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Published May 11, 1998 Perry Bellegarde, a 35-year-old member of Little Black Bear First Nation, was chosen as the new chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. It was a landslide victory. A totalof 688 ballots were cast, 452 of them for Bellegarde. Sol Sanderson came in second with 139 votes. Third place went to Wallace Fox with 96 votes. Both Sanderson and Fox pledged their support to the new chief. Bellegarde replaces Interim Chief Morley Watson who was filling in for Blaine Favel who was seconded to Foreign Affairs after only a few months into his second term as chief. Photo Credit: Debora Lockyer Indian Winter Games attract 3,000 athletes by Brian Cross Youth recognized for achievements by Paul Sinkewicz Program encourages youth entrepreneurs by Pamela Green and Norman Moyah Geographical barriers overcome by Debora Lockyer Artists need consideration by Denis Okanee Angus Here is a full list of additional stories featured in the May, 1998 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Saskatchewan Sage, then you have missed all this information. Click here for Saskatchewan Sage subscription information. Star blankets, the ultimate security blanket Sky Dancer lisfts up women's voices from the past Talent needs directing A gift from the Creator Have you ever thought of becoming a nurse? Band enacts vandelism law History in the hills Bands hope to cash in on tourism Indian Winter Games attract 3,000 athletes By Brian Cross Sage Writer REGINA Their young faces beaming with pride, athletes from the Meadow Lake Tribal Council hoisted the first-place trophy high above their heads after capturing the coveted team title at the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games. The athletes accepted the trophy April 16 during a brief ceremony to mark the end of the 1998 games at the Regina Agridome. Meadow Lake won the team title with a total of 308 points edging out the host Touchwood File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (277 points) and the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council (209 points). The games, which ran five days from April 12 to 16, were the largest Indian Winter Games ever held in Saskatchewan, attracting about 3,000 athletes from 10 different tribal councils across the province. The Indian Winter Games have been held annually in Saskatchewan since the event was first held back in 1980. Athletes at the games ranged in age from 10 to 18 years old. Despite the emphasis on athletics, event co-ordinator Glen Pratt said the games are about more than medals and trophies. According to Pratt, the winter games also encourage teamwork and promote healthy lifestyles within the Native population. The games are held each year during the Easter holiday period, allowing children and parents to attend the games together. "To me, one of the most important things is the involvement of the parents," said Lester Ledoux, a parent from the Mistawasis Reserve north of Blaine Lake. Ledoux coached the Saskatoon Tribal Council to a gold medal victory in the senior girls broomball competition. His daughter Kim was one of 11 players on the championship team. "I played a lot of sports when I was young and I know what it did for me," said Ledoux, who traveled five hours on a team bus to attend the games. "Now it's my turn to put in time as a coach and do my part for the kids. Hopefully they'll remember that and do the same when they get older. I think more parental involvement is very important." Another family connection at the games was that of Fred Saskamoose, 64, and his 14-year-old grandson Riley Gardypie, a member of the Fort Carlton bantam hockey team. Saskamoose was raised on the Sandy Lake Reserve north of Prince Albert and was the first Treaty Indian to compete in the National Hockey League. After a brilliant junior hockey career with the Moose Jaw Canucks, Saskamoose played 13 games with the Chicago Black Hawks before retiring and returning to Western Canada. "I see parents here and they're proud of their kids," Saskamoose said. "They're all winners, as far as we're concerned, to be here and participating in sports." For Kim Ledoux and her teammates from the Mistawasis Reserve, the 1998 Indian Winter Games will generate some lasting memories. Ledoux's team has been together since 1995 but, prior to this year, had never finished in the medals at the Indian Winter Games. "It's been a lot of fun," said Kim, 16, who celebrated the medal-winning effort with her friend and teammate Chrissy Pechawis. "Its just really exhilarating scoring goals and playing together and meeting people. We never won a medal before this year so its pretty special." Later this year, July 5 to 12, the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games will be held at the Cowessess Indian Reserve near Broadview. Program encourages youth entrepreneurs By Pamela Green and Norman Moyah Sage Writers ONION LAKE There's a new tourism site being built at Onion Lake First Nation this summer that's causing a lot of excitement in the community. It's a new tipi village that's blending the best of old traditional ways and culture with the modern flair of entrepreneurial know-how. As one of the first projects of it's kind to be developed by Youth Services Canada in Saskatchewan, it is generating even more interest because of the fact that it is totally student-based. The tipi village will be a permanent tourist site that will be designed, developed, built and run by high school graduates as hands-on training for a real-life job in the tourism industry. The camp site, over-looking the beautiful lake beside Eagleview High School, is a real knockout, and the student's paper mache mock-up of their village design is impressive. But it was a return to tradition, a trip into the parkland woods at Onion Lake, that proved to be even more interesting. The search was on for 160 perfect sprucewood poles needed to set up the eight or 10 full-sized tipis to be used for day and night time camping at the village. That's when the chain saw safety, axe handling and first aid learned in the life skills courses came in especially handy, along with wood lore shared by Elders in the community. There are only certain times of the year when you can cut and skin good lodge poles, explained the students. They have to be chopped