Nîkihk’s hand sanitizer is Health Canada approved and is made from phar maceutical grade ethanol that’s from locally grown Saskatchewan wheat.
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Nikihk cleaning products are being manufactured at the Corman Park Industri al Area where some of its employees attended the Atoskiwin Training and Employment Program.
“The location is in a place where we have 27,000 First Nations members that live in Saskatoon. A lot of our artists, right now, don’t have a central place where they can get their goods to a quality lo cation,” said Sasakamoose.
Necessity is the mother of invention: Nîkihk store opens in Saskatoon’s Midtown
Gord inspiresmusicalSlater’scareermany
FREE! Take One Christmas Edition Volume 27 Business
“Midtown is where a lot of our First Nations and Indigenous artists, Métis as well, will come and you can’t ask for a better location in terms of body traffic and people coming in to purchase goods and services here. We’re hoping that even non-First Nations will come and look at the products that are being pro duced locally and will support us.” The location is near the Midtown mall en trance on First Avenue just across from “WeStarbucks.getto promote reconciliation and where non-First Nations and Indigenous Peoples will go through a partnership,” said Sasakamoose. “You come in here and you will get to learn more about our culture through our arts and crafts. We’re here to support our Indigenous entrepre neurs.”
in co-operation with local manufacturers and the federal government.
“Wemembers.started getting back into our gath erings in August and all those infections in Western Canada on reserve started 15 days later. So now we’re back into COVID planning and we’re nearly into winter.” Sasakamoose said.
The effects of Covid-19 on Saskatchewan com munities are still being felt in regions throughout the province. And while we’re being threatened with yet another wave, the province’s First Na tions communities say they are doing their best to continue to move for Neilward.Sasakamoose is the Executive Director of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC). He says there was a glim mer of hope in the late summer that things were calming down. Sasaka moose recalls how just the thought of having a break in the pandemic raised the hopes of so
“Wemany.had this hockey tour nament booked for Au gust 13, 14, 15, thinking it was all safe,” Sasakamoose tells Indig enous Times. But what Sasakamoose did not know was the fourth wave of the pandemic was about to begin. The Chief Thunderstick Hockey Tournament was to take place August, 2021 in honour of his father Fred who died from Covid in November, 2020. But it became the site of an Sasakamooseoutbreak.says they were taken by surprise by the swiftness of this fourth wave. “In the beginning of August, a spike developed. And, in Saskatchewan, there was a sharp increase in COVID cases. And it was hard, knowing my father died from Covid,” Sasakamoose “So,said. we began to work really hard. There was extra work, extra planning, extra precautions, just extra everything. And we couldn’t cancel the event. And on the 13th, 14th, 15th of August, that’s when the outbreak was just starting to happen though. The Saskatoon exhibition was the week before I believe. And they said
PlazaLaneLaPlante’sLeatherArtrecognizedasfarawayasAustralia
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Nikihk Staff; Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc.
Sasakamoose recalls spending quite a bit of time to commemorate his father, hockey legend Fred Sasakamoose. “We thought we were going to get a break. People started taking holidays in July and started booking time off in August time off. We actually had set September 7th as our reopening,” Sasakamoose re
Sasakamoose says his community has basically written off Christmas. He says just based on the number of cases, which seem to crawl higher, they have no choice but to continue to tighten things
there was 200,000 people that walked through the gates during that week.”
Sasakamoose says he has spent much of the past six months pushing the vaccine. In meetings, in people’s home, even out in public, he has tried to keep commu nities safe from the virus that took his father. “Our vaccination rates pre-Au gust were actually really good,” Sasaka moose said. “Now today, the uptake for vaccine is much higher now that you have to be vaccinated to get into certain facilities and show your vaccine cards.” But it’s the opening of a new store in Sas katoon’s Midtown Plaza that has offered Sasakamoose and the First Nations of Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs’ hope. It’s called Nikihk, which means “My Home” in Plains Cree. Sasakamoose says the BATC began creating essential cleaning products for their communities soon after the pandemic began. Out of necessity, they created cleaning products like hand soap, hand sanitizers, laundry detergent and bathroom and kitchen cleaners to be made available to First Nations communities. Nikihk was creat ed by BATC’s Investment Branch
shut down until the new year.”
Stardust Clothing creator inspired to start her business
Last July, BATC made Nikihk products avail able to a bigger market in co-operation with Sobeys Preston Crossing. And now they have the Mid town Plaza location.
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“Wedown.shop in the cities, so a lot of our in fections come from the cities or major gatherings,” Sasakamoose says. “We just estimate that things are going to be
December 2021
MOU with the VP Indigenous, and have had conversations on reconciliation evaluation framework for measurements and reporting on process.
ForDecember.me,the idea of a good Christmas means spending quality time with my family. Waking up Christmas morning with the smell of fresh Bannock and fresh food! I love witnessing the gifts being opened and hearing the kitchen
Happy New Year.And to continue to stay safe and healthy.
tional lands with my extended family – my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I think about these things at Christmas and remember how I love boating and being out on the lake, we had many good days fishing and hunting. It’s important for me to remember my extended family’s strong relationship to the land - the traditional territory of the English River Dene and Moosomin First Nation. Back then, with out modern transportation, no grocery stores nearby and food and shelter being limited, the people had no choice but to hunt, fish, trap and even sew for themselves to survive.
