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Top News - November - 2003
Published November 10, 2003
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FSIN powwow a celebration of culture
Chiefs clean house during FSIN election
New painting at U of S portrays historic injusticesThis is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the November 2003 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot.
FSIN powwow a celebration of culture
Ross Kimble, Sage Writer, Saskatoon
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Cultural Celebration and Powwow took place from Oct.16 to 19, bringing together hundreds of the province's Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents for a gathering meant to foster unity, trust and understanding.
It was the second staging of the annual event, and coming at the end of a tumultuous week that saw the FSIN elect a new chief and two new vice-chiefs, it was a welcome chance for many attendees to relax and revel in the pageantry and camaraderie of the province's largest First Nations celebration.
"It is a perfect time to gather in a place of peace and harmony," said newly elected FSIN Chief Alphonse Bird in welcoming the large crowd. "What better way to do that than through a powwow?"
With the closely contested FSIN election just past, and with civic and provincial elections fast approaching, a long list of politicians and other dignitaries were on hand at the powwow, including Saskatoon's (since defeated) Mayor Jim Madden, incumbent premiere Lorne Calvert, and numerous other candidates from all the province's political parties.
Their messages of greater cooperation and increased opportunities for First Nations people were heard and appreciated. Politics, however, was a secondary aspect of the powwow- sharing and embracing Aboriginal culture was the event's predominant theme.
"We welcome you all to our circle. We extend our hands in friendship and support," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine to loud, approving applause.
Approximately 5,000 school children attended the Oct. 16 and 17 cultural workshops and demonstrations, which local school board officials feel make "a huge positive difference in attitudes and opinions." On the evening of the 17th, a gala reception was held, with entertainment provided by Tegan Littlechief and Andrea Menard. The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company wrapped up the evening with a staging of Askiy: The Land. On the 18th and 19th , the focus shifted to the powwow itself, with many of the best dancers and drum groups from across North America demonstrating their skills and competing for thousands of dollars in prizes.
Arsene Tootoosis from Poundmaker First Nation was the top-place finisher in the Men's Traditional (50+ age group) category, while Dianne McKay of Fort Qu'Appelle finished first in the Ladies' Traditional (50+) competition. Kevin Haywahe of Carry the Kettle First Nation won the Mens' Traditional Contemporary category, with Terry Brockie from Hays, Mont. winning the Mens Traditional Original and Tara Sandy of Pipestone, Man. winning in Ladies' Traditional Stationary competition.
Sekwun Ahenakew of Ahtahkakoop First Nation won in the Ladies' Traditional Walkaround category, with Randall Paskemin from Sweetgrass First Nation winning in Mens' Grass Contemporary, and Wanbli Charging Eagle of Eagle Butte, S.D. winning in Mens' Grass Original competition.
Serena Bull from Red Pheasant First Nation won in the Ladies' Jingle Contemporary competition, while Alanna Tootoosis from Poundmaker First Nation placed first in Ladies' Jingle Original, and Amos Yazzie from Farmington, N.M. won in Men's Fancy. Cheyane Baptiste of Red Pheasant First Nation claimed top spot in Ladies' Fancy Contemporary, Lisa Ewalk from Ocean Man won in the Ladies' Fancy Original competition, and Dustin Whitford from Rocky Boy, Mont. won in Men's Chicken Dance category.
Faron Desjarlais from Frog Lake, Alta. won in Teen Boys' Traditional competition, with C.J. Baker from Mandaree, N.D. placing first in the Teen Girls' Traditional category. Derek Stanley of Chitek Lake won in Teen Boys' Grass and Dabney Morin from Big River won in Teen Girls' Jingle. Milan Tootoosis of Poundmaker First Nation placed first in Teen Boys' Fancy, Alisa Ewack of Ocean Man in Teen Girls' Fancy, and Joel Tootoosis from Poundmaker placed first in Teen Boys' Chicken Dance.
In the drum categories, the Stony Park drum group took top spot in Contemporary, with the Big Bear group winning the Original.
Chiefs clean house during FSIN election
Paul Barnsley, Sage Writer, Saskatoon
Alphonse Bird, 41, of Montreal Lake First Nation, defeated incumbent Perry Bellegarde Oct. 16 to take over as the top man at the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).
Bellegarde was going for his third straight term but Bird scored a first-ballot victory, collecting 442 votes to the incumbent's 323. Change was in the air on election day-the two other positions up for grabs also went to the challengers. The office holders in all three of the FSIN executive positions that were contested this year were turfed.
The FSIN staggers its vice-chief elections; the second and fourth vice-chief positions were not contested this year.
Along with Bellegarde, both first vice-chief Greg Ahenakew and third vice-chief Lindsay Cyr were shown the door by the voting delegates, although the vice-chief elections were closer and required two ballots. Ahenakew was defeated by former vice-chief Morley Watson who ran unsuccessfully against Bellegarde in the last election and sat out the last term. Former Thunderchild First Nation Chief Delbert Wapass replaces Cyr.
Bird came out of political retirement to run for the FSIN leadership. He had been working as the general manager at the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert. Elected grand chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) in 1993, he served two terms. Before that he was a PAGC vice-chief for a term.
His family is very active politically in Saskatchewan. His brother Richie is chief of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation. Roy Bird, another brother, is the regional director general of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the department's top bureaucratic position in the region. His father, Allan Bird, is a FSIN senator.
Alphonse Bird will also take over as the Saskatchewan vice-chief on the Assembly of First Nations' executive board.
New painting at U of S portrays historic injusticesSage Staff
A new painting hangs in the College of Law moot court room on the University of Saskatchewan campus, and members of the college hope it will serve to remind those who enter the room of the injustices Aboriginal people have encountered in the past, and of the need to ensure those injustices do not continue.
The painting, Despair Not Our Children: Summer" is one of four paintings by artist Marina Crane of Tsuu T'ina First Nation near Calgary. The paintings depict the story of 38 Santee Sioux warriors hanged in Minnesota on Dec. 26, 1862.
The warriors were among 307 Santee Sioux condemned to death following a conflict that began as a result of settler encroachment on Sioux lands, which followed years of ignored treaties and broken promises. The cavalry was sent in to end the uprising, and 307 were arrested and sentenced to death. When President Abraham Lincoln decided those sentenced were too many to hang, he reduced the number to 38, who were then hung in the largest mass execution in the history of the United States. The Summer painting portrays the families of the hanged men, and their flight to a new home.
Many Santee Sioux left Minnesota and settled in Canada. Their descendents include members of the Whitecap/Dakota/Sioux First Nation, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, Wood Mountain Firast Nation, and Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation.
Acting dean of law Dan Ish said it is fitting that the university displays the painting because of the school's proud history of considering Aboriginal justice issues.
"It will serve as a reminder of injustices of the past and the need to work toward ensuring justice for all in the future," Ish said.
The painting was donated to the university of Madame Justice Marsha C. Erb, an alumni of the U of S who was presented with the painting by the chief and council of the Tsuu T'ina First Nation to commemorate her appointment to the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in 2001. Prior to her appointment, Erb had served as general counsel to the First Nation. The three other paintings in the series, Spring, Autumn and Winter, remain with Tsuu T'ina First Nation.