The Aboriginal Newspaper of Alberta
Stoney band given green light, despite allegations by Rob McKinley
Grand chief wants plant shut by Rob McKinley
New minister visits west by Rob McKinley
Study hoped to explain northern Native sickness by Rob McKinley
People and Places: Busy on the powwow circuit by Ethel Winnipeg
Terrying About - Grads and powwow galore by Terry Lusty
Boy caught in middle of schooling dispute by Rob McKinley
Here is a full list of additional stories featured in the August, 1997 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not receiving your own copy of Alberta Sweetgrass, then you have missed all this information.
Click here for Alberta Sweetgrass subscription information.
· Letters to the editor
· Coalition against coal
· Premier's council helps disabled
· Powder-packing sport is a blast from the past
· High Prairie to host Native boxers
· No lazy day for Bruised Head at memorial rodeo
· 'The Boys' win Goodfish tourney
· Assumption kids have fun at mountain volleyball camp
· Hoop dancer Lisa Odjib places 2nd in world
· Goodfish celebrates
· Tradition going strong
· Wellness of mind, body is key at new centre
· Fire truck offers wet surprise
· Pipeline work course helps Métis workers
· Environmental agreement signed
· Peigan man earns masters degree
· Renters' advocate likes court action
· Syncrude announces university grant
· News In Brief
by Rob McKinley
Sweetgrass Writer
ST. ALBERT
A St. Albert woman and the St. Albert Protestant School District are locking horns over the education of an 11-year-old Native boy.
Francis, whose last name is being withheld at her request, said her grandson has special needs that just aren't being met by the school district.
Eddy, not the boy's real name, has recently been diagnosed with central auditory processing deficit, a disorder that impairs a person's ability to break down words and sounds in his brain. He has been taking special schooling through the St. Albert Protestant School Board, but Francis said it isn't enough.
He's just finished Grade 3, she said, and he's about to turn 12 years old.
Francis has been lobbying the school board to send her grandson to the Heritage School, a division of the Alberta School for the Deaf, where he can get the specific attention he needs. The Heritage School has told the family that Eddy meets the criteria for enrolment, but must have all the transfer paperwork done by September.
The problem, said Francis, is that the St. Albert school board won't allow or pay for a transfer to the special school. The cost of such a transfer, including transportation, would be about $6,000. The board recently turned down Francis' request for the transfer, a decision which the grandmother is appealing to Alberta's Department of Education and Minister Gary Mar.
The boy, she said, is a non-status Indian (his mother is Native and his father is non-Native.) Francis doesn't want to see Eddy end up like so many Native kids who get caught up in the system, but finding support for the fight has been tough, she added.
"To the Indians, he's not Indian, and to the whites, he's not white," she said. "I just want my grandson to get the education he deserves. . . I don't want to see him get lost like too many of the Native kids do who fall through the cracks."
Francis has hired an advocate to help in the fight
Laurie Wilson-Larson, who fights for parents' and children's rights on education issues, said this may be an individual case, but it touches on any taxpayer in the province.
She said the St. Albert school board may already have spent between $11,000 and $33,000 on this case. Wilson-Larson said meetings since May with the school board and Eddy's family means that teachers have to be brought in, substitute teachers contracted, administration fees provided, meeting honorariums paid, and miscellaneous charges tallied.
But the costs don't stop there. At the Alberta Education appeal level, costs could be as much as $1,000 per day for an average 20-day process.
"Alberta Education could have paid the kid to finish high school with the money they are going to spend on this appeal," said Wilson-Larson.
But money is not the only cost, she said. The boy's future is also at stake. Eddy needs fast action if he is going to make the deadline for the Heritage School.
Richard Krenz, district supervisor of student services, said Eddy can be taught in the St. Albert system.
Although he admitted there are no specific programs for students with auditory disorders like Eddy's, Krenz is confident "the schools' [special education classes] can adapt programs to meet the needs of the kids."
Krenz disputed Wilson-Larson's estimations when regarding the cost to the district so far.
"All it costs us is a special board meeting," he said. "Let's say $1,000."
