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Top News - April -2001
Published April 9, 2001
Eval Lariviere from the Canoe Lake Old-timers hockey team
was awarded the Master Player Award following the Lawrence Weenie
Cup Memorial Legends Hockey Tournament held March 31 to April
1 in North Battleford. The old-timers tournament was held for
the first time with the support of the Battlefords Friendship
Centre Annual All Native Hockey Tournament. For more pictures
and information on both tournaments see
here.
Photo Credit: Brad Crowfoot
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Eval Lariviere from the Canoe Lake Old-timers hockey team
was awarded the Master Player Award following the Lawrence Weenie
Cup Memorial Legends Hockey Tournament held March 31 to April
1 in North Battleford. The old-timers tournament was held for
the first time with the support of the Battlefords Friendship
Centre Annual All Native Hockey Tournament. For more pictures
and information on both tournaments see
here. Photo Credit: Brad Crowfoot |
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Gervais
proving himself as city councillor
By Marjorie Roden
Sage Writer
PRINCE ALBERT
For the last several months, Darcy Gervais has been representing
people from in and around the city of Prince Albert in a couple
of different capacities.
Gervais has been representing Ward 1 - the West Flat area - on
Prince Albert city council since his victory in the civic election
this past fall.
"We've always had people parachuting into our ward for the
election. I don't think there's been one person from west end
representing the west end on city council since Morley Jaeger
was in," said Gervais.
The lead up to the election saw Gervais in a four-way race, which
included the then-incumbent representative Garnett Hewitt, along
with two other candidates. One of the distinct advantages Gervais
held going into the election was that he had lived in the area
for most of his life. "I think you have more invested interest
if you live in the area you represent," said Gervais.
"I think that's something that really helped me in the election,
that there was only myself and one other lady who were actually
from the west end. She had just recently moved into the west
end too, so she really didn't know the area. I've lived there
all my life."
Gervais is one of eight ward representatives on city council,
and at least one of the people in council chambers has been impressed
with the rookie alderman's performance thus far.
"I think he's doing a good job," said Prince Albert's
Mayor Don Cody.
"I takes time to get your feet wet. I think he'll end up
being a very good member."
Gervais has learned that being one of the new members of council
means that you have to gradually get to know how the rest of
the council works before trying to implement any changes.
"It's just they don't know where we're coming from, and
that's why you don't really want to step on anybody's toes right
away," said Gervais.
"I'm just trying to get to know them, see where they're
coming from, see their point of view, try and get along with
them, and that way, actually have a shot at getting some stuff
[done for my ward].
Because if people think you're going to go down there and just
start kicking ass, we're going to get squashed every time. There's
a really delicate shift that you've got to use to support your
argument for stuff you want to get through."
While his role as councillor sees Gervais focusing his attentions
on Prince Albert, his other job has him expanding his focus to
other communities as well.
He, along with Bertha Birdsall-Burns, operate a court worker's
office for Aboriginal people not only in Prince Albert, but also
for people in surrounding communities.
"This office is one of the busiest ones in Saskatchewan,"
said Gervais.
"My partner [Birdsall-Burns] covers Shellbrook, Carrot River,
and Wakaw. I cover Montreal Lake and Nipiwan. We cover five areas,
plus Prince Albert as well. It works out good. If she's in Shellbrook
or Wakaw, I'm in town, and if I'm in Montreal Lake or Nipiwan,
she's in town, so we've always got the office covered."
Have there been any changes in how people respond to Gervais
in his capacity as a court worker since he won the election?
"They respect my opinion even more now because I'm a councillor,"
said Gervais.
"People have been a lot more receptive now than they were
before. It's always been good, but it's going better now. I love
my job. I'm just happy that I can do both."
Of course, being a city councillor is more than just sitting
in council chambers for the weekly televised Monday night meetings.
The job also includes sitting on various committees in the city.
"I've got library board, which is one that I actually wanted.
I'm on works and planning, and I'm on community service. I've
got some pretty good appointments," Gervais said.
Being at the beginning of his career as a city councillor, could
it be possible to see Gervais serve for more than one three-year
term in his position?
Mayor Cody says yes.
"I think you'll find a guy like that, if he does the right
thing, and particularly looks after the people in his ward, then
I think he may well be there for a long time. I think the key
thing to being a council member is not only what you say in council
and say in the media, but it's what you do in your ward, and
that's what is key to any council person."
By Denis Okanee Angus
Sage Columnist
In my community, there is a group of people who have organized
themselves into a "cowboy society." A few weeks ago
they hosted a round dance, and this got me to thinking about
what exactly it is they do.
This group has as its goal helping other people, especially the
youth. It started a long time before the First World War, as
I am told.
This is not just a Thunderchild activity. There are cowboy societies
at Onion Lake, Poundmaker, Little Pine, Sweetgrass, and probably
other First Nations too. The members of this society also help
out with ceremonies in the community.
In our community, the responsibility for this society has been
passed over the generations from person to person. It is just
the men who are directly involved in the society. There are about
40 members in Thunderchild and I am not sure how many members
there are across the province. But I am assuming there are quite
a few. I support their efforts because it demonstrates our ability
as Cree people to be self-governing. Self-government isn't just
the big "political" activities in our communities.
More importantly, its the things we do every day to teach, to
care and to be responsible.
