OCTOBER 2013

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VOLUME 16 - NUMBER 10

Welcome to our Role Model Edition

Coming In November - Veterans & Youth IssueCPMA #40027204

FORMER PM INSPIRESPaul Martin was in Saskatoonrecently to add his support tothe Aboriginal Youth Entrepre-neurship Program. - Page 3

METIS ACHIEVERJournalist Merelda Fiddler hasbeen honoured as one of thewinners of a 2013 Métis Award .

- Page 7

THE RIPPLE EFFECTPJ Prudat talks about her role inan upcoming production ofSaskNative Theatre’s Circle ofVoices. - Page 11

BUSINESS PLAN WORKSHeather Abbey decidedsomething was missing in themarketing world and she quicklyfilled the niche. - Page 16

LEAVING THE GANG BEHINDStacey Swampy spent more thanthree decades behind bars. Nowhe’s doing his bit to help othersavoid the gang lifestyle - Page 25

Contest inspired young entrepreneursContestants Devin Fiddler, Jamie Lerat, 1st place JanaRoss, 2nd place Brandy-Lee Maxi and daughter Valyncia,and 3rd place Stephanie Cappo. Back row: judge JohnLagimodiere, contestant Bill Stevenson, judge BrettWilson, contestant Chris Ross and judge Darryl Stann.

Meadow Lake clothier takes top prizeBy John LagimodiereOf Eagle Feather News“Love, Peace, Bannock Grease!” A simple and

catchy slogan that helped Métis entrepre-neur Jana Ross beat out six other competi-

tors to win the second edition of CBC’s Aboriginalbusiness plan competition, Boom Box.

Ross is a teacher from Meadow Lake who haslaunched a clothing line called Bannock RepublicClothing. Her energy, business idea and popular clothingearned her the $4,000 top prize and loads of advice frombusiness experts after impressing the three judge’s entre-preneur Brett Wilson, PotashCorp’s Darryl Stann andEagle Feather News publisher John Lagimodiere.

“I was completely shocked when Brett Wilsonannounced I was the winner,” said Ross. “All of thefinalists were so well prepared and articulated theirbusiness ideas clearly, so I really had no idea who thejudges were going to choose.

“I was ecstatic when they said I won, because I haveso many ideas for ways to expand my business, and nowI have the financial freedom to pursue some of thoseideas.”

The second-place winner was Brandy-Lee Maxi withher AB-Original Health and Fitness, followed by thirdplace winner, Stephanie Cappo for Steph’s cakes. Othercontestants included Devin Fiddler and her handbagbusiness, photographer Bill Stevenson, publisher ChrisRoss and business woman Jamie Lerat.

CBC provided the promotion and organization forthe event while Brett Wilson and PotashCorp suppliedthe prize money. Each competitor also gets access to thejudges for advice and support of their business ideas.

“There is nothing more important than stimulatingbusiness and entrepreneurs in the Aboriginal communityin Canada,” said Saskatchewan born multi-millionaireand former Dragon Den panelist Brett Wilson.

• Continued on Page 15

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News 2

Eagle Feather News OCTOBER 2013 3

By John LagimodiereOf Eagle Feather NewsAunique business training programfor Aboriginal students is beingmade available to several schools

across Saskatchewan, including two on-reserve and in Ile a la Crosse.

The Aboriginal Youth EntrepreneurshipProgram (AYEP) is intended to close thegap between the business world and FirstNation and Métis students in Saskatchewanso they can actively participate in theeconomy. The program uses Indigenousspecific curriculum and is also endorsed byformer Prime Minister Paul Martin who wason hand for the big announcement atOskayak High School in Saskatoon.

“Aboriginal Canadians are the fastest-growing segment of our population andwill be key drivers of Canada’s economy,”said Martin.

“The Aboriginal Youth Entrepre-neurship Program is dedicated to ensuringthat Aboriginal students are empoweredwith the background necessary to pursuean interest in business and entrepreneur-ship. We are particularly proud that ourprogram’s textbooks are the first to be setwithin an Indigenous context.”

Oskayak ran the program last year andsaw increased attendance and participationby the students involved. After a meetingin Ottawa last year, the SaskatchewanSchool Boards Association worked hard toexpand the program from Oskayak andScott Collegiate in Regina to 17 schoolsacross the province including on-reserveschools at Onion Lake and Ahtahkakoop.

“This initiative started as a challengein Saskatchewan education, it became anopportunity and now it’s become reality,”said School Boards President Janet Foord.“However, we will continue to work withboards of education to grow this programacross Saskatchewan to further engageAboriginal youth in education and futureemployment opportunities.”

To help with the expanded offerings,funding had to be found and AboriginalAffairs and Northern Development Canadastepped up from government and Potash-Corp from industry.

“Our business is here for the longhaul,” said Leanne Bellegarde, DirectorAboriginal Strategy for PotashCorp.

“We want to train more First Nationand Métis people into business and wewant them to have careers with us or gointo business and become suppliers.Either way, this investment in training willgive great returns to the province and weencourage other businesses to come to thetable so it can grow even more.”

Kelsey Sugar is an Oskayak studentwho participated in the program last yearand her interest was in a photographybusiness. Eagle Feather News wasfortunate to be partnered with her andKelsey did some photography assignmentsfor the paper. It was then when she realizedshe had the talent and that the business hadpotential. She was recently featured on thecover of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix withformer Prime Minister Martin.

Martin was gracious in his words andwas available to the students after the eventas he went and spent time in the class-rooms and talked to the young people.

“This is for the youth, but it is the teachersand administrators that make this programcome alive for the students,” said Martin. “AndI can’t stress enough how important it is toengage the Aboriginal community in Canada.

“My grandchildren’s future and thefuture of Canada depend on how we moveforward from here. And I want the youngpeople who take this course to remain faithfulto who they are and what they believebecause now the world is coming to them.”

Aboriginal Canadians will be key drivers of economy: Martin

Dignitaries and partners participated in the singing ceremony. From left Leanne Bellegarde, PotashCorp, Anna FontaineAANDC, Janet Foord Saskatchewan School Boards, FSIN Vice Chief Bobby Cameron, MN-S President Robert Doucetteand the Right Honourable Paul Martin. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneur student Kelsey Sugar got to meet and photo-graph former Prime Minister Paul Martin. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

Eagle Feather News OCTOBER 20134

Sometimes things just happen towork out. Here we are with ourOctober role model edition that

also has features for Education Week andfor Small Business week.

How convenient then that our coverstory was on the CBC Boom Box and agroup of role model entrepreneurs. Andhow fitting that Jana Ross, a hardworking teacher from Meadow Lake,won the big prize in the Boom Box.

A role model who happens to be ateacher and entrepreneur. The stars havealigned it seemed.

Interestingly as well, the idea anddrive behind Boom Box and the producerof the entire thing was our old friend,CBC’s Merelda Fiddler.

She tracked down the sponsors andjudges (Conflict alert! I was a judge)worked the airwaves and social media tomotivate people to get their entries in andput together a beautiful half hour TVshow hosted by the always impressiveentrepreneur and role model Jacob Pratt.

The show is well shot and sevenentrepreneurs were able to showcasetheir ideas, energy and passion to theprovince and it was inspiring.

Fittingly, Merelda was honoured forher lifetime body of work with the Jour-nalism Award by the Wiichihiwayshi-nawn (We Are Helpers) Foundation atthe Métis Awards two days after the showran in September.

The lady has produced lots of newsover the years and has been very strongon covering and including First Nationand Métis people in the content for anyproject she is on at CBC.

That inclusion makes CBC listenerswell informed on Aboriginal issues andit sure helps in the big picture.

The Boom Box prize money wasfunded this year by Saskatchewan bornmulti-millionaire business guy andformer Dragon Denner Brett Wilson andPotashCorp who sent Vice President ofProcurement Darryl Stann to invest theirmoney as a judge.

Having these guys on your side is

always helpful astheir businesswisdom and abilityto write checks, area necessity in abusiness plancompetition.

All of the entre-preneurs wereawesome and the judges learnedsomething from each one. Highlights ofthe event for me included the line “Nicebum where you from” by Jana Ross.Stephanie Cappo’s cup cakes. Brandy-Lee Maxi and her daughter Valynciadancing to the drum beat. The second cupcake. Jamie Lerat and the amazingdisplay her company made. DevonFiddlers passion, perseverance andpotential hand bag empire. The ideas Iam going to borrow/steal from publisherChris Ross!

But mostly Bill Stevenson posingwith duck lips as he defended profes-

sional photogra-phy by describingthe tragedy thatwould be if suchfine art as theMona Lisa wasactually a ducklipped selfie.Classic.

Big thumbs upThere is some interesting news out

of the Saskatoon Tribal Council. WithMistawasis and Yellow Quill FirstNations recently signing onto the FirstNations Land Management Act, all sevenmembers of the Saskatoon Tribal Councilwill now be signatories to the FrameworkAgreement.

The Act enables First Nations tomanage their own land, resources andenvironment according their own landcodes, laws and policies.

It also helps them get out from under

34 land-related limitations of the IndianAct in order to take control of their landand resources.

This bodes well for future businessopportunities in the Saskatoon area forthe Tribal Council and when thathappens, everyone wins.

Bit of a stink eyeThere is a fair bit of justifiable

outrage in the community over the mostrecent SaskParty attack ad on NDPLeader Cam Broten.

The province had been making somestrides on the First Nation and Métisportfolio.

The Joint Task Force on Educationand Employment chaired by GaryMerasty gave the province several waysto improve the lot of Aboriginal peopleand they had actually started toimplement some of the recommendationsincluding funding driver’s licensetraining on reserve.

The rocking economy is certainlyhelping as well as more Aboriginalpeople are working or going to schoolthan ever. Despite the many challenges,gains are being made.

