Free! Take one Issue 1 • Volume 17 March/April 2012 Free! Winners Named at Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge BY TIMOTHY LEWIS Students in Free En- terprise (SIFE) is an interna- tional non-profit organization that partners with leaders in business and academics to mo- bilize students and facilitate positive change in communi- ties. SIFE members utilize business concept knowledge to develop outreach programs that improve the standard of living and quality of life for people within the community. Through SIFE initiatives, stu- dents develop the skills nec- essary to become socially re- sponsible business leaders. It is through SIFE that the 2012 Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge is possible, the third annual event. AYIC is a business plan competition that provides Aboriginal youth aged 16-35 access to entrepre- neurial learning opportunities and mentorship in develop- ing a self-sustaining business model. The main goals of AYIC are to: • Engage and mobilize Aboriginal youth in the inno- vative thinking process; • Facilitate mentorship and develop support systems necessary for entrepreneurial success; • Provide start-up or ex- pansion capital to Aboriginal entrepreneurs; • Build entrepreneurial and life skills, such as creative thinking, team building, net- working, professional commu- nication, business knowledge, and business plan preparation skills. The long-term well- being of Saskatchewan’s economy relies on greater inte- gration of Aboriginal involve- Left to Right: Brady Highway, Gerald Ratt, Jana Ross, Tenille Campbell, Devon Fiddler, and Tynnella Tootoosis. Missing is Adam Jack. Image taken by Karen Sopotyk-Pidskalny. (KMP Photography) ment in all business sectors; the AYIC program enables Aboriginal youth to prosper independently by providing the tools necessary to do so. Six finalists present- ed their business plans at the Edwards School of Business before the AYIC judging pan- el, made up of three judges: Cory MacDougall, Bernadette Slager, and Taunya Woods Richardson. Potash Corp is the title sponsor for the annual event, granting SIFE $10,000 capi- tal for first and second posi- tion placement: $6,000 for 1st place and $4,000 for 2nd. The six finalists for 2012 as well as the continued story on page 6... Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation gather to celebrate being top 5 of Kraft Hockeyville contest Page 15
Transcript
Free! Take one Issue 1 • Volume 17 March/April 2012
Free!
Winners Named at Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge
BY TIMOTHY LEWIS
Students in Free En-terprise (SIFE) is an interna-tional non-profit organization that partners with leaders in business and academics to mo-bilize students and facilitate positive change in communi-ties. SIFE members utilize business concept knowledge to develop outreach programs that improve the standard of living and quality of life for people within the community. Through SIFE initiatives, stu-dents develop the skills nec-essary to become socially re-sponsible business leaders. It is through SIFE that the 2012 Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge is possible,
the third annual event. AYIC is a business plan competition that provides Aboriginal youth aged 16-35 access to entrepre-neurial learning opportunities and mentorship in develop-ing a self-sustaining business model.
The main goals of AYIC are to:
• Engage and mobilize Aboriginal youth in the inno-vative thinking process;• Facilitate mentorship and develop support systems necessary for entrepreneurial success;• Provide start-up or ex-pansion capital to Aboriginal entrepreneurs;
• Build entrepreneurial and life skills, such as creative thinking, team building, net-working, professional commu-nication, business knowledge, and business plan preparation skills. The long-term well-being of Saskatchewan’s economy relies on greater inte-gration of Aboriginal involve-
Left to Right: Brady Highway, Gerald Ratt, Jana Ross, Tenille Campbell, Devon Fiddler, and Tynnella Tootoosis. Missing is Adam Jack. Image taken by Karen Sopotyk-Pidskalny. (KMP Photography)
ment in all business sectors; the AYIC program enables Aboriginal youth to prosper independently by providing the tools necessary to do so. Six finalists present-ed their business plans at the Edwards School of Business before the AYIC judging pan-el, made up of three judges: Cory MacDougall, Bernadette
Slager, and Taunya Woods Richardson. Potash Corp is the title sponsor for the annual event, granting SIFE $10,000 capi-tal for first and second posi-tion placement: $6,000 for 1st place and $4,000 for 2nd. The six finalists for 2012 as well as the continued story on page 6...
Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation gather to celebrate being
top 5 of Kraft Hockeyville contestPage 15
Indigenous Times April 20122
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Thank you for reading In-digenous Times we hope you en-joy our April students’ edition.
