JANUARY 2020

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VOLUME 23 - NUMBER 1

The Year in Preview EditionComing In February - Health and Wellness Issue

CPMA #40027204

MN-S President upbeatGlen McCallum was pleased withwhat happened last year andhe’s looking for another goodyear in 2020. - Page 6

HIGH HOPESSaskatchewan athletes arepreparing for two big events in2020 and organizers are hop-ing for big things. - Page 8

STC SETS A GOALThe Saskatoon Tribal Councilknows what it wants to see in2020: the return of children totheir communities. - Page 7

FAIR POLITICAL PLAYA new law will make it easier forIndigenous candidates to enterthe political realm in theircommunities. - Page 10

THE WHOLE STORYVeteran Saskatchewan journal-ist Betty Ann Adam is joiningEagle Feather News as a writerand mentor - Page 4

Clarence ‘Chi-boy’ Iron will be doing play-by-playfor at least six NHL hockey games per season fromthe APTN studios in Winnipeg. (Photo by Judith Iron)

Iron moves from hippos to hockey

By Judith IronFor Eagle Feather News

Clarence ‘Chi-boy’ Iron has always been famousfor being the only person in the North who can say hip-popotamus in Cree.

The Canoe Lake Cree First Nation band memberis well-known for his debut as one of the play-by-playcommentators in an NHL game between the CarolinaHurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens broadcast onAPTN in March of 2019.

In collaboration with Roger’s Sportsnet, APTN

introduced the first ever game to be televised in thePlains Cree language. Iron was part of history in themaking.

He was recognized as a fluent Cree speaking radiovoice in the North. A disc jockey for more than 20years, Iron is currently employed as a Plains Cree radioannouncer for Pinehouse radio station CFNK 89.9 FM.Iron says he looks forward to being on the air every daybecause he enjoys his work and, even more so, thepublic he works with.

• Continued on Page 2

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News 2

Iron got his start at MBC• Continued from Page One

In the early 1990s Nap Gardiner of Ile a la Crosse was the CEO of theMissinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in La Ronge. Iron worked atMBC with Gardiner who gave him his first opportunity to do play by playhockey in Cree and English when he sent Iron to an all-native hockey tour-nament in Prince Albert. Soon after, Gardiner sent him to Meadow Laketo do another one.

“That’s how it started. I would announce the game in English, but Iwould throw in a few Cree words every now and then. That opened doorsfor me to be recognized by other sports agencies and not just hockey. I evenwent to Vegas once to cover professional boxing,” Iron said.

Iron’s second claim to fame truly began when it was announcedthrough social media that APTN was looking for Cree speakers for the play-by-play announcing of an NHL hockey game. Iron was contacted by a lotof people who saw the Facebook post asking for Cree speakers to apply tothis opportunity.

He was tagged by many who knew him to be capable of announcinghockey games in fluent Cree because he had been doing it informally foryears. Friends and family urged him to look into it. Iron was hesitant un-til he received a call directly from APTN asking him if he would be inter-ested in applying. He did and he got the job.

“I really have to thank and give credit to Nap Gardiner because with-out the MBC exposure I don’t think I would have had this chance,” said58-year-old Iron. “Working with APTN and Roger’s Sportsnet is the op-portunity of a lifetime and I am really enjoying this experience.”

Iron is looking forward to 2020 and commentating in at least six NHLhockey games per season out of the APTN studios in Winnipeg. When Ironis not play-by-play commentating in the Cree language for APTN andSportsnet, he will continue his employment as a radio announcer and discjockey in Pinehouse on CFNK 89.9 FM.

Iron’s next televised Cree play-by-play game will be on January 19,2020 when the Winnipeg Jets take on the Chicago Blackhawks on APTN.

Clarence ‘Chi-boy’ Iron is a radio announcer and disc jockey in Pinehouse on CFNK89.9 FM and is famous for being the only person in the north who can say hippopotamusin Cree. (Photo by Judith Iron)

Eagle Feather News JANUARY 2020 3

Bill C-92 offers hope: FSINBy EFN Staff

Indigenous peoples across Canada, “are on the threshold of a new era of hope,”now that their jurisdiction over Indigenous child welfare has been recognized, As-sembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Perry Bellegarde said.

The new law emphasizes the need for the system to shift from apprehension toprevention, with priority given to services that promote preventive care to supportfamilies, said Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller.

The Indigenous Child Welfare Act, known as Bill C-92, went into effect on Jan.1. It pertains to First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

It was created under guidance from the AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly and feedbackfrom the AFN legislative working group from across the country.

“Thousands of First Nations children are suffering in Canada’s discriminatorychild welfare system and our energy and efforts should be directed towards the bestinterests of the child,” Bellegarde said in a Dec. 20, 2019 media release.

“Bill C-92 affirms First Nations jurisdiction over child welfare and that’s whatwe need to move forward in a good way. We are on the threshold of a new era of hopeand opportunity for our children and we do not want to be held back by legal andpolitical manoeuvring.”

Miller has said the new law, co-developed with partners, affirms the rights ofIndigenous peoples to determine their laws, policies and practices in relation to In-digenous child and family services. It sets out basic principles that must be followedby every person providing services to Indigenous children.

“The Act demonstrates meaningful implementation of the United Nations Dec-laration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Com-mission of Canada's Calls to Action, and the ratification of the United Nations Con-vention on the Rights of the Child,” Miller said in a prepared statement.

He said it marks a new chapter in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peo-ples and is designed to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous children andyouth now and for generations to come.