Imagine the surprise when FirstNation leaders saw the ad that tries todrive voters away from Cam Broten byplaying on the contentious and by nomeans resolved issue of resource revenuesharing with First Nations.

The resource issue is near and dearand causes much fear. It is also an issuethat is almost impossible to understandwithout a four hour seminar.

With the 250th anniversary of theRoyal Proclamation, maybe it is time toup the conversation behind doorsbetween leaders to determine a happyground.

Attack political foes all you want, butto insert a wedge issue that turns resent-ment towards First Nation people ishighly irresponsible in this day and age.

Everybody play nice. We must dobetter.

Sometimes the stars just line up properly

Jana Ross once bought a table at Back to Batoche to sell some clothes that shehad designed. She sold out on the first day. Two years later her business isthriving and she just won first prize in CBC’s the Boom Box.

(Photo by John Lagimodiere)

Eagle Feather NewsOCTOBER 2013 5

When I was a little girl Ioverheard my great grand-mother talking to a young

woman who had come to visit her. “Minikwe ooma noosim. Moya

ooma awasisak aki me ikosiyak kahwaypin iy ahkok. Drink this grandchild.We were not given children to throwaway.”

Both my grandmother and greatgrandmother were midwives. My great-grandmother no longer practiced when Iwas growing up as she was too old butpeople often came to her for help oradvice and although I rarely paidattention to these discussions I rememberthis one because when I was older shehad the same discussion with me.

She said children were a sacred giftand that we should never have more thenwe could “carry in battle.” I never forgotthat partly because it sounded so odd,“not more than I could carry in battle,”but I was translating what she saidliterally.

I realized when I got older that battledoes not necessarily mean war. Non-native and some native people called heran “old witch” and maybe she was, butit was a good witch for sure, because she,unlike the witches in the books I read,loved children and for her that is what

“pimatisowin,” life, was all about. She would be appalled if she were

alive to see thecomplete disregard,disrespect and lack oflove for children thathas become ournorm.

The medicineshe offered the youngwoman was birthcontrol, somethingmany people say was not practiced in ourcommunities. But it was, according tothe old women and midwives I haveinterviewed over the years. It was notpracticed by everybody but by some untilthe 1950s which is about the time thateverything completely fell apart for ourfamilies, displacing and dispossessingour children forever.

Children being abandoned, battered,sexually abused, tortured, confined,starved, murdered and humiliated is soprevalent not only in our community, butthroughout our “civilized society” that ithardly causes a ripple of interest.Abandoned dogs and cats get moreattention than a child. And although wepay lip service when the abuse is in ourface and we can’t avoid it, we do nothingof any consequence to change it.

At some point we are going to haveto finish this “ healing journey “ we have

been on for allthese many yearsand start makinga better life forour kids. Yes, Iknow coloniza-tion is to blame, Ihave blamed itoften over theyears.

I often wonder what we would do ifsome white guy hadn’t coined that worda few years back. A word that allows, norather, encourages us to whine, cry andbe sick instead of making us angryenough to kick ass and change the worldthat is so dehumanizing us.

Kicking ass can mean something assimple as getting up in the morning andcooking a pot of porridge for our kids.Sitting down and eating it with them,letting them know we love them and thatwe will protect and be there for themforever. That’s all they need, just usbeing there for them. If we can’t do thatthen we need to seriously ask ourselveswhy we are having babies.

Part of kicking ass should also meannot just pressuring, but forcing govern-ments by armed revolution if necessary

to make serious changes in all areas thateffect children. From poverty, housing,education and health, to being seriousabout punishing abusers and by abusersI also mean all the people who aresupposed to protect them.

Cut off the abuser’s hand, a wholearm and if that doesn’t work castratethem or put them away forever. If peopleare incapable of looking after theirchildren, sterilize them. If governmentworkers or anyone else whose job it is toprotect children don’t do their work, thenboil them in Alberta oil.

And for goodness sakes forget abouttheir Human Rights! Think about BabyRights, Children’s Rights instead. Forgetabout being good Christians, goodSocialists, good Liberals, good Conser-vatives and just plain good people,because to date those things have offeredchildren little protection or love.

And now that I have totally outragedyou and have your attention, know that Idon’t mean any of those things but we dohave to do something really drastic andwe have to do it yesterday, last week, andlast year because if we don’t we willdeserve everything that happens to us andthe law of reciprocity tells us it will.

Our babies need us to be okay. Theyneed us to be courageous and noble.

We were not given children to be throw away babies

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News6

In the memories of the old ones andin the pages of the history books liemany stories. If Hollywood is

looking for good stories for a movie,the historical Western Plains region isa good place to look.

It is also agood place to lookfor the rolemodels that theeditor has chosento focus upon thismonth.

There hasbeen widespreadlocal and national attention paid to the250th anniversary of the Royal Procla-mation issued on October 7, 1763. Itwas issued by King George III to claimBritish North America after the defeatof the French regime but it is alsoremembered and is important becauseof the procedures that it set out fornegotiating Treaties.

However, things are never assimple as they might appear to be atfirst blush, and as I stated in an addressin Winnipeg recently the Royal Procla-mation of 1763 must also be recog-nized as part of the legal witchcraft bywhich the British stole the Indian landsover which Canada now asserts defacto authority. In the story of theRoyal Proclamation we meet Pontiac,one of the many indigenous rolemodels from history. It was thepolitical and military action of Pontiac(Obwandiyag) and his allies thatcompelled the British to seek peace,and from which actions came theRoyal Proclamation. The lesson is thatpolitical action is what leads to legalaction and which is more important inthe long run.

Turning to the Western Plains, thestories of Gabriel Dumont and LouisRiel are well-known on account oftheir roles in the troubles of 1885 alongthe Saskatchewan River, but a closerlook at our history reveals other leaderswho surely are candidates as rolemodels for today. Neil McLeod, theSaskatchewan Cree philosopher,author and humorist, has done a greatjob in revealing the story of MistahiMusqua, commonly known at BigBear, whose resistance to the enclosureof the Cree into small reserves by thegovernment deserves to buy him aplace in the annals of heroes of theregion.

Role models who resist theassertion of unconscionable powersometimes end up in jail, and alongwith Poundmaker, another Treaty Sixleader, Big Bear spent time in StonyMountain penitentiary, a true politicalprisoner in the foreboding federalprison which sits on a rise in the plains

just north of Winnipeg. In the contextof the 1885 events, Fine Day alsostands out as the military leader whobeat British-Canadian forces.

There is a rich store of role modelstories in what is now Saskatchewan,

including theresistance to theimposition of theIndian Act and thereserve system itimposed. We canonly touch upon afew examples inthis commentary

and without intending to exclude anyone of the many, we can name Pia Pot(Payepot) a contemporary of Big Bearwho is one of the first and foremostdefenders of the Treaties. In his storyone also finds, incidentally, instances ofwhat Ron Merasty has called the‘overdeveloped funny bone’ orwonderful sense of humour of the Plainsindigenous people. In the Treaty Fourregion there is a rich history of resist-ance by leaders such as Louis O’Soupand Joe Cote and others from Cowesess,Pasquah and Moscowpetung.

We have a rich store of more recentrole models as well in our local history,including the author the Rev. EdwardAhenakew whose book documents thestory of Chief Thunderchild and thePlains Cree. In Manitoba, Chief DaveCourchene of Sagkeeng was a leaderin the evolution of modern First Nationpolitics, as was Ahab Spence, an oldfriend from Split Lake in northernManitoba, the President of theManitoba Indian Brotherhood whospent much time in Saskatchewan. TheRev. Ahab was a member of theNational Forum on SecondaryEducation and of the StandingCommittee on Native Languages inCanada who was awarded the Centen-nial Medal in 1967 and the Order ofCanada in 1982.

A people sets its own destiny inpart by making its own history.Thereby it affirms its sense of identityand identifies the values and things itholds dear. Its history inspires futuregenerations.

What is the role of the schools andof the education system in remember-ing this history of role models and theircontributions? How much of thestories of our local heroes is knownand honoured in the schools, whetheron reserves or in the public schoolssystem?

Must not the system of educationand the telling of the stories of localrole models operate together? Orshould we be waiting for Hollywoodto discover our true stories of inspira-tion?

Our role models

MOOSE JAW TRAILThe Moose Jaw Trail Public Art Sculpture inSaskatoon’s Patricia Roe and Mark ThompsonParks in Stonebridge is a collaborative steelcreation by Vancouver Public Artist, Jill Anholt,and Susan Mayor. The importance of the MooseJaw Trail Sculpture is to highlight the route usedby First Nations, Métis and other settlers whoreached and created the Temperance Colony ofSaskatoon by 1883 and 1890. The sculpture andnarrative panels commemorate the heritage ofthe site and represent a trail remnant thatemerges from out of the grasslands to become aseries of arched forms that recall a procession ofwagon trains travelling along the trail beforedisappearing into the brush beyond. MayorDonald Atchison joined Saskatoon Tribal CouncilVice Chief Geraldine Arcand, President of theMétis Nation–Saskatchewan, Robert Doucette,SaskCulture Board Member, James Winkel, and artist Jill Anholt, to kick off Culture Days2013 with Sum Theatre’s ‘Walk the Trail’ performance and the unveiling of the new MooseJaw Trail Public Art Sculpture.

OCTOBER 2013 7Eagle Feather News - Role Models

By Judy BirdFor Eagle Feather NewsTen people in the Métis communityhave been recognized andhonoured for their varied and

lengthy achievements.The honours were part of the 2013

Metis Awards, the second year for theawards, presented in Regina by theWiichihiwayshinawn Foundation.

Wiichihiwayshinawn (pronouncedwee-chee-way-sha-nan) is the Founda-tion’s Michif name which means ‘we arehelpers’. The Foundation began in 2011to promote achievements of Métis people,empower Métis women and to preserveculture and tradition. Current boardmembers include Ashley Norton, SamathaRacette, Gina Angelski and ElderGeraldine Harris.

