FREE! Take One Summer Edition Volume 26
Our Story Will Finally Be Heard
Grave Marker of the Eight Warriors Hanged in 1885 Parks Canada at the Fort Battleford National Historic Site works with an Indigenous Advisory Circle on Fort Battleford’s interpretation of 1885. As the 135th year anniversary is upon us, the Indigenous people welcome the opportunity to finally have the First Nations’ stories told, Stories will be shared with tourists and school groups who visit the Fort Battleford National Historic Site annually. For 135 years, the stories told by Fort Battleford have been told through the eyes of the settlers. Today it’s acknowledged that there naturally exist two stories: the settlers’ and First Nations’
individual and collective experi- and wish to ensure that our stoences, Now, the Fort’s interpre- ries are shared in such a way that tation will reflect that. all voices are recognized and included.” In a draft terms of reference for the First Nations Advisory Cir- Moosomin Elder Peter Gladue, cle, the background and scope whose close relative was hanged states, “Parks Canada is commit- and buried at the Fort in 1885 ted to working respectfully with along with seven other nehiyaw Indigenous peoples and honour- and Nakota men, is pleased to ing their contributions to Can- have the opportunity to tell the ada’s history. In recognition of First Nations’ side. “For the Call to Action #79 of the Truth very first time we would have and Reconciliation Commission our own way of saying, expressof Canada, we are working to ing ourselves as First Nations reshape the way in which Fort people because you know that, Battleford National historic site everything that has been writis managed and the way its sto- ten there, it all has to do with ries are shared. We recognize the the white man’s paper, whatevcomplexity of our shared history er they wrote on the books and
stuff like that. In the past it was always, you know, one side of the story.” Mr. Gladue mentioned that very few First Nations people were allowed in the Fort over the years, but the stories are still very much with us. He stated that some of the stories may be sensitive subjects to deal with in this context. Parks Canada has welcomed participation in the Advisory Circle from First Nations surrounding the Fort Battleford area.
Business A lifetime of memories created in Fond du Lac
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Saskatoon hip-hop artists urges Indigenous youth to stay focussed on their goals
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A time to forgive. Inspirational speaker Kendal Netmaker
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Editorial It took some effort to even write this first line; mental health is apparent anywhere you go, it thinking and thinking of what I would l like to seems. People are stressed in various ways. share and impart to anyone who might read this. As a single parent, my concern and love for my boys, I can empathize with other parents. My mind goes to this seemingly new catch- We see the impact this “new normal” is having phrase,“newnormal.” Ihavecometothecon- on our families and children. My basic coping clusion that, yes, it’s new to us in the contem- strategy is simple: get back to the basics. Numporary sense but I don’t believe these types of ber one and most important is our spirituality, challenges are new to humanity or to our First and to reconnect with our higher power, God, Nations ancestors. our Creator. For me, walks by the river with my older son, being close to nature, allows Of course, I’m talking of the current pandem- me to feel that reconnection and gives me the ic, the current state of race relations, economic strength to carry on with life with acceptance, instability, etc. 2020 has been an exceptional humility, and hope. The physical exercise year. The unprecedented toll on our collective helps my state of mind.
It’s also encouraging that the most significant ceremonies for my extended family, such as the sacred Sundance, are still taking place this season. The same thing happened during the 1918 pandemic. Our spirituality is our foundation. It helps us face all adversity. This brings me back to thinkingof the children. In my own way, I want to humbly thank those individuals who live to help others: the frontline workers, childcare workers, nurses, doctors, and our ceremonial Elders, who sacrifice much to support and help others.
Advocacy, leadership & resolution. Battlefords Regional Community Coalition moves forward utilizing the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement COMMUNITY Written By : Jordan Laplante On June 25, 2020 Moosomin First Nation hosted the Battlefords Regional Community Coalition (BRCC) meeting. The session featured regional leadership such Chief Brad Swiftwolfe of the Moosomin First Nation, Chief Moccasin of the Saulteaux First Nation, Chief Okemow of Lucky Man First Nation, Chief Samaganis of Little Pine First Nation, Mayor Bater from North Battleford as well as Mayor Leslie from the Town of Battleford, along with a municipal team and the
BRCC team. The BRCC’s major goal is to open doors to better relationships between Governments in the Battlefords region and the province of Saskatchewan. The BRCC meetings help identify issues through the BRCC Issues Management Process. It determines whether something is within the mandate of the Coalition Agreement by using the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement along with the Issues Management Matrix. Some of the highlights from the session include discussion surrounding: cultural prosperity, engagement and heritage;
intergovernmental relationship building; collaborative economic development; collaborative land use planning; environmental Stewardship and climate change; service utilization and agreements; infrastructure development, maintenance, and funding; joint advocacy on regional issues; education and training. The BRCC leadership group ensures there is cohesive success of its strategic direction which can lead to issue resolution as well as project approvals. The management team’s aim is to
Indigenous Times News Box 280 Cochin, SK S0M-0L0 Editor: Jordan LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca Copy Editor Christina Cherneskey ccherneskey@yahoo.com Website: www.indigenoustimes.ca Advertising: sales@indigenoustimes.ca Designer: Alexandra Jarrett axisimageryyxe@gmail.com
The editorial policy of this newspaper is determined by an editorial committee established by Indigenous Times. We invite submissions, upcoming events, comments, and opinions. Please submit them with your name, address, telephone number or e-mail. The expressions and/or opinions of authors 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 publication may be trademarks, servicemarks, or tradenames on their own or otherwise may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
effectively manage BRCC while overseeing issue management, business planning and the evaluation of results. In June of 2018, leaders from the Battlefords area gathered in order to find solutions to work together. The following year, the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement was signed with the main focus of improving the region and to develop projects to benefit the communities. In fact, in 2019, this agreement received first place in the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards, which recognizes innovative municipalities. All of the leaders present at this meeting intend to set dates to
