Eagle 2009 Temp

MAY 2015

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VOLUME 18 - NUMBER 5

Welcome to our Sports, Youth & Mining Edition

Coming In June - National Aboriginal Day IssueCPMA #40027204

GETTING TO KNOW JACKJack Saddleback is an interest-ng guy and the new president ofthe students union at the U of S.

Page 8

NORTHERN ROLE MODELSimon Crookedneck is oneimpressive young man. So, it’sonly logical that he’s become aposter boy! - Page 13

BOUND FOR EL SALVADORTiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin isn’tsure what her upcoming trip willbring but she expects it to be alife-changer. - Page 8

SCAFFOLDING MENTORJoel Garr is a man who knowshis way around a constructionsite and now he’s passing onhis knowledge. - Page 24

JA ACHIEVERSThe Junior Achievementprogram in the northerncommunity of La Loche is beinghailed as a success. - Page 7

Members of the boys team celebrate theirchampionship at the 2015 National AboriginalHockey Championships held in Halifax. (Photo by Jeff Watson Athletes Image Sports Photography)

Double gold for Team Sask at NAHC

By Fraser NeedhamFor Eagle Feather News

Team Saskatchewan has once again struck doublegold at the 2015 National Aboriginal Hockey Champi-onships held this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Both the male and female teams defeated provin-cial rivals in medal round games on May 2.

The tournament features elite level Bantam andMidget players from across Canada.

Saskatchewan also won gold in both the male andfemale divisions in last year’s NAHC tournament inKahnawake, Quebec.

The male team edged out Team Alberta 4-3 inovertime for the gold on Saturday.

The teams were scoreless after one period of playbefore Saskatchewan’s Reed Gunville broke the icewith a power play goal in the second. Alberta respondedwith a power play goal of its own before the period wasout.

The teams traded off a total of four goals in thesecond and third periods with Drake Teer tallying forSaskatchewan on a power play and Lantz Hebert addinganother.

• Continued on Page 2

Sask teams take gold for two consecutive years

MAY 2015Eagle Feather News 2

Narrow margins, but Sask teams victorious at national championship• Continued from Page One

Alberta had two even strength goalsbefore Saskatchewan won the game inovertime on a marker by Connor Navrotat 15:49.

The female team won gold by de-feating Team Ontario 3-2 on Saturday.

Saskatchewan had the lone goal inthe first period with Hannah Koroll scor-ing. They added another two markers inthe second period with Taylor Gravellescoring and Kiana Durocher tallying ona power play.

Ontario replied with a goal of itsown before the period was out and addedanother in the third but it wasn’t enough.

Alberta and B.C. took silver andbronze respectively in the male side ofthe tournament. On the female side, On-tario won the silver medal with Manitobataking bronze.

Both the male and female teams lostto Team Manitoba in the round robin butcame back to beat the same opponent inthe semi-finals of the playoffs.

Saskatchewan female team headcoach Lynn Regnier says it was just amatter of his team being more focused inthe playoffs.

“We just got a lot more pucks onnet, we were first on pucks and we got alot more shots on net,” he says.

Saskatchewan’s Reed Gunville ledall male skaters in points in the playoffround with four goals and six assists for

a total of ten points over three games.He was followed by teammate

Drake Teer who had three goals and fiveassists for eight points.

Kiana Durocher and Delaney Rossof Saskatchewan led all female skaters in

the playoff round with seven points eachover three games.

Durocher had three goals and fourassists and Ross five goals and two as-sists.

Team Saskatchewan was sponsored

by the Saskatchewan Lotteries TrustFund, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan andDakota Dunes Community DevelopmentCorporation.

The NAHC tournament has been inexistence since 2002.

Team Saskatchewan’s female team came back from a round robin loss to Manitoba to reclaim the championship.

Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 3

By John LagimodiereOf Eagle Feather News

SASKATOON – Justin Scott just received a $4.000 kick-start for hisbusiness, Scott Repair, by winning the inaugural Shopindig Start upChallenge. Scott beat out another dozen contestants and six finalists to earn some

money for the cell phone repair business he has been dreaming of creat-ing, money that will allow the entrepreneur to leverage more funding.“Winning means I’ve taken the first step to actualizing my dream and

now people are aware of my determination and are ready to help mesucceed,” said Scott after the win. “SIEF, Futurpreneaur, all these different programs know who I am

now and want me to apply. It helps me get my foot in the door of placesI need to be so I can get more support and mentorship.”

The Shopindig Start Up Challenge is the brainchild of entrepreneurHeather Abbey. She participated in many business plan competitionsshowcasing her website that markets for Aboriginal artisans around theworld and she knew the benefit of business plan competitions and theresources they provide entrepreneurs. “Just giving these entrepreneurs that chance to learn about business, to find a

mentor and to win some cash to finance your business is so important,” said Abbey. “We had great supporters and sponsors for this event and it went very well and

several already promised to sponsor next year so we are thrilled. The quality of thepitches was outstanding and that’s what we want to see more of.”The dozen entrepreneurs that submitted videos received a two day business boot

camp where they had access to business mentors and also worked on the fiveminute pitch. The six finalists, Justin Scott of Scotts Repair, Cate Morris with ScoutFinancial, Candace Linklater and Mary-Lou Mintram with Littebow-tihk, TerryTipewan of Belicious Bannock, Brian Dreaver of Iron Buffalo Clothing and JeanMcKenzie of Sewing Gene got to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges at agala banquet at the Dakota Dunes Casino. Kendal Netmaker from Neechie Gear, Lisa Abbott from Abbott Law, Rhonda

Speiss from PotashCorp, John Lagimodiere from Eagle Feather News, and RickStefanowski from SIEF were the judges.

Cate Morris of Scout Financial earned second with her financial literacy businessand Candace Linklater and Mary-Lou Mintram, with their fashion line Littebow-tihk, came third.Justin Scott is now taking his four years experience working for a national cell

phone company and he is turning that knowledge into something that will truly behis. The Shopindig Challenge certainly opened his eyes to the support out there for

entrepreneurs. “This start up challenge has taught me you need to break into whatever program,

system or challenges are available to get yourself noticed. If you do your due dili-gence and have the experience, these programs and individuals representing theseprograms will help you, first step is getting noticed by them,” said Scott. “The best entrepreneurs and business leaders find the best teammates and that

starts by sharing your vision with the community.”

Cell phone repair idea takesinaugural Shopindig challenge

Justin Scott and his idea for a cell phone repair company took the top spot atthe ShopIndig Challenge. Scott has several years experience in the industry andwants to turn that knowledge into his future business. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

ShopIndig founder Heather Abbey with winners Justin Scott, Cate Morris, Mary-LouMintram and Candace Linklater. (Photo by John Lagimodiere)

Eagle Feather News MAY 20154

Engaging and supporting FirstNation and Metis youth in Saskatchewanhas never been more important.

As we speak, almost half of theAboriginal population in our province isunder the age of 20 and this corps ofyoung people face some of the biggestchallenges out there …. highest povertyindicators, suicide rate, unemployment,incarceration and the foster care systemare all impacting our kids in the worseway.

But there is plenty of reason to behopeful looking into the future becausesome awesome people are doing amazingthings to pave the way into the future.

Just look at this past month and thinkof hockey.

Kevin Roberts of Lac la Ronge –who, incidentally is a former member ofthe Eagle Feather News team from a fewyears ago – coordinated the FSIN YouthHockey Championships that saw JeminiArena in Saskatoon busting with kids andfamilies enjoying the sport and buildingcharacter.

Roberts’ work back in La Rongeis a crucial part of a bustling recre-ation department that just bought abus to help transport kids to sports

around the territory. In mid-April that arena was packed

for the WesternCanadian NativeChampionshipshosted by ClaudePetit. And in earlyMay, ShelleyLavallee helpedhost the OskanaCup in Regina.

All events werevery successful and showed how muchtalent we have out there.

The proof of the value in our invest-ment in our kids showed when both theboys and girls teams won gold at theNational Aboriginal Hockey Champi-onships … again!

Those smiling faces on this month’scover make us all proud. And thanks, ofcourse, to photographer Jeff Watson ofAthletes Image Sports Photography inOntario for that great image.

We have lots to be proud of and rightnow, young people are practicing theirtrack and field for the First NationSummer Games coming soon atOchapowace First Nation.

Events like this give kids things to

aim for and keeps them focussed.But sports isn’t for everyone so that

is why I love goingto events like thePotashCorp MiniScience Fair withSaskatoon TribalCouncil kinder-garten to Grade 5students.

At this eventkids are engaged

and put their inquisitive minds to learningabout and explaining basic scientific prin-ciples.

In our community we have manypeople in careers like teacher, policeofficer and social worker, but not a lot ingeology and engineering and otherscience based careers.

Science and math projects are invest-ments we must continue to make. Theeconomy in Saskatchewan is tied into ournatural resources and careers are plentifulin the mining industry.

Those two subjects are pivotal foun-dations for these careers and there is noreason why these three young volcanobuilders (pictured on the left) can’tbecome engineers like the three

gentlemen on the right. It just takes time and patience and

commitment to the cause.To strengthen their communities and

opportunities for youth, several northernleaders, both political and business,joined with Cameco folks and haveheaded to Ottawa to meet with federalofficials and Ministers to tell them aboutthe progress their communities havemade by working together.

They will also learn how they canleverage training money and opportuni-ties for their youth.

I’m in Ottawa with the Saskatchewancontingent and will be writing about themeetings in the coming days.

This trip is happening as we print thispaper so you will have to go to ourwebsite to read about it.

Yes we do have challenges, but everysingle day there are champions andleaders out there working to make theworld a better place for our youth.

And if the youth aspire to be the nexthockey star like Michael Ferland or a topnotch engineer like Matthew Dunn –whojust happens to be a world-class athlete,as well as a brilliant scholar – that is agood thing.

Budding scientists among our athletes, teachers

Maybe one day Ethan, Ruby and Maya will become scientists or engineers. Engineers Duncan Cree, John Desjarlais and Matthew Dunn.

Eagle Feather NewsMAY 2015 5

Once, on a trip to the local band store, I had a whole75¢ burning a hole in my pocket.

This was enough money to buy a bag of chips or achocolate bar, but not both. And I don’t know about you,but that is an impossible decision for a chubby six-year-old.

Thus, I was seated outside in the gravel trying tomake up my mind.

In the meantime, I invented a game where I buriedmy coins, looked away for a few seconds and thenunburied them. Each time, there was a thrill in uncover-ing my three shiny quarters.

Until, I buried them too far and lost them to thegravel gods.

This was my first lesson in money management –don’t play with your money, unless you’re a pirate.

This month’s column is about money and youth –but not in a lurid way.

What I mean is that if you are young, you still havetime to learn how to manage your money wisely and thenenjoy it in your twilight years. (If you’re old, it’s alreadytoo late – so just keep playing the lottery, cheating at cardsand cashing your cheques at Payday Loans, Mom.)

When you’re young, it feels like the money train willnever end but it’s important to have a cushion to fall backon if things take a sudden turn for the worse.