As part of ongoing profession al development, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner team was pleased to have the University of Saskatchewan Office of the Vice President Indigenous share their newly launched Indigenous Strategy. The VP Indigenous team is currently rolling out the strat egy across the campus and had some time to share their work with the OTC. The OTC has an
Family memories. Almost like a flashback runs through my mind when I hear that one special Christmas carol, or even the smell of baked goods being baked in the oven. Christmas produces powerful feelings inside me – it’s a strong clear image: the joy I feel each Christmas when I share experiences with loved ones - past and present. I forever now cherish each visit, each meal, each holiday.
The OTC team building day also included discussions on identity, and a presentation on dealing with stress and trauma as the OTC team continues to support residential school sur vivors, and work in reconcilia tion and Treaty education.
BUSINESS OTC PD and team building day
I keep my thoughts positive and actions gentle and with care because I want to spread Christ mas cheer that brightens the mood and setting. I often recall how we set up the tree at Christmas and the ornaments we carefully use to decorate the tree – all in order to celebrate the 25th day of
It’s another cherished time when I address the creator and pray to the late ones who passed on. It’s important to me that I pass along what I’ve learned to my children. And I ensure I do just that over the Christmas holidays; I show them
Ko ta. Nene sti lo sa. Marsi Tcho.
Because of my family and the memories I hold near, I’ve never been surer of myself and the goals I want to accomplish. What I have learnt I will put to work on a daily basis to achieve those goals based on the values I come to adopt as my own.
To all the Indigenous Times readers, your family and your friends, Merry Christmas and
IFirstmymybeingglishmylanguage.heararebeI’vedofoodpreparations,activitiesI’velearned,howtocraftsandsharestoriesthatweretoldtome.cometolovesharingtalesofhowitusedtoyearsbackandcomparingittohowthingsnow.Iappreciatesodeeplybeingabletomyelders’ChristmasstoriesspokeninourI’vealwaysfeltacloseconnectiontofamilyroots,beingamemberoftheEnRiverFirstNation(DENENDEH)andpartPlainsCree.Andit’salwaysbeengoaltospendasmuchtimeaspossibleincommunities-PatuanakandMoosominNation.havealwaysappreciatedbeingonourtradi
The editorial policy of this newspaper is determined by an editorial committee established by Indigenous Times. We invite submissions, upcoming events, comments, and opin ions. Please submit them with your name, address, telephone number or e-mail. The expressions and/or opinions of au thors published in the current issue of Indigenous Times are not necessarily those of Indigenous Times or the editorial committee. No part of this publication in whole or in part may be reproduced, translated into another language, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without consent of Indigenous Times. Products, names, logos, design titles, words, or phrases within this pub lication may be trademarks, servicemarks, or tradenames on their own or otherwise may be registered in certain jurisdic tions.
prayer as we offer thanks for another dinner, another Christmas, and a moment with family.
2 Indigenous Times Editorial
Hiy Editor,JordanHiyLaPlanteIndigenous Times
Indigenous Times News Box 280 Cochin, SK S0M-0L0
axisimageryyxe@gmail.comeditor@indigenoustimes.caJordanEditor:LaPlanteCopyEditorChristinaCherneskeyccherneskey@yahoo.comWebsite:www.indigenoustimes.caAdvertising:sales@indigenoustimes.caDesigner:AlexandraJarrett
3 Indigenous Times December 2021
“I had a shop set up in my parents basement for my early years and eventually moved into a single ga rage in Saskatoon, LaPlante said. “I competed in rodeo while do ing leatherwork so that definitely helped me get my work out and seen by the people that would eventually be my clients. I currently am living
Daniel Spyglass photo by Indigenous Times
LaPlante’s Leather Art photos by Indigenous Times
1st Place Team - Above the Rim Shootout photo by Indigenous Times
Lane LaPlante’s Leather Art recognized as far away as Australia
Lane LaPlante photos by Indigenous Times
“Ier. always wanted to design my own pair of bull riding chaps to wear when I rode at rodeos,” LaPlan te said. “When I finally was in the position to do that, I realized how much I really liked designing cus tom leatherwork. I found it easy to stay motivated because the more I learnt the more I realized there was so much more out there I still need to Sociallearn.”media certainly has spread
4 Indigenous Times December 2021
in British Columbia and am taking a break from leatherwork until I am able to get a shop up and running again. I am extremely grateful for everyone who trusted me to build them something and am proud of how far my work came.”
“I always had an interest in learning how to do leatherwork by growing up in the western lifestyle, LaPlante told Indigenous Times. “My mom started teaching me basic sew ing skills when I was around 12 years old. When I graduated high
“Above the Rim Shootout” organizer dreams of an end to the pandemic
Daniel Spyglass has been playing basketball for over 30 years. Hailing from the Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation south of North Battleford, Spyglass says he’s been to a lot of basketball tour naments over the years.