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Saskatoon hip-hop artists urges Indigenous youth to stay focussed on their goals Entertainment
Written By: Christina Chernesky
An Indigenous hip-hop artist whose roots come from Saskatoon says there has never been a better time than now for Indigenous people to share their entrepreneurial spirit. Dakota Bear lives in Vancouver now, but Saskatoon, he says, remains a major part of his identity. Bear, along with this partner Casey Desjarlais, work together on many projects to help Indigenous youth find their voices, their spirit and their focus – whether it’s helping youths create small businesses, or showing them the steps to creating a small music empire. In fact, their list of professional success continues to grow - their online store, 30604 Apparel was launched in 2016; Bear and Desjarlais released a music video for Bear’s single, Freedom, which was launched at the 2019 Global Climate Strike in Vancouver and features an exchange with youth climate activist Greta Thurnberg; and the two have been active in such campaigns as Idle No More, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Protect Our People, an Indigenous youth-led organization that focuses on helping victims of human trafficking. But there are other projects as well that Bear says are near and dear to their hearts. “My partner and I have created two separate series,” Bear
said. “One of the series is called ‘Music Makers 101’, which is my creation. The other is called ‘Cash in on your Passion’, which is hosted by Casey Desjarlais.” Bear says the series were created in partnership with Taking It Global, Create To learn and Imaginative – all to help Indigenous students, musicians and entrepreneurs to move forward. Bear says Indigenous people are especially isolated right now and it is the aim to ensure there is a strong starting point for these musicians and business-minded students. “The music course goes from song writing all the way to distribution, to monetizing and different revenue streams,” Bear said. “If musicians don’t know how to get into the music industry and are determined to learn, there are so many important lessons I am sharing in this series.” And there is the business series available online as well, Bear says, which is taught by Desjarlais. He emphasizes that Indigenous people are natural entrepreneurs anyway and now – more than ever – is a good time to help budding entrepreneurs to get started. “You want to get started into business, you have ideas, you’re a creator, this is a good place to start,” Bear pointed out. “We are entrepreneurs. We had our own economy, connec-
tions. And I hope that’s something we can rebuild.” Bear says with uncertain times surrounding communities across the world, adaptability and sustainability are key virtues in business. He says entrepreneurship will empower and inspire especially Indigenous youth to bring their ideas to life and then monetize off of those ideas. “We call it ‘Warrior Entrepreneurship,’” Bear said. “And even thought it’s challenging right now, there is still hope. It’s important that we maintain balance mentally, emotionally and physically. And when we’re talking about business, we’re talking about passion and keeping ourselves busy and contributing to the bigger goals and aims of our communities.”
Bear says it’s important everyone remembers that things are forever changing. “Online, different social media platforms, outside influences. Those things are changing as well,” Bear said. “It really is about how can I benefit my community with what we are creating? That’s the most empowering question we try to share with our students. To create things that are better for society, things that are benefitting each other. Our ideas that we are putting out there and pushing forward, helping each other collectively.” Look for these series on You Tube, or request more information at dakotabear.ca
DakotaBear
Family and music; Joey Stylez and Carsen Gray living their dream Entertainment Written By:Jody Wolverine Joey Stylez and Carsen Gray have a shared mission: spread wellness, love, and light. Joey, a Plains Cree-Métis from Moosomin First Nation, is a wellknown hip-hop artist and performer. His life partner, Carsen Gray, is Haida and is also an award-winning singer-songwriter and performer with a captivating voice, soulful lyrics, and energetic sound. Joey and Carsen are committed to living healthy lifestyles and venturing along a spiritual path. And that is the energy they bring onto the stage. Supported by strong management teams, the two ensure a strong presence in the music industry - the medium they choose to convey their positive life messages. The couple has two beautiful children together. So, a lot of the recording and song writing happens late at night when the kids are asleep. Joey says they share the same goals: trying to be the best parents they can be while teaching their kids everything they need to know in this world, “because this world is challenging.” On the entertainment side,
Joey and Carsen try their best to spread wellness, love, and light. Performing and meeting indigenous people throughout North America has become part of the passion for Joey and Carsen. In addition, to their music performances, they do workshops with Indigenous Youth where they emphasize healthy lifestyles, spirituality, and a much-needed message of choosing life. Joey uses his own life as an example and explains how he has lived through challenging times, dealt with some poor choices, and underscores that he never has given up. He says he consciously made the effort to turn his life around and to live with love and respect - beginning with the individual, then the family, the community and his global existence. Joey and Carsen travelled across Canada and the U.S. with their children in the past year, ending up in Europe where they performed three different shows in Germany. Their shows started off in Berlin and ended up in Hamburg where they played in the Reeperbahn music festival. Joey has just released his latest music, a collaboration with the famous drum group, Northern Cree. The song is titled as ‘You Drive Me Crazy (Indian Girl)’.
The music video can be found on YouTube. Carsen’s latest work was performing at a live stream concert a few months ago, playing her new hit song “Sah ‘Laana”, including the music video that is also on Youtube. Most recently, Carsen and her mom, Lynn Hughan, collaborated in authoring a children’s book, titled Twelve Months of Fun on Haida Gwaii with Mattie & Jojo, launched from Haida Gwaii on July 23rd. Inspired by Carsen and Joey’s children, the book incor-
porates Haida words and helps with language revitalization. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, Joey and Carsen continue to stay as a family unit, support one another and never stop making their music. They take seriously precautions related to COVID-19 such as social distancing, sanitization, and wearing masks, if needed. They urge all others to do the same. Stay healthy!
