DIRECTION - December 2012

DECEMBER 2012 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 4

S A S K AT C H E W A N PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N A S S O C I AT I O N

RECREATION IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

SEPTEMBER 2011 01

DECEMBER 2012 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 4

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Darrell Lessmeister

Director for Villages Clive Craig

Director at Large Mike Powell

Director for Cities Jasmine Jackman

Director at Large Corrine Galarneau

Director at Large Coralie Bueckert

Director for Towns Mike Schwean

Director at Large Mimi Lodoen

Director for the North Derek Sylvestre

SPRA STAFF MANAGEMENT: Chief Executive Officer Norm Campbell

TABLE OF CONTENTS CEO’s Report

01

Traditional Aboriginal Lifestyle Included Recreation

02

Grant Dollars at Work

04

The GEN7 Message

05

“The Duke” Goes North

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Program Manager John Firnesz Field Services Manager Randy Durovick Communication, Information and Research Manager Luella Newman

Recreation Facilities Kelly Skotnitsky

FIELD CONSULTANTS/ ADMINISTRATION:

Funding and Youth Tanya Murphy

Swift Current Richie Bleau/ Danielle Dyck Phone: (306) 778-1091

ADMINISTRATION: Business Administrator Bonnie Thiessen Business Administrator (Half-Time) Debbie Giesinger

Golf in Sturgeon Lake

08

Nekaneet Sports Group

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RECREATION CONSULTANTS:

Executive Assistant Lois McNaught

Meets With SPRA

09

Youth Camps

10

Information and Research Services Chantel Doerksen

Administrative Technician Ryan Monks

Plan, Lead, Activate Youth (PLAY) Day

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Communications Lori Ross

Aboriginal Recreation Board Development

13

Administrative Assistant II Amanda Rieger

Grants and Funding

14

Lottery Lingo

15

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations

Human Resources and Funding Lee Anne Balliett Parks and Open Spaces Andrew Exelby Physical Activity and Fitness Wendy McKellar Aboriginal Support Tim Haywahe

DIRECTION is published four times a year (December, March, June and September).

The publication is provided to members of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation

Rosetown/North Battleford Kerry Bailey/ Michelle Longtin Phone: (306) 882-6601 Prince Albert Rob Boulding/Shari Morash Phone: (306) 953-0052 Weyburn Morgan Grainger/Vacant Phone: (306) 848-0272 Melville/Yorkton Michael Squier/ Linda Weinmaster Phone: (306) 728-3860

Administrative Assistant I Vacant

Humboldt Clint McConnell/ Lynne Morelli Phone: (306) 682-5265

Administrative Assistant I (Half-Time) Donna Matheson

Physical Activity Kelly Wood Phone: (306) 778-1095

Regina Office: Phone: (306) 780-9231 or 1-800-563-2555

Leadership and Evaluation Karen Thompson

Association. Direct all communications to: Editor, DIRECTION #100 - 1445 Park Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 4C5 You may also send letters or comments to Lori Ross, Communications Consultant, at 306.780.9370, by fax at 306.780.9257, or by email at lross@spra.sk.ca.

Articles within this magazine are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SPRA. Articles in DIRECTION may be reprinted, provided that full credits are shown for the author and the magazine.

01 SEPTEMBER 2011

in motion STAFF Manager Cathie Kryzanowski Manager Community and Target Strategies Marnie Sinclair Executive Assistant Nicole Shewchuk

Consultants Graham Richardson Nicole Yacishyn Cindy Anderson Communications Consultant Kim Herperger Amanda Perry

Administrative Assistant Danielle Bachart

Phone: (306) 780-9248 or 1-866-888-3648 Fax: (306) 780-9466

CEO’S REPORT Tánsi, Wotziye, Hau, Tánshi, Hello!

The history of Saskatchewan has always played an important part of community growth and acknowledging the diverse cultures and communities.

This edition of DIRECTION pays homage to the Aboriginal people of this Province - First Nation, Métis and Inuit.

SPRA is committed to continuing to grow and build relationships within our membership and strives to provide every opportunity to improve respect and understanding among all the people of Saskatchewan. SPRA provides a number of programs and services to support recreation in Aboriginal communities.

Community Visitations

In the upcoming year, visitations to Aboriginal communities are scheduled to share information on initiatives, programs and services offered by SPRA and to encourage member communities to apply for Aboriginal grants that support culture based recreation programming.

Aboriginal Advisory Committee

In 2001, SPRA took the initiative to provide increased services to Aboriginal communities by incorporating Aboriginal Support into Program Initiatives. This included education and training programs and funding. These opportunities are provided with the assistance of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC).

The AAC exists to provide SPRA with advice and recommendations to increase opportunities for Aboriginal communities to access and provide quality programs and services. The AAC consists of seven Aboriginal members selected from the Association’s membership. Members are selected with consideration to balance specific age groups, geographic representation and gender.

