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Issue 2 • Volume 17
June 2012
Royalty Visits First Nations University of Canada
On May 23, 2012 His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visited the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina Campus. Here the future King and his wife are seen with L-R: Cadmus Delorme, Student, FNUniv President Dr. Doyle Anderson, and Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, then provincial Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations. Page 5. Photo: Mike Dubois.
FSIN Presents Treaty Right To Education Medals On Monday, May 28th, FSIN Vice Chief Simon Bird presented the Treaty Right to Education Graduation Medals that will be given to First Nations high school graduates as a reminder of their treaty right to education and their obligations that go with it. “It is hoped that re-
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice Chief Simon Bird Presents the Treaty Right to Education Graduation Medals
ceiving this medal will encourage our youth to ask questions, to start dialogue with their parents, their elders, their communities and leaders, to discover exactly their treaty right to an education,” Vice Chief Bird continues... • continued on page 5
Indigenous Times gets exclusive with acclaimed Chief Wallace Fox Page 9
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June 2012
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12STEL166_Prepaid Print Indigenous Times Full page (10” x 16”)
June 2012
Editorial
by: Armand LaPlante
“W e are all Treaty people,” is a phrase that is gaining in usage and ac-
ceptance in Saskatchewan and in many regions of Canada. Thanks is largely due to the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, with its public education initiatives with the valuable input of our Elders (past and present) supported by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. The OTC has reading materials such as Treaty Implementation Fulfilling the Covenant, Treaties as a Bridge to the Future, and Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan which are excellent for learning and understanding TreaPublisher/Editor: Armand LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca Sales Representatives: Joshua Charette Bradley Pechawis sales@indigenoustimes.ca phone: 306-955-0109 fax: 306-242-0530
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Indigenous Times ties. Much has been done but much more has to be done with Treaty Implementation. In the past month, I was fortunate enough to meet two important figures with regards to treaties and their possible implementation. They are Chief Wallace Fox of the Onion Lake First Nation of Treaty 6 and Mr. George Lafond, of Muskeg Lake First Nation, newly appointed Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan. Undoubtedly, in common, both have the best interests at heart for Treaty First Nations in realizing and protecting the promise. Considering that Chief Wallace Fox is unwavering in his representation of the traditional beliefs of Treaties and Treaty Commissioner George Lafond has an obligation and duty to all parties to Treaty, including the federal government, which typically upholds only the written text of the Treaties. For the first time in our history, however, the Treaty Commissioner is a First Nations person. With that fact, there may be optimism about Treaty implementation in the foreseeable future. Perhaps we should be cautious as I think it will be easy for First Nations people to have unrealistic expectations. Mr. Lafond has a mandate that requires a practical approach to achieve results. Although as Treaty Commissioner he has no arbitrary powers, he was once Tribal Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council and understands First Na-
tions’ aspirations and goals; that is where the optimism is held. Then there is Chief Wallace Fox, who is well known throughout Saskatchewan and Canada for his leadership as a Treaty Chief who will not compromise the traditional view and position of Treaties. For Chief Fox it’s not only material but it is spiritual as well. Chief Fox was given the ultimate vote of confidence by the membership of Onion Lake First Nation: election by acclamation. He carries both the strength and burden of his people. It has been said that Chief Fox firmly represents the oral traditions of the First Nations and their truth, which is not reflected adequately in the written text of the Treaties. These two represent the enormous challenge to achieve the desired results in Treaty implementation. Their friendship may be strained at times, but if true to First Nations’ tradition, respect and friendship will persevere. As one can plainly see, it will definitely be interesting times for “all Treaty people.” On May 23rd, Prince Charles, a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, with whom the Prairie Treaties were signed, visited the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina campus. Through the communications medium known as the moccasin telegraph, it is said that Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Simon Bird used his time with his Royal
Highness to remind him of the Treaties. •
H
ere we are again at the Stanley Cup championship series and Aboriginal people have a Saskatchewan connection. Of course that is Dwight King of the Los Angeles Kings. Also there is Jordan Nolan, the son of First Nations hockey legend Ted Nolan from Garden River FN in Ontario. Dwight King, who is of Métis heritage has made significant contribution to the LA Kings series with the Vancouver Canucks and moreso against the Phoenix Coyotes. At one point, after game 3, he was outscoring the Coyotes singlehandedly. I have never met Dwight, but when I was little I had the privilege of having been on a trip to Willowbunch with his grandfather, the late Edward King, to whom I am distantly related. To Dwight, his family, and others who can share in his amazing achievements, congratulations! •
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e would also like to take this time to wish everyone a happy and safe National Aboriginal Day. I hope we may all come together, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike, to celebrate culture with joy and pride in our hearts. Ekosi, Armand LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca
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.
