Mission Statement - Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre SICC Annual Report.pdf · Mission Statement To strengthen and ... South East Treaty #4 Tribal Council Chief Darin Poorman

Mission StatementTo strengthen and support the overall First Nations’ education and cultural awareness of First Nations people.

PhilosophyThe Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre has served First Nations people since 1972. It was the first First Nations controlled education institution serving at the provincial level. The Centre strives to maintain the cultural identity of First Nations culture who inhabit what is now known as Saskatchewan: Denesuline, Dakota, Nakota, Nahkawē, Lakota, Plains Cree, Swampy Cree and Woodland Cree.

Objectives• To assist in developing traditional and contemporary cultural skills of First Nations

people• To promote cross cultural awareness of First Nations peoples’ historic and current

role in Canadian society• To provide a First Nations resource base for bands and school systems so that First

Nations children may accurately inherit the values and traditions of their heritage• To conduct and facilitate research on First Nations’ heritage and culture• Above all, to respect and promote the Inherent Sovereignty of First Nations and their

governments, as recognized by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, confirmed by Treaties 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and Constitutional relationships

• To advocate the preservation of First Nations’ languages, cultures, traditional arts and history

• To advocate for First Nations’ control and management of First Nation cultural resources

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Board of Governors Message..........................................................Board of Governors..........................................................................President’s Message........................................................................Cultural Resource Management.......................................................Elders Advisory Council....................................................................Languages Department....................................................................Library and Information Services......................................................Audio/Visual Technical Department..................................................Financial Statements for the year ending March 31, 2012......................

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre305 - 2555 Grasswood Road EastEnglish River Business ComplexEnglish River First Nation #192JSaskatoon, SK. S7T 0K1Phone: (306) 244-1146Fax: (306) 665-6520Email: [email protected]: www.sicc.sk.ca

Table of Contents

/SaskatchewanIndianCulturalCentre /siccmultimedia@S_I_C_C

01Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre - 2011/2012 Annual Report

On behalf of the Board of Governors of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) I am pleased to submit the Annual Report for 2011 – 2012 to the Chiefs-in-Assembly of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). During the year the Board of Governors of the SICC has continued to provide sound institutional governance to the Cultural Centre. The values and principles of the Board members are reflected in the enhanced operational and program-delivery achieved by the Cultural Centre in the past year.

In 2012, the SICC will be celebrating 40 years of fulfilling its mandate to protect, preserve and promote the cultures and languages of First Nations. Since its founding the SICC has been guided by a traditional Elders Council. The membership of the SICC’s Elders Council is comprised of representatives of the Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nahkawē, Nakota, Plains Cree, Swampy Cree and Woodland Cree. A member of the Elders Council is appointed to the SICC Board of Governors to provide spiritual guidance and traditional knowledge. The

Elders Council provides a living connection to the rich heritage, cultures and languages of the First Nations of Saskatchewan.

Since 1972 the SICC has developed substantial educational resources and collections. In its catalogue the SICC has over 600 items of language and cultural education curriculum that are available for teachers and schools. As well, since its inception the SICC has been collecting the testimonies of First Nations Elders. Currently the SICC has some 3,000 of these testimonials in both audio and video formats. Many of the Elders who provided these testimonials have since passed on. The SICC Library has one of the largest collections of publications on Indigenous topics in one location. The SICC art collection details the evolution and history of contemporary First Nations’ art.

A critical part of the SICC’s mandate is the task of revitalizing Saskatchewan First Nations’ languages and cultures. In the past year the SICC has worked with First Nations schools, communities, parents, leadership and institutions to ensure our languages and cultures are passed onto future generations. However, sustaining First Nations languages requires significantly increased funding and resources. The SICC will continue to work to access those much needed funding and resources with First Nations communities and institutions.

The SICC maintains that the one established proven way to teach language is through immersion programs. Studies have demonstrated that First Nations students in immersion language programming do better in all their subjects. In light of these studies, immersion language programming is not a luxury that First Nations cannot afford, it is a necessity that First Nations cannot do without.

The SICC was designated to oversee the 2011 “Spirit of Our Nations” FSIN Cultural Celebration and Pow Wow. The SICC staff worked many long hours with the members of the 2011 “Spirit of Our Nations” FSIN Pow Wow Committee to ensure this celebration of First Nations’ culture was a tremendous success. The Pow Wow had more than 1,000 dancers of all ages – from the toddlers in the tiny tot category, through to those in the Golden Age category. The total attendance for the three days of the Pow Wow was just over 10,000.

