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A Merry Christmas to all! The gang at the Crystal Kids drop-in centre had a very welcome visitor in early December. Santa dropped by to check on who had been naughty or nice. With a hearty "Ho, Ho, Ho," jolly old St. Nick said everyone was going on his 'nice' list. Photo Credit: Rob McKinley |
Senate appointment surprises store owner by Kim Ziervogel
Schooling struggles are worth the risk by Christina Grant
Back into the school desk and on with life by Crystal Blain
Aboriginal culture on display at new gallery by Rob McKinley
A Christmas Truce: Grandma, Kookum and friendship by Gail Duiker
Terrying About - The Senate and a room full of old things by Terry Lusty
Here is a full list of additional stories featured in the December, 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.
Aboriginal high-tech focus of demonstration
Painter makes culture a career
Grandma has my wish
Fashion designer has success all sewn up
Family fun with TOPONA
Paddle Prairie Métis rider has rodeo in his veins
Albertans sweep CFR events
by Rob McKinley
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
The Alberta Provincial Museum is telling the story of 500 generations of Aboriginal people with the opening of the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture.
With 900 sq. m of space, over 3,000 artifacts and an 11,000 year frame of reference, the new, permanent exhibit at the Edmonton museum is an excellent learning tool for Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people alike.
Eric Nystrom, who entertained visitors to the gallery during the opening days, said the sheer volume of artifacts speak volumes about the past and the future of Aboriginal people in Canada. The new gallery, he said, is very spiritual and very educational.
"These sacred objects want to be here. They have a spirit of their own. They are here for a purpose and that purpose is to be used as a silent teacher," said
The teachings range back 11,000 years from some of the earliest artifacts found to the recent past and the 'dark period 'of Aboriginal life including the Indian Act, residential schools, and other assimilation attempts. Organizers and supporters of the new gallery wanted to show the public everything about Aboriginal culture - the high points and the low points. It offers visitors the chance to be awe-struck by the ingenuity of the Native people, share in their laughter, see the culutre and tradition though clothing, dance and music, and also to share the pain of the people as they struggle for identity and recognition. Through all the displays, the bottom line is the spirit of the people. That spirit is highlighted at the centre of the gallery with the Learning Circle.
A large tipi structure at the core of the gallery floor space, the Learning Circle will be used for education and teachings of Aboriginal culture.
Russell Joseph Willier said the new gallery is a perfect learning tool for young Aboriginal students looking at their culture and roots, as well as non-Aboriginal people who want to know the whole story about Aboriginal culture.
"We are trying to get some education going out to our young people and to people of different nationalities," said Willier, a member of the advisory board for the gallery and a traditional healer from northwest Alberta's Sucker Creek First Nation.
One of the most impressive elements of the gallery, in Willier's opinion, is the spirit depicted on the faces of the murals. He said the paintings have purposefully been depicted with the people smiling. All too often, he said, museum exhibits show bleak backgrounds with unhappy-looking people, this one is different, and that makes him smile.
"I am very happy with the exhibits. The drawings you see are of happy people. Other exhibits you see depictions of people that are sad or starving," he said. Willier believes the input of a mainly Aboriginal advisory board helped to make the displays more cheerful.
"Today, we have a say in how things are done," he said.
The board behind the gallery is made up of four Aboriginal people with extensive backgrounds in Aboriginal heritage. There was also assistance from over 500 groups or individuals from the Aboriginal community in putting the gallery together.
Aboriginal groups assisted with all audio-visual recordings, advised on the display of artifacts, advised on the residential school displays, created the replicas and provided recordings of their experiences and traditions.
Reg Crowshoe, from Brocket, is a member of the gallery's advisory committee. He said the co-operation effort brought about an evocative end result which generations of people can enjoy and learn from.
"Native people have had the chance to be a part of this exhibit," he said.
That input brought about a great sense of pride in order to present a "cultural renewal" to all people, he said.
Philip Stepney, the director of the provincial museum was very proud of the new gallery, which takes up one quarter of the museum's total space.
"This is the greatest thing this museum has ever done in its 30 year history," he said.