Community Proud of Dwight King of the LA Kings Young Métis hockey player makes it to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals BY TIFFANY MITCHELL
Dwight King, #74 of the LA Kings, is living out the dream of most Canadian boys. He is playing hockey in the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Finals! He has been making family, friends and fans proud during the playoffs with 5 goals, 2 of them being game winning goals. A proud Métis man, he grew up on the family farm near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. His grandparents, the late Métis Senator Edward King and his wife Cecile, were avid hockey fans and strong supporters of all of their grandchildren, spending many years at the hockey rink in Meadow Lake watching dozens of them develop into amazing hockey players. Dwight was drafted 109th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. After the draft he spent some time in the Western Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, and the Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. His big day arrived on November 17, 2010 when he played in his first NHL game with the Los Angeles Kings. And on February 12, 2012, he scored his first goal of his NHL career against the Dallas Stars. Dwight’s older brother D.J. also plays professional hockey. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2002 NHL En-
try Draft, 191st overall, by the St. Louis Blues and currently plays alongside hockey superstar Alexander Ovechkin for the Washington Capitals. The King boys are not the only hockey greats in the family. Their sisters Danene and Dayna King are also talented hockey players. Both sisters are former University of Saskatchewan Huskies Players. In 2011, the four siblings ran the King’s Hockey School, a hockey camp for children. The hockey camp is held in Meadow Lake and they plan to make an annual event. This year the camp will be August 7th - 10th. The family enjoys giving back to the community that so strongly supported them in their early years. If you happen to have social networking connections with anyone from the Meadow Lake area it is evident that his hometown is cheering for him. Every game day Facebook’s News Feed is filled with statuses such as: • “Woo hoo Dwight! Go kings go!” • “If Facebook had volume I’d be screaming! Go Dwight Go!” Dwight is giving his family, his hometown and all Aboriginal People a reason to be proud and excited. As the Finals begin there is no doubt that Dwight will have many fans cheering him on as he battles it out to win the Stanley Cup. •
Above: In 2011 the King family presented a cheque to Flying Dust First NationChief Jim Norman for the new arena. Photos submitted by Danene King
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First Nations University of Canada
• From front page: FNUC REGINA - Dr. Doyle Anderson, President of the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) expressed the university’s appreciation for the visit by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. “The Royal Visit to FNUniv will go a long way to help raise awareness of the treaty right to education. The work we are doing here at FNUniv shows how much we can achieve through education – not only for our students but also for our communities,” said Anderson.
The Royal Couple at the First Nations University in Regina. Photo: Mike Dubois
The visit included a tour of cultural displays and a roundtable discussion with the Royal Couple on First Nations education issues. “There has been a long standing respect between the Crown and the First Nations people that still exists today. Their Royal Highnesses have spoken on this trip about the importance of service to others. This is a fitting theme for FNUniv where we prepare our students not only to succeed in their personal lives but also to give back to their communities,” said Anderson. Anderson stated that that the roundtable discussion reviewed ways in which education must prepare First Nations students for the future while at the same time preserving First Nations history, culture and traditions. “The buffalo used to sustain us through food, clothing and culture. Now it is education that will sustain us as we create jobs and new First Nations businesses that will allow us to take charge of our economic future” said Anderson. FNUniv will be offering the Aboriginal Student Entrance Scholarship Award in honour of The Prince of Wales and the Dutchess of Cornwall. It will be offered in the fall and is a scholarship which assists students beginning their post secondary education. •
Celebrating National Aboriginal Day!
Vice Chief Simon Bird Continued from front page... “Our educated youth are a strong resource for all First Nations people in this province and throughout Canada. Many come back to our communities to help us in our continued goal of self-governance, in education, in economic development and in building strong relations.” One side of the medal features the picture of the original treaty medallion given by the Crown to our ancestors during the times of treaty signings. It shows the Crown’s representatives shaking hands with one of the Chiefs. The medal’s purpose is to serve as a direct reminder that education is a treaty right inherited from our ancestors and the signatory chiefs; it is a reminder that education is not free and it should not be taken for granted. Roughly 600 First Nation high school graduates will receive their own medal at their graduation ceremonies. The medals will be given to the First Nations graduates living on-reserve as well as those in high schools in surrounding areas. “The signatories saw that the future generations would not be left out. Those elders were thinking about the young people of today and tomorrow. The gifting of a medal to
the graduates is a reminder of the gift of those elders. The right to education is a powerful tool for our young people to help them succeed and to help us achieve our goals to be strong nations living within our territories.” states the Vice Chief. Vice Chief Bird explains that the FSIN is continually looking for ways to encourage the youth to not only complete their grade 12, but also to look at post-secondary education and/or job skills. He believes continuing education is a part of the First Nations belief of lifelong learning. “Our elders tell us: learn always and in all ways, learn.” •
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Making the Most of Our Community Investment The Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation (DDCDC) is a successful First Nation organization dedicated to strengthening our communities. Hosted by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the DDCDC invests 25% of the net profits from the Dakota Dunes Casino into local community initiatives, targeted to improve the quality of life of children, youth, elderly and families. It is the mandate of the Board to distribute investments in a fair and equitable manner to charitable, not-for-profit organizations and community groups that create positive and long-lasting impacts with broad community benefit. Since its inception almost five years ago, the DDCDC has invested approximately $11 million dollars towards 735 programs and projects in our catchment area. With the support of our community partners, the DDCDC strives to continue making positive investments in our communities.
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Travis Lovett an academic and renowned Pow Wow Dancer Indigenous Times’ Spotlight on Success in Indian Country BY LINDSAY SUTHERLAND From Georgia to the plains of Saskatchewan, Travis Lovett, better known as “Thunder” across the Pow Wow circuit, has swept many championship titles in the Men’s Fancy category. Travis Lovett started dancing late at the age of 17, but did not waste any time in becoming world known. Just a year after
Above: Travis Lovett. Below: Travis in Pow Wow regalia.
