SP National Indigenous Peoples Day 2021

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A special section celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day This issue was created in collaboration with Indigenous contributors, who provided the cover photo and some of the stories in this section. Since Original Peoples is publishing in different Canadian cities and towns, we wanted to find a photo that could symbolically represent Indigenous communities across cultures, languages and territories. Photographer Bert Crowfoot proposed this image because, as he put it, “what we all have in common are our elders. They are our knowledge keepers.”

BERT CROWFOOT

Pictured: The late Walter Bull and his wife Val.

THIS SPECIAL SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.

BET TY ANN ADAM Special to Postmedia Network

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the diverse peoples who have thrived here since time immemorial and who are still here, keeping alive our distinct Indigenous identities.

Though we now make up less than five per cent of the Canadian population and more than half of us live in urban areas, those are often still in the territories of our ancestors.

Many cultural differences exist among Indigenous peoples, the umbrella term that includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit, but there are commonalities that reflect the People’s closeness to the sacred land and water. Indigenous people see themselves as just one element of the interwoven fabric of the natural world, so respect for all life is foundational.

Traditionally, spirituality imbued all aspects of life: prayer and ceremony were intrinsic to everything. Sharing what you could was expected.

Those values can still be seen among many Indigenous professionals.

We are still here

“A lot of lawyers go into Indigenous law because they really believe in their responsibility to their communities, or other communities, to make things better,” says Laura Sharp, secretary of the Indigenous Bar Association.

Indigenous people were prohibited from hiring lawyers until 1951, but by the late 1970s the first Indigenous lawyers were practicing.

When Canada’s new Constitution came into force in 1982, they were among the first to apply Section 35, which affirms Aboriginal rights, in the courts.

They’ve found ways to bring Indigenous values to the courts, as in sentencing circles, where victims and perpetrators can sit with the judge, lawyers and community members to talk with each other.

When Indigenous lawyers, representing 21 First Nations in the Robinson-Huron Treaty lawsuit over annuity payments, wanted the court to understand their clients’ perspective, “there were occasions when Anishinaabe ceremony came into the courtroom,” and the court party participated in sweat lodges, pipe and other ceremonies, Justice Patricia Hennessy

wrote in her 2018 decision.

“The teachings and the hospitality gave us an appreciation of the modern exercise of ancient practices,” Hennessy wrote.

Dr. Veronica McKinney is a family physician and director of Northern Health Services through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine.

Her great-grandmother was a traditional healer and midwife, who passed her knowledge to McKinney’s mother, who passed the teachings to her.

Respect, humility and humour are among the strengths she brings to interactions with patients, which can engender trust, willingness to follow advice and stay connected with the health system, she says.

“I see myself as a friendly face, somebody that can get information the people can trust. I really do try to incorporate my own teachings into what I do every day,” she says.

“Sometimes there’s ceremony, of course, but some of it is just laughing… just sharing information and connecting with each other in a meaningful way, that you’re really listening and being heard. Those things are really simple, but

Dr. Veronica McKinney, director of Northern Medical Services at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine. PH O T O : MAT T

Winona Wheeler, associate professor and department head of the Native Studies department at the University of Saskatchewan.

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STAR PH O ENI X

they’re not that common in (healthcare for) our communities.”

History professor Winona Wheeler measures success by “how well my work has benefitted the community,” she said.

As a student, researching her own First Nation in 1986, Wheeler discovered it had received less land than had been promised in Treaty. She sent her research to the band and supported their efforts over the years. In May 2021, the Fisher River First Nation

Indigenous students are an important part of Southeast College and its programs.

From Adult Basic Education to full and part time post secondary programs, Indigenous students make up about 36% of the student body at Southeast College.

Student Advisors are strategically spread throughout the region to ensure timely and efficient access to information and support.

Learn more at www.southeastcollege.org

and Federal government announced a $15.1 million settlement.

“It’s hard sometimes to see your work having a benefit because of the system we’re fighting against (so) to me that was a big success.”

As a university teacher, Wheeler also sees success in every Indigenous student who has enrolled despite difficult personal circumstances.

“If they don’t make it through the year, I don’t consider that a failure. I sit them down and tell them they beat the odds just by walking

Laura Sharp, secretary of the Indigenous Bar Association.

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through the door,” she says.

“I’ve seen single parents of five kids come through and get honours degrees. I’ve seen amazing successes, maybe not the mainstream measures of success, but personal success.

Setting a goal for yourself and getting there. It’s huge.”

Associate editor of Eagle Feather News, Betty Ann Adam is an award-winning journalist, teacher, mentor, public speaker, Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Saskatchewan co-chair, co-writer and subject of National Film Board documentary Birth of a Family, Impact marketing, contract communications.

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National Indigenous Peoples Day P E O P L E S

June 21, 2021

Many ways to reflect and show respect during National Indigenous Peoples Day JEANNIE ARMSTRONG

June 21 will be the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day for all Canadians to join in recognizing the heritage, diverse cultures and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Due to the pandemic, the large gatherings that were traditionally held in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day have been replaced by a diverse mix of virtual activities and programs.

Here are just a few ways to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day and learn more about our country’s “Original Peoples.”