Not long ago a highly-publicized Crown-First Nations gathering took place in Ottawa where the First Nations were well represented as was the Govern-ment of Canada. What I found encouraging was the participa-tion of the Governor General, a historic link to the Crown, our Treaty partner. Encouragingly for First Nations youth, educa-tion was consistently an area of concern that was highlighted throughout the day. What fol-lowed that gathering, approxi-mately a month later, was an all-party support for a parliamentary motion for improved First Na-tions education systems. This is encouraging. More encourag-ing, is that our own Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations initiated an “Action Plan on Ed-ucation in the Context of Treaty (APECT).” I agree it’s imperative we look at education from a Treaty perspective. Hopefully there are a lot that engage themselves with the APECT consultations. First Nations University of Canada students with the support of oth-ers are calling for the removal of the 2% funding cap on the Post-Secondary Student Support Program. Many view the insuf-ficient funding as denying educa-tion to First Nations youth. We are bombarded with statements
of how important Aboriginal youth are to the future of our economy, so why not invest in youth then? What’s concerning to me is that it is seen as critical to get youth engaged and address our education-al deficiencies and there is a focus on working to bring high school graduation rates up to par with the general population. With the insufficient fund-ing support for post secondary edu-cation for First Nations youth, one can’t help but feel at times that get-ting the high school diplomas or even a basic grade ten seems the primary goal. Perhaps once again we are assisted only to the point where we reach the minimum re-quirements to fill labour-type jobs that require a minimum of grade ten. The hard physical labour type work may be honourable in its own right, but we can also be doctors, engineers, teachers, nurses, tech-nology geeks, etc. I apologize for being so pessimistic but I do listen to fellow youth with their concerns and frustrations, and one can’t help feel down about our situation. Not to be totally skepti-cal, there is some good news. For instance, that the Government of Canada along with Sasktel and the FSIN will expand internet services to First Nations in Saskatchewan such that thousands of First Nations youth will have increased access to internet at their schools. This will no doubt broaden their educational experiences and opportunities. Further, we now have the provincial government, along with
FSIN and the Metis Nation - Sas-katchewan launching a Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes for First Nation and Métis People in Sas-katchewan. Led by Chair Gary Merasty, it will travel the province examining First Nations and Metis education. Hopefully it will ex-pose and find remedies for all of the problems of chronic underfunding, and find some new solutions to fill the gaps. While we have con-cerns and we express them, let’s not be indifferent to the success stories. As some elders say, don’t forget where we come from as a people, the continuity of tradition, we must uphold the traditional teachings of our elders but we must continually adapt to ensure our survival into the future. I personally would like to ac-knowledge the fair and helpful sup-port that we students receive from the Gordon’s First Nation and the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council. It’s encouraging and empowering.
I’d like to thank outgoing Chief Glen Pratt for all his support and congratulate newly-elected Chief Shawn Longman. Finals are already here for post-secondary students so good luck to all fellow students. Also, good luck and safe travels to all athletes competing in the Sask First Nations Winter Games. For those who embrace the Christian ways, Happy Easter!
March proved to be a very busy month for the students who volunteer their time for the Indigenous Students’ Council at the University of Saskatch-ewan. The Indigenous Students’ Council is a student group organization and their purpose is to unify and engage Aborigi-nal students on campus through cultural, academic, and recreational activities. Recently, the group hosted their second annual ISC Banquet at the university, which was part of a wider event known as Aboriginal Achievement Week. The group partnered with the staff from the Aboriginal Students’ Centre to coordi-nate a number of activities for the week. The AAW took place on March 19th to the 23rd at the university. “It is a week that allows the stu-dents to feel welcome and receive recog-nition for a good job they’re doing. Their passion needs to be highlighted and we feel we did that with the banquet we or-ganized.” said Jared Brown, who serves as president for the student group. The banquet began on Mon-day evening with an opening prayer from elders Walter & Maria Linklater. From there the night took off with La-rissa Burnouf assuming the role as em-cee for the evening. Entertainment was provided by the drum and dance group, Young Thunder. To supplement the cul-
tural entertainment for the night, Khodi Dill was introduced next to showcase some poetry. Dill has been writing for over fifteen years and was at the banquet to perform. The keynote speaker for the evening was Suzanne Shawbonquit, who is the founder and executive director for youthinnovation.ca. In addition to speakers and en-tertainment, the student group also set aside time on the agenda to highlight student achievement. “Students were invited up along with staff from their college and their stories were highlight-ed along with their accomplishments. School is one thing for these kids and there is much more than meets the eye. We made students feel good and most of them were graduating, and this banquet is a good note to help along in the future. Aside with the piece of paper they leave here with, they will also be leaving with confidence,” said Jared. As the night folded to a close there was a sense of hope instilled in ev-eryone who attended. The student group worked diligently to ensure that the night went smoothly and their efforts paid off. They also highlighted their most recent program, which involves the use of a 2012 calendar to highlight Aboriginal students on campus. The Indigenous Students’ Council can be reached at [email protected] for more information on the calendar and other programs as well.