PhotoCourtesyofArtist
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“There wasn’t some magical moment.” Indigenous realtor in Saskatoon sees success BUSINESS Written By: Melissa Whitecap Commitment and determination. Those are just two words Indigenous Saskatoon realtor Tanya Larose would use to describe her passion for the Bridge City’s real estate market. Of course, there are other things which inspire her too, which has led Larose to become a well-known contributor and mentor within Saskatoon’s Indigenous community. Larose - who hails from Sweetgrass First Nation - established herself in real estate in 2014 and has made immense strides since then. Her first taste of the sales environment began as a teen, where she worked in retail. After graduating high school in 2006, Larose enrolled in business management at SIAST and took Arts and Science courses at the University of Saskatchewan. During this time, Tanya also got married, became a full-time mother and still managed to continue her studies – which she does to this day. “There wasn’t some magical moment where it all unfolded as the right path for me,” Larose told Indigenous Times when asked about her aim to enter the real estate market. “It was a one-hundred percent risk that I took into a new, very competitive industry.”
Larose explains she received lots of help to get started. It came from her father - a carpenter by trade, and her ex-husband - who worked in construction at the time. Larose says she began looking into real estate and learned what she needed to do to become an agent. And in 2013, with her three-year-old son Diesel in tow, LaRose spent five months completing courses from the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors to be licensed in commercial, residential, and farm real estate. A year later, she was recruited to work with RE/ MAX and was licensed in 2014. “The first year in real estate is notoriously difficult,” Larose recalls. “In order to practice the trade, a realtor must pay monthly dues based on local, provincial, and federal guidelines. That can prove difficult when you are not making profit, and the housing market is in a downturn.” Despite the challenges, Larose says she was able to pay her dues and keep her small business afloat. “Unless you come from a real estate family, nothing is given to you in this field,” Larose said. “It is a lot of hard work in dealing with unfamiliar people, and especially arduous not having a mentor for support.” Larose notes there are virtually no other Indigenous women realtors in Saskatoon. But despite this, Larose says she’s busy. Her business grows
yearly, and she credits the help of her husband with sharing parental responsibilities. LaRose launched a staging company in 2017 called Upstaging Interior Designs making homes more appealing for sale using staging techniques. Larose has a long list of accomplishments in Saskatoon and area. She contributes to those in need via her community outreach program which repurposes gently used furniture to
single mothers within Saskatoon. It’s called ‘Crystals Gift’, named after her late sister, Crystal Paskimen. And her client list is growing because Larose says it’s important to reach the Indigenous community. She says she educates people on the value of owning property. She also mentors Indigenous people who may be thinking about a career within Saskatchewan’s real estate markets
Tanya Larose
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“Strong. Caring. Real.” Indigenous hip-hop artist Cody Coyote sees a hopeful future. Entertainment Written By : Christina Chernesky He was born and raised in Ottawa. His father was part of the 60s scoop. He was the first in the family to be raised at ho me. Cody JJ Purcell, better known as Cody Coyote, proudly explains he is from the Matachewan First Nation – Treaty 9 Territory. It’s an Ojibway and Cree First Nation reserve located in the Timiskaming District of Northern Ontario. “Growing up I faced challenges such as racism, bullying, intergenerational trauma due to my father being a part of the 60’s scoop, cultural disconnect, loss of cultural identity, depression and substance abuse,” Purcell explains. “These challenges contributed to my use of drugs and alcohol, the use of steroids due to negative thoughts of my own body image, gang involvement, committing crimes, violence and having unhealthy relationships. All of these things were a part of circumstances leading to self destruction.” But Purcell managed to turn that around. He says there was a time he wanted to make a change in his life for the better. It was his strong desire to leave behind the chaos he says he immersed himself into.
“After much reflection on this throughout the years, a lot of it was because I was angry and upset with how I didn’t know anything about my ancestors, my culture, my blood relatives, where I came from or how to manifest everything I was feeling. Being bullied and facing racism certainly played a big part in all of this as well.” Now, with several years of sobriety under his belt, he’s using his voice to inspire others and provide hope for the future. He is a profound public speaker and social activist and has established himself as a mainstay in the Canadian hip-hop community. Purcell has racked up tens of thousands of Youtube views and earned nominations at the Indigenous Music Awards and was named a Top 10 finalist in a national talent search hosted by imagineNATIVE and Slaight Music. “Even though people are in the public eye and are public figures, they had to go through certain events,” Purcell said. “A lot of people don’t know my story yet and I only share it with people I feel comfortable sharing it with.” Purcell is now the host of “The Beat” on @957elmntfm In Ottawa. The radio station features some of Canada’s best Indigenous music artists and Purcell’s show and his show can be heard weekdays from
7 – 11 PM ET. He has performed throughout Saskatchewan many times, and Purcell admits it’s a great place to bring his style of music. When he speaks about recent worldwide events affecting the health of millions of people, Purcell says he can relate to the pandemic. Purcell says it comes to learning how to live with yourself, with close family members and overcoming fear. “I have a lot of people who look for me online who are not living in cities. They are already isolated,” Purcell says. “ They’re living in the north and living on isolated reserves. It’s really difficult for them right now. They have been facing isolation for a long period of time.” Purcell says he tells people to take the time to do things they haven’t done
before. “I am working on my craft and working on my radio job and I am fortunate for that. But I am spending time with those closest to me, that’s what I am telling people to do right now. “It’s a gift,” Purcell says. “It’s a light for us and we have to look at it that way. I want to live in harmony right now.”
