions. For further information write before Feb. ruary 28, 1974 to : MR. J.L. MILLER, STAFFING OFFICER MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AREA 21E TOWER "C ", PLACE DE VILLE ,,., OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1A0N5 Please quote competition number 74-2535. Appointments as a result of this competition are subject to the provisions of the Public Service Employment Act. made vast improvements in the calibre of the Bantam team in Badgerville . Already I there is talk of having a good contender this year for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Bantams title . Constable Flynn, also from the Kamsack detachment, is coming out to assist in training the Cote boys in their Boxing Club. Already the young boys are changing their attitude to the R.C.M.P. They are always looking forward and eager to the next , session they are receiving from these Constables. Corporal Miller is the man who first came out into the Reserve and got to, know all the people. Corporal Miller is from the Kamsack Detachment. He and Chief Tony Cote got together on several occasions to - air out grievances. Since then, it has been only for the good of both parties. There seems to be more communication and understanding. Sponsor tournament 1 MEADOW LAKE A native hockey tournament, sponsored by three reserves in the Meadow Lake District, will be held on February 9 and 10 at the Meadow Lake hockey arena. The two day double knockout tournament with · total prize money of $700.00 is being hosted by the Waterhen, Meadow Lake and Canoe Lake Indian Reserves. A championship trophy will be awarded to the winning team and trophies for Best Defenceman, Best Goalie and Most Valuable Player will also be given out. The first eight teams will be accepted along with a $20.00 entry fee which will be refunded when the team is iced. Prize monies available are as follows: "A" Event - 1st $250.00, 2nd - $150.00, 3rd $125.00. "B" Event - 1st ' $100.00,2nd - $75.00. For .further information, contact George Merasty at Box 727, Meadow Lake or phone 236-5202. The Saskatchewan Indian Page 21 / It is now an- exception when a woman does not enter the hospital. Long ago the Indian people depended upon the elders and their knowledge and skill of Indian medicines. One woman, the mother of At an elderly women's workshop held twelve, said this "I never went to the hospital to give birth to my children. I used the eider's at the Cultural Centre ,, the ladies tell of medicine in the way they were instructed. These were , Godgiven herbs.'' " Another commented upon her the 'good life 1n the old days. mother's skills at childbirth. "My mother was very old. Lots of times when she was asked to by DonnaPinay nurse a woman delivering a baby, veniertces such as kitchen apTraditionally Indian men hunI would be asked to help. There pliances, · mod,ern foods and ted, fished, or trapped to provide are many children on File Hills ready-to-wear clothing have a/ living for his wife and children. that she helped · deliver. She made many tasks less time-conThe woman had many and varie~. suming. was thanked many a time for tasks to perform in the home. do.ing a perfect job." There has also been a cultural Child rearing, food preparationCare of infants has also chanbreakdown among younger genand the care and manufacture of ged. A baby is a world of diserations. , At an elderly ladies wearing apparel were perhaps the posable diapers, safety pins, workshop held at the Cultural greatest. A man had standards ready-mixed formulas and soaps Centre in December , 1972 seve,to live up to just as the woman and lotions. In their days, breatral older Indian women came had. A good successful hunter feeding was a natural way of protogether to discuss events of the needed a good successful wife viding nourishand mother. ment to infants. Traditionally, among ~ majo"I never used rity of tribes the woman owned the bottle to the home and actually more nurse my babgeneral property than the man. ies," one woman If the women, had to cook and stated. / make clothes, the men had to An Indian diahunt and protect the band from per was a comdanger. If women gathered wood bination of natuand performed su~h tasks, the ral products. Dry men cared for the women's wood and cat tails • horses. There was more of a were warmed up balance of tasks rather than a and used in moss division. There were societies bags. A woman, and ceremonies restricted to commenting on men and in many cases there modern ways of were ceremonies and societies child care had restricted to the women. Wives this to say ''Towere not "bought". Gifts were day they use too given to the bride's parents as many kinds of a form of respect and · to prove diapers and too that the_ man was financially many kind stable enough to support a wife. of soap and long ago the children past and to· tell stories of how it Over the years many things did not get rashes." used to be. have changed. Indian ~ople Raising children today preToday almost every woman utilize many of the modern ways sents as many problems as it receives some medical attention of:life. We no longer see the man does rewards. The world is a or treatment when pregnant. hunting, fishing, or trapping to confusing place and even more She enters the hospital to give provide' a living for his family birth and she and her child so for many Indian , children. and the woman is no longer spendThe women at the wor~shop spoke receive help and medic~tion from -ing as much time in the home as of raising their children and · qualified · and trained personnel. before. Modern household con- Ladies Lih I I Pase Zf Tbe SaskatchewanIndian January 1974 judging by their comments, the formula was hard work anci,·t~pect for others, especially the elders. "He ( my husband) used to tell me that we couldn't look after the young people all the time so they would have to -learn as we learned when we were young. My father used to tell me a.bout the beliefs in Indian faith and also he mentioned the elders and he · said 'respect them and then you will receive faith from above ... this is for the sake of your children.' " One woman mentioned ti:ie role her mother had played. , "She used to tell stories of long ago. She had lots to tell about. These of course, were all Indian legends and we were told to respect the elders and not to make fools of ourselves." Another said this about her parents. "They said don't drink and don't smoke. Don't do anything wrong and look at the elders and respect them. If they have any ceremonies, join in with them. One of the saddest and yet truest matters brought up was the role liquor has played in many lives. "But today it is the liquor that is ruining the life of the people and even my son and grandchildren don't listen to us." One woman stated that she had drank but had stopped. "When I see some of the girls drinking, I feel sorry for them. I know liquor isn't any good·. On Saturday that is when everything starts and they don't even consider the January 1974 next day. I feel a lot better now that I don't drink and I don't need any liquor." The women had a religious ceremoney that consisted of prayer and purification of the home with sweetgrass. '' Now every morning I burn sweetgrass and also we all pray together in my family." Many women felt that this be- lief in the traditional Indian religiol) was very important and that the young people should have instruction from elders . "Today the young people, they · don't listen. They never have any elders to lecture them." and · "I'm hoping that someday we will go back to the Indian beliefs and whatever we were given by the Almighty,.'' Although the traditional role of the woman may have been in the home, the Indian women re- · ceived the respect and love that was due. They conducted themselves and performed their duties with · a dignity that can still be seen in many of our' grandmothers. The Saska tchewan Indian -. Page 23 Th e Louse That Roared .Born in controversy, the James Smith schoo l i s fast maturing into the most exciting and innovative projec t in the country Indian control of education is in addition director of the F .S.l.' s a philosophy whose generalities Saskatchewan Indian Cultura l_Colare by now well known. The sublege. ject was for years discussed A further reason for the attenand resear ched by the . Indian tion stems from the controver sy people of Canada with the results that surrounded the birth of the being_ tabulated by the National James Smith school project . The Indian Brother hood in its "Indian controversy attracted media atControl of Indian Education" tention across the country and policy statemen t to government; has often been referred to as the a policy that was adopted in its "Great Louse Episode at Kinisentirety by the minister of Indian tino." Affairs. Until early 1973, James Smith It is a philosophy, however, that , students taking