Nipisihkopahk Acimowin

P 2 The journey of a planner

P 3 Spirit of giving

P 3 Call out for documentary

P 4 Maskwacis youth receive huge donation of sporting goods

P 5 Reclaiming our knowledge

P 6 RCMP Update

P 6 Inspirational Quote and Joke

P 7 Kinohtenehiyawan ci

P 8 Birthday Greetings P 8 Community Announcements

Inside this issue...Honoring our Veterans

NIPISIHKOPAHKACIMOWIN

Aboriginal people have made great sacrifices during the First World War, Second World War, Korean War and there after. In the three wars alone, one Aboriginal Veteran’s group es-timates a total of 12, 000 Aboriginal people had served. In the First World War, at least 50 medals were awarded to Aboriginal people for their bravery and heroic acts. The unveiling of the Maskwacis Vet-erans Memorial commemorates all the members from the 4 Nations who have served in the First and Sec-ond World Wars, the Korean War, Iraq, Royal Canadian Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Core, Malitia and during Peacetime. Thank you to all those who have con-tributed your time and hard work to making this possible. The memorial is located in front if Peace Hills Trust on the Samson Cree Nation Reserve.

IHKOPIW-PISIM (NOVEMBER) 2014 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 16 WWW.SAMSONCREE.COM

and supporting me. • The keynote speaker was Paul Bedford and he was inspiring. Paul Bedford is retired, the former Chief Planner for the City of Toronto and a fellow of the Ca-nadian Institute of Planners (CIP).• Stoney Nation was invited to the opening remarks to show respect for the conference in Treaty 7 terri-tory. Elder Charles Powderface from Chiniki Nation brought greetings on behalf of Stoney Nation.• Mark Storie brought greetings from Alberta Tourism as part of our opening remarks.• Thundering Nations International (TKI) was our invited guest for the banquet. This is an Aboriginal dance group who featured fancy dancers, tradition-al, jingle dress, hoop dancer and grass dancers. This was the first time ever APPI showcased an Aboriginal group as part of their banquet. • 16 Conference Presentations and 2 Education Ses-sions.Next year’s conference will be held in Edmonton and I am looking forward to having more first nations as part of the event. Please visit the conference web-page at http://www.albertaplanners.com/events/appi-annual-conference-0- Glinis Buffalo

Glinis Buffalo is an Ecological Planner for the City of Edmonton and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with APPI. She received her accreditation in 2013 and she is the first female Aboriginal Accredited Planner in Alberta.If you have any questions, please email Glinis at [email protected]

I had the opportunity to be a co-chair for this year’s Alberta Profes-sional Planners Insti-tute Conference (APPI) held in the beautiful Delta Kananaskis from October 5 – 7th, 2014. The theme for the conference was “The Lifecycle of a Plan-

ner” which was a showcase of the lessons learned by planners through diverse experiences in their profes-sional journey or lifecycle. The conference provided a forum to explore key milestones in the learning and mentoring journey of a planner, within the context of their work in both physical and social communities.From January 2014, planning, execution and now reflection - came together to create an exceptional event. My co-chair and I had nine months to plan the event which involved creating the call for sub-missions, attaining corporate sponsorship, working with a graphic artist to design our logo and confer-ence program, selecting a keynote speaker, selecting invited guests for our opening remarks, selecting a banquet keynote speaker, and selecting conference presenters, all in order to deliver a successful 3 day conference.

Highlights of the Conference included:- A record attendance of conference delegates in-cluding post-secondary students. We had 270 regis-tered delegates.• "Best conference ever and we set the bar for next years conference in Edmonton!” (Quote from next year’s co-chairs for the 2015 conference).• First time ever to have a first nation as a corporate sponsor for this event. This sponsorship went to-wards the conference session: Climate Change Ad-aptation Planning Panel: Where is climate change adaptation planning heading after 2013 events in Alberta?” I had the opportunity to be the moderator for the climate change panel. A big THANK YOU to Samson Cree Nation for being a bronze level sponsor

PAGE 2 NIPISIHKOPAHK ACIMOWIN

The journey of a planner

VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 16 PAGE 3

Secret Santa

Samson Secret Santa Committee Myrna Buffalo Debra Buffalo Chelynn Crane

Charmaine CraneMichelle Louis

Carmella Cutknife Jennilee Louis

Justice Jade SoosaySelena Montour

Cameo Crier

Please make cheques payable to Samson Cree Nation Secret Santa.