Written By : Jody Wolverine
“My following is almost exclusive ly people within the western life style, LaPlante explains. “My style of work seems to really be popular among cowboys, ranchers and First Nation people from all over. I have been fortunate to make custom or ders for some great rodeo cowboys from all over Western Canada, United States and as far away as “IAustralia.”alwaystry to include a bit more artwork in my leatherwork” he add ed. “The client ordering the piece usually will give me some idea of something they are looking to in clude. I pride myself on taking time to figure out the designs so they will be happy with the finished results. People usually try to include some thing that does with their heritage or just a design that they feel is im portant to them.”
When asked about how his business has helped LaPlante learn more about himself, his traditions and his expertise, he says he learned a lot more about himself through the process – and more importantly, how to deal with others.
the word about Lane LaPlante’s gift of working with leather. LaPlante says he see about 99-percent of his orders coming through various so cial media platforms.
school in 2010, I got a job at Tandy Leather Factory in Saskatoon and purchased a starter set of leather carving tools. I taught myself basic tooling through trial and error and various tutorial videos on YouTube. I then went to work on the pipeline and saved up enough money to buy my first industrial leather sewing machine. In 2012 I started out mak ing some smaller custom orders and from there it slowly grew into mak ing a variety of items for people from all LaPlanteover.”admits he’s always had an artistic side to him and knew early on he wanted to explore working with leather. Especially if he could tie together his love for the bull ring and his love for working with leath
“I’ve hosted several tournaments including the “Above the Rim Shootout” in North Battleford that was held in August of this year,” Spyglass tells Indigenous Times. “When I first started to create a basketball league, it first was estab lished in the Treaty 6 League, then the following year it became the NBBL - which was exciting. Every thing was running smoothly until Covid hit and then we had to can cel because of the restrictions put in Spyglassplace.” says it was a challenge to try to communicate with all the teams at the start of the pandemic.
“We had teams from all over com ing out to play,” he said. “There was my team, the Grizzlies, Onion Lake, Border Crees, Whitefish Lak ers, Thunderchild Ballers, Pound maker Chiefs, Skeet-45’s, Elite Warriors – just to name a few!” Spyglass says these were the teams that were involved before Covid started. He’s unsure of what the fu ture holds for his league and players, but he’s hopeful things will start to move forward once again.
Written By : Jody Wolverine
Lane LaPlante has made some in teresting career choices over the Someyears.
may know him well from North America’s rodeo circuits. LaPlante is a bull rider and has been part of that scene for over a decade. But it’s the creative side of LaPlan te that some may not fully appre ciate. LaPlante’s talent definitely shows us some different angles to this North Battleford-born man. Take for example his voice - which is well-known in the bull riding rings as an announcer for rodeo events. And recently, he showed off his musical talent as the Music Di rector for the 2021 Canadian Cow boys Association Finals. But it’s his gift as a leather worker that may not be as well known. Un til now, of course.
BUSINESS
SPORTS
Her driving force has always been re specting those who came before her. A nehiyaw-Cree Metis woman, Falynne Baptiste says she is a representation of her grandparents and great-grandparents.
5 Indigenous Times December 2021
However, Baptiste says she took a short hiatus from singing and performing for a special reason.
Falynn Baptiste is a high school teacher at E.D. Feehan High School in Saskatoon, SK. She works within an Indigenous program called the miyo mâchowin pro
Coverchuk recalls his start into rodeo at the Sunshine Stables out side of North Battleford. “It’s when I fell off my first steer,” he said. “I didn’t want to do it again, but my dad talked me into it.” Coverchuk remembers ‘making the whistle’
COMMUNITYSPORTS
Cody Coverchuk Bull Riding photos by: Covy Moore
Baptiste says by the time she turned 30, she began – more and more – to recog nize how important the language and the future of her Indigenous culture had be come to her. “I believed that the healing of the collective experience of First Na tions people was dependent on the nur
turing of the youth,” Baptiste recalled. “I felt it was important as an educator that I join the many people out there who are dedicated to preserving Indigenous lan guages. I went back to school to obtain a Certificate in Indigenous Languages from the University of Saskatchewan, which gave me the tools and expertise to teach the Cree language.”
Written By: Jordan LaPlante
“I have written original music (both in English and Cree) that is hopefully to be released in the spring/summer of 2022,” Baptiste continued. “The Cree lyrics for the album came from a variety of sources, many of the songs came direct ly from printed hymn books (published 1950-1960). I worked with scholar and language keeper, Soloman Ratt out of the First Nations University in Regina to do a reference check and to translate “Do You Hear What I Hear”. The new single, “Little Drummer Boy” was translated by Delores Sand and obtained from Cree Literacy Network (creeliteracy.org).”
and winning $40.
Written By: Jody Wolverine
Her mother says she came into this world a songbird. Baptiste was told many times how she hummed and sang to herself with she was a little girl. And Baptiste re calls how fortunate she was to have had the opportunity to share her gift from a very early age.
I think of the support from organizations like Voices of the North out of Prince Al bert, SK, that helped me to gain experi ence working with a live band. “
and community gatherings,” Baptiste said. “It was through the support of both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and my very large extend ed family throughout Saskatchewan, that I was able to establish myself as an artist.
