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Standing Buffalo
to fight back against provincial tax
By Stephen LaRose
Sage Writer
FORT QU'APPELLE
If the provincial government changes its policy and forces
status Indians to pay provincial sales tax on all off-reserve
purchases, the Standing Buffalo band may build its own shopping
mall on the reserve, said Chief Mel Isnana.
"It's something we've considered," said the chief.
"If the province wants our people to pay those taxes when
we purchase goods off the reserve, we can turn around and put
retail businesses on the reserve where the PST wouldn't apply."
If approved, construction on the proposed shopping mall could
begin this spring, he said.
Forcing status Indians to pay the PST on off-reserve purchases
would hurt businesses in communities such as Fort Qu'Appelle
and Balcarres, that rely heavily on Indian customers for their
business, Isnana said.
"From dry goods to lumber, to plumbing to pharmacy stuff,
our people spend a lot of money in the businesses of this community,"
he added. "If the province wants to hurt its own business
community, let them go right ahead."
The Standing Buffalo plan comes in the wake of the release of
the Saskatchewan Personal Income Tax Review Commission report
earlier this month. The commission recommends, among other things,
that the province cut its sales tax from six to five per cent,
but apply the PST to goods - and people - where the tax is currently
not charged.
This would include forcing First Nations people to pay the PST
on purchases made off-reserve, as well as harmonizing the PST
to all goods and services where the federal Goods and Services
Tax is applied. First Nations people paying PST would provide
the province with an extra $6.7 million a year in revenue, the
report concludes.
Chief Isnana questions why First Nations people would have to
pay taxes to support a system of government which is not working
in their interest.
If a shopping mall is built on the Standing Buffalo First Nation,
this could escalate the dispute between the provincial government
and Saskatchewan's Indian bands over who pays the PST.
If the province breaks with its precedent, the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations will take court action, said FSIN
Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde.
"If we can't solve this problem politically then we will
have no choice but to go the legal route."
The tax reform commission says having all who reside within Saskatchewan's
boundaries paying the same PST is a matter of tax fairness. This
is echoed by policies announced by the Saskatchewan Party - the
opposition party in the Saskatchewan legislature - during the
last provincial election.
The FSIN maintains the PST exemption is a treaty right.
"Our Elders have maintained that this would violate our
inherent and treaty rights as First Nations people," said
Bellegarde. "Our argument has been that we have prepaid
our taxes by sharing our land with the newcomers, who have made
profits from this land."
Currently status Indians pay the Goods and Services Tax and taxes
that are hidden in purchase costs and passed onto consumers,
he said. In addition, companies owned by status Indians or their
governments must pay corporate taxes.
Bellegarde, a member of the Little Black Bear First Nation, calls
the proposal "a tax on the poorest of the poor.
"The people promoting this plan say this should be done
so that everyone is equal," he said. "If they want
true equality, then let Saskatchewan's non-Aboriginal peoples
have 80 per cent unemployment and the economic and social problems
which our people have to deal with."
Saskatchewan Party MLAs Don McMorris of Indian Head-Milestone
and Glen Hart of Last Mountain-Touchwood (who is also the party's
deputy critic on First Nations affairs) were unavailable for
comment at press time.
Hand-made
powwow figurines in big demand
By Pamela Sexsmith
Sage Writer
MISTAWASIS FIRST NATION
When Vern Harper isn't hanging out with his drum group, he
likes to make stuff.
Really good stuff. Life-like recreations of contemporary powwow
dancers, complete with miniature bells, jingles and feathers.
Colorful figurines wearing tiny hand-stitched replicas of medicine
bags, bustles and roaches.
As a traditional Plains Cree artist, he also likes to work very
close to home, bringing his own cultural skills to bear on his
art. And more importantly, he shares that art with his family
and community.
Harper spends a lot of time on the road during powwow season.
It was during a stop at Hobbema that he first got hooked on the
art of figurine making when he saw an intricate handmade piece
dressed in full regalia that was being auctioned off for charity.
"It was a real inspiration, a figure of a traditional dancer.
Me and fellow drummer Darrell Duquette (from Thunderchild First
Nation) had also seen another dressed like it in a US Native
publication. We decided, 'Hey we can make do this, give it a
whirl, create our own working method and just keep refining it,'"
said Harper.
Harper and Duquette, traditional singer/drummers from the "Lightning
Spirits" drum group, based in Mistawasis, decided to team
up during the winter months and start producing a line of collectable
figurines from each powwow category. They've created a line that
sells as fast as the two men and their families can make them.