U of S Student Group Recognizes Aboriginal Student Achievements Aboriginal Achievement Week a success
U OF S CAMPUS
Indigenous Students’ Council banquet hosts a night of recognition for Aboriginal students
Holistic Achievement Award Finds its First RecipientsAwards focus on Mental, Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional balances of learning
BY RYAN MOCCASIN
The Aboriginal Student Achievement Office at the Univer-sity of Saskatchewan presented its first Holistic Achievement Award, for the Aboriginal Student Achieve-ment Week at the U of S. The Award is based on the Aboriginal Holistic Approach, which includes the Mental, Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional balances of learning and wellbeing. The recipients of the awards are part of the Aboriginal student community within the Col-lege of Arts & Science. The staff is proud to present the awards to four students for their contributions towards Aboriginal academic success and wellbeing. Michael Laliberte is the re-
cipient of the Mental component award, as he is recognized for his mental connection and gifts for achieving academic success. Mi-chael is from Canoe Lake First Na-tion and plans to transfer to the Col-lege of Education. Hilary Peterson is the re-cipient of the Physical component award for her physical connection and for competing in her first year with the U of S track and field team. Hilary is a member of the Metis Western Region and plans to attend the College of Law at the U of S. Adrian Starblanket is the re-cipient of the Spiritual component award, and he is recognized for his spiritual connection and gifts through music, film, books, and entertainment. Adrian is a member
of the Ahtahkakoop First Nation and his passion has produced three books, four albums, and five films. Kayla Larocque is the re-cipient of the Emotional component awards, and she is recognized for her contributions to the community and empowering the youth. She has received numerous awards for over-coming adversity and maintaining a positive lifestyle. Kayla is a member of the One Arrow First Nation and she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. The awards were presented to the students during the Indig-enous Students’ Council Banquet, which took place at the U of S on March 19. The theme of the banquet was to empower and recognize Ab-original student achievement. The
awards were presented by the staff of the Aboriginal Student Achieve-ment Office in front of all who were in attendance. The staff feels it’s important to highlight Aborigi-nal student success and the awards were part of that commitment to do so. Currently there are over 1700 self-identified Aboriginal stu-dents on campus and that number is continuously growing. In highlight-ing Aboriginal Student achievement, the campus places a greater empha-sis on communicating Aboriginal student success to the wider public. Therefore, this marks the first year of the Holistic Achievement Award and benchmarks plans to continue issuing them in the years to come. •
Left: Staff at the U of S presenting achievement awards to four Aborig-inal students
April 2012 Indigenous Times 5
BY ARMAND LAPLANTE
Two bright young Aborigi-nal high school students from Wa-terhen Lake First Nation will be making their way to the Canada-Wide Science Fair this May in Prince Edward Island. As part of Aboriginal Achievement week at the U of S, Jamison Witchekan and Andrew Abraham were invited by a college of Engineering rep to present their science project to a room full of university students, professors and Science consultants. Their project, which displayed the heading: “The Traditions of the Canoe”, drew comparisons between traditional designs of the canoe and their con-tinued implementations in technol-ogy of today. The presentation it-self was very intricate and included many interesting examples of how the traditional design of canoes has “stood the test of time.” Elizabeth Conner, Program Administrator for Cameco Access Program for Engineering & Sci-ence, invited the two to present dur-ing Aboriginal Achievement Week after being drawn visually to their presentation and realizing that this was a good demonstration of the relation between engineering and traditional Aboriginal knowledge.
“The guys were so enthusiastic about it; they were excited about the topic. It’s great to see two young men really interested in science; I know Jamison is really interested in mechanical engineering and An-drew is really interested in comput-
er science” states Conner.After the presentation, the two youth were available to explain fur-ther and answer questions, but also ask questions. Both understood the
prestige of the Canada-Wide Sci-ence Fair and were taking advice in order to fine-tune their presentation before heading to PEI in May.
A Traditional Design That Has Stood the Test of TimeWaterhen Lake Students to take Science Project to Nationals
Left to right: Andrew Abraham, Elizabeth Conner CAPES Program Administrator, Jamison Witchekan
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Indigenous Times April 20126
• Adam Jack- BIGG Entertain-ment• Brady William Highway - Red Sky Fire Services• Devon Fiddler- Kaskihowin Designs• Gerald Ratt and Tynnella Too-toosis- Elements Model and Talent Management• Jana Ross – Bannock Republic Clothing• Tenille Campbell – Sweet Moon Photography
The first place, $6000 winner is Tenille Campbell with her business Sweet Moon Photography. Sweet Moon is located in Northern Saskatchewan and specializes in weddings, grads, family portraits and cultural events. Tenille will use the winnings for professional rebranding and developing a strong foundation for future success. She plans to hire summer students from her First Nation community of English River to act as second shooters and ad-ministrative assistants. Tenille is keen on mentoring First Nation youth who are interested in art, photography, fash-ion, business, local economic develop-ment, and entrepreneurship.
