sweetgrass august 2015 final

Alberta Sweetgrass - August 2015

1

$5.00 + GST where applicableVOLUME 22 • NUMBER 9AUGUST 2015

THE ABORIGINAL NEWSPAPER OF ALBERTA

WHAT'S INSIDE:

CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL# 40063755

By Shari NarineSweetgrass Contributing Editor

FORT McMURRAY FIRSTNATION

The Fort McMurray FirstNation is requesting the raw datacollected from one of Alberta’slargest oil spills in its traditionalterritory.

“There’s concern about theenvironmental impact. (NexenEnergy) has given us access to thesite, we’ve been looking at it, butlately, we’ve requested the rawtesting data so we can look overit ourselves,” said CouncillorByron Bates. That data has notbeen forthcoming. “We’reconsidering sending our ownteam of testers in to do thetesting.”

A contractor discovered thespill on July 15 at Nexen Energy’sLong Lake oilsands project. Thepipeline was shut in immediately.About five million litres ofbitumen, sand and producedwater covered a 16,000-squaremetre area. Most of the leak waswithin the pipeline right of wayand was contained on the sitebecause of remnants of berms thatwere created for construction.

“The leak has been stabilized,the pipeline shut down, there iscontrol in place,” said Ron Bailey,Nexen’s senior vice-president of

Canadian operations, in a newsconference two days after theincident. “We’re looking tominimize the environmentaldamage and working on siteclean-up.”

The failsafe systems on theline designed to detect the spilldid not work. Companyofficials say the line may havebeen leaking for up to twoweeks. No other visual leakshave been found. The doublelayered pipeline was put in theground in 2014 and startedoperating in the fourth quarterlast year.

“We are deeply concernedwith this and we…sincerelyapologize for the impact thatthis has caused. We will takeevery step that we see asreasonable and as the regulatorshelp us decide what to do torespond to this,” said Bailey.

Bates lives in one of the 100residences located 10 km fromthe spill.

“I smelled it once outside myplace. Friday morning (July 17)I was on the roof to fix mysatellite because we werewatching the news and I caughta whiff of it,” he said.

Bates says it took five to sixhours for his First Nation to benotified via email by theAlberta Emergency

Management Agency of thespill. Nexen contacted theAlberta Energy Regulator firstas is required.

“A spill that size, they shouldhave been on the phone to ourFirst Nations right away,” saidBates. “Who knows how the airquality is going to affect us?”

Nexen corporatecommunications managerDiane Kossman says thecompany notified FortMcMurray First Nation,Chipewyan Prairie Dene FirstNation, leadership in thecommunity of Anzac, as well astwo parties with trap lines thatrun across the land in closeproximity to the release, “withinhours of the discovery of thespill.”

The spill area, which is ontraditional land, also impactsHeart Lake First Nation.

Ryan Bartlett, public affairsspokesman with AER, saysAER has been in contact withall three First Nations as well asseveral Métis communities inthe area.

In an email response,Kossman said, “We’ve beentaking a very proactive,collaborative approach with ourclosest neighbours. They havebeen very generous with theirtime, sharing their traditional

First Nation wants environmental test results from Nexenknowledge, familiarity andunderstanding of the land andenvironment as they support uswith clean-up efforts.”

Bates says he is pleased withthe daily emails andcommunication that is runningbetween the First Nation and thecompany and the First Nationhas a representative on siteregularly.

Energy Minister MargMcCuaig-Boyd andEnvironment and Parks MinisterShannon Phillips accompaniedBates on his second visit to thesite on July 24. Nexen and AERofficials were also in attendance.

“Spills like this areunacceptable,” said McCuaig-Boyd in a statement issued afterthe site visitation. “We all wantto know that when an incidentlike this happens, not only is itcontained and cleaned up, butevery possible effort is made tofind out what went wrong andfix it; prevent it from happeningagain here or anywhere else inAlberta.”

Immediately followingnotification of the spill, the AERissued a four-pointenvironmental protection orderto Nexen, which includedcontaining the spill; notifyingimpacted parties; developing aremediation plan; and

Notley applauded for move toimplement UNDRIP

Page 3

Action ramps up to get out theIndigenous vote

Page 4

PHOTO: SANDRA CROWFOOTThousands flock to annual pilgrimageFather Sylvain Lavoie stands among the people during the Blessing of the Lake on July 19. The weather was perfect for the annual Lac Ste. Annepilgrimage, which attracted thousands of people from July 18-23.

publishing daily reports on theNexen website.

Bartlett says Nexen has notoffered a time frame as to whenclean-up of the site is expectedto be completed.

“More important than havinga time frame, they want to makesure it’s done correctly and that’swhat we want as well,” saidBartlett. “They’re a significantamount of time (away) fromoperating any line in that area.”


2 A L B E R T A N E W SA L B E R T A N E W SA L B E R T A N E W SA L B E R T A N E W SA L B E R T A N E W S

Second set of remains identified alongside BrowerOn July 28, the RCMP announced that they had

found the remains of Corrie Renee Ottenbreit alongwith the remains of Delores Brower. Brower wasdiscovered April 19, 2015, near Leduc. Ottenbreit hadbeen the subject of a missing person’s investigationsince July 2004. Her death is considered a homicideand the investigation falls under the RCMP HistoricalHomicide Unit as well as KARE. Ottenbreit, 27, livedin Edmonton and was a known sex-trade worker innortheast Edmonton. Brower’s and Ottenbreit’sremains were found within a five mile radius of wherethe remains of Katie Sylvia Ballantyne were found inJuly 2003 and the remains of Amber Tuccaro werefound in September 2012. Insp. Stacey Talbot, of theAlberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch, says as theremains of the four women were found within eightkilometres of each other, police may be dealing with aserial predator.

Alexis wins NDP federal nominationCameron Alexis, former Alberta Chief for the

Assembly of First Nations, won the NDP nominationbattle on Aug. 6 for the federal riding of Peace River–Westlock. Alexis said he was approached by a numberof parties to consider running, but chose the NDPbecause of its track record on Aboriginal issues. “Wehave to participate in order to affect change,” Alexistold APTN. “I’m asking First Nations and Indigenouspeople to step up, stand up and be counted. We have tomake a difference otherwise we’ll be continued to bedictated to and unable to participate in how this countryoperates.” To date, there are three Indigenouscandidates running under the NDP banner in Alberta.

Wildfires force more evacuationsNorth Tallcree First Nation was forced to declare a

local state of emergency on July 2 as a 5,800-hectarewildfire burned 10 km west of the community.Firefighters prevented the fire from entering thecommunity by bulldozing a 20 km long fireguard.Approximately 200 residents were forced from theirhomes on July 2 and heavy smoke in the area closedHighway 88. Evacuees stayed in High Level. The firegrew in size and came to within three kilometres ofthe townsite. As slower wind speeds and temperaturesprevailed, the fire burned south and southwest, awayfrom the community. On July 7, the evacuation noticewas lifted and residents returned home. Another 118residents were evacuated as a precautionary measurefrom Meander River on July 2. They also returned

delta, part of their traditional land. They held that thedelta had been devastated by drastically lowered waterlevels since the construction of the WAC Bennett damin the 1960s. The two nations filed suit in November2014. Jeff Langlois, of JFK Law Corporation, whichrepresents the two First Nations, said Hydro has agreedto partner with ACFN and MCN to monitor the dam’simpact on the delta, and adjust its operations and waterflows if adverse effects are found.