Organizers added music to this year’sevent. Métis musicians Phil and DallasBoyer kept toes tapping with their fiddleand guitar tunes before the program beganand during intermission. The officialprogram began with a grand entry, then anhonour song performed by the RainwaterSingers. The women’s drum group, led byElder Betty McKenna, drum for thepurpose of healing and connection.

Hosts Keon Francis and Sean Dean, ofThe Bionic Bannock Boys, entertained theguests with their comedic banter, which wassometimes in song, and with a bit of teasing.

Keynote speaker Roger Ross, ofCreeRunner Communications, touchedon the Awards’ night theme, Strong MetisWomen. He reminisced about the strongwomen in his life, including his grand-mother and aunties, and how wonderfulit was growing up with them.

“They taught me how to be strong,”he said. He reflected on growing up innorth central Regina, being in school, andthe impact these women had on his life.

“Being tough will get you throughschool, but being strong will get youthrough life.”

The main attraction was the awardsprogram, with categories of Social Justice,Community and Social Development,Education, Youth, Arts, Journalism, Entre-preneur, Science and Wellness, MostHonourable Metis Woman and Portrait ofHonour and Lifetime Achievement.

Calvin Racette was presented with theGabriel Dumont Award in the Educationcategory. A teacher, writer, and historian,Racette has worked in First Nation andMétis education for 33 years, and holdsstrong his belief about the importance ofeducation to help his community succeed.

“Being recognized by the communityis pretty special. I feel that they validatedme tonight and I feel good about that,”said Racette.

He also had a chance meeting withsome parents of former students at theevent, and learned of the impact he had.

“I had a couple of parents come up tome here tonight and say, ‘you know wehave a couple of girls who are teachers,and they said they are teachers because ofyou, and we want to thank you for encour-aging them and supporting them whenthey were in school.’ They were mystudents when they were in Grade 7.”

Merelda Fiddler won the JournalismAward, presented by Eagle Feather News.Fiddler is used to being behind the scenes,but was honoured to be put front andcenter at the event.

“It’s a little awkward,” she said. “AsI said (in my acceptance speech), if you’redoing journalism well, you shouldn’t bethe focus, everybody else should be andyou should just be putting their stories outthere, but I’d have to say it is great to share(receiving this award) with family.”

The Most Honourable Métis Womanaward went to Joanna Potyondi for herlife-long dedication to proudly promotingand sharing her culture.

“It’s a huge honour,” she said. “Thereare so many women who should have anhonour like this, so many Métis womenwho are educated and have done so muchwith their life.”

Potyondi is proud of her Métis rootswhich trace back to Métis leader CuthbertGrant, and eagerly shares her knowledgeof Métis history. She inspires andmotivates Métis women to be the best theycan be and to rise above challenges.

Her skills and contributions are varied.She taught upholstery for 22 years, makescapotes, vests and bags, sat on numerousboards and committees, including a provin-cial justice committee, a traditional eldersMinisterial Advisory Committee, has been

involved in education as an advisor on theDumont Institute board and as a teacher’s aidewith the Catholic Schools in Yorkton. Mostrecently, was crowned Mrs. Batoche 2013.

The Portrait of Honour and LifetimeAchievement award was given posthu-mously to Harry Daniels, and was acceptedby his daughter Chigal Wightman Daniels.Harry Daniels was a founding member ofthe Métis Society of Saskatchewan and anactive leader in politics and business,working for improved social conditions foraboriginal people in Canada. One of hismost notable roles as a leader was duringthe national Constitutional negotiations inthe 1970s and ‘80s, when he fought for the

inclusion of Métis People and their rightsin the constitution.

The Wiichihiwayshinawn Foundationboard members are already thinking aheadto next year’s awards show, and are workingon taking the event to a different communityso it is more accessible to people in rural areas.

Other award winners included:Social Justice - The Louis Riel Award:Richard CharetteCommunity & Social Development:Wayne McKenzieYouth Award: Victoria BourassaArts Award: David GarneauEntrepreneur: Jean GrayScience & Wellness: Karen LaRocque

Joanna Potyondi was presented the Most Honourable Métis Woman by organizer Ashley Norton. Merelda Fiddler received the Journalism Award from EagleFeather News’ very own Sandra Ahenakew.

Wiichihiwayshinawn Foundation honours ten Métis achievers

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Health 8

There are a lot of angry people walking the streets in Saskatchewan andnot just crazy Rider fans either. There are mean, nasty, proud “wife beatershirt” wearing knuckleheads walking the streets in a community near

you. Why do we allow men and society for that matter, to call these undershirts

wife beaters? I have heard jokes about women using their rolling pins as husbandhitters but the name isn’t as widely accepted as a wife beater shirt.

We can joke and attempt to minimize the hidden truth about domesticviolence, but abuse is abuse and this is an epidemic in our communities whichhas to stop.

According to Statistics Canada:“Provincially, Saskatchewan andManitoba, have consistently recordedprovincial rates of police reportedviolent crimes, had the rates ofviolence against women in 2011 thatwere double the national rate. The rateof violent crime against women inNunavut was nearly 13 times higher than the rate for Canada.”

Men who assault their partners rarely assault their friends, neighbors, bossesor strangers. If we don’t witness the abuse does that mean it isn’t happening?I’ve heard people say, “He’s such a great guy; he would never do that to hisspouse.”

Although some people don’t see violence against women as a serious matter,or is a private matter, we have to change these attitudes. Abuse thrives in secrecyso let’s make a collective effort to bring the issue into the open where it belongs;no human being deserves to be living in terror.

There are shelters for victims of domestic violence that are filled to capacityand women and children waiting for a safe place to stay.

Let your Chief and Council and other elected representatives know thatviolence against women in Canada and in your community is a huge problem.Ask them what they are doing to end violence against women. Ask yourself, “Ifnot you, who? If not now, when?”

So why do women stay in an abusive relationship? Some women staybecause they have a strong belief in keeping the family together; sometimesrelatives or in-laws blame the woman for the abuse and insist that she stay. Somewomen even think that the abuse is normal and if her man doesn’t hit her thenhe doesn’t love her.

We all need to change the way we perceive violence. Don’t turn your heador pretend you didn’t hear it – call the police if you witness violence and listento the victim if they choose to share their experience with you. We all needsomeone who will listen.

Now fellas, don’t get your sleeveless undershirt in a knot, I know that notall women are victims; sometimes they are the abuser. Either way let us allrecognize that we must stop being abusive to the people we love and begin totake that first step towards healing. There are domestic violence preventionprograms out there to help.

If you are experiencing violence in your life remember there are people whocare and are ready to listen. If you have painful memories of past abuse, reachout for help, now. It’s okay to talk about it.

In Saskatchewan contact Circle Project Association Inc, Regina, Kanawey-imik Child and Family Services, Battleford, Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friend-ship Centre, Prince Albert and Sign Inc. in Yorkton.

If you are living on a First Nations contact your Band Office or Health Centreand find out if there is an Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Program inyour community.

“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the dramaand people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make youlaugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat youright, pray for the ones who don’t.

Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life,getting back up is living.”

Keep your letters and emails coming? Send your questions or commentsto: Sandee Sez c/o Eagle Feather News P.O. Box 924 ST Main Saskatoon, SKK3M4 or email sandra.ahenakew@gmail.com

There is help for victims of domestic abuse

OCTOBER 2013 9Eagle Feather News - Health

Agricultural use of antibiotics results in drugresidue and antibiotic-resistance bacteria inthe foods we eat. The effect of this low-

grade, long-term exposure on children or adults isunclear.

Whatis clear isthat our useof antibi-otics inmedicinemust takethis addi-tionalexposure into account. You as a consumer of foodshould demand, through your purchasing power, thatonly antibiotic-free milk and meat be made available.As a consumer of healthcare, you should use antibi-otics with a physician who is open to holistic waysand is open to dietary, nutrition’s options.

• Too much fruit juice is a carbohydrate, in otherwords sugar

• Treat raw honey as you would any other sugar,use it sparingly

• A study by Cherasken and Ringsdorf has shownthat when sugar is ingested, the ability of white bloodcells to destroy bacteria can fall by as much as 60 percent. Excessive sugar inhibits fatty acid metabolismbecause it is high in calories but lacks the nutrientsneeded to make enzymes work properly. High intakesof sugar also decreases the need for magnesium andincreases the amount of magnesium excreted in theurine. I suggest you read the labels carefully. Anytime sugar appears among the top five or six ingre-dients, don’t buy the product.

• Food sensitivity can be induced by over-consuming a given food every day for a long period.The average soft drink contains nine teaspoons ofsugar. Cola drinks contain high amounts of phos-phoric acid, which binds with magnesium and pullsit out of the body.

• Lead and mercury are other factors that mayinterfere with proper metabolism and contribute tothe development of food allergies. When lead andmercury bind with digestive enzymes, the enzymesbecome inactivates. In this state, the enzyme cannotcarry out their task of breaking down food properly.The result is impaired digestion, impaired absorp-tion and the development of food allergies.

• When dietary fiber intake in low, the transit offood resides in the intestine for much longer thannormal. This creates an environment in which intes-tinal bacteria can begin to ferment in the intestine.The diet must be carefully evaluated to detect anysignificant imbalances in nutrient intake.

