The Aboriginal Newspaper of Saskatchewan
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Championship form Rod Atcheynum, from Sweetgrass First nation, demonstrates his world championship form at Schemitzum '97, the Sixth Annual Feast of the Green Corn and Dance, in Hartford, Connecticut. Atcheynum won the Jr. Men's World Chicken Dance competition.
Photo Credit: Ted Whitecalf |
My column: Not much older but a whole lot wiser by Kenneth Williams
Canoe Lake gets new land
by Sage StaffNew business seeks to help Aboriginal talent
by Paul BarnsleyNews In Brief
Land planning under way
Minister visits project
Here is a full list of additional stories featured in the October, 1997 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.
Opening of centre marred by vandals
Gala performances highlight new Aboriginal festival
Lloydminster friendship centre opens clinic
Métis corporation creates new industrial partnership
First Nations Bank opens first branch in Saskatoon
Canoe Lake gets new land
Pics spark interest
Editor a little older and a little wiser - column
Thought on being a father - column
Kitsaki Development Corporation - profile
Chief cook accepts economic development award
Artist creates authentic dance regalia
New business seeks to help Aboriginal talent
Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Berny Wiens and Marion Gatzke, chair of the Parkland Health District, signed a partnership agreement on Sept. 19 that committed both parties to improve opportunities for Aboriginal employment in the health district.
Through the agreement, the health district and the ministry agree to work together with the Aboriginal community, unions and employees to increase Aboriginal employment and career development; encourage constructive race and cultural relations; develop business initiatives which meet the health needs Aboriginal people while also generating opportunities for Aboriginal employment; and, establish short- and long-term plans to put the partnership agreement into action.
The partnership agreement is the ninth to be signed in the province.
Environment and Resource Management Minister Lorne Scott announced on Sept. 29 that residents of the Dore and Smoothstone Lakes region are working with his department to develop a land use plan for the area.
The Dore-Smoothstone Advisory Board will work with a department planning team to develop the integrated land use plan, which will guide and direct the types of resource activities in the area. The plan will also help identify and protect sensitive or unique ecological features.
Scott said the integrated land use plan will set overall management objectives and guidelines for the area's development. This may include restriction of some activities and the development of guidelines for resource use in the region.
The board members represent local outfitters, commercial fishermen, off-reserve Treaty Indians, trappers, contractors, wild rice growers and forest contractors.
Other organizations on the board are the Dore-Sled Lake Métis Local 67, Michel Point Cottage Owners Association, Hamlet of Dore Lake, Settlement of Sled Lake, Weyerhaeuser Canada, Tower Beach Cottage Owners' Association, and the Dore-Smoothstone Lakes Wilderness Protection Association.
Education Minister Pat Atkinson toured Saskatoon's Nutana Collegiate's Keeping the Circle Strong project on Sept. 15. The project is funded in part through Saskatchewan Education's Indian and Métis Education Development grants.
The project uses community supports to address the students' physical, spiritual, emotional and mental learning needs. This model is based on the traditional Aboriginal sacred circle.
In 1996, provincial government funding for the Indian and Métis Education Development program increased from $100,000 to $1.1 million.
The Nutana project also receives funds from the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and the Saskatoon Public School Division. The school-wide program serves all 600 Nutana students.
"The [development] program was the catalyst for this community to continue our efforts of creating programs which suit the unique learning needs of our Indian and Métis students," said Nutana Principal Mike LeClaire.
The Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation held a ceremony on Sept. 27 to mark the opening of their new school which will provide educational instruction from grades 4 to 12.
Known as the Willow Cree Education Complex, the facility has an area of 4,465 sq.-m. It consists of 16 classrooms, a library and resource centre, science lab, home economics room, industrial arts room, computer and business education room, cultural room, health room, technical lab, multipurpose room, staff and administrative areas as well as a new gymnasium. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 418 students.
The total cost of the project was about $9 million.
Sage Staff
WEPUSKOW SAHGAIEHCAN
The Canoe Lake Cree Nation has become the second Saskatchewan First Nation to reach its shortfall land requirement under the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement. This means that the Cree Nation has now purchased the amount of land required under the terms of its treaty land entitlement agreement.
Jane Stewart, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Berny Wiens, Saskatchewan minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs and Chief Guy Lariviere of the Canoe Lake Cree Nation announced on Sept. 19 that approximately 5,393 hectares of land has been set aside as reserve by federal order in council under the framework agreement.
"I'm pleased to see that reserve creation is now a reality for my people," said Lariviere. "It's a historic day, not only because of this reserve creation but also because it comes on the 91st anniversary of the signing of Treaty 10."
The Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement was signed by the provincial and federal governments and 25 Saskatchewan First Nations in 1992. Under this agreement, the provincial and federal governments are providing signatory First Nations with $440 million over 12 years to purchase land, mineral rights and improvements which include buildings and structures affixed to the land. The federal government initially provides 70 per cent of the overall costs while the provincial government pays 30 per cent. The provincial government will subsequently reimburse up to 19 per cent of the total costs to Canada from savings arising out of the transfer of certain northern communities to First Nation control. Entitlement First Nations may purchase federal, provincial or private land anywhere in Saskatchewan. All land sales are on a willing seller-willing buyer basis, with all existing interests in the land respected.
The Framework Agreement settles the land debt that is owed to these 25 First Nations because they did not receive all the land they were entitled to under Treaties 4, 6 and 10, which were signed by the Crown and these First Nations between 1871 and 1906. In addition, $76 million is being provided to three Saskatchewan First Nations that signed their own Treaty Land Entitlement agreements since 1992. In total, 28 Saskatchewan First Nations are now under Treaty Land Entitlement.
"Fulfilling our obligations under [this agreement] is a priority for the Saskatchewan Region," said Stewart. "With this reserve creation, the Canoe Lake Cree Nation has almost doubled the amount of land it is required to purchase under [the framework]. This initiative is consistent with the government's objective of strengthening Aboriginal communities."
"The Saskatchewan government views the entire treaty land entitlement process as much more than the fulfillment of a legal obligation," said Wiens. "We see this as an investment in the future of members of the Canoe Lake Cree Nation and an investment in the future of this province."
All of this new reserve land is located in the Northern Administration District, approximately 40 km from the existing Canoe Lake Cree Nation Reserve No. 165.
This land is part of a total treaty land entitlement package worth $13,412,333. Under the terms of the agreement, the Canoe Lake Cree Nation is required to purchase about 2,786 hectares of land and may purchase up to approximately 20,224 hectares.
The creation of this new reserve land also transfers provincial Crown
minerals to Canada on behalf of the First Nation.
By Kenneth Williams
Sage Editor
Can you believe it! It's been one full year since the first issue of Sage graced this province. There were some growing pains, but Saskatchewan Sage has now established itself as the premier Aboriginal newspaper of the province.
I recall visiting the Whitecap Dakota and Sturgeon Lake First Nations and the wonderful reception I received at both communities. The meal I had at Num-num's kitchen was a dream. If it's still up and operating I highly recommend it as a place for lunch. Whitecap deserves a huge amount of credit for the way it hosted the 1997 Saskatchewan Indian Summer Games.
But as someone who works in the media, I sometimes have to distance myself from the issues and not let myself get too emotional. That's very hard to do when you're dealing with such good people.
Aboriginal people don't get a lot of balanced coverage in the mainstream media. Unfortunately, it's because of that coverage that most people get their impression of Aboriginal people. The picture they see isn't very good and it tends to affect their judgment whenever Aboriginal people are speaking out about self government and land rights.
It's really too bad they don't get to see the people I do.
I'm not going to say we don't have problems, but let's focus on the stories that don't depress us. Like 10-year-old Iris Bonaise who walked from Cut Knife to Saskatoon to raise money and awareness for cancer research. If this young person can accomplish that, just imagine what all of us could do if we put our minds to it. It's people like her who give me hope four our future.
Keep it us Iris. In your young life you've already accomplished much more than most people.
When it was announced last year that the First Nations Bank of Canada would become a reality, I couldn't help but feel proud to be from Saskatchewan.
I'm an optimist at heart. We should acknowledge and recognize the problems that plague Aboriginal communities and people. But we should also remember what we've gone through as a people and take pride in the fact that we're still around. We were, and still are, subject to the forces of assimilation.
Whenever I get annoyed at some politician's newest "solution to the Indian problem," which usually means assimilating us, I think of my aunts, uncles and grandparents who had a much rougher time than I do now. They too are my inspiration. They wouldn't consider themselves heroes, but I do.
Without their effort and their love I wouldn't be the person I am today.
If I feel lazy, I just visualize my mooshum giving me a boot in the butt. He worked hard all his life and never complained. He died when I was very young but I still feel his presence and power.
What I guess I'm getting at, in my roundabout way, is that we've got a lot to be thankful for as Aboriginal people. As editor of this newspaper, that's what I've tried to focus on. Canadians can be proud of this country and love it to death, but they can never have the connection to it that Aboriginal people have. We've been here since before recorded time. That means everything to me.
