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Band ready
to join with Treaty 4
By Stephen LaRose
Sage Writer
STANDING BUFFALO FIRST NATION
The Standing Buffalo First Nation is in the process of becoming
the next band to sign the terms of Treaty 4.
The adhesion - an agreement to adhere to the terms of the 1874
treaty - will mean a new relationship between the 1,000-member
Dakota band and the federal government, said Standing Buffalo
Chief Mel Isnana.
"Our objective is, by September 2000, to be a part of the
ceremonies of Treaty 4 - getting the annuities and having a full-fledged
seat for round-table discussions about Treaty 4 issues,"
said Chief Isnana.
The major reason for the band to consider adhesion is economic,
said the chief.
"One of the prime benefits for us is that we would be eligible
for treaty land entitlements. We want to expand our land base.
Right now our land base is very small compared to Treaty 4 First
Nations," he said.
"We have, currently, close to 1,000 people for a population.
We have a land base of 5,400 acres. A land base of 5.4 acres
per person is very small," he added. "If we fell under
the terms of treaty land entitlement, each individual person
is guaranteed 120 acres a person. Without a land base, economic
development won't be viable at all, let alone sustainable."
The process his band will follow to come under the terms of Treaty
4 involves a lot of historical research, from archaeological
digs to studying agreements made almost two centuries ago.
Standing Buffalo's father signed a treaty, which was to provide
a reserve for the Dakota people, with the United States government
in 1851. However, war broke out between the Dakota and the United
States Army in 1862, and the members of the Sioux nation fled
north.
"In 1862 there was a massacre of our people in Minnesota,
and Standing Buffalo led his people back to Canada," said
Isnana. "The federal government has said to us that if we
can prove that members of your band were here prior to the signing
of Treaty 4, Ottawa will consider signing adhesion."
Southern Saskatchewan was the traditional hunting grounds for
many different First Nations, including the Dakotas, said the
chief.
"Our research and also what our Elders have told us in the
past is that we did have some ties to the British many, many
years ago, going back as far as 1812," he said.
In that year, the United States declared war on Great Britain
and attempted to invade present day Ontario and Quebec. British
and colonial officials made agreements with various First Nations
in the Great Lakes region, mostly under the command of Tecumseh.
First Nations warriors, colonial militiamen, and a small number
of British army troops repelled the invasion and the war ended
in 1814.
In the war of 1812, "the British did ask the Dakotas to
ally with them. The Dakotas did that, and we have medals which
prove our loyalty to Britain."
The federal government has provided some funding for Lakota and
Dakota bands such as Standing Buffalo to research treaty adhesions.
"Part of our Sioux Nation, which includes the Assiniboine
and the Stoney, have signed treaty or adhesion. We feel that
we should be able to sign adhesion and be part of the treaty
process."
Another piece of proof that southern Saskatchewan was part of
the Dakotas' traditional hunting grounds came during an archaeological
dig near Broadview last year.
"They buried a whole bunch of remains that were found by
a farmer near Broadview, on the north side of the valley. The
remains were dated back to the 1700s, and they were Dakota people,"
he said.
Much of the material found with the bodies was also common to
the Dakota peoples, he added.
Chiefs from 13 First Nations across present-day southern Saskatchewan
and southeastern Manitoba, along with representatives from the
federal government, signed Treaty 4 in September, 1874 at Fort
Qu'Appelle.
The Wood Mountain Dakota Nation is also considering adhesion
to Treaty 4, said Isnana.
Currently 34 First Nations have agreed to terms with Treaty 4,
either through the original signing in 1874 or through adhesions.
Two other Dakota bands in central Saskatchewan are considering
adhesion to terms of Treaty 6, Isnana said.
Partnerships
make up for health transfer shortfalls
By Angelia Wagner
Sage Writer
PRINCE ALBERT
After taking the white man's medicine for 500 years, many
First Nation communities are taking steps toward prescribing
their own.
For more than 10 years, First Nations have been slowly assuming
control of federal health care services delivered to their people.
It's hoped greater command of how federal dollars are spent -
and programs and services delivered - on reserve will lead to
an improvement in the health status of First Nations people.
