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                  <text>tober 1997
$2.95

�Saskatchewan and
Aboriginal Peoples
in the 21st Century:
•--: .:.,,__.u._.,..,,1 ..3, ,. &lt; ,t~I,-.,··"·

'I,.,! ... ,.

·

Social, Economic and
Political Changes and
Challenges

\_=._

Saskatchewan
andAboriginal
Peoplesin the
21st Century:

Vrtal Information for Planners
&amp; Strategic Thinkers
This timely study can assist you in developing business and operational plans that recognize the Aboriginal potential. It is clear, it is
concise and it is available now.
For anyone involved in charting the future
of a private, public or volunteer sector organization, this comprehensive and revealing
book will provide the data to forecast how
individual organizations can benefit from partnership with the Aboriginal community.

Without question, this is the most
essential resource and guide for
the future.

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�WAN

1111
Vol. 27 #3

IN

THIS

ISSUE

Greeting from the Chief ............................... ........................ ..............3
FSIN Launches Landmark Demographics Study ............................. .4
Chiefs-in-Assembly Ratify New FSIN Structure ............................. .6
Yorkton Hosts Special Legislative Assembly .................................... 8
AFN Elects New Chief .......................... ................... .................. .......9
FSIN Signs Fiscal Relations Table .................. ................................. 10
Team Saskatchewan Wins Fourth NAIG Champsionship ............... 11
Tom Charles: A True Champion ...................................................... 12
Whitecap Hosts Largest-Ever Summer Games ...................... .......... 13
Lance Run ................................................................................ ........ 15
Yellowquill Acquires Saskatoon Building ....................................... 16
Fire Hills Internet Officially Launched ............ ................................ 17
Harvey Gardipy: In Remembrance ................. ................................. 18
Senator Archie Waditaka .................................................................. 18
Aboriginal Suicide ........................................................................... 19
Sculptor Lloyd Pinay ....................................................................... 20
iASKATCHEWAN
INDIANCULTURAL
CENit,L

LIBRARYDEPARTMENl
120-33rd STREETEAST
SASKATOON, S.ASKATCHEWAN

S7K OS!
Saskatchewan Indian is published by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
Editor: Lori Bateman Desktop Publisher: Jocelyne Wasacase/Printwest
Managing Editor: Lloyd Martell
Copyright 1996. All rights reserved. ISSN 0048-9204
Saskatchewan Indian Advertising Sales: Dale Johnson (306) 652-8557
Printed in Saskatchewan by PrintWest

October 1997

SASKATCHEWAN

11:191.&amp;DI I

�CanadaMortgageand HousingCorporationis committedto workingin partnershipwith aboriginalgroupsin
deliveringand administeringhousingprogramsin orderto facilitateaboriginalcommunitiesin their continued
progressto self-sufficiency.
We havetwo new leading-edgevacanciesthat will continueto ensurethat these
transitionstake place:

TRAINING

CONSULTANT -

ABORIGINAL

HOUSING

LOCATION:CALGARY

$49,972 - $62,452
Reportingto the Manager,AssistedHousingCentre,your key rolewill be to facilitatethe continuedtransferof technicaland
administrativeskills and knowledgeneededto deliverand administerOn-Reservehousingprograms.Workingin closeco-operation
with aboriginalorganizations,TribalCouncils,their representatives
and educationalinstitutions,the task will be to developcosteffectivetraining/educational
programsthat will continueto transferthe necessaryhousingskillsand knowledgeto aborigill81
communities.
You musthavea degreein Education(witha focuson Adult Education),SocialSciencesor relatedfields,and havedemonstrated
experiencein workingwith aboriginalgroupsin designingand developingtrainingprogramsusinga varietyof third partiessuchas
communitycolleges,traininginstitutionsand universities
. Solidunderstandingand/orpreviousexperiencein utilizingeducational/
employmentfundingmechanisms/programs
at local,provincialand nationallevelsis essential.Projectmanagementskills are
required,as is the abilityto analysetrainingproposals,examinefundingmechanismsand makeappropriaterecommendations.
Curriculumdevelopmentexperiencewill be an asset.The abilityto develophigh levelsof trust and credibilitywith aboriginal
organizations,Tribal Councilsand their representatives
is critical.
Equivalentcombinationsof experienceand educationwill be considered,includingthosethat compensatedirectlyrelated
experiencein lieu of completionof formalacademicqualifications.
CompetitionNumber:RG002351997

CONSULTANT -

ASSISTED HOUSING

LOCATION:SASKATOON

$49,972 - $62,452
Reportingto the Manager,AssistedHousingCentreCalgary,you will play a key role as the criticallink betweenthe Assisted
HousingTeamin the Provinceof Saskatchewan(whichdeliversand administersthe housingprograms)and the aboriginal
organizations,Tribal Councilsand representatives
who are the clients/stakeholders.
You will ensurethat effectivebusinessrelationsare establishedand maintained,and you will work closelywith clientsand
stakeholdersto seek out opportunitiesto financehousingneedsand facilitateproblemsolvingbetweenthe AssistedHousingTeam
and the clients/stakeholders
. You will also providea highlevelof CMHCrepresentation
with FirstNationsand their representatives
in the province.
A universitydegreein SocialSciences,BusinessAdministrationor a relatedfield, or a relevantprofessionaldesignation,is required.
Demonstratedexperiencein the deliveryand administrationof AssistedHousingProgramsis also required.Equivalentcombinations
of experienceand educationwill be considered,includingthosethat compensatedirectlyrelatedexperiencein lieu of completionof
formalacademicqualifications.Consultingskills,tact, sensitivityand the abilityto workwithina team-orientedenvironment,
includinga self-managedteam,are essentialattributes.The abilityto developand maintainhigh levelsof credibilitywith aboriginal
organizations,Tribal Councilsand their representatives
is critical.
CompetitionNumber:RG002411997
If you are interestedin thesechallengingpositions,pleasesubmita resumewith a coveringletter,quotingthe relevantcompetition
number,indicatingthe contributionsyou could make,by October3, 1997,to:
John Morgan
Consultant, Human Resources
Canada CMHC Mortgage and Housing Corporation
P.O. Box 2560
500, 708 - 11 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2N9
Fax: (403) 292-6238

CMHCnSCHL
In accordance
withour diversity
management
program
, we invite
applications
fromqualifiedpersons
withdisabilities
, aboriginals,
membersof
visibleminority groups,womenandmen.

Helping to house Canadians

Canada

�GREETING
FROMTHECHIEF
Dear Readers,

Greetings on behalf of the Federation fjf Saskat{heufanJnaian
Nations Executive, Senate a]ldBtafftoFirst
Nations Chiefs, C,ouncils
and membership.
As this current i~sue ofSask~tchewan Indian refl.ects,
Saskatchewan First Nations have been part df.a number of significant
accomplishments in recent months. First, Saskatchewan Chiefs united in support of the candidacy of Phil Fontaine for the position of Grana
Chief of the Assembly ·of First Nations . The strength of our commitme n t led to the election of Phil Fontaine t,o this esteemedposition in Vancouver af the end ofJuly. We wefoomed Grand
Chief Fontaine to Saskatchewan, days after '7:iselection, for his first official appearance. We are looking forward to a productive working relationship with Grand Chief Phil Fontaine.
British Columbia was also the site of .Team Saskatchewan's most recent success. For the fourth
consecutive time, the pride of Saskatchewan FirstNations , Team Sas,katchez.van, brought home the
Overall Championship title from the North American Indigenous Games. Over 800 Aboriginal athletes, our future leaders, competed throughout the week in Victoria. Congratulations to all of the (!,thletes who participated in the Games; your dedication to excellence is a true inspiration.
In the spirit of excellence; the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre is celebrating their 25th
Anniversary this year. The Cultural College, as it was once known, was initiated in 1972 to provide a
means of "Indian control over Indian education". From its modest beginnings have evolved the
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and the
Indian Teacher Education Program (!TEP). First Nations education in Saskatchewan has progressed
significantly in 25 years and a large portion of the credit belongs to SICC.
Saskatchewan First Nations are about to witness another historic moment. On September 23,
1997, the Grand Opening of the First Nations Bank of Canada was held at its permanent downtown
Saskatoon location. Although this event has taken some time in coming, it will provide
Saskatchewan First Nations with economic viability far into the future.
The economic situation of our people will also be impacted by the signing of the Fiscal Relations
Table on August 5, 1997. The new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Jane
Stewart, made her first official appearance in Saskatchewan to attend the signing, held at
Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
The Table creates a forum at which we will negotiate fiscal relations with the federal and
provincial governments. This is significant in that it is the first time that either government has
agreed to discuss the way in which fiscal arrangements are made with First Nations people.
More recently, Yorkton was the site of a Special Session of the FSIN Legislative Assembly.
Saskatchewan Chiefs gathered for another productive sitting. Of special note were the appearances of
Grand Chief Fontaine and the Treaty Commissioner, Judge David Arnot.
In closing, as we reflect on this, the f'SIN's 51st year of work for rec?g,iitiqn ofou .r treaty rights,
we must acknowledge the work that has been successfully completed by our past leaders. With the
commitment of Saskatchewan First Nations, a brighter, more prosperous future lies ahead.

Chief Blaine C. Favel

October 1997

SASKATCHEWAN

lllal.&amp;.111 3

�FSINLAUNCHES
LANDMARK
DEMOGRAPHICS
STUDY
Saskatchewan government and business leaders gathered at
the Sheraton Cavalier in Saskatoon on September 8, 1997 for the
launch of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
(FSIN) demographics publication. Jim Durocher, President of
the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan and Barry Wiens ,
Saskatchewan Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal
Affairs joined the FSIN in hosting this launch. Among the invit ed guests were Ron Clark, President of Sask.Energy; Betty Anne
Latrace-Henderson, President of the Saskatoon Chamber of
Commerce; FSIN Senator Fred Martel; and Treaty Commissioner David Arnot.

Saskatchewan and Aboriginal Peoples in the 21st Century:
Social, Economic and Political Changes and Challenges reports
the findings from two studies concerning the future of Aboriginal peoples in the province . The first study, authored by University of Saskatchewan Professor David Smith, examines the pro jected demographic changes in the Aboriginal populations for
the next 50 years. The study also looks at the potential impact
these changes could have on the provincial elections. The second study was authored by a team of experts from the University of Saskatchewan College of Commerce. Kelly Lendsay , Marv
Painter and Eric Howe studied the impact of Aboriginally owned
business and the potential impact of the Treaty Land Entitlement
money on the provincial economy.
The FSIN commissioned both studie s after internal discussion . The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS) partnered with
the FSIN in undertaking the economic impact study. These
organizations commissioned the studies for use as a tool in planning for the future. There is presently insufficient resource material on these topics. "As elected leaders in the Aboriginal community we are often faced with questions as to how much of an
impact the changes in population will affect the province ," said
FSIN Chief Blaine Favel. "This information will assist us in
planning with our partners throughout the province to take
advantage of the potential opportunity that is ahead of us."
The first study revealed that the Aboriginal population is
expected to triple in number over the next 50 years.
Saskatchewan's Aboriginal population made up only 13.3 percent of the total population in 1995 but is projected to increase
to 32.5 percent by 2045 if the current growth rates are maintained.

In making sure that this scenario does not come to pass,
"[Saskatchewan businesses and Aboriginal peoples] must work
together to create opportunities now that will build a better
future," said Chief Favel. Minister Wiens expressed support for
this by saying, "Our future depends on working together."
The study then went on to examine the structure, profitability and growth patterns of Aboriginal business . In a survey of
Aboriginal businesses in Saskatchewan, the College of Commerce team found that these businesses demonstrated profitability profiles that were consistent with non-{\boriginal businesses
from across Canada.
'
The study also showed that many Aboriginal businesses are
creating employment and business opportunities for the nonAboriginal community. A number of Aboriginal businesses
reported partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
people. In addition, Aboriginal businesses reported that 21 percent of their management positions and 23 percent of their nonmanagement positions were staffed by non-Aboriginal employees. These findings stress the fact that Aboriginal business creates opportunity for the whole of Saskatchewan .
Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) was also found to have the
potential for significant positive impact on the Saskatchewan

Let the Traditioncontinuet
The staff and manage ment of the Delta
Bessborou gh have alw ays appr eciated the
privilege of working with the FSIN.
We welcom e yo u to co me and redi scover our
many facilities. Whether booking a meeting
or just a relaxing weekend getaw ay,
the Delta Bessborou gh await s the opportunity to serve you.

The College of Commerce team used these findings to create
scenario s for future development in the province. Of course ,
these scenarios are predictions, not statements of fact.
The status quo scenario outlines the future should no changes
be made to the current education and employment context for
Aboriginal peoples. This scenario projects that there will be a
decrease in Aboriginal employment rates from 31 percent in
1995 to 11 percent in 2045. A declining employment rate cou pled by a rising population rate will result in greater demand on
the resources necessary for health care, schools and the justice
system, to name but three. Chief Favel calls this "the cost of
doing nothing".