“Change will not come overnight – the only way to achieve this is to continueto work with our partners through this transition period to make sure the law worksfor First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and most importantly, for their children,”Miller stated.

The Indigenous Child Welfare Act was introduced on Feb. 28, 2019. It answersthe first five Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde says Indigenous peoples acrossCanada, “are on the threshold of a new era of hope,” now that their jurisdictionover Indigenous child welfare has been recognized in Bill C-92. (EFN file photo)

Eagle Feather News JANUARY 20204

I think we are ready for 2020.Lots of things are lined up for progressto happen. This situation can be cred-ited to the law of the land and the Callsto Action given to us by the Truth andReconciliation Commission.

Economically, the duty to consultand accommodate has opened up thedoor for Indigenous communitiesacross the country to participate in thenatural resource wealth that Canadawas built on.

No longer on the inside lookingout at companies reaping the wealthof our territories, economic develop-ment arms and partnerships are takingtheir place at the table and the big re-source developers are encouragingengagement through employment andsubcontracting.

Conversely, the duty to consulthas also allowed many First Nations tosay no to development that they believewill adversely impact their territory.That is their choice. Finally having thatchoice and jurisdiction is powerful.And that is a good thing whatever sideof development you are on.

Call to Action #92 also called onall businesses to take Aboriginalawareness training and encouragedemployment of Indigenous peopleand the development of an Indigenoussupply chain. This is happening allacross the province.

The TRC also called for im-provements to the education and childwelfare systems. This one wasn’teasy, but with Bill C-92 confirmingFirst Nations jurisdiction of childwelfare, expect to see more First Na-tions go the way of Cowessess FirstNation by creating their own legisla-tion and taking control of their ownchildren. This one was long overdue.

Day school and ‘60s scoop set-tlements are in progress and the sur-vivors of the residential schools, dayschools and the Scoop can start orcontinue their healing paths.

Speaking of children, we are fi-nally seeing equal funding flow toFirst Nations schools. There is still along way to go to make up fordecades of underfunding but at leastwe are starting. Innovative curriculumlike land-based learning and strongtreaty and Indigenous curriculum arehelping our children by seeing them-selves and their history in our schoolwork.

And non-Indigenous children are

learning more about our communitiesand history than any other generationin the history of our country. Manykids are now schooling their parentson our issues and becoming allies inthis intergenerational change.

It is also impossible to not noticethe cultural renaissance happening in

our province. Language revival istaking place in our schools andhomes. Language champs like SimonBird and his Cree Simon Says Face-book page are making those learningsaccessible and fun. Powwows, festi-vals and ceremony are ubiquitous. Itmakes you feel good.

It is the investment in our chil-dren and culture that will allow us tobuild our people and communitiesback up all the while participating in

the economy likeeveryone else.Thank you, Justice Sinclair, WillieLittlechild and Marie Wilson. Andthanks to those communities and in-dividuals that stood up and took thefight to the courts. Thank you all foryour vision and for setting us up for

great things in 2020.Speaking of 2020, it is hard to

predict the future, but I can guaranteeone thing, Eagle Feather News willsolidify its place as the number onemedia outlet for all of your Indige-nous news in Saskatchewan.

To take us over the top, we arethrilled to announce the addition ofBetty Ann Adam to our team. BettyAnn has been a journalist for the StarPhoenix for almost 30 years. Prior tothat she worked at the SaskatchewanIndian and is, in my opinion, the mostrespected Indigenous journalist in ourprovince.

She is a member of the ‘60sScoop Indigenous Society and thedocumentary on her story, “Birth of aFamily” is a moving and insightfulshow on the impact of the ‘60s Scoop.Betty Ann is a member of the Fond duLac First Nation.

We have recruited her to help uswith editing and tellingour stories. We have anagreement with the Uni-versity of Regina Jour-nalism School to publishstudents’ work and totake on two interns in2020.

Our editor JeanelleMandes and Betty Annwe will be mentoring thenew generation of Indige-nous journalists and free-lance writers we areworking with so we canensure that Indigenousstories are told properly

in the province. By us and for us. I am really looking forward to

seeing what unfolds in 2020. Stickwith us and we will keep you in-formed.

All the best in 2020.

A year of change, progress

The Birth of a Family documentary by Tasha Hubbardtold the story of the reuniting of Betty Ann Adam, thirdfrom left, and her siblings Esther, Rosalie and Ben afterbeing separated during the ‘60s Scoop. After 29 yeas as ajournalist, Betty Ann retired from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and we are thrilled to have her leadership,professionalism and story telling ability join EagleFeather News as an associate editor. We look forward toher stories and mentorship of the next generation ofIndigenous journalists.

Eagle Feather NewsJANUARY 2020 5

INVITATION TO ATTEND

Keynote Presenters:

Kevin CameronDr. Diane Looker

Over 20 Concurrent Sessions

25TH NATIONAL CONGRESS ON

RURAL EDUCATION IN CANADA

MARCH 29 – TCU Place | Saskatoon, SK

They say that you can’t teach an old dog newtricks. However, as it turns out you cannot teach anydogs any tricks if you don’t know anything aboutdogs.

I assumed that I knew dogs because we alwayshad a dog growing up. But our dog didn’t know anytricks either, unless you count acquiring record num-bers of wood ticks as a trick. (I do. It was an impres-sive number.)

I got my dog, Stormy, this summer. Sometimes westare at each other with zero comprehension. He staresat me as I say things like, “Down, down, down.” Andhe’s thinking, “Why does she keep saying ‘up’, ‘up’,‘up.’”