"First Nations people are to some degree tired of having
their lives run by other people and this was a chance to do it
on their own," said Clare McNab, director of health for
the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
The federal government initiated the devolution of health care
in the 1980s, when it decided to get out of providing many services
and began looking at what it could download.
Health care seemed a natural fit after observing Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada transfer education programs to First Nations as
the latter moved toward self government.
"It was felt that where gains had been made (by the federal
government) in the health status of First Nations, further gains
would best result from the local level," said Dean Norton,
regional program transfer manager with the medical services branch
of Health Canada.
That's because First Nations are closer to their members and
are more conscious of their specific health and cultural needs,
said McNab. They also tend to be more successful at recruiting
First Nations staff, who are better equipped - culturally and
linguistically - to communicate with patients.
"A governmental approach has not been beneficial and has
not addressed the needs of First Nations," added Ernest
Sauve, director of health and social development for the Prince
Albert Grand Council. "In any of the services, whether it
be education or health, there's definitely a need to remove that
dependence on governmental systems and promote First Nation involvement
in their own development and autonomy."
Transferring responsibility for health services from the federal
government to the band level is a long process, involving a tremendous
amount of work by First Nations and tribal councils willing to
take it on.
The first step is conducting a needs assessment of the community
to determine what the health priorities are. This information
forms the basis of a health plan, which outlines what services
are to be transferred and how the First Nation proposes to deliver
them.
As the whole process is voluntary, Norton says it's at this stage
First Nations often decide if they're ready to assume responsibility
for health care.
Norton added that some First Nations that have treaties with
the federal government have refused to become involved at all,
forcing Ottawa to find another way to deliver programs. Others
simply aren't ready.
"First Nations are at different stages in terms of their
own evolvement and development, and we just have to recognize
that and encourage and support them at whatever pace they're
going," said Sauve.
Once a plan has been drafted, Health Canada evaluates it to see
if it has the mandatory programs such as communicable disease
control, environmental health and treatment services, and represents
a good public health plan. If the government is satisfied, negotiations
on a health transfer agreement begin.
"By this time calling this process a negotiation is a misnomer
because we don't have much flexibility in how much money we can
put on the table" or the programs that can be taken over,
said Norton.
Between $140 to $145 million a year is available for First Nation
health care in Saskatchewan.
Like many agencies that provide health care, funding is a major
complaint of First Nations. The federal government hasn't made
provisions for cost-of-living increases or changes in population,
said Pat Cook, assistant director of health and social development
for the Prince Albert Grand Council.
For example, the grand council saw the combined population of
its 12 First Nations increase by more than 1,000 people a year
- or close to 39 per cent - from 1991 to 1998. That's an increase
of 7,419 people in seven years, or to 26,654 from 19,235.
This has forced the grand council, which administers community-based
health care to some of its member First Nations and second-level
services to all of them, to find ways to stretch its federal
health care dollars farther. (Community-based health services
include addictions, youth programs, home care and nursing. Second-level
services include supervisory positions.)
The grand council is using a dispute resolution clause in its
health transfer agreement, signed in 1992 and renewed in 1997,
to bring this issue to the government's attention.
In the meantime, partnerships have become an alternative source
of funding for First Nations. The grand council receives around
$66,000 a year from the Prince Albert Health District for a diabetes
educator and nutritionist.
The third phase of the transfer process involves implementing
the agreement. This is often the most difficult stage, said Norton,
as many First Nations must build an organization and develop
the human resources necessary to administer these programs.
A variety of service delivery models have been developed, depending
on the capacity of the First Nation involved. Some First Nations
take it all on, offering both community-based and second-level
services to its members.
Others opt only for community-based services, signing agreements
with tribal councils for second-level services.
Some tribal councils like the Prince Albert Grand Council do
community-based services for some of their member First Nations
while administering second-level services to all of them.
Not all federal health care services are currently available
for transfer.
Health facilities, consultation, bursaries and scholarships to
aboriginal peoples, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program development
funds and the non-insured health benefits program are excluded
and represent half of all First Nation health care spending.
However, plans are afoot for First Nations to take over regional
and national Health Canada services. Pilot projects are also
under way to determine if some non-insured health benefits can
be transferred in the future.
The Prince Albert-based Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority
is in the midst of a study to determine if it wants to take over
regional or national level services, said Norton.
