Nipisihkopahk Acimowin- February 2014

ACIMOWIN NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK

MIKISI-PISIMFEBRUARY 2014

Public Safety Canada Funds the Maskwacis Youth InitiativeP . 2

PAGE 1 NIPISIHKOPAHK ACIMOWIN

CONTENTSP . 2 Public Safety Canada Funds the Maskwacis Youth InitiativeP . 3 Maskwacis All StarsP . 3 Samson Healthy Families Men’s GroupP . 4 30 community members graduate Change it Up! Trades and are off to college.P . 6 Second Annual Maskwacis Charity CheckstopP . 7 Notice of Nomination Meeting P . 8 Regarding Criminal Record Check- Chief and Council ElectionsP . 9 Kinohtenehiyawan ciP . 10 Maskwacis Cree Language App P . 11 Nipisihkopahk Pamihowin: Restorative JusticeP . 12 Nipisihkopahk Pamihowin: Restorative JusticeP . 13 RCMP ReportsP . 13 Birthday GreetingsP . 13 Community Announcements

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Charity hockey game between the Maskwacis RCMP and Pesakestew, Council members and Fire Depart-ment on December 12, 2013.

VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 1 PAGE 2

Public Safety Canada through the National Crime Prevention Centre, has approved funding in the amount of $ 2.89 Million dollars over five years to address youth gang issues within the Maskwacis Cree Nation, in-cluding Samson Cree Nation, Ermineskin Cree Na-tion, Louis Bull Tribe and Montana First Nation. The project, entitled Maskwacis Conflict Resolution Pro-gram – Maskwacis Youth Initiative, is focused on youth who are at high risk, particularly those youth with affiliations to local gangs. Based on the Cure Violence © model, developed by Dr. Gary Slutkin, the project's overall goal is to reduce violence within the Maskwacis community. Several key stakehold-ers, including the four First Nations who make up the Maskwacis Cree Nation, are responsible for provid-ing in kind support, services and infrastructure to the project.A key component of the initiative is harm reduc-tion through employing Cree cultural values, beliefs and the Cree language, which is considered vital to the transmission of Cree knowledge. The initiative also embraces teachings from Dr. Martin Brokenleg, who with his colleagues, Larry Brendtro and Steve Van Bockern, have developed a curriculum coined the ‘Circle of Courage’©. This model focuses on the four key elements essential to youth development, specifically: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. For the Maskwacis Cree people, the circle has sacred meaning. What happens to one, or what one does, affects all within the circle. We recognize that the influx of the youth counter-culture, including gangs and drugs, have disrupted community harmony and needs to be redressed. This program offers much needed resources for stakeholders and project per-sonnel to look beneath the surface and to help youth find answers to some of the issues that have bogged them down. For the Chiefs of Maskwacis, our hope for the future is our youth. As our Elders have taught us, our de-cisions today must take into consideration, how our future generations will be affected. Through launch-ing the Maskwacis Youth Initiative, we believe young people will make better choices for themselves if

given the support and encouragement to change. By doing so, we can stem the violence born of anger rather than fueling retaliation. By changing the way youth see themselves, our hope for a brighter future is kept alive. There are three specific objectives of the project: 1. Deterring Violence through Conflict Resolution; 2. Outreach and Case Management; and 3. Commu-nity Mobilization and Public Education. Specifically, the project aims to connect with gang-involved and high-risk youth, build a trust-based relationship with them, and intervene in ongoing conflicts to prevent imminent violence and to change the norms around the need to use violence. The project will also have a strong outreach component where workers will car-ry a case load of participants, and will mentor, sup-port, and assist project participants to connect with community services that address their needs. Finally, the project aims to mobilize the community through public education campaigns, community events, en-gagement of law enforcement and faith leaders (el-ders, church, etc.), and community responses to ev-ery shooting, in order to promote community safety and non-violence.A key element to the success of the MYI project lies in the Four Nations leadership providing the necessary supports, including access to services available with-in the community. Accordingly, the project has iden-tified several community partners who will be ac-tively involved in overseeing the management of the initiative through a steering committee comprised of the four Nations Chiefs, community members and stakeholders. Although Samson Cree Nation, as the fiscal agent for the project, will be responsible for staffing and the financial administration of the proj-ect, project personnel will report directly to the joint Steering Committee. Finally, given that there are only two other Cure Vio-lence projects in Canada, both off First Nations com-munities, there is an expectation of knowledge shar-ing among similar projects across Canada. As well, annual evaluations of the project will be conducted with a view to determining what works in First Na-tion’s communities. At the end of the project, a five year written evaluation will be prepared which will be a public document.