starting to dance and his very first pow wow competing in the men’s division, Travis placed second at the Gathering of Nations. As if that wasn’t enough, Travis two years later won his title as “World Champion” by clenching first place at the Schemitzun World Championship Pow Wow and has remained a top competitor traveling across Indian Country ever since. However, Travis’ accomplishments extend far and beyond the dance arena. Out of high school, Travis received a full-ride wrestling and academic scholarship to the University of the Cumberlands where he went on to compete at the National Wrestling tournament and became an Academic All-American wrestler. Aside from dominating the wrestling mat, Travis was also placed on the Dean’s list every semester and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Biology. Now, Travis is currently attending Law School at Arizona State University. ASU Law has a strong reputation for holding the best Indian Legal Program in the world. Travis said, “ASU Law is great at offering opportunities and placing Natives in positions that allow them to achieve whatever goals they desire.” Travis went on to explain that the faculty and students are exceptionally great and that he felt as if they were his family away from home. Travis en-
tered ASU Law on a Dean’s Recruitment Scholarship and since, has been awarded the Kevin Kane Memorial Book Scholarship and the Arizona Native American Bar Association Scholarship. Also, Travis is active in the Native American Law School Association by serving as liaison to the Arizona Native American Bar Association. Recently, Travis was awarded the Native American Udall Internship, which only selects 12 highly achieved Native Americans and First Nations to work in a congressional agency for ten weeks in Washington D.C. Travis has been selected to work for the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs where his daily duties will likely entail attending meetings and writing memorandums on the Nation’s top issues that are affecting Indian Country today. Travis commented, “I am really honored to receive such an opportunity and I am eager to meet other Natives that share my passion for Native advocacy.” This highly sought after position is determined by a selection committee that is composed of Native tribal leaders and educators. The committee selects their interns based upon each applicant’s academic credentials, writing capability, and their interest in learning how the Federal Government operates. When describing the application process, Travis explained that all applicants are to write an essay on a legislative act or tribal public policy and relate that issue to their own career goals or personal life. Travis commented, “I wrote about the Indian Child Welfare Act because it is vital that Indian children grow up learning their heritage and culture; for this is the only way to truly keep the Native race alive and growing.”
The Indian Child Welfare Act was enacted in 1978 to combat children being removed from their Indian communities and placed in non-Indian homes. Overall, Travis is extremely excited to learn what steps the Federal Government is taking to improve Indian Country and what avenues he can take to achieve his career goals. After law school Travis plans to start his own Native American consulting project to help tribe’s in improving their communities through economic development, education, and healthcare. Travis believes proper management over these areas is essential to a tribe’s prosperity and growth. For many reservations, there has been an unfortunate snowball effect of unemployment and poor education that leads to increased crime and poverty. Travis said, “Healthcare, education, and economic development strongly intertwine and improvements in one area will likely facilitate the improvement in another and combat this unfortunate snowball effect.” Traivs is also knowledgeable of issues that are affecting the First Nations of Canada. Travis stated, “Right now in Canada tribes are faced with a very important decision, SELF – GOVERNMENT.” Travis went on to explain, “This decision will be different for every tribe and it is critical that they have assistance from someone that understands native communities and how this transition can affect their community.” Travis says, “This is where I hope to come in and hopefully before it is too late. I hope to build a consulting team with Native lawyers who have experience and understand the needs for Indian communities.” Travis clarified, that his job will not be to tell tribes what to do. Instead, Travis will educate tribal communities and offer guidance to ensure that they really know what self-government entails. As with every decision, there are pros and cons and it is no secret that every Reserve is now facing this critical and life-changing decision. •
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Indigenous Gaming Regulators’ 5th Anniversary
Celebratory BBQ highlights past accomplishments and focuses on the path ahead to full gaming jurisdiction BY ARMAND LAPLANTE
On April 18th, 2012, the Indigenous Gaming Regulators (IGR) hosted a barbecue to celebrate their 5th year anniversary of operations. This event, which took place outside of IGR’s Saskatoon Packham office, provided the chance for IGR’s partners and clients to come out and meet the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of IGR. IGR President & CEO Greg Ahenakew told Indigenous Times of both the successes and the struggles IGR has faced: “At times it has been a struggle, we have been accused of being mini-SLGA and of being in provincial jurisdiction on-reserve and [subject to] provincial law but that’s not true; it never has been.” Ahenakew also speaks of partnering with First Nations, “We appreciate the involvement of the First Nations and the acceptance of
the First Nations. But it has taken time, it has taken several years to gain trust and respect from the First Nations and we’re quite happy that we’re doing a good job of it.” Ahenakew also acknowledged that there is still much work to do in IGR’s movement towards full jurisdiction over gaming. 300 guests from various First Nations communities and businesses in the Packham area gathered to eat. Among the day’s special guests were Saskatoon Tribal Chief Felix Thomas, FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat and Vern Acoose of SIGA. Tribal Chief Thomas instilled pride in the people and the organization stating “When we underwent the assessments to test our ability to regulate on-reserve charitable gaming, not only did we meet the requirements, we exceeded them. We not only began to regulate, we began to do it better
than everyone else!” Elder Ben Weenie provided an opening prayer, and then Micisotan Restau-
rant served up the delicious that each received as we celmeal. Everyone was grate- ebrated this happy occasion. ful for everything provided • as well as the hospitality
IGR President & CEO Greg Ahenakew. Photo by Armand LaPlante
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Chief Wallace Fox Receives Another Mandate to Lead his People Chief Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation known for his work in Treaty Protection and Implementation BY ARMAND LAPLANTE
On Monday, May 7th, Chief Wallace Fox was declared the only candidate for Chief of Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) and won by acclamation which has never before happened in that community according to band officials. Council will be voted in on June 13, 2012 with 35 candidates in the running. “First of all, I want to thank our membership for having given me the opportunity to represent them as Chief all these years! I’m so humbled and very honored to continue to represent Onion Lake Cree Nation. I want to work harder for them, especially in the continued fight for Treaty Recognition and Implementation. Last but not least, [I thank] my wife and family for supporting me all these years. With Council and Elders’ continued guidance and support of great staff, we will continue to work and prepare a positive future for the youth and children yet unborn,” stated Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation. The working fight for treaty implementation and recognition cannot afford time off and work continues. Onion Lake Cree Nation, through its treaty governance office, will host a historic Treaty 6 Summit from June 3rd to 7th, 2012 at Fort Pitt west of Frenchman Butte by highway 797. Along with Chief Fox, Treaty Governance Coordi-
nator Henry Lewis has a balance of traditional and contemporary components to the agenda beginning with cultural activities on June 3rd, including pipe ceremonies, sweats, and a feast. “I’ve heard our elders talk about treaties, treaties this treaties that, and for many years I never understood them until I started to see the spiritual part. [I learned] of their traditional spiritual perspective; on how the treaties are so sacred; how their ancestors entered into them from a traditional world view not a contemporary view where we’re at today.” Chief Fox tells us. “That’s one of the critical elements. We need to, as individuals and leaders, create that understanding within our own selves. We talk treaty, but what is treaty? I used to be one of those chiefs when I was a younger chief. Today I believe I have a better understanding of what treaty is, from a traditional spiritual perspective.” The Summit will feature plenary sessions that will include chiefs, elders and women discussing topics such as the protection of Treaty 6 ceremonial artifacts; the use of a Treaty 6 embassy; the need for satellite offices and an official Treaty 6 spokesperson; and the development and implementation of a Treaty 6 political strategy and work plan. A highlight of the Summit will be modern-day treaty signings, the first for OLCN since signing treaty 6 in
1876. Two treaties will be signed, the first with the Shoshone Nation from Utah, USA, the second with Sucker Creek, Ermineskin, and Driftpile First Nations. These are economic and energy alliances. There will also be a sod turning ceremony for the Treaty 6 embassy to mark this historic event. A representative from the Unit-
ed Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will attend the Summit as an observer. This is an exciting time for Treaty 6 First Nations and with leaders like Chief Fox in the forefront, hopefully we will continue to see innovative and effective movement on Treaty implementation in Canada.will attend the Summit as an observer. •
Chief Wallace Fox at the United Nations. Submitted photo.
