By Debora Lockyer
Sage Writer
REGINA
There are basically three types of people: those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who don't know what happens.
This motto that has been an inspiration to Alvin Walter Head, because he is definitely the kind of person who makes things happen.
Head was named the Citizen of the Year by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and presented with an award at the winter session of the legislative assembly of chiefs held in Regina on Feb. 26 and 27.
Head is a member of the Red Earth First Nation and was nominated for the award by Chief Roy Bird of Montreal Lake First Nation.
Head has spent a lifetime in service to his community and Indian government.
Born Jan. 3, 1950, Head was hired in 1970 as a clerk for Red Earth Timber Mutual, a locally-operated sawmill. From 1971 to 1976, he held a variety of positions within the administrative operations of the First Nation Main Office, but in the latter part of this period was promoted to senior management positions, including welfare administrator and band administrator.
Head is nothing, if not persistent and after two failed bids for office, was elected Chief of the Red Earth First Nation. This was the beginning of a remarkable stretch of successive terms of office as chief. He remained in the position for a total of 12 years, acclaimed to the post in each election.
Head entered the provincial political arena in 1986 and successfully ran for the position of treasurer with the executive of the FSIN. After his three-year term, he returned to his home to work as Red Earth's director of education.
Head attended Bible college in Saskatoon for one year following his tenure as director of education before enrolling in the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College to pursue his ambition to enter the legal profession. Unfortunately, during his third year of study, he had to withdraw because of illness.
Head has struggled with his long-term affliction with sugar diabetes, which has left him with a collapsed lung, kidney failure and partially blind.
"While these diseases suggest a weakness in the body, my spirit is still very strong," Head maintains.
Head currently serves as pastor of the Red Earth Crossroad Gospel Ministries, manages his own taxi business and is pursuing other business ventures. He has played a pivotal role in many major developments on his reserve, including upgrading to the main road and construction of sturdier bridges, the construction of the First Nation Office Complex, a community hall, and the implementation of First Nation-controlled education.
Head told the chiefs and their assorted advisors and assistants gathered at the assembly that his people had been good for him and, in return, he had been good for his people.
"Stand up for what you believe in, for your people," he advised.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
TORONTO
Eight second-year Master's of Business Administration students from two universities in the Maritimes are assisting two tribal councils in Saskatchewan with business plans, proposals, band management and entrepreneurial skills. The program, called MBA Experience '97, is actually a half year course in each of the universities' MBA programs. Four students from St. Mary's University, in Halifax, N.S., are working in the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, and four other students from Memorial University, in St. John's, Nfld., are in the Touchwood File Hills Tribal Council. The program is co-sponsored by CESO Aboriginal Services, a non-profit company that provides volunteer executive services to Aboriginal-owned businesses in Canada, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
MBA Experience '97 is a national program that sees students from ten universities in Canada get hands-on business experience with tribal councils and other First Nations' businesses.
"This program is an excellent opportunity for Aboriginal communities and organizations to access the knowledge and skill of MBA students," said Ruth Ahenakew-Madill, regional manager of CESO Aboriginal Services in Saskatchewan. "But it's also an opportunity for the students to grasp a greater understanding of First Nations people."
The students are actually on-site at the tribal councils for one week. Their other time is spent doing background research and then writing up reports for CESO and the tribal councils once they return to their universities.
Pam MacLeod, a student from St. Mary's University, plans to focus her career in international marketing.
"It's a worthwhile experience. You get practical experience and get to use what you learned in school," she said. "You become aware of the different aspects of business in Canadian culture.
"A lot of us had hardly any information about First Nations until we got here," she continued. "I'm studying international marketing and management - this will help me relate to other cultures."
Herb Strongeagle, manager of economic development for the Touchwood File Hills Tribal Council in Ft. Qu'Appelle, has been observing the team of students that have been assigned there.
"They're working on some different business projects - doing some business plans, meeting managers of different business," he said. "They're very eager."
The students at Ft. Qu'Appelle are helping both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business people there.