The Board of Governors is pleased to present the departmental reports in this annual report. These reports detail the many significant accomplishments, publications and activities of the Cultural Centre in the past year. The SICC was the first cultural institution established by the FSIN. Much has changed in 40 years but the Centre has continued to maintain its core mission and principles. The First Nations of Saskatchewan will continue to see the SICC develop and enhance its capacities in the coming years. However, the Centre’s founding obligations to First Nations languages and cultures will continue.

Respectfully submitted,

Chief Ross AllaryChair of the SICC Board of Governors

Board of Governors Message

02 Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre - 2011/2012 Annual Report

Vice Chief Simon BirdFSIN

Margaret Keewatin Senate

Chief Carol Bernard Saskatchewan First Nations

Womens Commission

Chief Robert Head Independent

Chief Ross Allary South East Treaty #4

Tribal Council

Chief Darin Poorman Touchwood Agency Tribal

Council

Chief Leo OmaniPrince Albert Grand Council

Chief Albert Scott Saskatoon Tribal Council

Chief Pauline Okemow Battlefords Tribal Council

Chief Ben Weenie Battleford Agency Tribal

Council

Chief Sheldon Taypotat Yorkton Tribal Council

Chief Marie Anne Day Walker Pelletier File Hills Qu’Appelle

Tribal Council

Photo’s unavailable:

Tribal Chief Eric SylvestreMeadow Lake Tribal Council

Councillor Frederick Whitehead

Agency Chiefs Tribal Council

Board of Governors


President’s MessageOn behalf of the Board of Governors, management and staff of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC), I am pleased to present the departmental reports and audited financial statements to our First Nations’ leadership for fiscal year 2011 – 2012. With the guidance of the Board of Governors, the management continues to provide financial and administrative services that contribute to the efficient operations of the Cultural Centre.

The SICC was established 40 years ago as the primary cultural institution of the First Nations of Saskatchewan. The SICC is the leading institution of the 74 First Nations of Saskatchewan mandated for the preservation of our languages, cultures, traditions and heritage. The SICC was a realization of the vision that arose among our Elders and leadership for an institution to uphold the cultural and

spiritual contributions of our ancestors. As the departmental reports will detail the SICC has carried out extensive activities to fulfill its mandate.

The SICC began the process of obtaining ISO 9001:2008 certification in this fiscal year. Once this is achieved, SICC will have demonstrated the elements of good business practices and this certification will support and strengthen SICC’s continual demonstration and commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction. The certification process is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2012 and will allow the SICC to secure greater funding.

The SICC’s hosts a leading annual national conference for First Nations language and cultural education. The 2011 First Nations Language Keepers Conference attracted some 400 delegates from across Canada and the United States. At the conference the SICC held an annual Book Writing Contest for Students to encourage First Nation children to write in First Nations’ languages. The 2012 SICC First Nations Language Keepers Conference will be held on December 5 and 6 in Saskatoon.

The SICC provided management and cultural guidance for the 2011 “Spirit of Our Nations” FSIN Cultural Celebration and Pow Wow. The theme of the Pow Wow is “Spirit of Our Nations”, which captures the essence of what a Pow Wow celebration is about. Pow Wows encompass First Nations’ cultures, traditions and ceremonies. Through Pow Wow, we showcase and celebrate First Nations song and dance, with participants of all ages. Families come as dancers, drum groups and spectators.

In the fiscal year the SICC focused on providing programming and events for First Nations youth. More than 4,000 youth attended SICC events such as National Aboriginal Day, First Nations Storytelling Month, cultural and education symposiums, the 2011 “Spirit of Our Nations” Pow Wow and traditional parenting workshops.

The SICC Birds of Prey Program provides for the distribution of feathers and other items from birds of prey such as Eagles and Hawks for ceremonial and spiritual purposes only. The applications are reviewed and approved by the SICC Elders Advisory Council. The awarding of the feathers is done at a spring Feather Issuance ceremony where the approved recipients of the feathers are provided with direction on the proper protocols for handling these items.


The SICC’s auditor conducted the audit of the Cultural Centre’s Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards. Our auditor issued an unqualified audit report and the Centre’s Board of Governors subsequently approved these financial statements.

In closing, the staff, management and Board of Governors are committed to continuing the success of the past year while maintaining financial stability. In the coming year, the management and staff of the SICC will look forward to continuing to provide and enhance language and cultural programming to the First Nations of Saskatchewan.