Like if your roommate moves out because yourchinchilla bit him or if your chinchilla has an unplannedpregnancy or if your chinchilla requires sex-changesurgery because he feels like he’s been living a lie.

Here’s my first tip – never tell anyone how muchmoney you make. Or how much money you have in the

bank or even how many gold teeth you have. Even if youthink it’ll be safe to whisper your net worth after midnightduring a thunderstorm – it isn’t.

No matter how quietly you proclaim your income,when you wake up, there’ll be a relative standing on yourdoorstep with an “aw-shucks” story, ready to parlay yoursympathy into a long term, no-chance-of-ever-getting-it-back loan.

Until your saving goals are met, say no to unnecessarypurchases. And, as to determining what is an unnecessarypurchase, just ask yourself, could I find some way to stealthis?

Another tip: teach yourself how to invest your money.This is called making your money work for you or “bigpimpin’.” To become a good investor, study the marketsand don’t jump in unless you feel comfortable with the levelof risk.

However, sometimes you have to go with your gut.Like normally I would say, “no bingo-related loans.” Butwhat if Mom is on a hot streak? Well, then maybe you haveto go with it.

Be clear with her though – you expect a 15 per centreturn and she must pay up immediately if she wins. (That’sthe hard part of investing – learning how to shake down

your mom.) Don’t put all your money in one place, especially if

that place is your mouth. Somehow I got to the age of 25before I learned you weren’t supposed to put money in yourmouth.

It had always been a holding area for coins until a friendpointed out that on any given day at least 10 people toucheda single loonie before it found its way into my mouth andat least one of those people was a habitual ball-scratcher.

“It’s a wonder you don’t have ten different kinds ofcholera,” she added.

Ironically, I have always been suspiciously healthy. I know you young people must think I’m some sort of

old fuddy-duddy taking all the fun out of getting to throwmoney around for the first time.

I know what it feels like to be young and free – my firstmonth on my own, I only ate grapes. This was an act ofrebellion against my mom who used to always say, “grapesare too expensive, just dip your raisins in water.”

So when I had control over the grocery budget I boughtas many grapes as I wanted. So what if my power got cutoff? I proudly ate my grapes in the dark.

It’s important to remember that money is what peoplepay you in exchange for your time. And you don’t get anunlimited supply of that.

It’s like that movie “In Time” (great movie except thatit starred Justin Timberlake) where people get paid in timecredits. Once your time credits run out, you die and thenJustin Timberlake holds you in his spindly arms and makessquawking noises in an attempt to cry.

It’s pretty unpleasant and to avoid that – respect yourdollar bills, y’all.

Money sense an important concept for young spenders

MAY 2015Eagle Feather News6

I remember when I was a littleboy. Yes I was a little boy once.

I watched the Stanley Cupplayoffs on television. It was my firstexperience watching this newinvention. It was the 1955-56 hockeyseason and I was watching TV in thegym at the Oblate residential schoolwhere I was trying to avoid studiesand learn to play hockey.

Montreal Canadiens won. Theybeat the Maple Leafs which only thelate Father Guy Lavallee cheered for.Everyone else was a Montreal fanincluding yourstruly.

If you havenot yet read thechildren’s book‘The HockeySweater” by RochCarriere you mustget it now andread it. You will immediately get theflavour of what it was then to be aMontreal hockey fan.

That season was the start of theincredible five-year domination of theStanley Cup champion Canadiens.The roster was an array of unforget-table characters and hockey legendsincluding ‘Rocket’ Richard, his littlebrother Henri, Jean Beliveau, BernieGeoffrion, Doug Harvey, DickieMoore, and others.

The hockey barons changed thepenalty rule to allow the penalizedplayer back on the ice after a goal isscored to stop the Montreal onslaughtwith the man advantage.

That was a long time ago and Irarely watch ‘ice hockey’ any more.

I missed many seasons while Ilived in Australia from 1974-82 andwhen I came back the game hadchanged to something like roller derbyon ice.

No more fancy stick-handling andpassing plays: just dumping the puckin and chasing it, with lots of cross-checking, interference and high-sticking.

That grated on my referee’snerves, I having taken to officiating toearn money to go to university andthen ending up as the Referee-in-Chief for Australia, where the gamewas a very minor sport played mostlyby Canadian ex-pats.

I see that the game has made agood comeback, with the playersbeing bigger, stronger, and faster than‘back in the day’, a fact that I will notadmit in the depths of my soul.

Back then, it was commented that‘Moose’ Vasko, a defenceman forChicago Black Hawks, was too big toplay hockey at 205 pounds.

Today many forwards are muchlarger than that.

Another development is bodyprotection equipment that seems tohave been designed for tank warfare.I am puzzled not only by the hardelbow pads that make great weaponsbut especially by the helmets thatseem designed to ensure concussionsrather than prevent them.

Recent scientific studies haveshown what was plain to ordinaryfolks like my good friend: the helmetsare next to useless because they haveno absorption quality but simplytransfer the blow to the head.

Why not usesofter helmetsthat absorbshock? Try thistest: put on ahelmet and bangyourself on thehead. When youwake up you will

be convinced something is amiss. A round of applause for young

Sequoia Swan, Anishinabe Pee Weeplayer who made the Western Selectsroster that recently played in an inter-national tournament in Europe.

Sequoia is the grandson of friendsJenn and Darcy Wood and a memberof Cape Croker First Nation, all ofwhom live in Winnipeg whereSequoia is the star player for the localelite Rebels team.

Proud parents are Jenn andDarcy’s daughter Shylo and ClintSwan of Peguis First Nation.

The Selects won all five firstround games but were stymied by ahot Finnish goaltender in the quarter-finals.

A polite ‘congrats’ to our friendMilton Tootoosis for his work inpromoting hockey in Saskatchewan.Keep up the good work Milton! Sportsneed more people like you. Commercial Break

Your humble scribe (aka ‘ink-stained wretch’) has been called to theBar in Manitoba, which means I havejoined Boudreau Law a firm special-izing in Aboriginal Law in Winnipeg.

I have not, however, thrown awaymy goose quill, having resolved towork part-time at a law practice whilewriting books on legal subjects, a taskwhich local friends and Saskatoonpublishers Purich Publishing keepreminding me about when I lag behindschedule!Last word

Speaking of the NHL playoffs itappears that a flock of Ducks recentlydowned some Jets in the Winnipegarea, leading to a great gnashing ofteeth by fans who had not tastedStanley Cup playoffs in many years.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations,Paul!)

Thoughts on hockey ....

MAY 2015 7Eagle Feather News

By Ray PennerFor Eagle Feather News

LA LOCHE – It would be hard to findanywhere in Canada where there are bet-ter Junior Achievement success storiesthan those of La Loche, Saskatchewan.

“I’m so proud of these students,”says Theresa Huntley, the JA CompanyProgram instructor and high school ca-reer transitions teacher at La Loche Com-munity School.

“Many of them went far beyond theprogram expectations with the businessesthey created, and showed their true talentas entrepreneurs.”

Huntley helped launch the JuniorAchievement Company Program lastfall. Her class had 15 students who cre-ated six companies. Over a four monthperiod, students had to decide who theywere going to work with, what product orservice they were going to provide, andwhat to call the company.

They then had to go through all thestages of manufacturing, marketing, andmanaging the company to show a profit.A typical JA student company might gen-erate only a very modest profit of a fewhundred dollars. In comparison, even theleast successful La Loche JA ventureshowed a profit of close to $500, withothers tallying profits in the thousands.

One of the high flyers was Bead-work by Curbee, started by students Cur-tis Fontaine and Mytaya Lemaigre. Theysecured a contract to create and supply150 pairs of beaded earrings as gifts forall participants in a provincial volleyballtournament in La Loche.

“I learned the importance of bal-ancing out payments, and the importanceof the economy while in the JA pro-gram,” notesFontaine.

Collin Mont-grand, a student whocreated Montgrand’sPhotography, says “Ilearned that you canachieve your goal bybelieving in yourselfand working hardthrough the businessyou’re trying tobuild.”

M o n t g r a n dshowed what hemeans by securing acontract to do all thegrad photos for theschool, and most re-cently a contract todo the photographyfor the mayor’s upcoming federal elec-tion bid.

The spirit of Junior Achievementwas demonstrated in many ways duringthe past winter. Students in Jacked UpCoffee put in 10 to 12 hours a day sell-ing coffee at a weekend tournament, im-pressing the provincial organizers to theextent that they donated a commercialcoffee maker to the school. The com-

pany now sells coffee and tea at theschool during afternoon breaks, bringingin more than $500 a month.

Not to be outdone, Taste for Teawas also an “instant hit” at the tourna-ment and also operates during the after-noon breaks. There’s a competitive spiritin these Achievers, to be sure, but also asense of teamwork and dedication totheir community.

For the La Loche Santa Clause Pa-rade, all the JA companies joined to-gether to create a float and handed outcandy canes.

The community is an important fac-tor in the success of the JA companies inher Program, says Huntley.

“Home-based and small businessescan do very well in a place where peoplehave money, but not a lot of placesnearby where they can spend it,” she ex-

plains. “La Loche

supported our JAcompanies in manyways because theyliked not only whatthe students weredoing as young peo-ple, but also thegoods and servicesthey were offering.Junior Achievementhelped to prove thatyou can start a ven-ture in your north-ern home commu-nity and do well.”

That’s whyHuntley does nothesitate to recom-mend JA to other

northern teachers. “It’s relatively easy to start a JA

Company Program. Junior Achievementgives you lots of support, and everythingis clearly laid out.

“Most importantly to me, though, isthey also provide scholarships and otherincentives to help our students reach theirtrue potential. It’s a very rewarding ex-perience for everyone involved.”

Junior Achievers in La Loche – talk about success!

Junior Achievers Amber Fontaine, Dylan Janvier, and Preston St. Pierre showed their own version of “corporate com-munity involvement” at the La Loche Santa Claus parade.

I learned thatyou can achieveyour goal by be-lieving in yourselfand working hardthrough the busi-ness you’re tryingto build.”

–Curtis Fontaine


By Kris FosterFor Eagle Feather News

SASKATOON – A lot of people knowJack Saddleback. They know he is a Creeman studying sociology. They know he isa two-spirit, transgender gay man. And asof March 26, they know he will be the newUniversity of Saskatchewan Students’Union (USSU) president.

But there is more to Saddleback thanthat.

He’s the third First Nation, but firsttransgender USSU president. Saddlebackis the third Aboriginal president in a row,following Jared Brown and Max FineDay.

“It’s important to celebrate thesemilestones as a campus community,” saidSaddleback. “I happen to be First Nationand openly transgender, but we are all di-verse and unique individuals.”

Saddleback says he almost didn’t runfor president

“It took me quite a while to decide. Icome from a number of marginalizedgroups and have faced a series of barriers,both external and internal. I was afraidand wasn’t sure if the campus was readyfor a First Nation, two-spirit, transgenderpresident,” said Saddleback, who wasvice-president of student affairs this pastyear.

In the end he ran, and won. “Every-one has an identity. Mine just happens tobe rarer than most. People didn’t see me asa First Nation man or a trans man; theysaw just a skilled, experienced and pas-sionate individual.”

