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Top News - June - 2003
Published June 9, 2003
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Museums reach out to Aboriginal communities
Funds announced to improve First Nation water systems
University of Saskatchewan honours its Aboriginal graduatesThis is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the June 2003 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot.
Museums reach out to Aboriginal communities
Cheryl Petten, Sage Writer, ReginaWhile many museums across Saskatchewan have Aboriginal artifacts in their collections, those items aren't always displayed correctly, or with the proper respect required. But thanks to a project being undertaken by the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, that situation should soon be changing.
Through the First Nations and Métis Development and Collections project, the association will be working both to improve the ability of non-Aboriginal museums to handle Aboriginal artifacts, and to support Aboriginal communities to develop museums of their own. Lorne Carrier is community develop manager with the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, and is the staff person responsible for the project. He came to the position a year ago, bringing with him a dozen years of experience working in the Aboriginal cultural community. That experience was great preparation for his current position, giving him first hand knowledge of the challenges that exist in the province's network of museums.
"I was aware, of course, that there was a need in the museum community for resources in the Aboriginal community, for existing museums that are developing First Nations or Métis exhibits or already have exhibits that need updating. Or if existing museums are developing new exhibits, they may need resource people to contact in the First Nations community or Métis community to assist them in that so that their exhibits are not only culturally relevant, but the terminology is up to date, stuff like that, artifacts are identified properly.
"Every small town has a pioneer museum. And way back in the corner somewhere with the African artifacts and the South American artifacts, there's the First Nations or Métis artifacts. And they're not properly identified, they're not properly labeled and they're not properly exhibited. In some cases, there may be, I'm not saying that it's all the cases, but there may be sacred objects mixed in there that these people don't know that they are sacred objects. So we would bring that to their attention, and they are properly either put away, given back to the communities, or in some cases identified as such and taken care of properly by First Nations Elders of Métis Elders, whichever the case may be. So there is a need in the museum community for this kind of endeavor. That is why, primarily, I was hired by the museum association," Carrier said.
Carrier devotes about 40 per cent of his time on the job to working with museums in this capacity. The other 60 per cent is spent running the museum grant program, which distributes Sask. Lotteries funding to all of the province's museums.
In the year that he has been with the association, Carrier has already made inroads in his efforts to form a closer link between museums and the Aboriginal community. He's started a column in the association newsletter, where First Nations and Métis people within the museum and cultural community are invited to share the Aboriginal perspective on issues pertaining to museums, and association members are invited to write in with any questions they have about Aboriginal artifacts.
The approach being taken by the association grew out of Turning the Page, a 1992 paper co-written by the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Museum Association, which looked at ways to bring First Nations and museums together across the country. As a result of the paper, the First Peoples and Saskatchewan Museums Committee was formed with that aim.
The association further demonstrated its commitment to building bridges between museums and Aboriginal people when it became the first organization in the country to develop and adopt standards for the care of First Nations and Métis collections.
While helping museums to better deal with their Aboriginal collections is part of what Carrier does, he is also working to help Aboriginal communities develop their own collections, in their own museums.
"There are a number out there right now that are in the process of doing that," he said, giving Beardy's and Okemasis and that community's involvement in setting up a Treaty 6 interpretive centre at Fort Carleton as an example.
"There's also Marieval Enterprises in Cowessess, Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon-their virtual museum is going to be online by May 30, so they have a lot of information in there about Métis history and art and stuff like that. Also in the future, the Pasqua First Nation is going to be opening an interpretive centre. And at the very early stages, Moose Jaw is looking at turning that former wild animal park interpretive centre into a First Nations museum or keeping house kind of place. So there's a lot of initiatives in the communities out there, which we can assist. We're positioned as a representative of Saskatchewan museums to assist in these endeavors."
There are a number of supports the association can offer to community's wanting to set up their own museums, or to existing museums wanting to improve their relationship with the Aboriginal community, from providing training, to helping with funding.
"We have a certificate program. We also have a museum advisor here who has been on the job for a lot of years and is very knowledgeable about museums. And there's also myself, who's knowledgeable in the First Nations/Métis area.
"Of course membership comes with a museum grant program, which is ongoing grant funding , operational funding for museums in Saskatchewan. But you have to be a member for one year prior to applying for that. And we also have a First Peoples collections care grant ... for people that want to work with First Nations or Métis communities. They could apply for a grant of up to $2,000 to cover costs.