• This is why we look towards guidance fromdoctors of all backgrounds for good health.

www.companionhealthoasis.com

Healthy menus andweight control:Wisdom about

Dietary Practices

A SPECIAL DAYMétis Nation-Saskatchewan Secretary May Henderson and President Robert Doucette presented formerPrime Minister Paul Martin with a framed historic political cartoon. It was a special day for Hendersonwho was at Oskayak High School for an announcement just one day after finding out that she was goingto be a recipient of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a prestigiousrecognition of excellence, achievement and contributions to the social, cultural and economic well-beingof the province and its residents. May is certainly deserving and will join six others to be inducted in earlyNovember in Regina. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture10

David Gilmour, a writer, University of Torontoinstructor and heterosexual guys-guy, saysthat he only teaches courses about writers

that he is truly passionate about and “(u)nfortunate-ly none of those happen to be Chinese, or women.”

As a female writer who only writes with Chinesefood on her breath, I can’t help but feel a bitperturbed.

Gilmore says this isn’t because women orChinese writers aren’t good writers but ratherbecause “he’s a middle aged man and he’s interest-ed in middle-aged writers.” I hadn’t realized untilthis point that neither women nor Chinese peoplecould become middle-aged. I guess we just leap fromyouth to elderly in a single bound.

But Gilmour deserves neither censure nor praise– dude wants to teach what he wants to teach and ifyou don’t like it, then you don’t have to spend yourtuition money on it. Although the name of his class,“Love, Sex and Death in Short Fiction,” should berenamed, “What Old White Guys Think about Love,Sex and Death in Short Fiction.”

Teaching a university course ranks third on mylist of ideal jobs (right behind “International JewelThief” and “Person Who Pets Horses”), and if I gotmy wish, the items below would be on the requiredreading list for my course, tentatively titled, “AllThat is Best in Life”:

1. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: Wewouldn’t read the entire book, just the juicy parts likewhere Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth Bennett that –against his better judgment – he’s decided to ask her

to marry him. And then Elizabeth delivers the verbalbitch slap of the century:“From the very beginning—from the first moment, I may almost say— of myacquaintance with you, your manners, impressingme with the fullest belief of your arrogance, yourconceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings ofothers, were such as to form the groundwork of disap-probation on which succeeding events have built soimmovable a dislike; and I had not known you amonth before I felt that you were the last man in theworld whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”Ooh, snap. Hey Darcy – your jaw just called – it’son the floor and you need to pick it up!

2. Dairy Queen Blizzards: Technically a food,not a book, but you are required to bring this desserttreat to every class and – this is the tough part – it hasto be an interesting concoction because you will bemarked on inventiveness and courage, i.e. a skorbar/banana/black liquorice combo will get you onlya “C.”

3. Naked by David Sedaris: Sedaris is amemoirist who writes short stories about stuff thathappens to him. None of it is self-aggrandizing, it’sbrutally honest and weird and so funny that you will

pee your pants (note: bring extra pants to class.) Myfavourite essay is when he has to ride a bus standingup because someone stole his seat and he’s too timidto ask for it back. The description of him standingand watching the countryside fly by, feelingeveryone’s eyes on him and pretending that hedoesn’t care, makes the horrific experience of goingto the movies alone and pretending to answer textson my phone, pale in comparison.

4. Facebook Statuses: In this part of the classwe will read aloud absurd Facebook posts, such as:“I’m not racist, I have many coloured friends,” or themerely inexplicable “at the hospital with mygrandma, tongue ring is healing well.” I don’t believein laughing at others’ misfortunes but if people aredetermined to expose themselves and their badgrammar on the Internet, then we should - nay wemust - take advantage of their attention-whoringways.

5. After Dark by Haruki Murakami: This other-worldly author will make wonder if you are alive ordead, asleep or awake. While reading his work, I’vefound myself standing in traffic in my PJ’s - it’s thatmind-addling! (Or maybe, I need to cut back on thesuper-juice.) I don’t even know if you can learn whatMurakami has to say, I think you can only experi-ence it.

So there you go, a syllabus that reflects mypersonal passions and as such will only be attendedby my most patient and or drunk friends.

I’ll email the U of T and see if they’re interest-ed in running it.

Passion and prejudices: Reflections of a female writer

OCTOBER 2013 11Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture

Eagle Feather News writer Dawn Dumont interviewswriter/actor PJ Prudat about her upcoming writingproject with SaskNative Theatre’s Circle of Voices group.Dawn: So, what is the Circle of Voices? Explain it to meas if I were a three-year-old, but a bright three-year-old,like that kid in that movie Little Man Tate with JodieFoster. PJ: It’s the youth theatre program at SNTC. It canbe a range of different ages of young actors andwriters. Circle of Voices is about collaboration. I comeup with the storyline but once we get into workshopmode, the COV group influences it from theirperspective. Dawn: The play focusses on Hugh Richardson’s sentenc-ing of Louis Riel – why did you choose this time inhistory? PJ: It’s just a jumping off point. As much as I lovehistory, this play isn’t going to be a history piece. Thething that happened to Louis Riel was such a massivepunishment for the Métis people. It was like a rippleeffect that radiated outwards from that execution. Dawn: I thought you said nipple for a second. Ripplemakes more sense.PJ: I’m interested in examining the impact onfamilies. People in the same family can have differentstories, different perspectives. I’m also interested intall stories and I want the actors to play with andgamble with these exaggerated stories. I choseRichardson as a subject because of a story that Iheard about him. The story was about his householdfrom the eyes of housekeepers. We don’t tend to hearfrom that point of view when it comes to history. Dawn: Because you’re writing about something thatactually happened do you feel a different responsibilitythan if you just made it all up – like when I’m writing anonline dating profile for myself? PJ: I feel like I am making it up. There’ll be specifichistorical documents to tell the story so I’m writingfrom an informed point of view but I’m also inter-ested in the story telling aspect. Dawn: What do you feel is the thing that is most misun-

derstood about Métis people inSaskatchewan? Like, for instance,is it true that they can see in thedark? PJ: I still get people asking “howMétis are you?” And it happenseverywhere I go. It opens up thisdialogue and I have to explainbecause our history isn’t well-known. That question relatesback to the play. People don’trealize how massive in time thiswas in history not just for Métispeople but for all of Canada. Theevents still impact us today, espe-cially for Metis people fighting tobe acknowledged by history andby government. At least now,there doesn’t have to have such ahorrific outcome – the death ofRiel – but I feel that there is thatsame fight for survival and forfairness and equality. Dawn: What kind of education doyou have and does it help you inyour work as an actress and writer? PJ: I have a BA in Drama with a minor in Anthro-pology. I tried to get into a theatre conservatoryprogram for years – but in hindsight, I was glad Ididn’t. Because the program I got into allowed me tolook at many different aspects of the arts like visualarts and music. It’s made me more open – forwhatever reason I was meant to have a more gener-alized education. I didn’t know what I was doing untilhalf way through and now I know that there isnothing else I would have loved more or given somuch of myself over to – than story-telling. Dawn: Movies are in theatres and plays are in theatres –but movies have popcorn and theatres don’t – can youexplain why this travesty exists? PJ: As a child, I never ate popcorn so I never

thought about it.Dawn: (Gasp)PJ: I’ll talk to the theatre community and we can fixthat. I remember working on a play in Edmonton andall these students showed up for the show with theirchocolate bars and popcorn – and I was like theseguys are ready to go! Dawn: So we have a precedent – that’s all I needed tohear. The COV program runs from October to March. The newgroup of participants start the second week of October.Their show, Reunir by PJ Prudat – inspired by thesentencing of Louis Riel by Hugh Richardson – willpremiere in the spring of 2014 at STUDIO 914 (home ofSNTC).

The Ripple Effect

PJ Prudat is collaborating with Circle of Voices at SaskNative Theatre.

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Arts & Culture12

By Jessica LaplanteFor Eagle Feather NewsAnew exhibit at Regina’s MacKenzie Art Gallery

will honour the achievements of a historical andground breaking Indigenous artists’ alliance.

The exhibition, 7: Professional Native Indian ArtistsInc., is the accomplishment of six years of research anddevelopment by MacKenzie associate curator, MichelleLaVallee. Visitors to the gallery will have the opportu-nity to view over 120 works, including recentlyuncovered masterworks which have not been accessibleto the public for many years.

Artists Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, AlexJanvier, Carl Ray, Joseph Sanchez, Jackson Beardy andEddy Cobiness came together to fight for the recogni-tion of Indigenous artists during a time when they werebeing excluded from contemporary Canadian Art insti-tutions. The group began to meet in the 1970s and offi-cially incorporated in 1974, becoming the first self-organized and legally incorporated First Nations artists’organization in Canada.

“It is our conviction that people should have theopportunity to know these artists and appreciate theirwork, individually and in collective exhibitions such as7,” said Jeremy Morgan, Executive Director of TheMacKenzie Art Gallery.

‘We believe this exposure contributes to the devel-opment of a healthier, more equitable community.”

The retrospective allows gallery visitors to engagewith each artist’s distinctive style and also appreciatetheir collective artistic impact. And 7 offers insight intothe vibrant vision that was not hindered by the margin-alization and challenges each artist experienced withinmainstream Canadian society.

Two of the three surviving artists, Alex Janvier andJoseph Sanchez, were in attendance during the openingevents for the exhibition.

Janvier, of Dene and Saulteaux heritage, becameinterested in art at a young age on the Cold Lake FirstNation.

“After the rain, the ground is nice and smooth. Iwould have a long stick and I would be drawing pictures.

That was my humble start, ” said Janvier.He continued to develop his craft while attending

residential school. “Every Friday, from about two o’clock until four we

would do art. That was the only time in that whole schoolthat I was feeling myself … deeply feeling that I wasreaching myself. Those were precious moments.”

Following residential school, Janvier was acceptedinto The Art College of Ontario. However, due to thelegislation of a pass and permit system imposed on FirstNations, he was restricted to pursue his education in

Alberta. Janvier completed his Fine Arts diploma withHonours at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary.

The exhibition is a powerful testament to theresilience of the Indigenous spirit.

“We are caring people, we are intelligent people.That’s why we are still alive. And these paintings herepretty well tell that story,” says Janvier.