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Neechie Gear wins The Centre’s “Saskatoon’s Finest Entrepreneur” Award Latest award provides Kendal Netmaker’s Neechie Gear Apparel with a new opportunity in Saskatoon BY ARMAND LAPLANTE Kendal Netmaker is humble about his many accomplishments and awards his clothing line, Neechie Gear, has received, most recently: The Centre’s Saskatoon’s Finest Entrepreneur 2012. Kendal Netmaker is a 25 year old entrepre-
neur from the Sweetgrass First Nation but his last name, as well as many of his relatives, is from the Whitefish First Nation. In its one year of existence, Neechie Gear Apparel has accomplished more than many companies do in five years. Neechie Gear has won 1st place in SIFE’s Aboriginal Youth Idea
Challenge, ACE 2011 Saskatchewan Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champion, and 2011 CANDO Economic Developer of the Year Award to name a few. But winning Saskatoon’s Finest Entrepreneur of 2012 gave him a new opportunity; he was awarded with three months rent free at a kiosk at the popu-
Neechie Gear Apparel is now available at the Centre at Circle and 8th Mall in Saskatoon. Photo by Armand LaPlante.
lar Saskatoon mall The Centre at Circle and 8th. “I was on Facebook one day, and my buddy said ‘you should apply for the competition at the [Centre] mall,’ and I said ‘What are you talking about?’ Then he forwarded me a link and I checked it out and thought ‘oh cool, I will give it a shot’ and I put in an application, next month I got a call saying I won the competition.” Neechie Gear was officially established in April of 2011 and was started through business plan competitions. The term Neechie means “my friend” in Cree slang. I got in touch with Neal McLeod, an Aboriginal author who is very well known in Saskatchewan and Canada. I told him on Facebook I was starting a clothing line and he said ‘Why don’t you call it Neechie Gear?’ We thought it might work but it might not.” What was once called Moose Meat Apparel in 2010, the name change to Neechie Gear was, according to Kendal, “the best change I ever made.” So far, Neechie Gear’s growth has been phenomenal and is due largely to the social media infrastructure – facebook and twitter more specifically. “Facebook is huge for our mar-
ket; it is the biggest network that we use. We are targeting our niche to the First Nations people. Once you capture your niche you can expand, and we’re proving that here in the mall with several non-First Nations customers buying our products; it’s really exhilarating” states Kendal. “We literally grew, in two weeks, by 1500 [facaebook] fans from one online contest.” What Neechie Gear represents is what motivates Kendal as a hardworking entrepreneur. “[Neechie Gear] is not just a clothing line, we’re helping youth through our brand. We have our own sports teams, Neechie Gear under 18 Boys & Girls Volleyball Clubs that compete in mainstream tournaments throughout the year. We’re in charge of a lot more than just our clothing brand, it’s a social brand -- the people own the brand. The fact that I created it from nothing and where it has come is what drives me to keep working harder.” Neechie Gear can be found at the Centre Mall in Saskatoon in front of the Huskie store or online at www. neechiegear.com. You can also find Neechie Gear on Facebook and Twitter. •
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Melissa Arcand Ph.D Candidate from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Melissa gives advice and shares her experiences of being a graduate student Sask Science Network Melissa grew up on a farm on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, an hour north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She became interested in environmental issues in high school and went on to study Environmental Science at the University of Guelph. She literally got her hands dirty while working as a research assistant on a project examining soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems in a lab at the U of G. This experience inspired her to pursue a Master’s of Science in Land Resource Science from the University of Guelph, where she conducted field studies on organic farms in Ontario. After working as a research technician in a plant physiology lab, she began her Ph. D. studies in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, Melissa is completing her lab work as part of her Ph. D research and hopes to continue working in research after she completes her de-
gree. She’s particularly interested in applying her research in soil science to improving the sustainability of agricultural systems in Canada.
Arcand: Being able to present my work at conferences and have people interested in the work I am doing. Once I get my Ph.D, that will probably be the accomplishment that I am most proud of.
What, or who, inspired your decision to become a Were there any obstacles in your education or cascientist? reer, and how did you Arcand: Curiosity… I al- overcome them? ways liked science as a kid. I wanted to know how things Arcand: No major barriers. worked and why. When I It was late in my underwent to university I had a graduate studies that I met couple of encouraging and and interacted with research supportive professors who scientists. I feel very fortuwere dynamic and interest- nate that I received financial ing. support from my band and encouragement from my What is the most interest- family. ing thing you have learned or discovered? What is a typical (work) day like for you? Arcand: Soil Science is like an all-in-one science. In Arcand: It varies a lot. Some Soil Science everything is days I may spend an entire interacting with everything work day in the lab, and else; plants, soil, microor- other days I may spend ganisms. entirely at my computer doing stats. What accomplishments are you most proud of? What advice do you have for future scientists?