Saddleback is putting his passion,experience and skills behind a four-pointplatform that won him the election withmore than 47 per cent of the votes.

He stressed the importance of creat-ing a mental health strategy for the cam-pus. “Mental health is a huge passion ofmine and through my own experience withdepression and suicide, I consider myselfan advocate for change.” Last year, he wasnamed a Face of Mental Illness with theCanadian Alliance on Mental Illness andMental Health, and shared his strugglesand stories about mental illness across thecountry.

The U of S is one of the last U15 uni-versities without such a strategy. “Thereare gaps and we need to bridge those gapsso that no one falls through and that meansfaculty and staff too. Our success as stu-dents relies on the wellbeing of the facultyand staff.”

Another major issue for Saddlebackis creating a sexual assault policy. “This isa huge issue across Canada and we are nodifferent.”

He wants to create concrete stepsthat can be followed by those reportingassaults and those receiving the reports.“We need to make it clear what stepswill be taken and what the procedure

going forward.”Saddleback’s final two platform

planks were about engagement, both withthe student body on campus and thebroader community off campus.

“We need to engage with students atall levels to find out what issues we can ad-dress.” As for community engagement, hesaid he wants to make sure students knowwhat funding is available to them to doeven more community work.

He likes Huskies more than all cats… except one

“I grew up with a wolf-husky crossnamed Princess,” said Saddleback, whowas raised in Samson Cree Nation inMaskwacis, Alberta. “I definitely like dogsmore than cats, except The Lion King ismy favourite movie.”

Not only did he grow up with aprincess, he also met the Queen

“Not a lot of people know that I metthe Queen. I was one of a few people whogot the chance to present her with someartwork at a cornerstone-unveiling event atthe Canadian Museum of Human Rights.”

Joining Saddleback on the USSU ex-ecutive are: Gabe Senecal, vice-presidentof academic affairs; Kehan Fu, vice-pres-ident of student affairs; and Ata Merat,vice-president of operations and finance.

“The exec is filled with amazing peo-ple with great skills. It’s going to be awell-rounded team and I’m really stokedto get started.”

The USSU president has a seat wait-ing for him on the U of S Board of Gov-ernors and he is looking forward to occu-pying it. “But the board is like Las Vegas:what happens there, stays there,” he saidwith a laugh.

Saddleback assumed the role ofUSSU president on May 1.

Albertan Jack Saddleback became the new University of Saskatchewan Students’s Union president on May 1.

Getting toknow Jack


Bullies beware. Last month there wasa Pink Shirt campaign crossing Canada.

From coast to coast provinces aretaking a stand against bullying.

The “pink shirt” movement began inSeptember 2007 in Nova Scotia when twoGrade 12 students decided that the bullieshad crossed the line when they targeted afellow high school student by shoutinghomophobic insults at him for wearing apink shirt to school.

Travis Price and David Shepherdorganized a protest with their fellowstudents to wear pink and to support fortheir bullied classmate and the pink shirtanti-bullying movement was born.

The protest spread from school toschool and eventually around the world.These two students were so successful thatmany provinces in Canada have dedicatedone day a year to anti-bullying campaigns.The United Nations declared the officialUN Anti-Bullying Day to be May 4 in2012. The U.S. and British schools alsocelebrate on this day.

Bullying is a major problem in ourschools, communities, workplaces, homesand on the Internet. According to a newAngus Reid poll three in four Canadianadults said they were bullied while inschool. Nearly half of the parents polledsaid their children have been bullied atsome point.

There are many risks attached to socialmedia sites and cyber bullying is one of thelarge risks.

Bullies have become more vicioussince the introductionof the Internet. Thesedays it is common tohear people speak of“cyberbullying”.

Unlike physicalbullying, electronicbullies can remainvirtually anonymoususing temporary email accounts anddifferent names on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and other social media venues.

If you are a victim of cyber bullyingtell your parents, report it to the policebecause it is a crime.

Let’s all send a message to bullies tothink before sending or posting cruelrumours that will damage reputations andend friendships. Don’t disclose people’spersonal data on websites. No name callingor excluding people.

Don’t make up stories and spreadgossip. There is an old saying that if youdon’t have anything good to say then don’tsay anything at all.

Be a leader in your school orcommunity and promote inclusion, respectand empathy; let’s put an end to bullyingbehaviours. More and more we hear about

young people committing suicide becausethey were bullied. It’s sad to say butsometimes it’s the parents that are bullyingtheir own children. Tapew!

Some parentswant their childrento excel inacademics orsports and pushtheir kids so hardthat that it takes thefun out of learningand participating in

organized sports.Have you ever witnessed some

parents at a hockey game yelling at theirkid for missing a goal or failing to pass thepuck? Imagine what that poor kid is goingthrough at home.

Have you ever heard a couple havingwords in the grocery store or Wal-Martaisle? I have and it’s horrible.

You can see the physical changes in aperson’s stature when they are beingbelittled; their face may turn red maybethey stare at the floor; their shoulders areslumped or they lag behind their partnerlike a dog following its master. Not a prettysight.

Bullying happens in the workplace; itcan come from coworkers or supervisorsor even the clients that your companyserves.

I think that many of us have at least onememory of either being bullied or bullyingsomeone but it doesn’t have to be that wayfor future generations.

The anti-bullying movement hasgained momentum. More and more peoplehave cell phones and they are recordingacts of violence and bullying behavioursthat they witness. You just have to watchthe news to see that even police officers andsecurity guards are guilty.

There are materials available toeducate parents, teachers and the publicabout cyber bullying.

We all need to pay attention and let thebullies know that we won’t take it anymore,nor will we will stand by and watchsomeone else get bullied.

There is goodness in all people.Respect, humility, generosity, integrity andhonesty; we can’t go wrong if weremember these teachings and make thempart of our daily lives.

I encourage all of you to wearsomething pink to symbolize that we as acommunity will not tolerate bullyinganywhere in any form.

Be kind to one another.Thank you for your letters and emails.

You can write to me Sandee Sez CO EagleFeather News PO Box 924, Saskatoon, SKor send an email [email protected]

Look out bullies ... the good guys are coming for you


Cree protocol for ceremonyPart Three of a four part series by Louise Halfe

Tobacco ties are made for particular ceremonies such as the shake-tent, a visionquest and other ceremonies.

They are generally not used by the Plains Cree to be presented to an Elder togather information or for the more common sweat lodge. It is more honorable topresent a pipe or pouch of tobacco rather than a pinch, as this indicates the respectof accumulated knowledge the Elder has earned over the many years of discipline,reflection and gathering.

This tobacco is used to enter ceremony with spirit, to receive and learn howto share what is being asked for. It is advisable for the recipient to gift the Elderin nâcinêhikê , in return forgathering information,knowledge, stories, songs,medicine, or ceremony.nâcinêhikê suggests that “thereis a valuable exchange forhis/her request” and “it is not fornothing.”

One must remember thatthese Elders have earned theirknowledge through many yearsof ceremony, sacrifice andhumility in their own quest forunderstanding.

A “bundle” is another termthat is often confused. TheElders say a true bundle –nayâhcikan - contains hair andthe clothing of a deceasedperson. Sweet grass and tobaccoare wrapped in prayer clothalong with these personalremnants. This bundle must gothrough ceremony to behonored, blessed and to carry onthe memory and teachings of thedeceased.

To accept the responsibility of a bundle is a life-long commitment that requiresthe correct protocol and the participation in the Ghost Dance and other relatedceremonies. Recently, the beautifully created moccasin vamps honoring themissing and murdered aboriginal women are symbols, a remembrance of theirlives.

The vamps are a bundle in their own way. Creating them was a commemora-tive reminder of their complete absence. They are unique bundles, not to beconfused with the original nayâhcikan, but worthy of having their own ceremonyand protocol carefully developed through a community consensus.

In the nêhiyaw community iskwêwak, “women,” are asked to refrain fromparticipating in most ceremonies when they are in their moon. This is not becausethey are dirty and unwanted. On the contrary, it is because it is a power time.

“When Creator called for the universal energies to come together in that sound,that vibration, what came were the universal energies to create Mother Earth. Itis those universal energies that came together that manifest the physical form ofher behavior in women.

“We emulate everything that she teaches the universe must be. So it isn’t justMother Earth, it is how we are connected.”

Creator, Mother Earth, Women’s ability to bring new life; this places womenas intermediary between earth and the spiritual world. The potential to help a newsoul transform, to cross from the other world into this world, is the heart of femininepotency.Regardless of one’s gender identity, they will never forget body formthey came in at birth. That was the beginning of their story.

In nêhiyawêwin birth is referred to as mamahtâwisiwin, “arriving from aspiritual place filled with medicine powers.”

The arrival of women’s period is sometimes referred to as “her grandmoth-ers have arrived” which insinuates the innate wisdom- kiskêyihtamowin, shepossesses. Wisdom in Latin and in Greek means to “taste life.” In nêhiyawêwin,kiskêyihtamowin loosely means “the sacred things I know from which my hearthas eaten.”

Mathew Fox, a theologian writes “…There are two places to find wisdom: innature and religious traditions … Nature is a powerful source of wisdom.”

Some Elders believe that not every woman is a grandmother and it is onlythrough pregnancy and childbirth that this right has been earned.

(Next month Cree concepts of ceremony and protocol)

LOUISE HALFE

By Andréa LeddingFor Eagle Feather NewsThe 22nd annual Saskatchewan

Book Awards once again sported astrong Indigenous representation.

Dawn Dumont’s Rose’s Run wasnominated in four categories and wonthe Regina Book Award, while 7: Pro-fessional Native Indian Artists Inc.curated by Michelle LaVallee sweptthe publishing categories as the year’sbig winner.

“It was so exciting, it’s the bestfeeling when you write somethingbecause there are so many distrac-tions out there, and to have someoneto notice, it’s not like you’re yellinginto a tornado, it’s a great feeling tohave people reading your work,”noted Dumont.

“People will sometimes writeto me or send me private messagesand every single message I’m sograteful they took the time to readthe book, and then to write me.”

While her primary goal was en-tertainment, she also hopes her fic-tional truthfulness will either sparkrecognition or bring deeper insightsinto First Nations culture. An avidrunner herself, Dumont’s characterRose is very much a different personwho initially appeared to Dumont ina dream about a woman from a re-serve running a marathon.

“That feels like a goal for anupper class lady – not somethingothers consider when they’re downand out, because they’re already run-ning one every day and so it adds tothat layer of difficulty – for thiswoman it was a way of pulling her-self out of her problems, and grewfrom that idea.”

When Dumont was notified,both about the nominations, and laterthe win, she was thrilled and is bothgrateful and encouraged as sheworks on a sequel … and awaits thebirth of her first child.

“Every little bit of attentionyour book gets can increase yourreadership,” she noted, expressinggratitude for Thistledown Press andher team, including talented editor

Donald Ward who not only won anational CBC fiction competition,but read all her columns to get asense of her writing style.

“This is my second book andit’s amazing how much you learnwith each book.”