7 will be at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until Januaryand will tour Canada from 2014-2016.

Additional information is available at www.macken-zieartgallery.ca

Exhibit honours Indigenous Group of 7 artists

Artists Alex Janvier and Joseph Sanchez look on at the opening of 7:Native Indian Artists Inc. at theMacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina.

OCTOBER 2013 13Eagle Feather News - Small Business

14 Eagle Feather News -

By John LagimodiereOf Eagle Feather News“We need to go get it,”

said Gary ‘Litefoot’Davis in a keynote

address to eager economic develop-ment proponents.

“We spend too much energypointing fingers at everyone else thanfiguring out what we can do to helpourselves.”

Davis, the President and CEO of theNational Center for American IndianEnterprise Development spoke someinspiring words at the Building Blocksfor Economic Development Forum heldin September.

“Being an entrepreneur is not newto us, but we have to open up to theworld and start with our strengths andcore values. There is not one Tribe in theUnited States that has an economy. Bythat I mean we can’t keep a dollar in ourcommunity that touches seven hands.

“We need to attract new money andkeep it in our communities.”

Gary Merasty agrees with Davis.Merasty is the President and COO of DesNedhe, the highly successful business armof English River First Nation and heopened the forum with some realities ofbusiness or lack thereof on many reservecommunities.

“In my home community we have to

leave for everything,” said Merasty. “If weneed a haircut, to get our car fixed, to doour taxes we always have to go to thenearby town. Small and medium busi-nesses are the backbone of the economyand we have to build that.”

The Forum was hosted by theSaskatchewan First Nations EconomicDevelopment Network, a service-oriented

initiative housed at the Office of the TreatyCommissioner with strategic priorities toassist in promoting and developmentopportunities including Aboriginal entre-preneurship and First Nation economicdevelopment.

Milton Tootoosis is the Director ofLivelihood and Economic Independencefor the Office of the Treaty Commission-

er and is Chair of the Committee. Hepromotes business at every turn.

“We use events like this toelevate the conversation onbusiness. We have some of theleaders of some of the most success-ful joint ventures and business in theAboriginal community ofSaskatchewan. The informationthey shared was invaluable,” saidTootoosis.

Panel participants includednotable business minds such as VernBiachu, Paul Favel, FHQTC TribalPresident Edmund Bellegarde,Geoff Gay CEO of Athabasca BasinDevelopment and Brad DarbyshireCEO of Points Athabasca.

Panel discussions focused ontheir success and how they achievedit. With many big businesses ownedby First Nation groups employingon-reserve citizens, money isstarting to flow into communities.The opportunity is now to makesure that money can circulate in that

community, thereby spreading the wealthand eventually creating an economy. Butit takes time and patience.

“Everyone has to take their own pathto success,” said Vern Biachu who is themanager of the BRIDG Program.

“Don’t expect to hit too many homeruns. Long term success is a real grind.”

Gary Davis, Gilles Dorval of the City of Saskatoon, FHQTC Tribal Representative EdmundBellegarde, Leanne Bellegarde of PotashCorp, Bernie Ness of SREDA and Milton Tootoosisfrom the Office of the Treaty Commissioner gathered for a photo at the First NationsEconomic Development Forum. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

Forum stresses importance of building on-reserve economies

15 Small Business Week

• Continued from Page One “I often get emotional about this topic but it is something I truly believe in.”Brandy-Lee Maxi took second with her powwow based fitness program that aims

to get people moving and healthy based on culture and tradition. Steph’s Cakes incor-porates traditional Aboriginal designs on cakesthat turn out like works of art that are as tastyas they are beautiful.

Ross has become somewhat of ahometown sensation in Meadow Lake.

“I have been getting a ton of attentionaround home. It seems like everyone knowswho I am now and I feel like I have the wholecity rooting for me,” she added including thather mom was very proud of her.

Like any good entrepreneur, she intends toget some business training and invest themoney right back into her business.

“I want to expand my inventory and add V-neck T-shirts and hats and try out some newdesigns and slogans, invest a fair bit of moneyinto advertising and much more. I have a lot ofplans for this money!”

Brandy-Lee Maxi and herdaughter Valyncia were inter-viewed by CBC after theirPowFit demonstration to theBoom Box judges.

Boom Box winner plansto invest in her business

JANA ROSS

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Small Business 16

By Fraser NeedhamFor Eagle Feather NewsWhen Heather Abbey got tired of trying to

find authentic Indigenous merchandise onthe web, she decided to take matters into

her own hands.The Saskatoon-based First Nation entrepreneur

launched ShopIndigenous.ca last month, a websitethat has 24 categories and sub-categories of merchan-dise including jewelry, music, fine art and much more.

Abbey says theidea behind the siteis to link Aboriginalartisans withpotential buyers in alow-cost andeffective way.

“I saw a needdefinitely as thereare dozens andhundreds of Aborig-inal artisans, theyhad nowhere to selltheir stuff, theycouldn’t access themarkets, they didn’thave the knowledgeor ability to access aglobal market forsure,” she says.

“It’s just amatter of conven-ience and accessibil-ity for them.”

Abbey adds thatalthough the websiteis still in its earlystages, interestseems high so far.

“We seem to be reaching about 12 to 17 additionalusers every hour,” she says.

“We had about 350 items on the website at launchand right now that’s hit almost 500 items and the usersare coming in from everywhere.”

She says if you are interested in something by anAboriginal artisan, chances are you can find it on thissite.

“There are accessories such as star blankets,music, household items – basically anything you canthink of from beaded earrings all the way to mukluksand moccasins.”

Abbey has already won various awards for herbusiness acumen. She was selected as “Wilson’s WildCard” on CBC’s 2012 Aboriginal Boom Box compe-tition and ended up taking home third place.

Abbey was also awarded capital for placing in thetop 10 in the SK Progress2Capital Business Compe-tition, placed in top three in the Mino-BimaadiziwinYouth Business Plan Competition and first in the 2013Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge.

All of this is quite a long way from being a singlemother on social assistance just a few short years ago.

“I always was driven, it’s just the circumstancesthat surrounded me, I wasn’t able to access the creditand I didn’t have the completed business plan,” sheexplains.

“It was just a matter of growing more as an entre-preneur, as a woman and a mother and combining allthose into creating a blueprint and following it to asuccessful launch of this website.”

Abbey is a member of the Little Pine First Nation.She recently moved from Regina to Saskatoon tolaunch the ShopIndigenous.ca website.

Entrepreneur launches website for Indigenous artisans

Heather Abbey recognized an opportunity to help Indigenous artisans and put herbusiness plan into action. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

OCTOBER 2013 17Eagle Feather News

During the trip to mark the Royal Proclamation Canadian Indigenous Chiefsand delegation took part in a Wreath-laying and Pipe Ceremony honouring FirstNations loyalty and defence of the Crown. From left: Col. M. Makulowich, ArmyAdviser at the High Commission, Grand Chief Ray Sanderson (Master Corporal)Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association, Chief Perry Bellegarde (Feder-ation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations), Mr. Philip Favel (World War II, D-DayVeteran), Mr. Edward Baldhead (World War II Veteran), Lt. Col. Rev. Dr. WilliamBeaver (Chaplain). (Photo courtesy of Valerie Galley)

Chiefs travel to England to mark 250thanniversary of 1763 Royal Proclamation

The Federation of SaskatchewanIndian Nations delegation markedthe 250th anniversary of the Royal

Proclamation of 1763 with a ceremony atthe Canada Memorial in Green Park,London. A brief reception was held atCanada House in Trafalgar Squarefollowed by the Pipe Ceremony.

“As indigenous peoples, it is veryimportant for us to be here because theRoyal Proclamation of 1763 represents thefirst time that the Crown recognized indige-nous peoples’ title to lands and territories,”stated FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde.

“The Royal Proclamation is funda-mental to the legal framework for FirstNations in Canada and is referenced inCanada’s Constitution. The Proclamationalso laid the foundation for the Crown toenter into Treaties with First Nations asthey did in the late 1800s. Being here tomaintain that relationship with the Crownis essential for maintaining and recogniz-ing our inherent and treaty rights.

“We are here to demonstrate thatTreaties are still alive and that the termshave yet to be honoured according to theirspirit and intent,” added Bellegarde.

A delegation of more than 30 FirstNations Chiefs, Veterans, Elders andLeaders, representing indigenous peoples

from Canada took part in a ceremony torecognize the relationship with the Crownin Green Park at the Canada Memorial inLondon, England. Spearheaded by ChiefBellegarde, this trip and the members ofthis delegation, especially elders, remindus that Treaties entered into in the 18thand 19th centuries are international andliving agreements, and that they meritbeing honoured today.

“The Royal Proclamation recognizesour right to self-determination as it recog-nizes indigenous peoples as nations andtribes,” said Willie Littlechild who is theTreaty Six (Alberta) InternationalSpokesperson, a Truth and ReconciliationCommissioner and the North AmericanRepresentative to the UN ExpertMechanism on the Rights of IndigenousPeoples.

“The UN Declaration on the Rightsof Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UNGeneral Assembly in 2007 and by Canadain 2010, calls upon us to collectively workwith our Treaty partners to resolve ourissues, differences and our rights.

“The relationship from the indige-nous perspective is about peace, friend-ship and respect. This is how our rela-tionship was viewed with the Crown,”Littlechild concluded.

Indigenous leaders from across Canada ventured to Britain to celebrate the 250thAnniversary of the Royal Proclamation.

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Education Week 18

By Judy BirdFor Eagle Feather NewsThe First Nations University ofCanada marked its 10th anniver-sary with a celebration at the

Regina Campus on September 12. Theevent began with a pipe ceremony in themorning, and the official program openedwith prayer, led by Elder AudreyCochrane.