Everybody Gets to Play™ Workshops

SPRA has partnered with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association to provide Everybody Gets to Play™ Workshops.

Everybody Gets to Play™ has been expanded to include the First Nation, Inuit and Métis supplement that focuses on engaging Aboriginal communities and the recreational professionals serving these populations. The overall objective of the supplement is to reduce barriers to recreation participation and to increase awareness and understanding about core Aboriginal values, as well as traditional customs.

Holistic Empowerment Leadership Program

The Aboriginal Summer Program for Youth in Recreation has recently undergone an evaluation that recommended change in program delivery. The evaluation examined program successes, challenges, needs and opportunities, and provided a solid understanding of the existing program context. This resulted in consensus around a number of revisions to the program, including expansion of the program content to reflect a stronger focus on leadership and personal development, a more purposeful inclusion of a cultural element, and an increased potential for program development and management skill transferability across all three sectors - recreation, culture and sport. The new program will be entitled the Holistic Empowerment Leadership Program (HELP).

Grant Writing Workshops

Through province-wide visitations to Aboriginal communities, it was determined that a tool was needed to successfully understand the process of grant proposal writing. As a result, SPRA developed a Grant Writing Workshop. The Workshop’s hands-on approach provided participants with the experience to properly structure grant proposals. Last year, over 150 participants were trained in the proposal writing process. The Workshops have been instrumental in communities receiving grants from different funding agencies. With the growing demand for this Workshop, SPRA is now in the process of providing a Training Workshop to train Grant Writing Workshop Facilitators.

Recreation Board Development

Community visitation reports also identified the need for structured Recreation Boards in Aboriginal communities.

This was supported by the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

SPRA is now in the process of developing an Aboriginal Recreation Board Manual (ARBM) that will assist communities in developing quality recreation boards and committees. The manual will assist First Nation and Métis communities with committee development and sustaining their values and traditions through cultural recreation community based programs.

As Aboriginal traditional values and beliefs are a part of daily life, it is with this intent that we strive to understand and respect the culture of the First Nation, Métis and Inuit people and provide support to sustain those values and teachings in our recreation delivery system.

Ha ho; Hi Hi; Pina maya, merci cho; migweetch; Thanks!

Norm Campbell SPRA Chief Executive Officer

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TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL LIFESTYLE INCLUDED RECREATION Work, play, leisure and culture were interconnected in Traditional Aboriginal society. Life was based on the need for fitness in order to survive; fitness of the body, mind and spirit.

TRADITIONAL WORLDVIEW All Aboriginal people VOLUNTARILY participated in daily activity to sustain a way of life.

Aboriginal people recognized the importance of physical, emotional and spiritual health combined. These are demonstrated through the Medicine Wheel teachings. Traditional Aboriginal teachings emphasize a holistic approach that pays equal attention to the four quadrants that make a person whole. Physical activity was common in many games, while others relied on strategy. Similar to all aspects of Aboriginal life, leisure had a spiritual component as well as a respect and mindfulness for creation. The focal point of life was the pursuit of balance and survival.

TRADITIONAL LEISURE ACTIVITIES Work, play, leisure and culture were interconnected in Aboriginal societies. Life was based on the need for fitness in order to survive; fitness of the body, mind and spirit. The teaching of the braided sweet grass - the three separate strands of sweet grass in the braid represent those three elements – mind, body and spirit. The chemical released in the burning of the sweet grass assists in the healing process of the three elements.

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Songs and Music Songs have always been important in Aboriginal culture as part of recreation, games of chance, rituals and other areas such as hunting and warfare songs. Song was an element of activities and not so much an entertainment unto itself. Singing is tied to the oral tradition of Aboriginal people. Songs are shared with each other and are sung over and over until the learner knows the songs. The women also had songs of their own and songs for the babies to encourage a good life.

Songs and prayer went hand in hand.

Toys There are three separate outcomes of traditional toys for First Nation children. Some served as both entertainment and instruction, and others were purely for amusement. Toys were not only made by adults but also created and shared by the children. Grandparents were the primary teachers.

Dolls, tops, animal figurines were handcrafted out of materials provided by mother earth. For example, animal stomachs dried and filled with pebbles served as a rattle for babies, or a hollow branch was designed and carved for use as a flute.

TRADITIONAL FIRST NATION GAMES Aboriginal ‘games’ are defined as a pleasurable expression of voluntary participation in organized play, in which there are agreed-upon procedures and uncertain outcomes.

Ceremonial beliefs and taboos entered into the youth games, just as it did in the leisure activity of grown-ups. Certain games could only be played at certain times, or seasons of the year. If lightning was seen before a game started, it was seen as a bad omen and the game was cancelled. If an eagle was seen flying overhead, it was believed that good things would happen and the team was favoured to win.