“Throughout this time, there would al ways be someone reminding me not to forget about my voice and to remember to share music, Baptiste recalls.” “I thank all those people throughout the years that encouraged me to pursue music. I had always hoped to record an album, life would align and alongside a period of personal growth and healing - I decided to record an album of Christmas songs sung in the Cree language.”
“I love every second of it, but I know it won’t last forever,” Cov erchuk said. “My dream is to win a world championship before I re tire from bull riding and I won’t be satisfied until I do just that.”
gram, a cohort-based program open to all students, but meant for Indigenous students to learn about their culture, lan guage within a supportive environment focused on building relationships and connection. Baptiste dreams of having a band one day. “I have been lucky to work with many Indigenous and non-Indige nous musicians. I would love to pull to gether a band in the future - we will have to wait and see where life goes.”
From that point, Baptiste says it only made sense to combine her passion for preserving, teaching Cree with contem porary music. “Christmas music was a good fit,” she added. “All people can re late to songs of the holiday - whether they were Cree language speakers or non-Cree language speakers. Christmas is also a time of remembering, a time of gathering and a time to reflect. Sharing Christmas music in the Cree language seemed like a great way to expose all people to our beautiful language.”
“My late kôkums loved to sing,” Baptiste recalls. “My 92-year-old grandmother who lives in Cumberland House, SK., loves to hear hymns and sing. I want to make them proud and honor all that they would have experienced, their struggles, their reverence, their hard-work.”
this year’s victory he was also crowned PBR Canada Champi on in 2018) and he has ridden at the Calgary Stampede twice. In Saskatchewan, Coverchuk has also found much success at the annual Meadow Lake bull rid ing, an event he has won three “Iftimes.Iwas to say I had any plans for the 2022 season, they would have to be that I will travel in the USA more than ever,” Cov erchuk said. “And in the next season it’s my dream to punch my ticket to the 2022 PBR world finals!”
Over the next 6 years I continued to study voice, which involved learning music theory, voice strengthening/conditioning, sight reading (music notes), training my ear to recognize pitch and performance Itetiquette.”wasthat formal training that guided Baptiste to where she is today. She tells Indigenous Times how she continued to perform throughout her young career. “I continued to perform contemporary mu sic at various functions like graduations, weddings, conferences, church functions
“I remember one of my first performanc es being at my grade 1 Christmas con cert,” Baptiste said. “I wore a beautiful purple dress and sang “The Huron Carol”. I started formal vocal training in North Battleford, SK at the age of 12-years old.
“As I began to focus on my vocation as a teacher, singing and my passion for mu sic was pushed aside for about 5 years,” Baptiste said. “My love for working with youth and working in the classroom took much of my focus and attention.”
Coverchuk says his late father Bruce was his biggest inspira tion. “Even though he has passed away he still is and will continue to be my inspiration to be a bet ter person and a role model for the younger generation,” Coverchuk tells Indigenous Times.
“I came into this world a songbird.” Falynn Baptiste connects through song
Cody Coverchuk and his girlfriend Katelyn photo by: Covy Moore
He started bull riding at the age of 12, and it only took a few months for Meadow Lake’s Cody Cover chuk to realize he was hooked. At the age of 27, Coverchuk won his second PBR Canada Champion ship in November and Coverchuk is convinced he’s on a good path for bull riding right now.
Coverchuk would go on to compete at KCRA events before moving on to the Indian Na tional Finals Rodeo events in Arizona as a Junior bull rider. As he grew older, Coverchuk began to compete on the Canadian Cowboys Association (CCA) cir cuit before debuting with Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada at the age of 18. From that point on, Coverchuk knew he wanted to make a career out of being a pro fessional bull rider and he began competing on various circuits to sharpen his skills and to build a reputation for himself. “My fa vourite part other than winning would have to be all the travelling with my buddies and all the new country we get to see as we trav el around doing what we love,” he recalls Throughoutfondly.his career, Cover chuk has competed at the Canadi an Finals Rodeo (CFR), has been to the PBR Finals (in addition to
Submitted by Falynn Baptiste Facebook Page
2021 PBR Canada Champion Cody Coverchuk dreams of a world championship
But Baptiste says, during her studies to become a teacher, she was usually gen tly nudged by her musician friends and even family to never give up singing.
The OTC understands that increasing ly people are interested in being part of
signage will follow provincial highway standards, with the final design being overseen by the Treaty Commissioner.
Highlights from the collection are be ing shared in a column in Eagle Feather News, which launched this year, includ ing Treaty Commissioner dispatches; some of the oral history collection; as well as some photographs. We know that by telling stories about Treaties through archival documents and further promote Treaty literacy.
As we celebrate the winter solstice, the Christmas season, and prepare for a new year, we also take time to reflect on the year that has finished.
The Treaty relationship and Treaty im plementation is key to reconciliation.