CodyCoyote Cody Coyote
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BUSINESS Written By : Jordan LaPlante “In the year 2051, governments have turned to advanced technology to help relieve citizens of a mental health crisis that is sweeping through the nation like a plague. Artificial intelligence and immersive reality programs are deployed in an experimental facility called The Complex.” Ryan Moccasin, “Suicide Empire”, Publication date: 01/07/2020 Ryan Moccasin’s Twitter handle may jokingly describe himself as a “worst selling author”, but his achievements within Saskatchewan’s Indigenous community have already created him a legacy. University of Saskatchewan Indigenous students may recall Moccasin’s work in 2011 with the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre. A facility which was named after the late First Nation political and spiritual leader, Gordon Oakes giving Aboriginal students on campus a sense of belonging and a “home away from home.” Moccasin recently released his new sci-fi novel, “Suicide Empire”. It’s a story which bears
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Saskatchewan Indigenous author ventures into Sci-Fi some strikingly meaningful connections between mental health crises, ghosts from a haunted past, as well as acting against the system. “It’s a sci-fi novel that analyses how a future civilization deals with a mental health crisis,” Moccasin wrote on his Twitter stream. “Tough one to write and read, but I do hope you enjoy it!” Moccasin says he’s been working on this novel since 2017. After the first manuscript was completed, he reached out to a professional editor, Stephanie Fysh, to help transform the novel for a wide release. After two years of revisions, character building, and plot development, the book was released in January 2020. But his skills at communicating to the public reach much further than the written word. Moccasin began performing and writing comedy in 2017 as an open mic performer around the Saskatoon area. Since then, he has opened for Kelly Taylor, performed at Yuk Yuk’s in Saskatoon and Toronto, the FSIN Health Gathering, and has performed for fundraisers in northern Saskatchewan. And, Moccasin is the editor for
the online satirical news website called The Feather. His fake news articles and videos have been featured on APTN InFocus and they have garnered over thousands of views and impressions on social media. His work has been funded by the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Paved Arts. Moccasin says the themes in the book deal with depression, anxiety, suicide, and how issues of mental health affect the community and the individu-
Suicide Empire
al. Set in the year 2051 in the fictional town of Petersburg, the novel takes the reader on a journey of how a future society deals with a mental health crisis. The protagonist of the book is a young psychologist named Madelyn Hopewell, who finds herself employed at an experimental facility funded by the government. This sci-fi novel is Ryan Moccasin’s first venture out into the world of fiction.
Ryan Mocccasin
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New emergency funding initiative announced for Indigenous artists. Entertainment New emergency funding initiative announced for Indigenous artists. In response to financial pressures being experienced by Indigenous artists and cultural workers, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, the Indigenous Screen Office, and the Inuit Art Foundation announced the creation of Community Cares. The program is an Emergency Response Fund for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Individuals Working in the Arts
providing a new time-limited emergency response fund to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals working in the arts and culture sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a special fund devised to provide immediate support to Indigenous artists and cultural workers adversely affected by the pandemic. According to a press release, First Nations, Inuit or Métis artists and cultural workers who have lost income due to COVID -19 may apply to the fund. Loss of income may be due to self-isolation, postponement or cancellation of travel, events or market access, reduced sales of work, or due to caring
for family members or children, as well as other disruptions caused by the pandemic. This fund will be open to any individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, working in the arts and culture sector, whose practice has been negatively affected by COVID-19. Support in the amount of $1,000 will be distributed to successful applicants. Applicants will be able to apply online through the websites of the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, the Indigenous Screen Office, and the Inuit Art Foundation. Funds will be distributed by the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective. The
Dana Claxton, Headdress (2016), photograph, LED Firebox, Lightjet Duratrans, Canada Council Art Bank Collection
Canada Council for the Arts has committed $250,000 to support this initiative. Simon Brault, CEO and Director, Canada Council for the Arts says the Council seeks to help support First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists and arts and cultural organizations through this challenging time. “We are grateful to our partners for delivering this fund that will further Indigenous creation,” Brault said. “It is essential to the renewal of relationships between Indigenous artists and Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences.” Community Cares is in addition to funding available through Canada Council’s existing funding program: Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples which supports Indigenous individuals, groups, Indigenous-led arts organizations and arts/ cultural sector development organizations that foster a vital and resilient Indigenous arts ecosystem. “The Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance is honoured to be part of this unique program to support Indigenous performing artists in this unprecedented time,” Cynthia Lickers-Sage, Executive Director of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance said. “The Canada Council shows great leadership in providing funding on this scale through Indigenous community partners, in getting funds into the Indigenous performers who truly need it.” Indigenous artists may apply at CanadaCouncil.ca
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COMMUNITY
July 2020
Wild rice plentiful in northern Saskatchewan
(article contributed by Howie Summers, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Communications Officer) 30 years ago, Waterhen Cree Lake (WLFN) member Alex Mistikokat was able to obtain a lease to harvest wild rice. “I started out with one 60-pound bag of seed, in 1987,” he said. As a result, WLFN was invited by Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM) to develop a wild rice industry, in and around the WLFN traditional territory. The Wild rice Mistickokat farms originate from the lakes of Ontario, but it gradually made its was into Saskatchewan. “With wild rice, we sell it raw,” Mistickokat said, “When SERM came to us, we got into it right away.” WLFN’s Councillor David Fleury also is the Westside Director for the Saskatchewan Wild Rice Council. “I started out with my dad, Joe Fleury in 1990,” Fleury said. “He offered me an opportunity to buy in and it was the best investment I made in my life.” “Wild rice grows best in Muskeg lakes, in depths about two – three feet. That spot in the lake needs to be deep enough to run our wild