Sincerely,

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre

Dorothy MyoPresident

President’s Message


Cultural Resource ManagementObjectivesThe objectives of the SICC Cultural Resource Management department are:• To facilitate policy development and other initiatives to guard against expropriation and exploitation

of Saskatchewan First Nation languages, traditions, ceremonial practices, cultural resources, traditional arts and history. This ensures that research, study and usage are done in an ethical and culturally appropriate manner;

• To advocate for the preservation of First Nations’ Treaty, historic, sacred, traditional usage and other sites of a special nature and to facilitate policy development and other initiatives required for ensuring the preservation of sites of significance;

• To facilitate the repatriation of human remains, sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, historic documents and other Saskatchewan First Nations’ cultural property maintained in government, non-government and private collections and to facilitate policy development and initiatives required to ensure repatriation and appropriate stewardship of items repatriated; and,

• To serve as a central repository for objects pertaining to the languages, traditions, ceremonial practices, cultural resources, arts and history of Saskatchewan First Nations and to manage the Centre’s collections.

SICC Elders CouncilThe SICC Elders Council is comprised of a representative of the eight First Nations language groups of Saskatchewan: Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nahkawē, Nakota, Plains Cree, Swampy Cree and Woodland Cree. In addition, the Elders Council has ceremonial male and female Elders. The Elders Council meets seasonally to provide advice and guidance to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the SICC. In the past year, three Elders Council meetings were held prior to FSIN Legislative Assemblies.

SICC Traditional Place Names ProjectThis project identifies historical names as they were known to First Nations people prior to treaty. Some geographical locations were known in First Nations languages at that time. The project began through the collection of historical and Indigenous knowledge of Elders, supplemented by other research.

The SICC is continuing to collect traditional place names by interviewing Elders throughout the 74 First Nations. Through video recording, our collection will continue to be enhanced. Digital maps have been created. The maps have been reviewed by staff and other resources for enhancements. There is a potential for curriculum and teaching resources suitable for the primary and secondary levels.

Community Pow Wow Initiation ProjectIn the fall of 2011 the CRM department staff carried out a Community Pow Wow Initiation Project where participants learned about the history of song and dance, Pow Wow origins, how Pow Wows have evolved over time, Pow Wow protocol and practices and the eight styles of dance. As a result of this project, four participants were initiated into the Pow Wow Circle at the Pow Wow. The four participants were in the categories of Tiny Tots Fancy Dance, Junior Boys Grass Dance and Traditional and Women’s Traditional. The Elders Council was on hand to carry out prayer and protocol. This project was positively received and will become an annual project.


First Nations Book Writing Contest for StudentsThe CRM department conducted the first annual Book Writing Contest for Students. This contest is intended to encourage First Nation children to write in First Nations’ languages. The contest was open to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Entries were reviewed and judged by the Book Writing Contest Committee. The Committee selected the winning book based on creativity and originality. The winning entry was a book in Nahkawē – Ānīn Ēnimanjiwin Nōngom? (How are you feeling today?) submitted by the Fishing Lake First Nation kindergarten class.

SICC Birds of Prey ProgramThe Birds of Prey Program allows for the distribution of feathers and other body parts from birds of prey such as Eagles and Hawks for ceremonial and spiritual purposes only. The program is conducted through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.

Every year, the call for applications is January and the deadline for applications is April 30 to accommodate for spring and summer ceremonies. The awarding of the feathers is done at a spring Feather Issuance ceremony where the recipients are provided with direction on the proper protocols for handling these items.

SICC Cultural and Ceremonial ActivitiesThe SICC has secured interim ceremonial grounds on Yellow Quill First Nation land near Wanuskewin Heritage Park. Under the guidance of the Elders Council, the SICC hosts and coordinates seasonal Sweat Lodges and Feasts at that location. The CRM department fulfils cultural protocol for other SICC activities such as the annual “Spirit of Our Nations” FSIN Cultural Celebration & Pow Wow and the SICC First Nations Language Keeper’s Conference.

SICC Cultural Teachings ProgrammingThroughout the year the CRM department hosted a series of traditional parenting workshops that foster traditional cultural skills for young First Nations parents. These workshops provide the participants an understanding of what it means to be granted the duty of caring for and guiding the development of our First Nations children.

The CRM department provided traditional and contemporary cultural skills development activities at the homecoming celebrations held July 20 to 24, 2011 at Okanese First Nation. The SICC assisted with the coordination for this event by securing resource people, identifying session topics and drafting a budget.

A highlight of the homecoming was tipi teachings led by a member of the SICC Elders Advisory Council. At the 2011 Treaty 4 Gathering, staff led sessions on tipi teachings, tribal history, language revitalization, First Nation syllabics, and culture through art.

SICC Cultural StrategyThe SICC Cultural Strategy is a strategy to establish First Nations culture as a way of life through the development of traditional and contemporary cultural skills as guided by the Elders Council. Currently, the rolling draft of the Cultural Strategy is enhanced through Elders testimony through video recorded interviews, and also material gathered from traditional parenting workshops and youth cultural symposiums and is scheduled to be complete by the end of spring.