Joining the celebration were Lt.-Gov.Vaughn Solomon Schofield, federal,provincial and municipal governmentsrepresentatives, First Nations chiefs, pastFNU presidents Eber Hampton andShauneen Pete, University of Regina andother dignitaries, past and presentstudents, staff and faculty.

FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde remi-nisced about the event in 2003, havingbeen present when Prince Edward, officialrepresentative of Queen Elizabeth II, offi-cially opened the university. In his speech,Bellegarde noted that the event wasoccurring at the same time as the Treaty 4celebrations in Fort Qu’Appelle, and thatboth served as a reminder of the agreementmade between the Crown and FirstNations people when the treaty was signedin 1874.

The 10-year journey hasn’t beensmooth for the First Nations University ofCanada. It began with celebration andgrowth, but experienced disruption, loss,struggle and change. Years of accusationsabout financial mismanagement, fundingcuts and threats of losing accreditationtook a toll on student enrollment, program-ming and faculty and staff jobs. Throughall the challenges, the university hastriumphed, and it continues to be a beaconfor students seeking advanced educationfrom an Indigenous perspective.

Students were thanked for choosingthe university, and faculty and staff wererecognized for their years of service andcontributions to the success of the institu-tion.

Jacqueline Anaquod, president of theFNU Student Association and a fourthyear student in Health Studies, spoke ofher experience as a student and singleparent, noting that along with the uncer-tainty of the university’s future, studentsalso faced personal challenges, such aslife pressures and identity struggles. Withthe support of faculty, staff, residentElders, and each other, students were ableto overcome these challenges.

“To me, the university is a symbol ofall the struggles and everything we havefought for,” said Anaquod.

“To see it come up from the groundto what it is today is a very beautiful thing.I think it’s a really great reflection ofwhere we’re going to go in the future. Thisuniversity is a role model of who I wantto be in today’s world.

“I want to be able to walk and carrythe attributes of the tradition, innovationand leadership wherever I go when I leavehere, and I’m excited.”

While the struggles for accreditationand funding are no longer at the forefront,the challenge remains for increasingenrollment. During troubled times,students rallied and campaigned vigor-ously to save and promote their universi-ty. Their efforts contributed to the insti-tution’s survival and improved enroll-ment. In 2010, 750 students were enrolled,but the numbers dropped the followingyear. Through recruitment efforts, this fall,FNU has 755 students enrolled andreaches 4,000 students on campus throughits classes.

“I am so proud of this institution,”said Vianne Timmons, University ofRegina President.

In 2010, Timmons played an integralrole in creating a financial and adminis-trative partnership between the U of R andFNU to ensure FNU would be able tocontinue functioning as a university.

“It’s got strong governance, it’s got astrong financial foundation now, it isworking on enrollment increases, outreachto the community. I feel nothing butabsolute pride and immense optimism.”

She praised the First Nations Univer-sity for its unique focus and courses, andlooks forward to the future with optimismand hope. She acknowledged the lateElders Isador Pelletier and Velma Good-feather and how they would be proud tosee the university celebrate this milestone.

Timmons shared a quote from Good-feather as a reminder of the university’simportant role and the key for students’success.

“In order to achieve your goal in

education, one has to make it a way of life,as education is a life-long process.”

Chief Bellegarde later echoed thatsentiment in a private interview.

“Our old people always say you’regoing to need two systems of education ifyou’re going to survive in this world: K-12, maths and sciences, go on to universi-ty, but do not ever forget your languagesand ceremonies, traditions and customs.That’s what this place offers.

“Everybody can come to this institu-tion and get a really good biculturaleducation,” said Bellegarde.

“The First Nations University ofCanada is a gem. It’s the only place in theworld where you have indigenousknowledge preserved and kept, from thelanguages, to the worldview and cere-monies, to teaching science from anIndigenous perspective.”

After the official program, the cele-bration continued with a mix and minglelunch with students, faculty and staff,followed by a mini powwow.

Jacqueline Anaquod is the President of the First Nations University of CanadaStudent Association and sees the University as a role model. (Photo by Judy Bird)

First Nations University celebrates 10 years

OCTOBER 2013 19Eagle Feather News - Education Week

By Jessica Iron JosephFor Eagle Feather NewsIf you take a business-like approach to life, things just might fall easily into place,

and with a little more finesse. Just ask Jason (Jay) Smith and Trista Pewapisco-nias, a couple who have managed to juggle a relationship, family, and work while

they were simultaneously enrolled in the Master of Business Administration programthrough Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.

It all started with a five-year plan, where they both dared to dream of pursuing ahigher education. It wasn’t easy, there were financial challenges and conflictingschedules, but the biggest barrier was initially finding the courage to apply.

“I was always intimidated by people who have a Master’s degree,” confessedPewapisconias. “But I decided if I could do it, then everyone is capable of continuingtheir education.

“Also networking and getting out of your comfort zone is crucial to business. I’ma shy person and it’s something I work at on a daily basis.”

Smith echoed his partner’s sentiments. “It is very scary to try something new and get involved in higher education,” he

said. “A lot of the time it’s stressful to do something you are unsure of, but there comesa time when you have to get out there and accomplish something.

“No one can do it for you. You have to do it for yourself.”Both had trouble accessing funding, but they didn’t let that stop them. They believe

their bands simply prioritized funding for undergraduate students, so they acceptedthat they would have to find other means to continue in their programs. They received

scholarships and applied for student loansand student lines of credit. Smith alsoworked full-time at Saskatchewan IndianEquity Foundation (SIEF).

But perhaps what most got themthrough was being each other’s biggestsupporters. That and alternating classeswith child care and family obligations –quintessential teamwork at its best.

They both believe that programs likethe MBA program are not only advanta-geous to First Nations people, butnecessary.

“Any program that puts First Nationsbusiness people on a level playing field inany industry is a positive step,” saidPewapisconias.

“There is such a disparity betweenFirst Nations people and the rest of the Canadian population in terms of quality ofeducation. I believe that business skill and understanding of good business is the nextstep in evolving First Nations business effectiveness,” said Smith.

“Remaining humble is also very important in doing business. Every time you treatsomeone with disrespect you lose them as a potential resource in the future.”

They just returned from China, a mandatory component of their program, and arenow looking forward to convocation in October.

“It is so exciting and I cannot wait for it. It will be so surreal. During the ceremonyI know that the feeling will be multiplied by a million,” said Smith.

Smith just accepted a position as First Nations Account Manager for Affinity CreditUnion for southern Saskatchewan. Pewapsconias is still waiting for the right opportu-nity to present itself.

“I would love to work for an organization where I could make a difference,” saidPewapsconias.

Couplesupportedeach otherin purusitof MBAs

University ofSaskatchewanstudents TristaPewapisconias andJason Smith will beconvocating withMBAs in October.

“No onecan do it for you.

You have todo it for

yourself.”

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Education20

By Roberta CrossFor Eagle Feather NewsUnderstanding stretched far beyond words in July

during a four-day accelerated Cree immersioncourse. Teachers Belinda Daniels and Randy

Morin created a Nehiyaw (Cree) learning space for a fullclass of adults.

Daniels developed the course over ten years, basedon Stephen Greymorning’s model. With a Masters inlanguage methodologies and having learned Cree as asecond language, she knows students’ challenges.Daniels believes in language revitalization and inteaching excellence.

“Language development isn’t just delivering content,it’s knowing how the brain works, and how to stimulatememory cognition,” says Daniels.

Morin’s first language is Cree, and he has taught withDaniels for five years. He holds degrees in both Arts andEducation.

“I am most happy with teaching stories that comefrom learning a language,” Morin says. “Stories stickwith students.”

Two native Cree speakers assisted. Bill Cook offeredsongs, games and taught syllabics and DelvinKanēwiyakin shared cultural and spiritual teachings.

Students repeated words together, then individualswent to the board to speak and point to images.

“A communal way, an embodied way, keeps peopleawake,” Daniels says.

“Making sign language, looking at pictures, speakingand listening to the words created a fully engaged expe-rience,” said Omeasoo Butt, a PhD candidate.

Through this method, students start speaking rightaway.

“I know many were surprised by how fast they werelearning,” says Morin.

“There was no time to be bored,” says David Kim-Cragg, a United Church Minister, “but there was time tobe frustrated!”

Many students found it painful not to grab a pen.Some had anxious faces saying unfamiliar words in frontof others. While uncomfortable, this indigenous way oflearning was powerful.

“I have overcome some of my fears,” said BobPringle, the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children andYouth, with pride.

The teachers were inclusive, enthusiastic and caring. “I never felt I was struggling on my own,” adds Kim-

Cragg. “If everyone was messing up, you could laughand ask your friend for help.”

Alison Kakish travelledfrom Alberta to participate,preparing for her newMeadow Lake teaching job.

“I’m amazed at howmuch has stuck,” she says. “Ijust remember the words. It’spretty crazy.”

While most studentswere non-Cree, Kakishobserves that “all of us reallywanted to be there, and itmade all the difference.”

Kim-Cragg iscommitted to do somethingabout Canada’s racialdivisions and the negative effects of colonialism afterexperiencing the TRC event in Saskatoon.

“I didn’t think it would be language learning,” hesays, “but it’s a good fit.”

Now he has more confidence talking to others aboutreconciliation.

“Personally, it’s made me happier. I feel rich, evenjust having scratched the surface,” says Pringle.

“I respect First Nations tradition and culture. Thisclass is the piece I’ve been missing. I have felt insincereby not understanding the language, because language ishow you understand culture.”

Sigrid Wagner, an engineer from Switzerland, wasenergized by the holistic teaching and “depth of meaningin between the sentences,letters and syllabics.”

There was meaning forthe teachers, too.

“When I teach theNehiyaw language to willingstudents, it fills my heartwith pride because it tells methat there are people outthere who are willing to fightfor the survival of thelanguage for future genera-tions,” says Morin.

