MARCH/APRIL 2015 EDITION

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Issue 1 • Volume 21

March/April 2015

CLOSING THE GAP: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NATIONAL CHIEF PERRY BELLEGARDE

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde. Submitted photo.

Indigenous Times: Hello National Chief, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to conduct this exclusive interview for the Indigenous Times.

As you have recently been elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and have over three years left in your mandate as National Chief, what are your top three priorities, with the understanding that all issues are vital and important to all First Nations people and communities?

National Chief Perry Bellegarde: The first thing that I want to do is to make sure that everything we do closes the gap that exists in Canada and the gap that I’m talking about is the socioeconomic gap, because Canada is rated sixth in terms of the United Nations human development index, very high up, but you apply the same index to First Nations people and [we are] 63rd

First Nations Fire Prevention

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I encourage all the premiers across Canada to, number one: establish a bilateral process relationship with First Nations chiefs in our provinces, to discuss the economy and by discussing the economy I’m talking about concepts like resource revenue sharing. Make sure there’s a table to discuss the requirement on behalf of the Crown for duty to consult and accommodate; so that’s under the economy. And under education with the premiers, I’m asking each of the premiers to look at changing their curriculums to teach Treaties and Aboriginal rights in the school systems as well to teach the residential schools, the history of cultural genocide of Canada by the residential schools, that’s two things. And the third thing is focusing on Indigenous languages and declaring Indigenous languages as official languages of the territory; so that’s on the education side. Then I move to the support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; • continued on page 4 So from there I go to embracing concepts and and that’s what we’ve got to close, close the gap. And I tell Canadian people [if] you can’t get your head around treaty rights or inherent rights or aboriginal rights, get your head around the business case because there’s a high social cost to that gap that exists, there’s a high cost to poverty, there’s a cost to overcrowded housing, there’s a high cost to the discriminatory education funding. So we’ve got to close that gap, that’s one of the big things and the way to close to that gap I say, number one is getting rid of the 2% cap that’s been in place for the fiscal funding arrangements at the community level. That cap’s been there for 19 years; it was only supposed to be temporary. That cap, that fiscal arrangement that our Chiefs and Councils signed doesn’t keep up with inflation. It really didn’t meet the needs of the people; it’s not based on total population.

So we have to start there, closing that fiscal gap.

Warrior Women Page 5

FSIN Science Fair Page 6

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Indigenous Times

March/April 2015

March/April 2015

Editorial

by Armand LaPlante

It wasn’t intended to be, but this issue turned out to be a women’s issue, which is suitable because International Women’s Day happened on March 8th.

In this issue we profiled some amazing women from different walks of life.

To me International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements and progress of women. The day often carries with it political themes such as feminism and the struggle for equality, or in the case in Indian Country: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women &

Indigenous Times Girls. This year’s IWD was a time of mixed emotions because of the collective and individual suffering for those who are lost or are missing.

The inner strength of Indigenous women is admirable to say the least.

The women truly are an inspiration to all youth, male and female alike.

Primarily because of the strength in the voices of women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, I believe there will be a federal inquiry.

I often use this medium to tell personal stories from my family, so to keep up with the theme of it being a women’s issue I had my dad tell me about how the past was for the women on my dad’s side: my Kohkom and aunties.

One family story of the character of my Kohkom Christina, who has passed on to the ancestral world, is that in the winter time my Mooshum went commercial fishing to places like Montreal Lake and other big lakes. My Kohkom ran a household of 13+ children. My Kohkom was a solid foundation for such a large family. On week days she fed them, clothed them, and then drove the school aged children by sleigh to school at a rural school called Murray Lake (about 10 KM

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from the house). community whether it’s feedback

In the summer time my aun- or if you have a story that should ties Ernestine, Alandina and Eileen be in the paper. would lead the group of children Ekosi, and they would walk the 10 KM Armand LaPlante trek to school on school days.

Editor@indigenoustimes.ca

That must have given them strength and determination, they voluntarily (well maybe with a little coaxing) went to a convent in BigLaPlante Ranch Rodeo gar, Saskatchewan. My grandparJune 6 – 7, 2015 ents couldn’t afford the cost of room Moosomin First Nation and board, so the three of them took on cleaning duties to earn their stay.

They eventually all graduated, one is a retired social worker and volunteers with Interval House, another is a teacher at Moosomin First Nation, and the third is an administrator, farmer, bus driver, and occasionally a band Councillor.

These Indigenous women, like many others, are inspirational.

Sanctioned by So with that being said, let’s take Prairie Indian this time to celebrate women but also keep in mind the struggles they Rodeo face.

Association

I’ll leave it at that for this month. I hope everybody is enjoying the nicer weather out there. We will be publishing another issue in May. Please feel free all the time to reach us; we love hearing from the

First Nation Fire Prevention: Looking out for the People

by F. P. Favel

Fire safety on First Nations has been on the minds of many in light of the recent tragedy that took place at Makwa Sahgaiehcan on February 17, 2015, when a house fire took the lives of two young children. A call had been made to the town of Loon Lake fire department just next door to the community but the fire marshal and mayor declined to come to aid on the grounds that the First Nation was $3380.89 in arrears from past services. The refusal to come to the FN caused a great controversy across the Nation especially when you consider that the lives of two children were lost simply due to $3380.89 being in arrears.

“This tragedy makes it apparent that we need to take more control over our services,” stated Poundmaker band councillor Colby Tootoosis. “We as a First Nation are doing all we can to prevent any such tragedy taking place in our community due to lack of communication or misunderstandings.”