NSD sees result in literacy strategyNorthland School Division is reporting results three

years into its division-wide literacy initiative. Gail Sajo,literacy supervisor, told the board at the end of Junethat both long-term and short-term student growth hasoccurred. Since October 2013, the number of studentsreading at grade level in Grades 1-8 has increased by19 per cent. Sajo said, “We are pleased to see a largemajority of students are achieving a year’s growth ormore when it comes to reading comprehension.”Superintendent Donna Barrett said the division goalof 10 per cent increase in the number of studentsreading at grade level from June 2014 to June 2015was not met, but there was a steady growth from yearone to three.

Partnership to grow Siksika businessesA partnership between Siksika First Nation, the

province, and the Indian Business Corporation, willsee the distribution of $2.7 million in loans to createand develop business opportunities for members onand off the reserve. The First Nation will contribute$2 million and the province $700,000 while IBC willoversee the distribution of the funds. “We have thewillingness, the capacity and means to move forwardin helping them develop their own economicentrepreneurship,” said Siksika Chief Vincent YellowOld Woman at a news conference announcing the deal.Aboriginal relations minister Kathleen Ganley saidthere are more businesses owned by Indigenous peopletoday than ever before. IBC, which is owned by allFirst Nations in Alberta, provides business loansranging from $5,000 to $800,000, with the averageabout $80,000.

Government to review addiction, mental healthsystem

Following the auditor general’s report, HealthMinister Sarah Hoffman has appointed MLAs DavidSwann and Danielle Larivee to undertake a full-scalereview of Alberta’s addiction and mental health system.Auditor General Merwan Saher said that thedepartment had failed to properly execute its 2011addiction and mental health strategy. He said thestrategy did not have to be redesigned, but insteadcarried out. For the most part, the report said, thedelivery of frontline addiction and mental healthservices remained unintegrated and allowed ongoinggaps in service continuity. “In our opinion, based onthe evidence we have from this and other recent auditsof healthcare service delivery, AHS has both themandate and capacity to coordinate the efforts of thoseentities that should be involved in integrating publicmental health and addictions services,” said the report.Mental illness affects one in five Albertans during theirlifetime.

Education, nursing students can get start at OnionLake

The University of Saskatchewan’s Colleges ofEducation and Nursing have signed a memorandumof understanding with Onion Lake Cree Nation tocreate additional opportunities for potential post-secondary students to learn where they live. Theagreement gives Onion Lake students the option ofentering into either education or nursing, or completingprerequisites for other health sciences in Onion Lakethrough the support of the already established IndianEducation Teaching Program, run by the College ofEducation.

Compiled by Shari Narine

home a short while later.

Saskatchewan fire evacuees bussed to Cold LakeCold Lake First Nation and the city of Cold Lake

aided evacuees, who were forced from their northernSaskatchewan homes due to wildfires in early July.More than 1,000 evacuees from La Ronge, Air Rongeand the Lac La Ronge Indian Band were bussed to ColdLake, where they were housed in the local recreationfacility and provided for by Red Cross. Cold Lake FirstNation community members brought First Nationevacuees to their community providing freshly cookedtraditional foods like moose meat, fish and bannock.Wildrose Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Scott Cyrapplauded both Cold Lake First Nation and the city ofCold Lake for doing “an incredible job setting upaccommodations, showing hospitality and providingstrength during these difficult circumstances.”

Court proceeding to challenge FNFTASawridge First Nation and Onion Lake Cree Nation

have requested that court proceedings initiated by thefederal government be delayed. Their arguments willbe heard in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Aug.19 and 20. In a notice of application to federal court,the government said that eight First Nations failed orrefused to comply with the First Nations FinancialTransparency Act, which came into effect in 2013,despite ample time and “repeated demands” by theminister of Aboriginal affairs. Sawridge First Nationand Onion Lake Cree Nation are among those that havenot complied. The court application by the two FirstNations questions the legality of the FNFTA, claimingit violates treaty and Aboriginal rights as well assections of the Constitution that ban discrimination andentrench the rights of Aboriginal people. AboriginalAffairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said that non-compliance will result in the loss of funding for non-essential services effective Sept. 1, 2015.

ACFN, MCN receive commitment from BC HydroThe Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew

Cree First Nation dropped their legal challenge on July16 against the Site C dam after receiving a commitmentfrom BC Hydro to monitor the dam’s downstreamimpacts. The case was to begin in federal court July20. The two First Nations had filed suit against BCHydro and the federal government over approval ofthe $8.8-billion dam on the Peace River. The bandsargued an environmental review of the project did notconsider downstream impacts on the Peace Athabasca

Check us out online at: www.albertasweetgrass.comA part of the ammsa.com online network.

Hate to Hope movement growsRed Deer-Lacombe NDP candidate hopeful Katherine Anne Swampy speaks on the steps of theprovincial legislature during the fourth annual Hate to Hope march which took place Aug. 2. She isjoined by Edmonton-Manning NDP candidate Aaron Paquette (directly behind her). The movement wasstarted by Chevi Rabbit (second from right, front row), from the Montana First Nation and at the time astudent at the University of Alberta, who was the object of a verbal and physical homophobic attack inJuly 2012 in the Strathcona area in Edmonton. In 2014, Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denispresented Rabbitt with the 2014 Hate Crime Awareness Youth Award, from the Alberta Hate CrimeCommittee.

PHOTO: PAULA E. KIRMAN


3N E W SN E W SN E W SN E W SN E W S

By Shari NarineSweetgrass Contributing Editor

EDMONTON

In a move that has beenapplauded by First Nationsleaders, NDP Premier RachelNotley has directed her Cabinetministers to “conduct a review…of your ministry’s policies,programs and legislation thatmay require changes based onthe principles of the (UnitedNations) Declaration (on theRights of Indigenous Peoples.”

“It’s good that they’re doingthat,” said Craig Mackinaw, newAlberta Chief for the Assemblyof First Nations. “We’ve beentalking about it for years now.I’m glad that finally somebodyis following up on it.”

In a letter to her colleagues,dated July 7, Notley wrote “ourtask will be to engage directlywith Indigenous people….” Sheinstructed that “engagement

Notley applauded for move to implement UNDRIPtables” be held, with all threeTreaty areas that compriseAlberta, as well as the MétisNation of Alberta and the MétisSettlements General Council.Kathleen Ganley, minister ofAboriginal relations, wasappointed to coordinatedepartmental reviews as well asideas for implementationsubmissions, to be presented byFeb. 1, 2016.

Mackinaw said it is vital thatIndigenous people be consulted,something that the previousprovincial government cameunder constant criticism over.First Nations held that theConservative government heldmeetings, but did not listen torepresentatives. Trueconsultation, says Mackinaw,will send a “good workingrelationship” message.

“I know Treaty 6 Chiefs wantto sit down with their (Cabinet)ministers while (Cabinet is)

reviewing the UN Declarationand get some input from (theChiefs). I’m hoping (thegovernment does) follow upwith that with the Chiefs,” saidMackinaw.

On election night, Notley’svictory speech includedcommitting to a stronger, betterrelationship with the province’sIndigenous peoples.

“(Her action now) shows thatshe’s trying to get a betterrelationship with us movingforward,” said Mackinaw.