Reconciliation Saskatoon has hosted the Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation since 2016, gathering thousands of people to show their support for residential school survivors. While last year was cancelled due to COVID, this year’s event is back in a much different format.

P H OT O: R E C ONC I L I AT I O N SASKAT O O N

ROCK YOUR RO O T S WA L K F O R R E C O N C I L I AT I O N

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Everyone is invited to walk for reconciliation on June 21, by participating in the Rock Your Roots Walk, presented

by Reconciliation Saskatoon.

In past years, thousands of people turned out to Victoria Park for the event. After a pause last year due to the pandemic, this year’s event shifts to a virtual platform.

Everyone is invited to walk any route, at any time of the day. Participants are encouraged to wear their own cultural regalia and hold or wear traditional symbols of their culture to showcase the diversity and inclusion of Saskatchewan.

Take a picture or video of your walk and share it on your social media with the tag #ROCKYOUR ROOTS. “We’re inviting people, either before the walk or while they’re walking, to submit their own photos and videos, not only to share why they’re walking but what their call to action is this year. Especially in the wake of the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops residential school, this is a good time for people to think ‘what is my call to action?’

Walking is one thing, but what am I going to do the rest of the year?” says event organizer Carrie Catherine, coordinator with Reconciliation Saskatoon and activator with SheEO™.

“The walk was created to honour residential school survivors. I think what we’ve seen at Kamloops is actually just going to be the beginning of a larger national experience. I think it has all of us thinking a little deeper.”

The ConnectR website (beaconnectr.com/events/) offers tools and resources that help people find and respond to calls to action.

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Month by streaming a diverse selection of Indigenousled works available for free online viewing offered by the National Film Board of Canada. Go to the web portal nfb.ca/indigenous-cinema to access the NFB’s collection of works by Indigenous filmmakers. I MAGE: NAT IO NAL FIL M BOAR D / ERU O M A AWA SH ISH

Catherine invites everyone to join the online virtual event that will be playing on Facebook@ReconciliationSaskatoon to launch this year’s walk. “We’ll launch the online event the morning of June 21 so people can watch anytime during the day. We’ll have some really interesting cultural performances, remarks from dignitaries and talk to some people who will be sharing the significance of why they’re walking for reconciliation,” says Catherine.

“Residential school survivor Eugene Arcand will talk about the history of the walk, where it all started and how.

We’ll also have some newcomer youth singing happy birthday to the survivors in their own language.”

Another projec t that Reconciliation Saskatoon is launching on June 21 is the Know Your Roots Map, which is being produced in collaboration with the Saskatoon Public Library. “The map locates a number of sites that have significance for truth and reconciliation—everything from responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

(TRC) like the renaming of libraries and schools, to public art installations to places of historical significance,” says Catherine. The first iteration of the map will launch online, with a print booklet also available at the public library. “It’s just the start of the project. We will continue to evolve that map and get different people involved in artistic collaborations.”

S I M F C C E L E B R AT I O N OF INDIGENOUS L A N G UAG E S

For the second year in a row, the Saskatoon & Indian Metis Friendship Centre (SIMFC) is pivoting to a virtual platform to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Last year’s online program garnered large audiences, with viewers from as far away as Peru.

Robert Doucette, SIMFC executive director, says this year’s presentation is an exciting look at what is being done to revitalize Indigenous languages through education, the arts, community partnerships and activism.

The presentation is titled: “Our Voices: Indigenous

Languages Close to Home.”

“Firstly, we want to make sure people understand that there is a diversity of languages that Indigenous people speak in Saskatchewan: Dene, two types of Cree, Heritage Michif and Northern Michif, Nakota, Lakota and Saulteaux. We will have a variety of Indigenous speakers talking about the languages, as we invite viewers to enjoy and partake in the beauty of Indigenous languages of Saskatchewan,” says Doucette.

Among the guests featured during the program will be former MP for Desnethe-MissinipiChurchill River and mayor of La Loche Georgina Jolibois, who was the first person to speak Dene in the House of Commons. “She will talk about how she joined with a handful of MPs in a fight to get the Indigenous Languages Act enacted,” says Doucette.

Pete Chief, principal of the former Confederation Park School, will tell the story behind the school’s name change to the Cree word: Wahkohtowin. SIMFC staffer Char Cote will talk about the

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Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Friends of Batoche and Batoche National Historic Site will partner on a virtual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day that will be broadcast on the GDI Facebook page and YouTube channel on June 21. It’s an opportunity to preview many of the new features that can be seen in person this summer at Batoche National Historic Site. PHOTO: PA RKS CA NA DA / SHIRLEY JOHNSON.

use of Saulteaux teachings and language in the programs the centre has developed for youth. The Heritage Michif pre-kindergarten program at Westmount Community School, and St. Michael’s Community School’s Northern Michif kindergarten program will also be highlighted.

Cree Elder/Knowledge Keeper Joseph Naytowhow and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark will also discuss the Cree syllabics projects at River Landing and Saskatchewan Craft Council.

“The revitalization of Indigenous languages through education, the arts and community partnerships is good for the whole community,” says Doucette. “When you know where you come from, and you can identify with the people that are your ancestors who have all played a role in developing our community, it’s a win-win.”