Deaths from fires, and fires in

Publisher/Editor: Armand LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca website: www.indigenoustimes.ca Advertising: sales@indigenoustimes.ca phone: 306-955-0109

general, are higher on First Nations than in any non-First Nation communities making fire prevention strategies that much more crucial. There has been much finger pointing and blame being laid by both sides, some blaming the Feds, and others placing the blame on the First Nation themselves. Such finger pointing does not lead to positive solutions though.

This tragedy caused much soul searching amongst society in general and has led many First Nations, including the Poundmaker Cree Nation, to begin to implement more stringent firefighting strategies. First Nations receive approximately $45,000 per year from Ottawa for firefighting, prevention and training; this includes a fire hall, fire truck etc. Many First Nations leaders say that these monies are not enough and it is the lack of resources that can lead to fire tragedies.

Poundmaker has a working fire truck and an on call driver, Joey Antoine. as well as an on-call volunteer firefighting unit. Poundmaker has always had an active community support

system in place regarding fires, mostly had a traditional fire fighting strategy grass and brush fires and there has been in place and at the same time, workvery few house fires due to the fact that ing out a contemporary strategy by houses are properly maintained and dialogue with local non- First Nations inspected by the First Nation. Over- communities to ensure the safety of all crowding is one of the reasons behind of their residents. • housing problems and fires, but this is not an issue on Poundmaker. In a recent study, Poundmaker was found to have an average of six occupants per unit -- low when compared to other First Nations.

“We try our best with what limited resources we have,” Chief Duane Antoine explained.

Poundmaker is presently working out a firefighting agreement with the local town of Cut Knife and the details are currently being worked out. Poundmaker is but one example of a comChief Duane Antoine, Poundmaker Cree Nation munity that has always

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.

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4 • National Chief Perry Bellegarde, continued from front page

Indigenous Times

building the relationship amongst ourselves, attending each other’s ceremonies so that we are strong to create more support for housing, and united again. for education and training, for day cares and transportation, for well- IT: Before you became National ness centres and detox centres. And Chief, you were well known as then we move to focusing on strat- a regional leader who strongly egy to deal with reducing the high advocated for resource revenue numbers of First Nations children sharing. This matter has seem to in provincial care, so those are the gained momentum and attention strategies we need to focus on. nationally. Please share with us your thoughts and views on this IT: Many people cannot under- matter. stand why there are these public disagreements between Treaty PB: Yes, that is one of the concepts, and non-Treaty First Nations because one of the most important leaders. How, as National Chief, things we say in Canada between indo you plan to keep the First Na- digenous and non-Indigenous peotions of Canada united when there ple [is] we are to mutually benefit appears to be two broad agendas from sharing the land and resource – Treaty and non-Treaty? growth together. We’re not supposed to be poor in our own homePB: The best way to do that I al- lands and basically if we start lookways say is through participation ing at new concepts like resource and dialogue and communication revenue sharing, we’ll have the – open, transparent communication resources amongst our own people – amongst ourselves, but as well the so that we can look after our own best way is through ceremonies, at- and housing needs, we can look aftending each other’s ceremonies, ter our own education needs, all of praying together, sharing together, those things. So to close that gap coming together and knowing that that exists between Indigenous and we’re all united as one people, non-Indigenous people, I encourage knowing that if you have a strong all Canadian people to get behind united Aboriginal First Nations or- a concept like resource revenue ganization like the Assembly of sharing so that we can all mutually First Nations, together everybody benefit from the land and resource achieves more, and a strong, united, wealth. It’s starting to catch on now collective voice is needed, and that especially in light of recent Supreme the AFN house is big enough for Court decision, Williams case. The Aboriginal rights, the AFN house Tsilhqot’in people stood up for 25 is big enough for treaty rights, and years and fought hard, and the Sucollectively we can work together preme Court’s finally acknowledged because we’ve got to aim our ener- and recognized that Aboriginal title gies and our strategies at the federal and rights exist and so we as Treaty Crown so that they implement Trea- people say that we still have unties and inherent rights according to extinguished title to the resources spirit and intent of our Treaty rights beneath the depth of a plough so with the Crown but as well that all let’s create economic stability. Let’s their policies and laws move away create economic certainty and let’s from extinguishing the rights and make sure that the provinces, First title and start moving towards rec- Nations governments, and industry ognition of Aboriginal rights and ti- work collectively together and to tle and the only way we can do that embrace that concept of resource is by collectively working together revenue sharing and that’s the thing and by collectively going and really that’s catching on now. The crown

has a legal, moral and historical obligation to deal with this issue – it’s not something we just pulled out of the air. History is on our side. The Constitution is on our side. Our Treaties, again, show that we are to mutually benefit from sharing land and resource wealth and resource revenue sharing is a concept whose time has come for full implementation and acceptance by all parties.

March/April 2015 Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we will use all avenues including the committee for elimination of race discrimination, the expert mechanism on the rights of Indigenous peoples. We will utilize all those UN forums because that’s how we can keep pressure on Canada, to basically implement the UNDRIP, the declaration, because in international rule it’s the bare minimum when it comes to indigenous peoples’ rights. And it’s more than an aspirational document, so we’re going to keep utilizing the international forums to support our efforts, to move towards the full realization of the inherent right to self-determination.

IT: As the National Chief of the AFN, have you taken a focus on First Nation Child & Family Services, particularly in view of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s pending decision regarding whether Federal funding of FNCFS programming is discriminatory?

