Sweetgrass February 2015 final by Paul Macedo

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015 WHAT'S INSIDE:

RCMP cleared in fatal shooting in traffic stop Page 3 New Crime Reduction Unit sees results Page 4

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FEBRUARY 2015 VOLUME 22 • NUMBER 3

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PHOTO: BERT CROWFOOT

KAQUO members: (from left) Gerald Cunningham (East Prairie Métis Settlement), Greg Calliou (Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement), British Columbia Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson, Iner Gauchier (Peavine Métis Settlement), and CEO Richard Spinks.

Government investigation slows progress of Métis forestry company By Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor EDMONTON

Directors of a newly formed Métis forestry company have grudgingly accepted a government investigation into their joint venture and claim that KAQUO will withstand scrutiny. Iner Gauchier, chair of Peavine Métis Settlement and a director on KAQUO, says the provincial government is against Métis taking control of their own lands and that is why the investigation was launched. Three Métis settlements Peavine, East Prairie, and Paddle Prairie – split 45 per cent of the shares in KAQUO Forestry and Natural Resources Development. Active Energy Group, an international timber products firm listed on the London Stock Exchange, also has 45 per cent in the company. The remaining 10 per cent lies with British Columbia Grand Chief and former Chief of Westbank First Nation Ronald Derrickson, who brought the partners together. KAQUO’s first project will be to commercialise the approximately 250,000 hectares of forestry assets on the three Métis settlements, which it estimates contain 35 million cubic metres of merchantable timber. However, the venture cannot be undertaken until the

government’s investigation has concluded. Jessica Johnson, director of communications with Aboriginal relations, says the government department received a “few complaints” that KAQUO, which is the corporation established by the three settlements, breached policies in both the Métis Settlements Act and Métis Settlements General Council. Concerns were also voiced over the length of the agreement, which could go up to 197 years and there were allegations that the deal was struck without consulting membership. Johnson would not say if the complaints came from members of more than one settlement. “My understanding is that (the three settlements) were given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the investigation was launched … (and) based on their response and the seriousness of the allegations, the premier in his role as minister felt it was wise to clear the air and appoint an independent firm to investigate,” said Johnson. KPMG was contracted in November to carry out the investigation. The final report is expected between March and May. Gauchier holds that a letter

of complaint came from one member from the Peavine Métis Settlement and that the KAQUO directors were not given a chance to respond before the investigation was launched. Gerald Cunningham, chair of the East Prairie Métis Settlement and director of KAQUO, says although the MSGC has a timber policy that is binding on the eight Métis settlements, the MSGC also has a policy stating any resources on the surface belong to the individual settlements. Timber, he says, is on the surface. Richard Spinks, CEO of Active Energy Group and president and CEO of KAQUO, says the government will find no wrong doings in the establishment or operation of KAQUO. “The investors (in KAQUO) aren’t likely to invest $100 million in any business whatsoever without serious due diligence,” he said. International investors have committed $300 million to the company. “It’s the first time ever in Canada that a major publiclylisted company has recognized the need that the Natives own their own future,” said Derrickson. “I said at the very start that I would not do any deal with the Métis or for the

Métis unless the Métis got a good size of the pie.” He says the three Métis settlements will receive $135 million cash up front plus 30 per cent of the fund that is supporting the operation. According to Gauchier, the proceeds from the company will be split four ways: 30 per cent for a trust fund for the future; 30 per cent for work in each community, such as infrastructure and housing; 30 per cent for new investments; and 10 per cent to cover administrative costs. Spinks says investors will be reinvesting a “significant portion of our funds” into exploratory work to determine other development that can occur on the settlements as not all the settlements have timber. Timber development was established as the initial phase as that is the area in which Active Energy Group holds its expertise. Success in the forestry development, he says, will prove to the investors that the company is reliable. Gauchier noted that KAQUO plans on investing beyond the settlements’ boundaries to “the Tolkos (sawmills) of the world, that’s where we’re leading into.” KAQUO funds would be used as seed money. All eight Métis settlements were invited to take part in KAQUO, says Derrickson, with

five coming out to an initial meeting. At the KAQUO development summit held in Edmonton at the end of January, interest was expressed by settlements, who were not part of KAQUO. Derrickson says adding more members to KAQUO would only strengthen the company and strengthen its position with the government. But he noted that KAQUO’s membership was not limited to the Métis people. “All the Native people of Canada can cash in on this,” he said. CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL # 40063755

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

ALBERTA NEWS her work in Aboriginal education. Laboucan was a fierce advocator for strongly educated Aboriginal youth. Laboucan began work with Treaty 8 as an education consultant on Jan. 19. Laboucan served as Chief for Driftpile First Nation for 12 years and she was also Grand Chief of Lesser Slave Lake Regional Council and vice- Grand Chief of Treaty 8 Alberta. “It is time to take ownership of our beautiful Indigenous knowledge in order for First Nations people to fully participate and contribute to our Canadian mosaic,” said Laboucan. For her time of service, Laboucan received a special blanket from the Treaty 8 Elders, and other gifts, including stone carving of mother holding a baby from Treaty 8 administration and a framed eagle feather from the education directors of Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8.