The fact that it focuses not only on the past but also on the present and future of Aboriginal culture is what puts the display a step above the rest, he said.
"This gallery doesn't stop with the history, it is a gallery full of hope and understanding," he said.
The Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture is now open to the public. The area was made possible by the hard work of many groups and individuals, along with $2.6 million in funding from Syncrude Canada and $268,000 from Heritage Canada.
by Gail Duiker
Sweetgrass Writer
LAC LA BICHE
A festive, made up story about coming togther during Christmas.
"Grandma Sanderson is coming," Mom waved the letter. "She says that she'll be here by Sunday."
"Gee, you might as well have waved a red flag in front of a bull," Dad warned as he looked toward his mother, Kookum Boudray.
The air around Kookum in our little house on the reserve seemed to go dry. It started to filter through the house. The atmosphere had changed.
Kookum put her sewing stuff back into the basket. With a limp, she crossed the room.
"Kookum, What happened to your leg?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Why just yesterday, you were dancing the Red River Jig."
"Son, these things come up sudden-like. Look at your Mooshum. He won the bonanza at Saddle Lake, and the next day he was gone. If you get a sudden shock, one never knows if one is going to bite the big one."
Dad laughed in spite of himself. "Where did you get that expression?"
"Television," Kookum replied.
"Come and sit down." Mom said, her eyes got all gentle. She gave Dad a warning look.
Kookum limped over to sit by Mom.
"Too good, you are to a useless old woman. Why in the old days, when we were a burden, we would just walk off into the cold and..."
"Kookum!" Do not talk that way. We love you," Dad said, coming to give Kookum a big hug.
"Son. Just because I live with you, I do not want to be in the way. Why when the other Kookum comes for a visit I can give up my bed. I can sleep on the floor."
Dad smiled and winked at the rest of us. "Thanks for the offer. But Kelly offered to give up her bed for her other Kookum."
Grandma Sanderson, as she liked to be called, arrived on Sunday. She was driving a big Cadillac.
I saw her pull up first. "Grandma Sanderson is here!" Mom and I put on our coats.
"Aren't you coming?" Mom asked Kookum.
"Too cold for my arthritis." Kookum continued her sewing. As Dad held open the door for us, he called to Chester, our dog. "C'mon, Boy. Let us see if you remember Grandma Sanderson."
Chester looked at Dad and let out a mournful yell.
"Bad luck. Make him stop. Bad luck to have a dog crying in your house," Kookum complained.
Grandma Sanderson breezed in. "Why look at all of you, a welcome home committee. And now, everyone I want a hug."
Kookum rocked stubbornly in her rocking chair.
I went over and gave Grandma a hug and she smelled different from my other Kookum. Where my Kookum smelled of sage and sweet grass, she smelled like that 'Evening in Paris perfume'.
Kookum saw that Grandma Sanderson was determined to give everyone hugs, and she walked across the room quite fast on her arthritic leg.
"Have I greeted everyone?" Grandma Sanderson asked.
Chester looked out from under the table and growled.
"Maybe if you hang your fur coat up, then he'll come out for a hello," Dad suggested.
Chester cast a doubtful glance. Even when the coat went into the closet he did not venture out from beneath the table.
Meanwhile Mom and Dad filled Grandma in about the reserve and who was doing what.
Then Grandma turned to me. "Well, my girl. Your mother wrote me and I heard that you were chosen to play Mrs. Santa in the school play."
"It is only a small part. Santa is the star," I said, knowing from past experience that Grandma Sanderson made a big deal about things. The truth was that sometimes I liked it. Sometimes the attention was too much.
"Your mother wrote me about this important part that you are playing in the Christmas play. And here I am. I have a surprise for you," she said and went and got a bag out of the hall closet. She brought it to me. "Open it," she said.
I ripped open the package. "Wow." Inside there was a brand new Mrs. Santa suit. It had a little hat and a skirt. "Neat! Thanks Grandma."
Kookum said slowly. "Too much happening. Too much excitement tonight. It is no good if one gets too excited at night. Can't sleep. And I got to get up early to make bannock."