IT: We know that you travelled to Great Britain on the 250 year PB: Yes, AFN is an active play- anniversary of the Royal Proclaer. We’re part of that case that we mation to bring attention to the brought forward against the federal British parliament, to the mongovernment for the discrimina- archy, and to the British people, tory funding for on reserve Child that these historic documents are & Family Services and for the care as relevant now as the day they that’s being funded out on the on- were signed in 1763. You have reserve communities by the fed- also worked at the international eral department of Indian Affairs. level with the United Nations It’s discriminatory funding. We’re Working Group on Indigenous assisting; we’re part of the case Populations. What is your stratagainst Canada at the Canadian Hu- egy to educate and publicize that man Rights Tribunal, assisting the Indigenous peoples and Nations childcare society. AFN’s part of are still very much alive and relthat, so we’re supporting that full evant?

150%. We know it’s discriminatory funding and we’re proving that PB: The biggest point to educate it’s discriminatory funding and it’s Canadians, we need a communicanot proper. It’s not proper. It’s not tions strategy, but the best way is right that children on-reserve don’t getting the curriculums changed so receive the same services, the same that the curricula in all schools, evfunding levels and supports as op- ery school across Canada, have to posed to the provincial childcare teach Treaties and Aboriginal rights, systems. So that case is coming have to teach the impacts of the resdown and a decision will be made idential schools, and once you start in the next month or so and once it doing that, you educate the general comes down, we can expand it. Not population in that manner. And so only childcare services, discrimi- that’s the strategy that we’re going natory funding from the Crown to to have to go down and do a better First Nations people for childcare job at educating the public and enservices, we can expand that to do suring that they really know the real that for education, for housing, for history of Canada because we’ve health care services, for everything gone and we’ve moved beyond first else. So it really is discriminatory the government’s policies towards funding, discriminatory practices Indian people will civilize – assimon behalf of the federal government ilate—the Indian people, terminate as it relates to First Nations people. the Indian people, now it’s integrate the Indian people. But again we’re IT: Do you plan to take the issue going to be integrated proud of who of the First Nation Child & Fam- we are and where we come from ily Services to the international and that’s something we want to get forum, in relation to and the UN out to young people, to walk in both Declaration on the Rights of the worlds, get your education, K-12, Child the UN Declaration on the move on to university, but equally Rights of Indigenous Peoples? as important is your language, your ceremonies, your customs and traPB: We will continue to utilize ditions and where you come from, United Nations forums and bodies to walk in both worlds and balto help promote and protect our in- ance that. And that’s the message herent rights and Treaty rights and to our young people, but that’s the to get the rights of us as an Indig- message we want to get out to all enous peoples recognized here in the Canadian population as well. the nation state called Canada. We And we have to do that through the will use that as a way to pressure school systems. • Canada, to implement the United

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March/April 2015

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Warrior Women: Honouring the Missing and Murdered

by F. P. Favel

March 8, 2015, International Women’s Day was celebrated on the Poundmaker Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, by Anishinabe poet Edee O’Meara with family and friends in a small ceremony around a sacred fire. This fire was lit to honour a woman, Colette Schooner, Indian name Aluusta, a Bella Coola woman who had succumbed to cancer after a brave battle in which she had rejected White Man’s medicine.

In her honour, fires were lit across the country at mid-day, including Poundmaker, a Cree Assiniboine community in central Saskatchewan. Aluusta was a 33 year old warrior woman eco-activist who, at the age of 12 to protect her people’s forest, stayed in a tripod she had built on a tall tree. Songs were sung and tobacco was burned for her, and for all warrior women past and present.

The prayer extended to all of our mothers, sisters and daughters as well, as it takes a brave person to raise a family.

Edee O’Meara is Anishinabe from Lake St. Martin First Nation, Manitoba. She studied writing at the Enowkin International School of Writing in Penticton, British Columbia, and later became the founder of the Native Youth Movement which began in Winnipeg, Manitoba and has since extended to have many chapters across North America. In 2011 her home community of Lake St. Martin, Manitoba, was deliberately flooded by the province of Manitoba that left her landless

and homeless, and she is currently working on a book that recounts this experience.

In March, 1998, Edee sat with Native Youth Movement and supporters to organize a vigil to honour and bring attention to all the murdered Indian women on this continent. This action ended up being named Anna Mae Day, in honour of Anna Mae Aquash, a Miqmaq woman whose body was found in South Dakota in 1976. The FBI had cut off her hands allegedly to send her fingerprints to be analyzed.

The discussion around Anna Mae’s life, death, and after death was what sparked the discussions and led to the fire that was lit in the center of the intersection of Dufferin and King in Winnipeg’s north end. The north end, known as, the ‘low track’ where many Aboriginal people had ended up living with many social issues.

They were about 10 young people who created this vigil, one of the very first vigils for missing and murdered Aboriginal woman to take place in this country. The fire was kept going on a very cold night.

There were no permits for this vigil yet police did not try and stop this event. The young people felt that permission did not need to be given to honour and sing for all the women that have been murdered with no justice served. “Nobody dared put our fire out,” Edee quietly reflects, “I remember Native Youth Movement worked hard and humbly to raise awareness of this issue. At that time we were able to compile a

1996 Winnipeg vigil, Edee O’Meara, Emily Rivers, Cheryl Edwards, LannaMoon Perrin, Heather Milton-Lightening

list of 20 missing and murdered Aboriginal women, these were women we knew or were aware of and at that time there were no databases or reports focused on this issue. Now there are lists and databases across the country and the names of the missing are now well into the thousands. This vigil was not a protest, there were no placards or signage of any sort, it was an honouring, a remembering by the sacred fire...”

This summer, 2015, Edee is planning to host the 20th anniversary and commemoration of Native Youth Movement. “More and more young people are looking to the older generation to lead them, to tell them stories, to inspire them as they move forward trying to help the future generations, that is why I would like to host a gathering sometime this summer.”

