Cultural awareness
training valued by all participants
Heather Andrews Miller, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton
An exciting workshop hosted by Edmonton's Ben Calf Robe Society
(BCRS) is proving to be popular with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
participants alike.
The Cultural Awareness Training Series teaches the basics of
Aboriginal culture, history and traditions.
"Any interested person is invited to attend," said
Debbie Coulter, program co-ordinator with the society. "Right
now we are getting a lot of foster parents who are attempting
to more fully understand the background and culture of Aboriginal
children they have, or may have, in their care. They also want
to be aware of opportunities to include the children in cultural
activities as they are growing up," she said.
Employees of various social services agencies around town are
often attendees as well.
The program was originally offered during the day only, but presented
scheduling problems for many people who wished to attend.
"We redesigned it to run over two weeks, with four consecutive
evenings each week for a total of 16 hours, and we've had a lot
of positive affirmations of the new format," said Coulter.
Another BCRS facilitator, Lorraine Sinclair, continues to offer
the program in the daytime for those agencies that wish to enroll
during work hours.
"Teachers of secondary and post-secondary institutions are
often in attendance, as are employees from businesses who work
with Aboriginal clients," she said.
Sessions begin at an introductory level, with lots of handouts
given out for later review, explained Coulter. "By the time
the participants graduate, they have a binder full of information
to take home with them."
The comprehensive content of the workshop begins with an historical
overview.
"We go right back to the time before European contact, and
follow through up to and including the treaties. We talk about
how the lives of Aboriginal people have changed, with some, like
the Beothuk on the East Coast, actually being extinguished,"
she said. During the latter half of the course, more in-depth
study is taken of the content of the treaties, the Métis
and how their unique culture developed, and into the present
day."
"We talk as well about the terms of the treaties, and about
the Métis Settlements Act here in Alberta, which created
a unique system of communities throughout the province,"
she said.
Coulter, who is Métis herself, said the Settlements Act
and why and how it evolved has a lot to do with the history of
Canada and needs to be known and understood by Canadians.
In the spiritual teachings, an Elder attends and helps to explain
the smudges, how to offer tobacco, the responsibilities of an
Elder, the cultural role of Elders, and the meanings behind the
medicine wheel, the sweats and the pipe ceremonies.
"We also discuss traditional family values and the basic
ethics that are part of Aboriginal culture, often told to children
through the legends, which are shared from generation to generation.
Examples of traditional family values include respecting our
Elders, not interrupting, speaking with a soft voice, modesty
and many others," she explained.
The effects of the residential schools are examined, and the
resulting negative influence on family values.
"That's a major topic and takes up a large portion of our
time," she said.
Finally, the group looks at contemporary issues.
"How did we get to where we are today: gangs, AIDS, drugs
and alcohol, all of the current social ills," she said.
Coulter tries to tie the information to the participants. For
example, if there is a front-line worker in the group, or a foster
parent, they may ask specific questions.
"I often bring in a speaker, such as Danny Brass, who grew
up in the child welfare system, and he explained how it impacted
him." Hearing from someone who has lived the life of a Native
foster child in today's society is valuable to those in attendance.
The feedback has been encouraging.
"For instance, we talk about all Aboriginal cultures, Ojibway,
Stoney, Métis, and so on, and explore the differences
as well as the similarities, and people seem to find that worthwhile."
The workshops are limited to 20 participants so group sharing
can be better facilitated.
"We have many Aboriginal people who attend who also share
their experience with the others, and it really increases the
understanding."
The next session begins May 27 and continues through to June
7. "And we'll offer it again in the fall if there is interest,"
said Coulter.
Participants graduate with a certificate that is recognized by
the Alberta Association for Services to Children and Families
(AASCF), a local social work committee. Certificates are good
for two years, with an eight-hour refresher course being offered
which often contains updated information as Coulter and her associates
are always researching to add to and improve the content.
More information can be obtained from the Ben Calf Robe Society
at 477-6648.
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Community loses
respected Elder
Cheryl Petten, Sweetgrass Writer, Sturgeon Lake
When
Dan McLean passed away on April 9 at the age of 89, his passing
left a void in the lives of the many people.
Described by some as a trailblazer and a progressive thinker
who was dedicated to making things better for his people, McLean
was also remembered as being a man that was full of humor, who
never failed to make those around him feel good.