Spirit of givingSecret Santa is focuses on 0-17 year of age, low income families, and only for children in your care.Deadline for applications is December 1st and applications are located at Income Support and the Friendship Center. Toy delivery for the Samson reserve and Pigeon Lake area will be on December 17, 2014. Also, the Christmas Community dinner hosted by the Friendship Center, Community Wellness, Food Bank, and Samson Secret Santa is on December 17th. You can make a monetary donation to the Secret Santa at #indiegogo, http://igg.me/at/samsonsecretsanta. Please help us meet our goal before it ends on December 2. Donations can be made through the indiegogo page by: debit-visa, visa, MasterCard or PayPal for those who would love to support our cause. Toy drop off bins will be available at the Samson Band office, Maskwacis Arena and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. Samson Secret Santa $1000 draw will be done once all 200 tickets are sold. Help support and purchase your $10 ticket. Please take in consideration this is VOL-UNTEER work, this is an act of kindness, we accommodated close to 800 youth last years event within the Samson re-serve including the Pigeon Lake area. We would like to Thank all of the sup-port for this special event.

Call out for documentaryA documentary is in the works to capture the true community spirit within Maskwacis. This documentary will feature grassroots people and their accomplishments. Michelle Louis is determined to make a positive difference. She calling out to any youth, Elders, Parents, pow-wow singers/powwow dancers, cow-boys/cowgirls, storytellers, Maskwa-cis employees, Grassroots people, athletes,performers, students, family, friends, artists, musicians that would be interested in being involved with this project. She can be contacted at (780) 360-4013.

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Maskwacis youth receive huge donation of sporting goods

Sport Central made a donation to Maskwacis of sport-ing goods in excess of $100,000.00. The sporting goods were delivered to the Jim Rattlesnake building on November 7, 2014. This donation was made pos-sible by Sports Central, United Cycle, Alberta’s Prom-ise, Hockey Alberta and Maskwacis Counselling and Support Services. A small ceremony was held before the donation was made. Newly elected Chief Randy Ermineskin ex-pressed his gratitude for this initiative and the posi-tive effect it will have on the community, including reduced crime by providing the youth with opportu-nities for healthy activities. Dozens of Maskwacis members including youth and leadership attended the event to help unload the 2 United Cycle trailers full of equipment. This donation will equip the youth of Maskwacis for various sports such as hockey, volleyball, golf. basketball and other sports. “Today is very special, to do this once again in a large community like this. Our main goal is to see youth have a chance, be healthy and active. What more can anyone want.” Stated Wilf Brooks, one of the found-ing members of Sports Central. Kyle Wolfe (Youth Worker with Maskwacis Counsel-ling and Support Services) and Jason Makinaw (Sup-port Worker with Ermineskin Chid Services) met with Wilf earlier this year to make this donation possible. Kyle Wolfe and Jason Makinaw are responsible for the

distribution of the equipment. Over 100 basketballs, soccer balls, & volleyballs have already been distrib-uted to schools within the 4 Nations of Maskwacis. Applications to receive equipment can be filled out with either Kyle Wolfe at Maskwacis Counselling and Support Services or Jason Makinaw at the Ermineskin Band Office. A swap of your gently used equipment will also be accepted. For more information contact Kyle at (780) 585-3856 or Jason at (780) 585-3741.

VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 16 PAGE 5

PAGE 6 NIPISIHKOPAHK ACIMOWIN

On Tuesday November 11th, 2014, Maskwacis RCMP, CRU, Wetaskiwin GIS and Police Dog Services, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Search Warrant in the Samson Cree Nation.Maskwacis RCMP had arrested one adult from the residence. A search of the residence yielded the seizure of “Crack” Cocaine, and Canadian currency. An adult male associated to the residence have been charged.Carmen Lane Nepoose has been charged with: - Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.- Possession of property obtained by crime.

On Wednesday November 12th, 2014, Maskwacis RCMP, CRU, Wetaskiwin GIS and Police Dog Services, ex-ecuted a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Search Warrant in the Samson Cree Nation. Maskwacis RCMP had arrested four adults from the residence. A search of the residence yielded the seizure of “Crack” Cocaine, Cannabis Marihuana, Hash and Canadian currency. Nathan Buffalo, Cody Buffalo, Carla Buffalo, and Alyssa Soosay have been charged with: - Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.- Possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking.- Possession of a controlled substance, Hash.- Possession of property obtained by crime.