Arcand: Talk with as many people who work in your field of interest - use them as a resource. Make sure you like what you are doing
because it’s a big commitment. Pursue research that you are really interested in. •
Melissa Arcand is a Ph.D Candidate in the department of soil studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Submitted photo.
Summer program to help aspiring Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Circle of Indigenous Entrepreneurs calling for submissions for mentorship program BY DORIAN TOKICI Circle of Indigenous Entrepreneurs (CIE) is a new initiative started by Timothy Lewis that arose from his experiences with tansi clothing. The experience of creating and running a business is both rewarding and stressful. The rewards are in the form of seeing a new entity come into being, the feedback from customers, everyday experiences, new skills created, and experiencing results in real time. With that come the stresses of any new start-up business. Stress may have been potentially alleviated by an organization such as CIE that could guide entrepreneurs along the way. New entrepreneurs should not have to travel the rough path when creating a business venture. Indigenous entrepreneurs face many challenges when starting a new business. These can include lack of credit or poor credit
history, lack of assets/collateral, lack of 10% cash equity, and parents of young Indigenous entrepreneurs unable to co-sign. Funding may be impossible to secure. With funding, the entrepreneur will likely hire a professional to write a business plan. This is unfortunately a double-edged sword. Though the business plan is written, the entrepreneur is unable to understand or follow it, since it was not written from their personal point of view. Also, with the business plan written by an outside party, no mentor is available to assist them on their day-to-day journey. It is no wonder that 50% of all businesses will fail in the first year, according to Small Business Administration (SBA). CIE will coach Indigenous entrepreneurs to take the right steps to becoming successful business owners. CIE will happen in three stages: training, nurturing, and mentoring.
In the training stage CIE will assist with writing the business plan, how to interpret the plan, and how to pitch the plan to potential investors that will be invited to hear the pitches live inperson. CIE will initially intake ten Indigenous individuals interested in starting a business. A small number are chosen so that equal attention can be paid to each individual and to each business plan. A committee, made up of respected local professionals, will select the individuals based on executive summaries related to their business. The next stage is the nurturing stage. The entrepreneurs have now written their business plan and have the dollars available to bring the business idea to light. CIE will provide affordable office space and watch over the entrepreneurs for a year to ensure everything is running smoothly. The mentoring stage encompasses the newly
trained entrepreneurs taking on a mentoring role for the new group of recruits brought in by CIE. The trained entrepreneurs will provide assistance, training, and encouragement to the new entrepreneurs, as well as provide workshops during the nurturing stage. The CIE mission goal is the
passing on of knowledge. If you are interested in being part of CIE for the training stage, you can email tim.lewis@usask.ca for more information. The training will happen on the weekends of July 2012. Contact: Timothy Lewis Email: tim.lewis@usask.ca
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Indigenous Times
COLUMNS
Social Economy and Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal Community Insights and steps towards developing the concept of a social economy BY PRISCILLA SETTEE PH.D First Nations and Métis communities social economy projects can serve as an innovative, organic, and ground-up community development organizing model and reflect Indigenous values. The process is largely about self-determination by Indigenous peoples to ensure economic, social as well as cultural development. Economics can be simplified and social economic projects can alleviate the grinding impact of poverty and neglect of our collective communities. Jim Stanford(2009), an economist with the Canadian Autoworkers Union, states that too often the economy is purposefully held up as a mysterious concept to non-economists and that economies need to be left to economists. Stanford challenges this notion and claims economies are really a daily part of life and must be seen as simple concepts that need to be understood by all. The topic of economics and economies can be about serving people and their life needs and not just serving profit centered absentee companies and their stockholders. Shuman(2006) has several suggestions on taking our local economy global. Some of the
ideas can be led by governments and policy makers, some need to be taken by citizen’s groups. He suggests to revamp international trade agreements so that they are community friendly. Link up with Small-Mart(businesses that focus on local control and reinvest profit in local communities) invest cities worldwide and formulate agreements on key issues such as environmental protection, corporate responsibility, worker rights, human rights and community rights. Poorer communities need help to become more self-reliant by providing them, without charge, your best small mart technology, training, business and policy ideas. Work in concert with sympathetic communities worldwide to boycott countries that oppose Small-Mart Revolution. Set up global “funds for funds” that can provide geographic diversification of local business investment funds. Finance a Small-Mart world bank that provides targeted loans to local business development in poor communities. Create a Small-Mart International Monetary Fund that facilitates exchanges of local currencies. Weave global networks and related businesses together so they can support on another against multinational enterprises (Shuman, p. 110). Social Economy naysayers
have speculated that First Nations and Métis communities could become economic and social managers of the new poverty. To alleviate this possibility social economic organizations must be part of critical analysis and longer vision for social change as outlined in this paper. Government policy makers, academics and practitioners must be part of this process. This will create an organized and sustained effort to ensure a documented and well-planned innovative development. (Neamtan, 2002) The approach cannot be haphazard. The quest for social economies can prove to balance both social and profitability goals within a cultural context that is centuries old. “Taking this investigation into key challenges facing the contemporary world-mitigating the impact of capitalism on Aboriginal communities as well as on others-is a necessary next step in the development of the concept of the social economy. By beginning the journey down this path, Aboriginal peoples can join in a discourse of equality and reciprocity with other cultures around the world. This would be a journey that would fit well within our traditions and values”, (Wuttunee, in McMurtry, p.211). In the long-term governments need to comply with outstanding land claims, realistic