4

SA S KATC H E WA N ilil9iAlil

601 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon , Sk.
S7K 3G8
Tel: (306) 244-5521
fax: (306) 653-2458

Octob er 1997

�economy. Twenty-eight Saskatchewan First Nations are part of a
1992 agreement that will settle existing treaty land claims. The se
settlements could bring about a $516 million impact with
approximately half of this amount having the potential for direct
growth of the Saskatchewan economy.
In evaluating the importance of creating a positive future for
Aboriginal peoples, Chief Pavel has issued challenges to the
corporate, government, organized labour and education and
training sectors of this province. He places emphasis on the value of creating employment for and business opportunities with
Aboriginal people. He also challenges these sectors to develop
the training and educational programs that will allow Aboriginal
people to move into the skilled workforce.
Betty Anne Latrace-Henderson, President of Saskatoon's
Chamber of Commerce, was optimistic that change is forthcoming. She believes that through these challenges will come opportunities for growth. Jim Durocher of the MNS believes that,
especially with the commitment of the training and education
sector, "The possibilities are great."
"The projections of this study represent a significant change
for the province ," says Chief Pavel. "Leadersh ip in every sector
of Saskatchewan needs to focus on these changes and the challenge is out there to seize the potential opportunity."
Copies of the study are available for sale at 1-800-236-6438
or 525-2304 in Regina.

Challenges - Corporate Sector
• develop and implement Aboriginal Policy
• increase employment and training opportunities
• create opportunities for joint ventures, strategic alliances and
other partnerships
Challenges - Government Partners
• set realistic targets and policies for employment , procurement
and business enhancement
• offer tax incentives for non-Aboriginal business sector to
invest in or joint venture with Aboriginal peoples .
Challenges - Organized Labour
• become more active in creating Aboriginal employment and
training opportunities
.,,
• establish an Advisory Body consisting of major Saskatchewan
unions and the FSIN and MNS
• identify barriers and create mechanisms for Aboriginal people
to enter the skilled trades
Challenges - Training and Education
• strategic training for skilled jobs in the workforce of the future
• develop strategic Aboriginal training policies at all post-secondary level training and education institution s in
Saskatchewan.~

■ Landmark

Inn

Owned and Operated by Ochapowace First Nation
186 Spacious guest rooms
with non smoking wings.
Business , seniors , and family
group rates .

Swim.ming Pool
Water Slides

Banquets and meeting facilities for up to 300
people.
Restaurant, Checkers night club, and cold
beer off sale.
Business centre on site.

l-800-667-98
4150 Albert Street
October 1997

Regina

ll
Saskatchewan
SASKATCHEWAN

ill8iAII

5

�CHIEFS-IN-ASSEMBLY
RATIFY
NEWFSINSTRUCTURE
The main topic of discussion at the
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations (FSIN) Chiefs ' Assembly in June
1997 was the plan to re-structure the
organization. The Chiefs ratified five
resolutions that will streamline the FSIN.
The most visible changes in the new
arrangement are reductions in the number
of Executive members and
Board s and Commissions.
Effective October 1997, the
Executive
will
be
composed of a Chief and
four Vice-Chiefs . The
Boards and Commissions
will be reduced in number
to five.
"We have talked about
[re-organization] at great
length," said FSIN Chief
Blaine Pavel. "We are now
moving forward."
The process of the FSIN
re-organization has been
discussed
over several
years. The last major
renewal of the structure
occurred in 1982. Since
then, Saskatchewan Chiefs
have determined that additional
changes
were
required. They viewed the
FSIN as being too "top-heavy " with
regard to the current Executive structure
and the number of Boards and
Commissions .
As a result, the Chiefs-in-Assembly
passed a resolution in September 1995
mandating the FSIN Executive Council
and the Indian Government Commission
to establish a Steering Committee and
direct the development of a comprehensive re-organization plan . This plan was
to be based on accountability, treaty
rights protection, treaty implementation
and self-government implementation . the
separation of political functions from the
administrative functions and equity of
representation of FSIN Boards and
Commissions.
Three steps were taken to ensure that
the FSIN downsized in such a way as to
not diminish the organization 's effectiveness. First, the look of an organizational
chart was agreed upon. Second, the structure was developed from this chart. This

6

SASKATCHEWAN

illlBl.&amp;li!I

structure was given content through the
establishment of terms of reference. And,
third, the Tribal Councils and First
Nations were consulted and given the
opportunity for feedback.
The resulting plan , in the form of five
resolutions, was brought forward to the
Chiefs at the Legislative Assembly. The

first resolution creates an Executive consisting of a Chief and four Vice-Chiefs.
This reduces the size from the current
Chief, seven Vice-Chiefs and an
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
Regional Vice-Chief . The Vice-Chiefs
will be elected on a regional basis, meaning that there will be no designation of
linguistic group or Treaty area.
The election in October 1997 will see
the Chief, First Vice-Chief and Third
Vice-Chief elected for three-year terms .
The Second Vice-Chief and Fourth ViceChief will be elected for two-year terms.
All terms will subsequently be three
years. This system will ultimately stagger
the election years of the Executive. The
goal, says Chief Pavel, is to ensure that
there is "always continuity" in the
Executive structure.
The responsibility of AFN representation will be returned to the Office of the
Chief along with the Saskatchewan
Indian Veterans Association and Veterans

issues. The Office of the Chief is also
responsible for the assignment of portfolios to the Vice-Chiefs.
While the structure of the Executive
has changed, the voting procedure
remains the same. Therefore, each First
Nation receives five votes for the first
400 members . One additional vote is
granted for each additional
200 members or part thereof.
And, eacl1 Executive member
must be elected by a clear
majority, that is, 50 percent
plus one.
The second re-organization
resolution deals with the
reduction of the number of
Boards and Commissions.
There are currently 22 FSIN
Boards and Commissions.
The new structure will see
these amalgamated to five
Commissions with supporting
secretariats .
The
Commissions are: Lands and
Resource s, Economic and
Community
Development ,
and Training,
Education
Health
and
Social
Development and Justice .
The new Lands and
Resources Commission takes
over from Hunting, Fishing, Trapping
and Gathering. The Commission is to
take a lead role with First Nations in protecting and implementing the treaty right
to lands and resources and create policies
and legislation in this area. The Treaty
Land Entitlement Advisory Group,
Northern
Resources
Committee,
Sustainable Development Committee
and Land Claims Negotiation Committee
will all receive direction from this
Commission.
The Economic and Community
Development Commission is an amalgamation of the existing Economic
Development Commission , the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Commission
and the Saskatchewan Indian Housing
and Roads Commission. The new mandate is to protect and implement the
treaty right to economic and community
development. The Housing and Roads
Committee will be established under this
commission.

October 1997

�The Education and Training Commission combines the current Education and
Sports, Culture and Recreation Commissions. Its mandate is to protect, promote
and implement the inherent right to selfgovernment as it relates to the treatyright
to education and training. The First
Nations Education Authority Association
and Sports, Culture and Recreation will .
fall under this commission's jurisdiction.

FSIN Senate members and an appointee
from the Saskatchewan Treaty Women's
Secretariat.

The mandate of the Health and Social
Development Commission (HSDC) is to
protect and implement the treaty right to
health and social development. The Commission
will continue to support
and facilitate community
healing activities, programs and services. It
will also develop partnerships with preventative
treatments and aftercare
services in regard to gambling addictions. The
Senior Technical Advisory Group, Home Care
Working Group, Brighter
Futures, Indian and Child
Family Services, Residential
Schools
and
NNADAP all remain
under the HSDC's jurisdiction.

The IGC will be an amalgamation
with the Saskatchewan Indian Taxation
Commission. Under these new terms of

The Justice Commission amalgamates the
Young Offenders, Policing, Courts/Tribunals and
Corrections
Commissions. This Commission
is mandated to assist First
Nations with lobbying for sufficient
resources to allow the success of justice
initiatives. It will also provide support in
developing community strategies to deal
with specific justice issues.
The third resolution adopts new terms
of reference for the Executive Council
and the Indian Government Commission
(IGC). The Executive Council consists of
the FSIN Executive members, Tribal
Council representatives, one elected
member from each independent First
Nation, the FSIN Chief of Staff, two

October 1997

Under the new terms of reference, the
Executive Council is responsible for
strategic planning and overseeing the
political functions of FSIN in between
sittings of the Legislative Assembly. The
Council also facilitates political decisionmaking and policy development.

ment of the FSIN. The Auditor General
will verify the accuracy of the FSIN's
accounts and records and the effectiveness of its programs. Chief Pavel calls
the Auditor General FSIN's "safety
mechanism".
The final resolution dealing with reorganization establishes a Northern
Affairs Committee. This Committee falls
under the jurisdiction of the Office of the
Chief. The Committee replaces the role
of the Seventh Vice-Chief in representing
the unique issues Qf the Dene people.
Typically,
these
northern communities have language
and
remoteness
issues that are not
shared by the majority of Saskatchewan's
First Nations.
The
Northern
Affairs Committee
will grant northern
First Nation communities the opportunity
to deal with these
issues and move
them forward.

reference, the IGC is responsible for
Indian government, taxation, treaty policy and any matters that arise between sittings of the Legislative Assembly.
The fourth resolution restructures the
Treasury Board and the role of the Auditor General. The Treasury Board will
enforce the management of FSIN's financial functions. This includes the expenditures and financial aspects of personnel
and administration.
The Auditor General will have new
powers to review the financial manage-

The ratification of
all five resolutions
dealing with re-organization means that
the new structure
will be implemented.
In October 1997, an
election of FSIN
Executive members
will be held under
the new structure.
Following the election, the new structure of the FSIN will
be adopted in its entirety.
Vice-Chief Bellegarde stated at the
June Assembly, "The organization will
adapt to meet these new changes. " It is
the FSIN's ability to effect change that
has kept it viable over the course of its 51
years. This current restructuring is simply a means of further streamlining the
organization to make it more responsive
and accountable to Saskatchewan's First
Nations people. ~

SASKATCHEWAN

illiiliHAlliil 7

�YORKTON
HOSTS
SPECIAL
SESSION
OF
LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY
The Saskatchewan Chiefs met in
Yorkton, from August 26 to 27, 1997 for
a Special Session of the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) .
Legislative Assembly. This session was
held to allow the Chiefs to ratify changes
to FSIN legislation concerning reorganization.
Chief Blaine Favel addressed the
Assembly following the Opening Ceremonies. He spoke of the vision of the
Saskatchewan Chiefs in keeping the
organization unified and how the reorganization would assist the FSIN in operating more efficiently. He also reflected on
some of the many accomplishments of
the Chiefs, in conjunction with the FSIN,
and how this has put Saskatchewan on
the forefront of new developments across
Canada.
The reorganization process was the
first item on the agenda. Resolutions that
significantly altered the structure of the
FSIN were ratified at the Chiefs' Assembly held in June. At the August session,
the Chiefs ratified amendments to the
FSIN Convention Act and the FSIN Elections Act.
Fiscal relations was another significant topic of discussion. The process
involved with creating fiscal equity for
Saskatchewan First Nations officially
began with the signing of the Fiscal
Relations Table on August 5, 1997. The
Memorandum of Understanding establishes a workplan to address various fiscal relationships between the FSIN, the
Crown and the Saskatchewan Government. At present, a task force is amassing information that details government
expenditures. This process will continue for several months.
Vice-Chief Eugene Arcand provided
the Chiefs with an update of Gaming.
The 1995 Gaming Agreement is currently being reviewed by the provincial
government and the FSIN. A number of
issues have resulted from the agreement
that require additional consideration as
a result of on-going experience in the
gaming industry.

8

SASKATCHEWAN

iilllllA.

These issues include the elimination
of the flip in revenue sharing so that First
Nations casinos are not penalized for better revenues than Casino Regina ; the
extension of the gaming agreement to
include a long-term operating agreement;
and verification of First Nations control
over expansion in the industry. Details of
the agreement should be available in
October 1997.
Tripartite policing agreements, reported Vice-Chief Ernie Cameron, have now
been implemented in 23 communities,
providing services to 35 bands. There are
currently seven additional agreements
under discussion
and Vice-Chief
Cameron expects that one or two of these
will be finalized during this fiscal year.
The policing agreements establish
Police Management Boards in the communities. These boards function to identify and report policing issues to RCMP
representatives. The boards then work
with the RCMP in resolving the issues.
The purpose of the boards is to facilitate
cooperation between the RCMP and the
community.
Vice-Chief Allan Adam reported that
progress has been made on trapping
issues. The implementation of the Euro-

pean Union 's ban on the import of Canadian fur has been extended for three
years. However, this delay is contingent
upon an agreement on humane trapping
standards that is expected in October
1997.
The Assembly was honoured by the
presence of newly ~lected Assembly of
First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine.
Chief Fontaine thanked the Saskatchewan Chiefs for their support in
electing him as the National Chief. In his
new position, he is looking forward to
working closely with the Chiefs of
Saskatchewan and ensuring that the AFN
is on track with new developments. He
also congratulated the FSIN for their
approach to sound fiscal management
and the development of many new initiatives to benefit First Nations people.
In his closing comments, Chief Favel
acknowledged the Yorkton Tribal Council for their accomplishments and
thanked them for hosting the Legislative
Assembly in their territory.
The next FSIN Legislative Assembly
will be held October 15-16, 1997 in
Saskatoon.