Daniels believes“learning language is the keyto unlocking misconceptionsand ignorance.” She seesmore Cree and non-Creepeople coming to classes,making possible a new era ofcollaboration.

“Randy and Belinda brought themselves, andtouched people here with language,” says Butt. “Thatmultiplies, like when trees blossom and pollen goeseverywhere. Everyone breathes it in.”

Students from three countries and two provinces compose Cree sentences withencouragement from teacher Belinda Daniels.

Cree language teacher Randy Morin teaches the group new words.

Cree language studentseagerly tackle new language

0CTOBER 2013 21Eagle Feather News - Health

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News - Education 22

By Fraser NeedhamFor Eagle Feather NewsTwo University of Saskatchewanacademics are the first Aboriginalscholars from the institution to be

elected to the Royal Society of Canada.Sakej Henderson is the director of the

Native Law Centre and Marie Battisteteaches in the College of Education.Henderson is a member of the ChickasawNation and Battiste a Mi’kmaw member.The two are also married.

Battiste, who is also only the fourthwoman from the U of S to be elected to theRSC, says their selection to the prestigiousacademic society is proof that Aboriginalscholarship is starting to get the recogni-tion it deserves within the Canadianuniversity system.

“The Social Sciences and ResearchCouncil, through their Aboriginalprogram, has opened up those doorswide,” she says.

“And there has been for quite someyears funding that has gone into doing alot of research with Indigenous commu-nities, not on Indigenous communities, butwith Indigenous communities and withIndigenous scholars.”

Henderson adds the selection doesappear to show some broadening in termsof what universities are now deeming tobe mainstream research.

“Since most of my work is alwaysagainst the Crown and has always beenconceptualized by the Crown as someradical project, it brings Aboriginal andtreaty rights into the mainstream and not

seen to be such a peripheral topic,” he says. Henderson’s academic work focuses

on looking at ways to challenge the Crownto honour treaties. He has also beeninvolved in various constitutional negoti-ations including the Charlottetown Accordand the drafting of the United NationsDeclaration on the Rights of IndigenousPeople.

Battiste’s research has examined waysto improve educational outcomes ofAboriginal youth and developing andcreating the Indigenous humanities.

Because of the nature of his work,Henderson admits he was initially a littlebit reluctant to accept an award from whatsome might see as an academic societyrepresenting the colonial order. However,he says he later reconsidered.

“For myself, I had a lot of hesitationsabout it at first but was convinced thatsince treaties are with the Crown and theroyals, then I have an obligation to bringthat spirit into the Royal Society again.”

Overall, Battiste says their election tothe RSC can only be viewed as a positivething in terms of Indigenous scholarship.

“It’s a growing area and I think thatthis recognition is really that they arebeginning to see that this work is nowsomething that can be brought to not onlyto our institutions, as in the University ofSaskatchewan, but to large institutions likethe Royal Society.”

The Royal Society of Canada was firstestablished in 1882 to recognize achieve-ments by scholars in the arts, humanitiesand sciences.

U of S Aboriginal scholars electedto prestigious academic society

Sakej Henderson and Marie Battiste are now members of the Royal Society ofCanada. (Photo by Victor Hamm)

By Kristine ScarrowFor Eagle Feather NewsEach year, in the third week ofOctober, Canadians honour thecontributions of approximately

35,000 foster families across the countryfor their ongoing commitment toproviding care to foster children, the mostvulnerable children in our society. In2013, National Foster Family Week willbe celebrated Oct. 21-27.

Events will be held around theprovince, with the kick-off event takingplace on Monday, Oct. 21 in Regina.

“We are celebrating those who haveopened their hearts and homes to childrenwho need a safe, nurturing place to live,”Saskatchewan Foster Families Associa-tion (SFFA) executive director DebDavies says.

“As an organization, we are proud tosupport dedicated and caring fosterfamilies in Saskatchewan in theimportant work that they do. It is becauseof their incredible contributions that a

difference is being made in the lives ofour province’s children and youth.”

In addition to celebrating fosterfamilies as part of National Foster FamilyWeek, the SFFA is looking to featureindividual foster care success stories. Theorganization has put out a call forpersonalstories fromformer fosterchildren ofhow being infoster carehas helpedthem tosucceed.Despiteincrediblechallenges,children infoster carego on tobecome successful adults, and the SFFAwould like to highlight these inspirationalstories:

“Examples of success stories mightbe how you overcame the challenges youfaced. Perhaps you went back to school,earned a degree, started a business,helped others in your community orbecame a remarkable parent to a child ofyour own. Select stories will be featured

in futureissues ofthe SFFAfosterparentnewsletterTheAdvisor,and onewinnerwillreceive a$100 pre-paidVISA

card. Contest details can be found on theSaskatchewan Foster Families Associa-tion website at www.sffa.sk.ca or on the

SFFA Facebook page.”“Despite our successes, there

continues to be a real need for more fosterfamilies across this province.” Daviessays.

With 66 per cent of children in fostercare Aboriginal (Status, Non-status andMétis), the recent partnership betweenthe SFFA and Fox Valley CounsellingServices Inc. in Regina, along with theMinistry of Social Services have focusedon increasing the number of First Nationsfoster homes.

“We encourage caring andcommitted families willing to open theirhearts and homes to vulnerable childrento call our foster parent recruitment lineat 1-888-276-2880 for more informa-tion.”

For more information aboutbecoming a foster parent, please visit theSocial Services website atwww.socialservices.gov.sk.ca or theSaskatchewan Foster Families Associa-tion website at www.sffa.sk.ca.

National Foster Families Week in October

OCTOBER 2013 23Eagle Feather News

Honouring their EldersTed Whitecalf and Marilyn Poitras have combined their considerable talents fora project that pays tribute to First Nations and Métis elders. (Photo by Jackie Gabriel)

By Jackie GabrielFor Eagle Feather NewsASaskatchewan husband and wifeduo is honouring the wisdom ofthe Elders through words and

photography.Ted Whitecalf is the owner/producer

of Sweet Grass Records in Saskatoon andgrew up on the Sweet Grass First Nation.His wife, Marilyn Poitras, a law professorat the University of Saskatchewan, grewup in Indian Head, a small town near theQu’Appelle Valley.

Both remember with fondness theinfluences of the Elders in their communi-ties and felt that these Elders had a lot ofwisdom and life experiences to offer theircommunities. They were a resource to beshared. Through the Sweet Grass Recordsteam of professionals with Poitras as editorand Whitecalf as interviewer/photograph-er and with the help of the FSIN, they wereable to bring some of that Elder wisdom tothe forefront in a style that involves preserv-ing the culture through word and photo-graphic mediums, and presented in a bookformat.

“Beardy’s was the first one and we’vedone three or four books there. It was wordof mouth after that because it started toshow people some of the stuff that we’ddone.

“It’s a passion for me to show everyonewhat we have done as a people and they getamazed by seeing it in this format,” saidWhitecalf.

He feels that when you are hired to dosomething, you should try to find a differentway of presenting the material and hebelieves that is what they have accom-plished with the Elders books. Whitecalftries to challenge himself on what he cando with it, not to change it in any way butto see the naturalness of what it is and whothey are, and the beauty of these Elders that

we have here. That’s what he really strivesfor in his photography. He found a way inthe books to preserve culture through word,song and visualization and by capturing itin different mediums.

There have been 13 books to date:Beardy’s I which was done in 2001followed by Beardy’s II and III as well as acalendar in 2005/2006 in addition to anotherbook; Kahkewistahaw I and II, MontrealLake, Carry the Kettle, Ochapowace, Star-blanket and Kawakatoose I and II. A lot ofthe titles of the books have a strong messagesuch as Pasikohk (Kahkewistahaw EldersVol. II) meaning ‘time to get up now’ andAtahkamohk meaning ‘listen up’.

Poitras says the stories in the booksgive her the same type of feel as beingconnected to her Grandma with whom shewas particularly close, and the stories thatcome out of the books are just incredible.

“The resilience of human nature blowsme away with those books. It makes meproud to be Métis and proud of that history.They are so accomplished and so full ofwisdom from life experience that you justcan’t get in any other place.

“I am always humbled by the stories,”said Poitras. “The more we do it seems themore cultural knowledge comes out of themand there is a shift happening in that wegenerally don’t teach cultural thingsthrough print and it is shifting so that moreteachings are being made accessiblethrough that.”

Whitecalf and Poitras are currentlyworking on a veteran’s calendar for theBattleford’s Tribal Council and a veteran’sbook for Kahkewistahaw as well as a bookwhich highlights their Elders living offreserve.

All books are available at the FirstNation and McNally Robinson. You cancontact Ted Whitecalf at:

info@sweetgrassrecords.com

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News 24

By Andréa LeddingFor Eagle Feather NewsIskwewuk E-Wichiwitochik (Cree for

“Women Walking Together”) was thewinner of the very first “Joanna Miller

Peace Award” which was presented atSaskatoon City Hall.

Along with friends and supportersfrom all walks of life, the core groupincludes Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte,Myrna Laplante, Priscilla Settee, MaryAnne Assailly, Helen Smith McIntyre,Marlee Ritchie, Val Arnault-Pelletier, RitaBouvier, Lorraine Pura, Rachel Fiddler,Senator Lillian Dyck, Christine Smillie,and Kathie Pruden-Nansel.

The award, named for a communityactivist who worked tirelessly to improveconditions in the area of social justice, isfunded by the City of Saskatoon’s CulturalDiversity and Race Relations Committeeand by Joanna Miller’s family and wasadjudicated by a committee of representa-tives from the following: Cultural Diversityand Race Relations Committee of the Cityof Saskatoon; the Saskatoon PeaceCoalition; Project Ploughshares; MultifaithSaskatoon; Saskatoon Tribal Council;Saskatoon City Police, United NationsAssociation of Canada, Saskatoon branch;and the Miller family.