(and overdue) infrastructure development, that can raise revenues from unceded traditional lands and access to self-governing structures and processes. The development of the social economy cannot be haphazard and one of the first steps that government established was a task force on the Social economy within Quebec. A task force can bring together interested parties who can then develop a vision, plan and organize research for the development of social economy. The social economy movement has often been called the solidarity economy movement because it has promoted various partners to work together. In the words of Nancy Neamtan, “the only way to change things is to unite our voices, deepen our roots, and create the alliances necessary to move our agenda forward in a way that is political, but non-partisan”. Neamtan asserts that people need to move from “opposition to proposition and from conservation to innovation in the political discourse”. But it is not on the public policy agenda. The linkages between best practices and research and best policies desperately need to being promoted in a co-ordinated way. •
Hypertension Affecting the Aboriginal Community at Higher Rates Student’s research compares individual and societal determinants of individual health
BY KRISTIN CALVERLEY My name is Kristin Calverley and I am a Ph.D. student from the Department of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. I decided to embark on a life-changing research endeavour in 2005 when I moved to Saskatoon and became involved in local issues affecting the health of residents of the city’s core neighbourhoods, particularly with my involvement with the Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH). As such, I decided to orient my doctoral research to understanding how hypertension (high blood pressure) and its treatment is understood by Saskatoon’s Aboriginal communities as the prevalence of hypertension is now higher in Aboriginal peoples than non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Hypertension is a chronic disease that affects 20% of the Canadian population aged 18-79 years. The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada has identified it as a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are among the leading causes of death in Canadians. Hypertension is also a major risk factor for kidney failure/ disease, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes. It tends to be caused by a combination of factors including an inactive lifestyle, poor diet, obesity, high alcohol or sodium intake, excessive caffeine consumption, diabetes, stress, and smoking. The initial part of this study comprised individual interviews with 11 urban Aboriginal people with hypertension about their beliefs and perspectives regarding the diagnosis and
treatment of hypertension. A year later, a focus group was held with a small number of the original participants to review the analysis and make a plan to disseminate the results (action research). This study was guided by an Aboriginal advisory group in order to ensure that it was ethically and culturally appropriate, composed of Elder Danny Musqua, Dr. Raven Sinclair, Sherry Pooyak, Jason Albert, and me. My analysis showed that poor health was clearly seen as an individual responsibility (i.e., blaming the individual) which led to a range of participant experiences. For instance, shame, ambivalence, anger, and disempowerment were all associated with health care encounters and biomedical frameworks for health. However, by taking responsibility for one’s health, the participants also expressed feeling in charge, hopeful, proud, and confident. Overall, there are both positive and negative outcomes of adopting a biomedical discourse toward health for urban Aboriginal peoples. Even though past research shows that health is strongly influenced by social determinants of health --especially income-- rather than individual factors, my research showed that for many urban Aboriginal peoples the responsibility for health remains on the individual. Current health promotion strategies tends to focus on individual rather than broader, societal-based health. Yet, when basic needs are unmet, including housing, employment, or food security, one’s capacity to consider factors such as diet, physical activity, and medication adherence is challenged. The implications of these findings are striking: individual efforts toward health promotion may
be ineffective if health is significantly influenced by broad and societal-based factors. Ideal interventions would therefore consider both individual factors (such as education about healthy eating and increasing physical activity) along with societal-based factors that contribute to urban Aboriginal peoples’ health. For instance, providing services within walking distance or access to healthy food within low-income neighbourhoods needs to be prioritized along with medical provision. The present study also examined how lay and expert knowledge is negotiated within health care encounters. Findings demonstrated that, overall, the participants were well informed, savvy, and held expert knowledge of their health primarily within a biomedical framework. Sometimes, though, the participants wanted more specific and accessible information about hypertension and treatment issues. Further, other times they lacked access (e.g., no transportation, inadequate time and energy, etc.) or the desire to pursue such information. Similarly, my study found that medical expertise held by physicians was viewed as privileged over the patients’ lay knowledge, which highlights and supports the persistence of power imbalances and colonial exchanges within health care encounters with Aboriginal patients. In addition, my findings revealed that holding sophisticated biomedical knowledge does not necessarily equal adherence to treatment. Instead, adherence was confounded by other factors, such as self-blame for poor health, stigmatization, access issues, colonialism, and power imbalances. Therefore, in order to strengthen current interven-
tions, researchers and health care practitioners need to be increasingly sensitive to these factors within health care encounters with Aboriginal patients. Overall, this dissertation highlighted important implications about the nature of our current approaches to health and possibilities for future intervention and policy development. Although the participants in this study did not tend to favour Aboriginal ceremonial and natural forms of healing over biomedical approaches to treating hypertension, they preferred interventions to be collective rather than individual, involve nature, and address emotional needs. As tremendous diversity and variability exists among urban Aboriginal patients’ beliefs and orientations toward their health, my findings confirmed that such diversity is crucial to consider during health care encounters as a single approach will not suit the needs of all Aboriginal patients. Promoting discussion of patients’ beliefs toward disease and attitudes about treatment for hypertension is tremendously important for health care providers and such discussions might reveal potential barriers to adherence. This research was very rewarding and was only possible due to the commitment of the communities who engaged with the research. As the research was community-based, I am disseminating the research findings to various Aboriginal health organizations and to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. If you have any questions regarding this research, please contact Kristin.calverley@usask.ca.