There were two different areas of games. There were games of chance - guessing games and random games using a form of dice or counters - counters in the form of short sticks carved and painted. The most popular guessing games were concealment games that required some skill. The second type were games of dexterity. These games were viewed as a means of building the skills necessary for daily life, such as bow and arrow games, or any game that would improve practical skills.

Athletics and physical games included horsemanship, running, wrestling, endurance and marksmanship. Physical and mental balance was implemented in recreation activity among Aboriginal people from an early time.

Games for adults included the bowl dice or cup game. Dice were made using shells, bear claws or pebbles. The Hand Game was a great leisure game. The game consisted of two teams of four people that sat across from each other. The object of the game was to hide an object in their hands and the opposing team guessing which hand the object is in. The game uses the point system using markers.

The Moccasin Game or Bullet Game was created by two enemy warriors. The warrior that told the story was Sioux. The story shared was that two warriors met on the warpath. They decided that one of them had to die. They decided to play a game of chance. The game was to hide a bullet in one of the four moccasins they wore. They would take turns guessing until one lost. They ended up having so much fun they rode away in peace. The game was created with today’s version using pelts opposed to moccasins.

Games helped to define a community, establish gender roles and responsibilities, as well as foster group identity through competition. Games of chance could be used as a decision making tool and were linked with spirituality and myth.

Disruption in balance when the Europeans arrived including the disappearance of the buffalo, the implementation of treaties, government policies, a mandatory European education system and the introduction of systemic racism, lead to a

movement away from balanced traditional Aboriginal lifestyle.

The introduction of the Indian Act - that forced Aboriginal children into residential schools to assimilate them in European society, culture and religion - was a drastic turning point for Aboriginal people. Only since the 1950s, has government policy moved away from the policies of forced assimilation.

Throughout the hardships experienced in the last one hundred years, gains have been made. Today Aboriginal people are becoming more and more involved with leisure activities.

The participation of Aboriginal athletes, especially youth in mainstream sports is increasing at a rapid rate.

Aboriginal involvement in sport continues to grow. Sport and recreation have always been a source of self-esteem, selfconfidence and self-discipline for youth. Government and race relations in the past have not always made it easy for Aboriginal people to get involved in sport. After contact with Europeans, Aboriginal people were confronted with barriers to participation in sport and games, primarily because of the federal government’s treaty and reserve policies which confined Aboriginal people to their reserves. This meant should someone be caught off the reserve without a pass, they were fined or jailed.

SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN SUMMER AND WINTER GAMES The Saskatchewan Indian Summer and Winter Games are annual events which give Aboriginal youth from Saskatchewan the opportunity to get involved in sport, recreation and culture.

THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES The North American Indigenous Games was created as a way to encourage Aboriginal participation in ‘mainstream’ North American sport. Youth from across North America participate in the Games, exposing them to fitness, travel, culture and providing them with the opportunity to meet new friends.

Aboriginal recreation and leisure activity reinforces the importance of the spiritual and cultural elements. These activities can only help in achieving a balanced life for Aboriginal people of Saskatchewan.

Tim Haywahe SPRA Consultant - Aboriginal Support DECEMBER 2012

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GRANT DOLLARS AT WORK SPRA is supporting our Aboriginal members to implement recreation opportunities in their communities through the First Nation and Métis Recreation Development Grants!

Read on to learn about how Saskatchewan Communities are putting these grants to work for them. You may also find a great idea for your own 2013 Grant application! The next deadline for these grants is April 1, 2013. Application forms are available at www.spra.sk.ca/funding.

Cultural Fair Town of Biggar Walking Trail Project Village of St. Louis The Village of St. Louis is dedicated to increasing physical activity in the community and encouraging participation, and the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

Through the Métis Recreation Development Grant, the community was approved to run a 6 week Walking and Learn to Run Program. The community received funding for the purchase of pedometers, reflective gear and for the hiring of a coach.

The Town of Biggar was approved for a Métis Recreation Development Grant to host a cultural fair in conjunction with their Saskatchewan High School Rodeo. The goal of the fair was to introduce the community to cultural activities such as beading, jigging, leatherwork, drumming and dance. The long-term goal will be a greater interest in the Métis culture and the promotion of positive substance free activities in the community.

Nature Crafts Muskoday First Nation The Muskoday First Nations was approved for a First Nation Recreation Development Grant to develop an outdoor nature program. As part of the program, youth are taken outdoors to Crossing Island and taught to identify and gather plant materials for use in making crafts. This is a great opportunity for individuals and families to partake in a positive outdoor activity and produce artwork of which they can be proud.

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Kayak Training for Youth Mistawasis First Nation Mistawasis First Nation was approved to provide a structured kayak training and safety program for youth in their community. The youth will learn how to paddle the kayak properly and how to put the kayak upright after a tip over.