down when the sap is running smoothly because if you go too early in the year it's too hard to strip the bark off. Cutting, peeling and hauling the poles to the site was hard work the students found out, but something that would pay off in the real satisfaction of doing it right and following in the footsteps of the ancestors. Cultural authenticity with a hands-on approach is the key to the training in this project, said program co-ordinator Dalphine Jameson. This was blended with a solid package of life skills relevant to jobs within the industry, jobs like tour guides, interpreters, site management and promotion. Funded as a Youth Services Canada Project, the work experience program started in November 1997 with a mix of eight grads and unemployed students who were screened and interviewed for their interest in tourism desire to work with the public. Phase one involved classroom and lifeskills training as well as taking the concept of the village through it's developmental phases from the drawing board to a fully developed site, said Jameson. The site will include full-scale development of hiking trails, sweatlodges, and the re-creation of an ancient Aboriginal burial ground. Beginning May 19, a Saskatchewan Tourism Resource person will be coming on board to work with the students throughout the summer months. Phase two will entail the opening of the facility to the public in June or July, including day programming, overnight and weekend packages and activities for those interested in learning about Native culture, artifacts and outdoor survival. Authentic instruction in tanning leather, smoking wild meat, quill working, regalia making, storytelling, sweatlodges and woodlore will be offered, as well as a chance to camp out by the light of a crackling fire in a real tipi. Phase three will evolve naturally when the tipi village becomes economically self sufficient and operating under it's own steam with a team of experienced young guides and positive role models at the helm. Winter activity planning is in the works as well as plans for an on-site interpretive centre to house Native artifacts and an art collection featuring the work of local artists and craftspersons. It's a positive initiative that has strong backing from the Sakeweskam Learning Centre's Director, Terry Clarke Jameson, a well-respected life skills counsellor who is fluent in Cree, has enjoyed working with the students in a learning program that integrates culture and purpose. "It's been a real challenge from day one for everybody, our first tourism site, a real hands-on experiential project, " she explained. "And there have already been spin-offs into the community, like the picnic tables, benches and the wooden garbage containers designed by the students, who are in essence, creating their own employment and will continue to run the site as trained professionals in the field." Although her formal involment as instructor for the tipi village program will wind down this fall, Jameson, who has accepted a position at Eagleview High as a counselor-liaison worker, plans to keep a close and very proud eye on her students and their progress, both as guides and cultural ambassadors for their people. Youth recognized for achievements By Paul Sinkewicz Sage Writer REGINA Six youth from across Saskatchewan were honored at the first annual Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence. The awards are sponsored by the Wicihitowin Foundation and recognize the contributions and achievements of First Nations and Métis youth between the ages of 13 and 19 in a variety of fields. "What we saw was the children were not recognized other than when they went to the Indigenous games," said Ruth Ahenakew-Madil, awards co-chair. "That was their one shot at recognition." Ahenakew-Madil said the Wicihitowin Foundation has a mandate to look at funding for youth at Indigenous games but, along with the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association, wanted to give other youth another positive message and recognition. The award ceremony was held at the Queensbury Centre on April 14. Volunteers from the Regina Aboriginal Professional Association, SaskTel Aboriginal Employees and the SaskTel Pioneers helped co-ordinate the ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games.   Rachel Jane Jobb of Southend.   Ahenakew-Madil said part of the evening involved making sure Elders and other Aboriginal role models were seated with each award winner and family. Those role models included a bank branch manager, the vice-president of human resources of a Saskatchewan casino and SaskTel employees. Winning the Community Award was Rachel Jane Jobb of Southend. Jobb is a 15-year-old Grade 11 student and member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Her award was won through good school grades and other talents. The Education Award winner was Carmen Lewis of Pierceland. The 17-year-old is a member of the Island Lake First Nation and was honored for being an academic role model with a greater than 90 per cent average. Chico Peepeetch of Saskatoon was named for the Sports Award. Peepeetch, 14, is a member of the Yellowquill First Nation and is an international competitor with a black belt in the Filipino martial art of Sikaran. Welland Ratt, 13, of Nemebian River, took the Cultural Award. Ratt is a member of the La Ronge First Nations and is recognized as an emissary of Cree culture and tradition who brings that knowledge to his fellow students. The Standing Buffalo junior girls volleyball team took the Recreation Award honors. The girls, aged 13 to 15, were champions of the Junior High School League from the Standing Buffalo First Nation.   