The society members work with community committees to organize
trail rides, rodeos, horse races, chuck wagon races, flat races
and other events in the community. This year, on July 14 and
15, the Thunderchild society will hold chuck wagon races. (Mark
that on your calendar please.) Last year a little guy, Jamie
Ochipwao, won a saddle and a buckle at different rodeo events.
This is quite an accomplishment for a young man who is only 12.
When our boys have come home from these events they have been
excited. It's a good experience for the youth.
My boys have been involved in some of these events. Having horses
has helped to teach our boys responsibility. Sure they complain
all the time about having to go out and feed the horses (especially
on those really cold winter days), but that's the point of teaching
discipline. Both of our oldest boys have broken their own horses.
This is part of the training they have received with those horses.
We hear talk all the time about the "youth problem"
in our communities. Our youth are struggling, there's no question
about that. But I don't really believe that it is really the
youth that are the problem. As communities, we need to be providing
positive alternatives for our children. If we leave them unsupervised
and bored, they are going to look for adventure. As adults, we
often don't like the adventures they create.
Every community has good role models amongst our youth, like
the little rodeo cowboy who I mentioned earlier. If you build
activities for these kids, the others will often follow along
behind these young leaders.
Creating change in our communities is not really a hard thing
to do.
Elders and Internet help urban students reclaim culture
By Pamela Sexsmith
Sage Writer
LLOYDMINSTER
The hoop-dancing circle has opened up in Saskatchewan.
Well into its second year of practice and public performance,
the Lloydminster Hoop Dancing Club has become a showcase for
young Aboriginal talent in the border town.
Started by Sandra Opikikew in March 2000, the purpose of the
club was to help young urban Aboriginal students reclaim their
culture and tradition.
"We started as an Aboriginal troupe but have now opened
the doors to everybody. We have two non-Aboriginal and 18 Aboriginal
dancers. It is a different kind of cultural experience for our
urban children, very spiritual, following traditional protocol
under the direction of a respected Elder," said Opikikew,
a youth services worker with the Lloydminster public school division.
"Realistically, in the beginning, we did not know the Navaho
hoop dancing techniques or spiritual traditions and had to research
cultural websites on the Internet," said Opikikew.
Hoop dancer instructor Delvin Kennedy from Saskatoon also helped
to fill in the blanks. He explained hoop dancing lore in easy
terms to the children -what the hoops and colors represented,
what animals they were going to create, and the spiritual significance
of those characters," explained Opikikew.
"When the audience recognizes these animals and characters,
they clap, so the kids know that they have actually made those
images come alive in the hoops," she said.
Saskatchewan Elders are not familiar with hoop dancing technique
and Navaho mythology. Teaching respect for tradition, healing
and the four directions within the circle, however, is universal.
"Elder Bill Peechow from Frog Lake has really helped us
to understand our culture and protocol. He attends our performances,
gives a blessing in Cree and explains traditional ways to the
young dancers and audience. We are working as a team, learning
to perform together in sync. Our Elder wants everybody working
at the same pace; practicing and performing together, in harmony
as a group, the circle complete," she said.
Opikikew first realized that many urban Aboriginal children have
little or no access to traditional culture and teachings when
she started taking her sons to powwows.
"My son Desmond is a hoop dancer. Initiated by Delbert Wapass
as a grass dancer, he was taught hoop dancing by Kennedy, who
takes his students to 21 hoops. We felt that without some support
to keep up his interest, he was going to lose that skill, and
if he could teach, he could maintain that skill," said Opikikew.
The family approached Dr. Don Duncan, director of the Lloydminster
public school division, with a plan to start a children's hoop
dancing club, and was given strong backing and an enthusiastic
go-ahead.
Opikikew applied for a grant from IMED (Indian and Métis
Education) and received a matched grant in partnership with the
Lloydminster public school division.
In March 2000 they opened the club for students from Grade 3
to Grade 9.
"The club has attracted a cross-section of boys and girls
from the public and Catholic school systems, including Cree,
Métis and non-Aboriginal students. Our goal for the first
season was to master five hoops per dancer and give several performances
in the community. We shared tea and bannock with Elders at our
first presentation," she said.
The parents of the young dancers met as a group to decide on
a level of commitment. They became involved as drivers, backstage
support and wardrobe, helping to sew and organize hoops and regalia.
The goal for 200l is for 20 students to be able to dance with
10 hoops each at the year end performance in June.
The club is also aiming to include other dance categories in
the grand finale, including jingle, traditional, grass and fancy.
"Some of our children are initiated powwow dancers and are
helping others to learn, kids teaching kids. They are all very
keen to share their skills," she said.
The club has opened doors for students both culturally and financially.
"We are making jingle dresses right now. Normally kids don't
share or lend out their personal regalia. It is very expensive
to create. Skills have to be learned and passed on. A child's
grass dance outfit, without beadwork, costs $250 to make and
if the club can help in any way, we will," said Opikikew.
"It is different on reserve where many grow up, knowing
these things, watching the traditions passed on in their own
families and sacred ceremonies. We don't have that in the city,"
she said.
"With our club in its second year, we are just in the learning
stages. We do make mistakes and are glad that we have an Elder
to guide us," said Opikikew.
Plans for the club include a day trip to Onion Lake to perform
at the inter-school powwow, and fundraising to dance in Saskatoon
with the hoop dance troupe from St. Mary's School.