“We are very honoured and sur-prised to have received aSaskatchewan Book Award,” notedAngie Caron who with her fatherKen Caron received the City ofSaskatoon Book Award for Manny’sMemories.

Ernie Loutitt received five nom-inations and took home the Aborigi-nal People’s Writing Award for In-dian Ernie: Perspectives on Policingand Leadership, published by PurichPress.

Michelle LaVallee says shewasn’t expecting any of this let aloneall three publishing awards.

“It’s always good to get recog-nition for work you’ve done, even anomination, so the McKenzieGallery had a few publications thatwere up for awards. So that was re-ally great, we were really excitedabout that,” said LaVallee.

“It’s pretty validating whenyour work is recognized by organi-zations, awards, and your peers.”

“It was a huge project with lotsof people involved in production andpublication,” LaVallee said, noting notonly did she work on it during hermaternity leave, having already spentseven years researching, but therewere seven other established col-leagues from various areas who con-tributed scholarship to the catalogue,including her maternity leave re-placement Hilary Knutson, designerRuss Portico, and three of the featureartists themselves.

Like others in attendance, shefound the event and awards beautiful,exciting, and humbling.

Or in Dumont’s words: “Writingis like labour – you never know howit’s gonna go but you know the end re-sult is going to be a part of you – a partof you that the world gets to hearscreaming on the plane.”

Dumont among Book Award winners

Michelle LaVallee was the curator for the book 7:Professional Native IndianArtists Inc. The book swept several awards at the Sask Book Awards lastmonth.



PEEPEEKISIS –Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin’s dedica-tion to her community and her culture has earned her aplace in the 2015 Global Citizen Youth Leadership(GCYL) program and a trip to El Salvador.

The Grade 11 student from the Peepeekisis Pe-sakastew School was nominated by her teachers for herexemplary attitude towards her studies and for being amodel of hard work and determination.

Bigsnake-Keewatin didn’t just get in based on theletter from her teachers though, the application processwas quite involved.

“There was wicked criteria for this,” she said. “Ihad to write out an essay and then we had an interview.I found out three days later and I was crying. I wasbawling my eyes out.”

The Leadership program is an opportunity fornine Saskatchewan youth to visit and connect withSaskatchewan non-governmental organizations work-ing in El Salvador. In El Salvador, youth participantswill meet with staff and volunteers from local organi-zations, as well as community members who have beenimpacted by international development efforts.

The youth will learn more about the work beingdone in partnership with Saskatchewan non-govern-mental organizations and their international colleagues,and how they can continue to be involved in interna-tional development, locally and globally. Youth partic-ipants will be accompanied to El Salvador by experi-enced staff from The Primate’s World Relief andDevelopment Fund, The Committee Against AIDS (Co-CoSI), and the Saskatchewan Council for InternationalCooperation (SCIC).

Bigsnake-Keewatin’s teachers were effusive intheir recommendation. Her work ethic was praised aswell as her involvement in extracurricular activities atthe school. But her tie to her culture really sticks out.

“Tiarra has always been immersed in her cultureand proud to showcase her talents performing in manypowwow celebrations across the province. Tiarra hasspent many hours in creating her dance regalia from thesewing of the dress, stitching of her moccasins and ofcourse doing her own intricate beadwork for her outfit.

Always proud to represent her Cree/Blackfootheritage, Bigsnake-Keewatin has taken great interest inacquiring the Cree language and learning the history ofher Blackfoot ancestry as well as her Korean lineagefrom a great-grandmother on her father’s side of thefamily. Tiarra has always been proud to share her beau-tiful mosaic of culture with many of her peers andyounger students in and around the community.”

Bigsnake-Keewatin credits her success to hermother Jacqui Keewatin and her grandparents Ruthand Gilbert Keewatin.

“My mom got me into the powwow circle andtaught me how to live and be nice to people and havethe right attitude,” said Bigsnake-Keewatin. “My grand-parents would always take me to powwows.”

She is excited for the trip but is going in there withfull knowledge that it will be difficult. “I want to comeback and change the way I look at what we have here.El Salvador is the second poorest country in the world.I believe it will make me grateful for what we havehere.”

She also expects the trip to change her life. “I want to see the effects in this country but I also

want to help them in any way I can. I want to teach themabout my culture but also learn lots about their cere-mony and protocol,” added Bigsnake-Keewatin.

“I don’t know what I will get out of this trip, butI do know that it will be good.”

Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin’s respect for her culture is demonstrated through her powwow dancing.

High achieving Peepeekisisstudent off to El Salvador



SASKATOON – Exploding volcanoes,plant projects and booger blobs were allon display for an esteemed panel ofjudges to deem best in show for the 4thannual PotashCorp Mini-Science Fair.

K-5 students from Saskatoon TribalCouncil First Nation schools had theirbest ideas put forward from what theylearned through research and built dis-plays explaining their projects.

The students took part in roboticsdemonstrations and other science pre-sentations and also explained their proj-ects to judges from PotashCorp, the Uni-versity of Saskatchewan as well as theTribal Council. It wasn’t about winning,as all the students receive prizes, it wasmore about inspiration.

“This event creates new opportuni-ties for the students and an awareness oftheir talent in science and math. We needto develop those talents,” said SaskatoonTribal Council Chief Felix Thomas.

“They are naturally curious rightnow and if we can get them interested insome of the non-traditional employmentareas, like engineering, it is good. Uni-versities have done a great job in devel-oping nurses, and teachers and socialworkers but we have to work on the nat-ural sciences,” says Thomas.

“We are starting to get there interms of dentistry and medicine but weneed to get better.

“We need to be in all industries likeeconomics or science and these studentsare certainly capable of that.”

PotashCorp sponsors the yearly

event. Even though these future scientistsare far away from the labour market,they will be the employees of the future.

“Our business doesn’t just plan fornext year, we have 80 years of potash tomine here,” said Leanne Bellegarde, Di-rector Aboriginal Strategy at PotashCorp.

“We need to inspire the next gener-ation of geologists and engineers andsubjects like math and science are basicsneeded in those fields. In the long run,we need to do more of this for youngpeople.”

Marie Wolfe from Muskeg LakeCree Nation did a classic experimentwith a stalk of celery.

“We put food colouring in the waterand the plant drank up the water andchanged colour,” said Wolfe who reallyenjoyed working on computers for re-search and creating her story board. Buther favourite part was lunch.

“I love pizza. It is my favourite foodbecause of the cheese.”

The students worked hard on theirprojects and were duly rewarded withpizza and their own individual sciencekits to take home, and again, according toTribal Chief Thomas, the science fairhad the desired effect.

“The big thing I see is not so muchthe experiments, but how the kids areengaged.

“Doing this and seeing stuff thatthey don’t necessarily see in their classback home that creates some excitementand hopefully they build their own robotor science experiment and just be inter-ested.

“That’s the big thing.”

PCS science fair piques students’ interest in science and math

Marie Wolfe from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation found her experiment interesting.


Northern youth role modelhoping to inspire others

Simon Crookedneck of the Island Lake First Nation is featured in one of a se-ries of posters as part of the Northern Youth Role Model Campaign.

(Poster courtesy Northern Healthy Communities Partnership)

By Linda MikolayenkoFor Eagle Feather News

ISLAND LAKE FIRST NATION –“Education, to me, was always numberone, and always will be,” says SimonCrookedneck of the Island Lake First Na-tion.

Crookedneck is one of four youngpeople from northern Saskatchewan fea-tured in a series of posters recently pro-duced and distributed by the NorthernHealthy Communities Partnership(NHCP). With his passion for education,it is appropriate that on one of thoseposters, he is pictured in front of the Is-land Lake First Nation School, with thequote, “I work with youth to get them in-volved in sports and activities to keepthem in school.”

The posters are one component of aNorthern Youth Role Model Campaigninitiative of the Building Vibrant YouthAction Team of NHCP, an interagencycoalition of almost 20 partners repre-senting various sectors including FirstNations, government, health, education,community outreach and recreation.

The campaign began just over a yearago in April 2014, with a call for youthrole models in northern Saskatchewan,says Amanda Frain, Population HealthPromotion Coordinator at the PopulationHealth Unit. After a selection process, inaddition to Crookedneck, three otheryouth and their mentors were chosen toparticipate in the project.

They were Claude Bridges andmentor Darrell Sewap of Sandy Bay;Summer Michel and mentor AngieMerasty of Pelican Narrows; and Shay-Lynn McAuley and mentor JennaO’Connor of La Ronge.

“The mentors and chaperones havebeen phenomenal in their support,” saysFrain.

Crookedneck gives credit to hisaunt, Melissa Martell, for the role she

played in his life, especially after he losthis father at the age of 15.

“One of the reasons I became who Iwas in high school was because of myaunt, who mentored me after my fatherpassed away,” he says, noting that henever missed a day of school, playedsports, and participated in extra-curricu-lar activities such as movie nights anddances.

Already a well-rounded individual,Crookedneck says he benefited from theevents of this initiative and a highlight forhim was a team-building workshop in LaRonge.

“They taught us how to be betterpresenters, how to project ourselves – tobe a true role model,” he says.

As part of the campaign, some ofthe role models presented leadershipworkshops for other youth in Fond duLac and Pelican Narrows, and each of thefour youth had access to $1,000 to planand execute a project in their own com-munity, says Frain.

Crookedneck chose to organize ahalf-day “Gym Blast” at his school. Stu-dents formed teams and played a varietyof games for points, including wheelbar-row races and a pudding eating contest.

“We handed out prizes. They reallyenjoyed it,” says Crookedneck, who hassince graduated from the school and isnow 19 years old and pursuing pre-elec-trical studies in Meadow Lake. He hopeswhat he is doing now will inspire otherstudents.

“Not a lot of people from here gointo the trades,” says the young rolemodel.

Crookedneck also has a message foradults. That message is one that will beairing on MBC Radio, also an NHCPpartner, for the months of May and June:“My advice would be – never give up onyour kids. Be their number one supporterand never give up on them.”


By Janelle MandesFor Eagle Feather News

REGINA – Cadmus Delorme is one of the hundreds ofdancers that took part of this year’s First Nations Uni-versity of Canada (FNUniv) 37th Annual Powwowheld in Regina’s Brandt Centre.

The former FNUniv student completed his firstyear of powwow dancing and hosted a men’s prairiechicken dance special on the first night of this year’spowwow as he was danced into the circle.

“This year will mark one year that I started danc-ing on the dance floor,” says Delorme. “It is kind of aprotocol for every dancer to be welcomed into the pow-wow family,” he adds.

Delorme always wanted to dance but no one in hisimmediate family dances powwow so last March hetold his wife, Kimberly, that he planned to begin danc-ing. With the help of one of his friends he was able toget a men’s chicken regalia.

At last year’s FNUniv powwow, after receiving hispowwow outfit, Delorme recalls he was so that ex-cited he was going to dance that he showed up early onthe first day.

“I was sitting there watching other dancers puttingon their regalia … I felt like a little kid (because) I did-n’t know how to dress up,” Delorme says laughing.

A few of the other dancers helped him get ready byadjusting his regalia before he danced in his first grandentry.