A full contingent of dancers now grace the offices of the Saskatoon
Tribal Council as well as a number of other establishments. Three
female figures wearing Jingle, Fancy Shawl and Traditional dress
were recently ordered for the Women of the Dawn achievement awards
in Saskatchewan.
The appeal and popularity of the figurines lies in their life-like
poses and cultural authenticity, explained Harper.
"They are very three dimensional, fully sculptural and look
good from every direction. We build them from the inside out
and finish them off with highly authentic detailing."
The two artisans start off with a wire base set on antlers for
the male figures and wood for the females. Carved wooden inserts
give form to the torsos and limbs which are then formed and finished
with a hard-setting plaster. Harper adds softer plaster to mold
the features on the face and hands, carving it down to achieve
the finishing touches.
His basic tool kit consists of carving tools and knives, sandpaper
and tiny files.
Making the regalia for each figure is far more complicated, a
real family affair, explained Harper.
"Many people bring us materials: small feathers from ducks
and snow geese, deer, angora and porcupine hair for roaches,
silk and satin for the sleeves and dresses, beads, bone and leather."
Harper starts off with his own ideas for color, design and beading
patterns based on traditional Southern Plains abstract and Northern
Woodland floral patterns. Family members make the fringed leggings,
shirts, dresses, shawls, beaded moccasins and feather head dresses
which require a lot of painstaking needlework, right down to
sewing on the tiny tassels on a fancy dance bustle or securing
rows of miniature jingles.
Sage asked how does one make hundreds of tiny jingles and who
gets to sew them on.
"Darrell started out with 10 real snuff can lids and cut
them down to fold the mini jingles. His family spent hours sewing
them on. The loomwork for the beaded aprons is also painstakingly
difficult to weave as is the intricate detail on the medicine
bags, fans and bone knives," he replied.
Harper, who works as the band heritage interpreter in Mistawasis,
was recently down in Onion Lake First Nation passing on some
of his skills to his brother's family. Invited to do school demonstrations,
he came up with the idea of a Velcro demo package that would
teach children how to properly dress a powwow dancer and understand
the cultural significance of the various pieces of regalia and
how they fit together.
"It's a good way to pass on traditional values to children,
our song, dance and regalia," said Harper.
Lightning Spirits Drum, which includes Brad and Bruce Harper
(ages 10 and 12), Tyler and Darrell Duquette Jr. (10 and 13),
Clifford Canoemaker and manager Lawrence Johnston, is also in
the business of preserving and passing on traditional values.
It was during a recent Beachfest concert in Toronto that the
Lightning Spirits Drum was asked to play in front of 17,000 people,
after Tom Cochrane finished a set. They really caught the attention
of the crowd, especially after Cochrane jumped in and joined
them.
"There was only one guy off beat," said Harper with
a big grin. "The white guy."
There was another celebrity listening to the concert from a prison
far away in Kansas. Frank Dreaver, head of the Leonard Peltier
Defense Committee in Canada had arranged for the concert to be
picked up long distance over a loudspeaker and a telephone. Peltier
listened over the phone from prison and sent his thanks and congratulations
for a great song well played.
"We played the AIM song, a song that has become the rallying
song of the American Indian Movement. The song originated during
the Battle of the Little Big Horn after the Cheyenne and Dakota
defeated General Custer. The warriors sang it when they rode
home victorious. Peltier said that he really liked the singing
and drumming," said Harper.
Harper, who was raised by Peter and Albertine Whitefish, has
been inspired by their teaching to excel in his drumming, singing,
dancing, regalia making and sculpture.
"They taught me 'no mamasees' which means 'lazy man's way'
in Cree. They told me, as I was growing up, 'Do it right. There
is no easy way or 'lazy man's way out' if you want to do well
in life or art. It is an honor to do the work I do, use it wisely
and share it well. That is what they taught me and I owe them
everything," said Harper.
New casino
for Saskatoon area
By Brian Cross
Sage Writer
SASKATOON
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is hoping
to expand its profitable gaming operations with the creation
of a new 50,000 square foot casino in Saskatoon.
SIGA president and chief executive officer Dutch Lerat confirmed
the gaming authority's plans Nov. 18, describing a proposed casino
that would cost $10 million to build and would employ as many
as 300 people. The proposed casino would be owned by the Saskatoon
Tribal Council and would be the fifth gaming facility operated
by SIGA. The Indian gaming authority already operates casinos
in Yorkton, North Battleford, Prince Albert and on the White
Bear Reserve near Carlyle. Before it goes ahead, the proposed
Saskatoon facility would require approval from the province and
the city. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is currently
seeking provincial approval for gaming operations in the province.