Office of the Treaty commissioner - Mary Culbertson; OTC Staff
COMMUNITY
Written By : Jordan LaPlante
In November, the Government of Sas katchewan announced their support for the OTC’s application for official Treaty boundary signage in the province. The
reconciliation, a journey that needs to be grounded in truth and a shared under standing of our history. While Canada marked the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept 30, the OTC is asking people to go further. The recognition of the impacts of residential schools needs to be remembered and ac knowledged year-round. The staff at the OTC will wear orange the last Friday of every month and we invite you to join
OTC ending year with flying colors
line sessions of the newly restructured Teaching Treaties in the Classroom, an enhanced training program that allows for participants to engage in two phases of sessions that allows them to work to wards training to be a Treaty Education Coach. Later in 2021, small, in-person sessions of Teaching Treaties in the Classroom Phase 1 were able to begin again. The team continues to watch the latest information about COVID-19 to ensure in-person sessions are safe and following all protocols.
In January 2021, the team began on
Asus. we break to spend time with friends, family and our community, we all wish you the best. May your loved owns, chil dren, Elders, and knowledge keepers by safe and happy this holiday season.
The Ministry of Highways will co-or dinate installation planned for win ter-spring 2022 of the first sign marking the Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 boundaries. This work marks the beginning of a pro cess being undertaken to one day ensure every border driven past in these territo ries will have a demarcation. The OTC wants everyone to know they are here because of Treaty.
Helping people to better understand Treaty remains the underpinning of all the work at the OTC.
6 Indigenous Times December 2021
In 2021, the Office of the Treaty Com missioner celebrated the grand opening of the OTC Library and Archives. Since the foundation of the office in 1989, Treaty Commissioners of Saskatche wan have collected and stored docu ments, but for the first time this collec tion has been catalogued and is being made available to the public. The library contains books, articles, and unpublished manuscripts. Historical materials include resources on Trea ties Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, and 10, as well as Canada’s pre- and post-confederation Treaties. Significant collections include files relating to Trea ty Land Entitlement in Saskatchewan, the development of Treaty Education, and Treaty case law.
7 Indigenous Times December 2021
8 Indigenous Times December 2021
9 Indigenous Times December 2021
“My love for tie-dye was there since I was a kid.” Seeseequasis said. “I al ways just sort of had this draw to old music, like classic rock music. And there were times when I would see mu sic videos; the ones with hippies and other free-spirited people who would wear all these colours and these de signs. I was just mesmerized, and I just always loved them.”
Seeseequasis says her Indigenous
says winning grant money for In digenous entrepreneurs in Saskatche wan helped her even more, since she had written a pop-up store into the grant
Stardust Clothing creator says love for tie-dye was the inspiration to start her business
to be in a space where you are being mindful,” Seeseequasis ex plained. “You have these images in your mind, and you’re with it and you’re doing the placement. It’s sort of like a meditative space. And that for me is a space where I just exist. I think that’s good to be able to quiet all of the craziness of the world out for a while because you’re focusing on yourself and your ability and your skill. That’s where it comes from.”
photo by: Chloe Champion
Written By : Christina Cherneskey
soon in Land Acquisitions and LearningDevelopment.new skills and always having something to look for ward to are some of the attribute Thomas possesses. “Mentorship is also a big part of being a young man,” Thomas adds. “And vol leyball provides that, from hav ing teammates to having coach es to help guide you in the right direction. Going into practice everyday, blowing off steam and leaving it all on the court. Ev erybody needs a healthy outlet; volleyball is one of mine.”
Seeseequasis admits waiting 24 hours for her tie-dye art to reveal itself is usu ally quite difficult, but she also recog nizes the importance of waiting for her creation to emerge.
When asked if her Indigenous upbring ing played a major role in how she be came an artist, Seeseequasis said she remembers, as a young Indigenous girl, falling in love with concept of creating tie-dye art.
10 Indigenous Times December 2021
Written By : Jordan LaPlante
SPORTS
Thomas has also added model ling and other skills to his list of qualities. “I have modelled in London Fashion Week, West ern Canada Fashion Week, in Tokyo Japan, and had numer ous photoshoots including the most-recent, Section 35 Win ter Collection,” he says. “I also was serving in the CAF army reserves as a Combat Engineer from 2014 after graduating high school until this year.”
background and how she grew up on Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation plays an enormous role in how she ap proaches her art as well as her business. “I think my biggest inspiration from that was all the beauty and the land. And to look up into the sky and see all of the stars. Or look across like a field of snow and see it glisten in the moon “Ilight.”do feel Indigenous first. That’s where I stem from.” Seeseequasis ex plains. “And that’s where my respect for art and for others comes from.” Seeseequasis says she learned a lot on becoming a businesswoman through the Praxis School of Entrepreneurship in Saskatoon. She started her first line of product after she bought her first sewing machine from Facebook Mar ketplace. She recalls how her partner supported her and her children while she created quilts and purses and posted them online for sale.
Natasha Seeseequasis is the creator of Stardust Clothing and Accessories, which is located in Saskatoon’s Centre
She grew up on a reserve on the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation. And Tasha Seeseequasis is the first to admit there wasn’t a lot of resources for So,artists.Seeseequasis says she had to make things interesting and even playing in the mud or throwing rocks at poles be came a creative output.
photo by: Abbey Iverson
tourney in Wabasca in 2019. He was 22-years old. Thomas then played volleyball for the Olds College Broncos in the ACAC league as a middle blocker un til he graduated in the spring of Thomas2021.