“A whole new Cadmus came out at the grand en-try. I can’t believe I never danced before. That’s the kindof feeling I got,” Delorme says.

“It’s a feeling you can’t explain, people are danc-ing with you in a spiritual way. You get so much energy,power and happiness to be Indigenous.”

Richard Missens, chair of the FNUniv Powwowfor the past 10 years, says the students are a huge partof the event.

“This is the time of the year that students are ontheir last papers, last exams or they’re convocating sothis is a good time to powwow,” Missens says. “Theyare an important part of the celebration.”

The FNUniv powwow committee consists of fac-ulty, staff and students who volunteer their time all yearround to organize what is called the kick off to powwowseason.

The committee starts their planning eight monthsprior to accommodate close to 7,000 people that show upevery year. They do a lot of fundraising including tacosales, raffles, and steak nights but heavily rely on spon-sorships such as Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority(SIGA), K+S Potash Canada and other organizations.

Many guest speakers are invited includingSaskatchewan MLAs, First Nation Chiefs and evenAFN’s National Chief Perry Bellegarde who address andacknowledge the crowd.

“It feels great to be back home here in Treaty 4 ter-ritory, so this is like coming home,” says Chief Bellegarde.

“I remember years ago, it was a time to help supportthe students at SIFC (now FNUniv), it was a chance to lifteach other up and to celebrate our culture and our languageand I’m pleased it’s still going after 37 years,” he adds.

The powwow was started by the student body to en-courage the continuation of their educational paths and tocelebrate the culture and powwow ceremony.

Delorme, who is currently FNUniv’s student re-cruitment officer, says if you want to dance just do it.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are wantingto try it. I was so shy, I didn’t know what to do,” De-lorme says. “I have a purpose and I just found it.”

Delorme finds his purpose as powwow dancer

Cadmus Delorme was one of the dancers at this year’s First Nations University powwow in Regina.



U of S Aboriginal students organizing 2016 business competitionBy Fraser Needham

For Eagle Feather NewsSASKATOON – Two Aboriginal students at the Uni-versity of Saskatchewan are playing lead roles in or-ganizing a major undergraduate business competitionthat will come to Saskatoon next year.

Twenty-four-year-old Brett Lendsay is in his thirdyear and 18-year-old Emily Martell in her first year atthe Edwards School of Business.

Lendsay is the vice-president of corporate relationsand Martell vice-president of events on the planningcommittee for the 2016 JDC West Business Competi-tion.

The JDC West Competition will take place nextJanuary and is expected to bring about 600 people fromall over Western Canada to Saskatoon.

Lendsay says because of the size and scope of thecompetition, it takes several months to plan.

“This is a very big competition so there’s a lot ofpreparing,” he says. “It’s about a year in advance youhave to get started.

“We have different positions ranging from mar-keting, events, gala, corporate relations, finance, ath-letics, debate, academic cases – so really there is an im-mense amount of work put into this, all run by studentsand recent alumni of the U of S.”

The four-day competition consists of four keycomponents with challenges in the areas of academics,debate, athletics and social responsibility.

The academics component contains competition in10 core areas including accounting, entrepreneurship, fi-nance and not-for-profit business strategy.

The debate portion is based on a parliamentarystyle of debate where four students split into govern-ment and opposition teams and argue the merits orflaws of a specific proposal.

In athletics, students compete in one or more sportswhich for the 2016 competition will be ringette anddodgeball.

Martell says some consider the social componentthe most strenuous part of the competition.

“The social aspect of JDC West is definitelyunique,” she says. “It’s about 48 hours of an intensecompetition testing your limits. There’s different typesof competition with that, maybe they’ll have to eatsome things that you wouldn’t normally want to eat –they’re tested physically, emotionally and mentallythrough 48 hours.”

JDC West also costs a significant amount ofmoney to put on and requires the organizing committeeto manage about $650,000.

As vice-president of corporate relations, this iswhere Lendsay comes in.

He says his job is to hit up corporations for spon-sorships and convince them it is a good idea to havetheir brand on display at the competition.

“We need an immense amount of money to rentout facilities and run the events, ensure we have hotelrooms for all of the 600 students, judges and corporatesponsors. So there’s a lot of great opportunities for thesponsors to come in and connect with tomorrow’s busi-ness leaders and young, driven passionate business stu-dents.

“So it’s a fantastic opportunity for all these spon-sors to meet, greet, recruit and get their brand outthere.”

As vice-president of events, Martell’s job is to en-sure all venues for the competition are booked andready to go come next January.

She says her role also entails showing visitorsfrom out of province what Saskatchewan, Saskatoonand the U of S have to offer including the province, cityand university’s unique Aboriginal heritage.

“Just welcoming them to Saskatchewan as awhole. Lots of people have never been here andthey don’t necessarily know what the U of S has tooffer necessarily. So I think just showing themour passion as students and definitely welcomingthem with open hands.”

Although helping to organize JDC West willrequire literally hundreds of volunteer hours be-tween now and next January, both Lendsay andMartell say they have no hesitations about makingthe commitment because of the tremendous op-portunities the competition provides.

The first JDC West Competition was held atthe University of British Columbia in 2006.

Over roughly the past 10 years, the competi-tion has raised about $1.2 million for charities.

The theme of the 2016 JDC West Competitionis “Achieving Excellence” with the three basicpillars being connections, prosperity and technol-ogy.

The competition is expected to bring in about$1.5 million in direct and indirect economic impactbenefits to both the province and Saskatoon.

Emily Martell and Brett Lendsay are playing keyroles in the JDC West Business Competition.


Students learn about wildlife conservationBy Fraser Needham

For Eagle Feather NewsPRINCE ALBERT –A group of Saskatchewan FirstNations high school students had the opportunity tolearn about ecology and animal conservation as part ofa trip to the Prince Albert National Park in late March.

The 11 youth are from the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nationand Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation.

As part of the trip, they were taken on a tour of wolfprey sites throughout the park.

Over the course of the past two winters, ParksCanada officials have been tracking the hunting move-ments of wolves within the park to see what effect this ishaving on the bison population.

Roughly six wolves in two different packs were ini-tially captured, outfitted with global positioning systemcollars and then released back into the wild.

Through the GPS collars, park staff is able to trackthe movements of the wolves via computer.

Seth Cherry is the wildlife ecologist at the Prince Al-bert National Park who led the trip.

He says they want to show the students what the parkhas to offer and at the same time teach them about the im-portance of ecology and conservation.

“The reason we’re interested in bringing youth out isfirst of all to get them out in the park and expose them tosome of the research we’re doing and some areas theymaybe haven’t seen before,” he says.

“But also to teach them about bison conservation andbison ecology. I think a lot of individuals, some membersparticularly from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation, hunt thatbison population so they do have an interest in bison con-servation.”

Cherry adds a lot can be learned from examining awolf prey site.

“We’re going out to investigate thosesites to see what’s there, to see what they’reeating. And get an idea of how many bisonthey’re eating but also how many moose andelk and deer they might be taking and howthat changes from year to year.

“The idea is we can figure out howmany bison are wolves taking, how many bi-son are hunters taking, how many we lose todisease and get an overall idea of what thepopulation trend is going to look like in thefuture and possible management ac-tions.”

After a kill, the wolves don’ttend to leave much behind – usuallysome hair, bones and stomach con-tents.

At one kill site, the studentswere part of an investigation of whatended up being a moose.

They examined the rumen(stomach contents) and took samplesof both teeth and bones.

The teeth can be used to deter-mine the age of an animal and lipidfrom the bone marrow to determine how healthy it is or ifit is suffering from disease.

Cherry says park officials have noticed over the pastdecade that the plains bison population has declined by asmuch as 50 per cent.

In the first winter of the study, he says they trackednine bison killed by wolves but this past winter just one.

This may have to do with the fact that this year’s win-ter was milder and with less snow making it more difficultfor the wolves to track the bison.

Tim Peekeekoot served as the chap-erone for the students from AhtahkakoopFirst Nation.

He says the community believes itis important to make the youth aware ofthe various environmental factors that

are playing a role in the bison population and their de-clining numbers.

“There’s only a few remaining live buffalo in thisworld and I thought it would be a blessing for them toknow this count,” he says.

The youth were also introduced to a Masters studentfrom Germany who is using motion triggered camerasplaced at strategic points on the west side of the park tocapture images of the wolves to determine more informa-tion about their travel patterns and composition of packs.

Above, several students headed tothe woods to learn about wolves.Left, Preston Smallchild fromBeardy's and Okemasis First Nationremoves incisor teeth from moosecalf remains for sample testing.


St. Louis teen builds on proficiency in karateBy Fraser Needham

For Eagle Feather NewsST. LOUIS – Brayden Caron has built upon a high achievementlevel in the martial art of karate to gain success in other areas ofsport, academics and community activity.

The 15-year-old Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation member holds asecond-degree black belt in karate achieved after a decade of hardwork and training.

He is also SRC president at St. Louis Community School and amember of the Student Voice Club for the Saskatchewan RiversSchool Division.

In terms of sports, Caron is member of his school volleyball, bad-minton, basketball, track and softball teams. He also participates inhockey and curling.

Caron has placed both first and third in school public speakingcontests and has been nominated for Prince Albert’s “Badge of Respectand Peace Award” three times for work done on behalf of the PrinceAlbert and Area Community Against Family Violence.

And he has done all this will earning top marks at school andholding down a part-time job.

The Grade 10 student says for him karate is much more than asport.

“Karate teaches discipline and it gives you a lot of confidence inyourself,” he says.

At the same time, Caron says although pursuing karate to thelevel he has does gives him a high level of expertise in the martial art, these skills mustbe used responsibly.

“The dojo kun is seek perfection in character, be faithful and ever respect others andrefrain from violent behaviour. So, it’s like a guideline to how to present your karate oryourself outside the dojo.”

This means the martial art can only be used in self-defence.He adds that he thinks a lot of younger people start with karate but don’t stick with

it because of the increased contact in sparring that comeswith pursuing higher belts.

As a result of his high level of training, Caron is amember of both the ISKF Canadian National Karate Cluband IKD Shotokan Karate Club.

He has participated in a number of provincial and na-tional tournaments and received various medals for his efforts.

This summer, Caron will compete at his secondworld tournament.

Preparing for this tournament requires him to traintwice a week at the St. Louis Dojo Club as well as prac-ticing at home.

Caron’s mother Gloria Merasty says she is happy tosee her son participate in a variety of activities as long ashe keeps on top of his schoolwork.

She says she does worry from time to time abouthim getting hurt in tournament competition but there isnot much she can do in terms of holding the teen back.

Contact is supposed to be limited in sparring but not allcompetitors always display complete control.

Also, because of limited numbers of competitors his ageat the provincial level, it is not uncommon for Caron to haveto spar against men at tournaments.

“At the tournaments I really don’t like watching him inthe kumite – the sparring part,” Merasty says.

“He has been competing in the men’s category during the provincial tournaments be-cause there’s not many boys his age – maybe one or two – to compete with in the provincialsso they just put them with the men and the men are big guys.”