FSIN Chief Blaine Favel addressing the chiefs of the special session of the legislative
assembly in Yorkton.

October 1997

�AFNELECTS
NEWCHIEF
he remained on
the ballot. Following a substantial
decrease in votes
on the third ballot,
Mercredi placed
his remaining support behind GrantJohn.

Phil Fontaine at his first official appeanance
as AFN Grand Chief
Nearly 18 hours after voting began on
July 30, 1997, Manitoba leader Phil
Fontaine emerged as Assembly of First
Nations (AFN) Grand Chief. His victory
came as the result of four hard-fought
ballots.
Early in the day, the first ballot saw
Ovide Mercredi with 127 votes, a onevote lead over Fontaine who had 126
votes and a four-vote lead over Wendy
Grant-John who had 123 votes. Larry
Sault and Joe Dion trailed the three and
Bob Manuel was forced to drop out,
being the sixth-place finisher.
The second ballot saw Fontaine take
the lead with Grant-John a close second
place. Mercredi's support was falling, but

October 1997

Late in the night, a
fourth ballot gave
Fontaine a commanding lead, but
he lacked the 60
percent
support
that he needed for
a clear victory. In
attempt to prevent
a fifth ballot,
Grant-John
and
Fontaine
met
behind
closed
doors. Upon their
emergence from
this
meeting,
Grant-John conceded, based on
Fontaine's pledge
to honour
the
ongoing
treaty
process in British
Columbia.

Wearing a traditional headdress and wrapped in a Coast
Salish blanket, Phil Fontaine was sworn
in as the Grand Chief of the Assembly of
First Nations. Fontaine addressed the
chiefs, saying, "When we demonstrate
solidarity and unity, we're speaking not
just to each other but to the nation-to
the world."
Fontaine was born on September 20,
1944 to Jean Baptiste and Agnes
Fontaine at the Fort Alexander Reserve,
now the Sagkeeng Anichinabe First
Nation, located 80 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba . While Chief of his
community, Fontaine was one of the first
leaders to bring public attention to the
issue of abuse in residential schools. He

also worked to establish local control of
education and a treatment centre for alcoholism in his community.
More recently, Fontaine has served
three terms as the Grand Chief of the
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC).
The AMC is composed of 60 Manitoba
First Nations and represents 90,000 people. As Grand C~~ief of the AMC ,
Fontaine was instrumental in producing
an agreement implementing the inherent
right to self-government in 1994. The
agreement provides for the dismantling
of the Department of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development and recognizes
First Nation government.
Fontaine has two children and two
grandchildren and lives in Winnipeg with
his wife. He played hockey for the Sagkeeng Old Timers for many years and
remains physically fit by jogging on a
daily basis.
In his first official appearance as
Grand Chief, at the signing of the Fiscal
Relations Table at Wanuskewin , Fontaine
reiterated his pledge for national unity. "I
believe in working together to find good
solutions to the problems we, as First
Nations people, face," he said.
It was fitting that his first official
appearance was m Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan chiefs had remained unanimous in their support of Fontaine during
the AFN elections, voting in a block. Following Fontaine's victory, Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief
Blaine Pavel reaffirmed Saskatchewan's
support of Fontaine.
"I think that Phil, with his broad
breadth of support across Canada has the
ability to unify the Chiefs, to have them
stand firm on some policy issues , and go
united to the Government of Canada, "
said Chief Pavel. "So , I think it will be a
fresh beginning for us and we look forward to working with Grand Chief Phil
Fontaine." ~

SASKATCHEWAN

il\llliAil

9

�FSINSIGNSFISCAL
RELATIONS
TABLE

Chief Favel, Di and Minister Jane Stewart and Intergovernmental
and Aboriginal Affairs minister Berny Wiens signing agreement.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) has taken another step
forward on the road to self-government.
On August 5, 1997, the FSIN, the Government of Canada and the Government
of Saskatchewan entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to develop fiscal relations and funding mechanisms to
support First Nations government.
The MOU was signed by FSIN Chief
Blaine Favel, Jane Stewart, Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Berny Wiens, Saskatchewan
Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, at a ceremony held at
Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The signing
was significant in that it was the first official representation for both Stewart and
Wiens in their new capacities as Ministers.
Also making debut appearances were
Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief
Phil Fontaine and Roy Bird , the
Saskatchewan Regional Director General
for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
These dignitaries were joined by many of
Saskatchewan's chiefs and other distinguished guests.
The MOU creates a forum for discussion of fiscal relations. It has developed
from the tripartite Protocol Agreement
signed on October 31, 1996. This agree-

10

SASKATCHEWAN

ililliH... 1111

ment establishes
tables at which the
FSIN, federal and
provincial governments
discuss
issues of mutual
concern.
Fiscal
relations has been
identified as being
key to the discussions.
"This agreement
is the beginning of
a
process
to
improve the fiscal
health of First
Nations in Saskatchewan,"
said
Chief Favel. "It is
long overdue but a
welcome step in
addressing treaty
and self-govern-

Topics that are slated for discussion
for the three parties include: First Nations
government financing and treaty relations; transparency and stability in the
exercise of fiscal responsibilities;
resource revenue-sharing; and taxation.
Many of these topics have never previously had a forum for discussion. The
MOU not only provides this opportunity,
but ties these related issues together into
a single forum from which the three parties may move towards resolution.
The terms of reference and a workplan
are anticipated in three months. A
detailed workplan outlining the topics
will require an additional three months.
During this same time frame, a task
force is collecting and reporting on data
concerning current First Nation expenditures to compare to the expenditures of
non-First Nation citizens.
Ministers Stewart and Wiens did
express caution as to the resolution of the
fairly controversial fiscal relations issues
such as taxation and resource revenuesharing. However, they remain optimistic
that a solution will be found that is beneficial to all.
Chief Favel summarized the significance of the signing saying, "I think we
are on the way to solving many, many

ment issues."
Minister Stewart agreed saying, "It is
but a beginning." She also stated that by
continuing to work in a cooperative manner, progress in other areas would follow.
Minister Wiens stressed, "Our goal
was to create an agreement that will
result in stronger communities and
stronger families."
The terms of the MOU establish a
workplan on the
development
of
the integration and
coordination
of
federal, provincial
and First Nation
jurisdiction over
fiscal
relations.
The workplan will
address
fiscal
equity, treaty relations between the
Crown and Saskatchewan
First
Nations and the
establishment of
intergo vernmen tal
fiscal relationships
that are consistent
with the inherent
right to self-government.
Chief Favel, Minister Stewart, Minister Wiens and Grand Chief
Phil Fontaine.

October 1997

�::; ;--:-~,; i

&lt;: "-.·-

~&gt;-·

Special Education .
Supplement

Table of Contents
Education Jurisdiction
Summer Science Camps
School to Work
Cooperative Education
Career Placement
-Curriculum Development
FNEAA
STC Career Fair
SICC 25th Anniversary
SIFC
Wicihitowin
Bold Eagle

2
3:
4

·5
6

7
9
9

11
12.
13
15

,,
I

�EDUCATION
JURISDICTION
PART
OF
OTCDISCUSSIONS
That Saskatchewan First Nations have
treaty rights to education is a given.
However, it is the scope of the treaty
rights to education that have longremained unaddressed.
Up until relatively recently, residential
schools were used by the federal government as the means by which First Nations
youth were educated . But this system had
very obvious flaws and an alternative
was required.
In 1970, Saskatchewan Chiefs mandated a study of First Nations education
in an attempt to address the educational
needs of their people at the time. The task
force had identified the need for "Indian
control of Indian education " by 1972.
Today, the majority of Saskatchewan
First Nations now control their own
schools , and residential schools run by
religious orders are a thing of the past.

The trend toward "Indian control of
Indian education" continues at present
with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) process. In October 1996,
the OTC was renewed with Judge David
Arnot appointed to the Treaty Commissioner position. At that time, education
was identified as being a priority in the
discussions dealing with the treaty right
to, or jurisdiction over, a wide-range of
issues.
The discussions concerning education
are intended to focus on: the nature and
scope of the treaty right to education and
the federal government's obligation
therein; the recogni6on of First Nation
jurisdiction over First Nation education
in its entirety, both on and off-reserve;
and the development of appropriate interjurisdictional and fiscal arrangements
with respect to treaty rights.

Under the current education structure,
the federal government holds responsibility for First Nation education under the
treaties. However, the federal role is now
contained largely to transfers of funding
to the provincial government and, to a
lesser degree, to the First Nations for
First Nation education and training. The
provincial government holds jurisdiction
over most aspects ol education, including
early childhood education, nursery/kindergarten, and elementary, secondary and
post-secondary education. The province
also has specific control over curriculum
accreditation, teacher accreditation and
certification, the establishment of school
divisions and educational standards, policies and methodologies.
The eventual goal of the OTC discussions is to establish new relationships
(continued on page 15)

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October 1997

�CAMPSINTRODUCE
YOUTHTO
INTERACTIVE
SCIENCE
Summer camps offer young people
the opportunity to meet new people and
try out new activities. For the past seven
years, the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations (FSIN) has provided a
unique opportunity to Saskatchewan
First Nations youth. The FSIN Summer
Science Camps introduce students to
hands-on science.
Science and technology are areas of
study that are frequently ignored by Aboriginal students. As a result, Aboriginal
peoples are under-represented in many
meaningful careers such as engineering
and medicine.
Tim Hopkin s, Science Camp Coordinator, knows this from personal experience. Once he had completed his degree,
he found that, being Aboriginal, his skills
were in great demand. He ended up
teaching science courses from an Aboriginal point of view. "Indigenous science is
about family and community," says Hopkins. "It's a way of thinking ." His goal is
to pass on that way of thinking to a new
generation of Aboriginal youth.
Over the course of its existence, the
science camp has moved from being
tour-oriented to containing more learning
and hands-on activities says Hopkins.
The programs offered by the camps now
also accommodate junior (grades six to
eight) and senior (grades nine to 12) students. The revised structure allows the
students to successfully complete projects at their own levels. "It's important
that they all feel like they can complete
the work," says Hopkins.

This year's camps , in
Regina and Saskatoon,
focused on related topics
such as structure and
design, and force and
motion. Projects included a
competition to see who
could build the highest
structure that would support the weight of a ball,
using only drinking straws
and string.
The Saskatoon camp
also worked on a land Land reclamation project. 1997 Summer Science camp.
reclamation project. Hopdents to the wonders of science. Hopkins
kins says that the students reintroduced
is enthusiastic about the success and conIndigenous plants to a plot of land at the
tinuation of both aspects of the program.
FSIN Saskatoon Office. "It something that
"It's a neat way of approaching educahasn't been done before," says Hopkins.
"It's a way of reclaiming the land."
tion," he says. ~
The students were impressed by the
end of the camps.
Many had come
only because their
parents had signed
them up, but were
leaving with the
revelation that science can be fun.
There are many jobs for trained and skilled First Nations
In addition to
and Metis workers. SIAST Kelsey Campus has the programs and services to help you get ready for your future.
the summer science camps, HopChoose from 38 full time on campus and 13 part time off
campus certificate and diploma programs in:
kins has a mobile
• Technologies
program that visits
• Health Sciences
schools through• Industrial Trades
out the province
• Community Services
• Adult Upgrading
and
introduces
classrooms of stuApplications for our next intake of students to Post-

Get Ready
For
Your Future!