The training will introduce youth to safe kayaking, encourage physical activity and build self-esteem.

THE GEN7 MESSAGE

HELPING ABORIGINAL YOUTH BECOME ROLE MODELS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES Motivate Canada’s GEN7 Aboriginal Youth Role Model Program got its start the way many of the best things do: when an adult got a glimpse of the world through the eyes of a child.

Boxer, Kent Brown, was visiting a school in Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba as a member of the ESTEEM Team, a Motivate Canada program that sends Olympic, Paralympic and national-calibre athletes to engage with students in schools across Canada. When Brown - whose family is from Fisher River Cree Nation - was done telling his story, an 11-year-old boy came up to him.

“He said, ‘After listening to you, I don’t want to commit suicide no more,” Brown recalls.

“I was flabbergasted. I love speaking to kids and inspiring them, but from that point on I thought, ‘we have to do something different with kids in these communities’.”

That “something” became GEN7. Since 2005, GEN7 - which was developed by Aboriginal athletes and role models has encouraged Aboriginal youth to pursue active, healthy lifestyles through sport, physical activity and culture. Drawing on the ESTEEM Team model, GEN7 has built an incredible roster of young Aboriginal athletes and role models who are trained as GEN7 “Messengers” and paired with Aboriginal communities. Through regular visits and ongoing engagement, GEN7 Messengers act as peer role models, mentors and motivators for youth. Their ultimate goal is to galvanize these young people to become community leaders and role models in their own right, and urge others to embrace active, healthy lifestyles too.

“The first visit is the ice breaker,” says GEN7 Messenger Richelle Williams, a competitive rugby player from Cowichan Tribes on Vancouver Island, who has worked with Aboriginal communities all over B.C. “Then when you start planning the next few visits, it gives the GEN7 community something to look forward to, and gives them some responsibility over the program. I sit down with the participants, any individual working with youth - like educators, parents, siblings or coaches - and we develop a wish list to help us set goals for the program. Every community I’ve worked in so far is so different, but we all have the same social issues.”

To understand the positive impact of GEN7, you need only ask the youth of Seine River First Nation in Ontario. William Whitecrow used to play video games all day until GEN7 came to town. Jamon Leonard wasn’t sure what direction to take with his life. Now both are in love with football, and led their high school team to its first local title in two decades.

“I’ve been coming to GEN7 events since I was 11. Now I’m 17,” says Leonard. “At first you don’t see the bigger picture.

But when you get older, you see why they’re doing it. What I’ve learned about myself is that I want to be able to help people in the community and stay active. I love football. I love sports. I want to get more involved in those things.”

Leonard now dreams of playing college football, or maybe finding a place with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also wants to be a role model for others.

“Talk about absolutely seeing a change in youth and a community through the young people there,” says Brown with pride. “And it’s because we keep going back. These kids are now passing it onto the younger ones.” There is now a baseball diamond in Seine River and the hockey rink is up and running again.

“Kids are so brilliant at being able to talk about difficult things in a community,” Brown continues. “They want to find a solution. If we can facilitate that, just having a kid listened to, it can be a catalyst. The most important thing for us is building that trust within a community. They see us coming back again and again, and they want to give it a try…that’s something to be proud of.”

You can learn more about GEN7 and Active Circle - another Motivate Canada program for Aboriginal youth created in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle - by visiting www.motivatecanada.ca.

Lara Mills Motivate Canada Communications

DECEMBER 2012

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“THE DUKE” GOES NORTH “Young people in Saskatchewan deserve recognition for the many things they do on their own time.

And not just recognition – Royal recognition.”

That’s the premise of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Award is a worldwide non-government, not-for-profit organization that offers encouragement and recognition to young people, ages 14 – 25, for activities undertaken on their own initiative.

To earn the Award, participants must complete a Bronze, Silver, or Gold standard in physical recreation, a personal skill, volunteer service, and a camping expedition. Gold Awards, which take at least eighteen months to achieve, are presented by a member of the Royal Family.

The program has about a thousand participants in Saskatchewan, according to Brenda Kondra, Executive Director of the provincial organization. “We’ve traditionally reached people through Cadets, Scouts, Guides, school groups and church groups,” Kondra says. “But our reach has been limited.”

The Award is almost unheard of in more remote locations including rural, northern and Aboriginal communities.

“The Award is meant to be for everybody,” Kondra says.

“There’s no reason for anyone to be denied the opportunity to earn it.”

To that end, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has formed a partnership with the RCMP. Detachments of the RCMP help to introduce the Award to their communities, and help Award staff set up local groups of youth leaders to mentor participants through the program.

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The partnership project is called the Community Youth Challenge, or CYC. So far it is operating in Kamsack, with half a dozen other Saskatchewan communities preparing to join in.