Tenille utilizes photography to express herself artistically, but also as a plat-form in alleviating negative stereotypes related to First Nation people. Tenille was surprised and humbled to win the AYIC competition and says that there were times where she almost gave up due to feeling overwhelmed. Tenille’s advice to aspiring First Nation entre-preneurial youth is to “fearlessly take that first step and against all odds to never give up”.
You can learn more about Tenille, her photography and business by visiting the Facebook Page, Sweet Moon Pho-tography.
The second place, $4000 winner is Jana Ross with her business Bannock Re-public Clothing. Jana is from Meadow Lake and founded her business in sum-mer 2011, selling at Batoche Days that same year. She realized it was a viable venture with the wares selling out on the first day of business. With Ban-nock Republic, Jana strives to create increased awareness of First Nations and Métis culture.
Currently, Bannock Republic Clothing uses of the word ‘Bannock’ across the bum on sweat pants, the Métis symbol on adult t-shirts, and baby t-shirts em-blazed with the words ‘bannock baby.’A portion of Bannock Republic profits will go towards funding education and awareness for First Nations and Métis culture in Saskatchewan schools.To learn more about the competition or be informed as more information on the next annual AYIC competition arises, please visit the SIFE website at www.sifesask.com or access the Face-book Page at SIFE Saskatchewan. •
BY BOBBI-LYNN KASDORF Created in 1968, Willie Dunn’s Ballad of Crowfoot is a short, poignant film of images and footage sewn together in a montage to present Indigenous history and relationship with European settlers in America in the 19th Century. The film used the life of Crowfoot, an exceptional Aboriginal chief of the Siksika First Nation Peoples, to demonstrate this relationship. Both the ballad, and the film that depicts its lyrics were created by Willie Dunn. The montage contained viv-id images of disease, abuse, beauti-ful moments of Aboriginal culture, hideous moments of colonial his-tory, and bloody battles between the two. It achieved its purpose of de-
livering a stark, honest and disturb-ing ten minute overview of history.
The most fascinating part of the way it was directed was that it gave the viewer an impression of timelessness. The colonization and oppression depicted in the film of 19th Century images were jux-taposed with shots of newspaper clippings of the 20th Century with headlines that just as easily could have been describing the images. This gave the viewer the deep, sick sense that brutality, oppression and racism towards the Aboriginal peo-ple are not just skeletons in Can-ada’s closet; the ramifications of colonization and exploitation are re-verberating in our Aboriginal com-munities still today. As a viewer in 2012, reflecting on current-events, it is undeniable that the government
is continuously a main contributor to institutional racism.
As it is amongst the first films done entirely by an Aborigi-nal crew, it speaks to power and a voice that the Aboriginal communi-ty have. Film is a creative, relevant and effective medium for growing solidarity and expressing a politi-cal cry, which is activism. The film demonstrates resiliency, strength and determination. All in all, the choice of words, tone, photos, speed, focus and story-line make this film an enduring tribute to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada and an exhortation to all other Canadi-ans. •
AYIC cont’d from page 1...