Secondary programs (Fall 1998) will be accepted January 1
- March 31, 1998. Adult upgrading takes new students
throughout the year. Call for details.
SIAST Kelsey Campus has an Education Equity program ,
Aboriginal Student Center, counselling , tutoring , and Kelsey
Aboriginal Student Association .
For more information about programs , prerequisites , procedures and deadlines contact:
Myrna Yuzicapi
Counsellor
SIAST Kelsey Campus
(306) 933-6445

E]

SIAST
SASKATCHEWAN INSTITUTE OF
APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Summer science camp - 1996

October 1997

SASKATCHEWAN

illll19i.&amp;ll!I 3

�SCHOOLTOWORKPROGRAM
The School to Work (STW) program
is a four-year pilot program initiated by
the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations (FSIN) Office of Education that
is now beginning its third year of operation. The program was started as a means .
of addressing high school completion
rates, post-secondary continuation rates
and labour force participation rates of
First Nations students.
Because First Nations students onreserve have different lifestyles than
urban students, the project was incorporated into three schools. Scott Collegiate
was chosen in Regina due to its large
Aboriginal population. Waterhen Lake
and Buffalo Rivers were selected as the
on-reserve test sites.
Curriculum development for the STW
program incorporates First Nations curriculum into the present Saskatchewan
Education curriculum and project curriculum that is aimed at smoothing the
transition from the academic world to
that of employment. Judy Pelly, STW
Project Coordinator, says of the program,
"It's a learning path linking the school to
employment."
In the first year, grade nine, students are
familiarized with the objectives of the program. During this time, students are introduced to a variety of career options by job
shadowing the work settings of professionals. Pelly says that they also go on a number of tours of job sites and professional
buildings throughout the course.
Grade 10 students are introduced to the
skills required to investigate career options.
Based on this knowledge, the students begin
to develop personal career plans. Through
industry partners, the students enter the
workforce via summer employment.
Students in grade eleven are able to
incorporate an on-site, out of school

component.
These brief employment placements
provide
further guidance
to students on
appropriate
career paths.
By grade 12,
the final year of
the four-year program,
students
will have knowledge of workplace
protocol, a CPR
and First Aid School to work program.
course and the
ability to assess their own career plans.
the students. The students now want to
"By the time they are finished grade 12,"
finish school and have goals for further
says Pelly, "they have a good idea of the
education or employment beyond gradudirection they want to take."
ation. The program, says Pelly, has
Pelly says that partnerships with inproven to be "a growing experience" for
dustry in recruiting students have been
both students and educators. ~
key to success of the program. She says
that employers are
taking an active role
with the students.
Pleased to
"We've been getting
provide
a lot of positive
complete
feedback from industry," she says. In
travel service
many cases, industry
toFSIN
leaders are encouraging students to get
_.......-;Ct
their certification or
education by guaranteeing employment
after graduation.
includes
Another positive
aspect of the pro• Group, conference, incentive
gram has been the
planning
increase in levels of
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Classroom work.

4

SASKATCHEWAN

il/ililiAlil

October 1997

�COOPERATIVE
EDUCATION
PROGRAM
NEWINITIATIVE
The Cooperative Education Program
is a regional initiative that is based on the
School-to-Work model. Basically, says
Alice Wuttunee, Cooperative Education
Coordinator , "We are taking the curriculum developed by the School to Work
program and implementing it on a broader scale." The three-year project is funded through the Department of Indian
Affairs and Northern Development and is
available throughout the country.
The program itself offers First Nations
students activities , experiences and
opportunities that prepare them for the
world of work. The program works within the context of First Nations culture ,
school and community.
In incorporating the First Nations cultural component, a five-day cultural
camp is scheduled for late in September.
The 1996-97 program participants ,
approximately 300 students, will attend
the camp. Wuttunee believes that the
experience will empower the youth by
strengthening their knowledge of their
heritage, language, traditions and culture.
During the course of the school year,
the program offers students an in-school

curriculum component, followed by a
three-week job placement within the
community. Working at these businesses
provides students with tangible proof of
their abilities . "The great value of the
Cooperative Education Program is giving
our youth a sense of pride and accom-

plishment ," says Orvin Thomas, Kinistin
Site Coordinator.
The Cooperative Education program
was initially offered in ten First Nations
school sites throughout the province. This
year, the number of school sites has been
increased by five for a total of fifteen First
Nations schools. Each of the nine Tribal
Councils is represented along with the
independent Onion Lake First Nation. The
goal, says Wuttunee, is to implement the
program into band-controlled schools as
opposed to urban settings. However, the
sites were chosen for their proximity to
major centres to allow for a wider range of
opportunities and preference s of job
placements.
In addition to educating the students,
the program educate s the main stream
employers on the value of hiring Aboriginal youth. Sylvia Nagy, Site Coordinator
for the Kawacatoose First Nation agrees,
"By working toward a common goal that of an educated workforce - Cooperative Education breaks down barrier s
. between students and business people,
Indians and non-Indians and between
teenagers and adults.
"Implemented in August of 1996, the
Cooperative Education Program continues this year. Wuttunee anticipates the
participation of approximately 600 students in the program.

"4

Jason Pelletier. School to work program.

October 1997

SASKATCHEWAN

111•1~11

5

�CAREER
PLACEMENT/
SUMMER
STUDENT
EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM
Every spring, students across the province scour the help
wanted ads looking for summer jobs. For First Nations youth onreserve, First Nations government is frequently the main source
for potential employment. Due to cut-backs and undesirable fiscal realities , positions are often difficult to find.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) has
been actively addressing this situation since 1992 when the
Summer Student Employment Program began. The program
subsidizes the costs of hiring First Nations students for summer
positions. Funding for this program now comes from the Indian
and Northern Affairs Canada First Nations Youth Initiative. The
FSIN is currently the only Aboriginal organization to selfadminister the funds.
Brian Attig, the Coordinator of the Career Placement/Summer Student Program , who worked as an FSIN summer student
himsel f, says that the program is directed towards First Nations
non-profit businesses , governments and organizations . Early in
the year, band offices submit their applications for funding. The
program currently divides funding according to the population
base of the band.

OfficeSolutions

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Computers
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Mailing Equipment
Color Systems

The positions created to hire summer students are varied. A
number of bands establish positions that will contribute to the
community. The only restriction, says Attig, is that the students
receive "a positive job experience that will contribute to their
education" .
Most of the summer jobs that are created begin on May 1 and
will last for a maximum of 16 weeks. The program is flexible to
allow the employer to hire four students for four weeks each, for
example, instead of a single student for the sixteen-week duration. This allows a greater number of students to benefit from the
program.
Attig says that the number of applications is increasing
steadily every year. He attributes this to an increase in funding
and an increase in awareness about the program. He estimates
that over 1,000 students were hired under the program this year.
Following the completion of the work terms, employers will
complete their funding requests along with an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the program. Attig says he is looking for feedback on the types of jobs for which students were hired , the
quality of their work and the fairness of the administration
proces s.
The summer students will also be completing evaluation
forms. The results will demonstrate how well the program is
working for First Nations youth and how it might be improved
to better meet their needs. "It is one thing to meet the needs of
the employer ," says Attig , "but , it is also necessary to meet the
needs of the students since they're the one s doing the
jobs ." ~
'~

6

SASKATCHEWAN

illl91Alll

Branches Located
•

lll

Estevan
Moose Jaw
North Battle/ ord
Prince Albert
Regina
Saskatoon

Work to Win
October 1997

�FIRSTNATION
RELEVANT
CURRICULUM
UNDERDEVELOPMENT
Approximately
one year ago, the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) entered into a partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan that concerned
curriculum development. The goal was to produce curriculum
for kindergarten through Grade 12 students that contained significant First Nations content. The curriculum is intended for
use in both mainstream and on-reserve schools.
The partnership came as a result of concerns at that time
from FSIN Chief Blaine Pavel and Education Minister Pat
Atkinson on addressing the inadequacies of the existing curriculum. At the time, Chief Pavel stated, "The curriculum
development partnership is designed to correct the historical
record as it pertains to First Nations people in Saskatchewan
and, the outcome of this initiative should foster greater social
harmony in the province."

A CELEBRATIONOF'
ABORIGINAL.CULTURE

OCTO ;i~R l - 't
19:97
REGINA,. SASKt.\TCHEWAN
. .
.

,

.......

,

........

.

·:-:./_' ,_· &lt;:-;:;·_·.-··.:-: ::::•·::·;:-·:::-:-:·.

The agreement came as a result of the Protocol Agreement
between the FSIN, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan that establishes a Common Table
for the three parties to address a number of issues. However ,
because of the importance of the issue, work on the partnership began before the official signing of the agreement in
October 1996. The Memorandum of Agreement between the
Office of Education and Saskatchewan Education , Employment and Training addresses educational concerns, among
them, the curriculum issue.

. •.•·.

The process will tilso compile accurate First Nations information. This will then be added to the current curriculum, filling in the gaps.
Of course, the process is ongoing. And, while it might take
some time to come up with curriculum that satisfies the needs
of First Nations students, those involved with the project
believe that it is worth the wait.

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Performances
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TheFriendshipCmtre.~•Th~OiherSide • LongBrand1Saloon
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• RoyalCanadianLegionHall
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'

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ART SHOW .AND SAL£
at the Cultural.Flxcharige
Cldb- 2431 8th Avenue
Exhibition S~ptember 12.- October 8

FESTIVAL.: GALA

Current work involves critical analysis of existing
Saskatchewan Education curriculum. The analysis is intended
to establish the needs of First Nations students while representing the eight linguistic groups in the province.
The goal is to address the negative aspects of the curriculum that are perpetuating stereotypes. Where positive aspects
of the curriculum are identified, the technicians are identifying who was involved in the development of the curriculum,
where it was developed and whether Elders contributed.

........

•··.•.·-•.·.·.·

Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts,
Saturday, October 4
..

.

Host Wi~ston Wuttunee,bturing Native American
flutist Kevin Locke,&amp;d ThunderNative Dance Theatre,
Roots singer/songwriter La.uraVinson,and
Saskatchewan's own ChesterKnight.

Tickets.for
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For details and ticket information.
phone:

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Ultimately, curriculum that positively reflects First
Nations people will lead to the empowerment and education
of First Nation youth. This, in turn, bodes well for
Saskatchewan as a whole .~

(306) 757-Lflf22

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■■■■■■
October 1997

■■■■■■I

SASKATCHEWAN

llll9i.Alil

7

�Spirit
of Community

The

Our Aboriginal Customer Services team works with Aboriginal communities
across the province, ensuring that SaskTel recognizes and addresses the needs
of Saskatchewan Aboriginal people and sponsors events that promote
education, culture, sports and recreation within Aboriginal communities.
Over the next three years, the First Nations Local Access Program will double
telephone service accessibility in First Nations communities across our province.
And the First Nations Call Centre in Saskatoon employs Aboriginal people to market
SaskTel prodticts and services to Aboriginal customers, in their chosen lang uage .
.. .it's more than just business ...it's helping improve our comm unitie s.

SaskTel.Saskatchewan's
Communications
Company.

SaskTel
8

SASKATCHEWAN

ilil91A.lil

October 1997

�FIRST
NATIONS
EDUCATION
AUTHORITIES
ASSOCIATION
An association made up of First Nation
education authorities was created in
November 1994 at the First Nation Education Authorities symposium held in
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Here, delegates passed a resolution establishing the
First Nations Education Authorities Association (FNEAA).
In February 1995, the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
Legislative Assembly passed a resolution
mandating the Office of Education to
facilitate the formation of the FNEAA. As
a result, a Steering Committee was established to develop its structure and constitution. Authorization from Saskatchewan
Chiefs is required on the final terms of
reference
and
the
organizational
approach.
The FNEAA was established to fill the
role of advocacy and leadership on educational issues of common interest to educational authorities with respect to the education of First Nations children. Among
its many purposes, the organization deals
collectively with issues and challenges
presently facing First Nations education;
makes recommendations on common educational positions and initiatives to the
FSIN Legislative Assembly; and creates a
research and development process to
study important issues in First Nations
education.
Since its inception, the Executive
Council of the FNEAA has met on a semimonthly basis to deal with specific developmental issues. In September 1996, a
Draft Charter was approved , in principle,
at the FNEAA Symposium in Saskatoon.
Since then, the FNEAA Executive Council has participated in information sessions with Saskatchewan First Nations,
Tribal Councils, the Saskatchewan Indian
Education Commission (SIEC) and the
Director of Education to provide updates
on the development of the Association.
These information sessions have also
proven effective in maintaining open
communication among the groups.
The Charter of the FNEAA will be redrafted following the elections of the
FSIN. The revised Charter will incorporate the voting, election and representation changes of the FSIN's reorganization.

