Published June 7, 1999 "Just one more little adjustment and you'll be ready for competition. . ." These two young girls took part in the National Powwow that took place in Edmonton on May 28 to May 30. For more on the event, see page 8. Photo Credit: Bert Crowfoot Decision reached by Marie Burke Aboriginal Awareness Week in Calgary by Terry Lusty Esquao Awards honor women by Yvonne Irene Gladue Edmonton resident honored as Citizen of The Year by Yvonne Irene Gladue First Nations walk to demand accountibility by Yvonne Irene Gladue Talk to the Feather: Different views, common ground by Marie Burke Terrying About - National Powwow a success by Terry Lusty Here is a full list of additional stories featured in the June, 1999 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. Native women give recommendations on Bill C-31 Business contract brings success for Alexis First Nation Casting calls begin for 200 movie extras Circles in the earth still present mystery on the plains Buffalo jump provided tool for Aboriginal survival Actor/dancer foms new dance group Eagles in the top 20 Movie camp offers opportunity and growth for young people Decision reached By Marie Burke Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON The Supreme Court decision to strike out the words from the Indian Act that determined eligibility for voting in First Nation band elections may or may not affect First Nation people in Alberta. It will depend on whether bands have established or will establish custom election codes and whether those codes limit certain people. "The decision does not affect our First Nation because we are under band custom," said Eddie Tallman, chief of the Whitefish First Nation. Though Tallman is also the grand chief of Treaty 8, he said each First Nation has the right to autonomy and made a point of saying he was only speaking for his community as its chief. The chief said Whitefish band members are welcome to vote at elections whether they live on reserve or off reserve, that is providing they cast their votes at the Whitefish polling station, said Tallman. "The direction comes from the membership for approval of our custom election code. It is those people who come to our meetings that can decide and they have that right to be there," said Tallman. Each First Nation community should have authority over what happens for their band. How that happens should come from within the community through meetings. It is a special decision that belongs to that band, said Tallman. In Tallman's opinion, the court ruling takes away from the First Nation people's right to determine how law is made, which in turn takes away any decision making power of the people, he said. "When a ruling is made by a court that is not our law, it is not respecting First Nation autonomy - that's my beef. We signed the treaty with the Crown and they are not recognizing that we signed it nation to nation," said Tallman. He believes First Nations people are equal to other people in Canada, but, because of the special status First Nations people have through the treaties, they have a different relationship with Canada, said Tallman. There are bad court decisions and good court decisions, said Tallman. He points to the Supreme Court ruling on the well-known Delgamuukw case as a good decision. "The court said,'Yeah we believe you.' It re-affirmed what we knew all along," said Tallman. The Batchewana court decision, however, over-steps First Nation jurisdiction, said Tallman. "Because now the court comes along and says 'you have to do it this way or face consequences,'" said Tallman. For my First Nation, we'll let everyone vote who is a member," said Tallman. The issue of membership at Whitefish First Nation was prominent before 1985. It was then that Whitefish First Nation changed the membership code and there was very little time to do it, said Tallman. He is referring to the 1985 court decision, better known as Bill C-31, that spawned an amendment to the Indian Act. For some First Nations people, the Batchewana court decision may correct a biased system for the Aboriginal people who live off-reserve, according to Brad Enge, director of the Indigenous Law Program at the University of Alberta. It seemed inherently unfair to the people who live off-reserve, for whatever reasons, to exclude them from a vote." But Enge said the "Supreme Court did not go far enough to include the Aboriginal people who are re-instated through Bill C-31." The law director believes First Nations bands will find a way around the Batchewana decision because there are still ways and means of doing that through band custom membership codes. Another factor in the outcome of the decision will be how Indian Affairs decides to remedy the Indian Act so it conforms to the Constitution, said Enge. The court suspended the judgment for 18 months. In that time, bands can develop band membership codes and take control over who is a band member and exclude those people who don't reside on reserve, said