Film Analysis: The Ballad of Crowfoot By Willie DunnNative Studies Student Shares Insight on 60s film
April 2012 Indigenous Times 7
BY RYAN MOCCASIN
A new season of cul-tural programs and events is just around the corner for Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The park has been in opera-tion for 20 years and the staff is currently preparing for the
busy summer months ahead of them. A very long time ago it was a different group of people emerging from the long winter months. That group of people was the Plains Cree, and they lived and hunted around Opimi-haw Valley, which is now
the site where Wanuskewin Heritage Park offers visitors a glimpse into the past. “This summer marks our 20th year in operation, so there will be a number of wonderful celebrations to mark the occasion. Right now we are planning events for National Aboriginal Day, which is on June 21st,” said Cheryl Hoftyzer, a Se-nior Interpretive Guide at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. Last year the park offered a wide selection of programs and events for the visitors during the summer months. The staff accom-modated many groups from around the country, and they are expecting many more this year. The daily activi-
Summer 2012 marks 20 years of operation for WanuskewinSpecial Events and Programs Planned for the Summer at Wanuskewin Heritage Park
ties will include a guided trail walk, dance perfor-mance, and a cultural edu-cation program. “Beginning on May 24th the park will have ex-tended hours from 9am to 6pm daily. We are also gear-ing for having more inter-preters available throughout the summer so we can ac-commodate the increasing number of visitors,” said Cheryl. Summer is a very busy season for the tour-ism industry in Saskatch-ewan, and Wanuskewin will be prepared by hiring more staff to keep up with demand. The staff assist in interpreting and presenting programs for the visitors,
which include the Bannock Bake, Tipi Teachings, First Nations Technology, and even the chance to sleep in a tipi for a night. The market that Wanuskewin focuses on is primarily tourists, general visitors, school groups, se-niors, meeting room patrons and conference groups. “Visitors can stay up to date on Wanuskewin by visiting our website, or checking out our Facebook page and following us on Twitter. Also, give us a call before you plan your visit and we will provide details of the events for the week,” said Cheryl. Wanuskewin Heritage Park is open every day of the week and can be reached at (306) 931-6767. •
First Nations Woman to compete in Miss Canada Globe Pageant 2012Brittany Bitternose uses pageant opportunity to spread awareness of important issues Brittany M. Bit-ternose is a candidate in a pageant competition that will give her a chance to compete for the National Title as Miss Canada Globe 2012 on August 25, 2012 in Toronto, ON. Brittany will be judged on such qualities as Swimsuit wear, Evening gown wear, platform, tal-ent, interview and overall conduct. People can vote online; there will also be audience choice and selec-tion by a panel on the day of the event. Below is Brit-tany’s personal sponsor-ship letter, submitted to the Indigenous Times to spread word across the province in hopes of gaining support. Good luck Brittany!
My name is Brittany M Bitternose, I am 21 years of age and I am a National Finalist in the Miss Canada Globe Pageant 2012. I am a member of the George Gordon First Nation and I am proud to represent First Nations youth and women in Canada. The pageant promotes multi-cultural representation and teaches the participants about in-ner beauty, discipline, and fundraising. As a partici-pant I can help bring public awareness to charities and non-profit organizations. ‘Miss Canada Globe titleholders are Canada’s Sweethearts’.
Your sponsorship and support will help me compete for the national ti-tle. The title winner will also be the recipient of wonder-ful prizes, incomparable op-portunities for international networking, public appear-ances and opportunities to advocate for the causes that are close to home and close to my heart.
Anti-bullying: This is a cause I have personally ex-perienced. I speak to stu-dents about the importance of support programs - in and outside of school - to help the bully, their victim(s), and their respective fami-lies. I support the Canadian Red Cross - Pink Shirt Ral-ly Day - to help promote a “Bully Free World”.
Prader-Willi Syndrome: I intend to use this opportu-nity to advocate on behalf of the PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME Association of Canada. Prader–Willi is a rare genetic condition which occurs at random re-sulting in physical and cog-nitive disability and there is no cure. The incidence of PWS is between 1 in 25,000 and 1 in 10,000 live births. This cause is very close to my heart as my 10 year old cousin Sarah was born with Prader Willi. Sarah man-ages very well with love, support, balanced diet and a
regular regime every day.
Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women of Canada: An estimated 500 First Nations women are re-ported missing in Canada. Unfortunately, we are at the receiving end of systemic racism and we’ve endured societal dehumanizing of Aboriginal women. I sup-port the unity and solidar-ity of Aboriginal women in Canada as we stand up for our human rights to equal and fair justice and repre-sentation.
* Our Purpose *
• To promote the women in today’s society, making sure everyone is represented by creed and race.• To bring out the best a woman can be and to be an ambassador, not only for the country she represents, but to all the citizens it serves.• To help those in need and to be a voice for the cause she believes in.• To provide care and love for those who are in need.• To be a role model for the women in our soci-ety and today’s youth.• To put a smile to those who are sick and to give an ear to someone who needs to be heard!• To give something
back in the community, be-cause we care!• To promote beauty in all aspects, because real beauty comes from within!