If they want to bring in an Elder, if they want to have a feast, if they want to do some research in this area, they could apply two times a year for this $2,000 grant. So it's not just a bunch of words on a paper, we back that up with a grant, with money, with operational funding."
Carrier is also working to add to the training already available from the association.
"I'll also be developing a certificate program in First Nations and Métis museums studies, which will complement our existing certificate programs," he said.
The First Peoples and Saskatchewan Museums Committee will act as an advisory committee on the new certificate program, which Carrier hopes to have developed by the fall. The next step will then be to get input from the Aboriginal community. Carrier plans to send the information on the program to organizations such as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC), the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre, and to tribal councils, "whoever wants to look at that material and comment and suggest on any kind of changes relevant to their communities.
"It's going to be widely distributed for comment, we're not going to work in isolation. Nothing works if you work in isolation, if it doesn't get the nod from, especially the Elders who are going to be consulted on these kinds of things," he said.
"I know it takes a lot of footwork, but it's worth it in the end, to have everyone agree, yes, this is what we want to see, this will help people to understand how to look after our artifacts, if not give them back. Look after them, display them properly, and tell our story properly.
"You know, it's all education. It's just a matter of education, and involvement in the museum community, that is going to get to the final goal of having everybody happy. When you walk into a museum, you're not seeing something that offends you in a cultural manner. You will see something that will make you feel proud that this thing is in a museum, and it's helping to educate people and helping for the overall understanding of each other's cultures. So hopefully, before I die, we'll reach that. I know it's a long road, and those things have been in museums, and it takes time for people to change. But you've got to start somewhere."
Funds announced to improve First Nation water systems
Sage Staff
The situation is urgent, says Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), and that's why a total of $600 million in new funding is flowing to improve the quality of water and wastewater treatment facilities in First Nations communities across the country.
Three federal ministries-INAC, Health, and Environment-came together on May 14 to announce that the monies will fund 65 major projects in 62 First Nations over the next two years. Also announced was a seven-part water management strategy to be implemented over the next five years to improve the safety of First Nations water supplies.
New statistics provided in a report entitled National Assessment of Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nations Communities (found on the Web at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/hsg/gih/ci/ic/wq/wawa/) show that of the 740 water systems assessed on 691 reserves, 218, or 29 per cent, pose potential "high risk" that could negatively impact water quality. Another 46 per cent, or 337 community water systems, require some repair. That's a total of 555 First Nations.
Only 185 of the assessed water systems in First Nations communities showed minimal or no problems.
Of the 462 wastewater systems in 459 First Nations communities assessed, 70 per cent required repair, with 16 per cent of the total posing a potential risk to health and safety.
The assessment reports that some waters systems are under strain because of economic development and population growth in the communities, while others, because they draw their source water from rivers and lakes or from groundwater wells, might not be able to meet water guidelines on a consistent basis.
Another challenge to overcome, reads the report, is the lack of trained and experienced water and wastewater systems operators on reserve.
"Specific training is required to operate the systems using a modern treatment technology, such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to treat water. Special skills are required to operate the complex mechanical wastewater treatment systems."
The assessment determined that inadequate operation and maintenance practices by poorly equipped operators are resulting in the premature replacement of equipment and system components, and leads to service interruptions. This premature aging "poses a significant challenge in providing safe water and wastewater services."
The report recommends that a training strategy must be developed and implemented to ensure all water and treatment plant operators have the sufficient skills, knowledge and experience to accomplish their duties.
There are nine other recommendations set out in the report. Perhaps paramount among them is the monitoring and reporting system that needs to be developed to "enhance the detection of drinking water and wastewater problems," and the emergency response plans that must be developed and implemented when problems are detected.
The seven-part water management strategy announced May 14 is based on a multi-barrier approach to safe drinking water as set out in a May 2002 report prepared by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water in conjunction with the Water Quality Task Group of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.
The document is called From Source to Tap and can be found on the Health Canada Web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca. It was prepared in response to the outbreaks of waterborne disease in Walkerton, Ont. and in North Battleford, Sask.
This multi-barrier approach is designed to protect source water from pollution, such as wastewater effluents. The assessment of the high-risk water systems in First Nations communities shows that faecal coliform was one of the materials found in the water that most frequently exceeded the maximum acceptable concentrations. Currently, 10 per cent of the total water systems in First Nations communities are under boil water advisories.