"The program provides Canada's future business leaders with practical training while helping Native communities bring sound business ideas to reality," said Terry Grant, manager of Aboriginal business for the Royal Bank in Saskatchewan. "All sides gain through a valuable and enriching experience."
MacLeod was enticed to take part in this program by previous students' accounts of their experiences. So far, she hasn't been disappointed.
"The people have been very friendly and helpful - they've shown us a lot of different things," she said. "This is the furthest west we've all been. It was small, but bigger than we expected."
CESO is trying to get another team put together to go to the Joseph Bighead First Nation. So far, nothing has been finalized, but CESO has tentatively scheduled April as a target date for the new team.
The first MBA Experience was held in 1995 with only two universities and four student teams. This year's universities include York, in Toronto, Queens, in Kingston, McMaster, in Hamilton, Guelph, McGill, in Montréal, St. Mary's, in Halifax, Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Memorial, in St. John's, Sherbrooke and École des hautes études commerciales du Québec, in Montréal.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
I got an interesting phone call on Feb. 14 from a casting agent who was looking for an Aboriginal reporter, male, in his mid-thirties and with a drama background. Now, I'm not in my mid-thirties, and a lot of people think I look younger than I really am, but I do have the other qualifications.
The casting agent was working for North of 60 and they needed an actor or, in this case, a real reporter to play a reporter. I talked to the agent and she wanted to do a taped audition the following week. She gave me a couple of lines to memorize and I did the audition the following week.
As I write this, I haven't heard if I got the part or not. It's getting pretty close to their shooting date so I'm assuming you won't be seeing my pretty mug on television. The character's name is Everett Hardisty, an aggressive television reporter for the fictional news show, News North. He arrives in Lynx River and causes a whole lot of trouble for Peter Kenidi. He would've been a lot of fun to play and I have acted in the past.
But Tom Jackson and Tina Keeper will have to wait.
Acting in the show would've meant just a day or two out of my schedule, and wouldn't have meant that I was leaving you as editor of Sage. I like this job and my prospects as an actor are limited, since my talented is also limited - some would say nonexistent. The casting agent, however, does the casting for other shows, such as Outer Limits and X-Files. Who knows, maybe I'll get to play some supporting character who gets abducted by an alien and has to be rescued by Dana Scully.
*****
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: despite what other people may think, I'm not perfect. I make mistakes on occasion and usually someone calls me on them. Last issue, I got a phone call from someone from the White Bear First Nation about the fact that they were mistakenly listed as being in Manitoba in Sage's last Community Events listing.
So, in order to prevent the hordes of people who will be searching for the White Bear First Nation in Manitoba this summer when they're going to the Celebration 97 Powwow, here's some news: the White Bear First Nation is in Saskatchewan, just north of Carlyle. For information about the Celebration 97 Powwow, call (306) 577-2286. Do not use the 204 area code!
What I found funny was the fact no one called or wrote to mention that I misspelled Wahpeton on the front page! Now, the first item, White Bear mistakenly located in Manitoba, wasn't my fault. I have underlings who are responsible for that and they goofed. Even so, I take responsibility for their actions, because this is my paper. But I was surprised that I didn't hear one peep about the Wahpeton goof-up.
I'll assume it is due to the generous and forgiving nature of the people of Wahpeton Dakota Nation, for which I am very thankful.
*****
In a mere six months, Saskatchewan Sage, has become widely accepted throughout the province as the premier source of news and information in the Aboriginal community. Everywhere I go, people keep telling me how much they enjoy reading it.
I can't believe it's already been six months since I took on the job as editor. So as you read issue number six, try and recall its humble beginnings from just last October.
I've finally caved in to the constant requests that I get a photo of myself smiling.
Saskatchewan Sage is community-oriented - it is, in a sense, your newspaper. I like it when I hear about how much people like this paper, but I need your criticism as well. I try to cover as many events as possible every month but sometimes I will miss something. To prevent that, let me know of any event you think should be covered. My phone number is on the masthead and you can call me anytime during business hours.