The horrors inflicted at residential schools across Canada were an attempt to extinguish Indigenous culture and language. “These processes of assimilation

have had a terrible, negative impact on the identity of our peoples, but I’m happy to say that we’re seeing initiatives that are bringing about a revitalization of our languages and adding to the strength of our languages into the future,” says Doucette.

To view “Our Voices: Indigenous Languages Close to Home”, go to simfc.ca, beginning June 21.

B AT O C H E NAT I O NA L HISTORIC SITE

Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Friends of Batoche and Batoche National Historic Site will partner on a virtual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day that will be broadcast on the GDI Facebook page and YouTube channel on June 21 at 10:30 a.m. The video will also be available for viewing following the event.

The program will feature a celebration of Métis culture, including learning components, Métis musician, artists and performers. It’s also an opportunity to preview new S E E R E S P E C T O N PAGE 6

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National Indigenous Peoples Day P E O P L E S

June 21, 2021

CHANGE IS HAPPENING

The thread that connects the Sixties Scoop, MMIWG and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women BET TY ANN ADAM Special to Postmedia Network

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Indian Residential Schools, with its 2015 Final Report and 94 Calls to Action, achieved an astonishing feat. It raised awareness across the country of how closely all settler Canadians are bound to the realities of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.

For millions of Canadians, six years of regular news reports about the TRC’s uncovering of the deliberate attack upon Indigenous families and cultures by successive federal governments and numerous Christian denominations, broke through a collective ignorance that had allowed many descendants of settlers and subsequent immigrants to view the widespread poverty

A grand entry of First Nations leaders into the Rotunda of the Legislative Building in Regina preceded Premier Scott Moe’s January 7, 2019 official announcement on behalf to the provincial government to apologize for the Sixties Scoop. PH O T O : T ROY FL EE CE / R E GI NA L EAD ER -POST

and social problems among First Nations, Métis and Inuit as an inexplicable demonstration of their inferiority—a sad reality completely disconnected from the rest of Canada and its famous affluence, fairness and politeness.

Many Canadians were shocked that they had not been educated about the residential schools. The ongoing news reports about the TRC gave voice to the people, shedding light on the system’s effects, which are still felt and seen.

Indigenous voices have also called attention to the disproportionate numbers of Indigenous women murdered

or gone missing without resolution; the high rates of Indigenous children being removed from their families and communities to be raised in white families during the Sixties Scoop and in the on-going Millennial Scoop; and the tragedy of coerced sterilization of Indigenous women.

For many Canadians, the problems seem disconnected from each other, arising as they do, in different circumstances.

Yet they are connected by government-funded Canadawide systemic racism, originally designed to smooth the way for settlers. In 1920, Dun-

can Campbell Scott, then head of Indian Affairs, wanted “to get rid of the Indian problem,” through assimilation.

But residential schools harmed family cohesion, language transmission and cultural values. Generations of emotionally traumatized school children-turned-parents struggled with self-worth.

Poverty reflected government policies that often kept Indigenous people out of the mainstream economy.

Non-Indigenous people working in systems have seen the end results of bad policies but, generally, haven’t been aware of how their govern-

ment’s policies led to those results.

These circumstances, along with personal racist beliefs, have contributed to the problems of MMIWG, Scooped children losing family connections and identity, and women being deprived of their human right to bear children.

For too long, education policies ignored Indigenous perspectives, child welfare policies have ignored the trauma of struggling parents, police have discounted missing persons reports, and doctors have ignored the wishes of Indigenous women to not be sterilized.

But change is happening.

Canada knows about the injustices because Indigenous people have never stopped speaking out and fighting back against oppressive policies. It’s important to remember that the TRC, which gave voice to survivors, happened because survivors sued the government.

Indigenous leaders have fought for the people, knowledge keepers have devoted themselves to preserving cultural heritage and language, and everywhere, people are pursuing education to work in their own communities and beyond as teachers, nurses,

doctors, police officers, social workers, artists, writers, film makers, business people and pretty much every other occupation you can think of.

Indigenous people have continued to demonstrate that they are ready, willing and able to take care of themselves and each other. When we are treated as equal partners without barriers to hamper our efforts, we improve our circumstances.

In Saskatchewan we say, “We are all Treaty people.” It’s a reminder that we share the land and Indigenous people are entitled to all the rights, protections and respect as everyone else.

We need non-Indigenous Canadians to support policies that are fair to all people, especially those who are struggling. That means equitable education funding, public transportation, affordable housing, a living wage and access to mental health supports.

We also need Canadians to recognize that different ways of doing things aren’t necessarily wrong or inferior. It might mean the person is coping with something you’re not aware of. Or it might mean there’s a better way you didn’t know about.

Our commitment to diversity & inclusion At Viterra, our values guide us to achieve a workforce as diverse as the people we serve. We recognize the strengths of a diverse workforce and strive to make the most of each individual’s unique abilities, skills, experiences and cultural backgrounds.

Viterra is proud to support National Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan recognizes the deep roots of the diverse First Nations and the Métis Nation on the land we now know as Saskatchewan. Rich cultural traditions and strengths have cared for the land and Peoples since time immemorial.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity & inclusion at viterra.ca

We acknowledge the depth of harm and intergenerational trauma that colonialism has caused, and that injustices continue with racism embedded in our systems and society today. MCoS commits to learning, connecting, and action towards decolonization. We encourage everyone to join this journey to be good treaty relatives.

