Top News - November -2001 Published November 12, 2001 Does he bite? Andrew Whitstone takes a closer look at the bearskin that covers a showcase for cultural artifacts in the Big Bear Learning Resource Centre. The centre, part of the new Jack Kemp elementary school in Lloydminster, had its official dedication and opening on Oct. 10. Photo by Pamela Sexsmith Awards recognize best and brightest Minister says friendship centre funding is on the rise Goulet announces resignation from politics This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the November 2001 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot. Awards recognize best and brightest Ross Kimble Sage Writer Saskatoon "Human potential is something that is in everybody. It is a critical asset that sits inside and waits to be tapped." These words were spoken by Alwyn Morris, the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence, which took place at Saskatoon's Centennial Auditorium on Oct. 26. Morris certainly knows a thing or two about potential. As a Mohawk, he won gold and bronze medals as a part of Canada's 1984 Olympic team. The more than 40 Aboriginal youth honoured at the gala event also know a thing or two about potential. Ranging in age from 13 to 19, these impressive teens have already tapped into their inner strengths, and their accomplishments foretell a bright future, both for themselves and for the broader Aboriginal community to which they are all committed. As in past years, the Aboriginal Youth Awards were proudly staged through a partnership between the Wicihitowin Foundation and SaskTel. Both organizations have the foresight to understand that the gifted young people of today will be the leaders and role models of tomorrow, and that honoring youth provides encouragement for them to continue their development and for other youth to strive for the same level of excellence. "These aren't just any kids," read the event's program. "They are students who have been nominated by people in their communities as unique and positive role models, kids who are achieving goals and setting standards of excellence for others." Awards were presented in nine categories: sport, culture, community service, education, fine arts, recreation, leadership, performing arts and outstanding achievement. In the category of sport, 15-year-old Patrick Mitsuing of the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was honored over three other deserving nominees. Patrick is an accomplished track and field athlete, and also regularly participates in powwows across North America as a fancy dancer. In the category of culture, Alayna Tootoosis was recognized for her dedication to the Cree language. Alayna is a fluent speaker of Cree, and she works hard to preserve and promote the language to others in her community and across the province. Her efforts demonstrate her deep love of and commitment to her heritage. The award for community service was presented not to an individual, but a group-the Willow Cree Education Complex SADD Chapter, located on the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation. The chapter is made up of students from grades 5 through 12 who work hard to educate their fellow students and the general public on the frightening consequences of drinking and driving. Desarae Leah Eashappie, 15, from the Carry the Kettle First Nation, was the deserving recipient of the award for education. Desarae is currently in Grade 10 and maintains an average of 92 per cent. She also graciously helps others in both their academic pursuits and in appreciating the unique beauty of Aboriginal culture. Cora Fehr, from Dalmeny, took top honours in the category of fine arts. A talented artisan, Cora excels in crafting Aboriginal jewellery and working with traditional Native herbs. She has won a number of art competitions, and is always happy to donate her time or her work to worthwhile charities and causes. In the category of recreation, 16-year-old Mika Settee-Usiskin of Saskatoon was singled out for her lifelong involvement in sports, dance, music, drama and community work. For serving as a positive role model and providing direction for other youth, Monica Gardypie was presented with the Leadership Award. Monica is an active leader of many activities at her school, the Willow Cree Education Complex, including the SADD Chapter also honored during the ceremony. In the category of performing arts, 14-year-old Jarrod Jobb of Reindeer Lake took the award. He also joined two fellow nominees-the Floor Force Crew Breakdancers and the Willow Cree Dance Troupe-in providing the evening's entertainment, demonstrating a musical talent more than worthy of recognition. In the final presentation of the evening, Earl Paul, 19, of the One Arrow First Nation received the Outstanding Achievement Award. Earl is already in his fourth year of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan, and in addition to his impressive academic achievements, he also leads a well-rounded life that includes community service, sports and a commitment to his family and heritage. Though only nine deserving individuals and groups received the white buffalo sculptures symbolizing victory (hand-made by renowned carver Arthur Jack), none of the nominees were losers, for this event was not about competition, or status, or triumph at the expense of others. Cara Faye Merasty, another of the evening's speakers and last year's winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award, expressed this sentiment best. "All of the nominees are winners. You have all shown the determination to overcome all obstacles placed in your way. I feel that the wisdom of the Elders, and the culture and language of Aboriginal people is what helped me know who I am and what I want in life. All of you here have the strength to do the same." "Human potential is something that is in everybody," Morris said to the packed auditorium, with hundreds of young people, hundreds of potential leaders and role models, listening attentively and taking his words to heart. "It's your dreams that make all of us very, very proud." Top Minister says friendship centre funding is on the rise Paul Barnsley Sage Writer Brantford, Ontario Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps handed out a cheque at Brantford's Pine Tree Native Friendship Centre on Oct. 11; the minister told this publication it won't be the last. Interim funding of $898,992 was announced by the minister. The funds will assist with the delivery of programs. Eighteen friendship centres across the country will receive about $50,000 each. In Saskatchewan, those funds will be going to friendship centres in Ile a la Crosse and La Loche. After several rounds of deep cuts in the early 1990s as the government waged war on the deficit, Copps said her department is now trying to restore funding. "What we're trying to do now is regroup and improve," she said. "This is what I would consider a down payment on that. Part of what the prime minister's asked all of us to do is take a look at our own portfolios and see if there are areas where we can be partners in building the education skills and the economy of Aboriginal peoples and obviously friendship centres are a key to that." The money will help cash strapped friendship centres shore up their operations. "Lots of government agencies will give you program