activities on KPECL lands. Priority is to look at a program of low cost re-entry wells while also taking advantage of the current market conditions which is seeing debt-forced sale of land positions in the Cold Lake area of interest. This provides a significant opportunity for acreage covering known heavy oil sands occurrences, already been freed up, to be snapped up at low acquisition and holding costs to add to existing and planned joint land positions. This would result in the added benefits of the Phase 2 conventional vertical well program being scheduled over a larger geographical area with the aim of delineating significantly increased reserves for similar expenditure. Significantly, Cold Lake recovery economics demonstrate viability even at current oil prices and the likelihood of a speedy, low-cost pathway to production revenues for Indus and KPECL.

Prentice comments on visit to Lubicon

PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

Saskatchewan cabinet minister and University of Lethbridge graduate Jennifer Campeau at Markin Hall.

U of L success story returns to alma mater Minister of Central Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Company Jennifer Campeau (Saskatoon Fairview MLA) recently returned to her alma mater. Campeau completed a bachelor’s degree in the First Nations governance program in the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Management. After graduating from U of L, she obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree at the University of Saskatchewan. Before she entered politics, Campeau was an instructor at the U of S and a doctoral student in the Department of Native Studies. Campeau was in Lethbridge Jan. 26 to 30 as part of the Scotiabank First Nations, Métis, and Inuit mentors program, which engages Aboriginal youth in a culturally sensitive, safe and welcoming environment. Mentors are U of L Aboriginal students who provide support to Aboriginal youth aged 12 to 17 enrolled in school in Lethbridge or on the Blood and Piikani reserves. As executive-in-residence, Campeau spoke to several U of L classes and met with high school students. Campeau was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 2011 and named minister in the Saskatchewan Party government in 2014. She is the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the Saskatchewan cabinet.

Tobacco Tax Act charges stayed against Buffalo Charges under the Tobacco Tax Act of storing tobacco products that were not marked for legal sale in Alberta and for possessing more than 1,000 cigarettes have been stayed against former Montana Cree First Nation Chief Carolyn Buffalo. The charges stem from an investigation into the seizure of 16 million contraband cigarettes in January 2011. Head of Rainbow Tobacco Robbie Dickson still faces the same charges. “It’s a perfect example of an effort to criminalize folks instead of attempting to resolve with First Nations what is obviously an issue that requires good faith resolution discussions, not on a criminal level, but negotiations between governments on the Aboriginal right to trade in tobacco,” said Julian Falconer, Buffalo’s former lawyer. The prosecution did not specify why the charges were stayed against Buffalo. The province says it cannot discuss specifics of the case as Dickson is still before the courts.

Laboucan honoured for tireless leadership Outgoing Driftpile Chief Rose Laboucan was honoured in her home community in January at the second annual Coming Together round dance. A special message was read from Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen, who was unable to attend the event. Calahasen thanked Laboucan for her “dedication to Aboriginal people” and held her up for

In an interview with Alberta Oil magazine in January, Premier Jim Prentice said one of the reasons he immediately visited the Lubicon First Nation after taking office is because “there’s much unfinished business there…. Most of the First Nations in northern Alberta secured treaty land entitlement settlements with the federal and provincial crowns through the 1980s and 1990s. The Lubicon did not…” Prentice praised his predecessors Getty and Klein for the work they did for helping to resolve land claims from the 1980s to 2000s. Prentice said he visited the Lubicon First Nation because they are “arguably the poorest Albertans” as 75 per cent of the community is unemployed, there is no running water, and they continue to use outhouses. Prentice said Chief Billy Joe Laboucan is “extremely articulate, extremely thoughtful, and wants to elevate his people out of poverty and be a constructive partner.”

Exploration of Cold Lake oil sands Cold Lake area Chiefs and the First Nations exploration company Keyano Pimee Exploration Company Limited are in advanced negotiations with Indus Energy NL (formerly Quest Petroleum) to farm in to 82,290 acres of Cold Lake oil sands. Once the joint operations agreement is signed, Indus will begin Phase 1 of the work program which will consist of low cost re-entry of four historic wells in areas where oil has been encountered during gas production

Enoch to host MMIW conference A national conference to honour murdered and missing Indigenous women of Canada will take place May 25-27 at the Spirit of Our Sisters gathering to be held at the River Cree Resort and Casino on Enoch Cree Nation. “The vision behind this gathering is to bring families of victims, resource and service leaders, experts in various criminology and violence prevention fields, government departments, Indigenous leaders, and individuals who have an interest in coming together to raise awareness on the scope of this incredibly wretched but significant issue,” said Karen McCarthy, CEO of the Alberta Indigenous Entertainment Group and Spirit of Our Sisters conference manager. The Spirit of Our Sisters steering committee consists of Former National Chief Ovide Mercredi, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Derek Nepinak, Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Okimaw Wallace Fox, Josie Nepinak of the Awotaan Native Women’s Shelter, and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief of Alberta Cameron Alexis. The focus is dedicated to the grassroots movement of Indigenous women but there will also be opportunities for various stakeholders such as government and the private sector to share information and/or resources, and initiate discussion from different perspectives geared toward actions ensuring the current trends begin to see a decline of murdered and missing Indigenous women. ( Continued on page 3.)

