ACIMOWIN NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK NIPISIHKOPAHK

PINAWEW-PISIMMAY 2014

Down, Dirty and DisconcertingP . 4

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CONTENTSP . 2 Samson Cree Nation Grass RootsP . 3 Gift of prayer for MaskwacisP . 4 Down, Dirty and DisconcertingP . 5 How to make a home fire escape planP . 6 My fire inspection checklistP . 6 Leadership Chairmen and Committee members for SCN PillarsP . 7 Summer yard maintenanceP . 8 Nipisihkopahk Secondary School receiving proceeds from McHappy Day P . 9 Kinohtenehiyawan ciP . 10 Letter to the editorP . 10 Pow wow Committee Members P . 11 Birthday Greeting and Community Announcements

Photo of the month

20th Anniversary of the Nipishikopahk Primary School - 2013

VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 3 PAGE 2

Adam Cutknife is a grade 11 student who has been practicing the art of Tae kwon-do for the past 10 years. Adam has won numerous medals at various tournaments in two separate clubs. Last month at the Wetaskiwin Hetlinger Tae kwon-do Tournament Adam won a Bronze medal in the Forms Division and a Gold medal in the Sparring category. Adam’s team also placed second in the Team Sparring portion of the program. Adam currently holds a Red Belt Black Stripe in Tae kwon-do and will be testing for his black belt in May. We are extremely proud of all his achieve-ments and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

SUBMITTED BY:C. LORNE GREENDORIS CUTKNIFE

Adam Cutknife

Samson Cree Nation Grass Roots

Jacobi Buffalo

Jacobi will be graduating this year from the Ponoka Composite High School. He has been playing foot-ball with the Ponoka Broncs and received the MVP award on April 14th. Jacobi has been accepted to the Carpentry and Mill Work program at NAIT. He also has plans to continue his football career in the future, he is trying out for a Junior team.

“ Football has taught me a lot of lessons on life like to never give up and try as hard as you can. If you do so anything is possible. Always have faith and believe that you can do anything. Never think about the negatives, only learn from your mis-takes and concentrate on the positives.”-Jacobi Buffalo.

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The following story was given to Chief Kurt Buffalo and Councillor Kirk Buffalo, along with the feathers in the above picture, by a visitor to our Community.

“ Thank you for the honor to sit with you during your gather. Growing up in Northern Alberta was quite isolated and our Native communities didn’t have a lot then; I think Paddle got it’s first store when I was fourteen. So when my brothers started to go our for hockey and rodeos it was very exciting and rewarding to visit them at places where their paths took them. One of them being your community what we knew then as Hobbema. I remember being at Buffalo Ranch Rodeo 25 years ago sitting with all the veteran cowboy; being at Panee [round] dance watching Snagger pull out her moves on the dance floor. My parents would talk highly of everyone and I remember listening to them say only good things. They would talk about what good dancers you all were, what good person-

alities everyone had and how welcoming everyone was to our family. As a kid I admired everything, wow a Native community with a hockey arena that alone was impressive and a Junior Hockey team. This is such a cool place would think and it was so exciting on road trips knowing we were going to Hobbema. It felt like we were privileged and blessed to be in the presence of your people and your com-munity and we were. So it is not surprising that I ended up being party of your community. While I lived there I worked in Wetaskiwin School Division as a Native Liaison for a couple years and became very close with lots of the younger people from all four Nations. I think about those kids still, one particular who I became very close with. [We hugged and cried like babies when I decided to leave for college. Later on she had taken her own life. My best friend in Paddle also had taken her own life.] I think the heaviness of dealing with tragedies has defiantly kept me withdrawn but it’s nothing compared to what your people have dealt with throughout the years and I have so much compas-sion and respect for you all. i want you to know also that now a days and over the years when I hear anyone say anything negative about Maskwacis I always say “The most beautiful and strongest people I know come from there and it is one of the most cultured communities in North America.” And I think about being a kid again hear-ing my parents words and all the comedians, story tellers, athletes and acceptance I was surrounded with during my time there. It’s frustrating that others don’t know that, what a shame and loss of acknowledging valuable and positive things in our world. Take these feathers to use for whatever way you see fit; for strength, for spirit, for ceremony and as a reminder that there are some of us here who believe in you and support your leadership, community and people. These feathers some from an eagle who has flown above these mountains for years in your traditional land area and it is meant to be that they go with you. Hiy Hiy.”

