The Aboriginal Newspaper of Saskatchewan
New Romanow Cabinet
New board elected
Premier Roy Romanow announced a major Cabinet shuffle on June 27, renewing and reinvigorating the government team as it heads into the second half of its current mandate.
Half of Cabinet has changed. Seven Ministers are assuming new responsibilities. Two vacancies are filled by new members of Cabinet. Nine Ministers remain in their current positions.
"I am announcing major changes in our government team, in order to sharpen and focus our work for the second half of our mandate," Romanow said. "The priority is building the economy.
Berny Wiens becomes Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.
"Minister Wiens has demonstrated his ability to master complex issues with his work on Crown Review. Now I am asking him to tackle two of the toughest issues facing our government: intergovernmental affairs and the form of our province's future relationship with Aboriginal people," Romanow said. "Inter-governmental affairs includes completing negotiations on a national child benefit; equalization; and the toughest of all the unity file."
As well as the cabinet changes, Romanow announced changes to the senior public service. The Deputy Minister is a public service appointment and is the highest rank a public servant can attain.
Brent Cotter becomes the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, a department created from the amalgamation of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Indian and Métis Affairs Secretariat. Prior to this appointment, Cotter served as Deputy Minister of Justice and deputy Attorney General since August 1992.
"Intergovernmental affairs, federal-provincial relations and dealings with First Nations and Métis people are becoming increasingly interwoven and complementary and this amalgamation will assist in ensuring that government policies in the field of intergovernmental affairs are consistent with our stated objectives respecting Aboriginal issues, " Romanow said.
The Indian Métis Friendship Centre in Prince Albert elected a new board on June 5. The elections were called after a divisions in the old board had caused a wave of in-fighting, accusations of money mismanagement and resignations. Much of the attention focused on previous centre president John Dorion and the direction he was taking the board. There was also the forced resignation of the executive director, Roberta Burns, and her possible law suit against the friendship centre.
The issue came to a head when members of the board who had resigned sued the remaining board members. A court order stated that there would be new elections for all 12 seats with one stipulation: the top six vote getters would be elected to two-year terms, and the final six would only be elected to one-year terms.
John Dorion was re-elected to the board, but only for a one-year term. The new president, Paul Dreaver, 31, said his immediate goal was to improve the credibility of the friendship centre.
According to a scientist from the University of Saskatchewan, the prevalence of diabetes in the adult status Indian population of this province is almost twice that of the general population. Dr. Ronald Dyck blames an increasing Indian population and rapidly changing lifestyles for the problem, and that it is near epidemic proportions among Indian people.
The problems that accompany diabetes, such as eye damage, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke and blood vessel problems will increasingly strain the health care system.
He called for programs for early detection and prevention that will save health care dollars in the future.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
PATUANAK
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management Minister Lorne Scott and English River First Nation Chief Archie Campbell signed a Renewable Resources and Environmental Management Participation Agreement at a ceremony at the English River First Nation at Patuanak on June 5.
Resource management agreements of this nature allow parties to work towards shared objectives, to share in the decision making process and to make recommendations to the Minister of Environment and Resource Management, who retains full jurisdictional authority.
"The agreement was signed for a couple of reasons: first of all, it was to solidify and enhance an already good working relationship in the area . . . and that we'd work as partners in developing a co-managed arrangement in the area," said Seonaid MacPherson, a spokesperson with Environment and Resource Management.
The English River Participation Agreement establishes shared objectives for the participation area including: recognizing and ensuring the participation of the English River First Nation in resource management issues; ensuring stakeholders such as outfitters, municipalities, trappers and Métis people participate in making decisions and recommendations that concern and affect renewable resources; discussing renewable resource related economic and employment opportunities for area residents; and establishing an Action Committee to develop a co-management agreement. Prior to the establishment of an agreement, the committee will advise the minister on environment and resource management matters.
"This agreement recognizes our desire to have more say in managing fish, wildlife and traditional lands and become more involved in economic opportunities," Chief Campbell said. "It assures us that continuing our work with the department in an open and cooperative manner will lead to better management."
"This agreement recognizes the importance of the environment and renewable resources to the people of English River First Nation and confirms that by working together we can build a strong relationship and improved renewable resource management," Scott said.