grades seven has so far been really applied through 12 had attended the fedin only a few instances and .few eral-provincial joint schoo_ls in people have anything but a vague Kinistino, a farm service comidea of what the philosophy ·wm munity about five miles south look like when tested at the reof the reserve and about 40 miles serve level. east of Prince Albert . The N.I.B. policy wa~ purposeThen in February 1973 a public fully vague on the specifics of health nurse employed by the Indian education since one of its · province diagnosed one or two basic tenet s held that each band cases of head lice among children would be free to develop indepenin the Kinistino elementary school. dently the type of education proThe discovery prompted a great gram best suited to the needs of "louse hunt" in its people and reserve. the Kinistino. Here in Saskatchewan, one of school system the firs t bands to test the new during the next policy was the James Smith band, few weeks as a community of 1,500 in the teachers and the north-east of the province. There, nurse began the people are moving to develop checking all stutheir own school system and dents for lice. their projec t is attracting a great At times the studeal of attention. There are a dents would be number of reasons for this, one lined up in school being because of the speed with corridors as which the band are moving and teachers walked another being because of their up and down radical break with traditional checking their approache s to education . heads. Another reason is that the Indian students James Smith Chief is Soloman bore the brunt of Sanderson, who is also first vicethis lice hysteria president of the Federation of and where an InSaskatchewan Indians and holds dian child was their educat ion oortfolio. and is suspected of havPage 24 The Saskatchewan Indian ing lice, he and all his bro- . thers and sisters were puuea from the classroom and sent back to the re serve. Eventually all but a small number of- the Indian students were suspected of having lice and sent home to the reser ve. Those that did attend school were subjected to indignities and humiliation at the hands of their fellow students and some teachers. While all this was going on in Kinistino, neither the Indian parents or a nurse employed with Indian Health Services could discover a single active ·case of lice among the children sent home. The James Smith band council, then under the leadership of Delbert Britta in, met to discuss the situation and decided that in light of this incident and the continuing failure of the joint school system over the years , the students would not return to school January 1974 at Kinistino and would finish the school year on the reserve. Soon. after that a new band council was elected on the reserve .and they . re-affirmed the previous band council's decision. The children would definitely not return to Kinistino. · Threatened I I was only the final straw that capped. a growing disenchantment by both parents and students with the " white man's school'", a disenchantment that contributed to a high drop-out rate among James Smith students and deep-rooted feelings of resentment and frustration among the people. Officials investigating the incident for the federal government concluded that Chief San- . derson played a key role in the affair and that his influence could only ·be seen as destructive by people concerned just with main taining the joint school. But "if one is prepared to consider alternative approaches to Indian edu- The major concern in Kinistino over the incident appeared to revolve around the threatened loss of federal contributions to the local schools since they would no longer have Indian students. While admitting their education system was not meeting the needs of the Indian either academically, socially or economically, school officials at Kinistino were quick to express . concern that the withdrawal of the students was politically motivated. The F.S.I. was accused of unduly influencing the people of the reserve and the new Chief Sol Sanderwson was seen· as a politician primarily cation, then Chief Sanderson's interested in the exercise of role appears more like that of power·. a ·strong leader . attempting to The new Chief refused · to meet grapple with a serious and longwith Kinistino school officials standing problem," they said. and seemed little impressed with The withdrawal of the students their apologies that perhaps the had wide approval among parents louse incident had been " not on the .reserve. Before making a well handled." decision on the issue, Chief BritHe discussed the matter as tain had ordered a questionnaire only one in a long series of inci- circulated to parents · and of 57 dents of prejudice against Indians families responding, 45 said they in the school. Of greater con- did not wish their children to cern to him and the people of return to Kinistino and 49 said James Smith, was the fact that they would prefer their children in 15 years of operation, the were educated at the reserve . · joint school at Kinistino had James Smith already had a graduated only three Indian stu- small school on the reserve dents, and those three had only which employed four teachers. partial matriculation . , The four classroom school was For them the louse incident January 1974 used for kindergarten and grade one through six classes . Suddenly, however, there was a need for about 350 students to share the facilities and the band had to make the necessary arrangements for schooling to continue for all of them. James Burns, the 28 year old chairman of the James Smith school committee, directed the construction of a number of portable classroom _units, two of which were ready and put into use that spring. In addition, the school gymnasium was divided into three classrooms for the overflow of students. • In all it took the Band just foour ·weeks to get the additional classrooms , obtain supplies and hire staff to allow the children 's schooling to continue . Despite the haste and ad hoc approach improvements ,were immediately apparent and the two government ·officials investigating found "the emotional level of everyone we saw at the reserve was very positive. The children seemed happy and communicative and the Indian adults seemed determined to move ahead.'' The change of attitude was apparent on the school committee also. Although in existence for a number of years, most of its time was spent trying to settle arguments and grievances with the Kinistino school, says Mr. Burns. "Suddenly it was not just the old .committee that only listened to grievances, but a committee that could give direction to the band council and band members. It's something that had never happened before,'' he said. The Saskatchewan Indian Page 25 The Indian control of edu~ation policy was known to the people of the reserve, says Mr. Burns, ·"but our biggest problem was trying to decide whether they really meant it." "We took the stance that 'Okay, we'll try it and find out how sincere they are'.'' The band began planning for a new and modern school facility, one that would provide everything they needed. They rationalized .that they would require more than the minimum of facilities, materials and equipment in order to undo the devastating is structured by its - parents. program for their own school. The result of Indian child-rearTheir school, · they decided, ing practices is that the child would radically differ from traearly in life gains a measure ditional school systems. Instead of himself and the confidence of having their teachers stand in that comes from the authority front of a class and lecture the to rule his own life to a large · s tudents, the band decided to use extent. . individual and small discussion James Smith . parents were litgroups where the emphasis would tle impressed with the ,·,cells be on interaction and· dialogue. and bells" practices of tradiWhere traditional schools had tional schools where their child's taught their students to be quiet life was programmed , for them and not talk to each other and with ringing bells, seating plans that helping one another was and an inflexible curriculum. The cheating, the band decided their school day allowed little indeschool would allow the student pendence. to seek answers from anyone In the Indian who could satisfy his questions. tradition, educaThe student would be given a tion was a regreater opportunity to set his sponsibility of own educational objectiv,es and the entire comachieve . them in a .variety of munity. Authoriways. ties on various The band also decided · students .aspects of life would be grouped according to were well known their ag~ rather than in grades in the communand they would do away with the ity and child "pass-fail" system of traditional could clearly schools, allowing the student to identify them achieve his educational goals at and