It’s a lead, he says, the otherprovinces should follow,although he expects it will taketime for the other premiers totake the same steps.

“(If the provinces follow) itwould make things better foreverybody and then in turn,work on the federal governmentto look at changing how they’vebeen approaching it,” saidMackinaw. He is hopeful that

the results of the upcomingfederal election will make thePrime Minister more agreeableto a change in relations withAboriginal peoples.

AFN National Chief PerryBellegarde also urged theprovinces and the federalgovernment to commit to theimplementation of the UNDeclaration.

Speaking at the close of theAFN’s annual general assemblyin Haudenosaunee territory onJuly 9, Bellegarde calledAlberta’s move “an historic andmonumental step forward totake concrete andcomprehensive action to respectand realize the fundamentalhuman rights of Indigenouspeoples.”

In her letter, Notley said, “Inconsidering the objectives of theUN Declaration, our approachwill be based on the principlethat the bounty of Alberta’s

resources must be shared by allAlbertans.”

Bellegarde says Notley’semphasis of sharing theresources is important andanswers the call forreconciliation.

“She highlighted thatIndigenous peoples must benefitboth from the development ofnatural resources in the provinceand conservation of theenvironment. She stressed thatthe air, land, and water that weall rely on must be protected,”he said.

Mackinaw is hopeful thatNotley’s directive is more thanlip service.

“It’s just a matter of waitingto see how things work out,” hesaid. “Now is a good time to sitdown and discuss the issues andhopefully moving forward,between now and the next sixor seven months, we can dothat.”

By Paula E. KirmanSweetgrass Writer

EDMONTON

Buffy Sainte-Marie wasnamed an honourary witness bythe Truth and ReconciliationCommission, which wrappedup in early June in Ottawa.However, speaking truths aboutsocial issues that are ignored orcovered up is nothing new to thelegendary singer/songwriter.

“It’s really a two-way thing,”she said of being named anhonourary witness. “One, I amvery much honoured to havemy own work in this areaacknowledged because 50 yearsago I was already talking aboutgenocide and there weren’tmany people who would talkabout the Native Americangenocide. On the other hand Iam really grateful there areother people who have taken onthe issue and hopefully aremaking the facts clear to thoseCanadians who have never hadthe chance to know whathappened.”

Now 74 and still activelyrecording and touring as part ofa career which spans fivedecades, Sainte-Mariecontinues her truth-telling onher new album Power in theBlood, released earlier this year.

It contains a number of songsshe often performs live, but arenot readily available elsewhere,such as a revamped version of“It’s My Way” off one of herfirst albums in the ‘60s, to acouple of songs that wereoriginally recorded during theblacklist era of the ‘70s and

subsequently repressed (“Notthe Loving Kind” and“Generation”). She was inAlberta in late July performingat the Calgary Folk Festival andEdmonton’s Interstellar Rodeo.

“Good songs stay good, butthe marketplace would like youthink that as hemlines change -

you’re stupid if you have lastyear’s hemline - there seems tobe the same marketingstrategies that would make youthink that whatever was greatyesterday is not going to begreat today or tomorrow. Butthat’s not true. Bach is stillgood, Beethoven is still good,

Bob Dylan is still good, someof my songs are still good, someof other people’s songs are stillgood. I just think great songsstay great and if audiences arestill asking for them that oughtto tell us something.”

Sainte-Marie views exposingthe truth about NativeAmerican history to be animportant part of her career,both in front of and away fromthe microphone. She discussesthese issues at every concertand on her albums, and sheteaches at several differentuniversities in the area ofNative Studies.

“As a songwriter and as acreative person, when I dealwith difficult historical issuesthat have been covered up, Idon’t see it as a combativestance, I see it as a gift that Iam giving to everybody, fromcollege teachers who have beenmis-educated and who want toknow, to average citizens, whoare just a little bit curious ormaybe want to make greatchanges in the way we treateach other as we move forwardinto the future.”

Said Sainte-Marie, “Thegood news about the bad newsis that more people can see theissue clearly, and that really isgood news.”

Title of honourary witness acknowledges workalready undertaken by Sainte-Marie

Buffy Sainte-Marie in concert PHOTO: SUPPLIED


4

~ Established December 1993 ~ISSN #1199-6773 • Canadian Publication Mail # 40063755

Published monthly by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)

ADVERTISINGThe deadline for advertising in Alberta Sweetgrass September2015 issue is September 3, 2015. Call Shirley Olsen toll free at1-800-661-5469 for more information on how to place your ad.Advertisements designed, set and produced by Alberta Sweetgrassare the property of Alberta Sweetgrass and may not be usedwithout the express written permission of Alberta Sweetgrass.

SUB

SC

RIB

E N

OW

!

$45 is all it takes toreceive Alberta Sweetgrass for 1 year (12 issues)!

Name: ____________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

City/Town:______________________ Province: _________

Postal Code: _____________ Phone: ________________

$45 SUBSCRIPTIONSPlease enclose a cheque or money order for

$45.00+2.25 GST or charge to your Visa/ Mastercard/Amex.Make cheques payable to A.M.M.S.A.

Fax this order form to (780) 455-7639.

Visa/Mastercard:

Expiry Date:

Signature:

Send to: Alberta Sweetgrass13245 - 146 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5L 4S8or Phone Toll Free 1-800-661-5469

E-mail: [email protected]

Subscription Order Form

I S A B O U T Y O U R C O M M U N I T YYOUTH, ELDERS, ARTISTS, WRITERS.

ALBERTA SWEETGRASS PROVIDES THE BESTCOVERAGE OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS INALBERTA'S ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES.

DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE!

Bert Crowfoot—Publisher •

Shari Narine – Contributing EditorJudy Anonson – Production

Paul Macedo – Director of MarketingShirley Olsen – Sales Consultant

Carol Russ • Tanis Jacob– Accounts

Distribution: 8,500Alberta Sweetgrass is politically and financially independent.

Board of DirectorsJennie Cardinal - President

Rose Marie Willier - Vice President Dr. Chester Cunningham - TreasurerLeona Shandruk - Director Noel McNaughton - Director

All editorial content in Alberta Sweetgrass is copyright, and may not bereproduced in any manner without the express written permission of the editor.Prospective writers should send for writers' guidelines and a sample copy fromthe editor. Letters to the editor and all undeliverable Canadian addressedcopies can be sent to:

Alberta Sweetgrass13245 - 146 Street,

Edmonton, AB T5L 4S8E-mail: [email protected]

Facebook: /sweetgrassnewsTwitter: @windspeakernews

N E W SN E W SN E W SN E W SN E W S

By Julie MacIsaacSweetgrass Writer

MIKISEW CREEFIRST NATION

The Mikisew Cree First Nationis asking the United NationsEducational, Scientific andCultural Organization to classifyWood Buffalo National Park asa World Heritage Site “indanger.”

“We felt we’d exhausted all theways to voice our concerns(provincially and federally) andthen we found out about theUNESCO process and felt it wasan important enough issue topursue,” said Melody Lepine,director of industry andgovernment relations and theface of the Mikisew delegationto UNESCO this summer inBonn, Germany.

In 1983, UNESCO identifiedthe park as a World Heritage Site,in part because it contains theworld’s largest freshwater delta,at the mouth of the Peace andAthabasca rivers. It is this vitallyimportant watershed that theMikisew are attempting to

protect. Currently, 48 WorldHeritage Sites have beenidentified as in danger becauseof newly introduced natural ormanmade factors.