It’s like we needed to learn a language to bridge thecommunication gap and Esperanto just wasn’t doing it.(Sorry, by dork law, I have to make at least one Es-peranto reference a year.)

Also, in the city, dogs mostly live inside and thatmeans they need to learn house rules. So, I put my dogin puppy training. We started a little late, so he is sixmonths old and twice as large as all the dogs in the class.

Also, all the other dogs tend to walk into a roomand lie down by their owner’s foot; my dog Stormylunges on his leash at every other dog if they so muchas breath in his direction. When this happens, it is myduty as a conscientious dog owner, to avoid making eyecontact with the other dog owners.

All of the dogs in the class exhibit some bad be-haviours. Except for a Shih’tzu that is so well-behavedand adorable that I cannot imagine what behavior hisowners are working on? Is it like: “We’re here to teach

him to take selfies of himself and then post them on theinternet.

Because we’re so very tired of people asking us forpictures of him.”

Stormy and I started off strong in the class. In thefirst class, Stormy was the teacher’s pet. He was used asan example twice. This really helped to improve my andStormy’s confidence because watching him executetricks – perfectly – showed me that he could be taught.And Stormy found out that humans are capable of morethan just staring blankly at him. We left the class feelingthat anything was possible.

In the next class, Stormy learned to lay down butit is the quickest lay down you’ve ever seen. He’s downand then up in about two seconds leaving you to imag-ine if he actually laid down?

Through class, he also picked up the bad habit ofbarking. It’s something I've never seen before (when wego on walks to the dog park, he generally barks zerotimes. He does yell when other dogs attack him. Thishappens a lot.)

The trainer started doing time outs with him whichmeans leaving the training area and then keeping him out

for three seconds and then back inside. It helps a bit butmostly it makes us feel like outcasts as we both starethrough the glass at the good dogs and the good owners.

However, we still have the power to surprise every-one. In one class, the trainer asked everyone if their dogsknew how to shake a paw. I, the class bigmouth, waslike, “Zoe” (I always address the teacher by her namelike the teacher suck up that I am.), “Zoe, this may sur-prise you but Stormy knows this trick.”

And then I said, “Stormy, shake a paw.” He heldout his right paw and I shook it. He also took a quick nipout of my hand and I screamed – which made both of uslook like idiots. I tried to play this off like we hadplanned it: “It’s shake a paw and then sneakily nip yourowner’s hand – a lot more complicated than the regular‘shake your paw.’”

Everyone looked at us with disgust, even the Shi-h’tzu.

Stormy was really into variations on tricks thatday. Later in the class he turned “lay down” into “crawlinto another dog’s area to try to steal his treats.”

Then just to show that I am as big of a fool as mydog, I dropped all of Stormy’s dog treats on the floor –the entire bag. The other dogs lunged at the pile whiletheir owners struggled to hold them. Oddly enoughStormy just sat calmly beside me – the disorder appearedto calm him. Which tells me that he really is my dog.

We are still learning to communicate with one an-other but he’s definitely learning what I like. Such aswhen dogs don’t chew on people’s glasses. And I amlearning what he likes which as it turns out is chewingon people’s glasses.

C’mon Stormy, shake a paw ... no biting

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News 6

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Glen Mc-Callum has a lot on his plate representing closeto 80,000 Métis people across the province.There was lots of progress at the most recentLegislative Assembly and President McCallumpredicts good things for Métis citizens inSaskatchewan including the 50th Anniversary ofBack to Batoche celebrations. We posed a fewquestions to him about goals for the MN-S andwhat to expect in 2020.

What are a few things you are proud of achievingin 2019?The year 2019 was a remarkably historic onefor Métis Nation-Saskatchewan. The MN-S ison firm footing with the federal government,having signed the Métis Government Recogni-tion and Self-Government agreement last June.So far, 10,000 Métis residents have registeredwith MN-S Registry offices in the provinceand the number increases every day. Those cit-izenship cards allowed Métis students to ac-cess new post-secondary education funding fortuition and supports, introduced by the Edu-cation Minister last year at Batoche. Fourhundred students enrolled in classes last fall. The MN-S Housing Ministry introduced theFirst-Time Home Buyers’ Program which isallowing Métis citizens to access monies for adown payment and legal fees. The first personthrough the approval process received thekeys to her house in November. Money hasalso been made available for emergency re-pairs and renovations

MN-S ministries held a series of engagementsessions with residents from one end of theprovince to another on matters from constitu-tional reform to health. The highlights of thosesessions were presented by all ministers in-cluding the Health Minister and Child & Fam-ily Services Minister, to all members of theMétis Nation Legislative Assembly in Novem-ber. More engagements sessions are happeningalready this year. Rounding out the year, the provincial govern-ment inked a deal with the MN-S to fast-tracka final Métis harvesting agreement.

What big things can the Métis of Saskatchewanlook forward to from the MN-S and your admin-istration in 2020?One big goal this year is to focus on our MN-SRegistry to ensure the number of SaskatchewanMétis residents receiving citizenship cards con-tinues to increase. That can translate into anincrease in student post-secondary enrollmentand more proud homeowners.Programs geared toward early learning andchildcare are in the works with a goal to assistyoung Métis families achieve financial stability.The MN-S Health Ministry continues this yearto gather data and information through en-gagement sessions to form the basis of a Métis-specific health and cancer care strategy inconjunction with the University ofSaskatchewan. This marks the 50th anniversary of Back toBatoche. Plans are underway to make this

year’s event even more memorable than inprevious years.