The department recognizes the need for responsible and participatory management of Saskatchewan's resources Scott added. "This agreement will increase cooperation and consultation between the department and the English River First Nation in a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, fairness and openness."
This agreement of "mutual respect, fairness and openness" took four years of negotiation.
"When we first started [negotiations] we were quite on different pages on what the agreement would be," said MacPherson. "One of the stumbling blocks was jurisdiction. That did hold us up in the beginning."
But the band is happy with the agreement because "we got everything that we wanted," said Norman Wolverine, a spokesman for the First Nation.
For the band, this is an opportunity to protect their way of life for next generation. One of their concerns was the amount of people coming into their land now that mines had opened up roads into the area.
"We just want to co-manage our traditional territory," said Wolverine. "There's too many people going in [and] too much habitat is being destroyed. We want to keep it the way it is. You can't just go in there and use it for yourself. We want to be able to use it 50 to 60 years from now."
This agreement allows other users of the land input into how the land will be managed but none of the other stakeholders have yet to respond to the agreement.
"We sent letters out to the other key stakeholders in the area, the outfitters and the mines, and we didn't have any feedback, positive or negative," said MacPherson. "We've talked to them enough and it was explained in our letter to them that they would be involved in any future co-management [and] their issues would be represented."
Even though there haven't been any official meetings yet, both the First
Nation and the provincial government expect their first one by the end of
the summer.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Editor
I am so great!
I am so great!
G-R-A-T!
I mean, G-R-E-A-T!
Once in awhile I give myself permission to shamelessly self-promote myself. This time, I have good cause for going on like this: I won two awards at the recent Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) conference. The awards were given on Friday, June 20 in Minneapolis. The awards I won were an honorable mention for best news story and a first place for best photo spread. The news story was in Windspeaker about Aboriginal veterans from Saskatchewan lobbying to prevent the proposed leg-hold trap ban in the European Union. The photo spread was the FSIN 50th anniversary powwow and the Indian Finals Rodeo in the November issue of this paper.
I think winning two major awards like that in the first year of this paper's operation is worth celebrating.
I am so great!
I am so great!
Okay, enough of that.
Minneapolis is hardly different than Edmonton. In fact, I had to search to find anything drastically different than my home other than the obvious fact it's in the United States. Minneapolis has a really big mall, the people are friendly, the climate is similar, there's a pervading sense of newness everywhere, the city is spread out, and there's lots of green space.
There was one myth I found out fast, not everything is cheaper in the States. A lot of the items I usually buy here, like books, are cheaper in Canada.
*****
You may notice a lot of Regina placelines in this edition of Saskatchewan Sage. The writers, Evangeline Godron, Corrinne Fiddler, Jason Gordon, Elaine Kinequon and Clayton Paul were all students at the University of Regina's Summer Institute of Journalism that is put on by Indian Communication Arts of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. Their instructor, Jim McKenzie, invited me to work with the students and I was able to oblige.
I gave a one-day seminar on what an editor looks for in a freelance submission, I looked over some of their stories and did some on-the-spot editing. We had enough time at the end of the day to discuss an issue that deeply affects Aboriginal journalists: reporting on spirituality. This was a hot issue at the last NAJA conference, with many of the journalists there feeling that it was better to not report or write about these issues.
The question I posed to the students was is there a right way to report on issues that are fundamentally sacred to Aboriginal people?
The debate was lively. I wasn't looking for a definitive answer - I just wanted them to start thinking about it because they will inevitably have to make a decision in their career about this.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
OTTAWA
A Regional Bilateral Agreement that will allow the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan to design and deliver labor force development programs and services to the Métis people in Saskatchewan was signed on Feb. 20. Under the agreement, Human Resources Development Canada will provide up to $8.2 million to the MNS for each of the two years. The employment of the MNS, Métis Employment and Training of Saskatchewan Inc., will support local Métis labor market boards in the administration of labor force development activities, which include employment services, counseling, in-class and workplace training and income support during training for Métis people.
"Métis have always wanted programs and services decentralized to the grassroots level," said Jim Durocher, president of the MNS. "This agreement allows the community the ability to determine their needs and develop programs to best meet those needs."