“We’ve been raising the issueof water quality and flow in theAthabasca and Peace rivers foryears,” said Lepine.

According to the petitionlodged by the Mikisew, the parkis facing unprecedented andimmediate ecological threatsfrom multiple sources. Hydro-electric dams located on thePeace River in B.C. haveimpacted the amount and flow ofwater to the delta, which in turnendangers the delicate ecologicalsystems located in and along thewatershed. There are alreadythree existing dams on the Peaceand one slated to startconstruction this summer—B.C.Hydro’s Site C dam. In addition,the booming industrialdevelopment in Alberta’s oilsands to the south of the parkbrings with it changes to waterquality and chemistry. TheMikisew cited the proposedFrontier Oil Sands mine near the

Wood Buffalo park border asanother possible source of watercontamination in the delta.

“These cumulative anddownstream effects, all of thesethings add up to impact waterquantity and quality. Theproblem for us is that a lot ofthese activities are happeningoutside of the park, making themvery difficult for us to address,”said Lepine.

After meeting with Lepine andconsidering the petition,UNESCO expressed concern forthe environmental impacts beingexperienced at the park andissued a draft decision, askingthe Canadian government toundertake a strategicenvironmental assessment andreport back to UNESCO by Dec.1, 2016. UNESCO has alsorequested that Canada host anindependent monitoring groupfrom the International Union forConservation of Nature andNatural Resources to review theimpact of developments on theproperty, evaluate the currentstate of conservation, and

Mikisew push for “in danger”designation to protect park

See Mikisew on page 11.


5N E W SN E W SN E W SN E W SN E W S

Action ramps up to get out theIndigenous voteBy Andrea SmithSweetgrass Writer

LETHBRIDGE

Two young Lethbridgewomen are helping strengthenthe Aboriginal voice throughvoting.

Mairin Gettman and KristinKrein—both students at theUniversity of Lethbridge—have been coordinating specialevents to share knowledgeabout politics in Canada withIndigenous people who mightotherwise be lacking in it.

“We’re not doing it so peoplevote, I really don’t care if youvote. But we’re doing it toempower people’s voices… Toensure that we have a platformfor people if they want to learn,”said Krein.

Krein and Gettman gottogether back in Decemberafter realizing the importancepolitics plays in funding forresources for Aboriginalpeople.

Krein, who has worked at theWomen’s Space ResourceCentre for over three years, saysshe sees a huge number ofAboriginal women comethrough the door that are too“beaten down” to be involvedin the political scene.

“Ninety-five per cent of ourclientele is Indigenous… andhave been told their entire livesthey are worth nothing becauseof the colour of their skin. Wejust wanted to have a space

where people could voice theiropinions and know their votemattered,” she said.

Krein and Gettman haveplanned four events, two ofwhich have already taken place.At the end of July, LoriBrayback, co-founder ofLethbridge Idle No More,spoke at the Galt Garden. Inmid-May, the Sik-Ooh-KatokFriendship Centre hosted theinitial event, offering freeIndian tacos to 200 people, butran out before they could get toeveryone. Local Members ofParliament were invited butonly the NDP showed up.

“It really speaks volumeswhen your presence is there…or not there,” said Gettman ofthe snub she felt they receivedby the other parties.

At the initial event, attendeesfilled out a card with theircontact information andsuggested one issue they wouldlike to see the federalgovernment address. Theresponse made it clear thatpeople felt disconnected fromthe political process.

“They feel like they aren’tbeing heard,” said Krein. “Theywant to be heard through themedia, a lot of people wantedthe missing and murderedwomen enquiries, and somewanted better environmentalprotection. A lot of peoplewanted better services.”

So far, feedback for theevents has been positive.

Gettman and Krein say theyreached out to other Aboriginalorganizations aroundLethbridge, to ensure they werebeing inclusive of Aboriginalpeople in the area.

“We wanted to really makesure what Kristin and I weredoing, wasn’t just (us) being thegatekeepers, and that we wererespecting the Indigenousculture,” added Krein.

LeeAnne Sharp Adze,program manager for thefriendship centre, says the workthe two women are doing isimportant. The “ID clinics”Gettman and Krein hold tocoach people on the types ofidentification they need to voteand how to get it are important.

But Indigenous voters arealso struggling withtransportation issues and nothaving a permanent address.

“We need that representationfrom our people to have theirvote in there, and change thegovernment that is in rightnow,” said Sharp Adze, whoadds as that as the friendshipcentre is a central meeting placefor Indigenous people all overthe city, it is important for thecentre to become involved withthe cause.

“There’s a lot of youngpeople that didn’t knowanything about it, and a lot ofold people that wouldn’t wastetheir time to go… so they needto know their voice makes adifference,” said Sharp Adze.

B I N G O B A S H E SB I N G O B A S H E SB I N G O B A S H E SB I N G O B A S H E SB I N G O B A S H E SBy Anna Giles - Radio Bingo Manager

On Sunday, May 31st we started the road trip throughNorthern Alberta. We first travelled to Peace River viaJoussard to check on the radio static that Gift Lake wasexperiencing on Thursday.

Monday, we stopped in Dixonville and met Brenda - ownerof Dixonville General Store, stopped in Manning and KegRiver. In Paddle Prairie Roland (CFWE radio technician)installed new satellite receiver and transmitter for thecommunity. Then headed to Beaver First Nation and hosteda Bingo Bash at the Child Lake Community Centre. Yvonnesaid “I never thought that CFWE Bingo would come outhere”. We had a great turn out with 26 people attending theBingo Bash, and everybody had a fun time.

Most of Tuesday was spent with Sid from Bushe River, asRoland installed new equipment in Bushe River, MeanderRiver and Chateh. I met the husband and wife team runningthe store in Chateh. The new owners are from Korea andstated “that it took a while to get used to working in Chatehas it was frightening in the beginning”. I was glad to hearthat they live in the back of the store when they are workingand have an apartment in High Level. While Roland waschanging equipment in Bushe I was able to spend sometime in the store with the employees and people who werestopping to pay for their goods they bought.

Wednesday was a full day travelling from High Level to JohnD’or. The road from John D’or to the barge was very roughwith mounds of dirt and huge rocks on it. It’s been very dryin Northern Alberta, and because it took us longer thanexpected on the dirt road we missed the last barge beforethe crew’s lunch break. We had to wait an hour and a halffor the next one. I spend some time at the Northern Storewith Mark and hand delivered a document to our previousseller Evelyn from John’s Convenience.

Thursday travelled from High Level to John D’or and GardenRiver. Roland installed new equipment while I spent the timein the stores talking to the sellers and bingo players fromthe community. On our way back to High Level we stoppedat the Cha Gas Bar and talked to Rickie. He was so nicethat he bought our water for us.

Friday was a very long day as we travelled to Beaver FirstNation to change equipment, stopped in Fort Vermilion tovisit with Martin at the new Pioneer PharmaSave location.From there we drove to North Tallcree and South Tallcreewhere Roland installed new equipment. Thank goodnesswe arrived at the school before it closed. At 3:30 pm Rolanddrove south bound on highway 88 via Red Earth Creek,Slave Lake and back to Edmonton.

