July 16 to 27, 2012

Page 1 –akis“nuk First Nation Community News

–akis“nuk First Nation events of interest Monday, July 16:

Ktunaxa citizen-only Qat'muk meeting, 6 p.m. at Tobacco Plains

Thursday, July 19:

Ktunaxa Lands and Re-sources Agency community Qat’muk meeting, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Akisqnuk Band Hall. Dinner provided

Ktunaxa Nation AGA:

Is at Lower Kootenay, July 24 to 26

Monday evenings:

Athletic nights (basketball, etc.) with

David Francis and Joel Fletcher, 7 p.m. at the band yards. Goes throughout July

Congratulations:

To Linda, Lewis, Priscilla, and family for a good first step in the right direction. Keep fighting the good fight. With love always, Gayle;

To Dominique for winning the gummy bear guess con-test at the Health Centre. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the gummy bear contest in support of Cheyenne Nicholas

July: 5, Jacqueline Phillip; 7, Lloyd Nicho-las; 9, Linda Michel and Randy McNab; 10, Shawn Nicholas, 12, Wilbur, John D., and Langdon Nicholas; 13, Marilyn Teneese and

Ryan Nicholas; 15, San-dra Nicholas; 19, Louie and Precious Nicholas; 20, Attila Stanley; 22 Kathryn Teneese; 27, Deb Nicholas; 30, Jac-queline Crowchild; 31, Nadine Capilo.

Happy July birthdays

Bumbling about:

The bees enjoyed the heat and sun on Friday, July 6 as they worked to pollinate wild roses near the Band Office at the Akisqnuk First Nation.

Kuku S“umu

members aged 60 or over.

Please contact Adrian at the office (250) 342-6301 to claim a room. First come, first served.

Rooms for KNC AGA

from the power line right-of-way

Garbage bin:

The garbage bin on Kootenay #3 was being abused and has been re-moved. Members are asked to take their garbage to the dump

Drumming:

Learn how with Nelson Philip, each Tuesday and Thursday evening, 6 p.m. To 8 p.m. at the Health Centre. Call Nelson for more info, (250) 270-0169

The Ktunaxa Nation Annual General Assem-bly is set for July 24 to 26 at Yakan nu–kiy (Lower Kootenay Band) and up to five rooms are available for Akisqnuk

KNC AGA 3-on-3 basket-ball:

Tournament for youth aged 12 to 18, July 24 and 25 at the KNC AGA, Lower Kootenay Band

Attention 2012 grads:

Please contact Stephanie at the Band Office, 342-6301 or ssam@akisqnuk.org

Tree Cutting:

Please be aware that B.C. Hydro will be on the re-serve over the next week or so removing danger trees

Page 2 –akis“nuk First Nation Community News

son University in Red-ding, California and Joel a student of Outdoor Leadership and Educa-tion at Toccoa Falls Col-lege in Georgia.

The young men did not know each other before meeting up just before coming to Akisqnuk.

This is the first time ei-ther Joel or David has visited Canada or visited a First Nation and nei-ther one say they had any expectations coming

to Akisqnuk and are thrilled with the welcome to the community they’ve received. “Everyone here has been really hospita-ble,” says David.

David and Joel plan to attend the Ktunaxa Na-tion AGA coming up in Yaqan nu–kiy later this month. “I love the thought of the AGA,” says Joel. “The whole idea of coming together in celebration, that’s pretty awesome.”

David Francis and Joel Fletcher have brought fresh eyes with them to the Akisqnuk First Nation.

The two young men, from Camino, California and Bluemount, Virginia re-spectively are visiting Akisqnuk as guests of band member Lillian Rose. The pair were put in touch with Lillian and the Akisqnuk First Nation through an organization called InterAct Ministries. They will spend six weeks in total at Akisqnuk as volunteer interns, meeting people, learning about the community, and doing good works.

Since they arrived, the young men have been meeting members of the First Nation and getting to

know some of its cus-toms. “I’m trying to learn how to make fry bread,” says Joel smiling. “so far

it’s lacking but I’m try-ing.”

And the pair has been intro-duced to the fastball tradition of Akisqnuk. “There are some

really good players,” says Joel.