October 1997

The FNEAA remains committed to its
responsibility of: recognizing and providing technical assistance in the development of legislation and policy; research

and development;
networking;
and
remaining educational experts on community needs.'4

~

(~

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&lt;'·;;'.cc;'

STCSPONSORS
YOUTH
CAREER
FAIR
The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) careers that may be considered to be "trademonstrated their commitment to youth ditionally male". These include a number
by hosting a Career Fair. The event was of trades such as welding or mechanics.
intended to help First Nation youth but did The advantage is that these careers genernot exclude any young people who were ally pay better than those considered to be
interested.
"traditionally female" careers.
The seven member Bands of the STC
In determining an appropriate career
brought students in from their communi- path, the students learned that they must
ties. Several Saskatoon high schools also ask themselves, "What do I need to be sucparticipated.
cessful." The Career Fair provided the stuPeggy Vermette, Career Fair organizer,
dents with workshops on resume writing
says that, in total, approximately 325 stuand interview techniques that will aid
dents attended. In addition, a large number
them in the search for a suitable career.
of students attended as volunteers. They
participated in the steering committee for Vermette says, "Every student left the
the event, at the registration table and as workshops with a current, usable resume."
Guest speakers Barry Bear, Joyce
general help.
Vermette states that the Career Fair was Whitebear Reid, Chester Knight, Lillian
intended to "give the students as many Dyck and David Peeace also offered
opportunities as possible". She says that advice to the participants. These speakers
the event brought students together with a offered information on careers related to
cross-section of potential employers and the arts, math and sciences and medicine.
post-secondary representatives. In all, 24 Vermette stresses the importance of these
companies and educational institutions, presentations since First Nation youth do
among them SaskTel, SIEF, SIAST and not always consider careers in these areas.
the Native Access Program to Nursing, set
Current statistics suggest that by 2010,
up booths and interacted with the students. an estimated 50 percent of Saskatchewan's
The representatives offered the students workforce will be Aboriginal. As a result,
advice beyond information about their says Vermette, "We need to support our
programs or companies. Vermette says youth."
that they provided students with the
STC is using the Career Fair as a means
answers to questions such as: "What type to that goal. They are adopting a preventaof education would I need?" and "How tive rather than remedial approach. "Selfmuch can I make in this position?"
. sufficiency is the ultimate goal for training
The potential income is a serious conand employment," says Vermette.
sideration for a number of students says
Vermette encourages Saskatchewan 's
Vermette. Many of the students are single
First
Nation youth to take advantage of
parents, particularly single mothers. They
programs
and existing opportunities. She
must consider, she says, a career that will
stresses
that
finding a career and employultimately provide well for both themment
itself
should
really be an exciting
selves and their children.
process
.
"It
can
change
your life." ~
Vermette states that many of these
young women are today being steered into

SASKATCHEWAN

llllilliiA.111 9

�Strengthening Our
Education is the Key

Meet Weyerbaeuser's 1997- 98
EducationalAward Winners.
Bill Cayno,; VicePresident
and General Manager
of Weyerbaeuser'sSaskatchewan
Divisioncongratulatestbisyear's
bursaiy winners.
TopL to R: Kari Lentowicz,
Bill Cayno1; ElaineFowle1;
Erin Powell. Bottom L to R:
Barh McKay.Marie-FranceRoy,
TbaneHamborg, Rob Martell,
Dawn Bear.

t WeyerhaeuserCanada, we understand the
need to strengthen our resource base . . .
and that applies to human resources every
bit as much as the forest products that sustain
our Saskatchewanbusinesses.That's why we
introduced our EducationalAwardsProgram in 1994.
We want to create new opportunities and develop new
skills among potential future employees. And we want
to make sure our future workforce reflects the diversity
of communitiesthat support our operations.
Each year Weyerhaeuserawards bursaries of up to
$2500for universitystudies and $1200for technical
school programs. Preference is given to individuals
of Aboriginalancestry, women in non-traditionalroles,
and individualswho may be disabled or members of
a visible minority.Previous recipients are eligible for further bursary awards to complete their study program.

A

Weyerhaeuser Canada
RESOURCEFUL
BYNATURE

This year's honour roll includes:

DawnBear,Saskatoon- Bachelor of Sciencecomputer
program, Universityof Saskatchewan.
ElaineFowler,PrinceAlbert- Engineering, University
of Saskatchewan.
ThaneHamborg,PrinceAlbert- Computersystem technologist, KelseyCampus of SIAST.
KariLentowicz~·,
DenareBeach- Environmentalstudies,
Universityof Saskatchewan.
Rob Martell,Saskatoon- Mechanicalengineering,
Universityof Saskatchewan.
BarbMcKat·, La Ronge- Bachelorof Administration
studies at NORPACin La Range.
ErinPowell~-,Saskatoon- Bioresource/biochemicalengineering, Universityof Saskatchewan.
Marie-France
Rot·, PrinceAlbert- Electricalengineering, Universityof Saskatchewan.
• Repeat bursaryrecipients.

Bursaryapplication deadline is June 30, 1998for the 1998- 99 academic year.
For more information, please contact: BursaryProgram Co-ordinator• Weyerhaeuser Canada, P.O. Box 1900
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan S6V6J9 • Telephone: (306) 763-0655

�SICCCELEBRATES
25THANNIVERSARY

The Saskatchewan Indian Cultural
Centre (SICC) is currently celebrating its
25th year of supporting education and
cultural awareness for First Nation people. In recognition of this event, the SICC
Board of Governors , President Linda
Pelly-Landrie and SICC staff are hosting
a huge schedule of events beginning on
September 25, 1997 and lasting for three
days.
The concept of the Saskatchewan
Indian Cultural College, as it was known
at its inception, was envisioned in 1970.
Recognizing the need for a resurgence in
First Nation cultural identity following
the residential school regime, the FSIN
initiated a Task Force on First Nation
education in 1970.
"Indian control of Indian education"
became the goal. tn 1972, SICC was
established. The mandate was to provide
quality and professional service to First
Nation people. While this mandate has
remained constant over the years, the
structure of the SICC has changed dramatically.
SICC began as a teaching institution
offering students courses ranging from
social work to art to the trades. As the
demand for these courses grew, SICC
splintered and self-sustaining institutions

October 1997

grew.
The
Saskatchewan
Indian
Federated College (SIFC), the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology
(SIIT) and the Indian Teacher Education
Program (ITEP) all had their origins with
the SICC.
Although the original structure had
splintered, SICC adapted and grew. The
focus of SICC changed from instruction
to cultural education. The SICC staff
works, in part, to preserve Saskatchewan
First Nation heritage. Projects of this
nature have included establishing an
Elders ' webpage on the Internet and the
transfer of audio files to compact disk.
This transfer allows the Elders' words to
be catalogued to facilitate access to their
wisdom.
The bulk of the work at SICC is in
developing resource materials that reflect
the cultural diversity of Saskatchewan's
First Nations. Among these projects was
the creation of curriculum that addresses
environment-related topics. The materials, entitled Practising the Law of
Circular Interaction: First Nation
Environment
and
Conservation
Principles, have received international
recognition. The curriculum is used frequently in Canada.

Staff at SICC have also developed
multi-media teaching resources , computer fonts for Aboriginal languages and
audio-visual resources. The Centre also
holds annual language workshops with
First Nation language instructors and
educators who have the opportunity to
network and share their ideas.
Currently, the SICC is doing the
groundwork to establish the First Nation
Keeping House. The project will be a
museum that is entirely First Nation-controlled and operated.
All of these accomplishments will be
honoured during the up-coming celebrations. The schedule begins on September
25 with an Aboriginal Talent Search at
the Centennial Auditorium. Ten semifinalists will perform for a trophy and
recording session. Tom Jackson and
Gordon Tootoosis will be the Masters of
Ceremonies and Litefoot is the featured
performer.
On September
26, the SICC
Anniversary Corporate Banquet and Art
Auction will be held. Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
Chief Blaine Favel, Saskatchewan Indian
Veterans Association
Grand Chief
Howard Anderson and Assembly of First
Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine are
scheduled to address the more than 500
guests.
September 27 begins with a pancake
breakfast in downtown Saskatoon. The
day continues with the SICC 25th
Anniversary Celebration Traditional
Powwow. Grand Entry is at 1:00 p.m.
with day pay for all dancers and singers.
A trade show and juried art show are also
scheduled on this day.
The highlight of the celebration is the
First Nations Confederacy of Cultural
Education Centres (FNCCEC) National
Conference. The three-day event features
the election of the National President and
serves as the General Assembly. It will be
held at the Sands Hotel in Saskatoon.
For more information on the events
schedule contact Janet Ahenakew at 2441146. ~

SASKATCHEWAN

iilll91AIII

II

�SIFC- FIELDOFDREAMS
by Jocelyne Wasacase
The Saskatchewan Indian Federated
College (SIFC) has been in existence for
20 years . Although it began with only 7
students , it now has over 1,500 registered
in full-time studies. It is projected that by
1998, enrolment will surpass 2,000 students. By offering undergraduate and
graduate programs , SIFC meets all the
criteria to be recognized as a university.
Last year, SIFC was granted full membership in the Association of Universities
and Colleges of Canada.

"It will be a monumental

building - thefirst
Indian university in
Canada."
-

Orenda Yuzicapi
SIFC Student

The college is dramatically evolving,
not only with regard to its status, but also
in physical terms . SIFC needs a permanent home that meets the needs of its
growing faculty and student body.
SIFC has been pursuing construction
of a new building that would house the
new, univer sity-level educational facility.
The college has plans to build a new
facility , designed by world-renowned
architect Dougla s Cardinal.
To date, several official ceremonie s
have taken place: the blessing of the site,
a feast and recently a sod-turning ceremony. These official ceremonie s have
been carried out under the guidance of
Elder s.
"There is a lot to be said about incorporating tradition al blessing/preparation
of a site, especially with a large and
important project such as the new SIFC
building, " said Ray Gosselin, SIFC project co-ordinator .
The question is: When will this building become reality?
"First Nations people should have
their own school," said Willie Peigan, an
Elder on staff at the Regina campus of
SIFC. "I prayed to the Creator at the
ground-breaking ceremonie s - not to

12

SASKATCHEWAN

• •••

_..

say that it is because of my prayer the
building will be built. But dreams come
true. It's corning!
"We have to finish what was started;
we want to finish. The government will
have to help. It is the way of the treaties,"
Elder Peigan added.
The project has been broken into three
phases. The first phase is to house the
existing SIFC as soon as possible. The
latter two phases are based around the
future growth of the new university,
extending classroom space to accommodate the ever-growing student population. The second and third phases are
estimated to cost $40 million.
No actual construction has started yet
at the site. All the activity is still based
around the need to raise $18 million to
complete the first phase of construction.
SIFC has raised $3 million through a
University of Regina campaign called
Vision 20/20. SIFC is now looking for
the federal and povincial governments to
fulfill their funding commitments.
SIFC currently has two main campus es- one in Regina and one in Saskatoon- with several extensions, mostly in
northern communities. Classroom space
is usually rented.
SIFC students generally feel good
about the new building. Some say the
new building will not only house the stu-

dent body, but also create a relaxed environment.
"I think this is a good thing. It will be
bring Indian people together," said Trina
Knight, an SIFC student, who added, "I
grew up in Saskatoon , and I like how the
Saskatoon SIFC campus is all Indians in
one building, but I came [to Regina] for a
change."
Like most students, Knight is eager to
see construction get' under way, but "I
have patience," she said. "I can wait,
because I waited this long, and when it
happens it will be on Indian Time!"
Another SIFC student, Orenda Yuzicapi, said, " I think they projected being
finished by the year 2000. I will be done
school way before that! But, once it gets
done, it will be a monumental building-the first Indian university in Canada. I
think it is great!"
Activity on the site may begin soon.
Gosselin said SIFC is in the process of
beginning site preparation. The project
task force has also begun to develop a
strategy to create employment in various
positions.
So this building will soon become
more of a reality than a dream. When it is
completed, it will certainly be an accomplishment that all involved can say was
worth the wait. ~

SITE

OF

SASKATCHEWAN
INDIAN
FEOE~!TED
CO,t1pGE

Site of the fut ure SIFC building.