Gift of prayer for Maskwacis

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 4

Peace Hills General Insurance will be at the Economic Development Trade Show May 20th and 21st. Stop by our booth and don’t forget to bring your resume. You can take the Insurance and Risk Management Careers quiz and ask us about the exciting educational and career op-portunities Peace Hills Insurance offers.The Newiyaw Award, honouring a Samson Band Member who instills business awareness and community pride within Samson Cree Nation, will be presented at the Economic Development Trade Show Gala the

evening of May 20th. Nominations are open until May 9, 2014, contact Debi Corden at the Peace Hills Insur-ance Edmonton office for an application: 1-800-272-5614 or dcorden@phgic.com.Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, managers, and parents who participated in the 2014 Alberta Na-tive Hockey Provincials. Peace Hills General Insurance proudly provided sponsorships for Samson Band Mem-bers who took part in this event.Have a wonderful spring and in the June issue of NipisihkopahkAcimowinlook for another update on the many ways Peace Hills General Insurance is involved in your community.

It will take efforts from the entire community to avoid another emergency due to a pump failure at the Samson Lift Station. It should be noted that a major concern with this recent emergency is due to dumping of grease in our water system. Please avoid draining grease in your kitchen sink. A better alternative is to drain grease in an empty coffee container. Flushing large bits of food down the toilet also risks a clog, either in the toilet itself or in the drain piping. Toilets are designed to remove human waste and toilet paper. Period. Solid waste readily breaks down in water; solid food does not. Neither does items such as cleaning wipes, tissues, dental floss, condoms and cigarette butts. On average a toilet uses anywhere from 1.6 to 5 gal-lons of water or more per flush. We urge commu-nity members to conserve water. Various items have also been found in the man-holes within the community such as toys. Please be aware of how the named actions effect the water system servicing our homes. Each time an emergency such as the recent occurs funds need to be reallocated to rectify the situa-tion. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Toys in a manhole Grease in a manhole

Vac Truck manually pumping sewage after pump failed.

Down, Dirty and Disconcerting

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— Keeping Your Community Safe with Home Fire Escape Drills —NFPA • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 • www.nfpa.org/education

m Draw a map of your home. Show all doors and windows.

mVisit each room. Find two ways out.

mAll windows and doors should open easily. You should be able to use them to get outside.

mMake sure your home has smoke alarms. Push the test button to make sure each alarm is working.

mPick a meeting place outside. It should be in front of your home. Everyone will meet at the meeting place.

mMake sure your house or building number can be seen from the street. mTalk about your plan with everyone in your home.

m Learn the emergency phone number for your fire department.

mPractice your home fire escape drill!

mMake your own home fire escape plan on the back of this paper.

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How to Make a Home Fire Escape PlanHow to Make a Home Fire Escape Plan

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 6

My Fire Inspection Checklist

Parent Signature:

Become an official Safety Inspector! Make sure your home is safe and inspect for risks. Ask a grown-up for help.

Check out Sparky the Fire Dog® at sparky.org

Electrical cords are in good condition (not damaged).

Appliances and lights are plugged into separate electrical outlets.

All smoke alarms work when tested by a grown-up.

All escape routes are clear of clutter and easily accessible.

Curtains and other things that can burn are away from the stovetop.

Portable space heaters are off whenever a grown-up leaves the room and goes to sleep.

Portable space heaters are 3 feet away from anything that can burn.

All extension cords are used safely (not under carpets or across walking areas).

The clothes dryer has a clean vent and filter (no lint build-up).

The furnace has been inspected in the past year.

The chimney has been inspected and cleaned in the past year.

A grown-up always stays in the kitchen whenever food is cooking on the stovetop.

®

Sparky® is a trademark of NFPA

Leadership Chairmen and Committee members for SCN PillarsNipisihkopahk PamihowinChairman: Patrick BuffaloCommittee: Kirk Buffalo and Vernon Saddleback

FinanceChairman: Vernon SaddlebackCommittee: Glenda Swampy, Jonathan Dion and Marvin Yellowbird

EducationChairman: Marvin YellowbirdCommittee: Shannon Buffalo and Mario Swampy

Socio-Economic DevelopmentChairman: Holly JohnsonCommittee: Larron Northwest and Willy Lightning

Community DevelopmentChairman: Clayton BrunoCommittee: Glenda Swampy and Jonathan Dion

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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 8

Nipisihkopahk Secondary School receiving proceeds from McHappy DayOn Wednesday May 7th take some time for McHappy Day. The McDonalds restaurant in Wetaskiwin will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of a Big Mac, Happy Meal and any hot McCafe beverage to the Nipisihkopahk Secondary School. This donation will go towards sports equipment and teams.