“We’ve been working with community leaders in Pierceland, Meadow Lake, Ile-a-la Crosse, Witchekan, Pelican Lake, Big River and La Ronge,” says Kondra. “And there is a lot of enthusiasm for the idea. The next step in each of these communities is firming up support and signing up participants.”

While CYC helps The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award extend its reach, it also pays dividends for the RCMP, who see it as an excellent fit with their community policing strategy. Some Aboriginal communities have RCMP-affiliated Community Cadet programs, and these fit hand-in-glove with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Most, if not all of the activities undertaken through the Cadet Corps, are recognized by the Award.

Award activities are of the participant’s choosing, and usually involve a combination of existing interests and new challenges. The physical recreation requirement can be organized sports or a personal fitness program. A personal skill can be just about anything, and First Nations traditional and cultural activities fit the bill nicely. “Hunting, beading, Cree language, preparing traditional foods – any of these is a perfect fit for the skill component,” Kondra says.

Angella McKay agrees. McKay leads the Ile-a-la-Crosse Cadets, who began participating in the Award in November.

“The Corps teaches more than parade drill and cadet-specific skills,” she says. “We place a strong emphasis on First Na-

tions and Métis culture. We incorporate a lot of traditional activities, focusing on Elders, the environment and our heritage.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award reinforces the activities the Cadets are involved in, and offers recognition for the Corps’ emphasis on service. The Ile-a-la-Crosse Cadets drill team attended Back To Batoche Days, in August, to participate in the Grand Entry and to give a drill demonstration. The rest of the time, they were busy serving the Elders and helping out on the grounds.

“One of the things I like to see is the kids getting more confidence,” McKay says. “Which extends beyond self-confidence to include trust and confidence in their team.”

“Sometimes when we’re out in the world we see an ‘every man for himself’ way of thinking. We want to get them working together and becoming leaders. If they’re confident they’ll be able to do that.”

McKay likes the potential for building The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award into the program. “I think it will be a really good partnership,” she says. “We have a lot of the same goals.”

Kondra feels that more young people could benefit from participating in the Award, because in many cases it recognizes what they are already doing. “The Cadets in Ile-a-laCrosse were serving their community before they ever even heard of the Award,” she says. “They were involved in skills and physical recreation already. And that’s usually the case with young people everywhere – they are involved in a lot of things that can earn them this kind of recognition, it’s a simple matter of registering with us and keeping track of the hours you put in.”

entries are transferrable from group to group, province to province, or to any of 130 countries around the world.

The payoff may seem modest – the Award itself takes the form of a certificate and a pin. Bronze Awards are usually awarded within the local group, Silver Awards are presented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan and Gold Awards are presented by a member of the Royal Family.

All levels of the Award carry considerable prestige, and are highly valued on a scholarship application or resume. Everyone who completes the program receives the Award.

The real payoff, though, is what is gained through the experience. Award participants are almost 30% more likely to finish highschool than other Canadian students. Statistics for ongoing community service and physical activity after participation are in the ninety-percent range. And well over eighty percent of participants say that the Award has helped them gain confidence, build positive relationships, and connect with their communities.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s Saskatchewan division plans to register over 250 participants through the CYC by the end of 2013. “The Award is for everybody,” Kondra stresses. “We’re really happy that the CYC has allowed us to go to so many communities that had been beyond our reach.

We’re also glad that our program offers community leaders one more way to motivate and reward young people.”

Jeff Gaye CYC Coordinator, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

McKay says the Award offers valuable continuity. If the Cadets become involved in the Award, they can pursue it on their own wherever they may go. “Anything that helps them to better themselves is what I want to see.”

Continuity is a big part of Duke of Edinburgh philosophy.

The Award is set up to reward sustained effort – a Bronze Award takes at least six months to complete, and except for the camping expedition, all of the components have to be followed continuously over that time. There is no time limit for completion, except for the maximum age of 25, so participants can work at their own pace. And the record book DECEMBER 2012

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GOLF IN STURGEON LAKE “Hitting the links this summer, the inaugural season of a Sturgeon Lake youth golf program proved itself a resounding success.”

- David Vallee

Almost 90 youth from Sturgeon Lake First Nation turned out to enjoy a summer’s worth of weekly golf outings at the Spruce Home Golf Course, with equal numbers of girls and boys.

“Everything was free for the kids,” Vallee said. “We provided the golf clubs and the fees for the course.”

The golf course provided discounted rates, which were further offset by contributions by the Sturgeon Lake Inter Agency, Herb Goldhawk, the local RCMP, the Northern Lights Casino, Prince Albert Auto Wreckers and Econo Lumber.

Word regarding the unique summer golf program has already spread to other First Nation communities interested in adopting the program.