BUSINESS
Thomas urges Indigenous youth to share their skills and abilities.
River Rayne Thomas urges Indigenous youth to share their skills and aim high
River Rayne Thomas comes from the Saulteaux First Nation in Treaty 6 territory. He is son to Lorna Blackbird and Harvey Thomas. He started playing vol leyball after high school when he was 19-years old and played rez ball until a college coach named Ryan Marsden signed him at a rez
“But I think I’m very much apprecia tive of living on such like a beautiful piece of land,” Seeseequasis said. “I
Mall. To quote Tasha, her business was created for “all the dreamers out there; a platform where creativity is celebrated and explored.”
says he was inspired by the first Indigenous player to represent Team Canada. “Dallas Soonias,” Thomas said. “I be lieve he is the first Indigenous player ever to represent Team Canada on any level. He played pro all over the world as a right side for numerous clubs. He re cently became a close friend of mine and continues to be a posi tive influence in more ways than just Whilevolleyball.”Thomashas already started to etch a career as a profession al video game streamer with @ TansiRiver Gaming on Facebook and Twitch, he tells Indigenous Times that he recently graduated with a diploma in Surface Land Management at Olds College. He anticipates starting his career
“’Can you do it?’ I would ask myself, said Seeseequasis. And I would say back to myself, ‘I think so.’ And I’ve never looked back. I’ve made some of the most beautiful pieces of clothing and people would ask me where I got it?...and I knew I was onto something Seeseequasisgood.” began selling her tie-dye works on Facebook. She moved onto physical locations like Art in the Park and The Farmers’ Market and eventual ly moved her entire operation to a store front in the Circle Mall in Saskatoon. But she remembers how Covid actually helped her shift gears from the commu nity fairs to her more permanent loca Shetion.
“As an Indigenous person, don’t be afraid to occupy space,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to stand out and be yourself, especial ly while in settler institutions. You have just as many rights to be here as anyone else. You just being alive today is an accom plishment within itself. And if colonialism had its way none of us would be here today.”
“Beingproposal.indigenous entrepreneur, espe cially a woman too, and to have my own space where I can be me.” Seeseequasis said. ‘And I feel that if I can be THAT for myself, then I can help inspire other people to chase their paths too.”
photo credit: Stardust Clothing Facebook page
But it’s her tie-dye art onto clothing and masks and large wall hangings that sets Seeseequasis apart from the rest. Her ability to take an ordinary piece of clothing and transform it into a work or art that turns heads on the streets and has people coming to her store to see Youmore.have
just always loved it, the nature of it, the smells, the closeness of family. And yes, there was some bad times, but you know, it really pushed you to appreciate the good times.”
11 Indigenous Times December 2021
You may have seen Gord Slat er in the mid-80s playing with bands with names such as “The Electric Lettuce Band”, “Dazed By Age” and “Threez A Crowd. Slater started out in a base ment band, moved on to play ing backyard parties and social events to jam sessions at vari ous bars on Sunday afternoons.
He says he gets his creative juices flowing with his musical friends. “The ideas for songs come from viewing the envi ronment and singing about what you see. I’m not a pub lished lyricist. I help friends write their songs using their ideas and mine.”
Mason Medynski - Co-Founder NAIG Basketball Coordinator
Tanton adds that 35% of Indigenous youth do not play sports at least once a week and would like to see that changed. Tanton says this is an undertaking never done before and we are hoping to have approximately 40 teams playing in the two different age groups.
Alex Campbell - Camp Coach, Profes sional Basketball
Chan DeCiman - Marketing Director, Professional Basketball Player
From a basement band to the big stage, Gord Slater’s musical career inspires many
Gord Slater and the Evening Shift Band photos by Indigenous Times
Slater says during a hiatus he joined the “Midnite Luv Band” and the “Red Blaze Band “ which led to the band he is per forming with now, “Evening Shift Band”.
Written By : Jordan LaPlante
About 20 years ago, Mike Tanton and Mason Medynski, two brothers from the Ile a la Crosse community, started offer ing basketball programs for Indigenous youth. They had a vision for a provincial basketball league for kids in various com munities who did not always have access to organized sport. With the support of the Government of Canada, the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League (LSIBL) started in 2020.
The league is comprised of three compo nents:
Junior division (11-14yrs) goes from Oc tober to March
Entertainment
“Extracurricular activities have been linked to lower rates of suicide,” Tanton said. “High school female athletes are 92% less likely to use drugs while these high school athletes are three times more likely to graduate than non-athletes.”