NEWS

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

RCMP cleared in fatal shooting in traffic stop By Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor ERMINESKIN FIRST NATION

The second of three investigations that involved shootings of Indigenous men by RCMP in August 2013 has concluded in the same manner as the first: no wrong-doing by the RCMP officers involved. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has concluded, based heavily on audio-

recording from the police cruiser at the scene, that the RCMP officer “was acting properly in the execution of his duties” when he shot and killed Lance Cutarm, 30, and shot and injured Larron Cutarm, 41, following a traffic stop near Ma-Me-O Beach on Aug. 3, 2013. The officer, on his own in an unmarked cruiser, pulled over a truck driven by Lawrence Cutarm, who was accompanied by his three adult sons.

The ASIRT report states that “what was an initial traffic stop deteriorated very quickly” and spanned only one minute and 17 seconds from the point Lawrence Cutarm was asked to step out of his vehicle to when the officer, after having discharged his weapon multiple times at the two Cutarm brothers, left the scene in his vehicle to radio for an ambulance and back-up. Lance Cutarm was shot once in the chest and once in the left upper

abdomen and was declared dead at the scene. Larron Cutarm was shot once, with the bullet entering his chest and exiting at the shoulder blade. He was located a distance from the initial scene and taken by STARS air ambulance to Edmonton for medical care. The audio recording indicates that the officer uttered no racial slurs, did not use a Taser, and did not handcuff Lawrence Cutarm. The report was released Jan. 20, after ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson met with the Cutarm family. “They certainly were not happy with the results,” said Hughson. “They’re a grieving family… it was such a tragedy. It didn’t make sense that what should have been a traffic stop ended up in a death so I understand that they are so hurt and so grieving that they weren’t going to be happy with my decision. But at least, I think they felt respected and fully informed and that’s one of my goals.” The meeting between Hughson and the Cutarm family, facilitated by a recentlyhired Aboriginal investigator for ASIRT, included three Elders, a ceremonial blanket and opening and closing prayers by the Elders. Hughson says two of Lance Cutarm’s sisters thanked her for the way the findings were presented to the family. Hughson also met with Ermineskin First Nation Chief Randy Ermineskin and the band council later that day to explain the decision. “That’s something we haven’t necessarily formally done before and I think that worked very well,” said Hughson, who anticipates this becoming procedure in the future when “dealing with a

very serious incident” in the Aboriginal community. Hughson was unable to attend a community meeting in Maskwacis, because of the timing. However, she has offered to make a return trip to answer questions. The Cutarm incident was the second of three RCMPinvolved shootings of Aboriginal men in August 2013. There is still one decision pending. On Aug. 15, 2013, RCMP officers shot and killed Daniel Charland, 52, the subject of an arrest warrant, after a confrontation developed at his home on Cold Lake First Nation. The investigation has concluded, says Hughson, but she needs to review the file. Treaty 6 Grand Chief Bernice Martial, who is also Chief of Cold Lake First Nation, is Charland’s aunt. Said Martial, “We still didn’t have a meeting with ASIRT so we really don’t know, because of what happened there, the mother of the son, she’s so upset and has anger against the RCMP at this time so therefore it’s still up in the air.” Hughson plans to have one of the Aboriginal ASIRT investigators act as a liaison with Charland’s family and community. On Aug. 1, 2013, Curtis Hallock was shot in the arm and leg following an incident in the Victor Lake Métis Co-op residential area. The ASIRT investigation, which was concluded in June 2014, cleared the two Grande Cache RCMP officers involved. Hallock, who is featured in the second season of Mantracker, was charged with one count of assault with a weapon, one count of assault of a peace officer and three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

More Alberta Briefs Changes on Alberta political landscape Two of Alberta’s three opposition parties are looking for new leaders. The next leader of the decimated Wildrose will be selected by party members from across Alberta on June 6 in Calgary. “Our party is strong, united and ready to give Albertans a real, principled, grassroots and fiscally conservative option at the ballot box,” said Wildrose Party President Jeff Callaway. Wildrose leader Danielle Smith joined the Progressive Conservatives in December, taking with her nine MLAs, dropping the Wildrose to five sitting members. Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Heather Forsyth took over as interim leader for Wildrose. Alberta Liberal leader Raj Sherman notified his caucus and party executive on Jan. 26 that he would not seek a third term as MLA for EdmontonMeadowlark and that he was giving up party leadership now so the necessary preparations can be made prior to the next provincial election. “I am stepping aside as leader so that the team can continue to move forward,” said Sherman. He has served as leader since 2011. As well, effective Feb. 1, Cabinet ministers took a five per cent pay cut. “While work on our overall budget challenges is ongoing, Albertans are clearly telling us that they expect their political representatives to be part of the solution. All members of cabinet understand how crucial it is to lead by example, and for political representatives not to ask anyone to accept any measure we would not accept ourselves,” said Premier Jim Prentice in a statement.