Enge. "The issue is, is it a valid argument to assert an Aboriginal right to exclude members of a band who don't physically reside on the designated Indian reserve when elections come around?" asked Enge. Enge doesn't think it is a custom or a tradition of Aboriginal people to keep out those members just because they are absent from their home reserve, said Enge. "It is very disrespectful of modern day First Nation leaders to the grandmothers and the grandfathers, to the ancestors of those people, to deny them the opportunity to participate in the politics of the band. Those grandfathers and grandmothers kept the band together and respected one another. It is a very undignified way of treating band members merely because someone has higher political aspirations," said Enge. Some of the ideals of Aboriginal self government are geared towards inclusiveness because the traditions and customs can be hurt, along with the people, by using the Indian Act provisions to exclude people from being able to participate, said Enge. For the next 18 months Indian Affairs and First Nation leaders will meet to discuss the decision that will amend the Indian Act to make it conform to the principals set down by the Supreme Court of Canada. Aboriginal Awareness Week in Calgary By Terry Lusty Sweetgrass Writer CALGARY Calgary's Aboriginal Awareness Week is moving into its second decade of providing activities that incorporates films, arts and crafts sales, performing artists and a bannock cook-off that is in its fifth year. This time around, the theme is 'Honoring the Year of the Older Person'. Events begin Monday, June 14, with an official opening by city mayor, Al Duerr, at Olympic Plaza with members of the First Nations Veterans Association attending for the first time, said Carole Carpenter, program administrator. Monday's agenda includes readings by writer Cheryl Blood at With Our Own Voices, and a film screening of Forgotten People by Métis filmmaker Loretta Todd at EMMEDIA. The day also features a drumming group at the opening ceremonies, a Métis Nation speaker, and the friendship centre square dancers. A theatrical play, Laughing 4 Those Who Can't, written by actress Michelle Thrush and sporting an all-female cast is sure to delight as are two film showings - Honey Moccasin by Shelly Niro from Ontario and Generational Angst by Sheryl Kootenhayoo who will be on location to answer questions regarding her film. On Wednesday there'll be a play as well as an Elders sharing session over at the Glenbow Museum entitled Through Elders Eyes. There'll be an Indian taco luncheon on Thursday, topped off by a variety night at the Pumphouse Theatre that will feature Olivia Tailfeathers' drummers and singers, and the band Wandering Spirit, at 7 p.m. Appearing as a special guest is the 5th Generation, a family singing group from Regina. The highlight of Friday's activities is the bannock cook-off. Saturday's program will offer multi-media arts from the West Coast and an evening with Derek Starlight, an entertaining puppeteer from T'suu T'ina Reserve. To recognize the Year of The Older Person, there will be an Elders luncheon with storytelling, a craft sale and a colourful mini-powwow. Rounding out the June 14 to 21 week is a June 21 performance called From Jigging to Drums, at the downtown Olympic Plaza at 11:30 a.m. There has been a noticeable increase in attendance at live plays and art exhibits, said Carpenter. Carpenter thinks Aboriginal week is a great medium to help bridge the gap between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people. Esquao Awards honor women By Yvonne Irene Gladue Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON Charmaine Letourneau, a vice principal at Edmonton's School for the Deaf, Ernestine Ridsdale, a former teacher with the Northlands School Division in Paddle Prairie, Mary Ann Swan, a founder of the Friendship Centre in Athabasca, Hazel Wheeler, former president of the Cold Lake Métis Association, and Lilian Marie Sidonia Wuttenee an Elder to the First Nations Veterans Association were recognized as this years recipients of the Esquao Awards. The women were presented with a certificate, a bouquet of flowers and a shawl. Senator Thelma Chalifoux, Marlyn Buffalo president of the Native Woman Association of Canada, MLA Pearl Calahasin were among the 250 guests at this year's fourth annual Esquao Awards held at Edmonton's Coast Terrace Inn on May 14. Lilian Marie Sidonia Wuttenee an Elder to the First Nations Veterans Association The celebration dinner hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, included a fashion show, the award presentations and entertainment. Evening gowns, dinner jackets, crystal glasses and a meal fit for a Queen was the elaborate scene during the evening. Fifteen other woman nominated for the award were also recognized with a certificate and a single rose. "I congratulate the five women recognized for taking hold of their future, for setting their sights high and never