Facebook:IG:www.livingskiesbasketball.comPlayer@livingskiesbasketballLivingSkiesBasketball
“Our aim is to offer cultural education to help Indigenous youth connect with their roots and celebrate the Indigenous culture in LivingSaskatchewan.”SkiesIndigenous Basketball League (LSIBL) is Saskatchewan’s first-ever, provincial-wide Indigenous youth basketball league. With Indigenous youth as the focus, the league is a vessel for reconciliation and meaningful change in Tantoncommunities.saysathletes from the ages of 1117 can participate in the league. There will be no cost to register and up to 650 athletes can participate. It started running in September of 2021 and is expected to wrap up with a Provincial Championship in March 2022.
Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League offers opportunities for youth across Saskatchewan
There is an important reason as to why this league was started according to Tanton. “The Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League provides opportuni ties for youth across the province and fosters athlete well-being by providing a holistic approach to sport,” he said. “The League supports the Indigenous athlete’s sport pathway by providing a safe envi ronment, building capacity, removing barriers of entry, fostering teamwork and togetherness, and creating lasting oppor tunities in our communities.”
Here is a list of all involved in creating the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball MikeLeague:Tanton - Co-Founder & Chef De
• On-Court Sessions
Tanton and Medynski say nearly every one has benefited from sport. “We want the athletes to have those same benefits as well as adding workshops to help build their resume and skills,” Tanton said.
Senior division (15yrs-17yrs) March to TantonJuly says while the league is current ly province-wide, it’s his goal to begin building capacity within the province first before trying to expand across Canada. He says his favourite part of the game (aside from winning) is that no matter
Tanton breaks down how this league is so beneficial for the families participat ing. He says statistics gave shown that athletes who compete are given skills to help them become more equipped to han dle life beyond the court, while providing opportunities for urban Indigenous youth throughout the province. Add to that, he says, certified coaches and offices get to develop their resumes while helping the athletes foster teamwork, social skills, confidence, and self-esteem.
Written By : Jordan LaPlante
Laura Dally - Camp Coach, Assistant Coach University of Saskatchewan Women’s Basketball Team
“Within six months of doing jam sessions, I became a mem ber of a band,” Slater said. “The easy part was putting the band together,” Slater tells In digenous Times. “The passion was the discipline we had to learn to create a band. Criti cism was the motivation; we were told to quit playing. That made us to keep going.”
Slater says his audiences gener ally varies. “Sometimes I played for a room of twenty, and then I find myself playing at civ ic centres, or performing for eight-thousand at a provincial park celebration.”
“I am actually a drummer,” Slat er said. “But I have dipped my guitar in both East and West coast oceans of Canada with over 25 years of many interest ing stops along the way. He laughs when asked about how the band would share the word about up-and-coming gigs. “Yes, we used a form of social media first,” he chuckled. “It was called the telephone and word of mouth. We now use Facebook and YouTube, and
Tanton says it is critical to create leader ship and personal development opportu nities to help develop young Indigenous people in a positive way. He says there are some age divisions to help the young athletes find their places:
• Cultural Education
our followers record, post, and share our performances.”
• Workshops
Paige Crozon- Manager - Canadian Na tional team 3x3 player, Assistant Coach Saskatchewan Rattlers and Assistant Coach University of Lethbridge Wom en’s Basketball Team
Kai Williams – Coordinator, Professional Basketball Player
Mission of Team Sask North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)
SPORTS
what nation, colour or creed the players come from, the game can benefit any and everyone because it brings so many op portunities for all involved and it brings people together
Despite a tight race, a recount and nearly an entire day of waiting, it became clear Doucette had lost the seat. Tory incumbent and local busi nessman Brad Redekopp took the
Saskatoon West includes some of Saskatoon’s poorest areas, with more than twice as many First Nations and Metis residents than the oth er two federal ridings in the city. It
mendations from the Truth and Rec onciliation Commission on the lega cy of Indian residential schools. And to ensure the living conditions that Indigenous people find themselves in is Doucette,rectified.the former president of the MetisBennett.MinisterenousbydigenousbetrayedsaysgovernmentlyhasConsequently,FriendshipIndianofecutivepresently30Métisbeenkatchewan,Nation-Sashasinvolvedinpoliticsforyears.HeistheexdirectortheSaskatoonandMétisCentre.heworkedclosewiththeLiberalandhehas“feltasanInperson”Crown-IndigRelationsCarolyn“Iwasbornin1962inFebruary,andI’maSixtiesScoopchild,Dou
riding from the NDP - as he did in 2019, the same year his party cap tured all 14 seats in the province.
was Doucette’s aim to voice concerns about housing and the need for the NDP’s plan for pharmacare.
that’s where I grew up.”
cette said. I was taken away from my mother when I was four months old and sent to non-indigenous family in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. I lat er was moved to Prince Albert and
Doucette draws attention to the exclusion of Métis from the Six ties Scoop Settlement Agreement reached in 2017 despite, he says, Bennett’s promise to include Métis. The Liberals came to power in 2015. It took until this past July for the court to issue a certification order for a similar class action undertaken by Métis and non-status Indians.
the nominated NDP can didate for Saskatoon West had to step aside this time, Doucette says he began his process of becoming a candidate in July 2021, knowing full-well he would only have about eight weeks to make an impression on voters in Saskatoon West.