Health authority officials were not available for comment.
It could take several more years before the transfer process
is complete in Saskatchewan. Few First Nations in the south have
taken over health services, says Norton, while northern First
Nations and tribal councils are far advanced in the process.
The federal government will be monitoring health transfers over
the next two to four years, but Norton doesn't expect services
to ever be fully transferred.
McNab is not so sure.
"I think there will come a time when the federal government
will have very little to do with First Nation communities,"
she said.
New youth centre
opens in border city
By Pamela Sexsmith Green
Sage Writer
LLOYDMINSTER
Kids just wanna hang out. They want familiar territory where
they feel comfortable. A cool place where they have a sense of
belonging and a sense of ownership.
With the recent opening of a new youth centre, just around the
corner from the Native Friendship Centre, Aboriginal kids in
Lloydminster finally have a place to call their own, a home-away-from-home
where they can feel welcome and safe. The centre was developed
by the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre (LNFC) youth council
that devised ground rules and included a respect for cultural
sensitivity that works in favor of young Native people, not against
them.
"And it's a good thing," said 21-year-old youth council
president, Raelene Carter. "When I was an Aboriginal girl
growing up in this community and on my home reserve, I needed
a place like this. A place to go, learn more about myself and
my culture. Back then, there wasn't anything. Now, after six
months of planning, fund-raising and over 500 hours of volunteer
work, we have finally opened the doors."
Major funding came from the National Association of Friendship
Centres, provided for the development of multi-purpose Aboriginal
youth centres across the country.
The LNFC proposal for Phase II funding (leasing and renovating
of an existing building, with start-up money to pay staff) and
the election of a working youth board, got the ball rolling.
Finding the perfect downtown venue and landing the grant made
the dream a possibility.
"But is was strong community backing that breathed life
into the new centre, not only standing behind us but also opening
its eyes and saying, 'Yeah, this is something we really need,'"
explained Carter.
Many of those volunteers attended a traditional feast held the
day before the grand opening, a ceremony led by cultural advisor
Noah Cardinal, which honored youth, Elders and veterans.
"We felt that we needed to secure the building in the sense
that it was blessed, so that everything that goes on would have
a positive outlook and the building would be safe. An open heart/open
mind kind of place blessed by sage and sweetgrass, and the memories
of those we have lost."
The grand opening gave local kids, their families and visitors
a chance to see the newly renovated facilities, which included
a large recreation area on the lower level and a learning resource
meeting area on the upper level, complete with computers, a library
and confectionery.
"The kitchen/confectionery is here to provide snacks and
a facility for communal family suppers. If we have kids coming
in hungry, without pocket money for snacks, we will provide an
after-school snack. But they won't be getting it for free. To
give that child a sense of ownership, we will give them a task,
let them take part in fund-raising so they realize it's not charity,
that they are working for what they get. We will also be having
evenings for families to come in and cook together in a collective
kitchen, for kids that don't have that at home. A chance to work,
cook, eat and clean up together.
The youth council has seats for Native, Métis and non-Native
youth, ages 10 to 25, as well as adult advisors Lawrence Meetos
and Dorothy Dumont.
Cultural, recreational and social programs will be run during
after-school and weekend hours by Eli Jo Carter and Rhonda Smith,
and include a homework club and one-on-one counselling.
Programming will include guest speakers, cultural immersion,
young parenting support and young adult learning skills, with
some hard-core issues like date rape and sexual assault being
addressed in November and December.
Facilities include a pool table, universal gym, TV and VCR, a
library and two comfortable lounge areas to hang out in.
Carter, who has done a lot of traveling around to workshops and
other communities, says that one of her most important jobs as
president of the youth council is to network with the local reserves
and the Lloydminster community to let them know what is available
for the youth of the region. The centre will serve the kids who
just want a good place to hang out, young offenders, teen moms
and youth at risk who need help, support and someone to lean
on.
"It really is a win/win situation. By youth, for youth,
with lots of strong adult backing. The big thing for the new
millennium is that our future leaders are in our hands today.
Yesterday was yesterday and there's nothing we can do to change
it. It's OK to look to the future and wonder what will happen,
but what I keep telling myself that today is the most important
day of my life, today is the day I can make a difference,"
added Carter.