Your Saskatchewan NDP MLAs Areproud tocelebratethediverseculturesandoutstandingcontributionsofIndigenouspeople

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!

caucus@ndpcaucus.sk.ca

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National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21, 2021

P E O P L E S

Poet Laureate Halfe-Sky Dancer a diverse voice on Parliament Hill HILARY KLAS SEN

For artists, inspiration can swoop in from unlikely sources. On a visit to her hairstylist, Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate said to her much-loved stylist: “You already know I love my hair kinky and disheveled.” And he suggested, why not use that as the title for your next book? Thus, Louise Halfe-Sky Dancer’s latest work, awâsis: kinky and disheveled, revealed itself.

The title reflects the tone of the collection. “It’s very different from anything I’ve written. This one is a wonderful collection of humour,” says Halfe-Sky Dancer. A gender-fluid trickster character leaps from Cree stories to enliven this raucous and rebellious new work. There are no pronouns in Cree for gender. awâsis, which means illuminated child, reveals herself through shapeshifting, adopting different genders, exploring the English language with abandon, and sharing his journey of mishaps with humour, mystery, and spirituality.

Halfe-Sky Dancer is now six months into her two-year term as Parliamentary Poet Laureate and is the ninth poet to hold this office. “Mostly, I respond to whatever the Senate and the Parliament want in terms of particular subjects to be covered in poetic form,” she says. Halfe-Sky Dancer had some preparation for the position, having previously served as Saskatchewan’s second poet laureate.

National Indigenous Peoples Day produces mixed feelings in Louise Bernice Halfe-Sky Dancer, Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate. After hearing in early June that the remains of 215 children were found on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, she wrote a poem in their memory. “Angels” is posted on the National Parliamentary Poet website.

Saskatchewan author Louise Bernice Halfe-Sky Dancer is Canada’s ninth Parliamentary Poet Laureate. The Parliamentary Poet Laureate performs a range of duties, including composing poetry, particularly for use in Parliament on important occasions; sponsoring poetry readings; and advising the Parliamentary Librarian on the Library’s collection. PH O T O : L IBR ARY O F PAR LI AMEN T

The national role involves doing public education on all levels (whether formally or informally), from the senate and staff to students and the national community, and providing resources about the literary Aboriginal community. She hopes to launch a “Poem of the Month” feature on the parliamentary website to highlight the richness and diversity of her community.

The media component of the role has thus far presented diverse opportunities

like doing a podcast for Perry Bellegarde and writing poetry for various organizations such as the National Native Women’s Association, Globe Walk (SCOA), APEX, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Sport Canada and others. Halfe-Sky Dancer enjoys these opportunities.

“Sometimes the poems come quickly to me and other times I have to let the artesian well simmer before they surface. That’s how poetry works. Sometimes it’s there

at your fingertips and other times the muse plays with you for a bit and then resurfaces with the necessary tools and gifts that it wants to bestow.” Halfe-Sky Dancer says ancestral grandmothers and grandfathers serve as her muses and they seldom let her down.

Halfe Sky-Dancer was raised on the Saddle Lake Reserve in northern Alberta and spent about seven years at the Blue Quills Residential School. In between, in the lower grades, her parents pulled her out and sent her to public school, but then took her back to residential school. “I’m surmising it was because they didn’t have the tools to deal with families because they were both survivors of residential schools themselves.”

That sad legacy has im-

pacted her and thousands of other residential school survivors. With time she found a pathway back to herself. “Going back to my culture and working with my Elders as well as being in therapy with mainstream white people has really rounded out my life. They were both equally influential,” she says. Halfe Sky-Dancer describes her poetry as historical, personal and community-based. “I couldn’t cover the topics that I cover if I was still in my dysfunction, it would be too painful.”

Halfe-Sky Dancer is widely recognized for weaving Cree language and teachings into her works. Being poet laureate has generated renewed interest in her previous works. Bear Bones and Feathers (1994), Blue Marrow (2004), The Crooked

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day! To ensure everyone’s health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sask Polytech is celebrating the heritage, cultures and outstanding achievements of our Indigenous students, faculty and staff virtually on June 21, 2021.

Situated on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories, and Homeland of the Métis People, Sask Polytech is committed to the renewal of relationships — miyo wâhkôhtowin — with our Indigenous communities. More than 19 percent of our student population identifies as Indigenous. The Indigenous Student Success Strategy helps Indigenous students to be successful and enhance their experience by incorporating Indigenous ways of thinking and learning into the everyday culture of Sask Polytech.

saskpolytech.ca/Indigenous

Good (2007) and Burning In This Midnight Dream (2016) have all received numerous accolades and awards. All these titles have been republished by Brick Books and Kegedonce Press.

National Indigenous Peoples Day produces mixed feelings in Halfe-Sky-Dancer. After hearing in early June that the remains of 215 children were found on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, she wrote a poem in their memory. “Angels” is posted on the National Parliamentary Poet website.

“My people have always known that there’s been a lot of unmarked graves throughout this country within those residential school grounds.