“They’re already coming to me to ask me how we did it - it was a very successful program for the summer,” Vallee said.

Work is already underway for next year’s summer youth golf program, with sponsors being sought to again offset costs for youth.

Tyler Clarke

Printed September 9, 2012 in the Prince Albert Daily Herald

SPRA GRANT WRITING WORKSHOPS COMMUNITY HOSTS WANTED! The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) is seeking communities to host one-day Grant Writing Workshops throughout the Province. These Workshops will provide communities with a comprehensive overview of the grant writing process and discuss the funding available through SPRA and other funding agencies that support quality recreation programs and initiatives.

Interested communities are encouraged to contact Tim Haywahe, SPRA Consultant Aboriginal Support, by phone at (306) 7809276, or by email at thaywahe@spra.sk.ca to discuss hosting requirements.

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DECEMBER 2012

NEKANEET SPORTS GROUP A handful of parents from the Nekaneet First Nation have come together to form a Sports Fundraising Committee to provide more children with the opportunity to participate in organized sports.

The idea to create a Sports Fundraising Committee for Nekaneet children originated from three parents with children involved in the Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games brainstorming on how to raise funds for participants.

Organizer Caroline Mosquito says, "I live in town and I want to help out [the athletes] and keep fundraising for the youth to take part in summer games. I want to help put these kids into baseball, soccer or whatever they have in town to offer.�

Mosquito says while in the past the community had an active Minor Sports Association, this year was the first time a similar association has come together to support participants at the Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games. She hopes the program will not just assist children of the Nekaneet community living on the reserve, but in town as well.

This initiative will aid approximately 50 children from the Nekaneet First Nation that are eligible to play organized sports. Mosquito hopes to have the Committee operating by the May long weekend. Community participants will be asked to meet once or twice per week to discuss how to support all minors who are interested in organized sports like hockey,

baseball, soccer and figure skating. So far Mosquito has approached individual parents, but has plans to approach community partners, like the Town of Maple Creek. Mosquito also plans to go into the town office to see what she can be doing on the weekends at town events for fundraising.

Mosquito says for the fundraising initiative to work, what the community needs next is a group of volunteers. For now organizers plan to prepare a feast and ceremony to celebrate the athletes from Nekaneet First Nation who participated in the Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games. In keeping with First Nation tradition, the supper will likely integrate local ceremonies, elder participation and be served on the reserve.

Committee members are also searching for those willing to share slightly used equipment like gloves for baseball, soccer equipment and for figure skating. Anyone interested in donating used sports equipment are encouraged to contact Caroline at (306) 662-3564.

Monique Massiah

FEDERATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN NATIONS MEETS WITH SPRA History was in the making as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations made a stop at the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association’s office on March 16, 2012.

Joe Daniels - Sport, Culture and Recreation Director, and Chief Simon Bird met with SPRA to discuss programs and services for First Nation communities. This discussion led to talks concerning creating partnerships and service providers to First Nation communities. This initiative will continue to expand into the future with improved working relationships.

DECEMBER 2012

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AGENCY CHIEFS CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES AND SCOUTS CANADA

YOUTH CAMPS “Youth in ACCFS & Scouts Canada camps have fun adventures discovering new things and experiences they wouldn’t have elsewhere. Along the way, youth develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world”.

Agency Chiefs Child & Family Services (ACCFS) partnered with Scouts Canada to deliver positive outdoor Summer Camps for the 3 communities: Big River First Nation, Pelican Lake First Nation and Witchekan Lake First Nation. A lot of planning and coordination went into the camps and the end result was three successful camps and many satisfied participants.

The Registration Process Scouts Canada representatives made classroom to classroom presentations to member bands one month prior to the camps. Pre-registration was made available to parents and caregivers but on-site registration and late registration were also made available.

Activities Planned for the Camps Included: • • • • • • • • 10

Youth drafting up camp rules, regulations and consequences to adhere to Code of conduct made by youth at the start of camp and repeated every morning Discussing the positives of what’s happening in the community and issues in the community Learning how to overcome challenges from negatives in the community through life-skills teachings Learning the importance of teamwork Hiking and berry picking Singing around the camp fire Meals under the big top

DECEMBER 2012

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•

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How to safely build a fire and cook over a campfire Marshmallows and hot chocolate Learning safety rules and how to navigate a canoe Water safety by wearing PFDs during water activities Practicing how to use a compass by participating in a scavenger hunt Tipi teachings with family support staff and elders Songs, skits (plays), cheers, each patrol (group of kids with one adult, scout leader) had to prepare one or more of these to present to other groups Campfire stories, each child said what they really appreciated about the camp and shared a story if they had one (ages 10-12) Traditional Teachings about respect for self and others

At the end of the Youth Camp, participants received badges and t-shirts. A Farewell Feast was held with local community elders and elders facilitated wrap ups, prayers and final thoughts.