Public Safety Canada Funds the Maskwacis Conflict Resolution Program – Maskwacis Youth Initiative


Josh Swampy Courage Omeasoo Tristan Saddleback

Maskwacis All-StarsFour hockey players who started their hockey career in Maskwacis, now play with the Wetaskiwin Icemen, played in the Capital Junior Hockey Leagues All Star game on January 18, 2014. Josh Swampy, Courage Omeasoo and Tristan Saddleback were the 3 players chosen from the Icemen to play in the Rookie All Star game. Keaton White played along side team mates Corey Bowie and Chris Sharkey in the All Star game. Only 3 players were chosen from the Icemen team to play in the All Star and Rookie games. Congratulations to these Maskwacis players on all their achievements so far in their hockey careers.

Samson Healthy Families Men’s GroupThis group of our men completed 10 weeks of the Samson Healthy Men’s Group program. Those with higher attendance were treated to a oilers game on December 10th. Thank you to all those who at-tended each week and the facilitators AJ Buffalo and Gilbert buffalo.

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 PAGE 4

Part of a unique program to connect unemployed First Nations youth with skilled-trades jobs in the Al-berta resource sector, 30 students have been prep-ping for success right in their own community. For the past 6 months, they’ve been working hard in Samson Cree Nation to learn trade basics while build-ing the literacy, numeracy and readiness needed for acceptance into a college prep program and guaran-teed employment through indentured apprentice-ship. This week’s ceremony celebrated the signing of a tri-party agreement between Samson Cree Nation, Por-tage College and Classroom Connections, who are all working together to make this program happen. The initiative, made possible by the Government of Al-berta and Government of Canada, is a unique, step-by-step bridge to employment for young, unem-ployed Aboriginals that focuses directly on Alberta’s shortages in skilled trades.Recognizing that Alberta’s thriving energy sector is facing an employment crisis while First Nations com-

munities face staggering unemployment, Classroom Connections set out to bridge the gap. “This pilot project demonstrates that there are other ways to help First Nations people get the skills training they need for employment, even when they’ve not expe-rienced success in the traditional school system.” said Heather MacTaggart, Executive Director of Class-room Connections. “Sometimes you just need a new system – a new pathway. I commend Samson Cree Nation and Derek Bruno for having the vision to get this program underway and for finding the corpo-rate partners to bring this initiative to life.”“We all know that employment is key to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, we partnered with Classroom Connections and Portage College because they are thinking outside the box to address First Nations barriers to employment,” said Derek Bruno, Councillor, Samson Cree Nations.Portage College will help by creating a brand new 4 month college preparation program specifically targeted to help Aboriginals gain the skills and train-ing necessary to enter the oil, gas and construction industries. “We recognize that there is a shortage of skilled workers in Alberta,” said Dr. Trent Keough, President and CEO of Portage College. “The College is proud to enter into this partnership with Class-room Connections and the Samson Cree Nation to help make a difference, not just for Alberta’s energy sector, but for the community of Samson Cree Na-tion.”

30 community members graduate Change it Up! Trades and are off to college.

Holiday Hamper Deliveries


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February 4/14: Chief nominations February 11/14: Election of Chief

February 18/14: Council nominations February 25/14: Election of Council


The Charity Checkstop had raised an outstanding amount for the Maskwacis Secret Santa initiatives. On December 13 approximately 1000 vehicles drove through the check stop raising $9161.87! Along with plenty of toys and food that were donated, last years record of $1455.00 was broken. Thank you to all of those whom graciously donated!The following is a list of all the generous donators to the Samson Cree Nation Secret Santa:RCMP/Sheriffs Charity Checkstop -Peace Hills Trust - Willy Littlechild -Canadian Tire -Lucky Dollar -Bob Roney -Russ McGregor from the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society, Santa. -Chris Wolf, Santa -Pesakastew -ATCO -Maskwacis Fire and Ambulance, Ermineskin Fire -Food Bank -Food Bank -Samson Economic Development -Maskwacis Justice -Ermineskin NEP -Kispatnahk Health and WellnessMaskwacis Health ServicesPe Sakastew Ociciwahk Samson Youth & Sports DevelopmentNipisihkopahk Education Authority Peace Hills TrustSCN Public Works Samson Environment (Natural Resources)SCN Integrated Families Dept.

Mens Literacy (Wayne Reindeer)Paskwamostos Memorial ClubSCN Community WellnessChief Marvin YellowbirdParcanBrad Baptiste Sr.Barchard Engineering LtdSCN Family SupportSCN Staff AssociationSCN Friendship CenterSCN Food BankKoren Lightning-EarleBurger BaronMurray HealyPat SwampyCst. Keith BearMr. & Mrs. Kevin WellsHolly Johnson-RattlesnakeR.C.M.P Hobbema Det.Samson Day care CenterK.C.W.SCongratulations to Murray Healy, the winner of the Oilers ticket draw!We would like to thank each and every one of the generous toy, cash & time donators to the 2013 Sam-son Secret Santa! This year’s Secret Santa could not have been a success if it weren’t for all of the kind and giving people who had given so generously! We apologize if we have missed any other names/com-panies that have not been listed. Best wishes and many blessings to all in the New Year of 2014!