The well-deserved award acknowl-edges Iskwewuk E-Wichiwitochik’simportance and dedication, raises theircommunity profile and gives them funds

for their crucial advocacy work such as theSisters in Spirit community walk for thedisappeared, missing and murderedAboriginal women, and a December eventfor families of those who have disappeared.

The advocacy group provides grass-roots support to families, educates andlobbies at all levels, promotes awarenessand prevention, and networks with otherorganizations. Earlier this year when theTears4Justice walkers passed throughtown, they held a potluck communityevent, and Friday, Oct. 4 was their 8thannual “Sisters in Spirit” march.

This year it was held at SaskatoonIndian and Métis Friendship Centre,followed by soup, bannock, and a programof heartfelt speakers and family sharingtheir individual grief and their shared hopefor healing and change.

Darlene Oekmaysim-Sicotte is one of the Women Walking Together group thatreceived the Joanna Miller Peace Awrd this year. Below, people prepare to marchfor missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Group behind Sisters in Spirit earns Peace Award

OCTOBER 2013 25Eagle Feather News

Ex-gang member turns back on dead end way of lifeBy Larissa Burnouf

For Eagle Feather News“You’re not a man if you cry.” StaceySwampy recalls early life lessons andmemories of a childhood with an abusive

alcoholic father in Hobbema, Alberta. He says his fathertaught him that crying and showing emotions made youweak and growing up in a reserve riddled with gangs andviolence, weakness wasn’t allowed if you wanted tosurvive.

“Both my parents were alcoholics. My dad was a boot-legger so I seen people come to my house 24 hours a day,seven days a week. I seen people get beat up. I seen peopleget shot. I seen people get stabbed.”

Swampy’s hard home life and constant, relentlessbullying at school took him down a path that would even-tually lead him to a life behind bars.

He began to follow other gang members and by thetime he was in his teens he was behind bars. Swampyremembers being in and out of jail for breaching releaseconditions and running from the police many times. He wasalways returning to Hobbema and the same gangs, partiesand fighting ways that put him behind bars in the first place.

Swampy’s life drastically changed after a night ofdrinking and drugs led to a fight. He says from what peopletold him, a man was pushing around a female cousin andafter calling him on they took the fight outside where hepicked up a piece of lumber. Swampy grabbed a knife.

“He was starting to swing at me and I was going to startswinging at him and at the same time, my best friend comewalking” struggling to find words, Swampy tearfully recalls,“At the same time I swung … I stabbed my best friend in

the heart. I don’t remember. I killed my best friend,” criedSwampy.

Swampy spent over 35 years in provincial and federalinstitutions. He endured a life riddled with drugs, alcohol

and gang life both on the outside and behind bars. Swampyremembers a hard way of life in the system and after beingforced by gang leaders to beat up his uncle and steal hisclothing, he started to realize the measure of his actions.

Swampy was ordered to take several programs whilein the federal penitentiary, which eventually sent him to theRegional Psychiatric Center in Saskatoon.

An anger management program for aboriginaloffenders made him write an autobiography which forcedhim to relive his painful past and begin to heal from it. Fromthere he found traditional ceremony and with the guidanceof elders he began the process of changing his life. His gangwasn’t happy. He says he was ordered to be “beaten out ofthe gang” by several members.

That fight nearly ended his life as he now has a visibleslash scar from beneath his right cheek across his upper lipto the left side of his face.

“They let me go,” remembered Swampy. He was even-tually sent to the Willow Cree Healing Lodge in Duck Lake.After completing his sentence, he chose to stay in Saskatoonrather than return to his old life in Hobbema.

He was hired by the Str8 Up program that takes ex-gang members to talk to at-risk aboriginal youth about theirexperiences with gang life, in the hopes of saving a life.

“It’s a dead end way of life. Either you’re going to bebehind bars for life or you’re going to be six feet under.There’s no future.”

Today, Swampy is in his first year Social Workprogram through the First Nations University of Canada.He hopes to go back into the prison system to helpinmates, but this time when he returns, he’ll be on theother side of the bars.

STACEY SWAMPY

OCTOBER 2013Eagle Feather News26

The technology today is mesmer-izing. In my lifetime we havegone from the typewriter to the

tablet in what seems an incredibly shorttime. I couldn’t have imagined being ableto acquire an entire book in less than aminute.

But I do when I put another one onmy Kindle to read when I travel. We evenbuy telephones in order to read. That’show much it’s changed.

I watch young people. They arevirtual wizards with computers andgadgets. Six- year-olds know more farabout technology than I do and you can’tgo anywhere nowadays without seeingpeople connected by some sort of gadget.The days of robots and artificial intelli-gence can’t be that far away. You get theidea that anybody can build anything toaccomplish anything at any time.

There’s so much techo stuff aroundthat most of it I haven’t even heard of orseen. I thought we were doing great whenmy wife got a new cell phone that shecould send text messages with. But thesheer magnitude of technologicalmarvels is mind boggling. It seems thatevery week I see another adapted, faster,bolder way of doing things. Science justkeeps inventing.

But I’ve discovered that the one

thing they can’t do is build a tribe. Asmuch as science is able to accomplish,they can’t do that. They can’t bringpeople together ina commonpurpose. Theycan’t tie peopletogether inemotion, in spirit,in faith that wewere created to bein community – orthe desire to bethere. They can’t create harmony orcooperation.

That takes a different kind of tech-nology. To bring complete strangerstogether in unity, equality, harmony andpurpose takes a technology of the heart.We watched it happen recently. We werepart of it and it changed us and made usmore. We were honored by it. We cameaway from that experience understand-ing completely that some things willalways require human spirit to accom-plish.

We were part of a writers group I washosting. It was held on the campus ofRoyal Roads University in Victoria. Thewriters who registered were all 30 yearsold and older and were compelled toattend because of a love of words. We all

carried the desire to become better writers.We all shared a dream and a yearning.When we met for the first time we could

feel that. We sensedit in the people inthat circle.

Over the courseof five days, wefocused only on thatenergy. We used it tobring us closertogether. Nothingelse mattered but

paying attention to the flow of it, tosharing it, to allowing it to enter us. Whathappened was magical. We became a tribeof people bound by something bigger thanourselves. We were part of one singularcreative energy and it caused us to feelconnected in a way none of us expected.

I’ve been leading writing workshops,seminars and classes for a few years andI have experience leading other groups.But this was the first time that I actuallyfelt led, borne forward, perhaps. Therewas something far more powerful than mylimited understanding guiding us togetheras we shared.

We became bound by the desire to beheard. We grew closer because each of uscarried a story and we wanted that storyto be recognized and validated. We

wanted our voice to matter. We wanted tobe included. We wanted to be part ofsomething. That’s a desire as old as ourspecies itself. Sometimes in our busy tech-nology-driven lives, we forget that.

One woman shared a story about howher love of writing had been shamed bythe nuns at a residential school. She spokethrough tears of how that had hurt her andcrippled her ability to trust herself withthe words she felt inside of her. Anotherwoman shared her trouble with heracademic career and how it had robbedher of her ability to express herself freely.She let the anger over that out in the group.

One by one we shared humanmoments. One by one we broughtourselves closer to the others. One by onewe let ourselves be completely human.We let ourselves be seen, warts and all andfelt accepted. We were Ojibway, Cree,Irish, Métis, Scot and French. We werepeople. We were brothers and sisters. Wewere equals.

That’s how you build a tribe. Youdon’t need to be bound by race or culture.You don’t even have to have known eachother before. What matters is equality.What matters is recognizing that we allcarry the same yearnings, desires, wishes.

You build a tribe by heart - the onlytechnology capable of changing the world.

Technology not so good at building a tribe

OCTOBER 2013 27Eagle Feather News - Sports

By Larissa BurnoufFor Eagle Feather NewsIt was a tough loss but a remarkable achievement.

Michael Linklater remembers life growing up inSaskatoon’s rough inner-city neighbourhoods,

surrounded by drugs, alcohol and violence. However, that life is long behind him as he’s now

touring Istanbul, Turkey with three other teammates fromhis CIS Championship winning University ofSaskatchewan Huskies basketball team.

The four represented Saskatoon at the FIBA 3 on 3World Masters Basketball Tournament, losing in thequarter finals.

“We were placed in the ‘Pool of Death’ dubbed bythe tournament committee” says Linklater.

The October 4 and 5 tournament saw 12 teams fromall over the world compete for the title of World Mastersin 3 on 3 Basketball and a large cash prize.

“We came out in second place from pool play, losinga nail biter in overtime to the team that won it. Our firstplayoff game was an extremely physical game,”Linklater recalls from Turkey.

“Almost to the point where it wasn’t basketballanymore. The team that beat us in the quarter finals wenton to the finals, but lost.”

Linklater and his team won a spot into the Turkeytournament placing second at a tournament in PuertoRico last month. He says they trained really hard and aregrateful for the support they received along the way.

“We played solid basketball. I’m happy with ourteam and how well we played.”

Linklater, along with teammates Trevor Nerdahl,Michael Lieffers and Troy Gotselig were sponsored byIGNITE and wanted to offer thanks to them for helpingthem train for the tournament. The guys will tour thecountry for two weeks before returning back toSaskatoon. ,

“We are extremely grateful for this opportunity. Ican’t really complain about being ,across the worldplaying a sport I love with guys who I consider family.”

Troy Gottselig, Michael Linklater and Trevor Nerdahl, all former Huskie Basketball players, made it to thequarter finals in the World 3 on 3 Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Missing is Michael Leiffers.

Ex-Huskie starsavours internationalbasketball tourneyin Istanbul, Turkey

SEPTEMBER 2013Eagle Feather News 28