giving up." said guest speaker, Calahasan. "Our footsteps mark future generations," she said. "Alberta offers unending opportunities for people with dreams, ambitions and the desire to work hard. The awards began in 1995 to honor Aboriginal woman from the province that make a positive contribution to their communities. The word Esquao is a Cree term meaning woman. Each recipient made huge strides to improve her life and those lives around her. "We've come a long way. It is time we start to honor ourselves and the strides we've made," said Senator Chalifoux, "For many years as women we were put down, we are not going to take people calling us squaw anymore," she said. Ernestine Ridsdale, a former teacher with the Northlands School Division in Paddle Prairie. Each year the number of nominees increases. The nominees come from all walks of life, from either the First Nations, Métis or urban community, all of whom have overcome many obstacles. Each woman is described as a pioneer woman in her respective field or career. "Next year, we will recognize every woman that is nominated. We may have to give out 20 shawls," said Muriel Stanley Venne, president of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. Models walked down a runway to show case Aboriginal fashions and designs. Aboriginal designers Jerri Manyfingers and Vi Roberts, and a fashion school from Grouard contributed the clothes. The awards ceremony was made possible by Petro Canada, Bank of Montreal, the Royal Bank of Canada, Shell Canada Limited and others. "We were thrilled that it turned out so well," said Stanley Venne. "We want to thank all of the sponsors that made it possible for us put together an evening such as this," she said. First Nations walk to demand accountibility By Yvonne Irene Gladue Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON A group of Treaty 7 band members hand delivered a letter to Indian Affairs on June 1 after the group walked from Fort MacLeod to Edmonton. The goal was to create awareness of the problems plaguing the band members on their reserve. They wanted to draw attention to the lack of accountability that the band's chief and council have to its members. "We are like a dog who chases it's tail, going around and around in circles. When we approach Indian Affairs we are told to go to chief and council. When we approach chief and council we are told to go and see someone else. Nothing ever gets resolved. The same situation is still there," said Celeste Strikes With A Gun, one of the concerned band members. Dominic Crow Shoe and two members of the Peigan reserve began their protest walk on May 17. The group reached its destination at Canada Place at 1 p.m. where they sat down to a meeting with officials from the Indian Affairs department. The group was joined by members from Treaties 6, 7 and 8. Each person told of the hardship and lack of communication they faced from elected chief and council on their reserves. They were hoping to meet with Minister of Indian Affairs, Jane Stewart, Premier Ralph Klein, and regional director of Indian Affairs Barry Robb, but none of them attended. Acting director of First Nations Relations of Treaty 7, Marcel Boutet, met with the concerned First Nation members. The group felt that members on the reserve were living in third world conditions. They claim that the department of Indian Affairs has one of the highest budgets in Canada, but the funds are accessed only by band chief and council and not by band members. The funds are spent according to how the chief and council see fit and very few of the dollars ever reach the members of the band where it is needed, said the protesters. The group also claimed that band meetings were held at exotic locales at the expense of the band, that welfare and unemployment on reserves exceeds 70 per cent. "The chief and council only create small jobs on the reserve. If I'm lucky in one year, I'll get a job from the band office for maybe a few weeks. I will make a few hundred dollars. The job project is finished so I go back for another job but they tell me that they already gave me one. So the cycle continues," said one member. When discussions ended the walkers were just as frustrated as when they began. "I do not think we had anything resolved," said Crow Shoe. "We are going to keep on trying to get our message across. We are frustrated. The walk has not ended. We are planning to walk to Ottawa if we do not get the results we need." Boutet told the group that Indian Affairs was doing the best it could. "I do not have the authority to do anything. I'm only acting for Barry Robb. I'm willing to listen. I agree that it must be very frustrating to everyone about the issues on your reserve. All I can say is that you elected the chief and council, now you are having a problem and we are doing the best we can," he said. "We will deliver this letter to the proper people," he said. The group is appealing to the non-Native community to assist them with a method of