He said the provincial appeal can cost upward of $30,000.
In any decision, he said, money is of little concern.
Krenz said that special education classes cost the St. Albert protestant school system between $7,000 and $8,000 per student per year. It is two and a half times the $3686 per student costs in regular curriculum classes.
Total cost for sending "Eddy" to the Heritage School was put at around $6,000 per year.
"We don't think of money, we think of the kids," he said, adding that if the local district offers a program, why would they pay to send a child to another jurisdiction for a similar program.
"Eddy" has been in the St. Albert system since kindergarten. He graduated to Grade 1, repeated Grade 1, graduated to Grade 2, then into Grade 3, and then repeated Grade 3. The school board has been offering the young boy speech therapy since Grade 1.
"Eddy's" family has spent the last two years trying to get the boy out of the jurisdiction and into the specialized Heritage School. This is their first appeal to the school board and the province.
Over the last five years, there have only been four other appeals made to the board.
School district trustee Kim Bugeaud said school board members have one important objective in making any decision, including appeals.
"Our policy enables us to focus on the child," she said.
And policy is carefully drafted and followed.
She stands behind any decision the board has made. When asked about special needs programming, Bugeaud said the district offers resources for all the children it serves.
If certain types of programs specific to a student's needs are not available in a school district, more emphasis is now being put on 'sharing' resources with neighboring jurisdictions, she said.
Any decision has only the student's best interests in mind, she emphasized. Money concerns, she said, are present, but are not a factor in decision-making.
Board decisions are based on policy and due process, she said, but that doesn't mean there are no emotions involved.
Many board decisions, and especially the appeals, are difficult situations for all involved, she said. In the end, it is the care of the student that dictates decisions.
"I know there's a lot of care for each and every child that's in that situation," said Bugeaud, herself a mother of school-aged children.
Alberta Education has confirmed that an appeal dealing with Eddy's situation has been initiated, but specific details could not be released.
"We are committed in the department. . . to make sure that everybody involved. . . can get on with the most important thing - the education of the student," said Gene Smith, public relations officer with Alberta Education.
Oki. The height of the powwow season has begun. I have been on the roads of Alberta quite a bit over the last month. The weekend of June 6 - 8, Brenda Dalla Costa and I (soon to be known as "The Powwow Groupies") went off to Morley, west of Calgary for the Paul Beaver Memorial Powwow. It was hosted by the Stoney Park singers and the Beaver family. Paul Beaver was the elder or father of the drum group. Around 1981, he and his sons formed the drum group, Stoney Park and traveled the powwow circuit. They are still going strong on the circuit today. Dancers and drummers from near and far came out to Morely to entertain the crowds I gave it two thumbs up.
While we were in Morley, we met singer, Curtis Assiniboine. He is the lead singer of Assiniboine Jrs. He is a Sioux/Ojibway from Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba. Curtis has been drumming for about 15 years. As well as singing, Curtis also composes songs and is a good drum keeper. He gave us information on his recording company called Wacipi Records. He had started this company because he wants to give the drum groups a partnership with recording and distribution for their records. At the moment, he is in the process of releasing some new powwow music. If you would like more information on Wacipi Records, you can call him at (204) 252-2524. Or write at 178 Veterans Tr., Long Plain First Nation, Edwin, Manitoba R0H 0G0.
After Morely, we went up north to the other end of the province and stopped in at Wabasca for their powwow. If you have ever traveled with me, you know that I sometimes think I know where I am going. This trip was no different. Instead of going the fastest way, I selected to drive along a more scenic route. It was better scenery, but it took a little longer than we thought. Anyway, we finally arrived in Wabasca and to our amazement, there was mud. Living in the city, I think we had forgotten how much mud can be formed out in the country. There was a lot of it. It didn't look like it was going to dry up any time soon, either. We were going to camp but we only had a tent and we didn't want to wake up floating to an unknown destination.
I was telling Brenda, that I was worried that people up there wouldn't like me because of what I do at the radio station (You never know about disgruntled radio bingo players). But they were not at all like that. The fine people of the Wabasca/Desmarais area showed a lot of affection for the CFWE and bingo! Thanks a lot guys for making our muddy trip something to talk about and remember.