rice boats,” says Mistickokat. Wild rice is first soaked for a couple days to about a week, then it is spread out by hand on the lake, and the soaked wild rice seed drops to the bottom. Once it’s planted, wild rice grows back every year says Mistickokat. “And if there is a spot where it stops growing, we will reseed that open area,” Mistickokat said. Wild rice could be a great business all the time according to Mistickokat. But he says the weather needs to cooperate and water levels have to stay consistent. He says if you get a hot summer and a decent fall, then you can get a good crop. Mistickokat says there are some things which will still affect the crop now. “There isn’t any trapping nowadays, and that affects the beaver population,” Mistickokat said. “The beaver population affects the water levels. On all the wild rice lakes in the area, the beavers have been building dams and our lakes are getting deeper.” Mistickokat tells of geese once chewing off the stalks about six inches above water. “It was like a machine went through,” he recalled. Moose don’t affect the wild rice much according to Mistickokat. He says muskrats will build hous-
es at the bottom, but they don’t do a lot of damage. “Wild r i c e farmers try to work together as much as possible, we build roads David Fleury and his son Isacc together. We are living. “It’s a business. My daughthere for each other,” Fleury said. ters help out, as a family we built “All of the wild rice farmers are a cabin. I’m proud of my family, all independent farmers, working we work well together.” for themselves.” “What I see myself doing is living Fleury says wild rice is an organ- my Dad’s legacy,” adds Fleury. ic food source grown in harmony Both Mistickokat and Fleury enwith nature. “Farmers go to great courage Food Sovereignty, and lengths to ensure the pristine wa- through visiting or calling the ters stay that way,” adds Fleury. Saskatchewan Environment office Mistickokat lives near Redmond one can find a list of lakes that are and says he comes across many available for wild rice. “Because different types of medicinal of the fluctuating water levels, we plants as well. It’s an experience, contact them for available lakes he says which “needs to be a part for lease,” Fleury said. of our education system. There is big medicine and little medicine, depending on what ails a person.” Mistickokat says wild rice is their
FSIN calls for the implementation of Bill C-92 after 1st anniversary passes COMMUNITY (Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatoon, SK) — The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Executive calls on the Federal Government to invest in implementation of Act C-92 as the 1st anniversary of the bill receiving Royal Assent, June 21st, 2019, passes without funding. “There is a disturbing irony that the first year anniversary of Act C-92 falls on both National Aboriginal Day and Father’s Day as another year passes without the promised change to the child welfare system in Canada,” said FSIN Vice Chief David Pratt. “Act C-92 was a promise Canada made to First Nations children for a better tomorrow. Now one year later, that promise remains broken.” Act C-92 is intended to keep First Nations children and youth connected to their families and communities and under the authority and jurisdiction of First Nations. The Act requires that the best interests of each child be paramount and supports the transition to First Nations at a pace to be deter-
mine by each First Nation and their agencies. First Nations have the inherent and human right to jurisdiction over their children. “Some First Nations are planning to move forward without funding announced while others are apprehensive without funding readily available as they could end up facing huge deficits,” says FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. “It is a huge risk and First Nations have been burned taking such risks before. They are being burned now. For example, First Nations and their agencies are being denied reimbursements for prevention funding that were deemed eligible the year prior. Canada keeps changing the rules leaving First Nations and their agencies holding the bag.” Canada invested in prevention funding in response to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling that found Canada guilty of discriminating against First Nations children-in-care through deliberate underfunding. Prevention funding helps First Nations work with at-risk families to restore safe and thriving homes for children and
youth breaking the cycle of issues caused by the residential school and the 60’scoop crises. Changes to the rules have left deficits in the millions in Saskatchewan. “If you see most of a parent’s children dropping out of school, in jail or dying while in the care of that parent, not only would you question their parenting skills, you would also question their motives,” says Vice Chief Pratt. “Canada, and the provinces, insert themselves as parent with all the legal and moral responsibility for each child apprehended. They are failing epically when it comes to First Nations children.”
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BUSINESS Written By : Christina Cherneskey Kendal Netmaker says there are many similarities occurring between Indigenous people in Saskatchewan and the situation surrounding COVID-19 throughout the world. The Founder and CEO of Neechie Gear says when he was growing up on Sweetgrass First Nation, Saskatchewan, he was single-parented, came from a low-income family and had little opportunity to be involved in any extra-curricular activities as a youth. Netmaker says is he intimately aware of how isolation can either make or break and individual and urges Indigenous communities to embrace every virtue found within their family and friends. “It’s definitely a testing time for a lot of people,” Netmaker said. “It comes back to us as individuals and human beings. In my book, Driven To Succeed, I have this section where I tell my readers how to take steps to transform your own life. And one of those is, you have to work on your own foundation. And for many people it means revisiting past traumas, forgiving people in the past. Because we are all forced into isolation right now and what do you do? You have to think.” As one of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs and speakers, Netmaker says growing up in poverty gave him few chances for opportunity. But he still was able to emerge. He has founded and invested in 5 businesses, the author of Driven To Succeed and won over 25
COMMUNITY
business awards, including runner-up at the YBI Global Entrepreneur of the Year & one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Kendal speaks professionally to thousands of people each year on resilience, leadership and the power of telling your story. Netmaker says the way we can control our lives is based on everything we are taking into our mind. He says everything we listen to and see has an impact on the way we feel. He encourages people to limit what they view on Facebook or other social media platforms and simply focus on building personal foundations. He says he programs himself everyday to accept only positivity and vows this one, simple step can help change your outlook. “I highly suggest you change the input of our day to be more positive, so your outlook can be positive,” Netmaker said. Netmaker says the relationships we have with the people around us affects our entire well-being. He calls this time of uncertainty, illness and isolation a “gift.” It’s a time, he says, that people can go back and fix things with family and to forgive those who need to be forgiven. “It has to come from a personal decision,” Netmaker said. “We can’t expect our communities to save our mindset. All we can focus on is this present moment and who is around us. It’s a time also to work on our
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relationship with our families.” Netmaker is firm in his belief that this period of time is the universe speaking to us all. He says he is always praying, always smudging, always looking to The Creator for guidance – particularly through times like these. “I believe we are going to get rewarded based on how we, as individuals, come out of the this,” Netmaker said. “When
the cloud rises, we’ll be better-prepared, better human beings, more in harmony with how we are supposed to live life on earth.” Netmaker says he takes great comfort in his family. He lives with his wife and two children in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he continues to run his company and provide executive leadership coaching to organizations.