bringing about accountability, justice and a sense of order to the respective First Nations communities. They said they want someone to help them. They do not want welfare or to be dependent on others. They want dignity and a sense of purpose in life. "Whenever corruption is addressed in a non-Aboriginal community it is considered a criminal offense but when it is done on a reserve, Indian Affairs says that it is an internal matter, " said a concerned protester. Talk to the Feather: Different views, common ground By Marie Burke Sweetgrass Writer It is interesting how people can see one issue - and one another - so differently. Take for example men and women - obviously two different experiences with a lot of common ground. You might forget that there is a lot of common ground between men and women when you hear the two words that sparked the interest of several national leaders, men and women, at a recent conference in Edmonton. The words are Gender Equality. Gender is informally described as a person's sex; and equality means the same in value, particularly in this case, a person that is equal to another. Now, culturally, that could mean finding harmony between man and woman. Politically, it might have several different meanings. The meaning of gender equality translated into mainstream terms is just another way of saying some women might be trying this feminist thing on that some of our white sisters use to protect themselves in a man's world, said one Aboriginal woman. For me, I think I've been very fortunate that I haven't had to categorize men and women and, in most ways, our people's minds are beginning to change and become more open. The old way of thinking is slowly dying, the way that was taught to us in our modern schools and generations before that. When the missionaries came, they saw Native men and thought they needed more power over women. It was unthinkable for most European men in the early 1800s to ask a woman for advice. Today, I see men saying 'I need more women here,' not because I needed a woman to go to places where I couldn't, like the women's only bathroom, but because women are easier to talk to, they will listen and take in the information, then they will give you their opinion. What the men bring to balance the scales of gender and equality are: assertiveness and aggressiveness, in a good way. Men demand work be done and then they get it done, no nonsense, no fuss, no question of pathos. There it is again, an interpretation. The polarizing state of opinion not only takes in the issue of woman versus man, it takes in the on-reserve, off-reserve, the status and the non-status, the member and the non-member, question that is the state of affairs for some Aboriginal people. And the list could go on. The opinions of people that favor one solid color of an issue, that is one that can only be seen as one way or another but not both, forget that those solid colors are made up of all the in-between shades of blue, yellow, red and white. ****** Powwow alert at Treaty 8 commemoration The powwow scheduled for the Treaty 8 commemoration will start on Friday with registration for all dancers at 2 p.m. and the grand entry to follow at 7 p.m. That's the word from Paulette Campiou at the Driftpile Powwow Society. Campiou is concerned that dancers may be confused by the schedule of events that was published in the Treaty 8 event schedule. "It will run like a normal powwow, that is what most dancers are familiar with," said Campiou. Saturday's grand entry will start at 1 p.m. and Sunday's grand entry will also start at 1 p.m., she said. Campiou pointed out that the annual Driftpile powwow is happening, as in previous years, on Aug. 13 to 15. Edmonton resident honored as Citizen of The Year By Yvonne Irene Gladue Sweetgrass Writer Edmonton A Morris Cardinal print, a star blanket and a standing ovation were part of the celebration of the achievement of Gordon Russell, a man who spent most of his life in sports. The time and effort he contributed to the youth from the Aboriginal community paid off. The Native Counseling Services of Alberta recognized long-time Edmonton resident Gordon Russell as it's Citizen of the Year for the time and effort he's contributed to youth sports in the Aboriginal community. "I believe that Gordon deserves the award," said Allan Benson, executive director of Native Counseling Services. "Gordon did a lot for the Aboriginal youth." Russell began his coaching career in the early 1970's. He took up professional boxing and to make ends meet, he worked as a delivery driver for a bakery shop in the city. For a brief time, he also worked as a landscaper. Also in the early 1970's he fixed up a gym in his basement and completed it with a boxing ring, where he began to coach. "A lot of the kids that showed up there were Native. They showed potential, so I decided to work with them. They wanted to learn. They were serious, and it kept them off of the streets," he said. But Russell hasn't limited his