Inspirational Quote“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned some-thing from yesterday.”Author John Wayne.

JokeQ: Why did Frosty The Snow Man want a di-vorce?A: Because his wife was a flake.

To submit your own quote or joke please contact Tavis Buffalo, [email protected] or (780) 585-3793 ext. 266.

The Maskwacis RCMP would like to thank the community for inviting us to participate in their Remembrance Day festivities. We appreciated participating in Red Serge for the Veteran’s Day Pow Wow and for the unveiling of your new Soldier Memorial Monument. We always like to see the community come together and show their support. We look forward to participating in your future commu-nity events.As we step into winter we are seeing the sun less and colder temperatures. The Maskwacis RCMP would like to take this opportunity to remind families and individu-als the importance of dressing for the current conditions. First, please dress warmly, especially the small children in the community. When you do not have specific winter wear, dress in layers to keep warm. With less sunlight, it is getting harder to see pedestrians for motorists. Please do your best to wear easily seen clothing, especially when walking near roads.Drivers, we are now into winter driving conditions. Please allow more space between vehicles when driving and al-low yourself a greater distance to stop. Stay alert for pe-destrians and use courtesy when driving. The highways and back roads are starting to become very slippery and will only get worse so stay safe.Maskwacis CPVS Unit- Cst Cardinal, Cst Bear and Cst Fyfe.

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 16 PAGE 7

Kinohtenehiyawan ci

Acimowin Word SearchSearch for the cree words below in the puzzle, when you have found a word circle it and then cross out or check mark the words you have found.

SIHTA (spruce tree)MISPON (snowing, it’s)PIPON (it’s winter)ASTISAK (mittens, gloves)KONA (snow)ASAMAK (snowshoe’s)ACAHKOS (star)PASIKO (to get up(not from bed))SIMAKANIS (police officer)

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SAEHMCTS

AM S

AWBAIHPDA

ECFESAKASK

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O S I A K A N I SN I O K W D J A Y

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PAGE 8 NIPISIHKOPAHK ACIMOWIN

Birthday Greetings

Community Announcements

ACIMOWINSamson Cree Nation’s NewsletterJenn Nepoose- Communications Coordinator(P) 780-585-3793 ext. 281(F) [email protected]

November 22: Samson Education Trust Fund Awards, 4:00pm at the Nipisihkopahk Secondary School.November 22nd & 23rd: Community Wellness “Heal Your Life” for Women. Max 12 participants. For applications forms, contact Community Wellness at 780-585-3634, Ext. 300November 24th - 28th: Community Wellness “Grief Resolution” for Men. Max 15 participants. For applications forms, contact Community Wellness at 780-585-3634, Ext. 300 November 28: Professional Development Day for NEA schools.

November 18: Happy Royal 18th Birthday Shenaya Saddleback from Marla. November 18: Happy Birthday Shenaya Saddleback from Mom, Dad and your brothers and sister. November 19: Happy Birthday Caycee Littlechild from anonymous.November 19: Happy Birthday Eugene Samson from Tannis.November 20: Happy Birthday Danielle “Cheeks” Crane from Mom, Leaha and Daeja.November 23: Happy 11th Birthday Elise from Mom, Dad, siblings and Littlepoplar family.November 23: Happy 13th Birthday to Dwyattson from Auntie Danni & kids.November 24: Happy Birthday Uncle Willie, love you tons Elaine, Jiggs, Courteney, Darren, Danni and the Lightning and Saddleback tribes.November 24: Happy Birthday Herb Omeasoo love Chantelle.November 25: Happy Birthday Craigy from Cheri and the kids.November 26: Happy 14th Birthday to TJ Swampy coming from Mom, Dad and the boys!November 26: Happy Birthday Tayton Swampy from Pat.November 26: Happy Birthday Stacey Rain from Jodi and girls.November 27: Happy Birthday Lacey Buffalo from Herb. November 29: Happy Birthday Ava Baptiste-White love Aliannah, mommy and Daddy.November 29: Happy 5th Birthday Roselyn Cutknife from Mom, Landy and your brothers and sister. November 29: Happy Birthday Leonard buffalo love Janelle and the kids. November 30: Happy Birthday Ted Makokis, all my love from Thelia.

Holiday Hampers anddistribution dates

Each household in Samson will receive a holiday hamper. They will be delivered on December 15, 2014.

Distribution will be made on December 8, 2014 and January 14, 2015 at the HBMC.