Compiled by Shari Narine

NEWS

New Crime Reduction Unit sees results By Andrea Smith Sweetgrass Contributor BLOOD FIRST NATION

The Blood Tribe Police Service has added a new Crime Reduction Unit to their troop. As a result of recent deaths linked with street versions of oxycodone, the BTPS has taken steps to prevent further harm. “The impact it’s had on the community’s been great. Some parents are overdosing on it, and leaving young children. The community’s upset,” said Sgt. Joseph Many Fingers, who currently oversees the new unit. “It’s not a prescribed drug, so you can’t get it at the pharmacy. It’s something being made… probably by organized crime groups in an illegal lab,” he said. Many Fingers says there have been 10 deaths over the last four months linked with a drug called Oxy-80. The drug, despite the name, has little oxycodone in it, and is mostly made with fentanyl—another pain-killer narcotic, stronger than morphine. Pamela Littlebear, a Blood Tribe community member, and a recovered prescription drug addict, has been attending local rallies to create awareness of Oxy-80’s effects. “We’re burying our loved ones because of it. You know, you can just take this drug once, and you can die from it,” she

said. The impact of drug use is an epidemic, says Many Fingers. The need to use, whether it is cocaine, crack or prescription drugs, leads to an increase in property crimes and break and enters. And it isn’t isolated to the Blood Reserve. “It’s all over Alberta and even Saskatchewan. And I’ve heard it’s all over Canada. I know there was a big drug bust last week. And we know our guys are getting it in Medicine Hat and Calgary,” he said. While the new CRU officers will focus on all illegal drugs, the outcry over Oxy-80 will make that their main target, says Many Fingers. The two CRU officers were chosen based on their experience and their eagerness to make an impact in that area. “These two have already obtained confidential informants. They’ve gained the trust of the people that are tired of this problem,” he said. While the names and photographs of the CRU officers are not being released, Many Fingers admits that “anybody involved in the drug trade will know who they are.” The BTPS has also started an Oxy-80 tip line for citizens wanting to give them a lead. The response has been positive, with tips coming in at all hours of the day, including several tips

received within the first week, says Many Fingers. In Dec. 22, 2014, a tip led to the police seizing cash, drug paraphernalia and suspected illicit drugs from a vehicle and Christine Marie Varns, 30, of Lacombe, being arrested and charged with a variety of controlled substance offences. On Jan. 25, 2015, another anonymous tip resulted in the search of a residence in Standoff where a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a sword were located. Willis Quincy House, 32, of Hobbema, was charged in that incident. Successes like this give the BTPS and new unit hope, but Many Fingers knows that drug use is a difficult problem to solve altogether. “They should be able to (help), but you can’t ever get rid of a drug problem. You can just disrupt it. Once you take down a few drug dealers, there’s always more to step up in their place. So we can try, and hopefully make an impact,” he said. Littlebear says she knows people are getting the message. “We know people are listening. I’ve been sharing the fact that there’s three individuals who have texted me that are going to treatment. So we know we got to them,” she said.

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Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

Authority of new ACO challenged By Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor ATHABASCA CHIPEWYAN FIRST NATION

Once again, a First Nation is seeking legal action against the Alberta government. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation filed an application in Calgary court on Jan. 15 challenging the province’s newly created Aboriginal Consultation Office. The court action goes beyond questioning ACO’s direction to the Alberta Energy Regulator that “consultation with ACFN is not required with regard to” TransCanada Pipeline’s Grand Rapids Project, to questioning the overall authority ACO had in the process of consultation for this specific project. “We were shocked to learn that Alberta had decided that we had no right at all to be consulted about this project—and that they had advised TransCanada of their decision without even informing us,” said ACFN Chief Allan Adam in a statement. “This shows just how profoundly disrespectful Alberta’s process has become.” The ACFN holds that the provincial government policy that created the ACO did not come into force until July 2014 and instead consultation regarding Grand Rapids fell under 2005 policy and 2007 guidelines. “If … the ACO does not have any authority to determine whether the Crown’s duty to