Her community, Lake St. Martin First Nation in Manitoba, was deliberately flooded by the province of Manitoba to save the city of Winnipeg in 2011, and Edee along with 2000 other evacuees from other First Nations as well as Lake St. Martin were forced to live in hotel rooms in the city of Winnipeg. Red Cross is responsible for all evacuees’ accommodation and basic sustenance while they wait for home and a land base However, evacuees are not allowed to live, work, or study out of prov-

Edee O’Meara and her children

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ince or they lose their benefits, essentially making them prisoners or wards of the province. Chief Duane Antoine of Poundmaker has granted her symbolic refugee status which allows her the freedom and safety to work on her book in a safe quiet setting, away from her home province of Manitoba and she now divides her time between Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Chief Antoine believes that this evacuation and the flooding of Edee’s Anishinabe people is an international and national issue and transcends any provincial jurisdictions or laws. This is an Indigenous Rights issue, as well as a human rights issue.

At present there is no immediate solution for her people and no one knows how long this evacuation, which was to last 2 weeks, which now is in its 4th year, will last. She is now working with a well-established publisher based in Halifax, Nova Scotia on a book she is writing which tells the story of this evacuation, this evacuation that has destroyed her community and caused great harm to her people. •

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March/April 2015

Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada Hold Meeting

by Marguerite LaPlante

An amazing array of delegates braved the cold weather to attend the 2015 Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) of Canada conference in Winnipeg February 17 – 19, 2015. The conference, the largest of its kind, included informational workshops and networking as well as youth awards, a convocation ceremony from the association’s education program and a large tradeshow. The conference was a celebration and sharing of successes of everyone from youth to chapter members who were becoming certified to work in Aboriginal offices across the nation.

The conference organizers were pleased with the attendance of over 1100, and delegates were impressed with the content of the workshops. The tradeshow featured a variety of vendors who supply Aboriginal communities with services from photocopies to insurance to coffee.

Indigenous Times had the pleasure of interviewing AFOA Canada Board Member Rodney Nelson to learn about the organization. According to Nelson, ”AFOA is about

capacity building, increasing financial literacy and developing leadership in Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal people have been doing business for thousands of years but are just coming out of the marginalization suffered from colonization. It is important for us to enjoy self-determination and economic self-sufficiency.”

Nelson explained that AFOA offers training programs in two streams to achieve this aim. He talked about how the collective power of Aboriginal people is amazing and that in their programs, AFOA subscribes to seventh generation teaching, in that what they do today affects generations down the road.

AFOA Vice-President, Education and Training, Paulette Tremblay was available for some very illuminating comments as well. She cited the AFOA training as a stepping stone to university or college. The AFOA accredited training is a multi-university program affiliated with six Canadian universities with credits that are recognized by chartered accountants associations. She spoke about the program making a difference in Aboriginal communities and the pride she has in the

graduates themselves.

The two streams of training are for The Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) and for The Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA). The CAFM designation is the preferred credential for Aboriginal financial management positions in Canada. As a CAFM, one has a wide range of career opportunities and challenges available.

The CAPA designation is AFOA’s newest certification, one that identifies CAPAs as highly qualified Administrators, able to meet today’s unique Paulette Tremblay, AFOA VP Education & Training, challenges and builds and Rodney Nelson, AFOA Board Member. capacity in Aboriginal administration. For more information on these programs or to join AFOA, www.afoa.ca check out their website:

FSIN Science Fair Blends Western Science and Traditional Knowlege

Have you ever wondered how paper airplanes fly? Have you ever wondered what the best material is for cleaning up an oil spill? Have you ever wondered which mascara really can give you thicker, fuller, longer lashes? If you have, you are not alone. These questions and more were also on the minds of students gathered at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on March 16th and 17th.

The occasion was the 7th annual FSIN Science Fair. Eighty-seven students from Grades 6 to 12 representing 26 First Nation schools from across Saskatchewan gathered at the Youth Science Canada sanctioned event.

Submissions to the Science Fair fall into categories of Life Science, Physical Science and Earth/Space Science. But what sets this Science Fair apart and makes it particularly exciting is the fourth cat-

egory: Traditional Knowledge. This category is a unique combination of traditional knowledge and western science that gives students an opportunity to consult with elders and add a uniquely Indigenous perspective to their projects.

Gary Sibley, FSIN Science and Math Consultant, who has been planning this event for the past 6 years has seen growth and development in the students and in the depth of the projects. The interest in the Fair continues to grow.

Sierra Jacko, a Grade 7 student from Waterhen Lake, is a second-year veteran of the Fair. “It is fun and interesting. Every project is unique.”

Sheraine Morningchild who studied rat root uses and properties enthused, “I got to learn a lot about my own culture.”

Celebrity judge Michael Linklater, former captain of the U of S Huskies basketball team, had this to say about the event: “I feel that it is important to have

Science Fairs and events for First Nations students. It gives them an opportunity to meet others, to see peer exhibits, to venture to another area and last but not least is the education piece.” Linklater also delivered an encouraging keynote address during opening ceremonies. He told students not to become discouraged in the face of obstacles because every obstacle can be overcome with hard work and determination.

He also stressed how remaining alcohol and drug free has contributed to his success.

Twenty-one judges were tasked with evaluating the projects. After a nervewracking day of judging, students were treated to a banquet and entertainment by the band “Constant Reminder”. “Constant Reminder” is a talented group of musicians from James Smith F.N. They ably performed cover songs by the Beatles, CCR and Rolling Stones and included original material as well.