October 1997

�WICIHITOWIN
LOGOCONTEST
WINNERS
ANNOUNCED

·-----~-

left to right: Chief Favel
with first place winner, Clyde Young
of Shoal Lake and Grand Chief
Howard Anderson
The results of the Wicihitowin Foundation Logo Contest were recently
announced. The artwork of Clyde Young
won the $1000 first-place prize, donated
by SaskTel. Charles Williams won the
second-place prize of $750, donated by
the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations (FSIN), and the $500 third-place
prize, donated by Wicihitowin, went to
Tim Ahenakew.
The Wicihitowin Foundation is a notfor-profit, Saskatchewan organization
that was established in 1995. It was proposed as a living legacy to honour and
remember First Nations Veterans who
served their country with distinction.
The goal of Wicihitowin is to empower Aboriginal youth for future leadership.
The Foundation strives to help Aboriginal youth develop strength, self-discipline and self-conf (dence. This goal is
reflected in the translation of the Cree
word wicihitowin 'helping each other'.
The logo contest was one such way of
empowering youth to develop self-confidence in their talents. The contest was open
to all Aboriginal youth in Saskatchewan
who met the eligibility requirements of the
North American Indigenous Games. The
entries were judged on the basis of creativity, originality and simplicity.
The top prize was awarded to Clyde
Young of Shoal Lake. He has been drawing since he was a small child and loves

October 1997

art. He has two brothers and three sisters
and lives with his parents, Harry and
Dora Young. The 19-year-old attended
the Wachik Indian School in Shoal Lake.
He is planning a career in the RCMP.
Clyde Young describes his logo, saying, "The adult's hand represents the
Wicihitowin Foundation and the youth's
hand represents the Indigenous youth.
The eagle feather speaks for itself
because it's sacred to the Indigenous people; the eagle is the vision and guidance,
corning to the aid of the Wicihitowin
Foundation and helping all the Indigenous youth of Saskatchewan. The red
also represents the sacrifices made by our
veterans and the colour of life that runs
through every one of us. The circle represents the circle of life."
Second-prize winner Charles Williams
is a 14-year-old student at Ahtahkakoop
School in Sandy Lake. He, too, has been
drawing since he was small. He says that
his logo submission illustrates "a man
[helping] his child to a good life."
The third-prize winner, Tim Ahenakew, is also a 14-year-old student at
Ahtahkakoop School in Sandy Lake. He
enjoys drawing and says that it took him
about a day to come up with his logo. His
art represents the stages of life of a bird
from an egg to adulthood.
All three winners were honoured for
their achievements at the FSIN Chiefs '

Assembly in Prince Albert on June 25,
1997. At that time, Saskatchewan Indian
Veterans Association
Grand Chief
Howard Ahenakew, along with FSIN
Chief Blaine Pavel, presented the young
artists with their awards.
The Wicihitowin Logo Selection
Committee wishes to thank all those who
submitted their work for consideration. ~

2nd place artwork by Charles Williams

,-:.~~

r~

3rd place artwork by Tim Ahenakew

SASKATCHEWAN

ill!HliiA.11113

�Have You Ever Thought
of BecoIDing a Nurse?
,,,-:;~:-'-;
·~~
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_

The NativeAccessProgramto
~ Nursing(NAPN),is an annu~
al seven week summerpro'
, -~ gramthat assists studentsof

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Aboriginalancestryto gain
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or collegenursingprograms

acrossCanada.

SCN...
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SCN offers great TV with strong First N ations content.

The next programwill take place
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Our network also conn ect s reserves and rural communities with univer sitie s and the Saskatch ewan
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For information,please contact:
NAPN, College of Nursing
Universityof Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon,SK S7N 5E5
Phone toll free: 1-800-463-3345or (306) 966-6224

• Cree 100
• Lin guistic s 175

• N ative Studi es 110.6
• Native Studie s 220.6

For informati on about courses or
programmin g, phone 1-800-667-5055,
e-mail scn@uregina .ca, or visit our
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�BOLDEAGLE
GRADUATES
STAND
TALL
For the eighth consecutive year, First
Nations youth from
across western Canada
have successfully completed the Bold Eagle
Militia Training Program . This year, 30
recruits between the
ages of 17 and 24 graduated from the 6-week
course. The recruits
were all from First
Nations in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The program is a
joint venture between
the
Federation
of
Saskatchewan Indian
Nations (FSIN) and the
Canadian Armed Forces . The recruits are Bold Eagle Graduates - 1997.
required to go through
the standard applicato see themselves and their people as an
tion and selection process that is required
integral part of the Canadian military.
for all militia recruits.
"The military training helps our young
While introducing the standard militia
people to prepare themselves for the
training offered in summer militia camps ,
future and gain the kinds of skills that are
the Bold Eagle program incorporates
required to enter into a career," said FSIN
components relevant to First Nations
Vice-Chief Lindsay Cyr. "The successful
youth. "The Canadian Armed Forces see
graduates of the Bold Eagles program
the Bold Eagle program as an important
can benefit from this experience when
bridge to cultural relations within the
looking at future participation in the
forces ," said Captain Kitely of Canadian
Canadian Armed Forces or as useful
Forces Base Dundurn. "This is the opporexperience for work in the policing or
tunity for First Nations and the Armed
security profession. " ~
Force s to share in a program that we can
both benefit from. "
Each year, Elders and cultural advisors participate with''the recruits , instructors and some non-Aboriginal recruits in
a four-day cultural camp. This is seen as
an important aspect of the overall training for recruits and instructors alike .
In addition to the cultural camp , Aborigin al instructors are used whenever
possible to provide the recruits with role
model s they can identify with from a cultural perspective . The instructors also act
as contacts within the Armed Forces for
the youth and provide a means for them

October 1997

Education Jurisdiction
(continued from page 2)
between the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations (FSIN) Office of Education, the federal government and the
provincial government. Ultimately , First
Nations will share a bi-lateral relationship
with the federal government and a bi-lateral relationship with the provincial government. Funding transfer s will be made
exclusively to the First Nation s for the
purpose s of education and training.
First Nation s government s will hold
jurisdiction over on and off-re serve education under federally and provincially
recognized legislation. First Nation s will
also hold jurisdiction over all areas currently held by the provincial government.
The Office of Education has developed
a workplan that encompa sses the work
entailed in proceeding with disc ussions
involvin g the federal and provincial government s. This workplan was started in
April 1997 and is ongoing. It is now being
discussed in Fir st Nation forum s.~~
·· .
~ ,,
~

SASKATCHEWAN

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#1000 - 1777 Victoria Ave., Regina, Sk. S4P 4K5 Ph: 1-800-697-7177 FAX: 306-586-2912
Internet Site: http://firstnations.ca/fhtc , E-mail: fhtc@jirstnations.ca

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#1000 - 1777 Victoria Ave., Regina, Sk. S4P 4K5 or 586-2621, Fax: 306-586-2912
Internet: http://firstnations.ca , E-mail: fnia@firstnations.ca

16

SASKATCHEWAN

lllal•II

October 1997

�"'~.'&gt;
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TEAMSASKATCHEWAN
WINSFOURTH
NAIGTITLE

For the fourth time, Team Saskatchewan has brought home the Overall
Championship title from the North
American Indigenous Games. Saskatchewan athletes captured 101 gold
medals, 105 silver medals and 92 bronze
medals for a total point count of 2977.
Their closest competitors, Team British
Columbia, finished second with 119
gold, 68 silver and 56 bronze and a total
of 2507 points.
The Games were held this year from
August 3 to 10 in Victoria, British Columbia. Twenty-six teams from across
North America travelled to compete in
the eight-day event. Hailed as this year's
largest gathering of Aboriginal youth in
North America, the Games attracted
nearly 5,000 athletes between the ages of
12 and 21. Team Saskatchewan contributed a contingent of over 800 athletes.
A total of 16 different sporting events
were held over the week of competition;
archery, athletics (track and field), badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing,
canoeing , golf, lacrosse, rifle shooting,
soccer, softball, swimming, tae kwon do,

\.

October 1997

volleyball
and
wrestling
were
featured with free
admission
to
spectators
and
enthusiasts.
Venues were
located
around
the greater Victoria region. An
efficient
bus
transportation
system was used
to link the sporting venues with
accommodation
sites and meal
centres.
Lorna
Arcand , chef de mission for Team Saskatchewan, praised organizers, saying that
the event was well-organized.
Over 2,000 volunteers worked to
make sure that things were kept moving
smoothly. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
volunteers worked as medical and security personnel, cultural village and ceremonies staff and general support staff.
Coordinators and technical officials also
volunteered their services. These volunteers were honoured for their contribution during the closing ceremonies of the
Games.
Volunteers earned this honour, each day
handling thousands of spectators. Arcand
estimates that between 3,000 and 5,000
people travelled from Saskatchewan alone
to cheer on the athletes. In addition to parents and family, she says, "It was really
nice to see some of the communities take
younger children
to see what the
Games are about."
Once these young
spectators reach
12 years of age,
they will be able
to compete themselves.
Arcand stresses
the appreciation
that she and her
mission staff have
for the support
they
received
from Saskatchewan First Nations,
Tribal Councils,

Friendship Centres and parents. She realizes that the Games create a financial burden for some families and communities
but says, "The long-range benefits of providing positive alternative activities for
youth" go a long way in combatting negative lifestyles.
Creating healthy alternative activities
for youth is one of the main focuses of
the Saskatchewan Indian Sport, Culture
and Recreation Commission. Arcand
believes that the strong sports program,
including the annual Saskatchewan Indian Summer and Winter Games, is part of
the reason why Saskatchewan has won
every Overall Championship at NAIG
since its inception in 1990.
Another large part of Saskatchewan's
success, says Arcand, is that they continue to raise the standards for the athletes.
And, because coaching and mission staff
are "all part of the same team", the standards for coaches are being raised as
well. For the next Games, coaches will be
required to have Level II certification.
And, while these Games are two years
away, planning is already under way.
Athletes will have a long journey to
the 1999 Games in Fargo, North Dakota.
· Try-outs for the Games will be held on a
regional basis. The top athletes at these
first try-outs will move on to provincial
finals. After the selection of Team Saskatchewan, training camps will be held on
a regular basis until the Games arrive.
Try-outs ensure that Team Saskatchewan represents the elite of Sask(continued next page)

SASKATCHEWAN

iillBi~I\I

11

�atchewan's Aboriginal athletes. Among this year's elite athletes
competing at the Games were a number of shining stars.
Jesse Laframboise of Regina won a gold medal in the Intermediate Open Boxing competition. Laframboise has competed
in and won mainstream boxing competitions around the world.
Janna Pratt of Gordon's First Nation won a gold medal in
Juvenile Female Wrestling. This high-calibre athlete recently
won the Canadian Women's title. Arcand says that Pratt's longest
match at the Games lasted 24 seconds.
Robert Laroque of Saskatoon took home four gold medals in
the bantam division of athletics competition. Laroque has competed previously, but his dedication and focus clearly showed this
year.
Tom Charles was another impressive gold medalist. He won
six canoeing competitions at the Junior level, mostly on an individual basis.
While these four are shining examples of Aboriginal athletes,
Arcand stresses that all of the athletes deserve recognition for
their hard work and commitment. "They were all great," she
says. "They made me proud."
The athletes' dedication was rewarded with the presentation
of the top prize, the Ceremonial Paddle, at the Closing Ceremonies. Arcand says that she regretted that many of
Saskatchewan 's athletes had already left Victoria to return home
and did not get to share in that crowning moment. She was reassured, however, when she overheard a young Saskatchewan athlete say that it did not matter that many of the athletes had gone
early, "What matters ," he said, "is that we did what we came here
to

do."
'4

North American Indigenous Games Results
Overall Medal Summary
Team

Saskatchewan
British Columbia
Alberta
Ontario
Manitoba
Kahnawake
Yukon
Connecticut
Colorado
Northwest
Territories
Minnesota
Oregon
Maine
Wisconsin
NewYork
Oklahoma
Iowa
Florida
Washington
Montana
New Brunswick
California
South Dakota

12

Total
Points

Total
Points

56
73
50
43
34
21
10
7

298
243
231
150
133
111
80
44
33

2977
2507
2299
1471
1419
1005
747
433
326

8
2
2
10
5
1
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
0

25
19
18
21
14
7
9
8
5
4
2
2
2
1

275
224
202
193
192
125
114
94
89
50
35
22
20
18

Gold

Silver

Bronze

101
119
73
67
33
47
25
25
13

105
68
85
33
57
30
34
9
13

92

11
8
7
5
5
3
4
3
1
0
1
1
2
0

6
9
9
6
4
3
4
4
2
3
11
1
0
1

SASKATCHEWAN

1.81..&amp;M

TOMCHARLES:
A TRUECHAMPION
by Joan Beatty
Referred to "as truly one of the best role models
Saskatchewan had to offer" at the North American Indigenous
Games, 20-year-old Tom Charles of Stanley Mission captured
six gold medals, winning every canoeing event he entered.
But it was not only winning the gold medals which made
Charles emerge as a true champion. He acted as chaperone,
coach and cheerleader to many of the northern athletes at the
canoeing events.
Winston Mckay, co-ordinator of Team Saskatchewan canoeing events said, "Tom was a tremendous help and a real role model to the rest of the team. He led by example." Charles lent his
$200 racing paddle to those without one, shouted encouragement
and set the standard for enthusiam . Despite being exhausted from
competing in six events, he was still ready to go each day.
Raised by his grandmother, Jeannie Roberts, the Lac La
Ronge Cree Nation member says that he gets great inspiration
and a lot of support from her. However, his interest in canoeing
began as a result of four-time World Marathon Canoe Champion
Sol Carrier of Cumberland House. When Charles was in Grade 8,
Carrier visited Stanley Mission and took the children out on a
canoe trip. "We did short sprints for chips or pop," he recalls.
He had always enjoyed canoeing, but had not realized it
could be a competitive sport. Ever since then, Charles competes
every chance he gets. He trains on the Churchill River by himself, paddling about 12 kilometres daily. During the winter, he
stays in shape by lifting weights, jogging and playing volleyball
and basketball.
His dedication seems even more remarkable when one considers that he does not have a coach to work with, he does not always
have the proper equipment to train with and he comes from a community which was known to have one of the highest teen suicide
rates in Canada. He says that canoeing gives him discipline, keeps
him motivated and gives him a positive outlook on life.
Charles' is goal is to be a world marathon canoe champion like
Carrier. until then, he looks forward to competing in the 1999
North American Indigenous Games. In the meantime, he wants to
help encourage other kids to get involved in canoe racing by holding clinics in northern communities. Anyone interested can leave
a message for Tom Charles at the Band Office.