Indigenous Times
June 2012
Little Pine First Nation a Community in Motion
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Councillor Serinda Baptiste reflects on BATC Winter Games and looks forward to Summer BY ARMAND LAPLANTE Sports and physical activity is a big part of the Little Pine First Nation thanks to a new fitness facility as well as programs that encourage physical activity. It helps prevent and raise awareness of chronic diseases First Nations people suffer from such as diabetes. Fitness on the Little Pine First Nation lifts the spirits of the people in the community and brings them together. This past December, Little Pine opened up a Fitness Center on their reserve right next to the gas bar. The facility consists of Bowflex and cardio machines such as elliptical and treadmills. Councillor Serinda Baptiste tells us that the fitness center has encouraged many to get active and get healthy, and most nights the fitness center is packed. Just wrapping up this month was a fitness program “Top Dawg Fitness,” which was taking place in the gym every Tuesday. The program saw dozens of people each week come out and get active as a community. The fitness center, the Top Dawg program, as well as volleyball and soccer in the gym
helped prepare the community for competing in the 2012 BATC Winter Games in Saskatoon. Although this time Little Pine came home without any medals from the BATC Winter Games, that wasn’t the issue according to Councillor Baptiste “It wasn’t about winning, it’s about meeting people and taking home life lessons and great memories.” Baptiste chaperoned the games and saw firsthand many of the adversities some young athletes face, “[the athletes] go there with no parents; they are responsible for their clothes and equipment, their games, and where they’re supposed to be. They learn responsibility and communication
and these things are so important for young people.” Right now Little Pine has two slow pitch teams and two soccer teams, one men’s and one woman’s, entered in North Battleford leagues. There are also approximately 40 youth from the First Nation that are entered in youth leagues in North Battleford as well over the summer. Back home, now that the indoor programs are wrapped up until Fall, everyone wants to be outside in the nice weather. Little Pine has a concrete slab where dozens of youth gather every day to play ball hockey; they are also running or playing soccer. •
Little Pine novice team that entered at FSIN 2012
Future hockey stars
14 and under broom ball team from Little Pine
Aboriginal Fashion Week to bring Aboriginal Fashion to a New Level Chelsa Reil of the Nekaneet First Nation discusses her hopes and plans BY TIMOTHY LEWIS National Aboriginal Fashion Week (NAFW) will deliver a diverse experience that blends fashion and music by artists and designers from across Canada. The production includes street wear, eco-friendly fashions and Aboriginal designs. NAFW aims to be a global platform for new designers and emerging artists in North America. NAFW will recognize the rich culture and Canadian history by showcasing distinct Canadian heritage through contemporary fashion. NAFW will feature 12 established and emerging designers; as well as live performances by Saskatchewan recording artists accompanied by international recording artists. A national presence through worldwide media coverage will provide unrivalled exposure for designers, models, musicians and sponsors. NAFW is a unique opportunity unlike any other in Canada. All are invited to attend the summer 2012 National Aboriginal Fashion Week taking place June 21st to June 23rd 2012 at the Turvey Centre (Armour Road HWY 6 North), Regina, Saskatchewan. IT sat down with Chelsa Reil, the director and producer of NAFW. Q: Tell us about yourself. CR. I am a 31 year old woman from the Nekaneet First Nation and a proud mother of 2 beautiful children that I love taking care of and watching grow, learn and develop. By doing a project of this calibre, I hope inspire to help others. It takes a lot of talent, the right mentors,
drive, dedication and great personal sacrifice to do what I’ve been doing. I’ve been into fashion my whole life and am a leading figure in the fashion scene in Saskatchewan. I love to travel and shop and compare the differences in fashion in communities around the world. I often find myself getting looks, with people asking “what are you wearing?” to find that brand or item is popular a year later. Q: What inspired you to put on a fashion week? CR: I’ve been directing/producing fashion shows for five years in places like New Mexico, to the 2010 Olympics in downtown Vancouver. In Saskatchewan, I feel that there are a lot of designers and not enough outlets for showcasing their creativity. I’ve organized shows with two or three Aboriginal designers at a time and I’ve met quite a few along the way. It’s in this context that the idea came to me, why don’t I organize a large fashion collective and make it 100% Aboriginal designers? It evolved to incorporate models, performers, entertainers and volunteers, both Aboriginal and nonAboriginal. Q: I hear a Western Canada Fashion Week (WCFW) representative will be at the event. Can you tell us more about how NAFW will benefit from that partnership? CR: WCFW will send a rep to come to NAFW, he or she will then choose one designer, who will be sponsored by WCFW, for a free showcase in the next
WCFW in September, occuring in Edmonton, Alberta. Q: What makes your fashion week different from others? CR: Aboriginals are looked at as a minority in this world and I want to show the world that we are just as good as anyone one else. A lot of the designs are crafted by hand, whether through sewing, beading or painting. So it’s real couture fashion. All the designers have unique looks and they are all very beautiful creations. A few of the Aboriginal celebrities confirmed for the event include Linsay from Canada’s Next Top Model, The Baker Twins, and Lisa Muswagon from Winnipeg. The fashion week will be a place for Aboriginals to express themselves freely and positively. Q: What else will be happening at the fashion week? CR: Doors will open at 10am for trade show booths and mini fashion shows throughout the day (a sneak-peek at what will be showcased the night of) and then at 7PM the fashion show will start, including live Entertainment. Female hoops dancer, flute player, as well as part of the cast of BLACKSTONE will be featured. Keep an eye on www.nafw.ca for more updates as it gets closer to the date. Q: Are you still looking for sponsors for your Fashion Week, and if so, how can they be part of it? CR: Yes. If someone is interested in be-
Chelsa Reil, the director and producer of National Aboriginal Fashion Week. coming a sponsor, they can email me at chelas@nafw.ca and request a sponsorship package. Thank you Chelsa for taking time to speak to us, and we look forward to seeing the creative Aboriginal designs at the NAFW. Contact Information: Website: http://www.nafw.ca Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ NationalAboriginalFashionWeek Phone: (306) 201-6110 Email: chelas@nafw.ca
June 2012 Indigenous Times 14 Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre a Place for All Students
Architect Douglas Cardinal unveils his plan for the new Student Centre design BY ARMAND LAPLANTE Design plans for the University of Saskatchewan’s Gordon OakesRed Bear Student Centre were unveiled Thursday, May 9th at a presentation in the U of S Arts Building. Acclaimed architect Douglas Cardinal, who is of Blackfoot and Métis heritage, present-
ed not only the physical aspects of the building such as floor plans, but also the cultural philosophies behind the design. Cardinal explained that the entrance being on the south is based on traditional lodges and faces the direction where migratory birds and animals go during the winter; it is where life comes from. The walls on the north of the building, like
Renowned architect Douglas Cardinal. Photo Armand LaPlante.
