Top News - December - 2002 Published December 9, 2002 Proud mom Debra Hill from Thunderchild First Nation holds her daughter, Shakira Wuttunee, and a special stocking for baby's first Christmas. Photo by Pamela Sexsmith Yanke planning to partner with First Nations Two awards for Saskatchewan New audience, new host for Prairie Berry Pie This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the December 2002 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot. Click here for Saskatchewan Sage subscription information. Yanke planning to partner with First Nations Cheryl Petten, Sage Writer, Saskatoon For years, the Saskatoon-based Yanke Group of Companies has been trying to increase the number of Aboriginal people it employs, but with little success. So now, the company is trying a new approach. Instead of trying to reach out to individual Aboriginal people to interest them in positions with the company, Yanke is working to develop partnerships with tribal councils across the country, who will then in turn work to get the word out to their members about career opportunities in the trucking business. "What it is that I'm trying to do . . . is create a successful employment model for the trucking industry," explained Yanke vice president of human resources Neil Pritchard. "And that's based upon many years of going to career fairs, and sending out ads and working really hard at Aboriginal recruiting, but not really ever seeing the results." "We've got, I think, about a four or five per cent self-declared Aboriginal workforce. It's probably more than that, but that's what's self-declared. That's not good enough. And what's really amazing to me is the fact that, when we put ads out in the paper for hiring people, we don't see Aboriginal applications come in very often. So that tells me that we're not connecting very well, or we're not connecting in the right spot, or something." In order to start making those connections, Yanke has partnered with the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Council of Canada (AHRDCC) to develop their employment model. The ultimate goal of the plan is to increase the number of Aboriginal people employed by the company at all levels, right across the country. "It's an interesting thing, because transportation is Canada's largest employer, and the trucking industry has a huge, critical need for people. At the same time, you look at First Nations populations growing, and a significant need for employment, good employment, and so when you compare both of those things, there's almost no reason why there shouldn't be a real success story there, but there hasn't been yet. And I think its because of the lack of the process there . . . there just isn't a formalized process whereby employers can reach in and communicate effectively to the tribal councils to the point where there's a bridge between the two," Pritchard explained. "When you look at the real successful tribal councils out there, the ones that have really made some stuff happen, they've had really strong leadership within. And they've had a burning desire to make some stuff happen. And so to find those leaders, I think is the first step. And then to sit around the table and create the business plan, the business case, and then formulate the business processes that support that, so it's not just sitting around in meetings talking about cultural awareness and so on. Not that that's bad. But that in itself doesn't create jobs. We have to be more formal in our approach. And just going to job fairs doesn't do it, and just advertising doesn't do it. The people out there within the First Nations communities need to know what the trucking industry is, what it has to offer, and how to get into it. And so we have to build that bridge across too, I think," he said. "We're at the stage now where we're looking for large urban tribal council leaders across the country in places that are conducive to trucking so that we can test this model and actually create some success stories out there." That's where the AHRDCC becomes a key player, with AHRDCC president Kelly Lendsay taking on the role of introducing Pritchard to some of the leaders of the larger urban tribal councils across Canada, beginning discussions of how Yanke can tailor its employment model to meet their specific strengths and needs. The employment model has already been presented to the Saskatoon Tribal Council for its consideration. "There's probably two or three stages of this thing. The initial stage is that we've got jobs right now for truck drivers. And so that's the first thing, is that we start to show that the trucking industry in this country has a significant need, and we can actually hire people, today. That's the first thing. The second thing is, we need to be able to create sustainable employment out there. So how is it that we're going to train truck drivers, give them the experience, so they become more employable in the country, to the larger trucking companies that actually have this huge need," Pritchard said. "I'm convinced that once we have some role models out there, and some success stories, then it'll just start, like a snowball." Currently, Yanke employs about 770 people, right across the country. "And that's the interesting part, the fact that we hire all across the country means that we're very flexible in terms of where we can hire people. So if there's a large urban tribal council in Toronto or Vancouver or Winnipeg, and those are probably three areas that we're starting to target to start with, we hire right there. Nobody has to move anywhere. Because a truck is a basic unit of commerce, we can put a truck in anywhere. And because of the nature of the business, that work schedule can be pretty flexible, and we could put two people