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If you can identify any of the individuals in this photo please contact Samson Archives (780) 585-4530

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 10

Letter to the editorThe community newsletter may be utilized is a platform for free and open discussion in a respectful and reasonable manner. If you would like to comment on issues in our community please contact Jenn Nepoose (780) 585-3793 or by email at jnepoose@gmail.com. I will do my best to provide a response from the appropriate department/pillar in the following newsletter.

To whom it may concern;As a Samson Cree Nation Band Member, I am abso-lutely outraged by the conditions of the roads. The gravel roads are in such poor condition that no mat-ter what speed you travel at they are simply hazard-ous, both to your vehicle and potentially the people driving them. When it rains the lack of gravel turns them into a mud pit worthy for a monster truck. After they have dried the endless washboard shakes ve-hicles apart and can even lead to loss of control. This then brings about concern for pedestrians. Some, if not most, driveways are in such a state that I have

seen vehicles parked half way to avoid getting stuck. The paved road directly in front of the Public Works building has potholes that can literally rip a wheel off a vehicle. Really now, you can even mix cement in a wheelbarrow in the Public Works shop and walk over to fill the vehicle destroying potholes. I am only speaking for the road from the Jim O to the Montana Bridge. I can imagine the condition of the other rural roads are in just as bad if not in worse con-dition. Something must be done.-Samson Band Member

Pow wowCommittee Members Applications are now being accepted at the Personnel Department for Six (6) Pow wow committee members to sit on the Samson Cree Nation Pow wow Com-mittee.

All applicants must:1. Must submit resume, along with a criminal records check.2. Must be a member of the Samson Cree Nation.3. Must make a commitment to attend all meetings.

Deadline: May 9, 2014Selections: May 12, 2014

For applications and further information please contact: Samson Cree Nation Personnel Dept. Box 159 Hobbema ABT0C 1N0Telephone: 780-585-3793 ext. 179Fax: 780-585-2088

Suicide Hotline1-800-SUICIDE(784-2433)

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Birthday GreetingsMay 3: Happy Birthday Kim Buffalo from the Personnel staff, your family and friends.May 3: Happy Birthday Stephen K. Buffalo from the Buffalo family.May 3: Happy Birthday Jenny Roasting from the Buffalo family. May 5: Happy Birthday Wilda Buffalo from your family and friends.May 6: Happy Birthday Daryl Lynn Nepoose from Jenn and B, Mom, Tray and the fam.May 6: Happy Birthday Amaury Lecona from the Buffalo family. May 7: Happy Birthday Dena Mae Crier from the Buffalo family. May 8: Happy Birthday Marcia Crier from the Buffalo family. May 13: Happy Birthday Brooke-Lynn love Mom, Musmus, Koko, Buster and all your Aunty’s and Uncle’s.May 14: Happy Birthday Jonathan Simon love Mom and Dad.May 16: Happy Birthday Dylin Fontaine from the Buffalo family. May 17: Happy Birthday Holly Johnson from your family and the CSO staff.May 21: Happy Birthday to Rae Lynn Louis! Coming from your Louis Clark FamilyMay 21: Happy Birthday Pat Swampy from the Pamihowin staff.May 26: From Sharon Anderson-Johnson. I am thankful for 61+ years on this earth, for the family and friends I have been blessed with during my life and for still being able to enjoy each day. Ninanaskomon.May 29: Happy Birthday Helena Montour from the Montour family. May 30: Happy Birthday John Nepoose from your children, grandchildren and family.May 30: Happy Birthday Lori Buffalo from your family, friends, Jenn and B.May 30: Happy Birthday Olivia Buffalo from the Buffalo family.

May 7: McHappy Day. Proceeds from the Wetaskiwin McDonalds restaurant will go to the Samson High SchoolMay 8: Tea dance at the Jim O Cultural Center hosted by MCC. 5:00 pm. All Four Nations are invited.May 9: Mother’s Day Luncheon hosted by Integrated Family Services from 11:30am -1:30pm at the HBMCMay 11: Mothers DayMay 19: Victoria Day. SCN programs and services will be closed.May 20: Economic Development Trade Fair at the Four Nations Arena.May 20: Economic Development Trade Fair banquet at 6:30pm.May 21: Economic Development Trade Fair at the Four Nations Arena.May 30: Mimiw Sakahigan School Pow Wow at 11:00am at the Pigeon Lake Rec. Center.

Community Announcements

ACIMOWINSamson Cree Nation’s NewsletterJenn Nepoose- Communications Coordinator(P) 780-585-3793 ext. 281(F) 780-585-2256jnepoose@gmail.com