So I’m going to have to really reflect and meditate on what does National Indigenous Peoples Day mean to me. I honestly cannot answer that to the extent I would like at the moment because it’s still simmering in my psyche,” she says.

Halfe-Sky Dancer has some reflections for Canada from her Elders. “Our Elders used to say that love is the greatest teacher. It’s also the hardest teacher. It’s not only love for our children and partner, it’s love for everybody,” she says. The other beautiful word that she often invokes is wahkohtowin. “It means relationship in my language. The energy we bring in a relationship comes from a sacred place. And it’s up to us how we use that specific energy in any relationship. So we have to dialogue.”

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National Indigenous Peoples Day P E O P L E S

June 21, 2021

Park expansion kicks off exciting summer at Wanuskewin ELIZABETH IRELAND

As Saskatchewan expands re-opening plans, Wanuskewin Heritage Park looks forward to welcoming more visitors as summer unfolds.

Wanuskewin has been a gathering place for the Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains for thousands of years. Today, this National Historic Site includes Canada’s longest running archeology dig, an interpretive centre, a museum, an art gallery, and a large event space.

Andrew McDonald is Wanuskewin’s director of marketing and communications. He describes the many experiences that visitors can currently enjoy at Wanuskewin including daily drop-in programs, new exhibits, interpretive outdoor walks and, of course, the bison herd.

After its successful Thundering Ahead capital campaign, Wanuskewin’s full site renewal was officially complete in December 2020. New construction includes expansion of the interpretive centre, gallery spaces and meeting rooms plus a new archeology lab, and a refreshed restaurant and gift shop.

Complete with inhouse catering services, a total of 7,000 square feet of space is now available for meetings, conferences and weddings.

As we move into summer and the province continues to loosen health regulations, McDonald notes that the park is now open seven days a week with a 2:00 p.m. dance performance each day. Given high demand, guided tours for school groups are fully booked until the end of June. Currently, all group tours are mask manR E S P E C T F R O M PAGE 2

features that can be visited in person at Batoche National Historic Site, including the 13 Moons Art Exhibit by artist Leah Dorion, ribbon skirt display, octopus bag display, the new trail and East Village viewing tower.

When visiting the national historic site in person, remember to observe physical distancing rules and COVID guidelines.

G OV E R N M E N T H O U S E

Government House in Regina is celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Month with a variety of special exhibits that can be viewed virtually at governmenthousesk.ca.

On-location tours taking place Sunday, June 20 can also be pre-booked through the website.

In partnership with the La Ronge Arts Council, Government House is proud to present a virtual exhibit of 19 La Ronge area artists.

Viewers are invited to enjoy the artwork and commentary that provides a glimpse into the landscape, traditions and crafts of La Ronge.

On June 21, Government House will highlight a very special artifact on their Facebook page: the Headdress that was presented to Lieutenant Governor Archie McNab at the Regina Exhibition in 1938 by Chief Kanouse of the Piapot First Nation. As Chief Kanouse placed the headdress on the Lieutenant Governor’s head, he gave him the name Chief Mayo Tayhay that means “kind heart.”

On June 22, Government House will highlight National Indigenous History Month with a 3D interactive tour of the J.E.N. Wiebe Interpretive Centre that explores the history, relationships and Treaties between Saskatchewan’s Indigenous peoples and the Crown. Visit governhmenthousesk.ca to take the tour.

datory.

Due to the unpredictability of planning during COVID-19, no official activities are planned for National Indigenous Peoples Day. However, McDonald still encourages guests to come out to Wanuskewin for the day to experience the site’s activities.

New for families is the award-winning Wanuskewin Interpretive Playground. The outdoor playground’s design incorporates aspects of the site’s archeology, culture and natural ecosystems. “I wish I was 10 years old again when I see that playground,” says McDonald.

On the bison front, the Wanuskewin conservation herd has now reached 17 bison, including two calves (as of the first week of June).

The herd was formed in December 2019 with six young female bison from Grasslands National Park, as well as four females and one mature male (for breeding) from the United States. The U.S. bison are ancestrally related to the bison at Yellowstone National Park. McDonald describes the herd’s progress since reintroduction as “pretty incredible.”

Bison mate in the late summer and have a nine-month gestation period. The priority is to manage the growth of the herd by breeding appropriately, mindful of genetic diversity, with an end goal of 50 bison living at Wanuskewin.

On May 21, the art exhibition ‘Opimihaw’ by Mary Anne Barkhouse opened at Wanuskewin Galleries.

Barkhouse was inspired by the reintroduction of the bison herd and the ecology of the nearby Opimihaw sic.org and SaskMusic social media pages.

A P T N I N D I G E N O U S DAY LIVE

The multi-platform broadcast, APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL) returns June 20 with an incredible line-up of talented performers, pairing Indigenous artists with Canadian music icons collaborating in English, French and Indigenous languages.

Audiences will view performances taking place in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Dartmouth.

Scheduled performers include Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tom Wilson, iskw?, Neon Dreams, Julian Taylor, Charlotte Cardin and more.

Watch APTN Indigenous Day Live from 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (EST) on APTN, APTNlumi and participating Indigenous radio stations. The broadcast will be repeated on June 21.