traditional lodges, are blankets to the cold north. The inside of the 1,884 square metre structure will feature other aspects of Indigenous culture and spirituality. The roof will display a large medicine wheel, a circle painted in four colours that represent the four directions used in First Nations traditional teachings and healing. The centre, although open to all students, will house the Aboriginal Students Centre and the Indigenous Students Council. Douglas Cardinal has also designed such outstanding buildings as the First Nations University of Canada in Regina, the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre is expected to be completed in 2014. Over 20 potential sites for the centre were discussed and considered, but as newly appointed Treaty Commissioner George Lafond explained, to really have an impact and to really share Indigenous culture to all students at the U
of S, the final site decided on was along edge of the iconic “Bowl” on the U of S campus between the Arts Tower and Murray Library. The bowl behind Place Riel is a well-known campus landmark and serves as a central commuting point for the student body. The University of Saskatchewan has the highest number of Aboriginal students of any research university in Canada but it has also seen alarming dropout rates of first year students, sometimes as high as 60%. The new student centre will provide a welcoming cultural setting for Aboriginal students coming from various communities and backgrounds in order to integrate these students into the U of S learning environment. But the building, termed simply as a “student centre” is open to all students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike, to share culture as a community. It is hoped by those involved that the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre will influence and encourage similar initiatives by other institutions across Canada. •
Treaty Commissioner George Lafond. Photo Armand LaPlante.
U of S Learning Communities for Aboriginal Student Achievement New program will help the new wave of Aboriginal first year students at the U of S
An example of another ULC initiative, the Community Mosaic project created by U of S students BY RYAN MOCCASIN The halls at the University of Saskatchewan are fairly quiet these days, but administrators are busy preparing for the next wave of students and, specifically, a new program tailored toward first-year Aboriginal students.
The College of Arts & Science along with the University Learning Centre (ULC) have partnered to create the Aboriginal Student Achievement Program (ASAP), which will help first-year Aboriginal students improve their academic skills, set career goals and join a community of like-minded students on
campus. Learning Communities (LCs) are central to this program, and consist of a small group of first-year students who choose to register in a set of classes together. LC students share a common classroom experience and gather once a week with two upper-year peer mentors during what is called an LC Hour. “When we design the course combinations that make up the core structure of a Learning Community, we really can’t predict how that LC will take shape,” said Erin DeLathouwer, an LC coordinator in the ULC. “What we’re aiming to do is set up all of the conditions for a group of new students to shape their own experiences by taking their education in whatever direction they collectively choose.” The ASAP program is one way in which the College of Arts & Science is preparing to welcome the increasing wave of Aboriginal students attending university. More than 1,700 Aboriginal students currently attend the U of S, and nearly half of those students enroll in the College of Arts & Science. While these numbers are impressive and increasing each year, they could
be higher if not for a high dropout rate amongst first-year Aboriginal students. That is why the College of Arts & Science has recently developed numerous programs, such as ASAP, to engage these students and make their overall experience in the college more welcoming and supportive. One of these initiatives was establishing a new position, Assistant Dean of Aboriginal Affairs, that is currently occupied by Kristina Fagan, also an assistant professor of English. A member of the Labrador Métis, she established the ASAP program to help support students on various levels that are critical to their success in all things related to being a university student. “The ASAP Learning Communities are a comprehensive program that offers first-year Aboriginal students support on many levels – academic, social, cultural, financial,” said Fagan. “We are helping to create a strong community of Aboriginal students on campus, within which the students can help each other, and also come to feel that they are part of the larger campus community.” •
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Indigenous Times
SIIT’s Aircraft Maintenance Course Sees Its First Graduates Graduates of the AME course receive their Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category M Training Diploma BY KATHLEEN WORM
A new and unique program at Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) has just turned out its first round of graduates. The Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Training Program is a partnered program with Boeing Aerospace, Rockwell Collings and Lockheed Martin, all of which are large aerospace and defence companies. As an Approved Training Organization under Transport Canada regulations, SIIT offers the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category M Training Diploma. This two-year program gives students training in the theory of flight; structural, electrical, and turbine systems and other areas of mechanical aviation. Students are able to perform and document routine maintenance, scheduled inspections and repair components on different types of aircraft. This means that they will be able to troubleshoot aircraft structural, mechanical or hydraulic systems to identify problems and adjust and repair systems according to specifications, technical drawings, manuals and established procedures. As well, they are taught how to install or modify aircraft engines, mechanical, hydraulic, flight control, fuel and pneumatic systems and dismantle airframes, aircraft engines or other aircraft systems for repair, overhaul and cleaning, and reassemble. Graduates will be credited with 18 months toward the current 48 months
that is required by industry standards to obtain a licence. Students will now apprentice under senior engineers with various aviation companies here in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge and Buffalo Narrows. A student who completes SIIT’s AME 2 year training and meets all
of the other regulatory requirements, may challenge the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) Exam and obtain a Federal Licence as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category M. SIIT AME course is taught by 3 instructors at the Saskatoon Aviation
Learning Centre Campus at the Saskatoon Airport. Students who want to attend this course should have strong math and science skills, be mechanically inclined and also must meet some physical industry requirements.
2012 Graduates of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Program
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Indigenous Times
June 2012