Top News - May -2002 Published May 15, 2002 Terry McKenzie took advantage of the metre-thick ice on Lac La Ronge to play a game of golf on May 1. This sheltered spot near Kitsaki Island was a par 5 on what McKenzie called "the largest course in the world." The barrel in the distance was used in place of holes in a normal green. McKenzie and his friend Gerald Fitch, who joined him in the game of snow golf, claimed they hadn't lost any balls, despite the white-on-white-they simply brightened up the balls with Jiffy markers. Photo by Carmen Paul Saskatchewan youth selected as national Métis role model Wanuskewin and U of S announce partnership Casinos giving back to community This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the May 2002 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot. Saskatchewan youth selected as national Métis role model Inna Dansereau Jason Mercredi, a Grade 12 student from La Ronge, was one of five people from across the country selected as this year's Métis youth role models at the National Métis Youth Conference held in Vancouver April 26. Mercredi was chosen as a role model in the personal achievement category. "I am not quite sure of any awesome gifts that I possess," Mercredi said after learning of his selection as a role model. "I've won such awards as the northern student achievement award, and the John Paul Proficiency Award and the Baptist Ratt Trophy. Both are awards which are given to students of Aboriginal ancestry who excel at academics, leadership, athletics, role modeling and overall commitment." he said. "I tutor kids in high school and junior high, I helped coach various basketball teams until I injured my knee. I ref children's basketball at the local elementary schools. I am a member of the 2002 Indigenous Games Team Saskatchewan basketball team. In the past, I have done volunteering at the local retirement home." Also selected as this year's national Métis youth role models were Melissa Bromley of Sudbury, selected in the Métis culture and heritage category; Terry Brown of Winnipeg, selected as this year's academic achievement role model; Melody Mercredi of Vancouver, this year's role model in the career advancement category; and Fauna Kingdon of Iqaluit, Nunavut, this year's volunteer services role model. Top Wanuskewin and U of S announce partnership Cheryl Petten, Sage Writer, Saskatoon Wanuskewin Heritage Park and the University of Saskatchewan are joining forces to improve awareness and understanding of First Nations culture among all people in Saskatchewan. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding on April 25, creating a partnership that was almost a year in the making. "The agreement in spirit is an agreement that acknowledges the growing importance of First Nations people in Saskatchewan, and our needs as Saskatchewan people to work together and to make sure everyone goes ahead, and part of that is cultural awareness," explained Wanuskewin CEO Sheila Gamble. "So the agreement struck between ourselves and the university is a partnership to forward both of our goals of creating awareness, knowledge and sensitivity of First Nations people." Wanuskewin and the U of S will work together on a number of joint initiatives under the agreement, Gamble explained. "Our Elders from Wanuskewin are going to be recognized as, I call them the PhDs of First Nations. And we're going to work with the University of Saskatchewan on cultural programming. So that's important to us." The university, in turn, will be able to help the park with some of its projects by doing the necessary research. "We're looking at doing several new projects at Wanuskewin, one of which is an Elders lodge where an Elder and his or her family can live, and there's a ceremonial room attached. And there's a fair bit of research that goes with that. And so, on things like that, we can partner with the University of Saskatchewan on research initiatives to tap their expertise." Among the contributions Wanuskewin will bring to the partnership is provision of Aboriginal awareness education to university staff and students. The park also plans to develop an on-site satellite campus, allowing both First Nations and non-First Nations university students to take classes at the park. Elders will play an important role in the on-site studies, sharing their knowledge with the students. Under the partnership, Wanuskewin and the university will also be looking for opportunities to jointly sponsor events, such as the university powwow the two organizations collaborated on last fall. "So we're looking at more and more events like that, where we can work together. And we're also looking at Wanuskewin as a place where university personnel can come to practice or get involved in cultural and perhaps, if they're ready and that's who they are, in the spiritual side of our park," she said. "So that's where the agreement starts. And as quoted in the agreement, it's meant as the foundation for a dynamic, productive and evolving relationship between the two parties in the service of Aboriginal education." While Wanuskewin and the U of S have had a working relationship in the past, this agreement brings that relationship to a new level, Gamble explained. "There has been a relationship, but its never been identified as a partnership, and its never been to the extent that this partnership will be. I mean, the University of Saskatchewan has discussed putting their crest on our gate, and putting our crest at the University campus, to truly feature this partnership." While the partnership with the U of S is the first such agreement entered into by Wanuskewin, it is far from being the only partnership the park is developing. Wanuskewin is also working on partnership agreements with other organizations, including the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC). The partnership agreement with the SIFC was actually signed April 26, but further details remain to be worked out before a formal announcement is made. Top Casinos giving back to community Marjorie Roden, Sage Writer, Prince Albert There were certainly enough nay-sayers who believed First Nations run casinos would be a negative influence on Saskatchewan's society, both morally and economically. Yet today, some of those very same people who resisted the change are now among the loudest supporters of these businesses. Not only have the casinos created jobs and brought revenue to First Nations, a portion of the casino profits have gone directly back into the communities through donations to local organizations. "Through (Prince Albert's Northern Lights) casino, we've made donations to the Prince Albert Fine Arts Festival," said Northern Lights Casino general manager Alphonse Bird. "We've also given to Special Olympics, Children's Haven . . . we've made a major donation there, last month. We donate quite a bit to community clubs in town." These donations have been made thanks in part to an agreement signed between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the provincial government in 1995, prior to the opening of First Nations run casinos in Saskatchewan. Because of this agreement, separate entities now referred to as Community Development Corporations (CDCs) were formed. "I think it's to help the community through their clubs, and to be a good corporate citizen in this community," Bird said of the role of the CDC. "It's just to be good corporate citizens, to keep money within the community rotating and giving it back." An example of that giving back took place on April 22, when the Northern Lights CDC donated just under $825,000 to the Victoria Hospital's medical imaging department to help replace aging x-ray equipment. "We aim to be part of the community, we do that on purpose," said McNabb. "We want to be part of that economic community, and a part of the economic future of those communities. So we're trying our best, certainly, to participate in all levels of the communities, right from the charities right into some of the longer-term economic plans." SIGA operates all of the First Nation run casinos in Saskatchewan, including the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert, as well as the Bear Claw Casino in Carlyle, Gold Eagle Casino in North Battleford, and the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton. One of the other projects that has received funding through casino profits is the Enchanted Forest light display set up in Saskatoon each Christmas. "Part of that money that we make, half of it, actually goes to the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation," McNabb said. "Also, two years ago, we were involved with the Children's Health Foundation. We helped them buy the pediatric ambulance, and that pediatric ambulance is stationed in Saskatoon, and serves northern Saskatchewan," McNabb said. "It's one of those things where money has never been before. Suddenly, here's all this money that's available to put into things like pediatric ambulances, hospitals, equipment, things like that. Saskatchewan as a whole is economically challenged when it comes to getting funds for these kinds of things, so these various groups and foundations could apply to these Community Development Corporations, and therefore enhance life for all Saskatchewan people because of the availability of those particular funds. "We know for sure that, with the pediatric ambulance, it's helped numerous families, bringing kids into Saskatoon, to University Hospital for specialty care. Delivering them from all over Saskatchewan, quite literally. And not only First Nations kids, but all children, who are fortunate enough to be helped," McNabb said. Top