"I am pleased to be part of a process which builds on strengths within the Métis Nation," said Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State for Training and Youth. "You are demonstrating your commitment to support a stronger future for Métis people by delivering needed employment services and training at the community level."
The funding for the agreement was provided by the March 1996 budget, which is built into the existing fiscal situation. This is a continuation of the Pathways to Success initiative, which was an undertaking that gave planning and decision-making control to local and regional Aboriginal boards for training programs and services while HRDC retained the contracting responsibilities. The RBA between the MNS and HRDC includes commitments to address the issues of regional and national interest such as equitable access by Métis individuals on the basis of self-identification, women's issues, consistency with HRDC mandate and urban training concerns.
"This has been in the works for about a year," said Durocher. "But there are still a number sticking points."
Durocher isn't happy with the funding split between the First Nations of Saskatchewan and the MNS. This problem is worsened because the Métis people of Saskatchewan haven't been enumerated and there is no number that everyone agrees with.
"I was concerned with the allocation part of the agreement," he said. "I wanted a 50/50 split."
Tina Eberts, a spokesperson for HRDC in Regina, said that there were steps taken to make sure that a population that was agreeable to everyone was used as a basis for the funding allocation.
"We've been having those discussions since the beginning of the Pathways program. It was difficult to find numbers that were acceptable to everyone," she said. "We got the StatsCan population. We have agreed that we're very interested in seeing the new numbers, but we can't really make a commitment until we see what the results are."
If the numbers are different, there is a clause for increased funding for the MNS. The sooner the enumeration is held the better, as far as Durocher is concerned. For him, enumeration is necessary for building a Métis nation.
"As Métis people we really don't have those numbers. And every time we look at a program, we're getting the short end of the stick because we don't have those hard numbers," he said. "We're one of the Aboriginal people in section 35 in the constitution and I wonder why we're treated differently."
But he's not completely sour about the RBA and is happy about a couple of points in it.
"It's Métis specific," he said. "That's important regarding jurisdiction. We keep getting caught between the federal and provincial governments. When the HRDC gave us the funding, it was based on two principles: it was Métis specific and it was a devolution of funds.
"We're able to handle this money ourselves. We have to be accountable for it," he continued. "Ethel [Blondin-Andrew] fought hard so that the Métis people had devolution and Métis specific programs. That gives us an opportunity to work towards self-government."
After the enumeration, which is still in the works as the province hasn't
come forward with the funding necessary, Durocher feels that the Métis
will make up to 50 per cent of Saskatchewan's Aboriginal population.
By Debora Lockyer
Sage Writer
REGINA
Moved by what he described as the haunting voices of the children, Blaine Favel, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, announced the organization's intention to hold an inquiry into the abuses suffered by those who attended residential schools in the province.
"The voices of the children have too many times spoken with pain," said Favel as he addressed the chiefs gathered on opening day at the winter meeting of the legislative assembly held in Regina Feb. 26 and 27.
Favel asked the chiefs to support a resolution that would mandate the FSIN to take the necessary steps for the establishment of a formal inquiry into residential schools. Favel said the inquiry would last only about six months and would focus on the healing of victims and the role of the church and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs played in the abuse.
He said the greatest outrage being faced in 1997 is not that the schools were allowed to exist and violate the children housed there, but that today's government is perpetuating the abuse through its ill-treatment of these same victims.
Favel was particularly concerned with the "confidentiality agreements" the government is forcing the victims to sign in order to receive a "pittance" in compensation. He also said these victim were being cut off of welfare as a result of the compensation.
"The mystery to me is why the people of the province or nation have not dealt with the greatest shame of the nation." This inaction, said Favel, cannot go unchecked.
In his opening address, Favel also spoke of the need to deal more effectively with the issue of suicide. He said the FSIN was looking at a healing strategy to deal with suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention
"Too often, and I was guilty of this in my time as chief, we did pay attention to this issue when the community experienced it and we did not properly respond when it happened," said Favel.
He told the assembly that they would be talking about providing training packages and a manual to the communities on what to look for, what could happen and what to do as leaders when suicide happens in the community and what to do afterwards.
Favel also mentioned a conference that would be held March 24 through to the 27 at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon. Participants at the Washing of Tears Conference will try to develop strategies, both regional and local, to deal with the issues of suicide.