The costs for tak-ing part in this opportunity include Brittany’s pageant fee, travel expenses, train-ing, wardrobe and more. She and her family are grate-ful for all support from the community. Sponsors will
receive recognition on the Pageant website and will be recognized in the 2012 Pageant Program Souvenir book. For more information on sponsoring, email: [email protected]
“THANK YOU for your much needed support,
it is truly a Blessing and will go a long way
in serving Our Purpose!”-Brittany
Brittany M Bitternose
Indigenous Times April 20128
• More athlete profiles on page 11
Manitobah Mukluks is a Canadian company that produces some of the world’s finest authentic Aboriginal Muk-luks, Moccasins and accessories available around the world. Inspired by centuries-old Aboriginal traditions, Manitobah Mukluks was founded in 1997 by Métis entrepreneur, Sean McCormick. In preparation for the 2012 First Nation Winter Games, one female from each Tribal Council/Team was selected to be profiled and receive a gift from Manitobah Mukluks. Here are the athletes:
April 2012 Indigenous Times 9
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Indigenous Times April 2012
PotashCorp Announces Contribution to Student Success at SIITNew Student Centre to endorse Aboriginal Students’ Success
BY KATHLEEN WORM On March 8, 2012 at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Saskatoon campus, the opening prayers by Elder Ben Lafonde started the morning’s an-nouncement in a resource room with dignitaries and invited guests. Chiefs, CEOs, Chairmen, Directors, and special guests from the community were present to hear Garth Moore, President of Pot-ash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) announce a generous donation of $750,000.00 to the Sas-katchewan Indian Institute of Tech-nologies Foundation. The donation is earmarked to build a brand new Student Success Centre where the current resource centre sits. This student success centre will be de-signed as a state-of-the-art techno-logically-advanced area conducive to supporting student learning with study resources such as; computers, study centres, seminar rooms, wifi, open natural light setting and other resources. PotashCorp President Moore understands the importance of an educated Aboriginal population to the success of the province and the
potash industry. He also recognizes that that is not without its challeng-es. “...a lot of challenges and circumstances that prevent today’s students from focusing on their stud-ies and finishing on time, and when these students get distracted away from their studies, it’s a missed op-
portunity for them and all of us.” Responding for SIIT, Presi-dent and CEO, Randell Morris states that the centre will be named “Pot-ashCorp Student Success Centre” and that this donation will greatly enhance the students’ learning and their success. Student Leadership Council President Trevor Merasty
concurred and presented a gift to President Moore on behalf of the students at SIIT. This donation is the first one ever received by the newly-formed Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Foundation, which has been formed to receive chari-table gifts on behalf of SIIT. •
Garth Moore, President of PCS Potash (left) and Randell Morris, President and CEO of SIIT. Photo: E.Sutherland
10
April 2012 Indigenous Times 11Conditions Favorable for Growth at SIGASASKATOON, SK - The Saskatchewan Indian Gam-ing Authority (SIGA) an-nounced an impressive 19% increase in net earnings for the nine month period end-ing Dec 31, 2011. Year to date net earnings of $62M have strengthened due to a number of factors. A strong provincial economy, mild weather, and a successful harvest contributed to in-creased visitation to the ca-sinos and overall revenue. This growth is also attribut-ed to SIGA’s focus on mar-gin efficiencies and signifi-cant capital re-investment. Zane Hansen, SIGA President and CEO com-mented; “We take great pride in our position as a
leading First Nations gam-ing and entertainment com-pany and we are grateful to our many customers and our employees for contributing to another successful period for SIGA and our beneficia-ries. At SIGA, expenditures have been well managed with a focus or operational efficiencies. Our year-to-date expenditures are below both 2010 and 2009 levels. As we maintain our focus on operational enhance-ments to improve an al-ready quality entertainment experience for our custom-ers, we will continue to pro-vide long-term sustainable returns to our beneficiaries. We are glad to be growing with Saskatchewan as an
economic and tourism gen-erator.” Chief Edward Hen-derson, SIGA acting Board Chair stated; “I wish to con-gratulate and thank our se-nior management team and staff for achieving strong financial results while sup-porting our mandate of creating employment op-portunities. As one of the largest and most successful First Nations businesses in the country, we have taken positive steps to improve ef-ficiencies across the compa-ny. In addition we continue to invest an impressive 3% of net earnings every year back into Saskatchewan through sponsorships and community events, includ-
ing a recent contribution of $500,000 to the planned Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital.” SIGA prides itself as being a developmental em-ployer. With over 1900 em-ployees, SIGA is one of the largest employers of First Nations people in Canada. First Nations employees rep-resent 64 per cent of SIGA’s workforce. Since opening its doors in 1996, SIGA has grown into one of the prov-ince’s most prominent com-panies, now positioned as a Top 25 Company in Sas-katchewan. SIGA operates six casinos in Saskatchewan located in North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Cur-rent, Yorkton, the Whitecap
Dakota First Nation, and White Bear First Nation. Our family of casinos offer a distinctive First Nations entertainment experience that reflects the traditional aspects of First Nations her-itage and hospitality. •
visit www.manitobah.ca to see more info on the company or to purchase some of the beautiful items.