October
is "Indian Month"
By Chris Tyrone Ross
Sage Youth Columnist
SASKATOON
In the past month, many things have happened here in Indian
Country. We had elections, award shows, conferences, a powwow,
and of course Halloween. The month of October was one not to
forget, one that had both Saskatoon and Prince Albert booming
in business because of Indian customers. I ran into old friends
and new friends as part of the annual Indian Month, which I now
call it.
October 1 had the Second Annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards
of Excellence held in Saskatoon. There were more than 30 Aboriginal
youth honored for their achievements in such categories as sports,
innovation, and education. The weekend of Oct. 9 saw the Northern
Lights Casino host their annual Thanksgiving Powwow in the Communiplex
in Prince Albert. The city had great business over the weekend
with every hotel booked solid and many restaurants filled with
customers. I had to eat at MacDonalds everyday. I had every single
extra value meal except for the MacBannok Supreme that was just
introduced the day I left town.
The following week, the Prince Albert Grand Council held elections
for grand chief. Former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
clerk of the executive council, Gary Merasty, won the position
by a landslide. Later in the week from Oct.13 to 15, the Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Women of the Dawn hosted their
annual fall conferences. The FSIN had elections at Centennial
Auditorium for 4th vice-chief and 2nd vice-chief. Lawrence Joseph
from Big River First Nation got in for a second term as 4th vice-chief.
For 2nd vice-chief, Guy Lonechild from White Bear First Nation
surprised many people by beating Terry Sanderson and winning
the position by a landslide on the second ballot. The first had
six candidates running.
Meanwhile, the Women of the Dawn had their conference at the
Saskatchewan Inn.
What I don't understand is: How do women from all over Saskatchewan
end up having a huge conference during the exact same time as
all the men? I mean, is it coincidence or did they plan it that
way? I can't help it, but when you have more than 400 Indian
men and women in Saskatoon from out of town, with hotels and
conferences, something is bound to happen. Ever hear of the term
conference babies?
Okay, now let's move on. There's nothing to see here. Just go
home and mind your own business.
It was the 5th Annual 1999 First Nations Awards in Saskatoon
hosted by the Women of the Dawn from Regina. The awards took
place right after the conference. More than 12 First Nation individuals
were honored with the awards in several categories, including
arts and entertainment, community work, business and journalism.
I wish I could tell you more about it, like who the winners were,
but unfortunately, we weren't invited. Instead of being invited
they asked me to pay $150 for a ticket to attend the event. Even
though I was nominated for the youth award, they still wanted
me to pay $150. They even asked me to pay $1,200 for a table
so they could look good with more youth attending the event.
I'm not discouraged though, I just wish our people weren't always
caught up in politics. For once I'd like to see our people forget
about everything and just have a good time for the betterment
of all First Nations. The Women of the Dawn did, however ,recognize
some high achievers like Doug Cuthand and Judge Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
All I have to say is it's probably just as well I didn't attend
the event. I probably would have wrote a tabloid-style story
like "Best and worst dressed" or "Awards profits
in millions."
Before I lash out, and start throwing away all the bannock I
just made, I should talk about the Halloween we just had. In
the city it was easy to trick or treat, that's until the heavy
snow storm hit. On the rez it must have been hard to trick or
treat. You probably had to travel two miles to each house to
receive a cheap caramel candy that was saved from last year's
old Halloween snacks. I stayed in and watched the Blair Witch
Project. It kind of reminded me of when I used to play on the
rez with my friends. We used to go into the woods on Halloween
and leave one of our friends stranded for days. It was so much
fun.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen my friend for years now.
Well that's it for this month's youth column. I hope you can
forgive me for my comments, but that's how I feel and "I
ain't gonna stop" because youth will always have a voice,
as long as Sage and Gen-X are around.
And, oh yeah, next month will be The Last Youth Column of The
Century. That means I'm going all out, regardless of what people
say.
It's gonna be a column that's going to make you laugh, cry, swear,
gamble your paycheck and use the rest on bingo. That's how powerful
next month's column will be.
Please feel free to send me some hate mail at Gen-X@Canada.com
War veterans
fought as brothers
Editor's Note:
Columnist Denis Okanee Angus' column will not appear this month.