At the same time, she says she is very impressed with the discipline and confidence karatehas given her son to be successful in other activities.

In July, Brayden Caron will travel to Toronto to compete in the IKD WorldCAMP/CUP.

Brayden Caron’s skill in karate carries overto succes in other areas of his life.

MAY 2015 19Eagle Feather News – Mining Week


Resource revenue sharing with First Nations con-tinues to be a hot topic after a new report that says gov-ernments should seriously examine the proposal.

Governments in provinces such as Alberta andSaskatchewan currently take in billions of dollars inroyalties each year from development in the natural re-source industry which includes oil and gas, uranium andpotash.

A number of First Nations leaders and advocateshave long argued resource revenues should be directlyshared as a way of truly honouring the treaties and lev-eling the economic playing field between First Nationsand non-First Nations people.

However, governments have been reluctant to con-sider the proposal.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has said on anumber of occasions that resource revenue sharing withFirst Nations is not open for discussion.

Yet, a new report, First Nations and Natural Re-source Development: Advancing Positive, ImpactfulChange, says this is exactly what governments shouldbe doing.

A five-member working group wrote the 40-pagereport that was commissioned by the Department of In-dian Affairs and Northern Development and Assemblyof First Nations.

The report’s mandate was to identify ways FirstNations people and communities can fully share in thebenefits of natural resource development.

The working group spent over a year extensivelystudying natural resource projects and gaining feedbackfrom both industry and First Nations leaders.

It notes that between 2008 and 2012 governmentstook in $30 billion in natural resource revenues and theindustry accounts for roughly 1.8 million direct and in-direct jobs.

The natural resource industry is also the largestprivate employer of Aboriginal people at 8.3 per cent.

It is estimated over the next decade Canada’s in-vestment in the natural resource sector could reach ashigh as $675 billion.

Amongst its various recommendations, the reportsays a national discussion should be convened betweengovernment, industry and First Nations stakeholderswhich would examine resource revenue sharing as abest means of eliminating socio-economic disparities.

Current Assembly of First Nations Leader andformer Federation of Saskatchewan Indian NationsChief Perry Bellegarde has long advocated for resourcerevenue sharing with First Nations.

He says the proposal’s time has come.“It’s a concept, whether you call it resource rev-

enue sharing, greater participation in the economy orequity ownership in major projects, it’s all about gettinginvolved,” he says.

“And getting First Nations involved on every stepof the way of major projects from start to finish. It’s

value added.”University of Saskatchewan professor Ken Coates

is another big proponent of resource revenue sharingwith First Nations.

He says industry has taken the lead on resourcerevenue sharing and it is now time for governments toget on board.

“There’s 260 resource revenue sharing, or impactand benefit, agreements across the country right now,”he says.

“And if you had actually suggested that ten yearsago, people would have said, ‘Oh, we might have five.’So, something is actually happening really quickly andit’s happening on the corporate front faster than the gov-

ernment front.”The report also says the natural resource industry;

employers and unions should work with governmentand First Nations to create a targeted strategy to addressFirst Nations’ employment needs.

It adds a plan needs to be developed that facilitatesmeaningful involvement in natural resource develop-ment for First Nations including the environmental andland management process.

Time has arrived toshare resourcerevenue: report

KEN COATES PERRY BELLEGARDE

MAY 2015Eagle Feather News - Mining Week20

By Peter Moroz and Bob KayseasWhat are Aboriginal rights, title and land

claims? They are complex concepts because of the way

that diverse sets of peoples view the world differ-ently. Simply put, one may describe Aboriginalrights as a comprehensive collection of all rights thathave to do with the ability to pursue, preserve andprotect traditional activities, culture and knowledgeafter the experience of invasion or colonization.

For the near 500 million Indigenous peopleacross the world, these moral rights are almost uni-formly held at an ecological and collective level andhave to do with the right of ethnic and racial sur-vival.

Aboriginal title is actually a sub category ofAboriginal rights. Considering the above, it is a bitof a misleading term, as ‘ownership’ in Westernterms is not applied to it. Aboriginal title representsthe natural and collective bond of Aboriginal peo-ples to specific lands upon which they live, charac-terized by principles such as stewardship, controland ‘home’.

What this means is thatAboriginal peoples who have ti-tle to land (have hunted, trapped,fished or used it for any othersocial or spiritual purpose in thepast), should have a say in howit is used. This is especially sowhen development may interferewith or deteriorates any histori-cal or current traditional usageof that land.

Thus Aboriginal title differsfrom mainstream (Western)views of individual ownership inthat Aboriginal title is held as adistinct form of collective trustthat resides exclusively withAboriginal peoples.

Aboriginal rights and titlenot only exist outside of Cana-dian law, but are recognized within it. Under Cana-dian law, negotiations between our forefathers pro-duced agreements whereby, the sovereigngovernment, or Crown, would, in exchange for theuse of lands, provide certain rights and benefits toAboriginal people by entering into a fiduciary rela-tionship through mutual agreement. A fiduciary rela-tionship is one in which one party is put in a posi-tion of trust over another and has rights and powersto be exercised for the benefit of that party.

These agreements were protected under theBritish North America Act (BNA) and then extendedto the Constitution of 1867. It does not matter as towhether or not Aboriginal nations entered intotreaties or not, the fiduciary relationship and obliga-tions held by the Crown remain the same to all un-der the Constitution. This Constitutional recognitionof distinct and inalienable rights (that is, they existoutside of the relationship with the Crown and its le-gal systems) held by Aboriginal peoples have beentranslated into Western concepts of ‘property’ underCanadian law.

Very small parts of the lands once occupied byAboriginal peoples were thus converted to reserve

territories in this manner and held in trust or ‘owned’by the Crown. To gain Aboriginal title beyond areservation, a community must prove through theWestern legal system that traditional usage has ex-isted in the past on lands held by the Crown. This iswhere it becomes complicated.

Breaking down the above, Aboriginal rights arethe rights to collectively and uniquely exist andprosper as a defined and distinct people, Aboriginaltitle is the right to have collective say (or control) onhow the land is used, and the Constitutional rightsupon which reserve lands were created represent an‘ownership interest’ of a specific geographical par-cel of land within the mainstream western system.

Notwithstanding these concepts above, from aGovernment perspective, the treaties signed withmany First Nations effectively extinguished Aborigi-nal title to the lands, but from a First Nations per-spective, the spirit and intent of their participation inthe treaties was misinterpreted or ignored.

Another mitigating factor relates to the lack ofan implementation process following the signing of

the treaties, there has never been an interpretation of‘little red schoolhouse’ or ‘medicine chest’ for ex-ample. The lack of an implementation with cleardefinition of terms within the treaties creates evenmore challenges when dealing with land manage-ment – all of which, today, occurs within the IndianAct.

Only until recently, has there much attentionand recognition of the concepts of Aboriginal rightsand title. This started in 1965 with the SupremeCourt Cases R v. BoB and White relating to rights,Haida Nation v. British Columbia (2004) andMikisew Cree First Nation v. Minister of CanadianHeritage (2005) relating to the Duty to Consult, upto current day with Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Co-lumbia (2014) relating to title in situations where notreaty agreements with the Crown stand in force.

The ‘Duty to Consult’ has put the onus on gov-ernment and industry to ensure that all First Nationswho have probable cause for Aboriginal title areduly included in any development plans for Crownlands beyond their own reservations.

So how does this relate to mining and naturalresource extraction for First Nations communities in

Saskatchewan? What we have observed to date isthat progressive First Nations leaders have realizedthat they have more to leverage than they have everhad before when it comes to exercising ‘control’ onreserve lands, but also on traditional lands as well.

Examples of on reserve initiatives are seenthrough the actions of White Bear First Nation andothers in their spearheading of the First Nations Oiland Gas and Money’s Management Act (FNOG-MMA) in order to gain direct control over resourceproduction and benefits, the creation of a joint ven-ture by Muskowekwan First Nation to one day builda potash mine on reserve lands, and the enterprisingspirit of Onion Lake Cree Nation with respect to thecreation of its own natural gas utility, each harness-ing the resources of their lands for the direct benefitof their people.

There has also been a movement away frommodern treaties toward signing contractual agree-ments with industry, such as Impact Benefit Assess-ments.

Examples of contractual agreements signed tolegitimize control of traditional ter-ritories can be evidenced throughhistorical partnerships betweenEnglish River and highly progres-sive companies like Cameco lead-ing to the creation of Aboriginalowned corporations such as DesNedhe Developments, which con-tinues to grow and have a signifi-cant impact on the Saskatchewaneconomy. These contractual agree-ments also strengthen the argumentfor Aboriginal title as corporationsare treated as an extension of theCrown.

So, the recognition of Aborigi-nal rights and title is highly impor-tant to corporations and govern-ments keen to accessing theresources upon which First Nationscommunities sit upon, or have the

potential to control. While having leverage is a goodthing, it is neither sufficient nor significant if com-munities or corporations negotiate in bad faith, refuseto bridge their differences, or attempt to stake outhigher political ground.

The economic capital vested within the landsheld under Aboriginal rights and title cannot beleveraged for the benefit of all if cultural capital(speaking the same language), bridging capital(reaching out to partners for necessary resources) andbonding capital (the political solidarity of First Na-tions leaders and their communities) are not investedin first.

First Nations peoples must continue to holdtheir leadership accountable for assuming more andmore of the Crown’s obligations while building thecapacity, governance systems and institutions re-quired to legitimately act in the best interest of allAboriginal peoples.

First Nations must continue to build and shareknowledge about the process of leveraging theirrights in order to participate in the mining and re-source economy in a sober, sustainable and stagedmanner, for the benefit of all.

Aboriginal Rights, Mining of Natural Resources and YouWhat does it all mean?

MAY 2015 21Eagle Feather News - Mining Week


SASKATOON –Most mining companies in Saskatchewan havedeveloped advanced policies and relationships with First Nationand Métis economic development groups and businesses acrossthe province.

This has helped strengthen their supply chain and provided accessto good employees. At the recent Saskatchewan Mining Supply ChainForum in April, suppliers to the industry heard the message loud andclear that the big companies expect their suppliers to have some sort ofAboriginal strategy that brings Aboriginal business to the forefront.

The event discussed current mining operations and projects inSaskatchewan and the related supply chain opportunities for man-ufacturing and service businesses. It also provided practical infor-mation on how to be a preferred supplier to the mining industry.

“Industry wants suppliers to be part of increasing their Abo-riginal involvement. They are asking suppliers to consider owner-ship, joint ventures, training, employment and other means to de-velop the Aboriginal portion of their industrial activities,” saidAlun Richards Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Industrial& Mining Suppliers Association.

“The larger suppliers and those serving the northern Saskatchewanmines are used to this. Small and mediumsize suppliers generally understand the is-sue and are seeking means to meet thesegoals within their capabilities.”

Several suppliers that are inter-ested in joint ventures or successionplanning and Aboriginal economic de-velopment groups and businessesready to get to business had the op-portunity to participate in a day-longsession on Aboriginal supplier devel-opment the day prior to the forum.