Tuesday morning the Science Fair was open to the public and the participants had the opportunity to share their projects with students from Saskatoon public schools.

At last the moment all were waiting for: the awarding of the prizes! Thirtyone prizes were awarded in all. Two top prize winners go on to compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair held in Fredericton, New Brunswick in May. Top honours went to two groups from Clearwater River Dene FN: “The Proof is in the Prints” a project

by Junior Team Mitchel Lemaigre and Latayah Lemaigre and “Water Quality”

by Intermediates Eden Fontaine and Sinay Kennedy .

And so projects were packed up and students headed home, many already wondering ‘Does eye colour affect vision?’

‘What is the best method for making butter?’ Stayed tuned, we’ll probably find out next year. •

Sunny Solutions: Taylen Sylvester Gr 8; Hayden Lemaigre Gr 8, Clearwater River Dene FN. Placed 2nd in the Intermediate Level of Physical Science Category.

Water Quality: Eden Fontaine , Sinay Kennedy, Clearwater River Dene FN. Placed 1st in the Intermediate level of Earth/Space, one of the top prize winners of trip to CanadaWide in Fredericton, NB.

Oil Spills: Angela Fontaine Grade 9, Clearwater River Dene FN. Placed 2nd in the Intermediate Level of Life Science

Rat Root: Sheraine Morningchild Grade 7, Shanelle Fiddler Grade 7. Waterhen Lake FN. Placed 2nd in the Junior Level of Traditional Knowledge category.

by Sylvia Nagy

March/April 2015

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ENTERTAINMENT

Q&A with Carsen Gray: From the Big Screen to Your Speakers

by Armand LaPlante

Carsen Gray, who was born in 1992, is a Canadian singer and actress from the Haida tribe in British Columbia. Carsen is best known for playing princess Tiger Lily on the 2003 live action Peter Pan movie alongside Jeremy Sumpter. She starred in the film at 11 years old and received a nomination for Young Artist (Young Artist Award) for her supporting role.

Carsen was six years old when she found out that she could sing and started performing at age 9, so naturally after the success and recognition from the movie Peter Pan, Carsen Gray changed career directions and began her singing career. At the age of 12 she was performing in popular restaurant shows in Vancouver, BC and other major events.

Indigenous Times: How old are you, where were you born and Carsen Gray: I’m 23, turning 24 this year. I was born in Vancouver but lived in Haida Gwaii from age 8 – 14.

Then moved back to Vancouver.

Pan. He used to perform at a jazz bar in Vancouver called Rossini’s -an Italian restaurant. He would have me come and perform songs with him; that’s where I got my start.

I really enjoy acting, but I found that singing just comes more naturally to me because I’m just so passionate about music, but I landed [the role of] Tiger Lily through my performance at Rossini’s because of an interview I did for the Vancouver Sun. A talent agent saw my article in the paCarsen Gray starred as Princess Tiger Lily in the Peter Pan movie. per and approached me with an audition. We had mentioned in the interview my background and where I came from and she thought that would be perfect.

Without that performance I wouldn’t have even had the chance to audition for Peter Pan.

IT: How was the filming experience IT: What’s your favourite genre of and what was it like working with music? the actors like Jeremy Sumpter?

I’m Passionate about pop and R&B CG: [Filming] was amazing, I got music. My voice is versatile, and I to bring my family out there; it was love all music, so it’s hard to pick one filmed in Brisbane, Australia. I was genre, I want to sing it all! really close with Rachel Hurd-Wood and Jeremy Sumpter, we all became IT: If you could give your 11 year family because we were always to- old self a piece of advice, what would it be? gether for about seven months.

IT: What are your motivators for your music career?

Not many so much in the music world, not any particular artists; but when I think of my family I just really want to make an impact for my people -- I want to be a positive influence. Lately, what’s been on my mind is just representing for our people, in a female sense.

IT: How many girls auditioned for It would be to keep fighting for your passions, don’t allow yourself to get Tiger Lily? distracted or have any doubts along At the audition there was a total of the way; just keep pushing and beabout 5,000 girls who auditioned for lieve in yourself.

IT: So the industry needs you.

Tiger Lily.

IT: How do you feel about how abIT: What happened afterwards in originals are portrayed in the main- That’s kind of what I was thinking. stream movie industry?

What drives me right now is when I life? think there aren’t really any female I didn’t go the acting route, I got into I definitely think that we need to be vocalists representing for female naperforming and singing at differ- more involved in acting for sure, and tive people. I do want to [represent], ent events in Vancouver like the Leo television; especially when playing but like I said I don’t want it to be in awards, and a charity event for Wayne Tiger Lily in Peter Pan the things that everyone’s face. I don’t want to be Gretzky. I did a show with Tom Jack- they wanted me to do was just so -- I categorized as just a ‘native’ singer. son in Winnipeg called Kanata, basi- don’t want to say ‘racist’, but it was I want to get out there and reach evcally practicing music and singing as just like... ‘no that doesn’t seem right erybody and not just be put under one to do that’. I feel that they don’t really category. much as I could. know much about our culture, so it’s very stereotypical.

IT: What is some real advice you would give for singers?

IT: What were your influences?

IT: Do you think Aboriginals can I started singing jazz and Motown really break through and start Practice your craft as often as you can.

I never really had vocal lessons. My style when I was 11 because for a playing non-aboriginal roles? dad is a musician and from growing part of my life, Bobby Taylor, who Definitely.

I think they should, not up listening to music all the time and discovered the Jackson 5 and worked just Tiger Lily, or a Chief or the typihearing my uncle Bobby sing, music and with Michael Jackson in his cal roles like that.