An existing five-year gaming agreement between the FSIN and the
province is due to expire in 2000.
"Our gaming agreement is up in February," said FSIN
Chief Perry Bellegarde. "We have a good team in place from
the FSIN. They're negotiating very hard and we want to bring
something back for our chiefs in January for ratification so
we can continue on with creating employment opportunities and
generating wealth and spin-offs." SIGA representatives said
Saskatoon would be the most logical location for a new Indian
casino but they acknowledged there is some opposition to the
plan.
Opponents of the proposed SIGA facility say the addition of another
casino in Saskatoon would have a devastating effect on the Emerald
Casino, a facility operated by the Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition.
Saskatoon Mayor Henry Dayday has indicated he will wait for the
results of an October 2000 plebiscite before making any decisions
about an expanded gaming sector.
A 1994 plebiscite showed a majority of Saskatoon voters were
opposed to a new casino in the downtown area. Lerat said he was
hopeful an agreement could be reached with the city but suggested
SIGA would look at alternate locations outside the city limits
if city council refused to endorse the idea. Lerat said the proposed
Indian casino would kickstart the local economy and provide employment
for hundreds of city residents. The authority is also surveying
business and community groups to determine what level of support
exists for the project. Lerat said SIGA would be prepared to
hand over a portion of its profits to the Prairieland Exhibition
as compensation for lost revenues at the Emerald Casino.
The authority would also guarantee jobs for any Emerald Casino
employees affected by the SIGA expansion, Lerat said.
"We are prepared to work with all interested parties to
ensure everyone has a say in the future of their province,"
Lerat told the StarPhoenix newspaper. "But we believe that
when people become informed about our plan, they will recognize
that the positive impact of a casino will be overwhelming."
A feasibility study prepared a few years ago by the consulting
firm of KPMG examined several potential casino locations in and
around the city of Saskatoon.
Potential locations inside the city limits included an urban
reserve in Sutherland owned by the Muskeg Lake First Nation and
a downtown Saskatoon location owned by the Yellow Quill First
Nation. Locations outside the city limits include the Whitecap
reserve and the Yellow Quill land near Cathedral Bluffs.
"We have to figure out where can you get more bang for the
buck, so to speak," said Bellegarde. "Where are we
going to have the most economic impact? We have to do studies
and make sure the communities are on side and just keep moving
ahead."
Why
can't we critique our own people?
By Chris Tyrone Ross
Sage Columnist
SASKATOON
If you read the last issue of Eagle Feather News, you'll see
that Marjorie Beaucage criticized APTN (the Aboriginal People
Television Network) for their poor programming and their perspective
on the Prairies, by saying, "Is Saskatchewan just about
dog races, graduations, weddings, and powwows, with a little
Cree added in?"
If you read my column last month in Sage, you'll remember that
I criticized the Women of the Dawn for not inviting me to their
awards ceremony, even though I was a member of the media. The
point I am trying to make is, Why can't we critique our own people
without others saying we are placing a negative perspective on
Aboriginal people in general?
I am a Native person who has opinions and when I see other Native
people doing something positive that makes me feel good. But
when I see them doing it all wrong, that makes me want to critique
them. Since I'm a journalist, there is absolutely nothing wrong
with doing that.
We stand right now as Aboriginal people who strive to support
each other - and push each other to succeed - while others live
and die to pull down their own people. Constructive criticism
is something our people need to understand. It's a form of motivation
and it teaches others how better to succeed. That's what I try
to do and nobody can seem to figure that out.
For example, look at the way Native movies are made today. As
film producer Rueben Martell said: "There's always one-dimensional
characters. There's the drug dealer, the alcoholic, the politician
who acts like the mobster boss, the prostitute, the racist cop,
and the non-racist cop." There are no positive characters,
except for the Elder, and the guy who plays sports, gets a scholarship,
almost leaves the rez but gets shot in the end by his jealous
peers.
Native movies, Native actors, Native music and Native events
can all seem so stale and boring after you've seen them so many
times. I mean, when's the last time you didn't see square dancers
at a banquet? I have nothing against square dancers, but I wish
I could hear a different song, instead of the same one they always
dance to. And doesn't it seem like it's always the same Native
actors playing the same part in the same movie every single time?