seek them his own rate and not having to out .for informacompete with his fellow students. tion. He progresIn this way the band felt the sed into maturstudent would be encouraged to ity in accordance snow. In back- with his own feel successful. By not having goals set that were beyond his needs and abiliabilities or being branded a ties. · failure in competitions with other The parents of James Smith decided they wanted their school . students would both attain a better self-image and education. to reflect these elements of their · culture. In addition they wanted The band also decided their their school to instill in the school would do much more than children a · pride· -in their Indian the traditional school. It would heritage, and an understar;iding not only . provide the necessary of themselves as individuals and academic knowledge, but impart · a member of their families, coma sense of identity and teach munity and the greater Indian skills that would enable the Indian child to cope in a hostile world. nation. Over the sum:mer a number of They decided that one of the parents, school committee mem_most serious things their school bers and students made trips would have to work with was the to examine other educational deeply imbedded sense of failure centres in Canada and North among the students, that the students would have to catch up not· America. With them they took cameras and video and recordso much in terms of academic ing equipment -and they returned subjects,. but in terms of their self-image. with all the material -they could · By gearing their education syslay their hands on. With the information they gathered in the tem to the individual student and developing a- curriculum that emfield trips and discussions with phasized community, the band parent~, the band worked out a a Children scamper over mound of ground, temporary classrooms; effects of the previous system and said they would no longer accept the position that they were an inferior people needing only inferior facilities and mini. mal supplies and equipment. In addition, the people of the reserve were saying, "What's the use of starting a school that would do · the same' old things," says Mr. Burns. "They told us 'We're different, so let's try - something different'." . The band decided that if their school was to work it would have to emphasize personal satisfaction and community accomplishment as well as academic achievement. In the Indian family a great deal of independence and decision making responsibilities are given the child, unlike white homes, where much of the child's life Page 26 The Saskatchewan Indian January 1974 decided they could nurture in their · children the vital life skills of communications, of knowing how to find out, of thinking, of acting independently, of relating to others and of living meaningfully in today's society. teachers could not and being familiar with the families on the reserve the teacher's aids were in a better position to guide and counsel the students . In fact, says teacher's aid Issac Daniels, students would often feel freer communicating with the School opens teacher aid than the teacher . In August the band hired Jerry Hammersmith to be prinWhen school opened in September the band was ready with 13 cipal of the school and to work with James Burns who was aptemporary classrooms built over pointed education co-ordinator the summer by the band's house for the band. Mr. Hammersmith construction crew. Staff for the has his Masters in &iucation school had swelled to a total of from the University of Saskat62 people, 43 of whom were band chewan and had previously workmembers . A total of 15 teachers ed with the Department of Noraids were hired , all of them thern Saskatchewan as a conparents with families of up to 16 children on the reserve. sultant to the assistant deputy minister. _ Although the economic benefits When school started in the fall , for the re serve were secondary the teachers did some experi to educational and social motives, menting with a variety of methods the creation of employment for for instituting individuali1.ed inband members was a mjaor boost struction but it was finally deto the community. While the . fedcided to -use a "contract" aperal government - was pouring proach that had been tried and !-.undreds of thousands of dollars found successful at several ~xinto the joint school at Kinistino perimental schools in the United for Indian ·students, few Indian States . people were able to find employWith the contract system , a ment with the school system, student undertakes to achieve a and those few only in such jobs certain educational objective. The as bus drivers and caretakers. objectives are developed by the Although only two of their teacher who breaks down course teacher's aids had previous experience, the band soon found material into specific units. The objectives to be reached are them to be invaluable in the described in terms of observable classroom. The teacher's aids behavior. could speak Cree where the white Traditionally teachers have expressed their aims in terms of having their students "comprehend" or ''understand'' the material presented. The difficulty here was that mental activity is not directly observable, the teacher cannot open a student's head and see the thinkStudents pose in corridor of central school. ing that is going on. January 1974 For the student the terms were equally as vague and more often than not simply mea_nt passing an exam at the end of the course. ·A student who undertakes a contr act at James Smith, however , knows exactly what he is going to 1e-arn and exactly how he is · going to demonstrate his knowledge. A typical contract might read for' example, that "the student will be able to pronounce from memory the names of the alphabet A .through Z", or "given a selection of quotations, the student will, with 90 per cent accuracy, be able to identify those from Hemingway's 'Old j\fan and the Sea'." Eventually the . James Smith Cont'd. TO OBTAIN AN ANSWER If you have a question or problem about Provincial Government services or programs, the staff of the Provincial Inquiry Centre will help you. To call, toll-free, dial your direct distance dialing access code and then dial 800-667-8755 (For points without direct distance dialing, ·call the operator.) The Centre is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. C.S.T. Monday-Friday. PROVINCIAL INOUIRY CENTRE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING ·· R E'G INA The Saskatchewan Indian Page 27 t ou e11edeh; Laetl-• • • • GARNISHEE One of the procedures that can be used to collect money owing, either when a judgement certifying the debt ha s come down, or when the amount owing is a specific amount and a judgement will be requested shortly, is to use a garnishee summons. Th~ most ~ommon use of the garnishee summons is when the debtor 1s workmg. The garnishee summons is served on the debtor's employer and the debtor's wage or salary is then paid into the .court by the empl?yer. Other ways in which the garnishee summons 1s used are to garmshee a person's bank account or his farm produce sales. These would also be paid into Court by the bank or purchaser. . Ten days after the summons is served on the debtor, the creditor can apply for a Court Order that money paid into Court be paid .out to him. But in the case of a garnishee against wages the ~red1tor I must wait two months after judgement or payment of money mto .the Court, whichever is later, before he can apply to the Court to have the money paid out to him. . The garnishee summons reads as if the employer rnust pay all the employee's wages into the Court. This is not so. A recent ame~dme?t to the Attachment of Debts Act says that an employer may retam and pay to his employee an amount that is exempt fr?m garnishee as provided for in the Act. This is, in the case of a sm~le person the employer may retain and pay to the employee the first $150.00.of his salary. The amount goes up to $325.00 for someone supporti~g four or more dependents . If an employer refuses or fails to retam and pay this amount to his employee , the employee can make ~n application to the local regis.tra~ in the Cou~t House to have his exemption given back, an apphcabo~ ac~mpame~ by a f6rmal statement, or affidavit, showing why he 1s entitled to 1t. You may need a lawyer for this. . There are a number of weaknesses in the Garnishee legislation. Firstly, the amount allowed in the exem~tion is rediculously low. What family of five or more persons can hve on $~25.00 per month? 