"Don't worry, Kookum. I am going to bed. Goodnight Kookum and Grandma, Mom and Dad."
I listened to their voices until I fell asleep.
The next morning came early. A lot of yelling or some very loud talking was coming from the kitchen.
As we tracked into the kitchen, me and Dad in our pajamas, one Kookum was speaking in Cree, the other Grandma was speaking in English.
"You forget where you came from. Some things you can not make. New and improved!" Kookum turned to Dad and said "She was trying to put mixed dry fruit in my bannock."
"It is no different from the dry Saskatoons that you put in," Grandma Sanderson said.
"It is different," retorted Kookum.
Dad shouted above the two women's voices. "Good Morning!" I would like to call a truce."
After a minute or so, the women shook hands. Grandma Sanderson took her bag of dried fruit and left the kitchen.
For a few days, Kookum made herself scarce. After supper she went to her room and stayed there for long periods.
"Why is Kookum in her room?" I asked.
"It is a Christmas secret," Mom whispered. "She won't even tell me about it."
Well, the big day arrived, the day of the Christmas concert. After supper, everyone went to get dressed in his or her best clothes.
Grandma Sanderson was the first one waiting. For the first time since she arrived, she took out her white mink from the hall closet.
"Where is my Mrs. Santa suit?" I asked. "The last time I saw it was in the hallway closet."
Mom and Dad came downstairs.
Kookum followed. "I have the Santa suit."
As we stood in the midst of this miracle, as we took in the costume which Kookum held in her hands, the room became silent. Fringes of leather hung from the bottom of the skirt. Where there should have been white fur, there was buckskin. Everywhere there was beads and bangles and mirror medallions.
"An Indian Santa suit!" Dad sputtered.
"I don't know if my teacher is going to like this," I warned.
Kookum looked sheepish. "The other Grandma always comes with fancy gifts from the city. I wanted everyone to know, we can make fine things here, too."
This was when Chester chose to make his move. He got up from his favorite corner and slunk across the room. He made a high jump and did a triple somersault and as he was coming down, he grabbed Grandma Sanderson's prize mink coat off the back of the kitchen chair.
He growled and shook away at it, making bits of fur fly here and there. When he thought he had done enough damage and that the thing was, in fact, dead, he stopped.
Placing a triumphant paw on the coat, he turned to us for approval.
"The way I see it, I could become very upset at this moment
or I can call a truce with Kookum and forgive Chester," Grandma
Sanderson said as she offered a hand to Kookum to show that she
understood. Grandma led us to the door looked back at the dog
once. With a sigh, she closed the door.
Terrying About
- The Senate and a room full of old
things
Two big stories this issue are the appointment of a new Senator for Canada who is Métis, and the grand opening of the long-awaited Aboriginal Gallery. Let's take ladies first.
St. Albert: Métis Elder Thelma Chalifoux is now Alberta's appointment to the Canadian Senate. She replaces the late Sawridge Band Chief Walter Twinn who passed away at the end of October. Chalifoux is the first Métis woman named to this country's Senate.
She is a longtime advocate of Métis culture, a past community development worker, the first Métis female appointed to the University of Alberta Senate, an Advisory Elder to the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, the first Métis to receive the prestigious National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and a senior partner in Chalifoux and Associates Educational and Economic Consulting in St. Albert.
Way to go, Thelma! We know you'll do an admirable job.
Edmonton: The grand opening of the Syncrude Canada Gallery of Aboriginal Culture at the Provincial Museum of Alberta in Edmonton was a gala event on Nov. 30 as thousands turned up to get their first glimpse of a very impressive $2.6 million, 900 sq. m exhibition of Aboriginal history and culture that spans 11,000 years and 500 generations.
This unique display should be a part of everyone's "must see list."." Although the contemporary section is a bit weak due to space constraints, it is an commendable start and can only get better over time, especially when the museum expands it's facilities.
Ft. McMurray: Former Ft. McKay chief Dorothy McDonald returned home about a month ago following a lengthy stay at Edmonton's Glenrose Hospital where her weight plummeted drastically. We're happy to report that she's on the mend. Her hubby, Rod Hyde, says she has gained about 30 pounds already and is really improved. We at Sweetgrass wish you well Dorothy.