in a truck, or one, or three or whatever. So when you look at the trucking industry, and you look at Aboriginal employment possibilities, I think its a really, really good fit." So why have so few Aboriginal people become involved in the trucking industry so far? Pritchard believes lack of information is the main reason. "The feedback I get from a lot of people at career fairs is 'what's it all about.' They know what trucks are, running up and down the road in their local community, but what's a long-haul trucking company look like? . . . I'd say that there's just not a lot of understanding of how to get into the business," he said. "I think people don't understand the possibilities, the fact that the trucking industry is suffering such an acute need for people, and has the potential for people in all aspects of it, not just truck drivers, but sales people, dispatchers, accountants, it goes on and on and on. And so there's potential for not just truck drivers. And I think a lot of it has to do with just general understanding. I mean, if the general public out there, whether it's Aboriginal or whatever, understand more clearly what the potential is, then you will generate more interest. What the potential is is the possibility of long-term employment at a good rate of pay, and a lot of independence, Pritchard said. "If you're an outside worker, that is a truck driver, the potential to get an income of $40,000 to $60,000 a year is a big part of it. And you do it in sort of an independent environment. You're sort of your own person out there. And a lot of people really like that. You're not sitting in an office cubicle and being told what to do, and all that sort of stuff. So it's kind of a job that suits an independent nature very well," he explained. "I think to me, that's what's really exciting about it, is if we can make this work, it's a real win-win here, for a long time to come." Anyone wanting more information about Yanke, or individuals wanting information about becoming an employee can visit the company Web site at www.yanke.ca. Top Two awards for Saskatchewan Sam Laskaris, Sage Writer, Toronto The talents and contributions of the late Art Moosomin were recognized in Toronto on Nov. 28 as the fourth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA) were handed out at SkyDome. Moosomin, who was from the Mosquito First Nation, spent most of his life singing, having started at the age of eight. He was lead singer of the Mosquito singers, and did much over the years to preserve and promote the tradition of round dance singing, serving both as teacher and inspiration to younger singers. The CAMA was awarded to Moosomin posthumously for his last album, One More Time, which won the award for best drum song album. Another Saskatchewan winner was Pamela Whitecalf, who won the award for best album cover design for her work on the self-titled CD from Saskatchewan-based Spirit Whistle. Whitecalf took home the same award last year, when she won for her work on the Whitefish JR's' Cree Man CD. The big winner of the evening, however, was Faron Johns. The 49-year-old lead singer and songwriter for the Pappy Johns Band was selected as the best male artist at the awards, while the band also received the award in the best duo/group category, and in the best song/single category for their song Blame it on Monday. Band members were also honored, in conjunction with Alec Frasier, for being the best producer/engineer for their CD, also titled Blame it on Monday. The Pappy Johns Band had received five nominations at the awards show. The only accolade it didn't end up winning was in the best songwriter category, which was captured by Leela Gilday from Yellowknife, who won three awards, including the best female artist. "I would have been happy with one," said Johns, a Cayuga Native, who was born in Six Nations but now lives in New York State. "It was our first time ever submitting anything to any type of awards show. And we lucked out." Johns said there wasn't one particular award that he was most proud of. "As far as I'm concerned they're all equal. They're just like your kids. You're not going to say one is better than the other. You don't. They're all the same." Gilday doesn't have any problems picking her favorite of the three awards she earned. It was the one she received for best songwriter. Gilday, a 27-year-old Dene Nation singer, studied classical music at the University of Alberta. But her first full-length CD titled spirit world, solid wood combines rock, jazz and blues elements. "I didn't hear my voice reflected in the music I was singing (before)," Gilday said. "So songwriting is the most important part of what I do now. Songwriting means so much to me now and that's why I went into this kind of music." Gilday's CD was also won the award for best folk album. Alberta's rapping WARPARTY also had a couple of reasons to celebrate on awards night. WARPARTY's Exclusive Rez was chosen as the best rap or hip hop album. And the band also took home the best music video award for The Reign. WARPARTY had also won the best rap album at the 2001 awards show. "It gives us so much more drive that the people support and appreciate what we are doing," said WARPARTY's singer/songwriter Rex Smallboy. "It just makes it that much more fun and worthwhile with all the struggles we've had doing this. It brings it to another level." WARPARTY was formed back in 1995 but it wasn't until late 1999 that they released their first record. The band also made some history earlier this year as they were the first Native rappers to have a video played on Much Music. Smallboy said he didn't know what to expect at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Earlier this year the band had been nominated in two categories at the