Presentations were made by FirstNations Bank CEO Keith Martell,Des Nedhe Development Presidentand COO Gary Merasty and former

Cameco CEO Gerry Grandey and suppliers also heard aboutAboriginal procurement from PotashCorp’s Leanne Bellegarde,Terry Bird from K+S Canada, Sean Willy from Cameco, KenSmith from BHP Billiton and Carolanne Inglis-McQuay of Areva.

Derrek Wenisch, a manager at WESTLUND/EMCO WaterSolutions knows that times are changing and their biggest clientsare asking for change.

“We have heard they are putting more emphasis on Abo-riginal content, not only in their business, but in their suppliersas well,” Wenisch says.

“It is important for us as a company that supplies productsto various companies in the province to make sure that we engageourselves and move forward in the direction of having that Abo-riginal involvement in our businesses,” he added.

EMCO does have Aboriginal partnerships in other parts of Canada,so they have some experience. That experience taught them to do it right.

“We need to find a viable model that is not only good for the Abo-riginal community but can also be profitable and successful into the fu-ture. We are looking at various ways to start putting a better foot forwardto the demands of our customers.

“There is a sense of urgency. But again, this is not a process thathappens overnight. It is about building relationships not only for shortterm, but to continue to foster for several years.”

This move by industry could potentially open the door for somelucrative business opportunities and Alun Richards knows it won’t beeasy for his members, but it is important to start.

“The question from smaller suppliers is often how to start. Theyneed sources of information and contacts within industry and Aborigi-nal organizations as well as training to help them out. In the end, theywill have to develop something that works for their particular cir-cumstances,” added Richards.

“The opportunities are significant for both groups and willdepend on developing relationships that work for everyone in-volved.”

Mining companies and suppliers got acquainted at the Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum.

Forum brings aboriginal supply companies to forefront

DERRICK WENISCH



The Saskatchewan Mining Association is workingclosely with both teachers and students to give them asnapshot of what a career in the industry might have tooffer.

In the third week of April, SMA visited schools inFond du Lac, Black Lake, Wollaston Lake and StonyRapids as part of the “Flying in Career Fair.”

The career fair is put on by Keewatin Career De-velopment Corporation and other participants includedCameco, Areva, Northern Resource Trucking, PointsAthabasca, Athabasca Catering, Northlands College andthe Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.

In the SMA portion of the career fair, students weregiven a quick introduction to mineral resource explo-ration including how to use maps to search and drill formineral deposits.

They also had the opportunity to ask questionsabout what sort of career opportunities there are in themining sector, the salaries these careers offer and the ed-ucation required to pursue various post-secondary pro-grams in related fields.

Kate Grapes Yeo is the education outreach coordi-nator for SMA.

“The whole idea behind the hands on activities wasto give them a bit of a taste of what it would be like work-ing in that career,” she says.

Although the SMA activity focused on mineral ex-ploration, Grapes Yeo says the mining industry offers awide variety of different career choices.

“One of the things that I tell the students is thatthere’s over 120 different careers that mining companieshire. Anywhere from engineers, geologists, geophysi-cists. We look for office staff, welders, electricians. So it’speople of all different educational backgrounds.”

In mining camps, other career opportunities includecatering, health care and cleaning related jobs, she adds.

“We don’t just work underground. We’re not justminers – there’s nurses who work with mining companies,everybody in the front office also works for mining com-panies. So it’s not just looking for people to work actuallyon mine sites.”

The SMA also works specifically with educators aspart of the Geoventure Program.

The idea behind the program is to help teachers in-corporate the most up-to-date information on mining intotheir curriculums.

Beginning in mid-August, a group of 24 educatorswill be flown into northern Saskatchewan for a site tourof uranium mining and milling operations.

Other site tours include a conventional surface and

underground potash mine and a tour of an open pit coalmine.

The tour also makes stops at the Potash InterpretiveCentre and T-Rex Discovery Centre before wrappingup on August 21.

“It gives the teachers a really good view of the re-sources that we have in Saskatchewan as well as miningprocesses, the safety, the en-vironment, the processing ofthese resources,” Grapes Yeosays.

SMA also provides ed-ucators with lesson plans andkits on the mining industrythat can later be used in theclassroom.

Earlier this year, SMAparticipated in the “The Fu-ture Is Yours” career fair inSaskatoon which specificallytargets Aboriginal youth.Over 800 students attended.

Last month, the organ-

ization also attended the Saskatoon Tribal Council’sScience and Culture Camp working with 80 Grade Fourstudents over three days.

In May, SMA will be visiting schools in the FileHills/Qu’Appelle area.

Saskatchewan Mining Week is May 24-30.

SMA works with students, teachers to generate interest in mining careers

SMA Education Outreach Coordinator Kate Grapes Yeo (far right) talks withstudents in Black Lake about career opportunities in mining.

(Photo courtesy of KCDC).



SASKATOON – Edwin Boneleye wasa person dedicated to the North and hishome community of Black Lake.

When he was diagnosed with can-cer last year, Athabasca Basin Develop-ment, Team Drilling, West Wind Aviationand Points Athabasca contributed$25,000 each for a total of $100,000 toSaskatoon’s Ronald McDonald Housenamed after Edwin in honour of his bat-tle with cancer.

Boneleye had been on the boardof Athabasca Basin Development forseveral years and was also a Chief andCouncillor at Black Lake. Unfortu-nately he lost his battle with cancer.

His name will live on at RonaldMacDonald House in Saskatoon. The

room dedicated to his name was re-cently filled with art by Aboriginalartists from across Saskatchewan.

“The decorating of the room andthe spiritual ceremonies to bless theroom were performed in honor of allthose that will use the room, and willprovide comfort and a sense of be-longing to the Aboriginal families thatwill stay there,” said Glen Strong,Community Relations and TrainingCoordinator for Points Athabasca.

“As well it will provide an edu-cation about the culture to all those

that view the room. “To have the Edwin Boneleye

Room at the Ronald McDonald Houseis important to the Athabasca people,as it ensures there is a spot for thefamilies of sick children that are hos-pitalized, providing them with an in-expensive alternative for accommoda-tions.”

The northern region of theprovince has been the second biggestuser since 1995 with over 1,400 fami-lies accessing the facility.

Artwork was donated and hungin the room. Some of these items werea pair of beaded leather gauntlets handcrafted by Lena Adam of Fond du Lacand donated by Scott’s General Storein Stony Rapids.

These gauntlets were framed in adisplay case by Points Athabasca.Other artwork depicting a Aboriginalculture or theme was donated by West-wind Aviation, Athabasca Basin De-velopment, Team Drilling, andCameco. Black Lake Chief and Coun-cil also donated a plaque to be hung atthe head of the bed in recognition ofEdwin.

“I’m happy about it that they rec-ognized my husband,” said HelenBoneleye, Edwin’s widow.

“My late husband did manythings for people of the North.”

Ronald McDonald House room dedicated to Edwin Boneleye

Leaders from businesses owned by Athabasca Basin Development pose with He-len Boneleye and her family at the dedication at Ronald McDonald House.

(Photo by John Lagimodiere)

SASKATOON – BHP Billiton has signed an agreement with Athabasca Basin Se-curity (ABS) to provide security services for its Jansen Potash project.

ABS has partnered with local First Nations through the Kawacatoose DaystarMuskowekwan (KDM) Business Development Corporation, for the training andemployment of band members by the Saskatchewan-based security firm. TheMOU signing between ABS and KDM took place on Friday, April 24.

“BHP Billiton is pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to ABS andKDM through our current level of activity at the Jansen Project” says Alex Archila,President of Potash, BHP Billiton.

“This is in line with our Local Procurement Plan which seeks to make abroader economic contribution that helps to continue building the business capac-ities of local, Saskatchewan, First Nations and Métis businesses.”

The contract will supply 40 jobs to the area. KDM will be responsible for se-curity training and ABS will provide pre-employment requirements and jobsacross Western Canada for the people who meet them. The First Nation becomesthe sole provider of training for the company in the region.

“We are very excited about this agreement, as it’s a win-win for everyone,”says Ron Hyggen, CEO of Athabasca Basin Security.

“As an aboriginal-owned security company, we take pride in providing a top-tier service to our clients, as well as providing meaningful career opportunities withtransferrable skills for aboriginal people. We look forward to working with KDMto provide employment, training and a stellar industrial security service to BHP Bil-liton.”

In October 2013, BHP Billiton and Kawacatoose Day Star, and Muskowek-wan First Nations signed an Opportunities Agreement for the Jansen Potash proj-ect. The agreement with BHP Billiton included mutually beneficial opportunitiesin employment, business, and community development for the three First Nations.

“The agreement we signed with BHP Billiton has led to this current partner-ship with Athabasca Basin Security,” says Chief Reg Bellerose of the Muskowek-wan First Nation.

“We believe that collaboration through the creation of strategic alliances is thekey to successful workforce development for our membership as well as for the col-lective business pursuits of our three First Nations, and this agreement is a goodstep towards our goal to provide people in our communities with access to educa-tion, training, and employment in a long-term, meaningful career.”

ABS signs security agreement with BHP Billiton

Ron Hyggen, CEO of ABS, Muskowekwan Chief Reginald Bellerose, KawacatooseFirst Nation Chief Dennis Dustyhorn, and Day Star First Nation Chief Lloyd Buf-falo sign an MOU to provide security services at BHP Billiton’s Jansen site.

MAY 2015Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 24


SASKATOON – SAS Construction is a general con-tracting company that does projects anywhere fromcarpentry to industrial pipefitting. The company wasformed by Royan Stewart, Dwayne Stonechild and JayAhenakew, three friends that grew up together in PrinceAlbert.

A conversation as adults turned to the labour short-age in the province and the untapped opportunitiesthere were for the Aboriginal community. That smalltalk saw them conceptualize the creation of an Aborig-inal construction companythat had all Aboriginal em-ployees, from carpenters, toengineers and owners.

“Our vision from dayone was to have this com-pany that was all Aborigi-nal workers. We know thedemographics aren’t goingto change and our commu-nity is underutilized as alabour force,” said DwayneStonechild of the company’splan to employ and supportFirst Nation workers.

“We want to leave a mark on the Saskatchewanlandscape so that First Nation people and their kids candrive by a landmark building and say that they built it.”

Each one of the friends had something importantto contribute to the start-up business. Royan Stewart hasover 20 years of construction and scaffolding ownershipexperience. Dwayne Stonechild is a practicing lawyerand Jay Ahenakew has been consulting on First Nationsbusiness for years. Their combined experience andknowledge of industry and the community has proveninvaluable.

“We all saw the trends in construction with ourclients having an Aboriginal strategy and with everyonereally struggling to find workers, we knew we had to dosomething and we were the right group to do it,” saidStewart whose company, Brek Scaffolding is 33 percent owner of SAS. Besides hitting the community tofind workers, they have taken on student trainees fromthe Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.

Most importantly they have also secured contractswith PotashCorp to do scaffolding at the Lanigan andAlan mine sites.