Kendal Netmaker
A lifetime of memories created in Fond du Lac
It may seem a long time ago, but for many, the memories will remain for a lifetime. In February, a team from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and Yorkton Tribal Council – IRS Resolution Health Program - including some of the OTC youth – spent a week in Fond Du Lac. On arrival the team was warmly greeted by Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi to Treaty 8 territory. He says the arrival of Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson was the first time a Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan had arrived in the community. “We saw the youth grow from the experiences, from driving on an ice road, to eating caribou, shopping at the local grocery store, working with other community youth, and attending blanket exercises,” Angie Merasty, the Youth in Service project coordinator, said. “I believe they left with so much more than can ever be taught in a classroom, the cultural and traditional exchange is priceless.” “The Kairos blanket exercise was well attended by people in the community including
RCMP, NorthWest Company staff and the Nurse in Charge and health workers from the Athabasca Health Authority. The blanket exercise on both days was very moving and powerful for all participants,” she said. Meals prepared by Janelle at Hailey’s Lodge were very filling and delicious. On some nights the youth were able to debrief with the Elders on the trip, the staff and youth were able to sing Karaoke, and then went on the hunt for the beautiful Northern Lights!! The OTC youth on the trip come from Sandy Bay, Prince Albert, Red Pheasant and Saskatoon. The youth from Saskatoon are originally from Nigeria and India, which made this experience all that more meaningful. The OTC Youth filmed all week, interviewing local youth in Fond Du Lac, taking beautiful photos of the community, the ice road and Elders. This work will be shared as part of ongoing youth reconciliation programs.
Submitted Photo: Fond Du Lac Youth
Indigenous Times
11
July 2020
Local Indigenous artists helps community with mask-making skills COMMUNITY
stay home. After I made the masks I In a matter of a few weeks, they shared on social media some of the sent more than 1,200 masks to the pictures and information on how to communities of La Loche, English Written By : Jordan Laplante make a mask.” River, Beauval, Green Lake, BuffaWhen COVID-19 started to grip And the project quickly grew. lo Narrows, Pinehouse, and Ile a la communities across the province, “I initially thought I would just share Crosse. Another shipment of more Saskatchewan’s Office of the Trea- my knowledge, to teach others how, than 1,000 masks were shipped to ty Commissioner called out to and then I started getting so many individuals across Canada, the Navolunteers and all mask sewers in mask requests that I asked my fami- vajo Nation in the USA, AIDS SasSaskatchewan to see if they would be willing to make and donate masks to First Nations. From this emerged The Masked Makers - 15 seamstresses located throughout Saskatchewan making masks to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Metis lawyer Angela Bishop began the project in March because she felt it was needed. She brought the seamstresses together for the cause and in the last several months, the group has fashioned about well over 5,000 masks. “Naturally I am concerned, I am from the northern community of Green Lake and I understand that there are a number of very complex ANGELA BISHOP, THE MASKED MAKERS (photo by CJWW) issues and challenges at play in to our communities, so it is quite worrisome,” Bishop said. “I started to sew a few masks for my ly to help,” Bishop said. “For several katoon, and other communities and mom, my stepdad, who has cancer, weeks, only a few family members organizations. and my brother, who drives medi- were helping, but I realized this All of the masks they make are free cal taxi up north, because they don’t was not enough, so I reached out to and intended to incorporate Indigehave the fortune of being able to friends to ask for help.” nous culture. For Elders with hear-
ing aids, the group got bands to secure masks behind the hand instead of around the ears, with the words Awas Ota, which loosely translates in Cree as, ‘get away from here.’ “It’s social distancing in the Cree language,” Bishop said. The Masked Makers believe it is important that Indigenous communities have access to reusable facemasks, to protect everyone, she said. “An individual at risk, is a family at risk, is a community at risk, is a Nation at risk, the mask we put on the face of others protects our communities,” BIshop said. When the Treaty Commissioner made the call out for masks, two other organizations stepped forward to support the OTC in sending masks to First Nations in Saskatchewan and that was the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Open Door Society. Because of this partnership with all three organizations, the OTC has been able to send out hundreds of masks to our most vulnerable and hardest hit Covid-19 communities in Northwestern Saskatchewan, among other First Nations across the province.
Indigenous Times
12
July 2020
OTC urges communities to call on Cana- Grads of 2020 get recognition from the OTC da to ensure full implementation of Treaty traveled across the province COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
Written By : Jordan Laplante On June 1, 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada began its work documenting the history and impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous students and their families. Across the country residential school Survivors had the opportunity to share their experiences. In June 2015, the commission released an executive summary of the findings along with 94 Calls to Action to promote the work of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. We are now marking the five-year anniversary of the Calls-to-Action. The journey of reconciliation remains a part of the Treaty work of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. In the fall of 2019, the OTC released the Vision for Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation, which share the collective hopes and goals of Saskatchewan people for the future. In a recent media release, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner stated, “We are looking to understand where we are now and plan our way forward, so we can measure the growth of reconciliation in the province. “But we cannot do this work alone. Now more than ever we need every-
one to remember that they are part of Treaty and do their part to ensure Treaty rights are implemented. There are people in these territories who want to be good neighbours and Treaty partners, and through these examples we will honour the relationship our ancestors wanted for us. “We are using the anniversary in a time of COVID-19, with its health and socio-economic impacts, to call on Canada to ensure full implementation of Treaty. Treaty 6 holds the medicine chest clause where it was promised there would be relief in times of pestilence, and throughout Treaty negotiations, promises of medicine and medical care were made. “Our communities Indigenous and non-Indigenous need to work together to safely and healthily weather this storm. Our most vulnerable population is our elderly: our Survivors of the residential school system, whose truths it is that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action were built on. Reconciliation is a way forward from past wrongs, and current challenges. “We call on people in Saskatchewan to read the TRC Calls to Action and find ways they can engage in reconciliation. We must walk this journey together.”