Prairie Music Awards but they came away empty-handed, a huge surprise to the band. "I didn't know what to think coming out here," he said. "And I didn't even plan a speech. I just thought whatever happens, happens. But it is important to me, just like the Prairie Music Awards were important to me. It shows some accomplishment and it's got some value to it." Another group, Bear Creek, also won two awards. The 17-person Ojibway group based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. was honored for having the best contemporary powwow album and also the best traditional powwow album. Both of those awards were for their work titled Live. The awards night also featured recipients of awards in three special categories. Winnipeg's David McLeod was presented with a Music Industry Award for his tireless work to promote Native talent on the airwaves. McLeod is the manager and program director at Native Communication. For the past dozen years McLeod has helped develop a Native Top 30 play list. He's also created a youth program called Rez Nation, that features Native rap and hip hop artists. He also spearheaded the design of a Web site that provides Canadian Native music resources. "It's just recognition of the work I've been able to do with the staff, with the station, with the network and it says you're doing a good job," McLeod said of his award. "But I also realize that there is so much more to do, which I look forward to." After being presented with his award, McLeod was asked to remain on stage as the evening's orchestra performed a special tune for him. Near the midway mark of that performance, McLeod, who was rocking back and forth to the song before, broke out into a full-fledged dance, an act which was an evening highlight for many of those in the audience. "I kind of heard some distant relatives saying 'You know, Dave, you should be dancing, because that is how you celebrate this award -you dance,'" he said. "It is an honor and something that I needed to celebrate. It felt right and it was good. "What I did not say in words I hope that in dancing it was something that showed the joy of receiving that award." Another special accolade was the Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music Award. That award was presented to family members of the late Sidney James Hill, a Mohawk from Six Nations who died in 2000. During his career, Hill influenced and inspired numerous guitar players throughout Ontario and New York. The Keeper of Traditions Award was also presented at the awards ceremony, going to Ontario's Mnjikaning Singers. The group consisted of Lorraine McRae, Irene Snache and the late Shirley Shilling, who died earlier this year. The Mnjikaning Singers have maintained their long-standing commitment to preserve and nurture the Ojibway language through song. Over the years they performed at countless concerts and even developed a curriculum for a school board in which Ojibway was taught through songs. Top New audience, new host for Prairie Berry Pie Inna Dansereau, Sage writer, Regina Prairie Berry Pie is back for a second season with a new host, and a new national audience. The show, aimed at a pre-school audience, made its debut on the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) in November 1999. The second season, which began Nov. 2, also airs on SCN, but is now also being broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Saskatchewan actor Kennetch Charlette, a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, has taken over hosting duties for the new season. Charlette plays a storyteller named David, a character he first played in guest spots during the first season. "It's about David living on top of a grain elevator with two puppets, Sasha the skunk and Clementine the porcupine," said Charlette. Charlette has been involved in the performing arts for 14 years. He believes that theatre can be used as a tool for healing and as a vehicle to educate. "The show is about teaching kids all kinds of things about everyday life. Everything from making sandwiches to doing things with boxes to things about Native culture-tipis, drumming and singing." Each episode is different but involves the same main characters as well as new guests each time. Joining Charlette and the puppets on a weekly basis are Kent Allen and Tom Rooney, who play brothers named Franklin and Gridley, and Melissa Hande, who plays David's friend Mackenzie. "Franklin and Gridley, they are sort of like the comic relief, they play a whole host of characters, different characters all relating to the show," explained Charlette. Rounding out the cast are puppeteers Janni Lauzon and Trish Leeper, who bring Sasha and Clementine to life. "My favorite thing about the whole show is the interaction between David and the puppets because he treats the puppets like real people." The show is produced by Minds Eye Pictures, Moose Jaw Light and Power, and Lots of Pie Productions. Filmed in June at the CBC studios, the show was as fun to produce as it is for kids to watch. "Oh, it was a blast. It was just such a great time," remembered Charlette. "You get to work with puppets, and you get to be silly, and you get to do crazy things, and just have a ball." Even though the only Aboriginal people in the show are Charlette and puppeteer Lauzon, the series is intended to have an Aboriginal focus, and several episodes were written by Aboriginal writers. "I do understand that it's going to be translated into four different languages, I was told. One is Cree, French and German, I think." Charlette said. "We're hoping that the public will enjoy the show especially the pre-schoolers, and I think they will. If and when they do make a call for the show, then, we're hoping that it'll be picked up and it'll be an ongoing series." Top