Bingo Bash in Child Lake

Martin – Owner of Pioneer PharmaSave


6 E D M O N T O NE D M O N T O NE D M O N T O NE D M O N T O NE D M O N T O N

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson (right) watches on as Doug Gossand Audrey Poitras sign an agreement which commits FortEdmonton Park to providing an accurate account of the Métisstory.

MNA, Fort Edmonton Park sign agreementMétis Nation of Alberta president Audrey Poitras and Fort

Edmonton Management Company board chair Doug Goss signed amemorandum of understanding and cooperation on Aug. 7 thatrepresents a significant step forward between the MNA and the park.The MOU commits the two organizations to working together inthe spirit of reconciliation by creating and delivering authentic,historically accurate and engaging programming about the Métis atFort Edmonton Park. In January, the park entered into a similarmemorandum of understanding with the Confederacy of Treaty 6Nations, committing to the accurate telling of the First Nations story.In a survey commissioned by Alberta Venture earlier this year toidentify organizations in Alberta that have earned the respect ofboth the business community and consumers, Fort Edmonton Parkranked first among Edmonton attractions and is part of the top 25most reputable businesses overall. The survey included 1,500consumers and business people.

Contest-created art pieces to be exchanged on Treaty SixRecognition Day

Two art pieces created by residents of Alberta’s Treaty Six territorywill be exchanged as gifts between the Grand Chief and theEdmonton mayor as a symbol of their shared commitment to nation-to-nation collaboration, goodwill and respect. The exchange willtake place as part of the 2015 Treaty Six Recognition Day on Aug.21. The art pieces, entered as part of an art contest, reflect the theme,“Reconciliation: We are all Treaty 6 People.” The contest encouragedresidents of all skills and abilities to express their ideas on whatreconciliation means to them. In addition, the chosen artists receive$500 each. The artworks will be displayed at the Confederacy ofTreaty Six First Nations office and at City Hall. Treaty SixRecognition Day, created in 2013, acknowledges Edmonton’sconnection with the First Peoples of the land.

U of A to use artwork for curriculum studyThe faculty of Native studies at the University of Alberta is looking

for an Indigenous artist or group of Indigenous artists to create fourto six original works to be purchased for use as backgrounds andassociated merchandise for the massive online open course that isbeing developed. Artists have until Sept. 15 to submit their work.The curriculum and stories to be included in the art work have beenprovided. Each illustration will incorporate a scene that depictsseveral important ideas/facts/events all at once. These highly detailedillustrations (which could be in the form of paintings, drawings,digital, or multimedia) will be used as overall backgrounds for‘green-screened’ video lecture presenters, as well as the smallerdetailed scenes of historical periods pulled out to teach the course,Indigenous Canada, which is set to launch in September 2016.

PHOTO: SHARI NARINE


EDMONTON

The Shaw Conference Centrehas created a place on itsproperty intended for people tomeet, share, and connect. TheCommunity Medicine WheelGarden was officially unveiledon June 18.

Located on the rooftop of theRiverview Room, the gardenoverlooks Edmonton’s rivervalley. It was created with theguidance of local Cree ElderFrancis Whiskeyjack, andfeatures four sections within acircular shape filled withspecially-chosen plants andflowers. The medicine wheel isa powerful symbol ofAboriginal culture, often a partof sacred rituals, ceremonies,and blessings.

“The story begins with localcommunity builders like LewisCardinal, reminding us thatwe’re a part of a river valleylocation that has been agathering place for Indigenous

people for thousands of years.We realized that our conventioncentre, a modern-day gatheringplace, provides us with anopportunity to help re-connectto the history and spirit of thisspecial place we now callEdmonton,” said LisanneLewis, director of business andcommunity development withthe Shaw Conference Centre.

“The importance of having agarden like this here reallyreflects who we are as abuilding and as a community,”said Cliff Higuchi, outgoingvice president and generalmanager at the conferencecentre. “If we go back and lookat the origins of why thiscommunity exists in the firstplace, the First Peoples used thisarea as a gathering spot. Thatreflects on what we do intoday’s sense in that we are thebuilding that facilitatesgatherings.”

“The medicine wheel in itselfholds many teachings. The wayit is circular, for instance, is theway we travels in life’s path and

how we honour that cycle oflife,” said Whiskeyjack to theaudience during the unveiling.

The physical creation of thegarden was done in two stages.A designer worked on apermaculture design as a masterplan for the whole building,then a contractor built thegarden as per the specificationsin the plan. The City ofEdmonton was also involved toa large extent.

“We remain inspired by theCity of Edmonton’scommitment to build goodrelationships with Indigenouspeople in the spirit and intent ofEdmonton’s Urban AboriginalAccord,” said Lewis. “We’realso very fortunate to alwayshave guidance and support fromthe City of Edmonton’sAboriginal relations office. Theycontinuously assist us inconnecting with leaders in theIndigenous community andensuring our initiatives act ascommunity capacity builders.”

(From left): Inspector Dan Jones (Edmonton Police Service); Francis Whiskeyjack (local CreeElder); Cliff Higuchi (VP and general manager, Shaw Conference Centre); and Rob Houle(supervisor, Aboriginal relations office, City of Edmonton) plant a cedar tree in the MedicineWheel Garden.

PHOTO: PAULA E. KIRMAN

Aboriginal garden to be acommunity gathering place

See Aboriginal on page 11.


7C A L G A R YC A L G A R YC A L G A R YC A L G A R YC A L G A R Y

PHOTO: DARLENE CHRAPKO

Aboriginal Day celebrated in style(From left) former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil

Fontaine, arena director Scott WolfLeg, and Kathleen Ganley,Minister of Aboriginal Relations, address the crowd at AboriginalDay celebrations in Calgary.

Bellegarde addresses Calgary business communityAt a lunch on July 22, Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the

Assembly of First Nations, addressed the Calgary Chamber ofCommerce on the benefits of working with Aboriginal people. Hesaid he wanted to see Aboriginal people educated for employmentin the energy industry as a means of tackling poverty. He also wantsthem involved in development as their unique view of theenvironment provides the basis for sustainable growth of the energyindustry. He noted a difference in opinion of First Nations towardpipelines, saying some are interested in economic potential whileothers are adamantly opposed. Assurance of better systems will leadthose opposed to be more open, he said. Bellegarde also spoke aboutprovincial and federal governments’ legal duty to consult whenresource projects have potential to affect the rights of Aboriginals.Bellegarde advocated for greater involvement of First Nations onboards and management teams. Chamber of Commerce CEO AdamLegge said it’s vital that business and industry understand theAboriginal perspective and work in partnership.

Peace, Love & Victor WalkSince July 21, Theo Fleury and his team have been walking from

the Be Brave Ranch, a treatment centre for sexually abused childrennear Edmonton, to Siksika. They were greeted by supporters whenthey stopped at Eau Claire Plaza in Calgary on July 25. Fleuryinitiated the Victor Walk in 2013 with a walk from Toronto to Ottawaover a 10-day period to raise awareness and provide support to thosetelling their stories. Six years ago Fleury published his book, PlayingWith Fire, in which he wrote about the abuse he experienced whilecoached by Graham James. The money raised from the walk hascontributed to the Breaking Free Foundation Fleury and othersfounded to help those surviving childhood trauma access treatment.Symbolized by a frog, an image Fleury has tattooed on his arm, theVictor Walk represents moving forward on the healing journey. Inacknowledgement of the support he has received from the SiksikaNation, Fleury chose it as the destination.