The guys plan to start a community event, an ath-letic night on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. begin-ning on July 16. Mon-days were chosen so as not to conflict with fast-ball nights in the commu-nity.

The two are students back in the U.S. David is a senior in Cross-Cultural Studies at Simp-

Young American men visit Akisqnuk

Joel Fletcher (left) and David Francis

Congrats to Brandon Alpine Congratulations to Bran-don Alpine on once again suc-cessfully moving forward in his career.

Brandon gradu-ated from First Year Apprentice Carpentry through the College of the Rock-ies. Brandon has delved into many industries that include: oil rig drilling,

roofing, and construc-tion. I am happy to announce that Brandon came up on top in his class and was awarded a carpentry belt with tools and a $500 gift certifi-cate. He plans to put his ticket to

use in the construction industry. Way to go Son! Your mom, Janice.

Brandon Alpine

Page 3 Kuku S“umu

Band administrator starts at Akisqnuk New Akisqnuk First Na-tion Band Administrator Wendy Rockafellow has brought a wealth of di-verse experience and a can-do attitude with her to her new position.

“I like building things, seeing things done and signs put up,” she says.

Wendy, a mother of three, came to Akisqnuk after spending the past several years working in Aboriginal business de-velopment, including jobs at the Business Develop-ment Bank of Canada serving northern B.C. and the Yukon – “That’s where I got to know a lot of First Nations’ needs,” she says – and then as the CEO of the corporate divisions of the Gitxsan Nation and later the Sechelt Indian Band.

While her job at Akisqnuk is her first spe-cifically working in Abo-riginal government, she has the required skills based on her previous experience, “I know the

mechanics and how to write funding applica-tions,” she says. “And I have lots of experience working with the federal government.”

Originally from Calgary, Wendy, 51, knows the Columbia Valley and the East Kootenays very well. Begin-ning with family trips as a child to Redstreak Campground in Radium and visits to Wasa Lake, Wendy has been visiting the area practically her entire life.

For about 15 years from the ‘90s through 2004, she was co-owner of a Canmore-based outdoor adventure company that led expeditions into the area, including the Buga-boos and the Rockies and Selkirk Mountain ranges. “It feels like I’ve

come full-circle,” she says of returning to the valley to work.

Those years are just a part of the very diverse career history Wendy has enjoyed. After gradu-ating with a diploma in resource management from NAIT in Edmonton,

Wendy worked as a park ranger and then a conservation officer. “I was a peace offi-cer, I carried a gun,” she says of those days.

Later, while working in the tourism industry,

Wendy became a certi-fied mountain and ski guide and trained in am-bulance work and back-country rescue. She even found the time to get a bachelor of science (pre-med) degree from the University of Calgary.

Wendy later earned a master’s degree in busi-ness administration at Royal Roads University in Victoria.

Wendy is meeting her new challenge at Akisqnuk head on. She says that there are many similarities working in government, First Nation or otherwise. “It’s being organized and ready for opportunities,” she says.

Wendy says a big part of the job is risk manage-ment. “It’s not that much different from most main-stream administrations. We have a small staff that has to do a lot of work.”

Wendy says the wel-come to the band she received has been warm and that the membership of the Akisqnuk First Na-tion is passionate about their community. “People have found their way very quickly through my open door and intro-duced themselves,” she says. “Thank you.”

Wendy Rockafellow

From left: Chief Lorne Shovar poses with new council member Stephen Nicholas, existing coun-cillor Beatrice Stevens, new council member Lucille Shovar, and Akisqnuk electoral officer Marion Eunson at the official swearing-in cere-mony on July 4.

The new council mem-bers will join Lorne, Bea-trice and Marguerite Coo-per on the Akisqnuk Council.

The first official council meeting with the new council is July 31 as the new councillors take of-fice 30 days after their election.

New council members sworn in

Page 4 –akis“nuk First Nation Community News

–akis“nuk First Nation 3050 Highway 93/95,

Windermere, B.C. V0B 2L2

(250) 342-6301

This newsletter is pub-lished by Adrian Bergles,

Communications Coordinator,

–akis“nuk First Nation

Your thoughts are wel-come. If you have a story

you’d like to put in the newsletter or anything

for Adrian to add, email abergles@akisqnuk.org

Get your newsletter

online at: www.akisqnuk.org

Support the Ktunaxa Economy!