Saskatchewan Sage has a lot to celebrate this month. One year down and many more to go. It is a good newspaper now, but I'm always looking at improvements. There have been days when I've wanted to sit back and coast. But then I see my mooshum coming at me and it's time to get off my butt.
I feel lucky knowing that I get to cover this province. It's always easy because there are so many good things happening here.
By Paul Barnsley
Sage Writer
ESTEVAN
An Aboriginal woman with a new idea hopes to help put talented Aboriginal people up where they belong.
"Here in Canada, this is where we came from. This is where our roots are. We don't have a country where we can go back to. This is our home but we're not in the mainstream," said April Himmelspach, a member of the Mathias-Colomb Nation originally from the Pukatagawon reserve in Manitoba, but who now lives in Estevan.
The 22-year-old has taken note of the fact that her people have, to a certain extent, been excluded from appearing on major magazine covers, from landing leading roles in feature films and television shows, and from other high profile arenas. She noted that most of the roles available for established Aboriginal actors are limited: they get to play 'Indians.' Similar limitations appear in other fields such as music, athletics and the arts, she said, and Aboriginal people need and deserve more than just tokenism.
"We are not a racial minority within Canada. We're distinct nations. The fact that we're not in the mainstream, that you don't see Native people depicted as normal people with the same hopes and dreams as other people, is an insult, really," she said.
Himmelspach has decided to start up her own business that will promote and assist Aboriginal people and make the maximum use of their talent. She's also going to get to work on decision-makers in the mainstream, to sensitize them to what she perceives to be an unconscious bias against Aboriginal people.
An expression that the would-be entrepreneur uses frequently is "breaking away the ice." She's taking a positive approach to dealing with the way her people have been excluded from or limited in the mainstream. She believes that businesses will listen to her when she tells them that they're leaving Aboriginal people out. By creating a business that functions as an advocate for talented Aboriginal people, she can create a focused entry point into areas that have otherwise been closed to her people.
It's an idea that is gaining support in a variety of circles.
"I talked to the actor Gordon Tootootsis and he was extremely interested in this. He said he'd tell other people in the business what we are trying to do," she said.
Indian Affairs staff in Regina have put Himmelspach in touch with people who can help her set the business up. She has a consultant developing a business plan that she will be able to take to potential investors. She talked to a major bank to see how bankers reacted to her idea, and reported that the bank was interested in its potential and could see it as a good investment.
When she went to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations to solicit their support she discovered that they liked the idea but didn't have a lot of help to offer.
"They don't really have a category for me but several chiefs were really interested," she said.
An Aboriginal Business Canada start-up grant is expected by Nov. 1. After that, the plan is to convince between 15 and 20 First Nations to invest between $50,000 and $100,000 each. That will make them shareholders in a corporation. The roughly $1 million raised will be used to hire about 30 skilled people who will make the idea a reality.
"Within three to five years, I want this to be an agency that will be equal to any other in Canada," she said.
Himmelspach believes that Aboriginal people need help to fight through the long history of exclusion. She plans to hire experts in fields ranging from modeling to acting to the fine arts - people who know how to get talent or good work noticed in the major markets.
"We have so many talented people, but it seems that within our Aboriginal community we try to reach each other from the Aboriginal viewpoint. That's okay as far as it goes but I'd like to help take it further, to break out beyond the Aboriginal sector. There are so many doors open. We just have to walk through them," she said.
The idea for this business was sparked as Himmelspach watched her brother - Dean Gareau, 16, an accomplished snow-boarder with Olympic aspirations - struggle to get the kind of sponsorship, training, and exposure he needed to make it on the world stage. He had to turn to the non-Aboriginal community in Prince Albert for the necessary financial backing. She saw that the hard lessons he learned and the mistakes made along the way could have been minimized with a little guidance from someone who had been there before.
"We're offering the means," she explained. "The people who use our service will have to work as hard towards the goal as anyone else. So many Canadians always worry about what Aboriginal people get 'for nothing,' you know? But this is something we're going to get up and do ourselves."
It's not going to be a program, in other words, but a business that's run for profit that's designed to be around for the long term. Himmelspach is so serious about making it a success that she is willing to let somebody else run it.
"I don't want to be president. For that, you need somebody with a lot of business expertise. I see myself sort of supervising and keeping things true to the original goal," she said.
Pitching the idea and seeking support has been a consuming passion for her and she has already benefited from the process.
"I'm usually kind of shy and nervous but the passion I feel for this has overcome that. I've already done so many new things and learned so much about myself," she said.
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