NAT I O NA L F I L M B O A R D INDIGENOUS CINEMA

You can celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Month from the comfort of your couch by streaming a diverse selection of Indigenous-led works available for free

New construction at Wanuskewin Heritage Park includes expansion of the interpretive centre, gallery spaces and meeting rooms plus a new archeology lab, and a refreshed restaurant and gift shop. PH O T O : WA NU SKEWIN H ER ITAG E PAR K

Valley to create her large tapestries and other dynamic pieces. Set to a backdrop of sounds recorded at Opimihaw Creek, the exhibition brings together themes of reconciliation, restoration and healing, combined with the strength found in human and natural ecosystems.

One of the highlights of Wanuskewin’s recent renovations is the new People of the Northern Plains Hall, with a tipi movie theatre at its centre. “Six Elders shared their wisdom to create the People of the Northern Plains exhibit. They were instrumental in the respectful and accurate depictions of traditional culture, language and belief systems. In addition, features like the ‘Leaders’ Wall’ showcase contemporary Indigenous successes stories for visitors to the park. This is in line with the Elders’ original vision for Wanuskewin, in the 1980s, to create pride and awareness,” says McDonald. online viewing offered by the National Film Board of Canada.

Go to the web portal nfb.ca/ indigenous-cinema to access the NFB’s collection of works by Indigenous filmmakers. Must-see offerings include films by the great Alanis Obomsawin, including her latest Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger, the watershed documentary Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance; Tasha Hubbard’s award-winning nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up; and Now is the Time, directed by Christopher Auchter.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, the NFB will partner with the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Decolonizing Lens to host the world premiere screening of The Lake Winnipeg Project, a four-part documentary series by Kevin Settee. The series explores the vibrant Indigenous communities who have made their home on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, including the Anishinaabe, Cree and Métis, and their connection to the land and water at a time when many external forces are imposing change. To join the screening and panel discussion taking place June 21 at 6 p.m. (CDT), register at eventive.org.

Children will love the new outdoor interpretive playground at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The award-winning design incorporates aspects of the site’s archeology, culture and natural ecosystems. PHOTO: ELIZ A B ETH IRELA ND

How did Wanuskewin cope with COVID-19 restrictions over the past winter? McDonald describes the site’s many advantages for social distancing, including seven kilometres of outdoor trails, a popular snowshoeing program and an outside amphitheatre for performances. Also on offer is an innovative Desk for a Day program—a work option for those individuals ready for a change of scenery.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent that our outdoor offerings were more popular than we anticipated especially because people wanted to be doing something active and engaging while safely distancing.

At one point during the winter, we were scouring the country looking for more snowshoes for our programming to keep up to the demand. COVID-19 affected every element of our

lives. I’m proud of our staff and how we came together to adapt and plan ‘what’s next’ so quickly,” says McDonald.

Wanuskewin’s Han Wi Moon dinner series was an opportunity for guests to experience an outdoor dinner at dusk featuring ingredients harvested from the site. Put on hold due to COVID-19, McDonald hopes that the dinner series will restart in late summer.

As an accurate reflection of the culture and history of the Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains, Wanuskewin continues the process to become the first UNESCO designated site in Saskatchewan’s history.

Find out more about exhibits and programming atwanuskewin. com.

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SaskMusic will celebrate National Indigenous History Month with a special concert airing Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. on SaskMusic’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The program will continue to be available on maxTV Local on Demand.

Presented with the support of FACTOR Canada, Missinipi Broadcasting Corp and maxTV Local on Demand, the concert will feature local music artists matched with video mentors in virtual collaborations to create new performance videos. It’s an opportunity to help artists expand their ability to create good quality videos for this concert, and future opportunities while the pandemic continues to restrict gathering sizes and travel. The concert will feature more than a dozen artists from different musical styles and locations across Saskatchewan.

For more details, visit saskmu-

Take time to recognize and celebrate Indigenous cultures in Saskatchewan.

Tanisi, Kitatamiskatinawaw.

Kinitomitinawaw ote Allen Sapp Gallery We celebrate National Indigenous Peoples’ Day by honouring our history and diversity through art and culture.

#1 Railway Ave E. North Battleford, SK www.allensapp.com 306-445-1760

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National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21, 2021

P E O P L E S

Honouring Her Spark: project strives to improve economic landscape for Indigenous women ELIZABETH IRELAND

Gathering the collective voice of Indigenous women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals in our province is more important than ever. Saskatoon-based Alicia Buckley is program director of the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS) and led the publication of Honouring Her Spark – A Saskatchewan Indigenous Women’s Economic Framework.

Honouring Her Spark is a three-year initiative designed to improve the economic landscape for Indigenous women and LGBTQ2S+ in Saskatchewan (with the delays of COVID-19, it has been extended for a fourth year). Buckley has worked with the AFCS since February 2018 in different capacities. She has a degree in regional and urban planning from the University of Saskatchewan.

Honouring Her Spark aims to increase awareness and understanding of the barriers Indigenous women encounter, exploring their passions and seeking out what they need to succeed. Incorporating a holistic approach, the project is rooted in Indigenous cultural teachings and traditions, seeking guidance from Elders,

Alicia Buckley is program director of the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS). S U P PL IED

cultural leaders and knowledge keepers. Two-Spirit (2S) is a term used by Indigenous North Americans to describe those who fulfill a traditional third-gender, or other gendervariant, role in their culture.