What is the most important issue you want to fo-cus on in 2020 and why? And how do youachieve it?The most important focus for the MN-S thisyear is to remain on a positive course for ourcitizens. That includes zeroing in on self-gov-ernment legislation, preparing for a big Ba-toche celebration and continuing to work onthe Ile-a-la-Crosse Boarding School file.Inter-government negotiations on self-govern-ment with the federal government are ongoingand this administration is committed to fullyrealizing that 130-year-old goal. MN-S willcontinue to put all the necessary programs andpeople in place to ensure the success of Métisresidents in Saskatchewan.

In December, MN-S Regional Director Penny Hurton,Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncanand MN-S President Glen McCallum signed a Har-vesting MOU as Justice Minister Don Morgan lookedon. President McCallum hopes to fast track a finalagreement in 2020. (Photo by NC Raine)

MN–S President sees another year of progress in 2020

JANUARY 2020 7Eagle Feather News

By NC RaineFor Eagle Feather NewsChief Mark Arcand and the Saska-

toon Tribal Council’s (STC) priority forthis year is clear: “In 2020, the focus ison helping people,” Arcand said.

“We want to better the overall liveli-hood of all people.”

STC’s top priority this year is childand family services. On Jan. 1, Bill C-92was implemented, which allows Indige-nous governing entities to develop theirown child welfare laws or enter agree-ments with the federal or provincial gov-ernment.

The bill was conceived as a step to-wards lowering Indigenous youth in thechild-welfare system but does not obligethe federal government to fund the tran-sition or assist First Nations in draftinglegislation. The bill received public crit-icism from both Arcand and FSIN ChiefBobby Cameron.

“Our priority is Bill C-92 and get-ting our children back home to their com-munities,” said Arcand.

To date, STC has 38 youth cominghome to their communities, with poten-tially another 94 youth that STC wouldlike to see out of the province’s care andback with their families.

“We could have 100 kids out of care

by March, and that’s the goal – to get asmany kids as we can home. We wantzero kids in care. We want kids back athome, back to their identities,” said Ar-cand.

“The second piece is getting full ju-risdiction to our First Nations communities.Our goal is to work with the province tohelp us build capacity so our communities

can have the authority lie with chief andcouncil to be in charge of their communi-ties – to where it always should’ve been.”

Also high on STC’s agenda will becontinuing to work with those incarcer-ated, giving special attention to youth. InSaskatchewan, 98 per cent of females and92 per cent of males in the youth incarcer-ation system are Indigenous – a statistic

that Arcand is adamant on lowering. “That’s totally unacceptable,” said

Arcand. “Whether individuals are in a cor-rectional facility or halfway house, we wantto continue to work with them whilethey’re inside, providing them with someeducation, some potential employment, sothey can go back to work and their fami-lies.”

Land-based education to bring fami-lies closer to culture, language, and identitywill be another key focus in 2020, he said.

Finally, STC would like to see mean-ingful progress in reconciliation in theprovince. In late October, STC signed a for-mal agreement with the City of Saskatoonto meet goals over the next five years. Ar-cand wants to ensure that in 2020, there isaction behind the talk.

“I want to enact all these agreements.They’re not just for show. Because to behonest, I see a lot of people talking aboutreconciliation but are they really doingsomething different?” he said.

“I want to see more First Nationspeople being employed, I want to seemore people educated and working ingood professions, and I want to limit theamount of people incarcerated. We canbe a leader in 2020 in the city, province,and country in making a difference inpeoples’ lives.”

STC pledges to bring children back to their communities

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand hopes to bring more childrenhome in 2020 and to see action from a reconciliation agreement signed withSaskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark last October. (Photo by Willow Lagimodiere)

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News 8

By Julia PetersonFor Eagle Feather News

Saskatchewan’s young Indigenous athletes are go-ing for gold as they gear up for two major sportingevents in 2020.

In mid-April, over 4,000 athletes from across theprovince will arrive in Prince Albert for the Tony CoteWinter Games. Then, in May, Saskatchewan is sending adelegation of 520 athletes and coaches to Halifax to com-pete in the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

Tami McKenzie, manager of the Tony Cote WinterGames, says that while the team rosters have not yetbeen decided, she and the organizing team are alreadyworking to iron out the logistics and ensure the games gosmoothly.

“We’re setting our own stage of what we are going toprepare the games to be, and how we want to see thegames,” she said. “We’re doing everything from makingsure that our venues are rented, ordering medals, makingsure everyone has accommodations, security – everything.”

This year, the Tony Cote Winter Games will featurehockey, volleyball, broomball, basketball, badminton,curling and table tennis. McKenzie, who competed in theGames for over a decade as a hockey, soccer and softballplayer hopes to recreate her positive experiences for a newgeneration of athletes.

“As soon as you make the team, you know what toexpect; coming to the games, representing where youcome from and your community, playing against every-one else from Saskatchewan,” she said. “It’s just some-thing you look forward to all the time.”

Athletes are also looking forward to representing

their communities at the NAIG. Seventeen-year-oldlacrosse player Annakah Ratt, who competed in NAIG2017 as well, is particularly looking forward to getting toknow her new teammates better.

“I’m really enjoying getting to know the girls,” shesaid. “They’re really great, and I think we’re going to bereally great together.”

Although NAIG is months away, Ratt and her team-mates are already training hard.