EDMONTON: Congratulations are in order to the Tribal Chiefs Institute
which collaborated with the Native Education Project to publish
a book entitled, The Cree People. The book was unveiled
at a recent education conference in Edmonton and is published
by Duval House. Nice work folks!
Sucker Creek: Harold Cardinal, former Indian Association
president, is back in circulation. Yes, the very same Harold who
penned the best-selling "The Unjust Society" about 25
years ago. Cardinal has been spotted at a few functions around
here since last summer following his return from Harvard University
where he acquired a Masters of Law. Currently, he's working on
a Ph.D. over on the west coast. Last week, he was milling about
in the crowd at the provincial museum.
Lethbridge: Just a brief update on the Friendship Centre movement in the sunny south. They have a new executive director in Sherman Butler and Kirk Buffalo is the president.
Bonnyville: Executive Director of the Bonnyville Rehabilitation Centre, Muriel Sikorski, informs us that it was a veritable beehive of activity in their area, especially during National Drug Awareness Week. At the time, they were at about 22 clients whom they took to the Elizabeth Métis Settlement and saw an "excellent" production of "I Am Alcohol" by Don Burnstick. They also travelled to Kehewin where they participated in the candlelight walk from St. Joseph's Hill to the town site - about five kilometers. For Christmas, they are planning a get-together of board, staff, clients, and family members. Have a good time, you here?!
Pincher Creek: Back south again, Harley Bastien, president of Friends Along The River has been doing one heckuva job in reclaiming land and vegetation. One of their pet projects is their "fish rescue" in October when the irrigation system is shut off which dries up portions of the fish's watery highway, leaving them stranded. Bastien's group nets the fish, weighs, measures and classifies them, then transfers them back to the Old Man River.
Unlike Senator Andrew Thompson who was recently kicked out of the Liberal Caucus for missing too many Senate meetings, newly appointed Senator Thelma Chalifoux plans on attending every meeting and hearing the Senate holds.
A grandmother to 45 (15 of them great-grandchildren) Chalifoux takes all of her responsibilities seriously. From a young age growing up in what she describes as a traditional Métis family, Chalifoux was given the task of taking care of family Elders. That is where she began to live by her credo "just carry on." And that is what Chalifoux does everyday.
"I only work for each day and ask our Creator and our Lord to do the best I can."
A woman who paved the way, Chalifoux was the first Métis woman named to the University of Alberta Senate, the first Métis woman to win a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and now the first Métis woman named to the Canadian Senate.
Chalifoux said she doesn't know how she was selected by the Prime Minister for the position.
"I was called to ask if my name could stand. They asked me to send a bio and a resume and I did," she said.
Toward the end of November, Chalifoux received a phone call from Prime Minister Jean Chretien telling her of his decision. She was surprised.
"He sounds like a very kind man," said Chalifoux, who met him briefly 10 years ago.
Although she admits she isn't sure exactly what the Senate does, she guarantees that within six months she'll be able to tell anyone who asks exactly what her role within the Senate is and what the Senate does for this country.
"I know it's a very important job," she said. "I don't know what difference I will be able to make but [my] good work ethic will make an influence on everyone."
Chalifoux should know about good work ethics. She owns two businesses: Chalifoux and Associates Educational and Economic Consulting and Secret Garden Originals, a craft store.
Two days before leaving for Ottawa for the swearing in ceremony, Chalifoux was working at the craft store, still granting requests for interviews, answering phone call after phone call and cleaning up last minute details.
Her two week trip to Ottawa is to secure a place to live while the Senate is in session.
"I'm not one to stay in hotels," laughed Chalifoux.
Finding accommodations is not new to Senator Chalifoux. She has worked with the Métis Housing Corporation and the Alberta Housing Corporation during the course of her diverse career.
Chalifoux hopes she can serve as a role model to young Aboriginal Canadians. She has a lot of advice to offer to all youth.
"We have to develop a good work ethic within our families so we can just carry on within the Canadian society."
Chalifoux was sworn into the Senate Dec. 2.