Life Skills Learned •

•

Shelter building, pioneering, knot tying – youth were taught to build bridges, benches, swings, different types of shelters Stove and lantern lighting - after learning how to properly use the stove, the children prepared their own meals, and were shown how to refuel the stoves and lanterns

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•

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Cleaning - they cleaned after themselves, and learned the three R’s - reduce, re-use, recycle, washed their own dishes, washed hands before each meal cleaned up the campsite on the last day of the camp Fire lighting - finding a safe area to light a fire, learned about underground fires and over head fires, how to respect fire, learned how to use matches, lighters, flint, and how to put out the fires Team skill building - learning how to work with each other to come to a conclusion in order to make a decision, activities were designed to test their abilities to communicate and work together to solve problems

and effective days. Volunteers were orientated one week prior to the camps. Elders were in attendance throughout the camps. Participants showed respect to elders by sitting quietly and listening intently. Camp organizers also had assistance from high school and post secondary summer employment students. Some band staff fire crew workers helped with set up and take down of camps, hauling fire wood, water and garbage.

Improvements from Previous Camps: • • • • •

•

One person kept track of inventory of camp supplies One person from each community was responsible for the registration forms in their respective communities The campsites were located in more isolated areas ACCFS elders utilized Better marketing of camps - announcing camp information at schools, presentations to leadership, announced on local radio and posters prior to camps Youth filled out evaluations forms after each presentation at ACCFS Teen Camp

10-12 Year Olds Had Input Into Planning Daily Activities. Activity Options Included: • •

•

• • • •

•

Games - soccer, capture the flag, flag tag, kickball, etc.

Canoeing - learning the different parts of the canoe and paddle, different strokes, how to safely enter and exit the canoe, how to rescue a tipped canoe using the T-rescue and midnight canoeing Archery - learning safety procedures, how to aim and shoot properly; learning about the different parts of the bow and arrow Fishing - learning the parts of the rod and the attachments and how to cast Swimming Hiking - studying nature and walking through their land Arts and Crafts - Dream catchers, birch bark canoes, beaded key chains, necklaces, bracelets, rock paintings, sock puppets, color and design t-shirts, family trees and coupon books Children were provided with nutritious meals and snacks, and kept well hydrated

Scout Leaders, Volunteers and Elders Leaders attended a Scout Leader Orientation and cleared CPIC and child abuse records checks. Scout Leaders facilitated and participated in all activities and were respected by participants. Having knowledgable volunteers made for fun

ACCFS youth camps were a huge success. Youth walked away with more knowledge and appreciation for themselves and life. Everyone who participated became closer to each other and can now more positively contribute to their community. Through lessons, life skills and activities, the children will have memories they will cherish for a lifetime. Everyone involved had a great time and is looking forward to next year’s summer camp!

Special thanks to community elders, adult volunteers and staff that came out to support our youth.

Barry Morin Prevention Program Supervisor Agency Chiefs Child & Family Services

DECEMBER 2012

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DAY STAR FIRST NATION

PLAN, LEAD, ACTIVATE YOUTH (PLAY) DAY The Day Star First Nation in partnership with the Prairie Central District for Sport Culture and Recreation (PCDSCR), ran a Play, Lead, and Activate Youth (PLAY) Project in their community. The purpose of PLAY is to assist communities and their school of choice in the development of a strategic plan that will direct after-school programming focused on increasing the physical activity levels of children ages 6 -12 years.

Day Star First Nation recruited 15 community members from various departments, including Recreation and Sport, Health, Finance, Administration, Volunteers, Elders, and had a Horizon School Division Director and 2 Band Councilors holding the Recreation and Culture Portfolios, to sit at the planning table. All are committed to the development and management of a good out-of-school program targeting community youth 6-17 years of age. 7 of the 15 have committed to take positions on the Out-of-School Program Committee. A three day PLAY planning session was held May 23 - 25, 2012.

Patti Kelm of Cornerstone Learning & Development facilitated the first two days of the PLAY planning session. The Committee developed a Strategic Plan which will provide direction over their first 3 years of operation. On the third day of the PLAY planning session, the Committee developed the beginnings of their Committee action plan - actions that will direct further development of the Committee and the development of the out-of-school program.

Over the three day planning session, presentations were made by SPRA Consultants, Kelly Wood - physical fitness issues and trends, Karen Thompson - HIGH FIVE® PHCD and Tim Haywahe - Aboriginal programs and services. Damon Badger Heit of SaskCulture also presented on programs and services of SaskCulture, and Bonnie Wohlberg of the Prairie Central District for Sport, Culture and Recreation presented on grant writing and NCCP - Fundamental Movement Skills for Community Leaders. Joanne Cunningham, First Nation and Métis Education Coordinator of the Horizon School Division, attended the second day of the session to provide initial support and committed continual support in the planning of the out-of-school planning.