consult is triggered, then either a Minister of the Crown must make this determination or Alberta’s Aboriginal consultation region is unconstitutional as there is no Crown body with authority to make this determination with respect to Crown decisions,” states the application. ACFN holds that it should have been consulted on the project because it holds Treaty 8 rights and members hunt, trap, gather and fish in the region that would be impacted by the project. The pipeline would also cross a number of major waterways upstream from ACFN’s communities. The 500km pipeline will transport 900 barrels per day of diluted bitumen from west of Fort McMurray to the Hardisty terminal southeast of Edmonton. ACFN also holds that the map used to determine whether or not ACFN should have been consulted was outdated and the ministry conceded it was “in the midst of a mapping project to establish a Consultation Area for each First Nation.” ACFN is asking that the decision approving the Grand Rapids project be quashed and that the Crown consult and accommodate ACFN. The ACO and the new matrix for consultation for economic and industrial development, first released by the government in 2013, has come under continued criticism from First Nations. The ACO would determine if and how much consultation was

required depending on the projects being proposed. After initially saying the province would move ahead on what had been established by his predecessor, Premier Jim Prentice said he would be willing to revisit the process as First Nations leaders remained vocally opposed. Adam is calling for “meaningful government-togovernment discussions to reform this process.” However, following a meeting with Prentice, when the premier travelled to Fort Chipewyan in December, Adam was not optimistic about changes. “To me at this point in time, I don’t think anything will come to fruition in regards to what our issues are in the community of Fort Chip. I think it’s just a one way street here and it’s going down that path right now,” said Adam in an earlier interview with Sweetgrass. “Best just leave it alone and let the courts drag it out and deal with it then.” On Feb. 4, the province released the Joint Operating Procedures for First Nations Consultation on Energy Resource Activities, which takes effect on March 2. The procedures outline new requirements for applications as well as detailed administration and coordination of operations between ACO and AER. The ACO still determines the level of consultation adequacy, including if no consultation is necessary, before the AER makes the final decision.

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

EDMONTON

Poundmaker’s Lodge opens outpatient office in downtown Edmonton

PHOTO: PAULA E. KIRMAN

Rockin’ on Whyte Rockin’ Randy (Daniels) belts out classic rock tunes while Rick Shott plays guitar during the jam at Blues On Whyte on Jan. 31. Both are familiar faces in Edmonton’s music scene. Daniels has led a number of open jams around the city, but is especially known for his energetic performances at Blues On Whyte.

Audio tells story of missing, murdered women Lauren Crazybull’s Voices of the Silenced, an audio documentary telling the stories of over 10 people whose loved ones have gone missing or murdered, was aired at the end of January at Edmonton’s Latitude 53. Crazybull’s aunt, Sandra Manyfeathers, tells her story in Voices of the Silenced. Two of her sisters and a cousin were murdered. Manyfeathers said her niece is bridging understanding between Native and non-Native people through her work. Crazybull says the rate of missing and murdered Indigenous women will negatively impact future generations. “People are growing up without their mothers and their sisters and their aunts, and seeing this violence against women perpetuated, and I think that’s really, really important to pay attention to,” she said. By creating audio documentaries on these issues, Crazybull is challenging the systemic violence against Indigenous women, adds Tracy Bear, of Montreal Lake First Nations, who is a PhD student at the University of Alberta. Her thesis focuses on how the colonial impact on Indigenous society contributes to violence against Indigenous women today.

Edmonton Arts Council recognizes outstanding local artists Award-winning Métis artist Will Belcourt and Cree actor Todd Houseman are among eight recent recipients of the 2014 Cultural Diversity in the Arts grant. Belcourt, a multi-disciplinary artist, will be creating a new body of music rooted in traditional Métis folk music and writing songs taken from four generations of his family history. Houseman, a performer and Aboriginal Peoples Interpreter, will team up with Ben Gorodetsky, a first generation Russian-Canadian theatre artist, to further develop Folk Lordz, an improvised theatre show driven by Cree storytelling and Chekhovian character drama. “The City of Edmonton values diversity of artistic expression,” said Paul Moulton, executive director of the Edmonton Arts Council. “We are grateful for this wide-ranging group of writers, filmmakers, musicians, actors, performers, visual and media artists who call Edmonton home – for all that they bring to the Edmonton arts community and to the lives of Edmontonians.”

Federal Building could be named after Crowfoot Alberta historian David W. Watts is suggesting that the newly reopened Federal Building in Edmonton be named after Crowfoot, who was Grand Chief of the Blackfoot Confederacy. “Thanks to Crowfoot,” writes Watts in an opinion piece that recently appeared in The Edmonton Journal, “Canada did not face an interracial war of the type that culminated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in the U.S. He refused the request of Sitting Bull’s emissaries to join the Lakota in their struggle. He likewise refused to join the Métis and Cree in the Louis Riel-led Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Crowfoot’s policy of restraint made possible a peaceful settlement of the district and birth of the province of Alberta.” Watts says Crowfoot would be a good choice because he was a “multicultural in his own time,” having been born a Blood, he became a Blackfoot and united the tribes, making allies of their traditional enemies, the Cree; and was effective as a unifier for the Canadian government and the North West Mounted Police with the southern Alberta plains people. “Crowfoot can be seen as a father of two confederacies: the Blackfoot and the Canadian Confederation that Alberta joined peaceably as a result of his influence. He is as much a father of this province as of his own people,” says Watts.