Memorial held for Colton CrowshoeFamily members and supporters gathered near the Abbeydale

Community Centre to remember 18-year-old Colton Crowshoe,whose body was found in a pond near the location last July.Crowshoe’s homicide is not solved and his family continues to callfor justice. On July 2, 2014, Colton was arrested and charged withtrespassing and break and enter. He was seen on July 4 leaving aparty with friends in Abbeydale. Family members reported himmissing a few days later. A missing person’s news release was notissued until July 22. Two days later his body was found in theAbbeydale retention pond. The Alberta Serious Incident ResponseTeam has been called upon to respond to complaints leveled by familymembers of racism against the police in handling the investigation.ASIRT’s findings are expected this fall. The Crowshoe family plansto hold an annual vigil until they get the answers they seek.

Chief Chiniki restaurant in rebuilding stageThe new Chief Chiniki restaurant near Morley is under construction

and could open before year’s end. Damages to the original restaurant,destroyed by arson in August 2012, were estimated at over $1 million.The restaurant complex will include a new gas station and aconvenience store, and a new water and sewer system with about700 square feet of leasable commercial space. The Chiniki Bandreceived an insurance payment, but is also enhancing the newrestaurant with its own funds. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant willhave 120 seats inside and an additional 50 seats on an outside deck.The restaurant is a hub of the community and popular meeting placefor locals and travellers. Noelan Twoyoungmen, 22, of the StoneyFirst Nation, received a two-year prison sentence recently pleadingguilty to arson. Three youths were also charged. Project lead RayGreenwood said the restaurant may include museum pieces andinformation about Aboriginal history and culture. The restaurant isexpected to employ 20-25 people.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko

By Darlene ChrapkoSweetgrass Writer

CALGARY

When Coun. Brian Pincottstood up to bear witness atWords & Actions: ARoundtable Discussion ofMurdered and MissingIndigenous Women andIndigenous Women’s Rights atMount Royal University earlierthis year, he spoke powerfully.

“We will carry your pain,share your pain, take some ofyour pain away and moveforward. We have to. It’s assimple as that,” he said. “By notbeing silent, we will do our bestto honour you.”

His commitment to moveforward led Pincott to presenta two-part motion to Calgarycity council on July 20 to actupon the recommendations formunicipalities put forth by theTruth and ReconciliationCommission. The TRCdelivered its finalrecommendations in earlyJune. While council was

unanimous in its support of theTRC’s call to action, four of 14councillors voted against thesecond part of the motion,requesting that the city supporta call to the federal governmentto hold a national inquiry intomurdered and missingIndigenous women and girls.The TRC recommended such anational inquiry.

Police stepping up theirinvestigations is not stoppingthe murders, which seesIndigenous women targeteddisproportionately, saysPincott. Regardless of who theperpetrators are, the problemmust be addressed.

“Why are we turning a blindeye? Of course, it’s ourproblem,” said Pincott, whowas disappointed with the lackof unanimous support fromcouncil.

Pincott has asked that the cityreport back on how it plans totake action on the TRCrecommendations, with anupdate to council by Nov. 15.A full report in conjunction

Calgary takes steps to implementTRC recommendations

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi (far left) waits to address the crowd at the opening ceremoniesof Aboriginal Awareness Week.

PHOTO: DARLENE CHRAPKO

with the Calgary AboriginalUrban Affairs Committeeannual report is to be deliveredby May 2016. The motionensures that the TRCrecommendations areembedded in CAUAC’s newstrategic work plan.

“The CAUAC committee hasdone good work,” said Pincott,“but the circle is too small.”

The motion is intentional, hesays. Aboriginal employees arenot well-represented on staff,so increasing employmentopportunities would be a start.

Educating city staff inAboriginal history and cultureis critical, because it’s ourcollective history, says Pincott,adding education will openpeople’s eyes, create moreunderstanding, more opennessand more inclusiveness.

Andrea McLandress, newlyelected president of Calgary’sAboriginal Friendship Centre,says her organization has theresources to support Pincott’smotion.

See Calgary on page 12.


8 B A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O L

By Andrea SmithSweetgrass Writer

EDMONTON

The Friends of the RoyalAlberta Museum Society isgiving a young Aboriginalstudent a head start. HanakoNagao, an arts and culturalmanagement student atMacEwan University, isspending her summer workingfor the museum’s marketingdepartment as part of FRAMSinternship program.

“I’ve been surprised by howmuch is directly relatable towhat I’m doing in school. I’vetaken some marketing andpublicity classes, and it’sdifferent seeing a press releasefor a fake organization and then

seeing an actual one here,” saidNagao, of her experiences so farthis summer.

“It’s been really valuable andit’s kind of hands-on teachingwhat the courses might havetaught more theoretically,” shesaid.

Nagao is Métis, and originallyfrom Golden, BC. She hasworked with organizations likethe Métis Nation for theColumbia River Society,running youth groups andacting as a youth representative.Her position at the museum isonly four months—from May toAugust—but should give her acompetitive edge when sheenters the labour market.

Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society presidentPeggi Ferguson-Pell (left) with Hanako Nagao.

Internship programoffers museumexperience toqualified students

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

See Internship on page 12.


9B A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O L


BANFF

An annual event of the UnitedChurch of Canada is evidencethat it has started movingforward with reconciliationbetween the church andAboriginal communities. TheBanff Men’s Conference willfocus on partnerships with FirstNations and finding harmonytogether.

The conference, which hasbeen held for over 50 years, ispart of the implementation ofthe United Church of Canada’sstatement to the Truth andReconciliation Commission ofCanada from March of 2014.The document includes wordsfrom Right Reverend GaryPaterson, the moderator of theUCC: “And so, we commitourselves to continue thespiritual practices of listeningand learning, healing andreparation, until relationshipsare in balance...respectful, just,and healthy.”

Organizers of the BanffMen’s Conference felt it was animportant time to explorerelationships between theAboriginal community and theUnited Church, as the UnitedChurch was a signatory to theIndian Residential SchoolSettlement Agreement, whichcreated the TRC. ConferenceExecutive Director Jim Gravessays that part of the way theconference will seek to buildrelationships with Aboriginalcommunities is “by conductingrituals on an equal footing – forexample, a pipe ceremony andHoly Communion.”

The conference is beingpromoted on a regional basisamong Indigenous groups andorganizations in Treaty 6, 7, and8, as well as the Arctic, Mexico,and Guatamala.

“The United Church and itpredecessors were part thegenocide that the TRC isattempting to address. At thetime it was business for thechurch - the church got usedjust like all the other churches.While this was going on, peoplewithin the church started to

Conference toexplore partnershipsbetween Aboriginalcommunity, UnitedChurch

wake up to what was reallygoing on and the church was notkind to those people either. Soyes, the church was involved inthe colonial project: can this bechanged? That is the questionthis conference attempts toaddress,” said Graves.

Relationships between theUnited Church and Canadaitself are important parts of thechurch’s history, says Graves.

“Early pioneers in the church,McDougall and Rundle, set inmotion the relationship thatrepresents the reality that isCanada today,” he said.“Mountains and churches werenamed after these men. This isan opportunity in the presentmoment to revisit thatrelationship and explore whereit will lead into the future. Todo that, we will connect withthe past in the region andcelebrate an exciting newchapter in the history of thisland.”