funding and even private sector, but it's very hard to get core funding. That's what this is about," the minister said. "It's a down payment on core funding for all the centres. What we're hoping to do is see their whole budgets increase in the next round of discussions. It's a first step." Canadian Heritage has seen an increased interest in Aboriginal programming since Copps took over. "I started getting agencies to create Aboriginal divisions. Now Canada Council has an Aboriginal division," she explained. Heritage has the prime responsibility for urban Native people and the minister said she took that seriously even before the prime minister promised to make Aboriginal social issues a priority in January's Throne Speech. "There are partners who will partner on projects, but we're actually responsible for urban Aboriginal funding. There's about $65 million in Aboriginal programming in the Department of Canadian Heritage, including about $15 million for friendship centres," said Copps. "The completion of the friendship centre system is certainly necessary, but it's part of a larger picture of looking at Aboriginal people's involvement in communities and some of the challenges they face in terms of employment and empowerment in urban centres. I'd like to think that part of this committee process and part of the Throne Speech is about taking a new direction and maybe looking at it from a different optic." Parks Canada is one of Canadian Heritage's responsibilities and changes are happening in national parks as well. "I was fascinated when I became minister that we call ourselves Canadian Heritage, but the heritage pretty well started with the Europeans. So I decided to try and correct that," the minister said. "We've doubled the number of people working in parks and I've given them a mandate to start doing Aboriginal interpretation, because I thought it was ridiculous that when we go to the parks we learn everything about the birds and the bees but nothing about the people." Asked if the money being targeted to security issues after the terrorist attacks in the United States might absorb money that is currently earmarked for urban Aboriginal funding, the minister said no. "If anything, the security issues underscore the need to build on cultural identity and cultural diversity. In Canada today we have a reputation as being a country that understands and respects different languages and different cultures and I think that's going to be really critical in the post-Sept. 11 period of transition because, clearly, religions and languages do not divide us," she said. Top Goulet announces resignation from politics Stephen LaRose Sage Writer Regina Even when he announced his intentions to leave politics, Keith Goulet couldn't help but be a trailblazer. Saskatchewan's first Aboriginal cabinet minister became, by his own volition, Saskatchewan's first Aboriginal former cabinet minister in mid-October. Goulet announced that he was not going to run in the next provincial election, expected within two years. Goulet said he's returning to his first love, teaching and education. To do that, he's going back to school in order to get his doctorate. "I have enjoyed my time serving in politics," said Goulet in an interview. "But I wanted to go back to get my doctorate, and there was no way I could do that and stay active in the cabinet. "I'm 55 years old and trying to get my doctorate at the age of 60 would be more of a challenge." First elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 1986, Goulet was re-elected by the voters of his Cumberland constituency four consecutive times, the last time in 1999. Saskatchewan's first Métis cabinet member, and the first to have been born on a trapline, held several portfolios in the government after the NDP took power in 1991. Those positions included provincial secretary, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan government insurance Crown corporation, associate minister of Education, Training and Employment, and minister of Northern Affairs. At the time of his announcement, Goulet was one of the longest-serving MLAs in the 58-seat Saskatchewan legislature. Goulet said his involvement in politics was an extension of his work in education. "I've believed in making positive changes in the lives of the people with whom I've come into contact," he said. "That's what interested me in education, and for me politics was an extension of that process." Goulet has been in the centre of some of Saskatchewan's largest political battles, and has done a lot of work to increase the voice of northern Saskatchewan within government. In 1986, Goulet became one of the first elected government members in Canada to vote against the Meech Lake constitutional accord, in protest of its ignoring of First Nations and Métis Indigenous and treaty rights. Those were issues he sought to overcome during the Charlottetown Accord talks, where he served as Premier Roy Romanow's right-hand man. As well, Goulet said, the Saskatchewan government has made sure northerners had their opportunities in economic development. "Saskatchewan now as a very good record in mining development for notherners' employment. Companies are required to have 50 per cent of its workforce to come from the north. And of those, 80 per cent are Aboriginal people. There's now as many as 1,000 Aboriginal people who work in the mining industry. In Canada we're seen as one of the leaders." As well, forestry companies now must agree to lease agreements with First Nations and Métis people for northern logging operations. This requires them to also follow northern employment and purchasing guidelines, he said. The Saskatchewan government has also done its share for northerners and Aboriginal people in the past decade, Goulet said. The province spent about $20 million from 1991 to 1995 installing water and sewer systems to several northern Saskatchewan communities. A second such program, which saw $25 million spent over three years, ended this summer and has provided the basic sanitation systems for the last remaining northern communities without water and sewer service. "This is a major achievement for the health and well being of people in the north, especially for young children and the Elders," Goulet added. He was also part of a delegation of provincial, northern and Aboriginal leaders who went to Europe in 1995 to attempt to block European community efforts to ban furs taken from animals caught with the use of leg-hold traps. Projects such as these show how government can be a force to improve people's lives, he said. And he's encouraging more Aboriginal people to become involved in Saskatchewan politics. "When I go back home, and I speak to the youth and tell them that I was born on a trap line, and look at the things that have been accomplished with me as part of the government, they feel that maybe, if they want, they can do that too," he said. Goulet already holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Education Degree from the University of Regina. He's a past executive director of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, and has worked as an elementary school teacher and regional community college principal. He's also helped develop the Northern Teacher Education program, and has worked as a Cree language consultant for Saskatchewan's Department of Education. Top