Compiled by Shari Narine

PHOTO: SANDRA CROWFOOT

Merle White, executive director of Canadian Native Friendship Centre (third from left) is joined by Poundmaker’s Lodge representatives (from left) counsellor Robert Johnson, board member Jim Brule, Executive Director Brad Cardinal, counselor Greg Bubel and Elder Ann Magnusson.

By Sandra Crowfoot Sweetgrass Contributor EDMONTON

Recognizing that there was a need in the Aboriginal urban community for an outpatient program, two well-respected Aboriginal organizations have come together to help those struggling with addictions. Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre has opened an outpatient office at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in downtown Edmonton. The idea to offer outpatient services came last year when Merle White, executive director for the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, noticed that there was a demand in aftercare assistance for people trying to maintain their sobriety. “There’s a problem here in the community and I have a lot of people asking for help,” he said. White discussed his concerns with Brad Cardinal, executive director of Poundmaker’s

Lodge, and found that Poundmaker’s no longer had an outpatient program due to budget cuts. Soon after, a partnership was formed and after many months of hard work, a new outpatient office was opened. The office will offer drop-in counselling on Tuesdays and an ongoing recovery support group on Thursday evenings. There will be counsellors on site to provide ongoing support as well as referrals to Poundmaker’s 42day adult or 90-day young adult residential treatment programs, if necessary. “This is something that we really need in our community, and this is something that we have been looking at for quite some time,” said Cardinal. “We know that it’s going to save lives. We know that it’s going to create health and wellness for our Aboriginal people. We know that many of our people are out there suffering with addiction and we need to be

able to reach out our hands to them. We need to be able to create an open door for our Aboriginal people, and that is what we are doing by creating this partnership. It is endorsed by the Elders of our community, we know that we are heading in the right direction.” Elaine Taylor, senior counsellor at Poundmaker’s Lodge, is especially grateful of the joint venture. In the past, clients would tell her that there weren’t many places to go for support after they left treatment and that they wished Poundmaker’s was downtown where it would be more accessible. “Thank goodness that we are able to open this office at the Native Friendship Centre,” said Taylor. “This is going to be awesome!” The outpatient office is located in an upstairs office at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton.

CALGARY

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

Panel says Indigenous men play important role

PHOTO: PATHWAYS

Annual round dance strengthens culture Pathways Family Services hosted its 9th annual round dance honouring the late Gordon McGilvery. The event was held on Jan. 17 at the Bowness Sportsplex. Pathways CSA is a uniqut social services agency that works from an Aboriginal worldview to strengthen the resilience of children, youth and families.

State funeral held for respected leader

PHOTO: DARLENE CHRAPKO

Kathy Shailer Provost and Vice-President, Academic Mount Royal University bears witness at Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Women.

By Darlene Chrapko Sweetgrass Contributor CALGARY

Aboriginal men have to step up and play a role in ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls. “Where are our warriors? Why are they letting this happen to our sisters, daughters, mothers?” asked Deborah Crazyboy, an aspiring educator and student at Mount Royal University. “It’s like a ladder … We need to go to the bottom to find out what’s happening.” Crazyboy was part of a crowd that filled Mount Royal University’s Ross Glen Theatre on Jan. 20 to listen to a panel on Words & Actions: A Roundtable Discussion of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Indigenous Women’s Rights in Canada. Four women panelists shared their collective wisdom and decades-long struggles to draw attention to the issue and the lack of action in addressing it. All agreed that more education and awareness are needed. Panelist Beverly Jacobs, former president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and lead researcher of Amnesty International’s 2004 Stolen Sisters report on murdered and missing

Indigenous women, said that while men like Robert Pickton and other serial killers, cannot be overlooked, and Indigenous women and girls are prime targets for human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Indigenous communities are beginning to understand “our own men are attacking women …We are now talking about awareness, prevention, in our own communities.” A return to traditional customs, disrupted by colonialism and residential schools, is key in Jacob’s view as traditionally, nationhood is about the balance between men and women. “We have always had equality. How do we bring back our role of our women, bring back respect and honour? We need to come back to our language, tradition, culture, ceremonies, everything that has strengthened us,” said Jacobs. Returning to the honour and respect women have received is paramount, said panellist Muriel Stanley Venne, chair of the Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights and Justice and founder of the Institute for the advancement of Advancement of Aboriginal Women. IAAW highlights the celebration of women through the Esquao Awards, which honour the strength and beauty of Aboriginal women, and

encourages nominations from family members. Panellist Josie Nepinak, executive director of Awo Taan Healing Lodge says that change in Aboriginal communities is beginning, but more needs to be done. “This needs to be part of a national inquiry level, to get to root causes, the issues of who the perpetrators are and dealing with that. Where are the warriors is a big question,” she said. “They have been affected, too. What happened to our men?” Despite the lack of action the panellists have been advocating for, Stanley Venne spoke out against blaming. “We have an obligation as Indian people to do what we say needs to be done. It needs to be done through good will and lack of blame. Blame will destroy good will.” Autumn Eaglespeaker, a former student, applauded MRU for bringing the issues to the forefront and was heartened by the well-attended public forum. “If you have a voice and don’t use it, you are complicit in keeping the people down,” she said. “Future leaders can influence,” said Nepinak. “We need to work together to create social change.”