1 With the health coverage which Welfare gives that famlly would be better off on Welfare ! ! ! Secondly, the law should be changed so that, at .least , the summons would point out to the employer that he may retam the exemption and pay that to his employee. Preferably, the law should be changed so that the employer must pay _the amount of the e~emption to his employee and the summons should read accordmgly. Thirdly such things as bank account or the portion of farm produce sales o~ which a person depends for his livelihood should be exempt from the garnishee summons. At present they are not ! ! ! SNOWMOBILEACCIDENT MeadowLake - Four year old Terry Walter Larocque of the Waterhen Reserve, 30 miles north of Meadow Lake was killed in a snowmobile accident on December 30. · According to the R.C.M.P., the boy, a passenger on th~ snowmobile which was being operated by his nine year old brother, hit a parked tractor. The accident occurred near the boy' s home on the reserve . Page !8 Tbe Saskatchewan Indian I school plans to have a "bank" of contracts from which the students, in consultation with their teachers and parents, will be able to choose. The contracts do not specify any time limits and the student achieves them at whatever rate his abilities allow. The use of contracts of course does not guarantee "individualized instruction. " This comes about only when the characteristics of each stude,;it plays a major part in the selection of objectives, materials, procedures and time, explains Mr. Hammersmith. Many Resources At James Smith the teacher become~ only one of the learning resources available to the students. Other resources include the teacher aids, fe.llow students and members in the community. The school intends also to have a large amount of programmed learning materials available to the student. Since little in the way of learning programs is ,presently available, the band plans to develop much · of ·its own material and make use of the material being develped by the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Colle~e. The band ha·s also decided that its student would receive Cree language , instruction in their school. Again, li.ttle is available in the way of teaching aids for the Cree language so a team of Cree language instructors at the school, headed by Martha Constant, are preparing their own materials. The material will also be made available to other schools in the province. They also plan to put together a research team of band members to delve in to the history and culture of the James Smith people and use the information in :., learning programs . The material, the band hopes, will accurately reflect local Cree history and cultural traits and from a perspective uniquely Indian. Instruction will also rely heavily on audio visual aids such as (Continued on Page 30) January 1974 • A picture • IS worth. -••• Well, at least a thousand \VOrds.The proven value of audiovisual techniques for education and communication has prompted the_ Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College to establish its own A-V department . Five Indian students are currently in training at the University of Saskatchewan and will operate the new department. Now the pictures. Above, Brian Tootoosis operates one of the 13 television cameras available to the students. Left, Peter Gardippi, production manager, fakes an interview with script writer Mary Formolo .. The Studen s: left, Brian Tootoosis, Peter Gardippl, Mary Formolo, Ruth Cuthand, Harvey Knight, Brian Knight. I A control room used by students in their training. January 1974 The Saskatchewan Indian Page 29 video tape equipment and recordings. · Since motivation of students tends to be a major factor in education the band is using a variety of instructional material to create enthusiasm and encourage e~perimentation. The type of instruction envisioned for the James Smith school Have you considered • • • 101n1ng the R.C.M.P.? I IF YOU'RE A CANADIAN CITIZEN HAVE .A COMPLETE GRADE 11 AT LEAST 5'8" TA)-L PHYSICALLY FIT EXEMPLARY CHARACTER POSSESS A CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR'S LICENCE WISH iO EARN $7800 PER YEAR HIGHER STARTINQ SALARY FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES ' Contact your nearest RCMP offi~e or wr,ite to : THE COMMISSIONER RCM POLICE OTTAWA ONTARIO K1A OR2 Page ' The Saskatchewan Indian 30 goes far beyond the goals of traditional education, says Mr. Hammersmith. Where traditional schools rely mainly on the absorbing of a given amount of academic material, instruction at James Smith will emphasize the importance of the student being able to apply the knowledge he has gained in a variety of situations. The student will then be taught ~ analize the results and synthesize it with what he had previously learned and form a judgment he could defend. The particular method of instruction may vary from individual to individual and is something that is worked out between the student, his teacher and parents. Teaching methods include a variety of instructional games and projects. Students in the school, for example, are producing their own radio ·programs, putting them onto cassette tapes, and making up their own newspaper, producing stories about their community. · Others are researching their · January 1974· ;,:;• ·1.!:':.;', ..,·.. family trees , interview ing their own parents and gra ndparents and charting their ancestory back to their great-grandparents. Such projects not only develop in the students a concept of identity, but give them the opportunity "to do history rather than have it done to them ,'' according to Mr. Hammersmith. In the central school, walls have been knocked out to allow · students free movement around the building and in the hallways art instructor Issac Daniels is leading the students in a project to decorate the walls with lifesire paintings . Difficulty in obtaining supplies and equipment has been one of the biggest problems to date at the school, says Mr. Hammersmith. To equip their new school the band drew i.tp an extensive order totaling about $150,000 but to date only abou_t $20,000 worth of supplies have been delivered. In June of 1973, the band, for example, ordered what it con- It won't go away byitself The greatest problem , with V.D. tqday is tha t it's spreading very quickly . Even after the symptoms disappear , the infe ct ion rem ains. Symptoms are often hard to detect , especiall y in women, without an examination, your doctor . from a public he alth nur se, or Only you , the nurse, or your doctor knows abod t your treatment. I VENEREAL DISEASE. WHATYOU DON'T KNOW~ HURT YOU. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ~ sidered to be the minimum amount of sports and recreation equipment for the school. Officials in the department of Indian affairs cut and modified the order with the result that the school received 60 trappers gloves for left-handed first basement and 36 softball bats . The difficulties, says Mr. January 1974 CALL (Direct and toll free) Regina residents ... 523-9694 Out of Regina residents ... 800-667-068 1. SASKATCHEWAN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC H EAL TH ~ ~ The Saskatchew an Indian Page 31 Cont'd. Hammersmith, are partly the_ result of bureaucratic red tape and in a small way -because "what is happening here is a personal and professional threat to the people who have been in charge of Indian education." "If the people here succeed, it is going to be a damning judgment on the professional people , in the department.'' a,no'!?.F~~~P Provincial Co-ordinator Leadership is a very important quality to have in any group or organization. It is very true in a 4-H Club also. Leadership can be given by all types of people: short, thin, tall, · fat, young or old. In fact, anyone can usually provide at least some kind of leadership in some area at some time. Let's get rid of one idea quickly: a leader does not have to be the biggest, strongest, loudest person in a group as is often thought to be the case. Sometimes a small, quiet, weak, elderly person could be_a leader. "You're kidding!", you say. Not really. We're told that a person is a leader due to how he is seen through the eyes of other people. For example, a lady might be known to do excellent beadwork. If others, saw her as knowledgeable and siklful in this area, they would probably seek her help. Provided she gave this help, she would be considered a 'leader'. It is also ' wen known that various leaders may have various styles , of leadership. One leader may "tell" others what to do" another may "persuade"; someone else may give leadership just by his or her presence. Likewise some people may go ahead and provide leadersh'ip on their own. On the other hand, others may be asked, persuaded, etc. several times · before they would feel comfortable in accepting a leadership role. Within 4-H, such a leader is necessary to provide help , general or overall leader, project leader or assistant leader) for young people in a particular club.