"We are also haunted as we sit here, as we talk and we debate over the next few days, by our children again when we look to the future," Favel told the chiefs. The children look to the group for hope - hope that the chiefs will achieve something for them, he said.
Favel said the chiefs have made a start in the way of job creation with gaming. That industry has already created 1,000 jobs, but the real hope for the future lies with the creation of the First Nations Bank of Canada.
On Feb. 24, the bank received its licence to operate and is open for business in a temporary location on the eight floor at Saskatoon Square. They are offering deposit accounts, both personal and business, plus Guaranteed Investment Certificates and term deposits.
Where the casinos have generated $5 million in profits for First Nations, Favel is promising those profits will pale in comparison by what will be made by the bank.
"A bank has not been started in this country from scratch in decades," said Favel. He announced that the official opening of the bank will be held in the Yellowquill First Nation office tower in Saskatoon in May of this year. Shares in the bank will be offered first to Saskatchewan First Nations' individuals and organizations prior to national and international investment.
"We have had a great deal of interest, from the Micmacs to the east to the Nisga'a of the west," said Favel. The Council of Yukon Indians traveled to Saskatoon and tried to buy-out the FSIN's interest in the bank two months ago, he said.
Other news announced by Favel at the assembly was the intention to hold a special assembly on the issue of the reorganization of the FSIN. This assembly will be held in late April or early May and will deal "for two days exclusively" for the renewal of the organization, said Favel.
"The greatest test that we have as leaders is to be able to look
our children in the face and say 'We are trying our best. We are trying
to build a better future for you'," said Favel in closing.
By Linda Dumont
Sage Writer
SASKATOON
Each year the Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games have gotten bigger and better. This year around 2,500 to 3,000 athletes will gather at the Whitecap Dakota-Sioux First Nation from July 6 to 10.
Boys and girls aged eight to 17 will be competing in athletic events including track and field, soccer, and fast ball. Whitecap, as host community, has chosen archery and boxing as the demonstration sports.
During the games, athletes will be staying at the athletes' village where each tribal council has a designated camping area.
Nine tribal councils and two independent bands are included in the games.
The tribal councils are Agency Chief Tribal Council, Prince Albert Grand Council, Southeast Treaty 4 Tribal Council, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Yorkton Tribal Council, Touchwood-File Hills Tribal Council, Fort Carlton Tribal Council, and host Saskatoon Tribal Council. The two independent bands are the Onion Lake First Nation and Thunder Child First Nation.
"This year because of the proximity to Saskatoon, we are trying to make everyone aware of the games," games coordinator Bob Merasty said. "The games are being held in conjunction with Saskatoon's Summer Exhibition. On Wednesday, July 9, as a salute to the Athlete's Day, those who are competing will march in the exhibition parade."
The Indian Summer Games were initiated in 1974, with the first games held in 1975 as a response to the exclusion of First Nations youth from mainstream sports.
This year, for the first time, the Athabasca region will be represented at the games. Don Deranger of the Prince Albert Grand Council is their team coordinator.
"It's the first time we'll be participating in the summer games as a region," Deranger said. "We're bringing down 316 athletes. The communities that are involved have done fundraising to pay to have them flown down.
"The rule is that you have to have certified coaches. I brought trainers up there to train coaches for the different games. We now have 140 coaches, all of them Dene," he continued.
Deranger said that his objective is to expose young people to the sporting venue and to prepare them to set goals for themselves.
"I want them to participate in the North American Indigenous Games," he said. Even if we get 10 athletes going to the games in Victoria, it will be a major accomplishment.
These summer games are seen as a warm up to the North American Indigenous Games in Victoria that run from Aug. 3 to 10.
From the opposite end of the province, the Southeast Treaty 4 Tribal Council will be sending 50 athletes to the summer games.
"It's a chance for some of the kids to get away," Recreation Director Courage Bear said. "We always enjoy the games. It's fun. We've been sending athletes for 14 or 15 years."
Back at Whitecap, the game site is nearly ready.