Our people are just kind of came naturally – I just younger years, was taking care of so beautiful, and they have so many have an ear for music you could say. me. He was a family friend of mine and has been in my life since I was looks. We can almost look like any- I recently started taking vocal lessons really small. I remember being really thing and be anyone. I know that na- just to keep my voice warm. young, maybe 4 or 5 and listening to tive people are commonly asked ‘are I would tell singers to sing all the time, him sing. He definitely inspired me. I you this? Are you that? Are you Ital- any opportunity you have to perform, worked with him when I was 10 or 11 ian? Are you Spanish?’ We have such to use your gift, show it off! too just before I went and shot Peter an interesting and diverse look to us.

When I was growing up in Haida Gwaii I started singing as a young girl, the community was really supportive, they would actually raise money for me to leave the island to go to my performances and pay for studio time in Vancouver.

My best advice is to just perform as much as you can, any opportunity you get to share your gift, it kind of just spreads, and people will be asking about you or wanting to hear you sing. I started singing at local events on the reserve where I grew up and it just went from there.

IT: How do you know Bobby Taylor?

My dad played keyboard for him in one of his groups, ‘Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers’, which was the original group that he had. He was just a really close family friend. I actually lived with him for a few years while my parents were dealing with some stuff. Listening to him, he has such a soulful sound, he was my first inspiration.

IT: Now that we know more about you, what are your future plans?

I definitely want to put out more music and get back into my acting. I feel I’m ready for that. Over the years I’ve become really passionate about health and spirituality. I want to share my thoughts and knowledge to motivate our people to become stronger healthier and confident. •

10

Indigenous Times

March/April 2015

                                             

   

   

  

Indigenous Times

March/April 2015

11

EDUCATION

Q&A with Alexandra Thomson: More Aboriginal Technical Minds Needed

by Armand LaPlante

Alexandra Thomson is from Carry the Kettle First Nation; she grew up in Regina and attended O’Neill high school.

Shortly after graduating grade 12 in French immersion, Alexandra moved to Saskatoon in 2010 to attend the University of Saskatchewan for Chemical Engineering.

Since being at the University of Saskatchewan, Alexandra has been acknowledged for her achievements in Chemical Engineering by receiving an Aboriginal Achievement Week achievement award, scholarships, and being on the Dean’s honour roll.

Indigenous Times: What attracted you to Chemical Engineering?

Alexandra: I didn’t really know what it was to be honest, just through high school I came to enjoy math and I also started to enjoy chemistry near the end of my high school career in grade 12. Chemical engineering has both [math and chemistry] so I went into it for that reason mainly.

IT: What do you hope to do for your community when you graduate?

A: For [Carry the Kettle], but what could also pertain to the Aboriginal community as a whole, I would eventually like to get into finding solutions to the water crisis on First Nations land. I would like to see clean water on First Nations land, I would like to work on projects to do with that. I would also like to eventually look into renewable energy, finding ways to ensure first nations communities can live on renewable, sustainable energy without using fuel and without it costing too much money and using too much electricity. But in the meantime, I would like to give back to my own community by offering math help, coming in and talking to students, and offering tutoring services.

down to 50 and 60 that’s completely normal.

The first year is the hardest because they give you a lot of courses, there’s a lot of different content, there’s heavy math involved, but they do provide a lot of resources to help you get through it.

IT: How is it being a minority in engineering both as a woman and as an Aboriginal person?

A: In school, the biggest challenge I face with engineering is there’s not a lot of culture, and of course when [Aboriginals] are so underrepresented in engineering it’s so hard to identify with your culture and to learn about your culture and to be immersed in it. That’s something engineering is looking to change, they’ve hired an Indigenous Peoples Initiative Coordinator; his name is Matthew Dunn. He’s working on some Aboriginal initiatives there to make it more welcoming and inclusive of Aboriginal people. I find that I come to the Aboriginal Students Centre to study more than I stay in engineering because I identify with this community and I feel as though I belong here and I just like that sense of belonging. That’s the biggest challenge I face in school.

In industry though, I did come across some racism and you hear some sexist jokes and sexist humour in the workplace. That’s something you have to learn to deal with, they don’t really prepare you to deal with that kind of stuff in university so I’m still learning how.

IT: What would be your advice to Aboriginal youth interested in engineering, or even other math and science areas?

IT: There’s a lack of numbers of Aboriginals in math and science areas, how can we overcome this?

A: For those who are interested in math and science already I would say get your foundation in high school. Make sure you are learning as much as you can in high school because your teachers are there right now to help you and you can ask them questions; you learn a lot faster and you retain that knowledge. When you come into university you’re more independent so you don’t have teachers there holding your hand, and if you run into a problem and you need help you have to find solutions on your own; so if students can work hard in high school that’s beneficial. Also, don’t be afraid of the challenge, don’t be scared when people say ‘engineering is so hard’ because you don’t have to be a genius to go into engineering. You don’t have to be the smartest student. My marks were all over in high school, I had 90s in some areas and 50s in other areas […] you just need to know how to work hard and you need to know how to work well with others. It’s about working as a team; you’re not completely alone when you get here, you just have to find your resources. If students are struggling in math or science, it’s never too late to upgrade or improve your skills.