12

DECEMBER 2012

Day Star’s Out-of-School Strategic Plan will: • Target children and youth between the ages of 6 – 17 years • Include moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 3 days per week • Include programming that operates during the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. time period • Include programming that operates for at least 4 months of the school year • Include programming over the summer months supported by trained staff • Provide a wide range of sport, culture and recreation activities The PCDSCR is committed to providing staff support and resources for Day Star First Nation’s Out-of-School Program Committee to further develop and implement their Out-ofSchool Program. The PCDSCR will support the coordination and implementation of a Grant Writing Workshop and a Everybody gets to play™ Workshop for Committee members, a HIGH FIVE® PHCD Workshop for community parent volunteers and Out-of-School Program leaders, and assistance in the development of an evaluation process.

The Day Star Out-of-School Program Committee put in many hours of hard work over the summer to develop their plans.

They plan to begin programming the end of August 2013 with a cultural talent show. Day Star’s successful pilot of the PLAY Project will lead the way for other communities.

Bonnie Wohlberg Coordinator – Aboriginal Services, PCDSCR

ABORIGINAL RECREATION BOARD DEVELOPMENT SPRA and the Aboriginal Advisory Committee are developing a Recreation Board Development Manual. The manual will assist First Nation and MĂŠtis communities with Board Development while sustaining their values, traditions and culture through programs. The manual will include topics on Board Orientation, Bylaws, Policies, Membership, Job Descriptions and Roles and Responsibilities.

Aboriginal Recreation Board Development Training opportunities will be provided in Regina and Saskatoon in 2013. This training will ensure Aboriginal communities have the support needed when creating a Recreation Board.

For more information contact, Tim Haywahe, SPRA Consultant - Aboriginal Support, by phone at (306) 780-9276, or by email at thaywahe@spra.sk.ca.

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GRANTS AND FUNDING SOGO ACTIVE GRANTS These grants support activities for youth ages 13 - 19.

Challenge Grants – Apply to receive up to $500 to support youth physical activity programs that are ongoing.

Event Grants – Apply to receive up to $250 to support a onetime youth physical activity event.

Contact (306) 780-9219 or tmurphy@spra.sk.ca.

SPRA FIRST NATION MEMBER’S RECREATION DEVELOPMENT GRANT Application deadline: April 1, 2013 This grant assists First Nation members to develop recreation opportunities within First Nation communities within Saskatchewan. Up to a maximum of $2,000 is available to Active members of SPRA. Visit www.spra.sk.ca/funding.

SPRA LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT GRANT Application deadline: February 1, 2013 This grant will fund Leadership Development opportunities that will build effective leadership skills in all levels of rec-

reation service delivery. Active Members of SPRA will have the opportunity to apply for up to a maximum of $2,000 per training session. Visit www.spra.sk.ca/funding.

SPRA MÉTIS RECREATION DEVELOPMENT GRANT Application deadline: April 1, 2013 This grant assists Active members of SPRA to develop recreation programs in their communities. Up to a maximum of $2,000 is available to Active members of SPRA. Visit www. spra.sk.ca/funding.

SPRA FOREVER...IN MOTION GRANT Application Deadline: May 15, 2013 This grant offers up to a maximum of $3,000 to communities that are Active members of SPRA and who wish to develop and implement a Forever…in motion program in their community. Visit http://www.spra.sk.ca/ForeverInMotion.

For more grants and funding information, visit www. spra.sk.ca/funding or www.spra.sk.ca/otherfunding.

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Barr Ryder Architects are pleased to have worked with a variety of municipalities on the design of more than 70 recreational projects throughout Western Canada. As leaders in the design of recreation facilities, Barr Ryder provides a full range of associated professional services that include: Feasibility Studies Master Planning Programming Architectural Design Interior Design/Space Planning Sustainable Design Building Technology Investigations

Communities in Bloom Program Workshops These Workshops Will Provide:

Information about the Communities in Bloom program

Opportunity to network with other Communities in Bloom minded people

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provincial judges

Locations and Dates:

January 19, 2013: Swift Current

January 29, 2013: Weyburn

February 23, 2013: Manitou Beach

February 24, 2013: Melfort

The workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch provided. The same content will be delivered at each workshop.

March 2, 2013: Yorkton

March 9, 2013: North Battleford

Attendance will be a valuable experience for people interested in the Communities in Bloom program as well as those that have been involved for many years.

Registration:

The cost to attend the workshop is only $15. To register, contact Andrew Exelby by phone at (306) 780-9262, or by email at aexelby@spra.sk.ca.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

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Publication Mail Agreement #41967532 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: SPRA • 100 – 1445 Park Street • Regina, SK • S4N 4C5 email: office@spra.sk.ca