The conference takes placeSept. 18-20. Open to men of allreligions and cultures, theconference will featureceremonies, workshops,recreational activities, music,and speakers. The keynotespeaker is Miles G. Richardsonof the Haida Nation, who wasa member of the BritishColumbia claims task force,which worked with thegovernments of Canada andBC, and First Nations in BC tomake recommendations onhow the three parties couldbegin negotiations with thegoal of building newrelationships.

Other goals of the BanffMen’s Conference includespiritual exploration andpersonal development.

“The conference as aboutdoing things together: to dorituals together, to create art, tosweat, to socialize, to talk, toshare meals and music. Therewill be an opportunity forindividual reflection andmeditation, and the opportunityto experience the spiritualpower of Banff itself,” saidGraves.

For more information, visitbanffmen.org.

Didn't find your ideal careerhere?

Find even more exclusivecareer listings online at:

www.ammsa.com


10 B A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O LB A C K T O S C H O O L

By Trevor SolwaySweetgrass Writer

SIKSIKA FIRST NATION

Suicide Preventioncoordinator Telly James useshis past to educate communitymembers about the risks andsigns of suicide.

“I suffered with suicidalthoughts from when I was 17until… to be honest…I’mbeing extremely real… upuntil now,” he said.

James tells his story for tworeasons. First, it helps himcome to peace with his life.

Secondly, James believestroubled youth spend too muchtime thinking they are alone intheir experience of pain.

The Aboriginal suicide rateis three times that of thegeneral Canadian population.First Nations youth living onreserve are five to six timesmore likely to commit suicidethan general Canadian youth.

James could’ve been one ofthose statistics.

One night James’ mother sathim down and told himsomething that changed hislife. He had gotten into troublethe night before.

“She threw a pack of smokesat me and said, ‘Here, you’regoing to need these.’ I was like,‘For-real?! A pack of smokes?I ought to piss my mom offmore often.’”

But this time James’ momwas more than angry.

“I knew what she wasleading up to, I just wanted tohear her say it, but I (could)already feel myself comingapart inside,” said James.

James, 17, learned the manwho had raised him and thathe called “Dad,” was not hisbiological father.

“Almost like those cartoons,when someone gets punchedin the teeth and they shatterslowly piece by piece? That

was my heart,” he said.James lost his sense of

identity. He went down a darkspiral of suicidal thoughts. Helost the motivation to live, hesays, and resorted to partyingand alcohol to fill that void.

Now James harnesses hisquestions of identity and lossto help others. He knows whatit’s like to be in that pain andto feel that hopelessness.

He can laugh at his past now,but adolescent mischief, lossof identity and a roughrelationship with his parentsleft him vulnerable for suicidalbehaviour and thoughts.

Today, James is 37 and afather of two girls. He is also asuccessful stage actor withappearances in the criticallyacclaimed APTN-TV seriesBlackstone and CityTV’sYoung Drunk Punk. He is aprominent figure in his FirstNation community through hiswork at Siksika HealthServices as the SuicidePrevention coordinator.

“We have to share our storiesso we can find the humanityin one another,” he said.

He stresses that he places noblame on his parents. Both hadgone through Indianresidential schools, his fatherattending St. Mary’sResidential School on theBlood reserve, and his motherthe Old Sun ResidentialSchool on Siksika Nation.

He understands both werejust “trying to keep sane”while raising a family. “Theygave me all they got, even if itwasn’t much.”

It’s been a long, hard journeyfor James, and he thanks hisparents for teaching him theimportant lesson of notjudging people by a singleaction: “We have to show ourparents a little more grace, andnot expect that we had to havethat cookie cutter childhood.”

Telly James trains community members to recognize suiciderisks, and intervention skills inside youth.

Actor reaches outto youth with hisown story

PHOTO: TREVOR SOLWAY

Didn't find the ideal career for you here?Find even more career listings exclusively

online at: www.ammsa.com


11S P O R T SS P O R T SS P O R T SS P O R T SS P O R T S

By Sam LaskarisSweetgrass Writer

OCHAPOWACE FIRSTNATION

Ethan Bear knows he will beriding the busses again thiscoming season in the WesternHockey League with theWashington-based SeattleThunderbirds.

But the 18-year-old, who isfrom Saskatchewan’sOchapowace Cree Nation, ishoping that soon after that he’llbe ready to suit up in theNational Hockey League withthe Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton selected Bear inthe fifth round, 124th over-all,at the NHL Entry Draft, whichwas held in Sunrise, Fla., fromJune 26-27.

For Bear, and many otherdraft-eligible players, theproceedings brought to an endthe lengthy season-long wait ofwondering which NHL teamwould acquire their playingrights.

“I had talked to quite a fewteams,” said Bear, a 5-foot-11,200-pound defenceman, whospent the past two seasons withthe Thunderbirds. “I knewEdmonton was interested andI’m fine with where I endedup.”

Though he has been drafted,Bear recognizes he has plentyof work ahead of him if he is toone day suit up for the Oilers.He still has two seasons ofjunior eligibility remaining.

“I know I’ll be back in Seattleas I have to improve in certain

areas,” he said. “I know I haveto work on my agility and mylateral movement. I’m doing alot of footwork now with mytrainer. And when I’m on the iceI am working on my lateralmovement.”

Bear has returned to theOchapowace Cree Nation forthe off-season. Besides trainingin his own community, he alsomakes frequent trips to Regina,about a 60-minute drive away,to work out and skate withseveral other WHL,Saskatchewan Junior HockeyLeague and midget-agedplayers.

Bear’s summer also included

a week-long trip to Edmontonin early July where heparticipated in the Oilers’development camp. A total of31 players, including drafteesnot only from 2015 but previousyears as well, took part in theevent.

For Bear, the camp markedthe first time he met Oilers’highly-touted prospect ConnorMcDavid, the first pick over-allin this year’s draft.

“We talked a lot, whenever Isaw him in the dressing roomor at the hotel,” Bear said ofMcDavid.

Bear added there was nothingunusual about their first

encounter. He said theyintroduced themselves andmentioned where they hadplayed their junior hockey.

McDavid, who will step rightinto the Oilers’ lineup thiscoming season, is being

projected as a shoo-in tobecome an NHL superstar.

“He’s going to be a reallygood player,” Bear said. “I’mvery excited about thepossibility of playing on thesame team as him.”

McDavid and Bear wereoriginally scheduled to be onthe same squad during an intra-squad match that was held inconjunction with the Oilers’development camp.

“We were supposed to be onthe same team but before thegame I was traded to the otherteam,” Bear said. “So I playedagainst him.”

Bear and McDavid will bebriefly reunited next month inEdmonton as both will attendthe Oilers’ main training camp.

Bear is scheduled to report tothe Thunderbirds’ training campon Aug. 22. He anticipates he’llbe in Seattle for about 10 daysbefore heading to the Oilers’camp in early September.

Then, at some point duringthe Edmonton camp, the club’sbrass will do the expected andreassign him to theThunderbirds for some moregrooming.

Ethan Bear on NHL Entry Draft day: chosen in the fifth round by the Edmonton Oilers.

Oilers’ draft defenceman from Ochapowace Cree Nation

PHOTO: EDMONTON OILERS

facilitate industrial managementand monitoring solutionsbetween Canada, First Nationsand other stakeholders.