I have some graduations to talk about. But before I start, I would like to congratulate my sister, Rebecca Winnipeg on receiving her Bachelors of Special Education.
With that out of the way, here we go!
The Samson Junior High School in Hobbema had their grade 9 graduation a few weeks ago. It was so impressive because there were 36 grads. That is the highest number of grads ever at the Samson school. Congratulations!
The AVC campus in Lac La Biche, Alberta had a special graduation
for the EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) program. since this
was the first year it has been in existence. There were 12 students
who stepped up to the podium to receive their certificates. The
happy graduates were: Jennifer Anderson from Gift Lake Métis
Settlement, Marie Brule from Bigstone Cree Nation, Molly Calfrobe
from Kainai (Blood reserve), Pearl D'or from John D'or Prarie,
Lori Dodman from Lac La Biche, Violet Lockett from Conklin Métis
Settlement, Connie Martel from Dene Tha' First Nation, Marjorie
Papilion from Edmonton, Glenda Rabbit from Montana Band, Hobbema,
Flora Royal from Siksika Nation, Lorraine Whitehead from Little
Red River Cree Nation, Janice Yellowknee from Bigstone Cree Nation.
Congratulations!
by Rob McKinley
Sweetgrass Writer
SWAN HILLS
An explosion at the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Centre in northern Alberta is just one more reason to shut the place down, said Grand Chief Jim Badger of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council.
According to the Alberta Environmental Protection department, at about 6:20 p.m., on July 21, an explosion caused one of two incinerator buildings to be shut down indefinitely. The cause of the explosion is believed to have occurred when benzene gas ignited in the incinerator. Government investigators as well as staff at the plant analyzed and monitored air samples in and around the site. They found that PCB's had also been released. Those readings were upwards of four times higher than acceptable levels.
The explosion and subsequent PCB contamination means that action must to be taken against the plant, said Badger.
"It's got to be shut down, without a doubt," he said..
He said the urgency to close the plant down was heightened last year when the company announced a leak of PCB's, dioxins and furans into the air. Although the leak happened in October, news and results of it weren't released by Environmental Protection until November.
The dangers of that leak were down-played by provincial health officer Dr. John Waters at a news conference in May.
Contaminants found in the meat of wild animals near the plant "pose no immediate threat to human health," Waters said. He did add that no more than 13 ounces of meat cut from animals hunted within a 30 km. radius of the plant should be consumed during any given month.
Area residents who rely on the wildlife for food were angered with the news. Now, with this latest incident, the calls to shut the plant down are stronger. With two incidents and the potential for further contamination coming in less than a year, Badger joked that the Aboriginal communities might not have to work too hard to lobby the government for action.
"I don't think they even need me to bring them down. They are doing a hell of a good job by themselves," joked Badger just an hour after hearing of the latest incident.
Along with the risk of contaminating more wildlife, Badger is upset about the lack of information coming from the waste treatment centre in the wake of this mishap. He said it smacks of mismanagement and is a replay of the October leak.
"The concern again here is that nobody was informed . . . they've obviously tried to contain the information," Badger said.
The 7,000 Aboriginal resident in the Swan Hills area, including hunters and trappers, should have been told as soon as it happened, said Badger.
The mayor and manager of the town of Swan Hills, located 18 km. from the plant, said they were informed promptly.
Manager Brad Watson said the company's track record for communications has been excellent since the October leak. Company representative make regular reports to town council members at monthly meetings.
Bovar president Monty Davis said people in the area should not be alarmed about the explosion.
"We don't believe that anyone is in danger in the area or in the environment. It was just fortunate that no one was injured in the explosion," he said.
The day following the explosion, Davis said it was not clear how much of the benzene gas was burned up in the explosion and how much might still be in the air.
He said that PCB's were not involved, however, he admitted that large quantities of benzene can cause cancer.
After the Environmental Protection investigation, however, Davis learned that PCB's were released, but said the levels were barely significant.