“About once a month, we have a practice where we’llall get together and develop our skills together,” she said.

“Other than that, I’m personally training and gettingmy body in shape – and, as always, playing lacrosse in themeantime.”

According to Darcy Ratt, one of TeamSaskatchewan’s lacrosse coaches and Annakah’s mother,women’s lacrosse was almost left off the roster at thisyear’s games.

“When the 2020 games came out, I watched care-fully to see if there was going to be lacrosse, and when theannouncement came out that there was lacrosse but therewas no female lacrosse on there, I got on the phone,” shesaid. “And then all of a sudden, I got a message … thatsaid ‘OK, they’ve said that the games will have femalelacrosse.’ So just having the ability to have the femalesthere to play is exciting.”

Darcy Ratt and her fellow coaches have enteredtheir NAIG teams in provincial tournaments taking placeover the next few months, so the players can get used tocompeting as a group in a fast-paced environment.

This year, Team Saskatchewan has partnered withCraven Sport Services in Saskatoon to provide training

regimens and physical development for the athletes. MikeTanton, returning Chef de Mission for TeamSaskatchewan, hopes this partnership and the longer train-ing season the teams have debuted this year will help theathletes continue Saskatchewan’s long legacy of successat the games.

“We have big shoes to fill on all these teams – wehave never done worse than second place overall at theNorth American Indigenous Games,” he said. “Finish-ing first or second every time, it puts a high standardand a high expectation of success on our teams.”

High hopes for Winter Games, NAIG

Mike Tanton, returning Chef de Mission for TeamSaskatchewan, hopes to keep TeamSask’s record ofexcellence intact in 2020. (EFN file)

JANUARY 2020 Eagle Feather News 9

By NC RaineFor Eagle Feather News

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is looking to champion one ofSaskatchewan’s biggest economic opportunities – Indigenous business engagement.

On Jan. 21, the Chamber will launch the Indigenous Engagement Charter. Thecharter will provide business with tools to achieve engagement and assist the businesscommunity in the role it must play in reconciliation.

“We have under-utilized the opportunity of our Indigenous population in termsof skills, work readiness, and entrepreneurial activity. We have not brought that op-portunity together with the individuals, companies, and communities. It’s well overtime that we’ve done it,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Chamber.

McLellan said training across the province is job number one. From there, the goalis to have businesses create their own plans that will include internal staff training, pro-curement with Indigenous business, as well as attracting, hiring, and retaining In-digenous workers.

“Companies, by signing on to the charter, will commit that they are moving theircompany forward in all these areas in a staged and strategic way,” said McLellan.

“It’s going to mean more companies are Indigenous ready. The biggest benefitwill be to those non-Indigenous people who will learn more and engage more. We’llbe better companies, better employers, better individuals, and better Canadians becauseof it.”

A task force to create the charter was organized after a 2011 report by Univer-sity of Saskatchewan professor Eric Howe, who wrote that bridging the Indigenouseducation and economic gap is a $90 billion opportunity.

McLellan said the charter may also help on-reserve Indigenous business and in-dividuals.

“There are people with great skills who live in First Nations that are remote ornorthern. Companies need to start saying, ‘Is there any reason we couldn’t have oneof our tech people on a First Nation and dialling-in from there?'” he said.

“We want to make sure that we do things smarter and do not limit opportunitiesjust because someone lives on a First Nation.”

Milton Tootoosis, Chair of the Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Develop-ment Network, said that the charter may provide Indigenous business with increasedopportunity to develop and network.

“A charter represents structure, formality, organization, and a commitment to In-digenous business,” said Tootoosis.

He hopes that in the mid-to-long term more First Nations will become membersof their local chambers of commerce.

“The vast majority are not members of their local chamber. If they’re not linkedinto their networks, they could be at a disadvantage because they don't have that in-formation they require to make more strategic business decisions,” he said.

“This will hopefully encourage them to network, collaborate, and get informa-tion. It will build relationships and trust, so this is a good thing.”

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce will launch its Indigenous Engage-ment Charter in Regina on Jan. 21 and in Saskatoon on Jan. 22.

Nick Crighton, Director of Indigenous Engagement at SCC, and SteveMcLellen, SCC CEO

Chamber of Commerce hopesto engage Indigenous business

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News 10

By Jeanelle MandesOf Eagle Feather NewsA coming change to

Saskatchewan’s Employment Act,dubbed Janna’s Law, recognizes aTreaty Four woman who fought forequality for First Nations on-reserveleaders.

When Janna Pratt ran for coun-cil in the George Gordon’s First Na-tion’s 2013 election, she found thatshe might not be granted a leave of

absence from her job with SaskTel.“If I wanted to run for band elec-

tion, does my job get held for me?” saidPratt, a customer representative withthe Crown corporation for over 15years. The union told her, “It’s protectedif it’s a municipal, federal or provincialelection but band elections aren’t cov-ered.”

“I went to my union and got in-volved, thinking this was a labour issue.I’ve been working on this since 2012 toget First Nations elections covered thesame way as municipal, federal andprovincial elections,” she said.

Pratt did obtain an approval for aleave of absence and started campaigning.She didn’t get elected, but she was stillbothered that other First Nations workerscouldn’t be guaranteed leaves to enter on-reserve politics as all citizens are allowedoff-reserve.

“I was happy (when) I knew I influ-enced a number of collective agreementsacross the country as well as in my ownlocal,” she said.