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A state funeral was held on Jan. 17 on the Tsuu T’ina Reserve for former Chief Gordon Crowchild, who was chief from 1968-1976 and died at the age of 85. Said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, “”It is with honour and humility that … I acknowledge the passing one of our most respected Elders …. He was a strong advocate for the rights of First Nations and our citizens throughout his life.” A former rodeo athlete, Crowchild competed in the Calgary Stampede in the 1940s and was inducted in to the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2005. Chief Crowchild was instrumental in bringing economic development to the Tsuu T’ina Nation, first with a golf course and later advancing the southwest ring road in the 1970s. He was known for promoting youth in sports and culture and encouraging nation members through training programs to pursue careers in the trades. Chief Crowchild was remembered as a legendary leader with a great love for his community.

NEB to hear oral Aboriginal traditional evidence The National Energy Board heard oral Aboriginal traditional evidence from the Alexander First Nation for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project on Jan. 27 in the final scheduled hearing of the application. Throughout the fall, the NEB heard from Aboriginal presenters in Edmonton, Chilliwack, Kamloops and Victoria. The NEB recognizes that Aboriginal peoples have an oral tradition for sharing knowledge from one generation to the next which cannot always be shared sufficiently in writing. The oral knowledge, stories and lessons shared, will be an important component of the evidence the NEB considers in deciding whether or not to recommend approval of the project. Aboriginal interveners may also file written evidence in addition to their oral traditional evidence. Other interveners, Trans Mountain or the NEB may ask presenters about their oral traditional evidence which they may respond to orally, in writing, or both. Trans Mountain submitted its application to expand the existing Trans Mountain pipeline system in Alberta and British Columbia to the NEB in December 2013. The expansion includes approximately 990 km of new pipeline, new and modified facilities, the reactivation of 193 km of existing pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby, and an expansion of the Westridge Marine Terminal.

Flood recovery program stepped up The province is hoping to close all 2013 Disaster Recovery program files, which resulted from the Calgary-area flood, this summer. The government will allocate an additional 15 temporary caseworkers to assist with file management and advance 90 per cent of eligible funding to the approximately 2,000 remaining applicants with open files. The additional funds are to help homeowners with repairs. Once repairs have been completed, applicants will be able to submit receipts to receive the final 10 per cent in funding. The DRP received more than 10,500 applications after the June 2013 floods, making this program the biggest and most complex in Alberta’s history. To date, more than 8,400 cases have been closed and nearly $110 million in financial aid provided. This final advancement of funds will provide up to $20 million in additional support.

Private donor helps support spay/neuter work Calgary realtor Heather Waddell is matching donations to the Alberta Spay/Neuter Task Force up to $25,000 until Feb. 14. If $25,000 is reached, Waddell, who is a long-time supporter of the organization, will give an additional $10,000. The task force, which began operating in 2009, was spearhead by animal rescue volunteers RJ Bailot and Nancy Larsen, who were working on First Nations lands rescuing animals but could not find enough new homes for them. The task force puts together a volunteer team of close to 100 people, including vets and surgical assistants, and eight times a year set up a mobile unit consisting of examination areas, a triage zone, surgery stations and recovery rooms in a school or gym. The task force operates in First Nations communities they are invited to. Throughout the course of a weekend clinic, dogs and cats are examined, treated for parasites, vaccinated, spayed or neutered and then tattooed. Upward of 450 animals are treated during a visit. Each clinic costs approximately $26,000, with most of the volunteers paying their own way.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

COMMUNITY

Too many young Aboriginal children live in poverty By Paula E. Kirman Sweetgrass Contributor EDMONTON

A new report on poverty in Edmonton indicates that 43.7 per cent of young Aboriginal children up to age five lived in poverty in 2011, more than twice the poverty rate of young Edmonton children overall. Almost one-third of the 100,000 people who live in poverty are children. Aboriginal people in the city make up a disproportionate number of those living in need, says the Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty, even though those with Aboriginal background in