"You have to understand that this was less than one millionth of a gram in a cubic meter."
He said the PCB's were floating in the air inside the incinerator building. When the explosion occurred, that air was released to the outside.
The amount released, according to Alberta Environment was put at .478 parts per billion. Normal levels at the plant are at .153 parts per billion.
Davis said Occupational Health and Safety allow up to 500 parts per billion, so "this is one one thousandth of that amount on that day."
Not only was the amount released microscopic, he said, but the range the PCB"s traveled was also small.
"I doubt you can detect it much further than the [plant's] fence-line."
PCB levels were back to normal the day after the explosion.
Health concerns may be exaggerated, he said, adding that none of his employees have developed health problems and the PCB levels in workers' blood levels are no higher than the average Canadian.
Reports of animal deformities are more likely the result of natural parasites and bacteria, said Davis, and not a result of the plant.
"It happens naturally and its happened forever," he said.
Those kinds of assurances don't sit well with Grand Chief Badger.
He has seen physical deformities of animals in the area. The deformities, he believes, are due to emissions from the waste treatment centre.
"We have seen moose that have white growths on the heart bag itself . . . I've seen a kidney that falls apart . . . I've got a picture of a growth that looks like a penis sticking out of the moose's back," said Badger.
Health Canada has arranged to send investigators to the communities near the plant to study emission levels.
Jeff Moore, with Health Canada said the explosion just happened to occur as the final plans for the community visits were being made.
The study will begin on Sept. 6 and run for nine months. Information collected will be handed over to the communities.
"Then its up to them to decide where to go from there," said Moore.
From here, Badger said the communities will be doing all they can to provide proof that the waste treatment plant is poisoning the environment.
Badger and other representatives from the Swan Hills area will be in Edmonton on Sept. 8, for environmental appeal board hearings, trying to have the plant's license to operate revoked.
Incineration of hazardous wastes have been suspended at the
Swan Hills plant until September 1.
Terrying About - Grads and Powwows galore
Tansi! Kinda wet summer so far; let's hope that changes real quick.
Whoo-eee! Just all kinds of graduations happening throughout Alberta. And, while we at Sweetgrass heartily and fully support and encourage this in Aboriginal country, it is next to impossible for us to get to each and every one of them. But, hey, congrats to all of those who have moved on. We're sure it was a great experience and, hopefully, one that will reap the benefits in the long run. Again, congrats to all. Well done!
You people over at Fishing Lake? Keep your eyes and ears open for the latest on local boy Sheldon Souray. Remember him? He was drafted by the NHL's New Jersey Devils and spent last year on their farm team. Is this his year? Mom, Lillian, thinks so. She, of course, feels he's got a good shot of moving up to the Devils this fall. Won't be that long before we all find out, eh? We're rooting for you Sheldon!
·Can you believe it! Aboriginals got to perform at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in the "Big Apple," otherwise known as New York City! It's true. Edmonton singers 'Asani' raised 10 grand for the trip and were the sole Alberta group to join nine others from across Canada in a tribute recognizing Canada Day. The group includes Cathy Sewell, Sherryl Sewepagaham, Donita Large, Debbie Houle and Laura Langstaff. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I understand the gals put on a show that people are still talking about.
·Rodeo season is in full swing now, with our Indian and Métis brothers making their presence known. The June 27-29 Ponoka Stampede saw Hobbema's Benji Buffalo hold his own placing third in Wild Cow Milking and fourth in Pony Express. Also from Hobbema, Dennis Ward grabbed sixth in Wild Cow Milking while Shane Yellowbird took sixth in Pony Express. Little guy, Sonny Littlepoplar from Hobbema won the Boys Steer Riding.
In Chuckwagon Racing, Glen Ridsdale was in eighth, but dropped to 13th overall, and David Shingoose placed 18th. As for last year's Calgary Stampede champion, Edgar Baptiste, he had a bit of bad luck and only managed 24th but will likely come back with a vengeance next year.
·The Sawridge Hotel up at Slave Lake was one busy place June 17-18 with the Chiefs Summit. Grand Chief Eddie Tallman welcomed delegates. Even the five candidates running for the Assembly of First Nations made an appearance.