- Without this person, it may be very difficult, if not impossible, .for a club to carry on. Therefore, the help that one provides to young people, in most cases, is greater than the risk that one takes of "sticking their nose out" to accept such a role. · In order to provide this kind of help in a community, a perso.n must want · to give something of their time and talent. A 4-H leader must enjoy working with youth. He or she, therefore, trys the best they can to understand, listen, respect and encourage the young people that are seeking such leadership. Being a 4-H leader p:r_ovid~sthe adult with an opportunity to pass on craft skills and other culturally significant topics in such projects as leatherwork, beading, legend telling, pow-wow dancing and huntersafety besides the traditional 4-H projects. In rev1ew, adult leader help is important to a 4-H club in a community. Anyone, can usually provide at least some kind of leadership in some are at some time. This leadership quality is usually seen or identified by other · people in that community. What if some of these "other people" knock on your door? · Six die in reserve fire A ~amily of six died in a house fire on the Obedjiwan Indian Reserve m northern Quebec, 200 miles north of Val d'Or ' on December 29th. Page 32 The Saskatchewan Indian Co -operation ~ Co-operation at the highest levels of the department has been excellent, however, says Mr. Hammersmith. Band members met with assistant deputy minister of Indian affairs, Peter Lesau:x, and the co-operation that resulted . was "everything you could ask for", he says. The James Smith band is now planning for the permanent school facilities it hopes to begin building_this summer. The building they envision will not have any classrooms but rely instead on large instructional areas. The instructional areas will be capable of accommodating up to 125 students and will be designed to accommodate a number of small learning centres within the room. The learning centres will be rich in learning resources, including an abundance of concrete, manipulative materials, as well as pr.nt and non-print media. Instead of an open area with a chalkboard in front serving as the focal point for students, the learning centre is divided into a variety of learning laborator' ies. The children, in small groups or indepen·dently, spend much of their time in selecting and carrying out their own learning activities, while the teacher spends most of his time working with individuals and small groups. There is a minimal amount of total classroom instruction. The new school will be designed to facilitate and encourage the free movement of students between all areas of the building. The type of learning centres January .1974 within each instructional area will be limited only by the imagination of the teacher and students. Typical centres will include a library or book centre, a creative writing centre, language arts centre, drama centre, math centre, cooking centre, sewing centre, science . centre, art centre, music centre, sand centre, carpentry centre, etc. Each of the centres will have subject related materials and pre-prepared learning programs available within them. Adjacent to the large instructional area will be smaller rooms to be used for seminars . and workshops. The instructional areas will au · be grouped around a central resource . centre where adminis-. tration offices, washrooms, a cafeteria and the like will be located. The band, in addition, plans to build a gymnasium and swimming pool within the school complex and develop facilities for an Industrial Arts program with courses in such fields as electronics, computers, photography, graphic arts, drafting and plastics. The band, in fact, plans nothing less than the best that is obtainable for either their school program or school facilities. _ Dep't Exams Every student in Saskatchewan is required to pass examinations set by the provincial department of education before he can graduate from high school, and the band feels that its education program can not only meet the province's standards, but significantly succeed them . Mr. Hammersmith 'reflects that attitude when he says, "I'm willing to stake everything on the fact that, given this open . system of individualized instruction, these kids will achieve more in a shorter period than they ever have before. I'm just absolutely convinced that it will take only one third of their time to meet departmental objectives.'' January 1974 Ken Williams Recently I received a letter from an Indian inmate who is at the penitentiary asking me to sponsor him for parole. This may see~ like a reasonable request but there are many implications which &?me may not realize. _ At every workshop the Native Brotherhood of Indian and Metis sponsor at the Penitent iary the members have always mentioned they get more support from the non-Native community than they do from the Indian sector. There have been repeated attempts by the Native inmates to get the outside Indian population in programs at the penitentiary which involve them, but they have had little or no success. It has been agreed that if inmates of Native ancestry are to rehabilitate themselves it must be done with help from the outside Native population . . The majority of the prisoners will admit to their fallibilities which caused their incarceration but they will also say they need help b_ut the help must be from Indians not the white community. In a recent interview I did with three Indians at the. Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert one emphatically stated he will no longer seek help from Indians because they have always let him .down. Is this true? Doe_s the Indian 'on the outside care less for the Indian inside a penitentiary or jail? . The same argument Indians use for boarding schools and how they have helped to de-culturalize a race is true - and maybe - more so for penal institutions. If there is a genuine concern for 'the future of Indian people th.en Indians must help rehabilitate Indians. ·' On occasions this newspaper has printed letters rrom the inmates requesting some assistance from the Native population. ·· Their requests have had no beneficial effect ·with the exception of letters of apology stating why certain individuals couldn't render any assistance. ' · The letter I received is not an isolated request. However, the more letters I receive the more I ponder the thought, have our Native inmates become a forgotten people and must go to another race of people for sympathy and understanding? Indians benefit from Buffalo overpopulation Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. - Two hundred buffalo, for the consumption of native people of this community ; have · been hunted down at Wood Buffalo National Park by Park warden staff with the veterinarians of the Canadian Wildlife Service checking the animals for disease. · After a study done by Parks Canada, of the socio-economic needs of people in this area, it was realized the native people who are still feeling the ~ffects of poor trapping and fishing as a result of the building of the Bennett Dam need this meat to eat for a proper healthy diet. The Saskatchewan Indio Page _33 Mistaseni -the story of a young Indian boy who grew up with the buffalo. , From Volumn Two of the book of Cree Legends prepared by the Saskatchewan 'Indian Cultural College) Illustrations - Marius Paul Once there was a small ·_ cree tribe that moved from place to place on the prairies. One day as they were moving camp, there was an old lady with a young boy. A great herd of buffalo was near"'. by and all the dogs ran to chase them, including the one pulling the travois that the little ; boy was in. The old woman went to the medicine man and said ther e must be a "Shaking of the Tent." They would ask the spirits to tell them ·where the boy was. The old men built a lodge and the ceremony was held. The spir its were .asked about the boy and the people were told, ."Some day you will find the boy. He is now living with the buffalo who have adopted him ." This is what happened to the boy. There . were two old bulls that the Cree Indians used to call "the bachelors" because of their great riva lry for female s. Among the buffalo the young bulls and the old bulls were separated, because the young ones had wives and old ones didn't. The bulls had harems .in those days. The . two old bulls heard the child crying. The older buffalo called Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos, said to the other, "I've heard the child crying for many days now. Let's find him.~' The other replied, "If I get there first I will kill the child. " " No!" replied the other, "I feel sorry ,for him. We should take him and adopt him." , "No! His people are cruel. They chase and kill us. I will kill the child," answered the younger bull. Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos suggested they have a race and whoever got there first could do as he wished. The two buffalo stood and the older one said, · "Le t's go!" As he raced alon'"ghe prayed, "I wish he'd step in a gopher hole! I wish he'd step in a gopher hole!" The younger buffalo was pulling ahead when suddenly ~e did step in a gopher hol~ and ten. Ki-sayPage 34 The Saskatchewan Indian ne-we-na-pao-moostoos ran ahead to the child. As it happened, the dog that had pulled the travois had become thirsty and had broken away from the harness . The boy sat alone. The old buffalo took the boy with him. He played and · picked berries with them and they raised him to be a handsome young man who could well understand the ways of the buffalo. · One day, Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos told the young man, "We are going to the west as there is going to be a great many of us gathering together." · The herd began to travel west. The youth rode on the buffalo's neck or back and they took turns carrying him. On the fourth day, they arrived at a great open area where there were many buffalo already gathered. Bulls were fighting as it was spring and this was the mating season. The fighting had raised dust all over. There was a big rock along the lake. The two old buffalo told the .young lad to go sit on the rock and to stay there. He was told not to look at the female buffalo as other bulls would be jealous and angry, especially Okimaw or "'Big Chief" who was a champion fighter. The two old bulls joined the others. There were good fights and challenges and everybody had a good time. . · · The young lad became very thirsty as he sat on the rock. All of a sudden he saw a beautiful woman come down to the lake. He thought it was a vision. He decided it wouldn't hurt to go down and ask her for a drink. He jumped off the rock and ran to the lake but bowed his head and did not look at her. January 1974 •*.._a ;,t ~~ •jt ---- ----~----~--·-- .--;t;;,;; _..f..·.:.,.:;.-·-<·- ,: -. ~• "- . - . ·. . . \ "Will you give me a drink?" he asked. She replied that she would. She filled a bladder bag with water and gave him a drink. He returned to the rock. All of a sudden,. she cried, ''He looked at me!!'' There was a long silence .. The young lad didn't move and the two bulls came running towards him. "You were not to bother anyone. You talked to Okimaw's wife," scolded the old buffalo. "I was very thirsty ·and I wanted a drink so I went and asked for one," replied the boy, "I didn't think I had disobeyed." "You are full of nonsense and you should listen to me! Okimaw heard what you did and he challenges you to a fight. In this fight either you kill him or he kills you. If you do as I tell you, you might have a ·chance," said Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos. · The next morning, the bulls who had raised the boy went with him to the place where the fight was to be. All the buffalo had gathered there to watch. Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos told the boy to roll four times southward towards high noon. The boy did so and' when he had finished, Ki-say-ne-wena-pao-moostdos told him to roll four times toward the setting- sun. He was then told to roll four times to the North ·Star · and four times to the rising sun. When_he arose he became a mighty buffalo. Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos said, "Now you are one of us, you shall be a mighty fighter. Remember, you are young and sharp. You can jump and you are fast because_I made you that way. Okimaw is coming to fight you because you spoke to one of his wives. He is bigger and like iron. There . is no place . you can gorge him except behind his front leg. That is his weakest spot, so if you can get him there you might win." All of a sudden, the herd parted and Okimaw came forward. January 1974 , ... ..,- · ~ -·~ "We are going to fight. Either I wm kill ·you or you will kill me. Now, I am going to· circle you four times, so look out," he said. Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos yelled, "Look out! Look out! Face Okimaw!" · Suddenly Okimaw charged! They locked horns and fought viciously. Each would gain a little ground only to lose it again. All the buffalo watched the duel through great clouds of dust. The two fought from dawn to dusk, stopping only to catch their t>reath. Every time they charged there was a great noise as their horns hit. "Remember what I said, you know' where his weakness is but you have to be faster!" cried old Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos. The young bull began_ to jump faster and he charged again and again. Suddenly he stopped. Okimaw charged. The young bull jumped aside as fast as he could and caught Okimaw behind his front leg and gashed ~im open. "Ah, you got me,! You got me! Which way shall I fall?" moaned Okimaw. The young boy said, "Fall anywhere you please." Okimaw fell towards high noon and died. A great hush fell over the crowd. Everyone was · angry. The old buffalo told the poy, "Now we will have to go away. You are not one of us as you are human. You understand our ways but you h~ve to leave now because you killed Okimaw. You will · find your people but you do not know them or their ways and cannot live with them. We too must go away." The boy turned back into a human again. The two bulls and the young lad travelled for four days and came to a hill along the South Saskatchewan River. "Now you must become one of us again. Do the . same thing you did before . Roll four times to high _ noon, the setting sun, the north star, and the rising· sun,' ~ said Ki-say-ne-we-na-pao-moostoos. The Saskatchewan Indian l'age 35 The young man did as he was told and became a buffalo .once more. He was then told to sit down and raise his arms over his head four times and to pray as he did this. As soon as he had done so, . the changed into solid rock. In the meantime, back at the Cree camp, the young man's grandmother called the medicine men together again. "Now what has become of my son?" she asked. "The Shaking of the Tent" was held again. They repaired the lodge and the medicine men entered to pray. They lit their pipes and asked the spirits what had happened to the young lad that had been lost and was r.aised by the buffalo. The spirits · told them to travel towards the rising sun for many days. They said, "He will be found along the great river. He was once a mighty buffalo who became a solid rock . He will be remembered for many years . to come." The tribe gathered their belongings and travelled towards the rising sun. They knew they were getting close as they could see the river and the hills. Finally they saw a great rock that looked like a a Page 36 The Saskatchewan Indian buffalo sitting down. They approached slowly and stood in awe and wonder at the size of the buffalo. They sat and prayed to him. . When they went awa:y they left some articles for him. Every year these people would go to the mighty rock. They would pray and remember the boy. This place is now called Mistaseni. Note In the late 1960's, a dam was to be built across the Saskatchewan River. This would create a lake over the area where Mistaseni stood. Some Indian people wanted to save this sacred place from be!ng · flooded and money was gathered to pay for movmg Mistaseni. Engineers said it could not be moved because of its massive size and weight, so dynamite was used to try ,and split it into sections which could be re-assembled on higher ground. The plan was not successful and Mistaseni was shattered in the attempt. Large sections of it were moved and can be seen today near Outlook, in the Saskatchewan River valley near Gardiner Dam. January 1974 Reviewrs Past glory of the Plains Cree recalled by Chief Thunderchild For the Plains Cree, life on the prairies during the early 1800's was one of endless freedom, for with his horses and skill in the chase the Plain' s Indian was able to win abundant food and buffalo hides for cloth.ing and shelter and he roamed the p·rairies at will. Yet it was a freedom that, in the space of one man's lifetime, was strangled by the encorach-· ment of the Whiteman and disappearance of the buffalo and ended finally with confinement to the reserve, a pitiful plot compared to the mighty expanses the Plains Indian once called home. Today few of our people have tasted such freedom and it is with 'wonder and longing they hear tales of their ancestors who lived and hunted and fought where now stand cities, towns and carefully plotted fields. For us, certain of our Chiefs stand as bridges between then and now. Chiefs like. Starblanket, Poundmaker, Mistawasis and Sweetgrass . In their youth they dwelt in such .freedom and lived as Indians themselves had determined life should be. Then with age and prominence, they reluctantly lent their names to the Treaties and led their people to reserves. Today we are reminded of them by the reserves that bear their names . Another such Chief was Thunderchild and, like the rest of the Treaty signers, his name among .the Indian people of Saskatchewan has grown to larger than life proportions. This legendary quality