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 Debora Lockyer
Sage Writer
REGINA
The grand chief of the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association wants to put a special history book into the hands of the province's student population.
Howard Anderson is looking for contributions - financial, biographic, and photographic - for the purpose of producing a book recounting the efforts Indian veterans made during the modern wars.
Anderson said he has solicited the help of Blaine Favel, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, to help find enough money to help with the required research. Anderson estimates the job could be done for as little as $50,000.
Anderson's intention is to have summer students interview the province's 75 surviving Indian veterans and put their stories down on paper. He said he would appreciate hearing from the family members of those vets that have passed on for their stories and memories. And photographs are being sought.
Anderson said Indian veterans fought during the Boer War, both World Wars, the Korean War, in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War.
Though only a couple of chapters of the book have been written, there is a wealth of information from which to draw, said Anderson. And the man from Gordon First Nation said the book won't shy away from the controversial issues that Indian veterans have to deal with.
"This will be a book," said Anderson, "that will explain how Indian people in Saskatchewan fought for Canada and how they wouldn't fight against Riel."
It will also delve into the discrimination faced by the veterans when they joined up - Anderson said Indians weren't allowed to join the navy or the air force, because. . . well . . . they just didn't have the right stuff. Anderson laughs at this notion.
The book will also deal with the discrimination faced by the veterans when they returned home. How they were not notified they were entitled to land to farm or money to start their civilian life over. How some were not even given the medals they earned at war.
Anderson said the book will even include information about the Bold Eagle Armed Forces Reserves training program for Native youth and add in a bit about the RCMP for good measure.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Writer
REGINA
The minister responsible for SaskTel, Carol Teichrob, announced that the telephone company plans to increase service for Saskatchewan's First Nations communities with a $23 million investment. The announcement came on Feb. 24 at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, just outside Saskatoon.
The First Nations Local Access program will double telephone service to households in Aboriginal communities, increasing service from 36 per cent to 72 per cent over the next five years. There are approximately 150 First Nations communities across the province with nearly 10,000 homes and a population of 48,000.
"Entering into a partnership of this magnitude will benefit not only SaskTel but more importantly the First Nation community in Saskatchewan," said Teichrob. "Along with SaskTel's long-standing social commitment to providing universal, affordable services, the company is also looking to strengthen and enhance its relationship with Saskatchewan's First Nations communities."
This program will allow the phone company to expand its network and offer a full line of products and services to the First Nations community.
Eugene Arcand, vice-chief of the FSIN, was pleased with this initiative by SaskTel.
"The local access program and the recent Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Call Centre agreement with SaskTel are precedents unmatched by others in the communications business in this country," he said.
The SIIT Call Centre allows for First Nations customers to have service in Dene, Cree and Saulteaux.
The Mosquito First Nation is currently participating in a pilot project for the program.
Clifford Spyglass, membership clerk at Mosquito First Nation, who was in charge of making contracts with band members, so far considers the project a success after just less than a year. The response from band members to this program was enthusiastic.
"I imagine that there's about 50 to 70 homes that have telephone hook up. That would be 50 per cent of all homes on the reserve, because of this project," said Spyglass. "There wasn't very much telephone cable underground before. It only went to a certain few places on reserve. SaskTel had to do a lot of trenching this past fall to get phone lines in to different areas of the band."
Before this program, there were only a few places that had phone service, one of which was the band office.
"I think, communication-wise, this program has benefited the whole reserve," said Spyglass. "Instead of having 20 to 30 people to use the phone in the band office - we hardly see that anymore. That frees us up to do more business."
Darcee MacFarlane, corporate affairs spokesperson for SaskTel in Regina, said that a lot of First Nations communities have expressed interest in this program.
"There's a lot of customer demand for this and SaskTel wants to be the first one out there," she said. "We're going to go ahead with implementation plans as soon as possible."
A lot of these communities haven't had direct phone service before and
that raises some problems, such as creating an infrastructure and training
people how to use the phones she continued.
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