“That in itself allowed me to, to be come a person that I am today,” Dou cette explained. “Because you really need to be there for your kids, and you need to be the leader. You also need to be supportive of your wife and try and understand all the intri cacies that all human beings bring to the Storytable.”Continued 14...
Robert Doucette is a man of many professions. The NDP’s candidate for Saskatoon West came into the contest later than most candidates vying for a federal seat. But all along, it was his aim to become the first In digenous MP to represent an urban riding in Saskatchewan.
“This is a whole new journey in my life, Doucette said. “I raised my fam ily on the west side of Saskatoon in the Fairhaven district of Saskatoon. But I had thought about this a long time and actually once approached Nettie Wiebe about becoming a fed eral “Wecandidate.”supported Wiebe in two elec tions and then it was Sheri Benson’s turn,” Doucette said. “She won in 2015 but lost in the election after Whenthat.”
When asked about his strength as a leader, Doucette tells Indigenous Times he has been driven most all of his life. He was a champion long-dis tance runner, played on a champion ship-winning softball team, he com pleted his post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Brandon with Political Studies majors. He is mar ried, with children and says that his leadership qualities are critical in raising a family.
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Pg
He also emphasized the need to move forward with the 94 recom
Robert Doucette
13 Indigenous Times December 2021
The Feather targets a broad-ranging au
You can see all the episodes this team has created on their website, “TheFeather.ca”. Their videos are linked to their YouTube channel which also boasts a long list of videos created by the team.
Doucette says his time on the cam paign trail was eye-opening, re warding, even mind-numbing.
When asked about how he intends to move forward following this election, Doucette said he doesn’t feel bad about losing because of his survival instinct.
“That’s what I’ve done all my life, because being a foster kid you have to have this a survival instinct,” Doucette said. “And I know that when I was growing up, I would always say to myself that I was go ing to be better, not bitter and learn from things and move forward. Be cause from that, you, you will gain so much knowledge and you will be a better human being from it. There is no shame in losing. It’s what sets you apart, thinking the way of ac
LISTEN TO CHRISTINA CHERNESKEY’S PODCAST ROBERTWITH
ceptance so you can just carry on with your life.”
And their website intro describes it all (with a bit of a wink and a nudge):
“At first, we started doing it as a passion project,” said Cuthand. “But then we start ed applying for grants through the Sask Arts Board as well as developed a partner ship with PAVED Arts - a local artist run production company in Saskatoon where we would shoot on a green screen.”
14 Indigenous Times December 2021
Robert Doucette story continued...
What do a trio of stand-up comics and a technical guru all have in common? They may have LOTS of things in com mon, but the one thing that keeps them together – and has since 2018 – is their sa tirical news site called The Feather.
“Our coverage is provided with an “Indig enous Slant”, which means tons of laughter and copious amounts of smart-ass articles that you can share with your friends and family.”
“Like on one door where I knocked, the 73-year-old gentleman said that he didn’t want to live anymore be cause he’s a diabetic and he was taking 25 pills a day,” Doucette re called. “He couldn’t afford medi cine. He had to make choices, med icine, food, or pay the rent. And he had no quality of life. And he said that at some point he wanted an assisted suicide because he just didn’t think anybody cared. And I told him, no, sir. You’re here for a reason. And that’s part of what my culture believes. You just need to hang in there.”
Written By : Jordan LaPlante Entertainment
The concept first came about when Sas katoon’s Ryan Moccasin came up with the idea to start a website and video channel that would be funny and unique but with an Indigenous twist. Moccasin who is the founder of The Feather as well as the writer, producer and director of the pub lication/video site is joined by actor Dan ny Knight who is a writer, director, actor Shawn Cuthand - producer and director and Muskwa Lerat, who handles the di rection as well as editing for the videos and the site.
It’s been an age-old debate for some fam ilies according to Cuthand. Is Indian hu mour really the best?
“Indian Humour is definitely the best hu mour,” said Cuthand. “It’s really deadly be cause we’re always just kidding, even when we’re not. You can’t help it. I’m just kidding right now even!”
dience and Cuthand says they’re rated “E” for everyone. But they are aware an entire generation of Indigenous families may be watching and reading, as well as non-Indigenous people too. And they do understand their demographics, recogniz ing they get most of their traction from an 18 – 45-year-old age bracket.
DOUCETTE ON SPO TIFY OR SOUNDCLOUD.
“We wanted to make something that was like “The Daily Show” but with an Indig enous twist,” Cuthand said. “We wanted to share that indigenous humour the way Aunty shares that hangover soup.“
And Doucette has watched his words come to life in his family “Working hard and believing in yourself is so important,” Doucette said.” “Just to brag a little bit...my one daughter received her master’s in Social Work. My other daugh ter is a Registered Nurse. And my youngest is a Physicist. And my wife has a Business Admin degree. So actually, when I look at my fami ly, I think I’m the dumbest one! But if you live your life based on your principles, you will get integrity.”
Stand up Saskatchewan comics create satire website with an Indigenous twist
When asked about how they get their ideas consistently and continuously, Cuthand says it’s actually quite easy. “Our country, every day, we get all the ideas we need, and we just want to make Canada good for once. “
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16 Indigenous Times December 2021