Lepine says the monitoringgroup is slated to visit Canadain October, and preparations arealready underway. This timearound, the Mikisew are hopingto convince UNESCO to add acultural component to the WorldHeritage designation of the park,in recognition of the Cree andDene peoples’ historicalconnection to the land.

Once the visit and assessmentsare complete, UNESCO willconsider listing Wood BuffaloNational Park as a WorldHeritage Site In Danger at nextyear’s convention in Turkey.Currently, 48 World Heritage

Sites have been identified as indanger because of newlyintroduced natural or manmadefactors. The Mikisew are hopingthe new designation will enhancethe conservation efforts ofgovernment and industry in theregion.

“Ultimately, we’d like to see alot more collaboration and co-management of the site [with thegovernment of Canada] and thatincludes managing thecumulative effects of activitiesoutside of the site,” Lepine said.“We want to exhaust everyopportunity we can to protect it.”

Wood Buffalo National Park isone of the 17 UNESCO WorldHeritage Sites in Canada. It isCanada’s largest national parkand the second largest nationalpark in the world.

(Continued from page 4.)

Mikisew push for “indanger” designation toprotect park

The garden will be apermanent fixture in its locationand is open to all. Higuchi hopesthat it will become a place thatis widely utilized by thecommunity.

“We’re looking for communityinvolvement now to help us

guide the future of this garden,”he said. “We want to see thisgarden be truly reflective of thecommunity, so we’re looking forideas and opportunities forcommunity involvement,whether it is programming oropportunities for people to comeand enjoy it in different ways.”

Aboriginal garden to becommunity gathering place


Didn't find your ideal career here?Find even more career listingsonline at: www.ammsa.com


12 C O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T Y

By Sam LaskarisSweetgrass Writer

EDMONTON

Aboriginal youth fromEdmonton were among thosebenefitting this summer from adecade-old program called Sport-in-a-Box.

Developed in 2005 by theUnited Nations Association inCanada, SPOX is an educationprogram that encourages youth tothink globally, act locally andshare what they know about thevalues of social skills, fair playand respect for rules.

SPOX was created as a legacyof UN’s International Year ofSport and Physical Education.

This year the program hasreceived funding to train andmentor Aboriginal and vulnerableyouth, in both Edmonton andOttawa. They will acquirecoaching and leadership skillsthat can be used in everyday life.

Montreal-based Saputo Inc., adairy company, and FIFA’sFootball for Hope programprovided funds to deliver theprogram to the two cities, both ofwhich have a large number ofurban Aboriginal youth.

The program is geared to those

ages 14-20. Forty youthparticipated in workshops run byeight to 10 mentors. Many of thepeer mentors to be chosen fromEdmonton will be ones that dosimilar work with the iHumanYouth Society.

Sarah Gambites, who designedand manages the SPOX program,said 2015 is a special sports yearin Canada.

Edmonton played host to boththe women’s World Cup of soccerand the Junior Pan Am Games, atrack and field competition.SPOX participants receivedtickets to a World Cup soccergame as well as attending theCanadian track and fieldchampionships, held inEdmonton in early July.

“We used this opportunity to

Sports program trains and mentors Aboriginal youth

The United Nations Association in Canada teamed up with local partner KidSport Edmonton to officially launch Sport-in-a-Boxin Edmonton at Thorncliffe Elementary, which boasts an Aboriginal student population of 35 per cent.

look at bringing in the urbanAboriginal youth,” saidGambites, who is UNA-Canada’sdirector of education andcommunity initiatives.

Vivian Giang, UNA-Canada’sproject officer in Edmonton,believes Edmonton is an ideal cityto take part in SPOX.

“A lot of it has to do with thecommunity support here,” she

said. “There’s a big rally aroundsports.”

KidSport Edmonton, whichprovides grants for youth, whootherwise cannot afford to playsports, and TrackTown Canada,organizers of the national trackand field meet and the Junior PanAm Games, came on board ascommunity partners of the SPOXprogram in their city.

PHOTO: TONY LEWIS

“We’d like to provide supportand information on ways thecity can implement therecommendations that fallwithin municipal jurisdiction,”she said.

While Calgarians participatein celebrations of First Nations,Métis and Inuit culture, theirunderstanding and appreciationcould go deeper, saysMcLandress.

“They enjoy hoop dancing,drumming, and jiggingperformances, but don’t knowmuch about the RoyalProclamation of 1763, treaties,

the Indian Act or residentialschools,” she said.

“Fifty-six per cent ofCanada’s Aboriginal peoplelive in urban centres. Therefore,the way municipalgovernments respond to theTRC’s call to action will affectthe majority of Aboriginalpeople in the country, many ofwhom are affected byresidential schools, either assurvivors or throughintergenerational effects,” sheadded.

McLandress noted that herorganization supported otherrecommendations made by the

TRC, including reclaimingnames and identity, andaddressing health care needs ofoff-reserve Aboriginals.

She also pointed to the TRC’srecommendation that called forAboriginal people to haveequitable access to job.

“AFCC would like to see ourcommunity members findgreater employment andadvancement opportunitieswithin companies who haveoffices or operations in theCalgary area. We’d be happy towork cooperatively with thecorporate sector to achievethis,” said McLandress.

Didn't find the ideal career for you here?Find even more career listings online at: www.ammsa.com

Calgary takes steps to implement TRCrecommendations


“Originally I was in artschool until I decided I didn’twant to make art a career, Iwanted to help artists connectwith audiences instead.Marketing is a really great wayof doing that,” she said.

While Nagao started herinternship off wondering if thejob was really her “cup of tea,”she is now convinced this is thepath she wants to follow. She’senjoyed everything she’s donefrom snapping photos tointerviewing curators andwriting online blogs for themuseum website. The blogposts have been a key piece ofher experience, and throughthem she’s had ample

opportunity to tailor her workto her education.

“I really got to pick andchoose what was beneficial forme. It was a very openprocess… They had a scheduleset out for me but it was like,‘What do you want to learn thissummer, and why are youhere?’” she said, of how themuseum collaborated with heron her internship duties.

And to her surprise, she alsogot a taste of just how excitingthe behind-the-scenes life at amuseum really is.

“There’s way more going onbehind the museum than you’dexpect. For every field of studywe have here, there’s at leastone (person) if not a team of

people behind it doingresearch… There’s so muchmore to a museum than justwalking in and looking atartifacts.”

The Aboriginal museuminternship program has beenaround since 1998. However,it has existed in different formsand with different funders overthe years, according to PeggiFerguson, president ofFRAMS. It was originallycreated after a report releasedby the Assembly of FirstNations and the CanadianMuseum Society emphasizedthe need for Aboriginal peopleto be involved in “museology,”she says.

“There was concern that

young Aboriginal people werenot interested in museums at alland in fact maybe a bit againstthem. So we thought how canwe get people to understandwhat museums really do andhow museums are interested inactually preserving culture?”said Ferguson.

The original sponsors for theprogram were Indspire—anAboriginal educationorganization—Syncrude, and

Internship program offers museum experience to qualified students( Continued from page 8.) FRAMS. FRAMS now funds

much of the programthemselves, but with help fromgenerous donors like PeaceHills Insurance, says Ferguson.

“We’ve seen a lot of benefitsfrom the program and wedecided as a group we weregoing to keep it going. We feltit was worth it… And I thinkit’s really opened up a lot ofavenues for the students,” shesaid.

sweetgrass august 2015 final

Documents