Hai Hai,SCN Secret Santa Committee 2013

Second Annual Maskwacis Charity Checkstop


NOTICE OF NOMINATION MEETINGFebruary 4, 2014SAMSON CREE NATION CHIEF NOMINA-TION

Nominations for Samson Cree Nation Chief will be held at the Howard Buffalo Memorial Center on February 4, 2014 from 9:00am - 4:00pm. A list of nominees will be posted on the Samson Cree Nation social media accounts and the website at www.samsoncree.com.

On election day, February 11, 2014, polls will be open at the Howard Buffalo Memo-rial Center and the Pigeon Lake Rec Center from 9:00am - 9:00pm.For residents in Edmonton and area, a poll will be open from 9:00am - 6:00pm at: Peace Hills General Insurance #300, 10709-Jasper AveEdmonton, Alberta.For residents in Calgary and area, a poll will be open from 9:00am- 6:00pm at: Peace Hills General Insurance14th Floor Encore Place645-7th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alberta.

A copy of the Election Law is available from the Nipisihkopahk Pamihowin Office.A copy of the Samson Voters List is avail-able at the membership office of the Sam-son Cree Nation Membership Department.The members of the Samson Elections Ap-peal Board are:Chairperson: Bernie MakokisBoard Members: Trevor Larocque Glenda WhiteThe assigned security officers are the Sam-son Peacekeepers.The Electoral Supervisor in Lorette Pete Lambert.


RCMP Inspector Charlie Wood wishes to remind SCN members who are running for leadership that they MUST attend the Wetaskiwin RCMP Detachment as soon as possible, in regard to obtaining their Criminal Record Check. He’s been notified that the Wetaskiwin Detach-ment might not be able process all requests if there is a huge demand in the final few days. The suggested dead-line would be Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 for those running for Council positions.

REGARDING CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK – CHIEF & COUNCIL ELECTIONS


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Maskwacis Cree Language AppAfter hours of research, recording and adjusting the Cree Language app was released on the iTunes app store on January 28, 2014. The app fea-tures more than just a dictionary of Cree words and translations. In each category games and quizzes will test your knowledge of the Plains Cree Language. Each word or phrase displays a picture, some of which you may recognize from the Maskwacis community. The voices which provide proper pronunciation are also recorded by local community members, Ida Bull, Beverly Crier and Brian Lightning. Currently the app is only available for Apple products. There are no plans to develop an app that will be compatible with android devices. With in the first 3days of it’s release there have been 453 downloads. Of those downloads 5 originated from the United States, 1 in Thailand, 1 in Taiwan and 1 in Indonesia. The app will be free to download for the first 2 months, after which it will cost $0.99.




Birthday GreetingsFebruary 3: Happy Birthday Ashley Dennehy from the HSNT family.February 5: Happy Birthday Tweela Nepoose from the Nepoose family. February 9: Happy Birthday Dylan Crier from anonymous. February 23: Happy Birthday Jeremy Nepoose from the family. February 27: Happy Birthday Jay Nepoose from the family.

February 4: Nominations for Chief.February 11: Election of Chief.February 14: Valentines DayFebruary 17: Family DayFebruary 18: Nominations for Council.February 25: Election of Council.

Community Announcements

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

On Monday January 27th Maskwacis RCMP General Duty members and Police Dog Services executed a search warrant on a residence on the Samson First Nation which was associated to the distribution of illegal drugs. Police searched and located and seized Cocaine along with material used in the distribution of drugs. Police arrested and charged Terry NORTHWEST age 33 along with April GLADUE age 30 both of the Samson First Na-tion with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Breach of Probation.Northwest and Gladue are to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on Tuesday January 28th, 2014.

On Thursday, January 9, 2014, Maskwacis RCMP Community Response Unit, General Duty members executed a warrant on the Montana First Nation, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of Cannabis Marihuana, associated para-phernalia, and prohibited weapons. Maskwacis RCMP arrested six adults from the residence. Investigation still ongoing and charges for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Prohibited Weapons are pending.

On Saturday January 25th at 1640 hrs., Maskwacis RCMP along with Emergency Medical Services re-sponded to a location on the Samson First Nation where the body of a deceased male was located.The male was located in an open area approximately 1.5 kms South of Hwy. 611 East. Police believe the deceased who was last seen on January 17th, 2014 in the Maskwacis area, and was reported missing to Maskwacis RCMP on January 24th. The male has been identified as 17 year old Travis RAIN of Maskwacis. The police investigation is continuing, and pending autopsy results, is not being con-sidered suspicious at this time. An autopsy scheduled for Monday January 27th has been postponed until Tuesday January 28th. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Nipisihkopahk Acimowin- February 2014

Documents

maskwacis cree nation

maskwacis youth initiativep

maskwacis community

maskwacis cree people

maskwacis rcmp

chiefs of maskwacis

youth development

maskwacis cree language