Guide to Indian Country - June, 2005 Wikwemikong celebrates with cultural festival First Nations committee to successful summer games Riel's life celebrated Kasabonika catches the eye of tourists Crown-maker says beading is her medicine Centennial event celebrates history of Cypress Hills Arctic cruises provide unique experience Trail leads back to Batoche

WINDSPEAKER'S ABORIGINAL TOURISM SUPPLEMENT Phone: (780) 455-2700Fax (780) 455-7639 Email: edwind@ammsa.com First Nations committee to successful summer games By Stephen LaRose, Windspeaker Contributor When the 2005 Canada Summer Games open on Aug. 6 it will mark the first time they will be held in Regina. And it will also be the first time that Aboriginal people will be heavily involved in making the games a success. "This is the first time that Aboriginal peoples have been fully entrenched in the planning of the Canada Games program," said Lyle Daniels, assistant vice-president of Aboriginal services at the 2005 Canada Games. "It's an opportunity to show ourselves off." During the games, thousands of young people from across Canada will stay at the athletes' village at the University of Regina's residency dorms. Since the First Nations University of Canada shares the suburban Regina campus with the University of Regina, Canada Games 2005 organizers and Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community leaders thought it would be a great idea to showcase traditional and modern-day Aboriginal culture. A number of tipis will be erected and will house demonstrations of traditional activities, including Métis sash-making, bannock making and beadwork. There will also be performances by dancers and singers on a stage showcasing talents. The cultural activities won't be limited to the Aboriginal peoples of Saskatchewan, as plans are also underway to bring Inuit throat singers to the stage. As well, there will be demonstration of traditional northern sports that are seen most frequently at the Arctic Winter Games. Aboriginal participation in the Canada Games won't end with the cultural displays, say organizers. In a move unprecedented in Canada Games history, organizers are targeting southeastern Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community for volunteers. Those volunteers will be called on to function in many ways, from shuttling athletes to and from the games' athletic events to handling security, writing press releases and cleaning up venues. About 10 per cent of the total volunteer base is expected to come from the Aboriginal community, and 200 of those volunteers are expected to come from the Gordon First Nation. In early April, Chief Glenn Pratt signed an agreement with Canada Games organizers to have members of the Punnichy-area reserve volunteer at the event. "We want to show that we're open for business, we're open for partnerships, and were open to mutually beneficial relationships," said Pratt. After the games, the volunteers will act as a core group that will help organize the 2006 Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games, which are to be held during the Easter weekend in Regina. "The volunteers would then have the training and experience after the games, and bring that to the First Nations Winter Games." Playing a pivitol role in Canada's largest sporting event of 2005 will seve as a turning point for Saskatchewan's Native community, said Daniels. "The Aboriginal community has to be seen as an untapped resource," he said. "When a child is taking part in sports, he or she is one less child that's on the streets, or is alone, or is taking drugs or is considering suicide. Sport is an important way to provide character and self-respect to our young people, and by taking part in these games as volunteers, we can learn how to organize at a higher level, as our young athletes proceed to higher levels of competition."