Written By : Jordan Laplante The Office of the Treaty Commissioner congratulates the graduates of 2020! This marks the beginning of change, saying goodbye to the patterns, classrooms and friends of the past few years and getting ready to embrace what life throws at you next. Now is a difficult, and exciting, time for graduates. The world is changing rapidly, which while there is so much unknown, there are also so many ways to have an impact. Many of the participants in the OTC Youth in Service are graduating this year. Not only did these young men and women, study and work hard in the classroom, but they made it their goal to make a difference in their communities. They
from the north to the south, to talk about reconciliation, and to meet others interested in making change. Congratulations to Aailyah, Peace, Nolan, Emilio, Brelanda, Mya, Chante, Joy, Sarah, Bethany, Nautia, Jewel, Sarah and Jessica on your graduation and best wishes as you start your next adventure. People will tell you it can’t be done until you do it. Then they might tell you it was luck. However, keep succeeding over and over and show them your spirit is strong. Show them it can be done and show them what you can do. We are proud of you, of your impact, and we are excited to see what you do next.
Office of the Treaty Commissioner welcomes Dr. Sheldon Krasowski to its team COMMUNITY Written By : Jordan Laplante The Office of the Treaty Commissioner has announced it has welcomed back Dr. Sheldon Krasowski to its team. Krasowski is the author of “No Surrender. The Land Remains Indigenous”. The OTC says Dr. Krasowski is an academic ally whose research underscores the importance of cataloguing archives. “My primar y responsibility is to catalogue and move the OTC archives online, making it accessible to more people,” Krasowski said. “ The starting point has been familiarizing myself with the collection. This is actually a re-familiarization, as the collection was at the First Nations University of Canada librar y (Saskatoon campus) when I was teaching there in the late 2000s. It is a great collection and includes records dating back to the first OTC office in 1989. When the First Nations University of Canada moved campuses, the collection was returned to the treaty commissioner’s offices.”
Krasowski says In addition to cataloguing the archival collection, he will also get to complete research requests which include an environmental scan for Piapot First Nation, secondar y sources on Ochapowace Nation, and primar y sources on the Kinistin adhesion to Treaty Four and Chief ’s medal. Krasowski says he was also able to work on a long time OTC project to update the timeline of treaty histor y in Saskatchewan. “I am a non-Indigenous person and was born and grew up in Saskatoon,” Krasowski said. “My parents are German on my mother’s side, and Ukrainian on my father’s side. My academic background is Indigenous Studies and Histor y, with a BA from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master’s degree from Trent University and a PhD is from the University of Regina. My main focus throughout 2020 will be the archival collection, including document requests and the main catalogue.”
Indigenous Times
13
July 2020
Treaty Commissioner announces COVID 19 and Treaty Annuity Payments COMMUNITY
Written By : Jordan Laplante On April 6th 2020, the Indigenous Services Department notified communities that they would be halting annuity payment dates due to the COVID 19 virus. There were also some restrictions placed on the Chief Medical Officer of Saskatchewan during the pandemic. Now, the department has announced that requests for cheques may now be made. In conversation with regional office, payments should resume in the fall, but this would be dependant upon the COVID 19 situation.
using as a marking point. In this case, government used treaty annuity pay lists to assess mortality rates of the pandemic in 1918 compared to other years. One particular document indicated entire family lines eradicated. Indigenous oral history has passed stories of the pandemic on to many generations and graves can be found which have multiple people and families buried in them. There will be many changes occurring in Saskatchewan’s Indigenous communities. There won’t be large gatherings and events where friends and relatives meet. And Treaty days in communities will likely be cancelled.
and podcasts. The Treaty Learning Network and educators are invited to contact the OTC. “Our communities are seeing drastic changes to protect their Nations and people,” Mary Culbertson, J.D Treaty Commissioner said. “We have our everyday heroes who working barriers and checkpoints, making home-sewn masks, shopping for those most vulnerable, cooking and delivering food,
leaders having to make those difficult decisions and battling socio economic issues at the same time. We need to remember what our knowledge keepers have reminded us about our lives and or time here being like the breath of a buffalo. This is such a small part of that time in our lives, this isn’t long, and we must be vigilant for our loved ones, our elders our colleagues and our nations.”