October 1997

�Whitecap
HostsLargest
EverSummer
Games
Sasakamoose and the Lance Runners
were joined in the Grand Entry by
Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian
Nations (FSIN) Princesses Stephanie
Redman and Carla Omani, FSIN Chief
Blaine FaveL FSIN Vice-Chief Eugene
Arcand, Whitecap Dakota/Sioux First
Nation Chief Darcy Bear, MLA Keith
Goulet, Saskatoon Mayor Henry Dayday
and distinguished Elders and Veterans.

The dignitaries were followed by the
parade of athletes representing the nine
Saskatchewan Tribal Councils and Onion
Lake First Nation.
In his remarks during the ceremonies,
Chief Favel stated that the 3,200 registered athletes made the 1997 Games the
largest ever. He wished the athletes speed
and strength during the competition.
(conrinued

011

next page)

The 1997 Saskatchewan
Indian
Summer Games were held at Whitecap
Dakota/Sioux First Nation, marking the
first time that a Dakota/Sioux Nation has
hosted the event. The 23rd Annual event
featured
the athletic
prowess
of
Saskatchewan's First Nation youth.
Opening ceremonies for the Games
were held on July 7. The event began
with the entry of the Lance carried by
Derrick Sasakamoose, one of 26 athletes
known as the Keepers of the Lance.
These athletes carried the Lance the 180
kilometers from the Ahtahkakoop First
Nation, the site of last year's Summer
Games.
11

! think that the 1997

SaskatchezvanIndian Summer
Ganzesrepresentedthe true
n1eaningof ivorkingtogetherand
cooperation."
Chief Darcy Bear
Whitecap Dakota/SiouxFirst Nation

October l 997

SASKATCHEWAN

IIIBIAII

13

�Whitecap Hosts Largest Ever Summer Games
(continued from page 15)
Vice-Chief Arcand told the athletes, "Whatever happens here in the
next three or four days, you will all
leave here winners."
The Games give First Nations
youth the opportunity to showcase
their athletic skills. They also create
a forum that promotes harmony and
community spirit through sport, culture and recreation. The Games also
contribute to building self-esteem
and leadership skills. Chief Bear
reminded the athletes of this, saying, "Remember many of you will
become leaders. Be proud of who
you are."

However, many&gt; of the/athletes
still consider the . Saskatchewan
Indian Summer Games the athletic
highlight ofthe summer.· "Many are
elite •athletes •in the mainstream,"
said Chief Favel, "But here, they• are
with family.''
Athletes may participate in track
and field, soccer or Softball compe ...
titions. However, each athlete is
allowed to • compete in only one
sport. Vice--Chief Arcand says that
this ·system limits the number of
events that elite athletes may competein and allows more youth to
participate.

The Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games were first held in 1975
on the Cote First Nation. They were
created to address the exclusion of
First Nations athletes in mainstream
competition. Tony Cote, Chief of
Cote at the time, says that only 500
athletes attended that first event.
And, as the number of athletes
has increased over the years, so to
has the caliber of competition.
Today, many First Nations athletes
excel in mainstream city and
provincial sporting events. 10-yearold sprint
champion
Ashley
Greyeyes is one of the better-known
examples.

I4

SASKATCHEWAN

lilHtiAlt

The .•Games also feature two
demonstration sports each year. This
year, boxing and archery were featured, in part, as preparation for the
up-coming
North
American
Indigenous Games.
Competition at the Games took
place over four days. The event was
blessed with good weather and few
delays. fa closing ceremonies, Chief
Pavel
declared
the
1997
Saskatchewan
Indian
Summer
Games "one •of the best Games
ever".
The success of the Games was a
coup for Whitecap, as it has one of
the smallest Band memberships in
Saskatchewan.
Preparation
and
organization were key said Chief
Bear. "I think that the 1997
Saskatchewan
Indian
Summer
Games represented the true meaning
of working together and cooperation."
A large contingent of volunteers,
including 14 co-ordinators, worked
tirelessly to keep the event running
smoothly and on time. Robert
Merasty, Games Coordinator, congratulated the volunteers on their
efforts and said, "Thank you all very
much."
The 1998 Saskatchewan Indian
Summer Games will be hosted by
the Cowessess First Nation.[~
I

October I 997

�LANCERUNIMPORTANT
PARTOFSUMMER
GAMES
One of the highlights of the 1997
Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games
was the arrival of the Lance at the Whitecap Dakota/Sioux First Nation from the
Ahtahkakoop First Nation, near Blaine
Lake, Saskatchewan.
"This is a powerful gift," said Lance
Runner Derrick Sasakamoose at the
Opening Ceremonies of the Games. "It
brings in unity, peace , harmony, balance
and love."
These qualities reflect the sacred
nature of the Lance. Historically, the
Lance was used in warfare and hunting.
It was considered to embody the spirit
and story of the people who used it.
The Lance was also used to carry messages from one village to another. Young
warriors would make the journey and
present the Lance to Elders. The Elders
would read the message indicated by the
leather, fur, beads and feathers included
on it.
Today, the Lance is used as a valued
component of the Games. "The Lance is
sacred, " says Whitecap Dakota/Sioux

First
Nation
Chief Darcy Bear.
"It basically represents carrying
the spirit of our
youth."
The Lance is
made of a wood
shaft that is decorated with deer
fur and hide , ribbons, beads and
eagle
feathers .
The ribbons and
beads are red ,
white, green , blue
and yellow and
represent
the
Great Spirit and the Four Directions .
"The Lance holds within it the message
of all our First Nation people , our long
history on this earth, our life in the present and all our hopes for the future ," said
Chief Bear.
Because of the sacred nature of the
Lance, those chosen to handle it must be
worthy of the honour . Known as the
'Keepers of the Lance ', the runners must
lead clean lives and
abstain from drugs
or alcohol. They
must also have a
spiritual commitment and attend
sweats. Once selected,
these ath601
letes must be prepared to dedicate
534
one year of their
531
life to the Lance .
This year, 26 run501
ners made the arduous two-day mar476
athon from Ahta hkakoop First Na369
tion, the site of last
328
year's Games. The
Ahtahkakoop
275
Lance runners were
met halfway along
181
the 180 kilometer142
route by members
of the Whitecap
435
Dakota/Sioux First
Nation who completed the journey.
Along the route,

the runners made special stops at the
Mistawasis First Nation , Muskeg Lake
First Nation and Wanuskewin Heritage
Park.
The Lance is now entru sted to the
Whitecap Dakota/Sioux First Nation for
the next year. In July 1998, the Keeper s
of the Lance will travel the awesome distance to Cowesse ss First Nation , the site
of the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games .~

Total Point Standings
MLTC
YTC
TFHQ
STC
PAGC
OLFN
Athabasca
BTC
ACTC
CTC
SET

October I 997

Keeper of Lance enroute to the '97
Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games

SASKA T CHEWAN

illlBI A.11

15

�YELLOWQUILL
ACQUIRES
SASKATOON
BUILDING
The Yellowquill First Nation recently
acquired a new piece of real estate. The
Band purchased an office complex located in downtown Saskatoon.
Yellowquill First Nation Chief Henry
Neapetung stated that the Band has final- ·
ized the deal that gives them ownership
of Canterbury Towers. The nine-storey,
6,390 square foot building is located at
224 Fourth Avenue South.
The building, constructed in 1980,
features private and government offices.
Current tenants include Cigar Lake
Mining Corporation and Family Law
Division Services. It also contains a parking garage.
The Band purchased the complex for
$4 million. The money came from the
Yellowquill Treaty Land Entitlement
Trust and through mortgages with Peace
Hills Trust and the Royal Bank.
The acquisition is significant as it is
expected to become the second urban
reserve in Saskatoon . Muskeg Lake First
Nation produced Saskatoon's first urban
reserve when the Band constructed an
office complex in the Sutherland area.
Mu skeg Lake negotiated with the City of
Saskatoon for a servicing agreement that
provides the equivalent of property taxes.
Chief Neapetung says that Yellowquill
is anticipating a similar arrangement.
"We' ve contacted City Council in regard
to the precedent ," he said. "They're very
receptive."
The Chief believes that being an urban
reserve will bring in business . "We think
this will attract various businesses
becau se it is Indian-owned ."
In fact, the Band has already attracted
the First Nations Bank of Canada. The
Bank recently signed a lease and renovations have been completed. It has movedinto the space that was formerly occupied
by the Hongkong Bank of Canada. The
Grand Opening of the First Nations Bank
of Canada will be held September 23,
1997.
While significant, the acquisition of
Canterbury Towers is only one of several
economic activities that Yellowquill currently has underway. The Band recently
increased the size of the reserve by purchasing land near Wadena. This land is
intended for agricultural use. They also

16

SASKATCHEWAN

iililBii..._lill

plan further economic development both
on and off the reserve.
The Yellowquill First Nation is located approximately 250 kilometers east of

Saskatoon. The First Nation has a membership of about 2,000 members. An estimated one-third of the members live onreserve. ~

October 1997

�FILEHILLS
INTERNET
OFFICIALLY
LAUNCHED
At a May 1997 press conference in
Regina , Saskatchewan, File Hills Internet
was officially launched. The company is
currently the large st, non-government
Internet provider in Saskatchewan.
File Hills Internet is owned by five
Saskatchewan
First
Nations:
the

File Hills is also working to make
Internet and intranet a staple for all small,
medium and large businesses . "It is definitely the direction every business in
Saskatchewan will have to go and we are
poised to be a leader in this province in
helping business embrace the most revolutionary new technology we've seen this
century," says Chief Poitras.
And, to make sure that they remain on
the forefront of technological advancement, File Hills Internet has partnered
with some of the most powerful technology companies in North America. The
company has formalized partnerships
with grouptelecom, Silicon Graphics Inc.
and Netscape Corporation. These organi-

Peepeekisis First Nation, Okanese First
Nation, Carry the Kettle First Nation ,
Little Black Bear First Nation and the
Starblanket First Nation. The company
was initiated in 1995 by the Peepeekisis
First Nation. It was started to serve the
Internet needs of the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).
Since those humble beginnings, the
company has evolved significantly. File
Hills now provides Internet access to a
variety of large custo111ers.Cable Regina,
DLC West and MicroCity are among
their clients who then pass on the service
to their own customers, typically home
users and small businesses. In addition,
File Hills provides direct access to a
number of large businesses and corporations.
"Whenever someone at home goes on
to the Internet and they are not buying a
service from SaskTel, they are going
through our system," said File Hills
spokesman Chief Eugene Poitras.