coaching to boxing, it also includes running to fastball. "At one time I had up to 13 kids living in my home. I would have them billet at our home," said Russell. "I remember a lot of kids who lived with us, names such as Frank Pruden, Randy Jackson and Rita Houle were just a few of the names that stayed with us while they trained for competitions," he said. Russell attributes his ongoing interest in sports to the young people he's coached. "I did not plan on becoming a coach. I just sort of fell into it," said Russell. In 1976 he formed and coached Edmonton's Native Daughters, a successful fastball team. Russell who was born in England, moved with his parents to Alberta when he was three years old. He grew up in Castor, a community close to Red Deer. "I first met Gordon when he helped start a boxing club in Lac La Biche," said Benson. "He's done a lot to encourage kids through sports." Russell drove from Edmonton to the community of Lac La Biche twice a week to the gym he helped start there. Russel has been given the Edmonton Sun's Unsung Hero Award and the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Edmonton Sportswriters and Sportscasters Asociation. He was inducted into Edmonton's Sports Hall of Fame and is on the City of Edmonton's Boxing and Wrestling Commission's Honor Roll. Russell, who plans to keep on working with the Aboriginal community, now runs Crystal Kids. The centre provides free breakfasts to school age children during the week. Terrying About - National Powwow a success By Terry Lusty Tansi! The resounding success-yeah, I can still hear the drums-of the inaugural Canadian National Competition Powwow May 28 to 30 at the Northlands Agricom in Edmonton almost guarantees it will become a long-awaited annual event. Were you there to be a part of that little bit of history? The High Level Native Friendship Centre program director, Aman Mangat, reports that they have jigging and Dene language classes until mid-June. In the fall, they will be offering jigging and Cree language. Two summer students for youth programming will be around for the centre's summer camps. And, office manager Lorraine Gordon, will manage the centre's craft sales. The centre also held its annual general meeting and elections on May 26. The president, Jim Gardner, is in mid-term while the vice-pres Bill Wiebe was re-elected as were Secretary Rhonda Lizotte and board member Sheldon Robb. New directors include Connie Clarke, Manley Lambert and Andre Zawollich. Bareback bronc rider Kenton Randle of Ft. Vermilion has shot into the No.1 spot in Canada with his record ride of 91 on the May 22 weekend at the Cloverdale Rodeo in B.C. He was just two points shy of equaling the world record. We look forward to seeing him at the Calgary Stampede and, hopefully, the National Finals in Edmonton. On May 28, the T'suu T'ina Reserve held a tribute luncheon for their hockey hero, Brent Dodginghorse, who plays for the Calgary Hitmen. The Hitmen made it to the finals in this year's Memorial Cup, losing out in overtime to the Belleville Bulls, but Brent made a good showing and was spotted by NHL scouts, several of whom I understand are showing interest in him. If he gets drafted, that will make his year. As of May 29, the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton has a new president. Orval Belcourt got in by acclamation. Re-elected were Hazel McKennitt (secretary) and yours truly (treasurer). Other new additions are Jonathon and Brent Potskin. Ft McKay Band councilor Mike Orr projects that anywhere from 8 to 14 new houses will be constructed on their reserve. The band is also negotiating an upgrading of their water treatment plant to meet community needs. Fellow-councilor Raymond Powder says Chief Jim Boucher is working hard on land claims while he works with the Athabasca Tribal Council on their July 30 to August 3 Treaty 8 centennial celebrations at Poplar Point, about 90 river miles north of Ft. McKay. Talk about a good time being had by all! Folks had a great time at the first Blossom into Blues Festival in Edmonton. Ten acts, including the Downchild Blues Band, Swamp Mama Johnson and Bobby Cameron were well received. Organizer Frank Klemen assures blues fans the fest will be back next year. Proceeds go to S.I.R.E.N.S. (Support to Individuals at Risk in Everyone's Neighbourhood Society), a non-profit group dedicated to supporting youth by providing financial aid for sport and recreation, inner city youth choirs and teen dances. Native youth, especially in northeast and central Edmonton make up a good portion of their clients. Call Frank at 439-7460. Canadian cruiserweight boxing champion Willard Lewis returned to Alberta after breaking his hand in a tough 6-round bout against Wesley Martin from Texas on May 29. The fight, at Montreal's Molson Centre, drew over 20,000 people. The hand broke in Round 2, meaning Lewis fought one-handed for more than four rounds. Still, he managed to come away with a draw and remains undefeated at 15-0-1.