Merasty gave his assurances that, in spite of recent bad weather, the
transformation from a cow pasture to playing fields for the games will be
completed on time.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
REVIEW
fareWel
By Ian Ross
96 pages
$12.95 (pb)
Scirocco Drama
Welcome to the Partridge Crop First Nation, a fictional Saulteaux reserve in Manitoba's Interlake region. Here we have six characters, Melvin, Nigger, Robert, Rachel, Phyllis and Teddy getting on each others' nerves as they wait for the welfare cheques to arrive.
But the cheques don't arrive and so begins Ian Ross' play about frustration, helplessness, racism, self government and, ultimately, self-determination. Despite the depth of the issues that Ross presents in his play, he does so with humor and honesty. And don't believe that this is an issue-oriented play. These are issues that always arise on reserves whenever there is a crisis, which in this case is the late welfare cheques. The play's title comes from the characters referring to welfare as "farewel."
This time the late cheques leads to calls for action. And to make matters worse, the chief is off to Las Vegas again. Teddy, the owner of the on-reserve pawn shop, feels it is time for the Partridge Crop First Nation to be a self-governing nation. For him, welfare is a government tool for oppression. He wants Partridge Crop to be self-sufficient but he knows he needs some form of revenue. He figures a casino will do the trick but he has to buy the machines, which is a problem for a reserve that is bankrupt.
But Teddy has a few problems of his own. He doesn't want women involved in the political process, he hates Bill C-31ers, as he calls them, and detests the success of Robert, a self-employed businessman, even though he needs his business acumen and money.
Melvin is a Bill C-31er is having an identity crisis. He's a Christian but he's also a gas sniffer. He believes in Teddy's dream but resents his bullying and hate for "half-breeds." His big desire is to be able to stand up and say that he's an Indian, but can't because he's not traditional, can't speak Saulteaux and only got his treaty status because of Bill C-31. Melvin is also torn because he admires Robert's success but refuses to take the job Robert offers him because he's lazy. He believes in Teddy's dream of self government because no one else is demanding it and he's tired of waiting for the welfare cheques.
Phyllis is near the end of her rope because she's out of food and needs the cheque to feed her children. On top of that, there's been two funerals lately and her superstitious fear is telling her that death runs in threes and there's bound to be another dead person soon. She hates herself for being on welfare. Teddy's demand for self government is tempting but she's afraid it will only make things worse and lead to a return of their "heathen" past. Phyllis' best friend, Rachel, is also considering leaving the reserve and returning to Winnipeg, thus leaving her alone to face the hopelessness surrounding her.
Rachel too is suffering an identity crisis. She hates the welfare but the only option she sees is to return to Winnipeg. Teddy's dream of self government is enticing to her but he wants nothing to do with her because of a secret they share about her past. She reaches out to embrace the traditional ways to help her heal her past and give her the strength to face the future.
Nigger is a clown; an indestructible Indian who's been beaten, bitten, run over and shot but is still breathing and drinking on his own power. Nigger's real name is Sheldon, but no one refers to him as that. His dream is be considered a good man even though he looks like a bum and can only feed himself on the sandwiches that are offered at wakes. His prize possession, a fiddle, sits in Teddy's pawn shop and he can't scrape up the five dollars needed to get it back. But he hobbles along, going where the winds of change blow and gets caught up in the self government dream because it will mean Bazooka Joe comics will be written in Saulteaux. But when Rachel and Melvin are at their lowest, Nigger will be the guide that will lead them to the answers they seek. Unassuming and honest, Nigger just doesn't want to be dead to be considered a good man.
Robert, under any other circumstances, would be considered a successful man. He owns a septic tank cleaning service which earns him enough money to have his own satellite dish and a new truck whenever he needs one. But his success also earns the resentment of other people on the reserve. He would think himself to be reasonable and logical. But he's just as much a bigot as Teddy because he sees his own people as nothing more than welfare bums. He's abandoned traditional beliefs for Christianity and feels property is more important than people. Even though he doesn't collect welfare the frustration of the others will eventually affect him.
Ross honestly portrays people near the end of their rope who are reaching out for some sort of salvation. He's not afraid to show Indian people who are gas sniffers, ex-hookers, bigots and reliant on welfare. But he's not making fun of these people. They are trapped by circumstances beyond their control and are trying to escape any way they can. He refuses to judge these people and presents them so that we can't judge them either. In the end, we are closer to understanding what it means to be an Indian and that it is something that supercedes any government or band council definition.
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