Indigenous Times April 201212BIGG Entertainment Puts Musicians in SpotlightYouth from Makwa Sahgaiehcan takes dream to the real world
BY TIMOTHY LEWIS
Adam Jack is an aspiring musi-cian, entertainer and entrepreneur. It is under these aspirations that he founded BIGG Entertainment, a concert/event promotion agency that will also act as a vehicle to launch his music career. Adam has collaborated with industry names such as Karl Wolf and Danny Fernandes and opened for Joey Stylez. BIGG En-tertainment is the next logical step in achieving his dreams. Another facet of BIGG is to bring other talented and aspiring Aborig-inal youth from across Saskatchewan together under one agency. The agency however, is not be confused as manage-ment or a label, and those interested in being on the roster should contact Adam Jack directly. On the events roster; BIGG will partner with clothing designers to present music in combination with a live fashion show. It will be a platform for both new material by Adam Jack and fresh designs by the aspiring designer. Adam is cur-rently working on his debut album that will be released fall 2012. BIGG Entertainment is one of the top three finalists for the Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge (AYIC). Adam will present his business plan to the judges on March 23, 2012, which will determine his placing. Not only is Adam a musician but he is also an actor and has performed with Burning Sun Productions based out
of Regina/Moose Jaw, and last finished a tour with the production “Spirits of the Trail” where he portrayed Sitting Bull. Adam Jack is a youth from Makwa Sahgaiehcan (Loon Lake) First Nation and is based out of Turtleford, SK and a proud father of two; his daughter Shenoa and his son, Valgan. We sat down with Adam and asked him how his jour-ney in music, entertainment and business began, and where he envisions it in the near future.
Q: What gave you the confidence to start your own company?
A: My dad, Arthur Jack and my grand-father, John Frazer. They always encour-aged me to never give up on my dreams and at the same time always stressed self-education; and those are my goals.
Q: What were your major obstacles on your path to success?
A: We were never wealthy, not by any means. My Dad is an artist, working as a sculptor, which can bring in good mon-ey, but it is difficult to find and receive commissions with a reliable frequency. My mom was a stay at home mom. She worked two part time jobs, but tired of that and eventually began University for social work. Money gets tight, especially amongst three siblings—my brother, sis-ter and I. I graduated from Sakewew High School in 2008, after originally dropping
out of high school, which was a terrible mistake and I still regret it today. I have found Education is the key to success. I am constantly writing and cre-ating music. I read every book or article about business and the entertainment industry I can get my hands on. If I am unsure about something, I ask questions, though I am fortunate to have outlets for doing so. I would not be anywhere near where I am today without a curiosity and propensity to learn, ask questions and self-reflect.
Q: What other competitions do you plan to enter after AYIC?
A: I’m looking into a few actually, al-though I’m also getting events and per-formances booked; there is no success without the proper ground work.
Q: What advice do you have for other Aboriginal youth who want to start a business?
A: Dream big and never give up, but make sure you educate yourself as much as you can. Also, do your homework, know what you’re getting yourself into and set realistic expectations, otherwise you will set yourself up for failure. Dream BIGG, but dream smart as well.
Q: Tell me about the current album you are creating?
A: My debut album is drawn from my
influences like James Brown, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Dallas Green and Sara Bareillies, to name a few. These are artists whose sound and aesthetic I really dig. I am not conforming to a partic-ular sound so much as a music style. The album will fuse jazz, blues, soul, R&B and urban-dance sounds. The only real constant sound, if I can say that, would be the symphonic sound – lots of strings, and pianos and possibly horns. Thematically, the album is about the idea of love as a roller coaster ride. When in love, one minute you can feel completely fulfilled, and the next sud-denly feel utterly shattered and empty. Because of the complexity on the subject of emotion, and partly be-cause of the different twists in reference to many musical styles, this body of work is called “Jack of Hearts”. It is derived from the term jack of all trades and the obvious in regards to my name.