A: I think that we need to start young -with the youth. We need role models and we need to demonstrate that math is possible and it’s not as daunting and it’s not as difficult as people perceive it to be because that’s one of the misconceptions. They need support and they need to be trained at an early age on how to approach problem solving. And for Aboriginal people who are past that stage, we need initiatives in the university to be more inclusive of Aboriginal people; we need a space, we need a meeting place in engineering, we need to identify with each other, and we need to talk about the issues that we face in engineering. I think we also need to come up with a program that’s just for Aboriginal engineering students; the college of education has SUNTEP, the college of arts & science has First Year Transition Program, and the college of law has the Native Law Program. We need something like that in engineering. There should be a summer program to help prepare Aboriginal students for the challenges that they will face in first year engineering, and to get their math skills up to par -- that would also facilitate a sense of community and belonging and they would gain support for each other.

IT: Is it hard to succeed in Chemical Engineering? […] It’s hard to get good grades in engineering. That’s another thing to keep in mind: if you’re a student who’s used to getting good grades in high school, if you see in engineering that your marks drop

IT: Do you see yourself as one of the role models?

A: I do because we are so underrepresented I think anyone who is indigenous in engineering is a role model and they should

Alexandra Thomson, Chemical Engineering student at the U of S take on that role of being a role model to help inspire the youth because we need Aboriginal engineers, we need people with technical mindsets, skills, and abilities to create change. Law, socialism, and activism, all of that is great and we need that; but we absolutely need Aboriginal engineers because there is a water crisis on the land.

IT: What do you plan to do when you graduate?

A: I [graduate] in June [2015], I am either going to work as a career, or I will just work for the summer, or I was thinking of going to grad school. For grad school I would go into an engineering program that would also be combined with Native Stud-

ies; and I would want to work with First Nations communities to help come up with solutions to the water crisis.

IT: Any last comments?

A: One thing I think needs to be done is they need more Indigenous knowledge incorporated into the university content and into the courses because right now we don’t approach engineering with any Indigenous ways of knowing or living. We don’t see examples of engineering in the past, so I think to retain Aboriginal students, we need to incorporate more Indigenous knowledge. •

March/April 2015

Indigenous Times

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The Benefits of our Ancestors’ Traditional Diets

by Lynn Hughan

Our ancestors lived in harmony with nature and ate diets of protein, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.

They hunted, fished, gathered and prepared foods seasonally. They were active, fit, and able to withstand and thrive within the elements of nature.

Today, our people face health challenges brought on by sedentary lifestyles, stressful lives, and foods that do not properly fuel our bodies.

Before European contact, native peoples created different cuisines from the raw ingredients available: local wildlife and indigenous plants.

Wheat flour was one of the first widely accepted foods introduced by Europeans during trading and “Bannock” became the traditional bread that spread to every tribe across Canada. Nutritional research has shown that the traditional diet was healthier than the new diet to which natives were introduced. The incidence of diabetes and other dietary diseases is high among our people today.

The main food staple of indigenous peoples was saturated fat.

These high fat foods weren’t exclusive to North America either. Studies were done on tribes from all over the world who weren’t influenced by European culture and agriculture. These people were shown to be at lowest

risk for developing heart disease with no dental issues, cancer or diabetes.

They were virtually in perfect health.

Some of the tribes I want to mention are:

Maasai - Kenya and Tanzania, Africa.

They ate meat, milk and blood from cattle with butter for infants. Diet = 66% Saturated Fat. Inuit (Eskimos)- Arctic - Whale meat and blubber diet = 75% Saturated Fat. Rendille - Kaisut Desert, NE Kenya Africa - Camel milk and meat and “Banjo” a mix of camel milk and blood = 63% Saturated Fat. Tokelau - Three Atol Islands in New Zealand Fish and Coconut diet = 60% Saturated Fat.

One thing I want to talk about is that it was clear these people instinctively knew what to feed their bodies.

Just like we once did. The prevalence of high fat in these peoples’ diets who have nothing in common and live on the other side of the world from one another is a strong message. No matter where they were from, they ate a diet of predominantly saturated fat, depending on what their land had to offer. Some of the fats I think we

should start introducing back into our diets are lard, pork fat, tallow, beef, lamb and butter fat.

Coconut and Palm oil were used by tribes in South America and have a resistance to damage from high heat cooking.

The fats I mentioned are high in many vitamins and have never been proven to cause cardiovascular disease like we’ve been told in the past thanks to the Food Guide. If you take a look at the food guide, the largest part of the pyramid at the bottom encourages people to consume 6-11 servings of carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, rice and pasta. It also says for us to use fats and oils “sparingly”, but doesn’t elaborate on what kind of fats and oils to avoid.

To me, it appears that this chart was created backwards. Place the healthy fats and oils where the carbs are, and move those addictive processed “foods” to the smallest part at the top of the pyramid. The adjustment period to replacing your carbs with fats could be anywhere from a couple weeks to a month. Carbohydrates are addicting and everywhere in all our favourite convenient foods. We need to train our bodies to start burning fat for energy instead of carbs.

After you adjust to the switch over, your body can start to produce ketones. Ketones are acids made when

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your body begins using fat for energy.

High fat diets are shown to prevent cancer, reverse diabetes, improves epilepsy, obesity, depression and mood disorders.

I believe our ancestors were almost always in a state of ketosis because it curbs hunger and there were times when food supply was scarce in the winter. Being in “Ketosis” regulates body temperature and keeps you from freezing during the cold months.

Saturated fat also stops your cravings for carbs. Making that initial switch over from carbs to fat stops what I like to call “sugar bugs” in your body from demanding more sugar.

Another thing I want to mention is that breast fed infants also have a diet high in saturated fat. In developed first world countries, mothers’ breast milk is 54% saturated fat. This is evidence that infants are born readily accepting fat as their main energy source and it’s vital in the early stages of an infant’s brain development.

With that being said, I encourage people to incorporate more fat into their diets and less carbohydrates.