Honouring Her Spark is funded by the federal government through Women and Gender Equality Canada and by the provincial government through the Community Initiatives Fund.

Twenty high-level barriers were identified by Indigenous women and members of the LGBTQ2S+ in Saskatchewan.

Three methods were used to collect information: workshops and focus groups in 10 Friendship Centre communities, written surveys and one-

“Personal safety has become even more of a barrier during the pandemic for Indigenous women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals.”

- A L I C I A B U C K L E Y, p r o g r a m d i r e c t o r, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan

on-one interviews. The top three barriers identified are discrimination and racism; issues with access to programs and services; and equal employment opportunities.

“We are grateful that Indigenous community members shared their stories and knowledge with us across the province. None of the top three barriers identified are a surprise,” says Buckley.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to higher rates of domestic violence, addictions and mental

To gather a sense of the economic landscape in Saskatchewan, AFCS sought information on the barriers Indigenous women encounter and what they need to succeed. INFO GRA PHIC: A FCS)

health issues in all communities. As a result, for Indigenous women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Saskatchewan, the barrier of safety, crime and poverty has increasingly become an issue.

“Personal safety has become even more of a barrier during the pandemic for Indigenous women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals. This could be interpersonal and domestic violence, generational violence or gender-based violence. With the support of the Emergency Community Support Fund, we have provided personal alert devices and

access and safety supports for Indigenous women and members of the LGBTQ2S+ in our community,” says Buckley.

Honouring Her Spark will wrap up this year and work to correlate with national findings and frameworks, including the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), which was released in June 2019. The Final Report states that “calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.”

Located across Canada, Friendship Centres form a non-for-profit service delivery infrastructure for Indigenous peoples, particularly in urban areas. Friendship Centres operate under a status-blind policy which means anyone, regardless of status, can use the programs and services. There are 11 Friendship Centres in Saskatchewan, including five in the North in La Loche, Buffalo Narrows, Île-à-la-Crosse, La Ronge and Meadow Lake.

Find out more about the AFCS online at afcs.ca or by phone at 306-955-0762.

A scholar’s perspective on National Indigenous Peoples Day The recent discovery of a mass grave containing 215 Indigenous children at the Kamloops Residential School has once again amplified the national dialogue around Truth and Reconciliation. According to the 2015 landmark report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), there were some 4,100 deaths of children at Residential Schools in Canada, although the number could be considerably higher. For many of those deaths, the student’s name, gender or cause of death was never recorded.

Natalie Owl is a University of Regina (U of R) doctoral candidate whose research focus is Indigenous health and education. Owl, who grew up on the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation in northern Ontario, also studies tradi-

University of Regina doctoral candidate Natalie Owl says that the discovery of the Kamloops residential school burial site is yet another example of historic trauma transmission that Indigenous peoples face. P H O T O : U NIVER SIT Y O F R E GINA

tional Indigenous concepts of health, health disparities, social determinants of health, cultural appropriateness, Indigenous language education and historic trauma transmission theory among other Indigenous research. As a U of R master’s student, Owl focused

her research on impacts of the residential schools system.

Owl says that the discovery of the burial site is yet another example of historic trauma transmission that Indigenous peoples face.

“It [the discovery] is part of that historic trauma,” Owl

says. “I recently listened to Senator Murray Sinclair talk about the federal government’s refusal to further investigate deaths that occurred within the Indian residential school system and to me that’s part of ongoing Indigenous oppression.”

The TRC hearings concluded there were 51 deaths at the Kamloops Residential School.

Members of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation community, where the residential school is located, had long claimed that there were more children buried at the school site and for more than two decades had attempted to locate them. Owl says the acknowledgement of the deaths can help ease the pain that survivors have carried for a lifetime.

“Because it was never fully acknowledged, that historic

trauma has been allowed to manifest in Indigenous communities,” says Owl. “There has also been the suppression of Indigenous traditional healing methodologies which would have helped resolve some of the trauma. For many of today’s survivors having that acknowledgement, while painful, is also healing. During this time, it is also important to remember the resilience and resistance of Indigenous people that has helped our truth be known.”

Owl was the recent recipient of the 2021-2022 Queen Elizabeth II Centennial Aboriginal Scholarship, an $20,000 award presented to an Indigenous graduate student for academic excellence.

“There aren’t a lot of Indigenous graduate students and to receive this award ac-

knowledges that my research is important,” she says. “Many Indigenous students struggle financially through post-secondary. It will definitely help me to finish up the rest of the rest of my doctorate so I am so thankful.”

As we approach National Indigenous Peoples Day, Owl reflects on measures that will move Canadians towards reconciliation.

“To have a day that is set aside helps raise awareness and it is important for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people,” she says. “We need to learn each other’s history and also the history we share. Some of that’s not very pleasant but I think that you need to acknowledge that history and instead of dismissing it you need to understand it.”

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.

Cole Woytiuk PRESIDENT’S MEDAL RECIPIENT

for academic standing, leadership & extra-curricular activities.

Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN)

National

Indigenous Peoples Day. June 21

Helping Indigenous nursing students help others

The Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) is helping Indigenous nursing students realize their dreams of a career in healthcare and a goal to positively impact their communities.