By Christina Grant
Sweetgrass Writer
PEACE RIVER
When Connie Cunningham discovered she had talked two male friends out of suicide without even knowing it, she knew her career lay in social work.
"I was already doing it all the time," said the former Peace River Métis woman now living in Fort St. John, B.C. "Those guys thanked me later."
The experience had a profound effect. Despite having grown up in poverty, with abuse in the home and having quit school at age 13, Cunningham made a pact with herself to enter the field of social work and help change some of the things she saw damaging the lives of all Aboriginal people around her. It wasn't easy.
Living in Peace River at the time, she enrolled in academic upgrading at the local campus of Fairview College.
"I had dropped out of school partly because of racism and partly because of a different set of values," she said.
Going back into the conventional education system was tough.
"I had low self-esteem; I didn't really think I could do it."
Although her Métis (Cree origin) parents had, on the surface, taught her to 'be proud of being Native', she'd picked up another message as a child growing up.
"I walked around with a lot of shame for a long time."
She later learned that her grandmothers were both raised in a residential mission school in Grouard, Alta. They left a legacy of self-deprecation and lack of parenting skills that Cunningham found herself struggling with two generations later. Compounding her quest to reclaim basic education was her personal situation.
"I was going through a divorce at the time." She also had two small children. "I almost dropped out (of the upgrading program) a couple of times."
She depended - and still depends - a lot on the people around her for support. Although they didn't say much, her mother and sister quietly applauded her efforts. And Cunningham credits a Fairview college instructor, Buff Smith, with making a huge difference.
"I had the idea, but she gave me the confidence. She helped me believe in myself enough to go after what I wanted."
Smith is co-ordinator of academic upgrading at Fairview College's Peace River campus and also a teacher in the program.
"She had to be incredibly dedicated. Look how far she's got," Smith said of her former pupil who finished the Fairview upgrading course and continued her education at the Northern Lights College in Fort St. John. Cunningham will graduate in April with a diploma in Social Work, and she was an honor student in 1996-97.
"Whatever she says she wants to attain, she'll do, said Smith."
Cunningham has indeed set a course.
"My long term goal is I want to work with abusive men," she said during a break from class. "After getting my diploma, I plan to pursue a Masters in Social Work."
She's drawing directly from her past in plotting her future.
"My dad was abusive to my mother, and then I married an abusive man."
She broke the cycle for herself, and is now intent on breaking it for others.
Cunningham has no illusions, however, about how much she can do.
"I don't expect to solve the whole male violence problem. But I'm hoping to get something started in the north. It's a challenge," she said. "Cunningham is overcoming challenges of her own. Money to pursue education is a constant problem.
"I don't qualify for any type of First Nations funding because I'm Métis," she explained. And assistance that is available for Métis doesn't cover post-secondary education. Taking jobs alongside - and sometimes instead of - classes has been necessary. To earn money before entering the Social Work program in Fort St. John, Cunningham worked for a janitorial service. Last year she worked as a peer helper at the college. Because she was turned down for some funding, she missed a semester. She was supposed to finish her program in January. Now a regular student loan program will get her through to graduation.
"I used to have to fight every year," she sighed. "It drove me up the wall."
She also volunteers in her field for the experience and personal satisfaction it delivers. Currently she's co-facilitator at a local drug and alcohol abuse centre. The job will become her practicum in January. Another challenge Cunningham has faced is internal attitudes.
"I had to let go of old beliefs that didn't work."
One was related to child rearing. Being a single parent then going back to school was a major leap.
"I had to convince myself it was okay," she said.
Today, her children are the greatest source of inspiration, and also her keenest fans. "They are totally proud of what I'm doing," she said about Misty, 16, Vanessa, 12, and Shelby, 5. "The biggest thing that keeps me going is I need to role model for my children."
Appalled by low high school graduation statistics for Native and Métis youths, Cunningham is determined to prove the value of staying in school.
"It's important in the world today to have education. I'm hoping that this whole generation will recognize its importance and become self-sufficient."
While she acknowledges that most schools run on a European model that clashes with traditional Native values and approaches, she says handling it is the only way out of countless destructive cycles.