Pratt was invited to conferences totalk about the issue and found many oth-ers who related to it. She even called herMLA, Glen Hart, when she receivedbacklash and was questioned about whyshe wasn’t involved when the govern-

ment was redoing the Saskatchewan Em-ployment Act in 2008.

“Well, I didn’t know it at that time,”she said. “Their questioning threw meback and that is what prompted me to jointhe labour movement.”

In 2016, Pratt took the issue toSaskatoon NDP MLA David Forbes, whosaw the exclusion in the Employment Actof people running in First Nations orMétis elections.

“That to me made a lot of sense rightaway. It was a very wrong thing and weneeded to correct that right away,” Forbessaid.

He wrote to Labour Relations Min-ister Don Morgan stating this was a con-cern that needed to be addressed and con-sultation was needed.

An amendment to the SaskatchewanEmployment Act was introduced in theOctober 2019 throne speech.

“I am honoured to be part of thisprocess … so I am referring it to Janna’sLaw,” Forbes said.

When Pratt heard what the legisla-tion would be called she was surprised asshe didn’t expect it to be named after her.

“I haven’t been so happy, but I was-n’t doing it just for me, I was doing it forevery educated First Nations person thathas a job but who wants to go back to theirhome communities to work for their peo-ple,” she said.

Over the winter months, the govern-ment and the opposition will be talking topeople about the amendment. The legis-lature will resume in March when the billis expected to be passed and come intolaw.

“I think this is all done in the spirit ofTruth and Reconciliation,” Forbes said. “Iam very proud of this and very hopeful thegovernment will deliver on this.”

Janna Pratt in front of the SaskatchewanLegislature. (Photo submitted by Janna Pratt)

Janna’s Law will meanfair play for Indigenouspoliticians in Sask.

JANUARY 2020 11Eagle Feather News

Personally, 2020 is a big year forme. I am going to graduate from lawschool this year so long as I continue topush through.

I am proud of how far I havecome, especially while being a single,Indigenous mother and having the oddsstacked against me, and for finding so-briety and taking back control of mylife. This has led me to make it throughmy first degree in 2017 and now soclose to my second.

Time has flown since having mydaughters in undergrad. Being soberhas allowed me to be present in mychildren’s lives while being a rolemodel for them and doing all I can tohelp them grow into the beautiful, in-telligent and strong little girls they al-ready are. No matter what life hands uswe are a team and we will get throughit together. That is what it means to befamily.

I share because I want people toknow that they can overcome theirdarkest days. I want people to knowthat being sober doesn’t make you anyless, or mean you are missing out. Ihave more control over who I am anddetermining my future. I can feel myspirit more at peace than ever, even

though I still have a lot to work on.This is only the beginning.

A degree is not just a piece of pa-per for me. I have worked extremelyhard for this. Edu-cation has freedme so I can get toa place where I amindependent. Ithas been its owninstitutional colo-nial torture attimes but it takesself-discipline andsacrifice – some-thing I can relate to through ceremony.I have chosen my classes wisely, allgeared to do research on discoveringthe truth of this country and my people.

My identity was lost and my pur-pose was buried, but through this workI have begun to find who I am and mypurpose in life. The truth will set youfree. It is not easy to step back and dis-sect ourselves and our lives so we canrearrange the chaos and take back con-trol, one day at a time.

The system has us playing victimin our own minds when our spiritsknow we have what it takes within usthe whole time. The more our youth

see our people overcoming obstacles,the more they can believe in themselvesand know there is a way out. The an-swer is not in someone handing it to

you, it is fromour own souls,from knowingour ancestorswere hard-working war-riors and thatis the bloodthat flowsthrough ourveins.

I started this year wanting to betoxic-free, so I began by addressing mypast traumas that are unhealed becauseI have been coping through keepingbusy. I can admit I am a workaholic. Iwould rather put in the work daily andbe addicted to succeeding than self-sab-otaging, as I was doing before I gotsober.

I know my kids will benefit frommy hard work. As head of a single-in-come home, I need to make the sacri-fices and put in the work so I can givemy children lives with opportunities. Itis not easy to actually tend to yourwounds instead of masking them and

allowing them to build until you break.Toxic free, what does that mean

for me? It means continuing to work onsetting boundaries because other peo-ple’s choices are out of my control.Therefore, to prevent toxicity fromleaking into my life and my children’slives, I need to be aware of what to dis-tance myself from, which are situationsthat would likely bring dysfunction intoour lives. It is like risk assessment; doesthis add or take away from our life?

I started this process when I be-came sober and I noticed right awaythat people, who were only connectedto me through unhealthy habits, startedto vanish. I have become aware of thethings and people that drain me throughmanipulating me to think I am not goodor worthy enough to achieve what it isI am so close to achieving now.

There is so much work we need todo for ourselves so that we can put inthe work necessary for the bigger pic-ture.

Globally, 2020 should be a bigyear for making decisions and findingsolutions when it comes to climatechange. That is another truth we allneed to think about today for all ourchildren.

Looking forward in 2020

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News12

20013BE0

By Betty Ann AdamOf Eagle Feather NewsOne year after Saskatchewan Pre-

mier Scott Moe apologized for the Six-ties Scoop, little has changed.

This anniversary falls two weeksafter Christmas, with its gatherings offriends and relations. Movies and songstug at heartstrings with themes of re-unions and memories of Christmasespast.

For many adults who were childrenof the Sixties Scoop, the season’s re-minders of family evoke only painfulrealizations of their own lack of that pre-cious resource.