The seven parts of the management strategy include:
· upgrading and building water and wastewater facilities;
· effective water quality monitoring combined with a comprehensive and reporting regime;
· an effective and sustainable operation and maintenance program designed to ensure the quality of water supplies;
· continued expansion and enhancement of operator training and certification programs;
· integrated water quality management protocols;
· a public awareness campaign targeted at First Nations leaders, administrators and individual householders; and
· the establishment of a set of standards protocols and polices.
In Saskatchewan, work is already underway on four projects. A low-pressure water system will connect 21 homes with community water in Key First Nation. At Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation work is being done to replace the ground water treatment unit with a surface treatment unit. The project will also upgrade the pumping capacity. At White Bear First Nation, the water reservoir and building is being expanded, and a new well and demineralization unit is being added.
On Yellowquill First Nation the existing water supply and treatment system is being replaced. This project includes two wells, a water treatment plant with ground water treatment and a demineralization unit. It also means that 60 houses will now get piped in water.
University of Saskatchewan honours its Aboriginal graduates
Christine Fiddler, Sage Writer, SaskatoonDoctor of dental medicine graduate Glenda Orr from Flying Dust First Nation was one of the graduates honoured at a banquet for Aboriginal students from the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Science, held at the Saskatoon Inn on May 31. Her cousin, Adrian Lachance of Edmonton, sang a traditional honour song with a drum to recognize her for her achievements.
Lachance described Orr in a very positive light. "She's a very giving person, very motivated to being the best at whatever she puts her mind to. She's the only one in our family to get to this level of education and I acknowledge her."
Charlotte Ross, co-ordinator of academic programs for Aboriginal students with the College of Arts and Science, worked to put the banquet together. She decided that a banquet for Aboriginal students was truly needed when she was doing research for an internship. She found the names of Aboriginal students at the university, saw a large number of them, and decided to organize the event.
University student Ann Meese and a number of volunteers assisted Ross with putting the evening's program together.
Ross and Meese were both included in the group of honored graduates. Alice La Vallee, of Montreal Lake First Nation, praised Ross for obtaining her master of education degree and for her outstanding work at the university with Aboriginal students. Ross was given a pair of moccasins and was wished well in her ongoing journey.
Meese, who is from Whitehorse, Yukon was presented with a piece of Inuit artwork from her friends, Brenda Sam and Viola Papaqush. The two traveled from the their home community to publicly recognize Meese for her achievements.
"I liked it because I was one of the honorees," Meese said. "The food, the Elders, the presenters, honored guests, the veterans. My family was impressed by the veterans because they never see that back home, the veterans being honored like that."
As the most distinguished graduate, Messe obtained her bachelor of arts with a double degree in Native studies and anthropology/archaeology, with high honors in Native studies.
"I felt good being honored. Those who didn't get to go to their convocation got to be honored in this way," she said. Unfortunately, many students were unable to attend the banquet due to other commitments.
Artist Scott Stonechild of Muscowpetung First Nation, also graduated this year, with a studio art degree. He decided to take this area of study for numerous reasons, he explained.
"It provides me with freedom of expression, choice, and visual art to enhance the next generation of artists in all areas. I think it's a new beginning, bringing my Elders' teachings together. It enriches me at the university level, in the reserve, and with friends and family." Stonechild plans to take his masters program in art at the University of Los Angeles. He said his goals for the future include being able "to live more comfortably with my education, and hopefully my family will benefit from it. I'm happy that I've achieved this goal in my life and I hope my children achieve theirs as well."
Numerous presentations were made by family, friends, and community representatives to demonstrate the honour that the graduating students brought to their communities. Teejay Gardiner of Prince Albert was presented with a Métis sash by Robert Doucette, who represented Métis Employment and Training Saskatchewan Inc. Many others were also presented with gifts expressing the respect and pride felt by their family, friends, and communities.
Keynote speaker Maria Campbell, who is a writer and professor at the University of Saskatchewan, recognized the graduates for their accomplishments.
"It must feel good to finish this part of your journey. I'd like to say we are very proud of all of you for your accomplishments. It's your people, your communities who will benefit. Education has always been the heart of our culture. One of our grandmothers was a keeper of education, she did this through storytelling. This education has always been an important part of us."
Campbell spoke about culture as a positive factor in a person's university education, and of how this culture will be influential in future education at the university level.
"My dream and hope as a writer and teacher is the changes. In our university education I feel there has to be more content of our spirit and soul. It's important we bring our Elders to our classrooms. I also encourage our leadership to work hard and come to that leadership with your beliefs and values."
At the end of the evening, every attendee joined in a circle for a round dance, with the song performed by a drum group from Whitefish.