comes not only from their mighty deeds but from our association of their names with a time when an Indian's life had January 1974 a purpose and dignity securely rooted in .tradition. Now a vivid and compelling description of such a life · is available to us through , the first hand accounts of Chief Thunderchild . Publis 'hed In "Voices of the Plains Cree", a book recently published by McClelland and Stewart, author Edward Ahenakew provides us , with 20 tales related to him by Chief Thunderchild, tales in which Thunderchild tells of . the fierce and vanished freedom he enjoyed in his youth, of a life . when buffalo roamed the plains in countless numbers, of a time when the Cree and Blackfoot engaged in constant and unrelenting warfare and of a time when the Sun Dance and the shaking tent, were still a way of life. Thunderchild was born in 1849 and he lived along the North Saskatchewan river. He was a Plains Cree, one of the "River People" who had been in the forefront of the Cree migration from their original forests and woodlands of the east. In their movement west the ·Cree had to continually drive back the Blackfoot and deadly enemity was the rule between the two. The events of Thunderchild's life, as Ahenakew says in his fore ward, make ''tales of struggles almost super-human, of endurance, of perilous adventure, of long hazardous excursions into enemy country, of love, of anything indeed that was ever of any consequence in the Indian life." They include tales of near star- . vation after a long winter , of ambushes and horse stealing, of unfaithful wives, of the Thirst Dance. Thunderchild talks of the Society of Warriors and how. they were responsible for keeping order in the tribe and settling inter-personal disputes and he tells of the great buffalo hunts where a mighty corral would be built and the hunters would lure the beasts irito the trap. He talks in a language clear and simple and throughout . the stories shows a great grasp of detail despite the fact the stories were related in 1923 when Thunderchild was in his seventies. It was an accident of health that led Edward Ahenakew to Chief Thunderchild. Bc?rn on the Sandy Lake reserve, Ahenakew later became an Anglican missionary. He was studying to be a medical . doctor when he fell ill and was sent to Thunderchild's reserve to recover his · health. While there he determined that his time could be best spent collecting stories and legends of the Indian tradition and Thunderchild was a "rich repository of these." True Elder Thunderchild . was ·-an elder in the true sense of the Indian tradition. As described by Ahenakew, the Elder "had a responsible and important position to play with the band. In a sense they have supplied our moral code taking both the place of historians and legal advisors. Theirs has been ' the task of firing the spirits of the young men through stories of daring The Saskatchewan Indian Page 37 deeds in past times ... It was the old men who were the influence for good, who sought to right wrongs and settle disputes; it was the old men who . were qualified to speak for they had passed through most of the experiences of life and their own youthful fires were burned out." In addition to these qualities, the gift of eloquence was Thunder child 's as well and his tales breathe both poetry and wisdom. Indeed, they have little trouble " firing the spirit." job of providing comprehensive· notes . to explain some of the more elusive references in the stories. Priced at $7.95, "Voices of the Plains Cree" is a book well worth reading. In addition to its other fine qualities, it is one of the few books available about the Indians of Saskatchewan that is written by an Indian. · Author ignorant of real Indian's life Old Keyam by DonnaPinay and SaralnStump In the second half of the book, Robert Hofsinde is the · author Ahenakew introduces another of a series of books designed Elder, Old Keyam, a fictional for children. The series includes character through which Ahena"Indian Beadwork", "The Inkew expresses his thoughts of dian and the Buffalo", "Indian the plight of the Indian now conCostumes", "Indian Fishing fined to reserves. · ·and Camping", "Indian Games The stories of Old ~eyam were and Crafts", "The Indian and also written in 1923 yet the probHis Horse", "Indian Hunting", lems he encounters, the matters "Indian Music Makers", "Inthat concern him, are as reledian Sign Language", "Indians vant today as then. Through Old at Home'', ''Indian on the Move'', Keyam, Ahenakew talks of the and '"Indian Warriors and their need for education, for responWeapons". The series is published sive officials in government and by Morrow Junior Books, New the need of the Indian to hang onYork. to his religion, culture and traAmong the many non-Indian, ditions. self-appointed experts on Indian They were issues with which matters is Robert Hofsinde. He Anheankew was well · acquainted was born in Denmark and studied for in his work with the Anglican · art at the Royal Art Academy in church he traveled extensively Copenhagen. He was given the among Saskatchewan reserves name ~'Gray-Wolf" by a band and he was, in addition, an execof Chippewa Indians in Minneutive ·officer of the League of sota as he had saved the life Indians of Canada, a national organization formed shortly after · of one of their children. By mixing on paper, true facts and ficthe First War. tion, Hofsinde has produced a The book is available now, thanks whole series of books on Indian to its editor Ruth Matheson Buck. culture, / beliefs and history. After Ahenakew recovered his health in 1923, he continued his ·Throughout the series Hofsinde's Indians are closely related . to work with the church and never the stiff-acting, almost mute fo~nd time to ·bring his notes Hollywood Indians. ''The chief into book form. When he died in entered the circle. He stood for. 1961 the notes of the Thundera moment looking about him and child and Old Keyam stories then finally pointed silently to were found and tµrned over to one of the men''. ( Page 33 of Mrs. Buck, the daughter of an Indian Warriors and Their WeaAnglican missionary who lived on pons.) the Onion Lake reserve and an Hofsinde projects the Indian old friend of Ahenakew's. as someone depending exclusiveIn addition to editing the maly on trading post items •- Spanterial, Mrs. Buck has done a fine 1 . Page 38 The Saskatchewan ll)dian . ish glass ·beads, scarlet Hudson Bay blankets and Sheffield knives. In his precision in mentioning imported goods, he omits the traditional - porcupine quills, buckskin and the many bone toois the Indian used. In "Indian Beadwork" Hofsinde mentions how charming beadwork can look if adapted to modern dress or wear. From wearing beaded belts with summer dresses or slacks, ·to beaded ear muffs and finally beaded book covers, Hofsinde barely mentions the intricate art of porcupine -· quill embroidery which reached a high degree of quality since PreColumbian times. He · doesn't elaborate · on the work done on outfits and other dress with the Spanish glass beads either. Inaccurate tn many cases Hofsinde gener- . alizes and does not accurately describe many of' the traditional ways. In pages 54 to 56 in "Indian Warriors and Their Weapons" he describes the "Dog Soldiers" as the military society of the Pla~ns. The "Dog Soldiers" were just one of the many mili- . tary societies that existed. The practice of throwing a stake into the ground does not belong exclusively to one tribe but it was a practice followed by those who sought death in battle. For a Blackfoot War Dance, Hofsinde gives a somewhat vague description of a horse dan·ce. He projects the image of_the ObjibJanuary 1974 was as people constantly carry ing blankets on their left arms , the Apaches arriving in the southwest with bows of caribou 3:ntler, .and the Crows setting the prairies on fire to frustrate the Blackfoot. Books labelled Indian should be that. Yes, . Indian people have utilized much of the whiteman's ways but as Hofsinde should realize, they once had their traditional equipment, toolsi clothing and halildicrafts: . Although Hofsinde might be a person truly interested in Indian people and intending to do good, his books are rather useless. Phony Indians are abundant irf the old Western movies and an intermixture of this with fact is not needed. Our need instead is more of our people seriously educating themselves in our history and culture and possessing the ability to inform the general public of how misleading in the understanding of Indian people, such publications are. This - King Celebrating the holiday season at the local pub, at your friend's place or at a party, all seem to have the everytime effect, the hangover . "Oh boy!" says Downey. "Am I gonna have a head!" "Don't be bragging. It ~ill be more than you have now," his wife says, proceeding with the housecleaning. "I should have never got into that game, you know, the one where the one guy names the drink, the other one pays for it and the last one drinks it!" His wife nodding. "I know the game, and it was vicious the way you three were playing it, naming all those non-existent made-up drinks and trying to get each other sick.'' :'Well, don't give me_ the lecture now, for goodness sake," says Downey. "Just tell me what to do.for the problem." His eyebalss are already looking like a pair of pink steel-wool pads. The be st thing ·you can dq is to have a bowl of soup or a glass of milk, a vitamin B-12 capsule if you have any - and an Alka-Seltzer or an aspirin before you go to sleep." "I can't believe I drank the whole thing," Downey moans. "And before you go to bed, try to swallow a pint or so of water; it will keep you from getting up all night in the dehydration waltz. Most important, get as much sleep as you can." "You know only about five per cent of your alcohol content is eliminated through your breath and by trips to the Gents' room. The rest has to be processed by your body, go through the liver - what you've got left of it - or out through your pores. Would you like to hear what the Canadian Medical Association has to say on t e subject?" 