Denis and his family, along with the friends and fellow veterans
from First Nations across the province, are mourning the death
of his father Donald Alexander Angus, who passed away at age
78 on Oct. 27.
A Second World War veteran who survived the horrors of the D-Day
invasion of Normandy, which was the beginning of the end of Adolph
Hitler's hopes of world domination, Mr. Angus returned to Canada
only to experience the sad and unforgivable insults dealt to
Native war veterans. His story follows this note.
Sage was saddened to learn of the loss of this true freedom fighter
and we thank Donald Angus for his invaluable contribution to
his people and to Canada.
By Pamela Sexsmith Green
Sage Writer
THUNDERCHILD
D-Day, June 6, 1944, one of the big battles in the history
of the free world. Donald Angus, Gunner, Regimental #L11305,
Island Tank 3rd Division, was there, deep in the thick of occupied
territory.
From the dark, smoky landing in Normandy, to the bloody D-Day
battle and final triumphant crossing of the Rhine, he shared
in it all - the pain, the glory, the agony - and got out with
his life.
He had risked life and limb for his country and fellow soldiers,
given his all and came home safe and sound - one of the lucky
ones, one of the boys.
It wasn't until he got back home to Canada that Angus realized
that he wasn't "one of the boys" any longer. He wasn't
on equal footing with the other guys in his squadron. He was
a Canadian Native veteran, discriminated against in his own country
by the government and people he risked his life to protect. He
was a soldier left out in the cold, shut out by the federal government
and betrayed by some of his own band members back home on the
reserve in Saskatchewan.
His story:
"It all happened a long time ago, you know. When something
like that happened, you just don't forget about it. Sometimes
you remember and it's like it just happened yesterday. Even now
at night in my dreams I remember. I sit up in bed and then realize
I'm safe now. I can never forget, especially when I remember
waking up in a trench with three dead Germans.
"When I first decided to enlist, my grandfather, Louis Angus,
told me, 'Go ahead, do your best, fight for your country.' He
was in the Riel Rebellion, you know, a real fighter. He talked
to Poundmaker. My mom and dad, Joe Angus, didn't try to stop
me either and they were all glad when I came back alive because
there had been so many dead Canadian soldiers on the beach in
Normandy."
Angus enlisted as a young man who was hitting his stride in the
war years between 1942 and 1946. Starting his military training
in Grand Prairie, Alta., he took advanced training in Petawawa,
Ont., moved to Halifax and was shipped over to England with the
3rd Division for the D-Day landing, a particularly rough crossing
that left many soldiers ill and rolling with seasickness on the
decks.
"There were not many Native Canadians in my outfit. We were
given special pistol training in England to get ready for the
landing. On June 6, 1944, we traveled 22 miles across the English
Channel on barges, carrying extra guns, clothing and ammunition.
There were air bombers bombing the beaches when we got off the
boats. The water was red with blood.
The Germans had been there in France for five years, waiting.
They had machine guns but they couldn't see us because of the
smoke screen. We couldn't see the skies because of the smoke.
It was like a big gray cloud up there, but we could hear the
screaming of the airplanes as they dropped the bombs. There were
dead soldiers lying all over the beach, friends and comrades,
wounded and killed."
The Second World War came to a speedy end once the allied troops
of Canadian, English, American and Polish soldiers stormed the
Germans' encampments.
"The Germans fought back. They were pretty well equipped,
you know, in their cement bunkers. They had good weapons, communications
and transportation, but they ran out of gas. Soon they were walking
out of there or riding horses stolen from the French farms. We
pushed on from June to September, through the lines in France,
Belgium, Holland and Germany, finally crossing the Rhine when
the war was over."
The 3rd Division fought on, up to a week in some of the strategic
military strongholds, cleaning up pockets of resistance.
"There were no differences in nationalities among the Allied
troops. We were all brothers. Native and non-Native officers
and soldiers were treated exactly the same. We all depended on
each other, watched each other's backs, saved each other's lives.
We had no heavy equipment, lived on our wits. We were all fighting
for the same thing."
Many fellow soldiers owed their lives to the bravery of the men
in the 3rd Division.