It is true that many Indigenous chil-dren, who were taken from their familiesand communities and placed with whitefoster or adoptive parents, experiencedenduring love, belonging, safety and en-couragement.

But many had far less ideal child-hoods, with varying degrees of deficit ineach of those elements of nurturing.

Sixties scoop children raised inwhite families were completely discon-nected from their birth families. Mostbirth families had no legal rights to seeor know about the children.

The children knew only what thesurrogate parents told them about their

birth families and that was often basedon half-page descriptions provided bysocial workers who had never met them.

The children grew up between twoworlds: neither white, like the families inwhich they lived, nor feeling like theybelonged among indigenous people.

Many scooped children were raisedamidst casual or malicious racism. Theyhad no one to whom they could confidethe hurt of being a person one was taughtto look down upon.

Many children internalized disdainfor their own people.

Many were treated like second-class family members.

Many of the adults, who attendedSixties Scoop sharing circles last year inadvance of the government apology, de-scribed emotional, physical and sexualabuses.

Far too many children suffered thesoul-destroying trauma of being movedfrom home to home. They were expectedto call the adults mom and dad and to fitin and be happy children.

When the trauma of losing familywas repeated, sometimes as many as 15times, the children lost the ability to trustor bond with people who were supposedto care for them. They were described intheir files as sullen, angry, attention seek-

ing or kids who simply cried for no rea-son.

As adults, some of the SixtiesScoop children still maintain relation-ships with their adoptive or foster fami-lies and still celebrate the holiday withthem.

A great many of the adoptive andfoster relationships have deteriorated ordisappeared entirely.

Many also have sought out theirbirth families. Reunions have had mixedresults: some people renewed their fam-ily ties and now celebrate Christmas withthem.

Others have been disappointed,having hoped for the unconditional loveand support they imagined family couldprovide, but finding that lifetimes spentin different worlds made them strangerswith meager common experience andlittle to see them through the trials ofday-to-day realities.

As a result, many former childrenof the Sixties Scoop walk alone.

Many have children who don’tknow any grandparents, aunts, uncles orcousins to visit on Christmas day.

It’s one thing to avoid family gath-erings, it’s another to have no family togather with.

Survivors in six Saskatchewan lo-

cations told the government last yearthat they appreciated the sharing circlesorganized by the Sixties Scoop Indige-nous Society of Saskatchewan.

In the circles, they found fellowshipand solace, often for the first time,among people who understood their ex-perience and they said they wanted moresuch circles in more locations.

The Minister of Social Services toldthe Society that the government wantedto continue working with them and indi-cated they liked the sharing circlesmodel.

Last year, Premier Moe apologized,saying the province failed survivors. Hepromised to “honour and respect (their)experiences,” and to learn from them.

He then listed ways the governmentis trying to improve current day childwelfare, but seemed to throw up hishands in relation to the Sixties Scoopsurvivors.

“There is nothing we can offer thatwill fully restore what you have lost,”Moe said.

As survivors, we know that’s true,but there are things the government cando to help.

It’s time to start by funding regular,dedicated Sixties Scoop support groupsthroughout the province.

Little progress in Sask. year after Sixties Scoop apology

JANUARY 2020 13Eagle Feather News

By Jeanelle MandesOf Eagle Feather News

A non-profit organization is helping to keepIndigenous girls in northern Saskatchewan inschool by providing free menstrual products.

Moon Time Sisters received a $10,000 boostlast year when founder Nicole White was nameda finalist in the L’Oreal Paris Women of Worthcampaign.

White started Moon Time Sisters in 2017after reading about girls in northern Saskatchewanwho were missing school because they didn’thave access to feminine hygiene products. Whitedecided to take on the issue.

“We do a big collection drive in the spring-time and we get all the products to the northerncommunities,” she said. “Our mission and man-date are to serve La Ronge and communities northof it.”

White chose Moon Time Sisters as a namebecause she wanted to honour girls’ sacred time.

“Unfortunately, menstruation has becomeshrouded in shame and spoken of in the shadows.Honouring our moon time is about recognizingyoung girls’ sacred power during our time,” shesaid.

“I thought it was an apt name to recognizethe sisterhood that has come together to tell younggirls in the North that we honour them and wehave their backs.”

“We have heard from some moms whose

daughters received the menstrual products fromus,” said White.

“I (received) a great call one time from amother who has three teen girls at home and shecried because she never had the opportunity toprovide her girls with products where they usedsocks instead,” she said.

Moon Time Sisters works closely withschools in northern communities where staff iden-tify what the students’ needs are for menstrualproducts.

“We always listen to what the communitysays they need. We don’t question or judge. Weare here to lift up and support and reduce a barrierto a young girl completing her education,” Whitesaid.

The organization receives donations of pads,tampons and even menstrual cups at collectionpoints throughout the province to add to the bigdistribution, which occurs in the spring to coincidewith International Women’s Day.

“Every year we average between 80,00 to90,000 products that are sent to northern com-munities. I imagine this year will be bigger be-cause of the L’Oreal Women of Worth contribu-tion,” said White.

Last year, White was one of 10 women fromacross Canada who received $10,000 to amplifythe work of their organizations after she was nom-inated as one of the L’Oreal Paris Women ofWorth.

Moon Time just got a little easierfor Indigenous girls in the North

Volunteers at the Moon Time Sisters shoppingfor menstrual products to give out to young In-digenous women in northern communities inthe spring. (Photo courtesy of Moon Time Sisters)

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News14

By Brad BellegardeFor Eagle Feather News

Indigenous youth in Grades 9-12 from across thecountry converged at the Royal Canadian Mounted Po-lice Academy, Depot Division in Regina, for a one-week leadership workshop.