1 " A hangover's severity is in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol and the length of time a person drinks. To cut down the hangover, cut down the drinking." , "Now she tells me," Downey moans. " FaiUng that, many doctors advise intravenous shots of glucose, or whiffs of pure oxygen," his wife told him. "You wouldn't be in this trouble, if you didn't drink so much and so fast," says his wife lacing into him as he well deserved. "The bars are in the business of dispensing congeniality, friendship, a · good taste in the mouth, and some human warmth. They are not in the business of getting people drunk. As with all good things, there is no need to overdo. The best way to ward Qff that hangover is to drink at a moderate pace, avoid too much sweet· drink, and take plenty of liquid." ~ "Too late! Too late!" says Downey, wandering off into the chilly night, his head between his hands. Publication isAvailable in MICROFOBM • ... from Xerox University Microfilms. 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor , Michigan 48106 Xerox UniversityMicrofilms 35 Mobile Drive · Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4A 1H6 u'niversity MicrofilmsLimited St. John 's Road, Tyler's Green, Penn, Buckinghamshire, England ''. Pl:.EASE' WRITE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION January 1974 .' _Pu .hlic hearings before approval Jean ·Chr~tien, Minister of Indfan and Northern Affairs, recently agreed to a motion pa·ssed by the Conservatives that Indians and Eskimos from the' Yukon and the Northwest Territories be allowed to retain land ' rights they possess where huge parks are being developed. Mr. Chretien also agreed to hold public hearing3 on development plans for nine national parks before they are approved. Tbe Saskatchewan Indian Page 39 This Olivetti typewriter with Cree (Western Canada version) is the result of months of negotiation with engineers, Indian Affairs officials and Cree community representatives including Smith Atimoyoo, Director of the F.S.l.'s Cultural Centre, and John and Ida McLeod, education consultants. The characters are · arranged in vertical rows of similar sounds with more frequently used syllabics on the second row from the bottom . CREE CALENDAR A CREE CALENDER FOR 1974 HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS AVAILABLE FROM THE Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College Eachmonthof the year has been beautifullyillustratedby Sarian ·Stump A lesson plan for use by teachers in the classroom · is also available Price $2.00 Order from LINDA PELLY SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN CULTURAL COLLEGE 1402 QUEBEC AVENUE SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN. S7K 1V4 Page 40 January 1974
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Saskatchewan Indian Magazine
Subject
The topic of the resource
First Nations--Saskatchewan--Periodicals
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1970/2011
Rights
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In Copyright
Format
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PDF
Language
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English
Type
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Text
Coverage
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Saskatchewan
1970/2011
Description
An account of the resource
The <em>Saskatchewan Indian</em> was the official publication of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and served as an effective communication vehicle for the First Nations in the province of Saskatchewan between 1970-2011. It provided coverage of people, issues and events both entertaining and informative throughout First Nation communities. The magazine was distributed to all First Nation communities in Saskatchewan and to all First Nation groups, organizations and institutions throughout the duration of its publication.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre<br />#305 - 2555 Grasswood Road East<br />Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7T-0K1<br /><br />Phone: (306) 244-1146<br />Email: library.services@sicc.sk.ca<br />Website: <a href="https://www.sicc.sk.ca/" target="_blank" title="Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.sicc.sk.ca/</a>
Contributor
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Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Magazine
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Saskatchewan Indian, vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1974)
Subject
The topic of the resource
First Nations--Saskatchewan--Periodicals
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1974-01
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Scott, Richard
Beatty, Joan
Pinay, Donna
Brass, Loyd
King, Archie
Standingready, Kim
Gambler, John
Ursan, John
Starr, Cliff
Belfry, E. J.
Ratt, Philip
Irvin, Art
Ferguson, Les
Williams, Ken
Stump, Sarain
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
In Copyright
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Saskatchewan
1974-01
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letters to the editor
Editorial
Four die in crash of DNS plane near Cumberland: Search lasts 21 days / by Joan Beatty
Mayor says pilot 'the best'
Fur prices soaring; setting new records at international sales
Second payment a 1st for FFM Corporation
Willard Ahenakew named to head new Arts and Crafts Council
New book: unavailable
Parent teacher meet attracts 100 guests
Early meet forced by pressing issues
Pelican to get high school
Key Band office now located conveniently on it's reserve
Job readiness program begins on two reserves
Prince Albert Winter Festival gets boost from Indian Centre
IAB takes on its own workers
Saskatoon Urban Indians hold successful Christmas Pow wow
Attitudes a classroom function: Ahenakew tells emerging teachers
Northern notes / by Joan Beatty
Ahenakew named to sports director's job
Alien Thunder premier soon
Sports commentary / by Lloyd Brass
Cote Chiefs take trophy
Associations meet for workshop: Each works with Indian children
Forty students for 2nd course
Farm talk / by Art Irvin
Children play piano
Centre elects new directors
R.C. residence at Onion Lake to close soon
Good turnout at talent night
Dieter passes 93rd birthday
Group appoints Pooyak advisor
Police attempt new approach
Sponsor tournament
Ladies lib: At an elderly women's workshop held at the Cultural Centre, the ladies tell of the good life in the old days / by Donna Pinay
The louse that roared: Born in controversy, the James Smith school is fast maturing into the most exciting and innovative project in the country
You and the law
Snowmobile accident
A picture is worth....
4-H roundup / by Les Ferguson
Six die in reserve fire
Ken Williams
Indians benefit from Buffalo overpopulation
Mistaseni: A Cree legend: The story of a young Indian boy who grew up with the buffalo
Past glory of the Plains Cree recalled by Chief Thunderchild
Author ignorant of real Indian's life / by Donna Pinay and Sarain Stump
The funny side / by Archie King
Public hearings before approval.
Description
An account of the resource
The <em>Saskatchewan Indian</em> was the official publication of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and served as an effective communication vehicle for the First Nations in the province of Saskatchewan between 1970-2011. It provided coverage of people, issues and events both entertaining and informative throughout First Nation communities. The magazine was distributed to all First Nation communities in Saskatchewan and to all First Nation groups, organizations and institutions throughout the duration of its publication.