·Ft. McKay just had their powwow. So did Alexander, Wabasca and Saddle Lake, Kainai July 18-20, and Tsuu T'ina as well as Batoche Days in Saskatchewan July 24-26, and Peigan and Lac La Biche Aug. 1-3.
·Looks like it was a record year for the annual Lac St. Anne Pilgrimage July 19-24. Some estimates are as high as 40,000 people!
Last but not least, the North American Indigenous Games in Victoria, B.C., took place from August 3-10.
·Attention northerners! Would someone please drop me a line or phone 455-2700 at Sweetgrass/ Windspeaker if you have an address and/or phone number for carver Marvin Bourque from Ft. Smith? Thanks. Talk with you all again, soon.
Despite allegations of wrongdoing at the Stoney First Nations, Indian Affairs has so far given the band council's operations a favorable-albeit cautious - thumb's up.
The Stoney band claimed attention two months ago when a provincial court judge, presiding over a domestic assault case of a Stoney area man, withheld his judgment until an investigation was done on allegations of corruption on the reserve.
Court transcripts of Judge John Reilly's comments reportedly state that, ". . . Residents of the reserve have described it to me as a 'prison without bars,' and a 'welfare ghetto.'. . . Over and over, in conversations I have with Stoney people and non Stoney who have worked on the reserve, the finger is pointed at Chief John Snow as a significant factor." Reilly went on to liken the reserve as a "dictatorship of a banana republic."
Repeated attempts to contact Chief Snow have been unsuccessful, but since the allegations arose, he has denied any wrongdoing.
Indian Affairs seems to agree with Snow .
Fred Jobin, acting regional director for Indian Affairs, said the department is concerned with the issues raised on the reserve, but have found nothing wrong that can't be explained by rookie mistakes.
"People need to realize that there was a new election with three new chiefs and a significant number of councilors (in December)." he said.
Many of the faults found after an audit of the band's financial statements for the 1996'97 fiscal year were due to inexperience, he said.
According to the books, Jobin said the band received $46 million in total funding last year for its population of approximately 4,000 members. It ended up, however, with a $5.6 million deficit.
Auditors provided a "clear opinion" of financial records so far this year, meaning that the paper work matched the numbers in financial records. The books also showed that the majority of the deficit was created by the previous council, Jobin said, and the current council just inherited it.
Indian Affairs is currently working with band administration to create a financial management plan.
Indian Affairs will continue to monitor operations of the band, and said if there are any illegal activities, they will be reported to the RCMP. So far, everything looks good, he added.
To date, "we are not aware of any criminal activity based on our reviews. We are not aware of anything being handed to the RCMP," he said.
Roy Littlechief, Elder and former chief of the neighboring Siksika Nation, thinks something is still very wrong at Stoney.
Littlechief said that Indian Affairs' role in the situation "is like having the coyote in charge of the chickens." He wants an independent audit group to examine the band's books.
A more thorough investigation into allegations made by the "grass roots" people is needed, he said.
MP Mike Scott, the Reform's Aboriginal Affairs critic has heard the concerns shared by Littlechild and many Stoney area residents. "The situation is pretty desperate," Scott said, after attending a press conference held in Calgary on July 24. "What a terrible position these grass roots people are in."
Fiscal responsibility is the big concern for the Stoney people, he said.
The government is "handing over money to the bands with open and loose requirements," he said.
Indian Affairs said their $4 billion annual budget provides money to First Nations across Canada and all funds must be accounted for.
"They must provide annual reports to us over and above the [annual] audits," said Jobin, defending the department's policies. "All the money we transfer to the tribe, including their own [oil and gas revenue] monies, must be accounted for."
Are there sufficient precautions and policy in place to stop the mismanagement of funds on reserves, Jobin was asked.
"We believe they are there," he replied.
At Stoney, the management plan will help get the band's finances on the right track, he said, but they will have to deal with the deficit on their own, and that may mean service and program cuts.
Indian Affairs will not bail them out, Jobin said.