"You have to fight fire with fire," she said.
What she most wants to give to her children is confidence in who they are and what they can achieve.
"I want them to know that no matter what happens in the world or with Native people, they can get over it."
She beams when she relates the attitudes her kids display.
"Now I hear them talk like I talk. They won't tolerate racism or any form of oppression. Misty wants to become a lawyer and Vanessa an author . . . Shelby, of course, wants to be different things every week."
Cunningham is as proud of her kids as they are of her.
"It makes it all worthwhile."
Kelli Moorhouse has been Cunningham's instructor and personal mentor at Northern Lights College.
"It's been a treat working with Connie,"
Moorhouse said in her tiny office crammed with books on counseling therapy, family dynamics and social welfare issues. " When I have a student like her, we explore things together. It opens doors; we both look at things in ways that challenge each other." Moorhouse has little doubt that her star pupil has chosen the right course.
"Connie has the ability to incorporate larger stuff with individual situations. She has a high level of self-awareness, and she's extremely non-judgmental.
"Connie is a very therapeutic person.... that's her entity.
She's really well-rooted, and she's on the road."
By Crystal Blaine
Sweetgrass Writer
CALGARY
Imagine picking up this newspaper just to try and fool your friends. Sure, you can scan through the pages looking at only the pictures but the truth is, you can't read.
Other tasks involving reading that many people take for granted include filling out forms for a job application or school enrollment or government documents. You end up taking the forms home and have to get someone else to help you, someone you can trust your secret with. Your life is a sham.
The Calgary Alberta Vocational College, in conjunction with Treaty 7 Economic Development Corporation, and Métis Human Resources Development Canada, is trying to reduce this all-too-common problem. Together the groups have created a basic literary program and adult upgrading course with an emphasis on employment.
The two programs, the Aboriginal Bridge Program and the Aboriginal Upgrading and Pre-Employment Program, offer people the opportunity to upgrade their learning to find better employment and better their literacy skills to make continuing education more attainable.
The programs are centred around a holistic way of teaching. Students study at their own pace in an atmosphere with a strong cultural focus. Students in the programs agree that this environment constitutes better learning.
Russell Wasacase is a Cree student in the new program who returned to the classroom to better himself and to walk the talk with his four children. He realized that if he wanted his children to stay in school he had to set the example.
Before enrolling in the new program, the 43-year-old had only a Grade 5 education. He said he hid behind his busy life as an excuse for not furthering his education.
"I had to pay rent and the bills, so I took small jobs," he said. "I had a strong back and a weak mind."
Since enrolling in the upgrading and pre-employment program, his confidence level, listening skills, life skills have all exceeded his expectations.
"I was very nervous about coming back to school. Some of my friends and family thought I was crazy. But if it wasn't for this school, I wouldn't be able to speak openly like I do now," he said.
With help from the resident career advisor and also through job shadowing, Wasacase has decided that welding, for the time being, would be a good career.
Achieving Grade 12 is not the focus of the program, employment is, said Linda Drinnan.
"For the most part, the students want to become self-sufficient. Therefore, if the student can gain employment in their area of interest to them and the job only requires a Grade 10 education, then why waste their time?" explained Linda Drinnan, an instructor with the program.
Drinnan has been teaching the program from the Calgary vocational college's Marlborough Mall Aboriginal Campus. One of the challenges she faces is the personalized teaching style required of her job. Since the students study at their own pace, Drinnan is the one-room school teacher of by-gone days, teaching students from Grade 9 to 12. As the students' needs change, so must the teacher, but she's not complaining. She truly loves her work.
"The most challenging part of my job is also the most rewarding and that is getting the students to believe in themselves," she said.
Barriers that kept the students from attending school earlier are wide ranging. Some of the older students remember the problems they had with the residential school system. For others it was substance abuse, lack of child care or transportation problems. The fact remains: they have overcome these obstacles and are on their way to a healthier, more confident way of living.
Part of this philosophy is written on the classroom chalk board. "Know what you have to offer and go get it."
For more information about this program, contact Gloria Contois
at 273-1873 or 219-3258.
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