"Raymond Sutter from Viking, Alta., you know, the dad from
the hockey family, got hit in the leg real bad and we saved him,
dragged him to safety. Mike Cosmo from Toronto had his leg blown
wide open. He just laid there so I grabbed him, took cover and
pulled him to safety. He lost the leg but lived to go home."
Angus faced danger many times but his most hair-raising experience
happened in the aftermath of a huge bomb explosion.
"After a long, tough night, I jumped into a trench with
my machine gun to take cover and sleep. When I woke up there
were three Germans sitting there with guns looking at me. I tried
to scramble out of the trench and turned to take another look
when I saw that they were dead. Sitting up straight, eyes open
and dead. They must have been killed by concussion when a bomb
went off very close. I had to sit there with them until they
called 'all clear' so we could come out."
Even after the fighting was over, the 3rd Division had to deal
with groups of dangerous fanatics, men and members of the Hitler
Youth Corps who wouldn't give up and wouldn't budge from their
manholes.
"Some of them died defending their ground. We had to firebomb
them out and many died. They died for Hitler."
When it came right down to basic survival skills, Native Canadian
ingenuity came in very handy overseas, explained Angus.
"Our troop had pretty good food over there but the French
people were starving. Those city guys didn't know how to look
after themselves. They had no grub, nothing. We made a big fire,
killed a yearling steer and I showed them how to skin it, cut
it up and cook it. We had some good punch and potatoes and, oh,
those boys were hungry. They said, 'Boy, those Indians sure know
how to cook good food!'
After the war was over, the Germans were allowed to go home on
foot...and hungry.
"We turned a lot of the road signs around to confuse them
and had to clear a lot of dead men, horses, trucks and tanks
off the roads. What a stink that was. When we crossed the Rhine
and got to Germany we went to a bar on a barge that hadn't been
bombed. They opened up three beers for us. Some Germans came
and sat with us, shook hands and said, 'You don't know me and
I don't know you. Why are we fighting? It's between Hitler and
Churchill. You never did nothing to us. Us poor people, we don't
want to fight you guys.'"
After an operation and the end of the war, Donald Angus was shipped
home to Canada on the Queen Elizabeth.
"I was scared to come home again, but the water was as smooth
as glass. We landed in the St. Lawrence River and then went through
Quebec City and on to Saskatoon by train. I came home and started
to farm. My father and I had broken and plowed land on our reserve,
a homesite, cropland and pasture up north, around 300 acres and
a new tractor. When I went away, other people put their cattle
and horses on my land and a little village had grown up on our
homesite. I had no fence. Buildings and houses on the land that
I had broke with my dad with 16 horses, land given to us by the
reserve and Indian Affairs was taken away by the chief and given
to other people. But there was nothing I could do. I couldn't
put other Native people's animals in the pound. It was their
land too, on the reserve."
Back in the late forties you had to work to support a family.
With no work on the reserve and his wife Louisa Okanee and their
five children to provide for, Angus left to go into construction
in Red Deer and Vegreville, Alta. He had wanted to farm but had
not received the same parcel of farmland that had been given
to non-Native veterans.
"That's what all these meeting with the Federal government
have been about. We have good pensions but hope they settle this
land dispute soon because there are not many [Second World War]
veterans left. We are getting too old to farm. They were supposed
to give us our own land off-reserve. Instead they gave us land
on the reserve, land we already owned and shared. "Canada
used to be our country, you know, belonged to all Native people.
Ours until they took it away from us and moved us out to the
reserves. We fought for Canada, took the same risks as the other
soldiers, got the same medals, but when we came home, they didn't
want to give us land like the rest of the veterans."
Angus, who attends Remembrance Day ceremonies every year and
special D-Day memorial commemorations, also attends gatherings
of Native Saskatchewan veterans.
"We fought for our land, our country, Canada. Now we are
still fighting for our land, the land our Native veterans never
received. I want to tell them to hurry up. We are dying out.
They are so slow, the government."
Editor's Note: Donald Alexander Angus passed away shortly after
giving this interview to Saskatchewan Sage. The story was printed
in the most recent issue of Windspeaker, our nationally-circulated
newspaper. We respectfully re-print it here as a tribute to Mr.
Angus and all Native veterans.
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Published November 14, 1999