Jointly offered by Saskatchewan Polytechnic and University of Regina, the SCBScN has been approved by the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA) and also been accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

Cole Woytiuk earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing(BScN)with Distinction and is the recipient of the President's medal for academic standing, leadership and extra-curricular activities at the Spring, 2021 convocation.

“In contrast to other degree programs, the SCBScN combines the academic and professional aspects of nursing, making the program both challenging and rewarding,” Cole says. “By the end of your degree, you will think critically and look at health from a holistic perspective. To be a registered nurse requires dedication and a selfless mindset.”

National Indigenous Peoples Day As we celebrate the diverse cultures and achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, let’s all work together to make it a land of reconciliation.

We also join Canadians across the country to honour those who suffered, and those who continue to suffer and grieve the impact of Canada’s residential school system.

If you’re passionate about improving the well-being of Saskatchewan communities, visit

Together we are stronger.

sasknursingdegree.ca

saskatchewan.ca

sasknursingdegree.ca/SCBScN

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JUNE 21

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Education, acknowledgement, resilience: How Downie Wenjack Fund is encouraging Canadians to act during National Indigenous History Month SPONSORED BY TD

BY THERESA TAYLER

June marks National Indigenous History Month, which means a time of celebrations f rom c o a st to c o ast to c o ast , and to commemorate the history, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

Just ask Sarah Midanik. Growing up around St. Albert, AB, as a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and part of one of the founding Métis families in the province, she is no stranger to community gatherings, including jigging, music, and other cultural celebrations.

This year, there is a sombre shadow in the midst of what is usually a positive and inspiring time. When the news broke at the end of May about the remains of 215 children at one of the largest residential schools in Canada near Kamloops B.C., Midanik, along with the rest of Canada, paused to sit with the truth of what many Indigenous People long understood.

“This has been a horrible time. The last thing we feel like doing is celebrating,” says Midanik, who is the President & CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). “But resilience and strength are at our roots and finding healing through culture and connection is at our core.”

DWF was founded in 2016, with the goal of moving reconciliation forward by building awareness, education and connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. In honour of National Indigenous History Month, for the past several years they have presented a series of events to celebrate the diversity of Indigenous Peoples across the country.

“We have such incredible partnerships with artists, Knowledge Keepers, Elders and youth that help to make our Indigenous

Musician Gord Downie with Chanie Wenjack’s sister Pearl Achneepineskum. Image courtesy of DWF

History Month events come to life,” shares Midanik. “This year, it is important that we bond together and connect through culture, community, and shared experience.”

The Fund is part of the legacy of late C anadian s ong wr iter, Trag ic ally Hip frontman, artist, and poet Gord Downie, to improve the lives of First Peoples. His family, in collaboration with the family of Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy born in Ogoki

Sarah Midanik, President & CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF)

Post on the Marten Falls Reserve in 1954, helped develop the national charity.

At the age of nine, Chanie was sent to the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. At age 12, he tried to escape the school to reunite with his family.

Nine others ran away on the same day, and all but Chanie were caught; his body was later found beside the railway tracks a week after he fled. Chanie died of starvation and exposure to the elements. “[Gord] was so maddened and upset when he heard Chanie’s story. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t been taught about the atrocities of the residential school system growing up,” Midanik says.

In the wake of the discover y at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, DWF launched the 215 Pledge to honour all children, families and communities affected by residential schools. The Pledge is a call to action to unite in truth and to commit to change.

“We are all grieving for the families of the 215 children who never returned home. This news reminds us that our work building cultural understanding and creating a path toward reconciliation only becomes more relevant and crucial,” says Midanik.

When the news broke, Midanik describes how she spent the weekend in conversation

Image courtesy of DWF

Image courtesy of DWF Note: All photos were taken before the COVID-19 outbreak.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY TD FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES.

with Chanie’s family and how they spoke about what this moment meant to the survivors and those who have been impacted by the harrowing legacy of residential schools.

One of Chanie’s sisters, Pearl, kept saying, ‘Now they know, now the rest of world knows we weren’t lying.’

“This is really what DWF is all about education and action. To create positive change that will improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada,” says Midanik.

Adding that one of her favourite quotes is from The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who said: “Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.”

Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD’s corporate citizenship platform, DWF has received support to help preserve and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ arts and culture, such as through TD’s sponsorship of the Indigenous History Month series.

“TD has supported us throughout this journey, which is especially impactful as a charity during a pandemic, ensuring that we are still able to move forward in sharing the hope, unity and celebration of different Indigenous communities and voices throughout the country,” Midanik says.

“Our activities this month will provide an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

It is also a time to reflect on the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledge the struggle, both against acts of racism they face today and the past actions that sought to erase their identity.”

TD has a long-standing commitment to Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Together with organizations like DWF, they are committed to supporting programs and initiatives that help all Canadians learn about Indigenous Peoples and the work required to help advance Truth and Reconciliation calls to action.

This month, and all year-round, take time to reflect on the ongoing impact of the residential school system and the resulting trauma. Consider donating, developing your understanding by reading a summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, or explore some of the virtual events happening this month at communityevents.TD.com.