“Leanne Bellegarde and the people at PotashCorphave met with us many times and reviewed our workand given us feedback. I have been in construction for20 years and I have never received feedback like Ihave from PotashCorp. That speaks to how well de-veloped the relationship is,” said Stewart who addedthat their crew was 100 per cent Aboriginal on the Al-lan mine site job.

As the supply chain in the mining industry diver-sifies, partnerships and companies like SAS Construc-tion catch the eye of Leanne Bellegarde, Director Abo-riginal Strategy for PotashCorp.

“The changing demographics of Saskatchewandictate that we have to start including Aboriginal peo-ple in all aspects of the economy,” said Bellegarde.

“SAS hitsthe PotashCorpcriteria as sup-pliers, not justbecause of theirA b o r i g i n a lownership and

employment, but because they can do the job well, ontime and safely.”

To help with retention, SAS runs smaller crewsand pairs each new worker up with a mentor. Joel Garris one of the SAS supervisors and after 14 years in thescaffolding trade, this journeyman knows what it takesto keep a guy on.

“I always hook them up with guys who want toteach. Our crew leaders are patient. Back when I started,we were just told to go get them stuff. But now, they re-ally want to teach the younger apprentices what to do,”said Garr who is a member of the English River FirstNation.

“We try to get ahead of the challenges like beinglate or showing up. It starts with the mentoring and giv-ing them a good teacher. They learn what you teachthem.

“Lots of guys in our community just need a chanceto learn and from what I have found, these guys havebeen above and beyond what a first year worker is sup-posed to be.”

SAS building ondreams, skills ofthree founders

(Left) Jay Ahenakew, Royan Stewart and Dwayne Stonechild are theowners of SAS Construction. (Above) Joel Garr is a mentor to manyup and coming scaffolders.


The mining industry offers dozens of different ca-reer paths and not every one of them requires mov-ing rock or being at the mine site. An important partof the mining industry is community engagementand corporate responsibility. Joslin Sanger is a jun-ior specialist, Corporate Responsibility at Cameco'scorporate office and it is her job to work with thecommunities on behalf of Cameco. Raised in LaRonge, Joslin is a member of the Fond du Lac De-nesuline Nation and a graduate of the EdwardsSchool of Business at the University ofSaskatchewan. We caught up with her to find outwhat a career in mining is like for her.

What compelled you to apply for this job atCameco?During university, I worked as a summer student attwo of Cameco’s mine sites which I really enjoyedand thought that Cameco was a great company towork for. Being a northerner, I was interested in a jobthat allowed me to travel throughout the North and towork with northern communities. When I saw a jobopening in corporate responsibility, I saw it as an op-portunity for me to have a meaningful job that couldallow me to be part of positive change. What is the main role of yourjob?I assist with Cameco’s communityengagement programming andcorporate responsibility reporting.A big part of my role is to supportCameco’s engagement initiatives.I work directly with our commu-nity partners and assist with theplanning, coordination and facili-tation of on-going engagement ini-tiatives in northern Saskatchewan.I also work directly with our com-munity partners where we provideupdates and discuss the company’snorthern Saskatchewan opera-tions. I travel a lot in my role, butfor the most part, I go north andvisit northern communities. Myrole is more of a generalist so Isupport the corporate responsibil-ity team whenever I can and do avariety of other tasks at the office,such as compiling and enteringdata for the corporate responsibil-ity reporting. What is the most rewarding as-pect of your work so far?I enjoy meeting people from theNorth and being able to visit dif-ferent communities as part of myjob. I’ve been home to La Ronge anumber of times for work meet-ings and have had the opportunityto visit Fond du Lac, as well asmany other communities that Imight not have otherwise beenable to visit. I feel that the Northhas a lot to offer and in the future,I would like to be a part of the ini-tiatives that Cameco’s partner-ships with these communities canbring. To me, there is nothingmore rewarding than being able tohelp others. Was there an adjustment periodgetting used to working in a cor-

porate head office?There definitely was an adjustment as I was used tobeing in an environment with more people my ownage, where at this position I am working with peopleof all ages. Being one of the younger employees, itwas a bit intimidating at times, but I have really beenable to learn from others’ experiences. I think there isprobably an adjustment period in any position, but Ibelieve that learning to adapt to the different workenvironments will benefit me throughout my career. Who would you say are your role models? This is a hard question to answer since I cannot iden-tify any one specific role model I’ve looked up tothroughout my life. There were many people in mylife, including friends, family and teachers that mademe feel confident in pursuing my goals that includedgetting a post-secondary education. I look up to peo-ple who are positive, hardworking and are able tosucceed while remaining true to themselves. Havingthese people in my life who I admire has helped meto overcome some of my fears and inspired me togrow as a person. Any tips for grads about to enter the workforce?I would tell new grads to be prepared to work hardand to be patient. You might not find your dream job

right away but remember that all work experience isvaluable and there is always something to be learned.It may not always be easy, but surrounding yourselfwith the right people who will motivate and supportyou along the way will make it much easier.

Joslin Sanger was raised in La Ronge and educatedat the University of Saskatchewan.

Q & A with Cameco’s Joslin Sanger



Ten Aboriginal people from Saskatchewan willsoon embark on careers as pipefitters.

The group represents the first graduates of a newjob readiness program created by CIMS Limited Part-nership, the Saskatchewan Piping Industry Joint Train-ing Board, Gabriel Dumont Institute, the SaskatoonTribal Council and Saskatchewan Building Trades.

As part of the program, they spent about eightweeks in the classroom and are guaranteed jobs in theindustry immediately afterwards.

The graduates will then need to spend about threeto four years on the job upgrading their skills and edu-cation before they become fully certified.

Todd Verbeke, general manager at CIMS, saysthe pipefitting trade offers a variety of well paying jobsin the oil and gas, pulp and paper and coal, uranium andpotash mining industries.

Once fully certified, unionized pipefitters can earnas much as $45 per hour.

However, there continues to be a skill shortage inthe industry and Verbeke says the partners figuredrather than depend on temporary foreign workers to fillthe gap, why not tap into the wealth of Aboriginal tal-ent within the province.

“We’ve all heard about foreign worker programsand this and that,” he says. “Yet, we have a labour poolright here in our province that’s willing, able and needsan opportunity for these positions. And they’re notlower level positions, they’re career opportunities.”

The Saskatoon Tribal Council has taken an activerole in the job readiness program by recruiting andscreening a number of candidates.

STC Chief Felix Thomas says he has had a num-ber of conversations with both industry and theSaskatchewan Federation of Labour as to why Aborig-inal people have been unable to break into well payingskilled trades jobs.

He says the program enables Indigenous people achance to get a foot in the door in the unionized build-ing trades.

“One of the big barriers is that a lot of these kids don’thave a way into the different jobs as a lot of our peoplearen’t as established in some of the union halls,” he says.

“So, they can’t mentor, they can’t provide oppor-tunities for their kids, or their cousins or their nieces andnephews.”

Thomas adds one of the best things about the jobreadiness program is that it offers immediate employ-ment after a short period of training.

“It gives them hope in the future but it also givesthem hope to complete. A lot of people need that futuredoor to be opened for them and this just gives them thatmotivation.”

Eighteen-year-old Gage Scott of Kinistin SaulteauxNation is one of the graduates of the job readiness program.

He says after high school he tried his hand at car-pentry but believes he is better suited for pipefitting andis willing to see where thetrade takes him.

Scott says he thinksa lot of young Aboriginalpeople are likely unawareof the opportunities a tradelike pipefitting can offerand just need a bit of helpto aid them in getting afoot in the door such as theprogram offers.

“They don’t reallyhave the proper guidanceto take them there,” hesays. “Me, I had my par-ents and they guided meto go where I wanted butthey let me choose what Iwanted and I really thankthem for that. Finding thispipefitting really puts my

mind at ease.”Verbeke says CIMS and the other partners hope to

continue offering the job readiness program once ayear.

Job readiness program helps Sask Aboriginal people enter pipefitting trade

The first graduating class of the pipefitters job readiness program gets together for a photo.



SASKATOON – Saskatchewan is a busy place these days. The worldneeds the resources found both above and below its fertile soil.

It takes a lot of work to produce those resources and there is great oppor-tunity for those service providers who can help facilitate that work as safely, sus-tainably, and efficiently as possible.

Ultimately every service provider is as good as the tools, talent, and ideasthat they possess and partnerships are the catalyst that allow them to do morewith the resources they have. That’s the idea behind Whitecap Industrial Serv-ices, a group of companies working together in partnership to become greaterthan the sum of their parts.

Whitecap Industrial Services is a partnership between the Whitecap De-velopment Corporation and six companies who provide a broad range of serv-ices to the resource industry. The Whitecap Development Corporation, the in-vestment arm of Whitecap Dakota First Nation has developed a reputation forcreating successful partnerships. That reputation brought opportunities to expandinto the resource sector.

“Our partners were looking to connect with aboriginal businesses inSaskatchewan, and we were looking for ways to access the resource sector,” saysDarrell Balkwill CEO of Whitecap Development Corporation.

“We felt it would strengthen our offering if we could present those part-nerships as a team of complementary services rather than a series of one-offs.

“The idea behind these partnerships is that we work together to provide op-portunities for each other, as majority owners we are doing our part by activelymarketing the services Whitecap Industrial Services provides and developingstrategies to connect Whitecap members, and all First Nations people with train-ing and employment opportunities,” explains Balkwill.

The partnership features the services of some the largest and most respectedservice providers in the resource industry. Current partners are WhitecapHaztech Industrial Services, Whitecap NCSG Crane and Heavy Haul Partner-ship, Whitecap Allnorth Engineering Partnership, Whitecap Black DiamondPartnership, Whitecap PTW Energy Partnership, and Whitecap RCS EnergyPartnership. The services they provide include engineering, environmentalservices, crane operation, specialized hauling, work-camp construction, projectmanagement, electrical and control system installation, and safety/health care/se-curity services. Each partner shares core values regarding safety and service.

“All of our partners have been recognized in their respective industries fortheir commitment to safety, management, and customer service,” said Balkwill.

“These are some of the top service providers in Canada”. Whitecap Industrial Services is committed to accessing and developing the

First Nations labour force in Whitecap and Saskatchewan. “Industry places great value on providing training and employment op-

portunities for First Nations people and one of the major focuses of this part-nership is to ensure that Whitecap members will get access to those opportuni-ties,” said Chief Darcy Bear, President of the Whitecap DevelopmentCorporation.

The partnerships are also looking to bring training and employment op-portunities to other Saskatchewan First Nations.

“Ultimately it comes down to developing a team of partners that share ourvalues,” adds Bear.

“There is real strength in that.”

Whitecap Industrial Services partners exhibiting at the Mining SupplyChain Forum held in Saskatoon. L-R Left to right: Jonathan Stringer -Black Diamond, Cory Rosenau - Black Diamond, Boyd Adamack - NCSG,Jackie Pilon - Whitecap Industrial Services, Gren Ritter - NCSG,ChristianBoyle - Whitecap Industrial Services, Sandra Sutter - PTW Energy, Dar-rell Balkwill - Whitecap Industrial Services.

Whitecap group of companies offers wide range of complementary services for resource industry partners


Eagle 2009 Temp

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