Most Ktunaxa citizens make all their purchases outside their own com-munities because there aren’t Ktunaxa-owned businesses on their re-serve.

Money spent outside Ktunaxa communities contributes to the well-being of others and not to the Ktunaxa.

This feeds the cycle of dependency on other communities and other levels of government.

In order to build a Ktu-naxa economy it is vital to support community-based entrepreneurs and businesses.

To keep money in the community use Ktunaxa goods and services whenever you can!

eration of motorized equipment; basic knowl-edge of the principles of operation of diesel and gasoline engines; me-chanical aptitude; knowl-edge of maintenance tools; knowledge of methods and materials used in grounds and landscape area construc-tion and maintenance work; working knowledge of and ability to use hand and power tools and equipment; physical strength, stamina and agility; ability to follow oral and written direc-tions; ability to work early morning hours and sometimes on weekends; ensures a safe and healthy working environ-ment by observing uni-versal (standard) precau-tions and infection con-trol procedures; ability to recognize and remove obvious hazards; report-ing faulty equipment, ac-cidents, injuries and near misses; and adhering to

and enforcing rules re-garding safety. Additional Require-ments: Lead Groundskeeper position requires a per-sonal vehicle suitable for hauling equipment and other staff, a clean driver’s record and appro-priate insurance cover-age. The employer will reimburse the employee for vehicle use and inci-dentals. Preference will be given to individuals with previ-ous experience and re-lated certificates, for ex-ample: First Aid and CPR, WHMIS, et al. Deadline for applica-tions: Friday, July 20, 2012 Please drop off resume in person or send applica-tion: Akisqnuk First Nation #3050 Highway 93/95 Windermere, BC V0B 2L2 Email: wrockafel-low@akisqnuk.org Fax: 250-342-9693

Lead and assistant groundskeepers sought at Akisqnuk Akisqnuk First Nation Job Opportunity: Lead Groundskeeper and As-sistant Groundskeeper General Job Descrip-tion: groundskeeper performs work involving the use of small equipment, includ-ing tractors, mowers, loaders, trenchers, chainsaws, weed-eaters and other maintenance equipment; performs rou-tine manual labour in-volved in grounds and exterior facilities mainte-nance for the Akisqnuk First Nation properties and buildings, including semi-skilled grounds construction and mainte-nance work. This posi-tion can be part or full-time, but is generally full-time. Hours are depend-ent on the weather and workload. Pay is depend-ent on experience. A strong work ethic is re-quired. Requirements: Basic knowledge of safe, efficient mechanical op-

You are asked to contrib-ute to the –akis“nuk Community Newsletter.

The newsletter is a re-flection of the happen-ings and of lives of mem-bers of the –akis“nuk First Nation -- both on reserve and off.

Any and all Band mem-bers, or even those who aren’t band members but

You are invited to contribute to the newsletter who have news that is of interest to the community are asked to please share it.

Of course the guide-lines of good taste apply and no personal attacks will be printed.

Submissions can come in the form of an email, a fax, or even a telephone call.

Emails can be sent to abergles@akisqnuk.org, faxes sent to Adrian @ (250) 342-9693, or calls made to Adrian at (250) 342-6301, ext. 3811.

Some Band members have used these pages to share their own stories and artwork. All Band members are welcome to do the same.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESEarly Childhood Educator and/or

Infant Toddler EducatorEva Joseph Centre, Windermere, BC

The Little Badger Early Learning Program is seeking a qualified person to fill a permanent part-time position.

The successful candidate will: • Possess an ECE Certificate, current Child Safe First Aid and Criminal Record

Check. • Work with children 18 months to 6 years and be familiar with the Montessori

Method.

Deadline for applications: August 3, 2012.

For further information call 250-342-6331. Please submit cover letter and resume, including references to: Akisqnuknik Development Corporation Att. Kathleen Elphick 3046 Highway 93/95, Windermere, BC V0B 2L2 E-mail: adm_adc@telus.net

This Ktunaxa Nation Citizen ONLY event, will provide a dinner, cultural activities and a discussion about the recent approval of the Jumbo Glacier Resort, and the impacts and next steps for Ktunaxa.

For more info visit: www.ktunaxa.org/qatmuk