Cultural Resource Management


Elders Advisory Council (2011-2012)

Alma Kytwayhat (Late)

Plains Cree

Joe O’WatchNakota

Velma Goodfeather (Late)Dakota

Hartland GoodtrackLakota

Philip MorinWoodland Cree

James Sylvestre Dene

Isabel ImpeySwampy Cree

Dolly NeapetungNahkawe

Photo unavailable:


ObjectiveThe overall objective of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) Languages department is to ensure the preservation, revitalization and retention of Saskatchewan First Nations languages and cultures for current and future generations of First Nations’ peoples and other Canadians. The Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nahkawē, Nakota, Plains Cree, Swampy Cree and Woodland Cree languages are an intrinsic part of the heritage of Saskatchewan First Nations. The SICC Languages department is devoted to the continuation of all these eight First Nations’ languages.

2011 First Nations Language Keepers ConferenceThe 2011 SICC First Nations Language Keepers Conference took place December 1 and 2 at the Saskatoon Inn. This conference has been designated a national First Nations’ languages conference by the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres. The conference theme for 2011 was “Honouring Residential School Survivors.” It is important to educate the general public about this era of Canadian history. The SICC considers an essential part of undoing the harm of the Indian Residential Schools is through revitalizing First Nations languages and cultures.

Once again a call for presenters was issued for this year’s conference. From the presentations received an outstanding group of Residential School Survivors, educators, Elders, leadership and youth were selected to share their views and experiences at the conference. The conference featured a series of workshops, plenary sessions and public events that assisted language teachers and practitioners in building their language skills.

As part of this year’s conference the SICC launched the inaugural Book Writing contest for First Nations’ youth. The participants were to create an original book in a First Nations’ language with an English translation. The winning entries were selected based on creativity and originality. The winning entry was a book in Nakawe – Ānīn Ēnimanjiwin Nōngom? (How are you feeling today?) submitted by the Fishing Lake First Nation kindergarten class.

Cultural and Education SymposiumIn conjunction with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Cultural Celebration and Pow Wow the SICC hosted a First Nations’ Cultural and Educational Symposium for youth that was held on November 9, 2011, at the Saskatoon Inn. Attendance was free and over 500 youth from across the province attended. The symposium featured inspiring addresses by Miss Indian World, Marjorie Tahbone, and 2011 FSIN Princess Chenaya Taypotat, highlighting the importance of language and culture as their guiding principles in their endeavours.

2012 Story Telling Month ActivitiesLanguages staff assisted in the planning, preparation and delivery of Story-Telling Month at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon on February 15 and 28, 2012. The total attendance over the two day was over 2,300. Languages staff presented the “Bannock Boy” story that is based on a SICC publication and wīsahkēcāhk stories. Languages staff was also invited to assist with storytelling presentation at the public school in Wakaw, Saskatchewan and the elementary school at Mosquito First Nation.

First Nations Languages Translation and InterpretersProvision of translation and interpretation services is an essential on-going endeavour of the SICC. These

Languages Department


services include First Nations’ oral history, worldview research and archival development. The Languages department provides translation and interpretation services for a wide range of First Nation conferences, workshops and events.In addition, the SICC is continually called upon to provide patient interpretative language services for hospitals and court interpretative language services, translation services for the federal government, reference resource and referral for translation upon request. In addition, First Nations language teachers request the interpretive and translation services on an ad hoc basis.

Cultural Teachings Curriculum DevelopmentIn 2009, the SICC released a book entitled Cultural Teachings: First Nations Protocols and Methodologies. This book is intended to provide the reader with a foundation of knowledge regarding First Nations ceremonial etiquette and protocols. This publication is being used as a teaching resource by primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions across Canada. The SICC has developed curriculum to support the educators using this book that is comprised of 20 units of study and a teacher’s guide. Final review is underway and the curriculum will be released by the summer of 2012.

Master Apprentice Program for the Workplace ProjectThe Languages department lead the development of a Master-Apprentice Handbook for the Workplace. The handbook’s aim is to increase language revitalization and retention in the workplace. In this type of program the strategy is to utilize a one-on-one working relationship between a “master” (language speaker) and an “apprentice” (language learner).

SICC First Nations Language StrategyThe SICC is developing a new draft of its Language Strategy. The SICC conducted consultations on the Language Strategy with key stakeholders at the 2011 First Nations Language Keepers Conference. The final draft will be completed in conjunction with the SICC Cultural Strategy to ensure consistency. The SICC released its first Language Strategy in 2006 and has provided an essential basis for First Nations’ language advancement and promotion.