Fourteen youths were selected to participate in theworkshop to create community action plans focused onissues such as alcohol and drug abuse, boredom anddrinking and driving.

Once completed, the youth will start implementingthe action plans at home with their local RCMP detach-ment.

“I wanted to see what it was like to be on the otherside,” said 15-year-old, Isaiah Daniels, from Swift Current.

“I wanted to see what it was like to be a good kidand not be as bad as I once was,” said Daniels who is inGrade 10.

Daniels is a member of One Arrow First Nation andgrew up in Prince Albert before moving to Swift Currentfor his high school years.

He admitted to having run-ins with the law through-out his younger years, but spending time with his RCMPmentor has changed his perspective about police.

“I didn’t really like them,” he said. “I just thoughtthat cops were bad guys and you shouldn’t be aroundthem then I met (Const.) Curti here and he talked to melike a regular person. It changed my perspective (about)a cop.”

Const. Tony Curti is a 17-year veteran of the RCMPand serves as the high school resource officer. He saysthe biggest thing is to make connections with the youth.

“Without connections we’re going to be treadingwater, we’re going to be lost,” he said.

“Most communities have problems with drugs, it’sa supply and demand (issue),” he said. “We have to getrid of that demand.”

“We can’t just keep pointing our fingers, sayingdrugs are bad because kids aren’t going to buy in to (just)that.”

Curti said that if officers were more engaged withthe youth, it could change the current situation withdrugs and alcohol use among teens.

Both Curti and Daniels agree that there is a need formutual respect from community and law enforcement.

Colin Mitchener, 16, who made the journey fromInuvik, NWT, said he wants to create a plan that tacklesthe root cause of drug and alcohol use.

“The main issue is boredom,” he said. “There’s not

a whole lot for teens to do aroundthe community.”

Mitchener said that a lot ofkids his age are involved in schoolsports and when the school yearends there is nothing to occupy theirtime.

“I think if there were morethings in general to do there would-n’t be a big (drug and alcohol)problem,” he said.

Throughout the week partici-pants heard from the founder ofPink Shirt Day, toured First Na-tions University of Canada and lis-tened to a keynote address fromby North America’s first profes-sional transgender athlete, Harri-son Browne

mbcradio.com

RCMP mentors with youth participants take part in a team building exercise at RCMP Academy, Depot Division in Regina January. (Photo by Brad Bellegarde)

Indigenous youth get to see the other side of policing

Constable Nick Mysko (centre) and Isaiah Daniels (right), take directionfrom Louis Zuniga, manager, RCMP National Youth Services during ateam building exercise at RCMP Academy (Photo by Brad Bellegarde)

JANUARY 2020 15Eagle Feather News

By Julia PetersonFor Eagle Feather NewsThere were cheers and celebrations

at Zagime Anishinabek First Nation ear-lier this week as 23 buffalo leaped off atruck and ran single-file into their newenclosure.

The buffalo are a gift fromPeepeekisis Cree Nation, drawn fromthe hundred-strong herd Peepeekisis hasraised since they received a gift of 22buffalo from Alberta rancher RonSteckly in 2014.

“I really feel that some of theprayers and some of the help that weasked from the spirits and our ancestorsin our journey to self-determinationcame true,” said Zagime Anishinabek(formerly Sakimay) First Nation ChiefLynn Acoose.

“I think our ancestors and our spirithelpers were there. They were part of theprocess to help us see this dream be-come a reality.”

Acoose says the new herd will alsohelp ensure food security and sover-eignty on the reserve.

Many children were present towatch the buffalo arrive and Peepeekisisheadman Alan Bird says their reactionwas a joyful sight.

“That day, with all those kids there,I was standing at the front … and Iyelled: ‘Are you children happy? Thebuffalo are home on your land.’ Andthey were all yelling and cheering, and it

made me feel really good. I know thefeeling, because it happened to us fiveyears ago.”

Steckly was inspired to gift the buf-falo six years ago by members of LokoKoa, an organization of ChristianSamoan-Canadians headed by LimaNanai.

“Lima (Nanai) asked, how can weserve the people?” said Loko Koa boardchair Wayne Johnson.

“What is the area where we canhelp bring back their identity in a prac-tical way? And after praying, his hearttold him ‘I want to give a herd of buf-falo’.”

Johnson then approached Stecklyand asked if he would consider gifting aherd of buffalo to Peepeekisis Cree Na-tion. Though he originally asked for 10,Steckly decided to give 22.

“It has been a very good experi-ence,” Steckly said. “We’ve made a lotof good friends, and I would do it allover again. If someone else feels thatthey’re led to do this, I say, don’t hesi-tate.”

Acoose is already planning to paythe gift forward once Zagime Anishin-abek’s herd has grown.

“We’re going to start reaching outto local First Nations right away,” shesaid. “We’ll start trying to locate who wewant to provide these buffalo along to,and we’ll help get them prepared.They’ll learn along with us.”

Dream became reality asPeepeekisis Cree Nationturns over herd of 22 buffaloto Zagime Anishinabek

Ron Steckly (L) and Lima Nanai. Nanai’s organization, Loko Koa, facilitatedSteckly’s original gift of 22 buffalo. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Johnson)

Alan Bird and Blain Pinay of Peepeekisis Cree Nation look out over part of theirbuffalo herd. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Johnson)

JANUARY 2020Eagle Feather News16