Contact Information:Website:
www.biggentertainment.caFacebook:
facebook.com/biggentertainment.caTwitter:
twitter.com/JustGoBIGG and twitter.com/theAdamJackShow
Indigenous Times April 201214Aboriginal Women Carry Embodied Strength and Determination New book on the important roles of Aboriginal Women in their communities
BY PRISCILLA SETTEE Ph.D
There is a force among wom-en which I call Âhkamêyimowak, or persistence, which provides the strength for women to carry on in the face of extreme adversity. I have given my new book this name. Âh-kamêyimowak is a Cree word and embodies the strength that drives women to survive, flourish and work for change within their com-munities. Women are the unsung heroes of their communities, often using minimal resources to chal-lenge oppressive structures and cre-ate powerful alternatives in the arts, education, and workplace. Stories are a means of trans-mitting vital information from with-in community as well as to outside communities. The stories of women are central to my life and my work. What sets this book apart from oth-er books about women is the cen-tral role of culture. While it is ever adapting and changing, the role of
Aboriginal culture on community, families, and relationships has deep impact on women. Since the 1970s, I have worked with Native women at the local, regional, national, and later, international levels. Since the late 1970s, the global community has been my home and my working space. Over the years, I have devel-oped relationships with colleagues and friends learning about Indig-enous struggles in many regions of the world. I have been inspired to learn the stories and saddened as I realized the inequities that exist in not only faraway places in the world but right here as well. It is important to analyze the situation of our Indigenous commu-nities’ within a larger context—a set of relations, as it were. Rela-tions are something fundamental to Indigenous communities the world over. Besides our human relation-ships, there is a bigger set of rela-tionships that keep some people
marginalized and others in posi-tions of power. This book tells the stories of both sets of relationships. Some women tell powerful per-sonal stories and others describe institutional relationships that keep Indigenous women in Canada—along with women generally, peo-ple of colour, Indigenous peoples and youth around the world—in the margins. In both cases, the clarity of vision that comes from the margins is astounding and compelling. In the Cree worldview, a core value is miyo-wichihtowin, which means “having good rela-tions.” Individually and collective-ly, people are instructed by cultural teachings to strive and conduct themselves in ways that create posi-tive relationships with our extended community. The concept of extend-ed community and family is funda-mental in Indigenous communities. Aunts, uncles, and grandparents are surrogate parents. The community is an extension of the family. I
interviewed many aunties, grand-mothers and community women to discover what gives them strength, and the power to persist. Throughout the book the arts such as music, painting, and writing are identified as a powerful form of resistance and sources of heal-ing and a track of forward mobility for women. Indigenous lifestyles and community survival have been greatly impacted on our traditional territories, whether it be clearcut forests, megadams or water pollu-tion, women such as Judy Da Silva represent a voice of resistance to “western development intrusion.”Other stories from the book give recognition to Indigenous women as the backbone of our communities. The Âhkamêyimowak, women’s sto-ries, produced by Coteau Publishers (Regina) demonstrate their role in the preservation of social, cultural, and economic foundations of their communities. •
BY STACEY CARON Community members of Beardys & Okamasis Willow Cree First Nation gathered together at the Beardys Memeorial arena Sat-urday evening to celebrate as they were named one of the top 5 final-ists in the Kraft Hockeyville 2012 challenge. “It’s just been an awesome ride, it really was. It was very stress-ful with the eight hour power out-age, but despite that, everyone still voted. We kept our spirits high. The overall experience was absolutely amazing” said Linda Mike, Mem-ber of the Kraft Hockyville com-mittee for beardys memorial arena as she gathered alongside the many others who celebrated their accom-plishment. Out of the 227 communi-ties who entered in the Kraft Hock-eyville Contest this year, Beardy’s is the 1st First nation In history that has qualified and advanced to this level. “This experience for us has brought our community closer to-gether and to put aside our differ-ences and all become one, Cause there is No I in Team.” Says Mike Seesequasis, member of the Kraft Hockeyville Committee. Ryan Peekekoot, Jamie Peekekoot and Lenny Peekekoot, Members of the band Black Rain played a show at the celebration along with local Musicians, Harvey Gardipy, Colton, Delano & Con
nie Mike and few other local tal-ents who pulled off an electrifying show. “I’m a proud supporter of my community, I’m happy with what we accomplished “ says Har-vey gardipy who wrote a song about Kraft Hockeyville that he had per-formed for 600+ people who joined in on the celebration.. Making the top 5, they now secure $ 25,000 which is speculated to go towards the hockey programs and upgrades to the Beardy’s me-morial arena. “ Hockey is engraved in our blood, it’s in our DNA” tells Seese-quasis. Who is excited to see the new changes. “I can’t even explain the feeling. It’s just awesome. We are overwhelmed with good emotions. Even though we were not crowned, As a community we did it. We are All winners.” They sure proved with dedication what a community can achieve when they all work togeth-er. With over 900, 000 votes the entire community pulled together to make this celebration happen and to Make the Top 5 spot. The Kraft Hockeyville competition is a great way to showcase the incredible community spirit and the passion that Canadians have for their com-munity and the game of hockey.
Beardy’s Named Top 5 Finalist in Kraft Hockeyville CompetitionBeardy’s & Okemasis First Nation Gather to Celebrate with All-day Community Events
The community joins together to celebrate being in the top 5. Being in the top 5 secured $25,000 which is said to go towards hockey pro-
grams and arena upgrades. Photos: Stacey Caron
April 2012 Indigenous Times 15
Indigenous Times April 201216
ANNUALROUNDDANCE
April 20, 2012North Battleford, SK
Agri-Plex Exhibition Grounds
Starts at 8:00 PMMidnight Lunch & Giveaway
Announcers:Eric Tootoosis
William (Boyko) Stone
Monday - Saturday: 11:30 AM - 12 AMSunday: 11 AM - 12 AM