Chris Ross of Saskatoon   The Innovator Award went to Chris Ross of Saskatoon. Ross, 17, is a member of the Red Earth First Nation and is the self-employed entrepreneur behind two newsletters: Inner City Youth and Generation X. Ross is also accomplished in athletics, academics and as a columnist. The reaction from the award ceremony has been extremely positive, said Ahenakew-Madil. "It was really positive," she said. "We had excellent feedback from a number of people, not only in the corporate world and the nominees, but also from the parents and guardians." Geographical barriers overcome By Debora Lockyer Sage Writer SASKATOON A northern Saskatchewan resident was named the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations' Citizen of the Year. Don Deranger of the Fond du Lac First Nation was presented to the chiefs at the FSIN spring assembly held in Saskatoon April 27 and 28. The Citizen of the Year Award is presented each year by the FSIN. The award, presented by interim Chief Morley Watson, recognizes an individual from a First Nation in Saskatchewan who made significant contributions at the community, provincial, national or international level. "The Citizen of the Year frequently demonstrates an ability to achieve outstanding accomplishments in the face of adversity," said Watson. "This year's winner is no exception. Over the years, this individual has devoted many hours to improving the situation of northern First Nation residents and is someone who excels in many areas." Deranger has concerted much effort to increase employment among the isolated Dene bands. Since 1989, he has worked to facilitate training in the Athabsca region and demonstrated his abilities in negotiating and advising successful joint venture agreements with Northern Resource Trucking, Athabasca Catering, Procon Mining and PCL Construction. He successfully increased employment from 90 in early 1997 to 274 as of December 1997 for Athabasca Dene First Nations members by acquiring training programs delivered in First Nations communities for employment in the mining industry. "In addition to training and employment, the youth of the Athabasca Dene First Nations have benefited from his dedication to improving their involvement in First Nations sports and recreational activities," said Watson. "In 1997, he took it upon himself to overcome the geographical barriers facing the Dene youth and entered two teams of athletes in the Saskatchewan Indian Summer and Winter games for the first time in history." Deranger took 700 athletes from isolated regions of northern Saskatchewan to the games. "The athletes carried their team banners with visible dignity and pride," Watson said. National program a first for Métis women By Paul Sinkewicz Sage Writer PRINCE ALBERT A first- Achievement honored By Bruce Weir Sage Writer TORONTO This Dancing is a family affair for McCallums By Paul Sinkewicz Sage Writer PINEHOUSE Len McCallum Weyerhaeuser, Woodland Cree bands ink deal By Paul Sinkewicz Sage Writer PRINCE ALBERT March Artists need consideration By Denis Okanee Angus Sage Columnist In North Battleford, I went to a pawn shop. Now this happened in North Battleford, but it could have happened in any western city or town. I saw these wonderful works of arts, including beading, powwow outfits and paintings. Some of them were from such good artists and I wondered why their art was in a pawn shop and not an art gallery. I know its because of the money. It saddens me that this pawn shop was an Aboriginal "art market." I was once represented by an "art dealer." This person was an Aboriginal entrepreneur. I won't mention any names, but I did not like how my photographs were represented. It wasn't a very good experience and I did not make any money. Not that art is all about money, but it's basic appropriation for the "middle man" to be making money and the artist still starving. It is not unlike how our designs, especially designs from southwest peoples, have been finding their way into mainstream clothing companies. Those designs are often stolen and nothing goes back to the people. I guess that takes us right back to the pawn shop. I have also seen paintings of my photographs when I did not give permission for these photographs and images to be painted. I felt that my ideas and work had been stolen. Not only was this a bad feeling, but it also concerned me as a photographer who shoots cultural or traditional images. I have a responsibility to see that they are not used in a way that portrays the culture in a way that the Elders would not approve. I am flattered that people liked the images, but I am offended that they did not ask permission. I know there's a lot of misunderstanding in the Canadian art community about Aboriginal artists. I entered the provincial art show once and a woman approached me about who represented me. She indicated there had been trouble with people who represented Aboriginal artists and Aboriginal art organizations. This made me feel bad because it's really lonely being out there as a Aboriginal artist. I haven't felt represented by these mainstream organizations. Even though I placed in that art show and applied for grants from them, I have never heard from them again. Another thing I have noticed, there are a lot of incredible and talented artists who are currently serving prison and jail sentences. I wonder how this could be. If these creative people had some support for their work, maybe they wouldn't wake up one morning and find themselves in jail. This is also an issue of representation and support. It is also about the oppression we have survived and continue to survive. I heard that Louis Riel said that: "My people will sleep for one hundred years. When they awake, it will be artists that give them back their spirit." I think that the role the artist plays in the Aboriginal community is very important and we need as communities to starting thinking about what happens to our artists. As our communities talk about self-sufficiency and economic development, we need to remember that the arts are also an industry. We hear lots of political talk about self-government. I do not think that I have ever heard anyone talking about the artists, creativity, and the like, in all these self-government negotiations. What role do we expect our leaders to play in this? Our artists and their work are out there alone. I am lucky because I married a lawyer and she looks after a lot of these details for me. If I am feeling out here alone, then there's a lot of other artists who have it worse. The photograph that goes with this column is my art. I put those antlers out in the bush. When I set those antlers down in the bush, I left my hand print in the photograph. I was attracted to the red of the berries. The snow is about coldness and I felt that coldness when I took this picture. But the snow also represents purity. The photograph is about the beauty in life and death. That deer gave it's life for my family's food. What we see in art as Native people is life itself.