This has been a rare occurrence to temporarily stop annuity Education continue through payments. The Spanish Flu panvirtual options such as webidemic of 1918 is one historical nars, zoom conference rooms instance that many people are
COMMUNITY (A blog written by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner) If we needed a reminder of the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada and Saskatchewan, the current situation in the United States is sadly providing it to us. The American troubles demonstrate that historical wounds and racism do not just go away. Healthy societies and sustainable living standards cannot be built upon systems designed to reflect a belief in the superiority of one group of humans over another. In Canada too, we need to examine our historical past in order to build a promising future for all. Five years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their report on the horrors and long-lasting impacts of Indian Residential Schools, along with 94 Calls to Action to initiate change in Canada. The Calls to Action touched many Canadians in ways that previous reports had failed to do. Thousands of residential school Survivors from across this country courageously shared personal stories that had often been buried for years. Perhaps Canadians responded this time because these were stories of children. Those children are now men and women – parents, grandparents and great-grandparents – kookums and mushums. But these Survivors were once innocent children who fell victim to a system designed to steal their Indigenous identity and replace it with racist ideals of “civilization” and “progress”. Treaties were entered into in as a series of nation-to-nation agreements to work together for shared prosperity. They were
Using Treaty to address inequities in Saskatchewan agreed to through ceremony and were intended to last “as long as the grass grows, the sun shines and rivers flow.” The spirit and intent of Treaties were of kinship, mutual benefit and shared management of these lands. The Indian Residential School system is sadly just one example of Canadian governments pursuing policies contrary to the Treaties. But the Treaties remain in place. We are all Treaty people. The OTC believes that a return to the spirit and intent of Treaty is the way to ensure we build a better future for us all. We believe that Treaty implementation is a pathway to truth and reconciliation. So in 2016 the OTC started travelling the province, asking Saskatchewan residents about the future they want to build for their children. Our guess was that most of us want the same things and we hoped that if we could build a vision that all could relate to, that we could better work together – in the ways intended by our ancestors who entered into Treaty. After four years of asking and listening, we released in September 2019 a Vision for Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation. The Vision built by Saskatchewan voices states that building a better future includes four elements: ensuring we have a shared understanding of our history; working to build authentic relationships; empowering and learning from our vibrant cultures and world views; and ensuring that our systems represent and benefit us all. There is a long journey ahead of us. As the Saskatchewan Index of Wellbeing indicates, there continues to
be social and income inequality in our province. And the gap is widening. As the report notes, in 2016 “First Nations peoples reported median incomes ($18,840) that were less than one-third of those reported by residents of Saskatchewan overall ($59,700).” These different living standards are rooted in history – the trauma of residential schools, the pass system, 60’s Scoop and the Indian Act. But we’ve seen a renewed interest in Saskatchewan residents in repairing the Treaty relationship. They’ve told us that fixing our problems will require trust and relationships, and policies and systems that are rooted in vibrant cultures and worldviews, and which reject racism. In Saskatchewan, people of action are coming together to build relationships, trust, and understanding and to make a positive change in their community. Coalitions of people working towards reconciliation are forming in Saskatoon, Regina, Heart of Treaty Six (Lloydminster, Onion Lake, Frog Lake, Poundmaker), Yellow Quill/Kelvington and surrounding communities, Prince Albert, Prairie Rivers Reconciliation (Warman, Martensville, One Arrow, Osler and surrounding communities), Nipawin, the Battlefords, Swift Current, and Yorkton. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner is supporting these groups by facilitating connections between those who wish to lead their communities in the pursuit of truth and reconciliation. We hope to provide these change-makers with the tools and space to learn and engage in collective action. We’re also working to develop a framework for
organizations and communities to develop plans for action, and to measure their progress. We hear stories of progress regularly – of relationships and trust-building leading to action. For example, the reconciliation circle in Yorkton responded when they heard concerns of First Nations community members meeting restrictions on buying bulk on behalf of their communities during COVID-19. The group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members came together, met with local stores and found solutions. It is small steps of togetherness like this that will make our communities stronger. Ensuring that we all have a dignified and sustainable standard of living is what was intended by the ancestors of this land who entered into Treaty. We owe it to those ancestors and to our children yet to come to make that happen. It will take significant work; we must learn and embrace our history, build authentic relationships, respect and revitalize cultures, and remake inequitable and sometimes racist systems. The United States is clearly demonstrating right now where avoiding that hard work will lead us. We have a chance to take a different path, one based on the original intent of Treaty – toward shared prosperity for all. There are people who want to carry that relationship forward! There are people who want to be good neighbors! More information on the Office of the Treaty Commissioner: otc.ca More information on the Saskatchewan Index of Wellbeing: saskwellbeing.ca
Indigenous Times
14
July 2020
The “New Normal” in Saskatchewan includes some Indigenous humour! Entertainment Written By : Jordan Laplante backyard comedy show. The best part? The comedians were willing to travel anywhere in Saskatchewan and bring the show to them. So far, this team of comics have performed in Saskatoon, Swift Current, Martensville, Prince Albert and Regina. If you want to book your own Fire Pit Funnies show, you can look them up on Facebook @ Fire Pit Funnies for all your booking information.
This year, COVID-19 has put a stop to many activities that most of us view as normal. Sports and entertainment were just some of the biggest enterprises to take a significant hit during the 2020 pandemic. Bars and venues had to close their doors and as a result standup comedy stages were shut down. For a group of Saskatoon comedians (led by Dakota Ray Hebert), sitting around simply was not an option. Dakota gathered up a roster of local comedians willing and able to perform and started advertising via Facebook for people to book their very own
Comedians from left to right: Shawn Cuthand , Dakota Ray Hebert, Shy Sapp
COMMUNITY Written By : Jordan Laplante (Press release from the Native American Rights Funds, July 6, 2020) The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA), the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the National Congress of American Indians Fund (NCAI Fund) applaud the D.C. District Court’s decision to vacate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Oahe easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, and to require the removal of all oil flowing through the pipeline by August 5, 2020. This decision ensures that the treaty-reserved rights of the plaintiff tribes – the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe – are adequately addressed, along with any other land and natural resource considerations, in a fullfledged and well-documented environmental review process. GPTCA, NARF, and NCAI Fund participated in a coalition of Native organizations submitting an amicus brief in
Great Plains Tribes win important legal fight to protect tribal water and treaty resources support of the plaintiff tribes during the latest proceedings in the D.C. District Court and are encouraged by this outcome. We hope that this decision helps pave the way for full and proper environmental impact studies as well as meaningful consultation with tribal nations that have direct or indirect stewardship over the lands under review. Our organizations will continue to work to ensure that every time tribal lands and resources are at stake, the environmental review processes meet all legal standards and respect the federal government’s trust obligations to tribes set forth in federal laws. About the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association: Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association is made up of the 16 Tribal Chairmen, Presidents, and Chairpersons in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Their purpose is to provide a forum for sharing information on matters of interest to its member Tribes,
develop consensus on matters of mutual importance, assist member Tribes in their governmental and programmatic development consistent with their goals for self-determination, and self-sufficiency and provide for effective public relations and education program with non-Indian communities. For more information, please visit http://gptca.net/index.html About the National Congress of American Indians: Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit www. ncai.org.
About the Native American Rights Fund: Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and individual Indians nationwide. For the past 50 years, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction, federal recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, religious liberties, and voting rights. For more information, visit www.narf.org.
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Indigenous Times
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Indigenous Times
July 2020