McLean was an honorary lifetime member of the Aboriginal Multi-Media
Society (AMMSA) board of directors, publishers of Alberta Sweetgrass,
but that was just one accomplishment on a
long list of contributions he made to the Aboriginal community
over the years.
Chester Cunningham, founder of Native Counselling Services of
Alberta, and another member of the AMMSA board, said he first
met McLean in the mid-1960s.
"He was on the band council with Sturgeon Lake. And I always
felt that Dan was the most progressive leader up there,"
Cunningham said. "It seemed when you went to meetings, it
was Dan who was putting forth the ideas. And he really cared
about his people, and realized that his people were going to
have to move ahead to survive."
And when oil companies came to the reserve wanting to drill,
McLean was very much involved in negotiations, Cunningham explained.
"Dan was at the forefront of all of the discussions. And
he could see ahead. He was the visionary, really I guess, seeing
what could happen."
When Cunningham created Native Counselling in 1970, McLean was
one of the first people he put on the organization's board.
"And he always came with new ideas. He was a bit more than
a board member. He also went out and did a lot of public relations.
But he was a real Elder," Cunningham said. "He was
always, right up to the end, he was always concerned about the
plight of his people."
McLean was also one of the founding members of the Native Federation
of Alberta in the late 1960s.
"It was sort of the organization that kind of spearheaded
all the programs for Aboriginal people in Alberta," Cunningham
explained. "We were always trying to get one organization
to provide services for all organizations. When the federal government
refused to fund the Native Federation, we kind of split off.
"And also they were involved in recruiting both Harold (Cardinal)
and Stan Daniels to run for their respective organizations, because
we felt that the organizations needed to move forward to a political
group rather than just more of a social thing. And as a result,
Native Counselling got going, Native Outreach, Canative Housing
. . . the communication network. And they all more of less got
their jump-start as a result of the Native Federation of Alberta.
But Dan was always involved, and was really level headed with
all of his decisions, and you could tell any of the decisions
he made were well thought out. And he listened to people,"
he said.
"He was just one fellow you could talk to, and he shared
information. I know whenever I stopped in, I was welcome at his
place. And I used to do it quite a bit, when I needed some advice,
or maybe a pat on the back or something, or wanted to discuss
something, Dan was always available."
Jim Badger, former grand chief of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian
Regional Council got to know McLean through the council.
"When it was first formed, I think he was one of the key
runners in the 1974 start up of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian
Regional Council. And he was very instrumental," Badger
said. Badger described McLean as a trailblazer, both in his work
with the council, and with his work in the early days of Native
Counselling Services of Alberta.
McLean's daughter Annette recalled her father's strong interest
in politics.
"He just loved it . . . he had such a passion for it. And
he believed in trying to retain or reclaim our treaty rights,"
she said. "The one thing that I always got out of him was
our treaty rights, and how they're disappearing. In all areas,
health, and you name it. We're just losing them. And he really
believed in education. That we need that education to help us.
And he always taught that, 'don't ever let anybody put you down.'
That you can do whatever you want," she recalled.
"Another thing that he did was that he was a trapper. He
was like a scientist, an environmentalist."
He was also very much a people person.
"He just loved meeting people. And learning about their
political situation or struggles," Annette said. "He
had a lot of friends . . . a lot of people really expressed how
much they really loved my dad."
At one point, Annette took a break from her career as a teacher
in order to do some writing with her father.
"I was trying to record his life, because he had so much.
But because I was his daughter, it was a difficult task. Because
you know, sometimes I had to ask some really personal things."
she said. "Back then, when I was doing the interviews, he'd
be honest. He'd be telling me his feelings. And so I managed
to record some. But then when the funeral happened, I felt it
wasn't enough; because there's so much. And he was so good for
details. He could remember dates. And he could tell the same
story, and add details to it," she recalled.
Her father had gone to residential school, and that experience
had an impact on him, she explained.
"He wasn't bitter from those years, but he learned from
them. And it seemed like he was on a journey of healing all of
the time. He was like a walking icon to me."
Dan McLean is survived by his wife, Eliza, son Arnold and daughter-in-law
Ernestine, son Paul, daughters Christine, Martha, Rosie, Beverly,
Ann, Ruby and Shirley, daughter Carol and son-in-law Lawrence,
daughter Doris and son-in-law Robert, daughter Sharon and son-in-law
Clarence, daughter Annette and son-in-law Billy Joe, as well
as 62 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and three great,
great grandchildren.
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