I know it can be difficult to do a complete 360 change to our diets. Eating more of our traditional foods and cutting down on carbs can do wonders for our health. •

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Indigenous Times

March/April 2015

Saskatoon in the Middle of the Warpath as Hiphop Acts Travel West

by Armand LaPlante

The Warpath 2015 Tour made its stop in Saskatoon at Vangeli’s Tavern on Wednesday, March 11, as it continues to make its way west finishing in British Columbia. The tour brought through City Natives from the Maritimes, DJ Creeazn from Edmonton, and headliner Drezus. The title ‘Warpath’ is also the name of a single off Drezus’ latest album ‘Indian Summer’ released in the fall of 2014. Drezus also had a viral single entitled ‘Red Winter’ that became popular and made an impact during the height of the Idle No More movement.

City Natives, who are comprised of members Beaatz, IllFundz, Gearl, and BnE, also recently came out with an album entitled ‘Red City’, which motivated the first leg of the tour.

Despite being in the middle of the week, the performers drew out a great, mixed crowd who were enthusiastic and enjoyed every song from start to finish. While some all but compulsory political undertones were peppered throughout, the night consisted mainly of awe-inspiring, high caliber hiphop.

We asked Drezus a few questions right after the show: IT: What was the inspiration for the Warpath tour?

Drezus: The whole inspiration was bringing light to Aboriginal voices out there that are pretty much unheard including myself on a global scale. The warpath is a metaphor for us going on the road and tearing down every show you know so it’s all part of the package, just being a warrior but also just putting on a quality show. [Performing] quality music and always be presenting yourself just making sure everything is 100 with the message and the music --

just going out there and actually delivering.

IT: Tonight the show brought out a mixed crowd (Aboriginal and nonAboriginal), is that how it has been throughout the tour?

D: Yeah it’s trippy because some of the coverage I’ve been getting reaches a whole different audience, so some of the shows I got a whole bunch of natives, rowdy native guys and stuff, and then we have some people that aren’t native that are completely from a different world that are just drawn to, I think, the spirit -- the native spirit in me. I’m not even super spiritual or traditional or anything but I know I have a spirit within me that guides me, I know the basics, and I think they’re drawn to that.

IT: I know your latest album ‘Indian Summer’ is still warm off the press, but after the tour what’s on the horizon for you?

D: I’ve been doing a lot more youth oriented projects and I feel like It’s my time to give back to the youth so I’ve been working really closely in the street and also even in the jails, at the detention centres and also at the shows.

Even just in public.. I love the youth and I feel like I have to invest my time in them, and me just doing my thing too I think inspires them in a positive way but I don’t want to be rapping forever.

Eventually I could see myself getting into some vocals, maybe even setting up a business for the family, just making it a career, something that I can feed my family with and also put on other people. •

Drezus

City Natives

Education

Enrolment Opens Once Again for the First Nations University Saskatoon Campus

After enrolment for classes at the FNUniv Saskatoon campus was suspended for the past year while the administration examined numbers, the Saskatoon campus is now accepting applications for enrolment into the Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work program.

FNUniv’s School of Indigenous Social Work (SISW) is a nationally accredited program which prepares students to enter the field of human service as social workers across Canada with a special emphasis on working with First Nation individuals, families, groups and communities. It is a world renowned program, as a result of both its long history and its unique cultural programming.

Students can enroll in this program at any of the three campuses: Saskatoon, Prince Albert or Regina.

Also last year, the Saskatoon campus moved to Grasswoods Road English River reserve. Large classes are now being held at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies’ 4th Avenue campus, while smaller classes, such as the Master’s cohort, meet at the Grasswoods campus.

“There is still such a demand for Indigenous Social Work, so we are very excited about opening up enrolment here in at the Saskatoon Campus,” Louise McCallum said.

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March/April 2015

Indigenous Times

14

Celebrity

Deejay Ndn, @deejayndn: A leader that is compassionate towards human well being instead of corporate interests.

Michelle Thrush, @mizthrush: Compassion 2 listen, insist education system have complete overhaul. Acceptance of privilege, willing 2 learn, humble.

We asked in 140 characters or less: What do we as First Nations and Métis people need in our next Prime Minister?

Derek Miller, @Derekmillerlive : We need to see economic growth beyond oil.

Drezus, @drezus: We need transparency, accountability and someone fearless enough to go against the grain and really hold down the earth.

ACROSS

CROSSWORD

Wab Kinew, @WabKinew: Someone willing to listen, help those who are empowering themselves and allow real say over resource development.

Jon C, @JONCHEATBAG: We Need [Justin Trudeau]. Our Native People Need To Feel Equality, So we can Really Heal As A Culture and Nation.

DOWN

1. In which month is National Aboriginal Day?

2. Tribe of World War II Aboriginal code talkers

7. FSIN Interim Chief

3. Drezus’ Idle No More rap single

8. Tribal Council in Saskatchewan with most bands (acronym)

4. Winner of 2015 Juno award for Best Aboriginal Album

9. Cree word for great grand parent or child

5. State that hosts Gathering of Nations Pow Wow

10. What is the Indian princess’ name in the 2003 Peter Pan movie?

6. First Nation closest to Turtleford, SK

MAGIC HEXAGON

SUDOKU

#1)

SOLUTIONS

#2)

ACROSS 1:June 7: kimjonathan 8: pagc 9: chapan 10: tigerlily DOWN 2: navajo 3: redwinter 4: tanyatagaq 5: newmexico 6: thunderchild

Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

Visit us online: www.indigenoustimes.ca

March/April 2015

Indigenous Times

15

Indigenous Times

16

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March/April 2015