Like powwow music producer John Noon said: "Today you gotta
be hip. If you're not hip, then you're not going to succeed."
And he's absolutely right. Our people don't see that. They are
still caught in the early '90s. I mean John Noon still sells
powwow tapes - hardly any CDs! That means many Native people
have yet to buy CD players for their cars. And it's getting to
where they hardly even sell tapes in record stores, anymore.
Okay, now I'm going to talk about APTN. I just wish they could
get some better commercials. I love watching Nelson Bird's Indigenous
Circle, but when they cut for a commercial, I hate hearing about
the "Hits from the 70s." APTN should get into some
real action, like Rez Accidents Caught on Tape. Or rez soap operas
- "Larry, I'm pregnant, again!" Or Hockey Night in
Nunavut, or WWF Wrestling: Indian politician style. AFN meets
FSIN in a steel cage match.
What would be cool would be a game show: "Who Wants to be
a Thousandaire?" Contestants would have to answer questions
like, Who was the very first grand chief of the AFN?
Well, that's it for this month, or should I say that's it for
this millennium. I'll see you in the next century or, if the
world happens to crumble like a month-old piece of fry bread,
I hope you enjoyed your stay on earth.
Just in case the world ends, I want these to be my last written
words: We were the first people on this land, and we will be
the last.
Peace out.
Remembrances:
The cycle of life
By Denis Okanee Angus
Sage Columnist
THUNDERCHILD FIRST NATION
In my dad's passing, I learned a lot. I learned a lot about
being a father. When he left, I felt all alone. In confronting
this feeling of aloneness, I grew stronger. It was my children
who pulled me out of this feeling of aloneness and I began to
realize in a different way just how much they need me, their
father.
Life here went on despite the fact that my father was gone from
this world. I was feeding the horses just a few days after he
passed. I started reflecting on the fact that my father was a
horseman too. He used to ride rodeo, and had the bum knee to
prove it. And here I was out in the field with the horses, just
like my dad. I started to understand that life is a cycle. What
our parents pass on to us, we hold and pass on to our children.
My dad always used to say in his growlie voice to the kids and
I: "Don't be a bum. Go to work."
When I was younger, every time I would ask my dad for money he
would tell me: "You want money go to work." He lived
his life this way. I respect him in a renewed way thinking back
on the things that he taught me. My dad was strict with us kids.
I now understand just how much my father cared about us. Sometimes
it's hard to be strict with the kids, but they need to learn
discipline and that's what my father taught me. And that's what
his father taught him. As I look around our community today,
I think this is one of the things that is missing. We wouldn't
have the problems of vandalism and stolen property if we were
still carrying out our responsibility to pass on discipline to
our children. Discipline is a lesson each and every one of us
must carry in our hearts. I am glad my father loved me enough
to pass on discipline. It's now clear to me that the drinking
and carrying on - and some members of my family still do this
- is just a thin excuse to avoid carrying discipline.
I am pretty proud of my dad. And I miss that old guy. I am very
grateful to Windspeaker and Pam Green who was able to interview
him and record his story just days before he passed. His war
stories and the commitment he had to this Cree land on which
he lived his entire life is also an important remembrance of
what that old man stood for. I am troubled that my father passed
on without the issues of the war veterans being resolved with
Canada. He was also angry with the Indian leadership in this
province for not consulting with all the veterans, keeping them
informed and ensuring that this issue was resolved. It will always
trouble me that my father passed on without the peace he deserved
because this issue was not settled.
As Christmas time approaches, I believe it is important for each
of us to remember the people who went before us and the sacrifices
they made for us. Christmas time for me, as someone who does
not follow Christian traditions, is still an important time of
remembering and sharing. It's become the time in our family where
we reach out and connect with each other.
We all know it's hard to be an Indian since the coming of the
Europeans. But this has little to do with the responsibilities
we carry to our traditions. It's good to be an Indian when you
are trying to live those traditions.
I am proud of the members of my family who stood strong and buried
the old man in the Indian way and only the Indian way. We knew
this is what he wanted. That old man came into the world following
Indian ways and went out the same way. My cousin, Eric Tootoosis,
who I am also grateful to for his support and kindness, helped
with that funeral. He talked about how important it is for our
people to exercise our belief in our Creator, given the right
to do things in our ways. It's been a long time at Thunderchild
since there was a funeral that only relied on our ways, the Indian
ways my father passed on to us. I am proud of what that old man
stood for and understand that even in his death, he was still
teaching.
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Published December 13, 1999