Languages Department


Library & Information ServicesOverviewThe Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre’s (SICC) Library department primary objective is to meet the educational and reference needs of First Nations in Saskatchewan through Library services. The Library provides library services, reference and material loans to Saskatchewan First Nations and the general public. As well, the library is the central repository for the oral history collections for the Cultural Centre. In addition, the Library provides teaching and curriculum resources for Saskatchewan First Nations’ language.

The Library began operations in the fall of 1973. It houses a comprehensive collection on the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Library serves as a central source of information for the First Nations of Canada. It also provides non-First Nations people with key information that promotes cross-cultural understanding, and fosters awareness about the uniqueness of First Nations.

The Library lends assistance and support to First Nations’ schools. The Library’s staff responds to requests for information on library procedure and software training via telephone, fax, email, and personal visits. Traditional services such as circulation, cataloguing, processing, book repair and shelving constitute the bulk of the activity in the library.

Library Collection/Special CollectionsAll materials in the Library’s collections must have Indigenous content. As a result, the Library is widely used by students, teachers and academics, especially those specializing in the field of Indigenous Studies. The Library has completed the cataloguing of the Teacher’s Language Curriculum collection. The Teacher’s Language Curriculum collection is now part of the online catalogue and borrowers are able to view the collection online. As new materials are developed in the different First Nations’ languages, these will be added to this collection.

Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP) CommitteeThe SICC Library is a member of the Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples Committee (LLSAP). This committee was created for information sharing on issues relating to library services for Aboriginal peoples in Saskatchewan. LLSAP meets on a quarterly basis. The SICC Library is also a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee of the Saskatoon Public Library.

SICC Storytelling MonthThe SICC Library plays a leading role in the Storytelling Month held in Saskatchewan each February. Some 2,000 elementary/secondary students, teachers, parents and others attended the Storytelling Month activities. This is an annual celebration of First Nations’ literature, traditional storytelling, cultural teachings and other traditional activities. The featured events were held at the White Buffalo Youth Centre gymnasium on February 15 and 29, 2012.

Presentation included: Legends and Stories in First Nations Art, The Story of Bannock Boy, Traditional Place Name, Traditional Games, Traditional Drum Stories and Language Learning Initiatives through Music, and First Nations Legends. Response to the sessions was overwhelming and there were numerous requests for the workshops to be taken out to several communities.


Audio/Visual - Technical DepartmentThe primary mandate of the Audio/Visual (AV) - Technical department is the recording of the cultural, community, governance and artistic endeavours of the First Nations of Saskatchewan. The AV department of Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) has had another busy year in providing audio, visual and technical sound services to the seventy-four First Nations of Saskatchewan.

The department continues to strive to enhance its technological basis to order to provide up-to-date services. This will allow the Centre to meet the challenges presented by the demands of this increasingly technological era. Some of the highlights of the department’s activities for the past year include:

The AV – Technical department provided services to several gatherings, First Nations forums, and conferences throughout the year and in several different locations across Saskatchewan. Of particular note were the following:

• Audio and recording services to each FSIN Legislative Assembly and key FSIN governing sessions.• Audio services to the First Nations University of Canada Spring Celebration. Twenty songs were

recorded that were performed by 14 drum groups which was produced into a compilation CD.• The Growing Together Community Conference hosted by the Saskatchewan Indian Equity

Foundation to celebrate the organizations 25th Anniversary.• Mastering and mixing of recordings for the production of audio CD’s for several community based

drum groups.• AV Services for the First Nations Summer and Winter Games.• Audio for the 2011 FSIN Spirit of Our Nations Cultural Celebration and Pow Wow as well as the

Youth Symposium.• Audio and video services to the SICC First Nations Language Keepers Conference.

The department continues with the conversion of audio tapes and video tapes into digital formats to ensure the preservation of these valuable resources. Some of these digital recording could potentially be made available over the Internet. These video and audio recordings were recorded since SICC opened in 1972 and some are in a fragile state, any of these recordings of First Nations’ individuals and events are historically important.


SICC Recordings:


FinancialStatements

for the year ending March 31, 2012

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre305-2555 Grasswood Road EastEnglish River Business ComplexEnglish River First Nation #192J

Saskatoon, SK S7T 0K1Phone: (306) 244-1146

Fax: (306) 665-6520E-mail: [email protected]: www.sicc.sk.ca

Documents

Mission Statement - Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre SICC Annual Report.pdf · Mission Statement To strengthen and ... South East Treaty #4 Tribal Council Chief Darin Poorman