October

1997

( communications system using Internet
and intranet technology. FSIN Chief
Blaine Pavel says, "This partnership will
help the Federation make a technology
leap into the 21st century. With this technology, our children will have new and
exciting education and job opportunities."
"What these partnerships mean is that
few organizations in Western Canada can
offer the expertise and experience we
now offer to anyone who is wanting
Internet and intranet to become the backbone of their everyday business environment," says Chief Poitras.
File
Hills
Telecommunications
Corporation, a sister company, is now

zations &lt;will work
with File Hills to facilitate its anticipated provincewide expansion.
~" The partnership between grouptelecom and File Hills Internet Inc. is
representative of the positive and rapid
changes the Internet is having on the
marketplace," says Mike Patterson, VicePresident, Operations for grouptelecom.
"This alliance provide s clients more reliable and fast access onto the Internet."
While the company is on the verge of
major success in the province, its
founders have not forgotten their roots.
Chief Poitras says, "We have been working for two years ensuring that the First
Nations in this province are taking
advantage of this powerful new technology and that experience will be an asset
to others in Saskatchewan."

developing
a
major telecommunications
hub for
Western Canada. By building on this service, it is only a matter of time before
File Hills Internet reaches its next goalexpanding its services to include all of
Western Canada. ~

File Hills is also continuing its relationship with the FSIN. The partnership
involves implementation of an extensive

SASKATCHEWAN

ilii!U\'tiAII\I 17

�HARVEY
GARDIPY:
IN REMEMBRANCE
A loyal supporter of First Nations
community, Harvey Gardipy passed
away recently at the age of 74. The quiet,
family man from Beardy's &amp; Okemasis
First Nations, had struggled valiantly
with cancer for three years.
At the time of his death , Harvey ·
Gardipy was a Senator with the Beardy's
&amp; Okemasis Senate and a Trustee on the
Treaty Land Entitlement Process. He was
also a member of the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association (SIVA). George
Mike , a close friend of Mr. Gardipy, says,
"He was a great supporter of SIVA." He
was a champion of Aboriginal Veterans
rights, encouraging many to pursue compensation packages for benefits they
should have received upon their return
from action.
Harvey Gardipy served with the Canadian military during World War II. He
saw action throughout Europe and participated in the D-Day invasion. And while
he received medals for his action, he never spoke of the time he spent overseas.
Bertha Acoose, one of Mr. Gardipy's
five daughters, says that he was proud of
having served. But, she also believes his

service affected him profoundly. He once
told her, "I saw so many people die right
beside me. I don't want to talk about it."
Upon his return from Europe, Harvey
Gardipy met and married Marie Louise
Dumont. The couple had nine children
over the years. In 1994, Louise passed
away. Despite having been separated for
some time, Bertha believes that her
mother remained the love of his life.
Harvey Gardipy lived on-reserve at
Beardy's &amp; Okemasis First Nations for
most of his life. He served as a member
of the Band Council for approximately
25 years, says George Mike. "He was
always active in community development," says Mike, "In any way he could
help."
Education was another of his priorities, says Bertha. Harvey attended St.
Michael's Residential School in Duck
Lake, Saskatchewan as a youth. And,
while he did not enjoy the experience, he
remained in school as long as he could
because he recognized the value of education. One of his crowning achievements as a Band Councillor, says Bertha,

was the completion of the first on-reserve
school.
Always a knowledgeable man, she
says, "He taught me how to think on my
own."
Kindness and generosity are two of
the traits for which Harvey Gardipy will
be remembered. Over the years, he quiet1y helped many Band members in times
of need. He preferred to stay out of the
limelight, workin&amp; quietly behind the
scenes to effect positive change. "I think
he did a lot for the Band," says Bertha.
She says that she will remember her
father most for his consistency and quiet
strength. He was always there when
needed. And, he was not concerned with
material goods, choosing instead to live a
simple life. He had a healthy routine and
had given up smoking many years ago.
Bertha says that had it not been for the
cancer, her father would have lived for
many, many more years.
Harvey Gaidipy earned the respect of
those around him by always respecting
others. This quiet man will be sadly
missed by all who knew him. ~

SENATOR
ARCHIEWADITAKA
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations recently lost a valued and
respected member of Senate. On the
morning of August 1, 1997, First Nations
Veteran and Senator, Archie Waditaka,
passed away.
Senator Waditaka, a member of the
Wahpeton Dakota Nation, was the son of
the late John and Maggie Waditaka. He
was pre-deceased by his first wife, the
late Edith Waditaka, and is survived by
his wife Helen Waditaka. Senator Waditaka is also survived by 18 of his 22 children, 78 grandchildren and 30 greatgrandchildren.
Senator Waditaka was a veteran of
World War II. He enlisted at the age of 18
and served with the South Saskatchewan
Regiment and, for a brief period, the
West Nova Regiment. He was a Lance
Corporal which is the front line pointer,
also known as a scout.

18 SASKATCHEWAN•·•••·

Senator Waditaka saw action in
France, England, Germany and Holland.
He fought in the Dieppe raid on August
25, 1942. He was on the first wave that
jumped into the water from the plane. On
June 6, 1944, Senator Waditaka was one
of the many members of the allied troops
that landed on the shores of Normandy
on D-Day.
A spiritual man, Senator Waditaka had
received an eagle feather from his family
before his departure. This eagle feather
was to protect him and bring him back
alive. His faith kept him alive during his
service, however, he was wounded in the
foot during a recon mission in northern
France.
Senator Waditaka received five
medals for his service overseas. He most
cherished the 1939-1945 Normandy
Campaign Medal for shooting down two
German planes.

In the time since the war, Senator
Waditaka has maintained strong ties to
the community. He served as Band Councillor for two terms and Chief for two
terms. He was involved in the Band Farm
and was instrumental in the development
of the school and education programs. He
was also a Dakota language instructor for
five years.
An active member of the First Nations
community and an Elder, he was appointed to the Senate of the FSIN in October
1996.
Senator Waditaka was a spiritual
leader and a believer in Dakota culture,
tradition and language. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, relatives, FSIN Executive, Senate and staff
and his friends.~

October 1997

�t~

,~

ABORIGINAL
SUICIDE
RATES
NEEDTOBEADDRESSED

Current statistics on Aboriginal suicide
are grim. According to the Royal Commission on Abori ginal Peoples Special Report:
Choosing Life, Aboriginal suicide rates are
two to three times higher than the Canadian average. Youth rates are even worse.
The report states that suicide rates are five
to six times higher among Aboriginal youth
than their mainstream counterparts .
"Most concerning of all," state the
Commissioners , "We identified a strong
possibility that the number of suicides
among Aboriginal youth will rise in the
next 10 to 15 years." This is largely due to
the expected bulge in Aboriginal youth
populations. In the next few years, the large
number of young people who are now
younger than 15 will be entering young
adulthood, a highly traumatic time for even
the best prepared youths.
The report also refers to the impact of
the "ripple effect" through interconnected
families and communities. The aftermath

of a suicide may
include destructive behaviour
or copycat suicides. This is
something for
which community leaders are
often not prepared.
Federation
of
Saskatchewan
Indian Nations
(FSIN)
Chief
Blaine
Favel
agrees. "We encountered some suicides when I was Chief
of Poundmaker, and the sense of powerlessness and the sense of failure that a community has, and the leadership has, is
something we should talk about," he said.
Talking about the issue was the purpose
of "The Washing of Tears Conference "
held in Saskatoon. The conference was
organized by the Health and Social Development Commission of the FSIN to
address suicide and its impact. "It's an
issue that none of us have not been touched
by in the 72 First Nations of
Saskatchewan," said Chief Favel.
The goal of the conference was to develop strategies for communities to anticipate
and prevent suicide and learn to deal with
the aftermath when a suicide does occur.
More than 1,000 people attended the
conference , with approximately 200 coming from out of province. Most of them recognized that the answers are not simply in
improving crisis services. Many of the

CAREER
~

SASKATCHEWAN

r

TRAINING

TODAY'S
TRAINING
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TECHNOLOGY!
ililll\li.Alil

inviting stories,photograpfts,artworkand
letters fromour readers. Ifyou are interested
pleaseforwardyour sulimissionto:
is

SASKATCHEWAN
ililil\1 ■£1111
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S7N 4K4

Telephone:(306) 665 - I 215
Fax:

answers lie in addressing the underlying
factors. "High unemployment, poverty, the
effects of residential schools, a lot of them
are tied together," said Chief Favel.
These issues, and more , were addressed
throughout the conference in workshops.
The findings expressed in the delegates'
final reports reflected those of the Royal
Commission, in part: prevention through
community action.
A variety of ways are suggested for
communities to become more involved.
Cultural activities such as sweats, storytelling and language camps were frequently suggested.
The overwhelming recommendations,
however, were for youth programs and
youth involvement. As one participant stated, "Youth need a say in how their communities are run." The delegates listed positive role models and sport and recreation
opportunities as being important. Courses
in parenting skills, life skills , anger management and goal setting were also suggested.
The conference delegates took home the
workshop findings and will begin the
process of implementing them in their own
communities.
The "Washing of Tears Conference"
was the first step in addressing this issue
that has gone on for too long. The next step
will require the support of entire communities if change is to occur. As FSIN ViceChief Albert Scott stated, "Nothing is
impossible if we work together." ~

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SASKATCHEWAN

■ -lliA.1111

19

�For nearly 20 years, Lloyd Pinay has
received critical acclaim for his artwork.
He believes that his devotion to art is the
driving force behind his success.
"I've done sculpture all my life,"
Pinay says. His talent was realized while
he was taking a biology course in university. Soon, he was pursuing his art fulltime. He says that in the beginning, "My
work was different enough that there was
a market for it."
Pinay attributes a great deal of the
originality of his work to his heritage. A
member of the Peepeekisis First Nation,
he spent a great deal of his childhood in
exploration of the wild.
He believes that art can contribute to
the preservation of nature through awareness of the people and wildlife of the
land. As a result, the relationship between
man and his environment is frequently
reflected in his work.
At the beginning of his career, the
self-taught artist experimented with a

20

SASKATCHEWAN

i Dl•III

number of different materials.
He has worked
with
marble,
steatite,
limestone, alabaster,
silver
and
bronze. Pinay
says that he has
no
favourite
medium,
but
s t a t e s ,
"Stonework has
its limitations."
These
limitations include its
susceptibility to permanent damage from
vandalism and erosion. These mediums
are also fragile and frequently create difficulties when working with intricate
detailing, he says.
Thus, over the years, Pinay has leaned
towards creating with bronze. Despite
being thin, bronze is very durable. This is
a feature that is especially desirable when
he creates works that are required to
withstand extreme weather conditions.
The monument featured in front of
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is one such
example, being exposed to both winter
and summer extremes in Saskatchewan.
While working with bronze, Pinay has
developed a number of his own techniques, many of which are time-saving
processes. In order to remain on top of
his work, he says, "I've gotten involved
in every stage of the foundry process."
By doing so, he ensures the quality of his
work.

Pinay is currently working on a number of projects. He has been commissioned by the Muskowekwan First
Nation to create a memorial monument.
The work, which he expects to complete
by this fall, features two children in traditional dress with a golden eagle representing the spiritual connection.
He is also working on the National
Aboriginal War monument that is featured on this month's cover of
Saskatchewan Indian. The monument is
intended to be a tribute to the contributions of Canada's Aboriginal people in
war and peace.
The sculpture will recognize four
eras-World War I, World War II, the
Korean conflict and the present, peacekeeping role. The monument is meant to
address the strength of Aboriginal
people's beliefs drawn from the natural
world around them. Pinay has also incorporated both the number four and the circle into the design of the monument.
The monument is expected to take
about two years to complete and will
stand approximately 30 feet. It will be
located in Ottawa, Ontario.
Lloyd Pinay's artwork has been featured in exhibitions in major cities
throughout Canada and the United States.
He has made presentations of his work to
the Queen Mother in Great Britain and to
the Republic of China.
His work can also be seen throughout
Saskatchewan, including the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, the Royal
Saskatchewan Museum and monuments
in Fort Qu' Appelle. ~

October 1997

�·~~('

he Federation of Saskatchewan
) ndian Nations and The TorontoD6m1~ion Bank have officially launched
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• term deposits, GIC's and investments
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OR

For more information or
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1-888-454-3622
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\.

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224 Fourth Avenue South
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Phone: (306) 955-3622
Fax: (306) 9 55-6811

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,

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Chiefs-In-Assembly Ratify New FSIN Structure&#13;
The ratification of all five resolutions dealing with re-organization means that the new structure will be implemented. In October 1997, an election of FSIN Executive members will be held under the new structure. Following the election, the new structure of the FSIN will be adopted in its entirety.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
AFN Elects New Chief&#13;
Nearly 18 hours after voting began on July 30, 1997, Manitoba leader Phil Fontaine emerged as Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Grand Chief. His victory came as the result of four hard-fought ballots.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Team Saskatchewan Wins Fourth NAIG Title&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Yellowquill Acquires Saskatoon Building&#13;
The Yellowquill First Nation recently acquired a new piece of real estate. The Band purchased an office complex located in downtown Saskatoon.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
File Hills Internet Officially Launched&#13;
At a May 1997 press conference in Regina, Saskatchewan, File Hills Internet was officially launched. The company is currently the largest, non-government Internet provider in Saskatchewan.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Harvey Gardipy: In Remembrance&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Senator Archie Waditaka&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Aboriginal Suicide Rates Need To Be Addressed&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
Sculptor Lloyd Pinay&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
School To Work Program&#13;
The School to Work (STW) program is a four-year pilot program initiated by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Office of Education that is now beginning its third year of operation. The program was started as a means of addressing high school completion rates, post-secondary continuation rates and labour force participation rates of First Nations students.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
STC Sponsors Youth Career Fair&#13;
The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) demonstrated their commitment to youth by hosting a Career Fair. The event was intended to help First Nation youth but did not exclude any young people who were interested.&#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
SICC Celebrates 25th Anniversary&#13;
The Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) is currently celebrating its 25th year of supporting education and cultural awareness for First Nation people. &#13;
By: Saskatchewan Indian &#13;
October 1997 &#13;
&#13;
SIFC - Field Of Dreams&#13;
The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) has been in existence for 20 years. Although it began with only 7 students, it now has over 1,500 registered in full-time studies. It is projected that by 1998, enrolment will surpass 2,000 students.&#13;
By: Jocelyne Wasacase&#13;
October 1997</text>
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