"There are some very tough decisions that the community is going to have to make," Jobin said. "It's not going to be easy."
Funding cuts to social programs were what triggered Judge Reilly's initial scrutiny of the Stoney band.
He wanted an investigation at the reserve because funding cuts to special programs left the man accused of assaulting his wife with no where to turn for his drinking problems.
A revised financial plan and band budget is expected from the Stoney administration and council within a month.
By Rob McKinley
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jane Stewart was in Edmonton on Aug. 6, conducting a "meet and greet" style reception with several Alberta First Nation chiefs.
Sworn into the office on June 11, the Edmonton visit was part of her first national tour of First Nations and their chiefs.
Stewart said the national tour isn't a formal one.
"It is a 'meet the chiefs.' I am not announcing anything new with the chiefs," she said. "It's to get a sense of what the issues are region by region.
Economic development has been a top issue.
She said the department is committed to getting communities off the welfare system and into meaningful economic roles within society.
To do that, she said more bi-lateral relationships with business, the government (both provincial and federal) and Aboriginal communities need to be made.
"We need to reach out and bring in more allies.," she said.
The minister hopes that new Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Grand Chief Phil Fontaine will be one of those allies.
As the western leg of the tour coincided with the AFN elections in British Columbia,. Stewart said she got to meet Fontaine and expects to work closely with him on issues in the future.
"I'm hopeful that we will have a strong relationship,"
she said.
By Rob McKinley
Sweetgrass Writer
HIGH LEVEL
Higher than average Aboriginal health concerns may be explained in the final report of the Norhtern River Basin Study, expected to be released soon.
The findings of the six year study are expected within a month, and many Aboriginal communities in the north are interested to see it. The two main rivers flowing into the north are the Athabasca in the east and the Peace in the west.
Don Henriet, the executive director of the North Peach Tribal Council, hopes the report may explain the higher than average health problems being experienced in the High Level area.
"We have the highest rate of respiratory illness [in the province]," said Henriet.
Numbers and statistics are one thing, he said, but it really hits home when you see babies in strollers with oxygen masks and tubes sticking up their noses.
Industry in the area may be a culprit, he said, noting instances where fly ash in the air is sometimes thick enough to leave a layer on the dashboards of vehicles.
"If its coming into my vehicle, I want to know if its going into my lungs,' he said.
Not all the medical problems may be from industry, he admitted, some could be home-grown.
"Is it housing conditions, the air we breath, the water we drink, or the fish we eat? Just let us know so we can start to correct some of these things," he said.
Henriet said there have been several studies conducted in the area, and although he would like to have seen this latest one last a few years more, he hopes it will provide some answers, so the people aren't left wondering.
Henriet was a member of the board which requested government to conduct the Northern River Basin Study. He said local Aboriginal people wanted to get some answers and be a part of the solution.
George Smitt, chairman of the area's regional health authority said low birth weights and respiratory problems in the area are a concern, but whether answers will be found from a river-based study is hard to say.
"We have low birth weights throughout the region, from west to east and the west is 200 miles from the [Peace] river," he said.
Smitt said the Aboriginal communities in the area do use the medical services more than Aboriginal people in other regions, but there are a lot of factors to explain that.
"It may be the types of housing or the heating fuels. It's not necessarily the water that is causing that type of thing.'
At Fort Chipewyan, in northeastern Alberta, Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Archie Waquan is hoping the study will tell his people why they are suffering from arthritis and diabetes - illnesses that were non existent in the community 50 years ago.
He would like to see how badly area waters are polluted from industry, and not just local industry.
Waquan believes contaminants and pesticides travel up the river system from as far away as farmland in southern Alberta.
Developments and the lack of restrictions on pollution are making the people of the north very sick, he said.
"It's good to have development, but at what cost," he asked. "It's nice to have work, but at what cost."
Like Henriet, Waquan would like the study to have lasted longer, he also wanted more emphasis put on the people, not just the waters.
"We are the ones in the area and we are the ones being affected.
Health Canada helped sponsor the study with Alberta Health,
Alberta Environment and the Government of the North West Territories.
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