2011 represent only 5.6 per cent of Edmonton’s population. “The report affirms with hard data what Aboriginal people are facing as a people: poverty rates that not only harm people currently but create great worry over the future. When half of Aboriginal children are living in poverty, when Aboriginal families have disproportionate involvement with child welfare, what will the future look like for Aboriginal children?” said task force member Mark Holmgren, executive director of Bissell Centre, a service agency

providing assistance to homeless and at-risk people in the inner city. The report also says that adult and senior Aboriginal women have significantly higher poverty rates than Aboriginal men and double those of the overall Edmonton population. Mayor Don Iveson created the task force in March 2014, inviting 18 community leaders to participate for one year, with the goal of eliminating poverty in the city within one generation. In addition, the task force created an Aboriginal round table as one of two round table working

groups to provide research and information. The group will be collating their information and submitting their own report “so that it is not just through one lens,” said Aboriginal round table co-chair Brenda St. Germain, a social worker with a specialization in Indigenous issues, who has spent the last 30 years working in community development both for the government and her own consulting. St. Germain says that lower literacy levels leading to higher unemployment rates among Aboriginals is the major reason for higher

poverty levels, a trend that has not changed since the 1970s. She also points out that attitudes which date back to colonial history need to change in order for the situation Aboriginals are in to improve. “We want to make people aware that it’s not out and out discrimination, but it is inside and causes stressful problems, and Aboriginal kids are facing this and making them not want to go to school,” said round table co-chair Dr. Daniel McKennit. McKennit is Ojibwe from Sandy Bay outside of Winnipeg, but grew up in Edmonton where he just completed his residency in

CAREERS family medicine and is currently working as a family doctor in the city and in Maskwacis. “Canada has no national discrimination strategy or plan. They have a mental health commission but nothing on discrimination like Australia or New Zealand has. It’s always put to the Aboriginal people to change and we need to do this and that, but maybe Canadian

society as a whole has to look at its values,” said McKennitt. Community engagement will continue to take place until the end of February, after which the information gathered will be collated and given to task force members to review. The next steps include making recommendations and strategizing to implement them. “We need to stop studying

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

Aboriginal people over and over and get to solutions and governments, funders, and organizations like Bissell Centre, must do a better job of listening, engaging Aboriginal people in solution building, taking leadership from those living in poverty, with racism, with trauma and working hard to change how we work together to fix things,” said Holmgren.

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Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

EDUCATION

Legacy of trail blazer includes Indigenous-based studies By Julie MacIsaac Sweetgrass Writer KAINAI FIRST NATION

Marie Smallface Marule, a prominent activist and educator, passed away on Dec. 31, 2014, at the age of 70. Born on the Blood Reserve, she lived a remarkable life, both professional and personal, and blazed a trail in the field of sovereign Indigenous education. As a child, Marie was intelligent and gifted, and her mother had enrolled her in a Christian school in nearby Cardston, a move that served to keep Marie out of residential school. At 16, eager to succeed, but discouraged by the oppressive racism and segregation she was enduring in Cardston, she asked to leave the Blood Reserve and her family to go to boarding school in Edmonton. She excelled in all of her studies, and after high school, got her BA in anthropology and sociology at the University of Alberta. She then spent four years in Zambia, Africa, working with Indigenous peoples there. “It’s like she started her career backwards,” said Ryan Heavy Head, director of Kainai Studies at Red Deer College, where Marie was president for over 20 years. “Most people start locally and work up to national and international work. Marie started internationally and brought back what she had learned there about Aboriginal people and their plights. Because of her experience, she just didn’t seem to have the fear that some people have here about questioning the mainstream paradigm.” Back in Canada, she worked in Ottawa as the executive director of the National Indian Brotherhood (the present day Assembly of First Nations) and helped create the World Council of Indigenous Peoples. She was then invited to return to Alberta to head up the new Native American studies program at the University of Lethbridge. Here, between raising a family and teaching, she found her true niche—education. In 1992, after obtaining her Masters in anthropology, she accepted the position of president at the Red Crow Community College back on the Blood Reserve. There, Marie made it her mission to create a new educational paradigm for the Blackfoot community. She and Ryan Heavy Head worked to create the Kainai studies program at Red Crow College—an accredited,

Marie Smallface Marule spent four years in Zambia, Africa, working with Indigenous peoples.

transferable post-secondary curriculum designed from the ground-up with Blackfoot culture, language and knowledge as its backbone. “She wanted to make postsecondary education relevant to our people,” said Marie’s daughter Tsuaki Marule, an educator herself. “She knew that our ways of knowing have as much value as any cultural knowledge base, and there was no reason why we couldn’t learn everything through our perspective—math, science— anything.” Together Marie and Heavy Head took Kainai studies from a two-year diploma and a oneyear professional development certificate to a fully developed program that taught postsecondary curriculum through the Blackfoot paradigm and lead to degrees and doctorates. “She was our advocate and our shield when we got political pressure, both internally and externally,” Heavy Head said. “People would tell us, ‘If you don’t do what the mainstream is doing, our youth won’t succeed.’ Marie had no fear about conforming to the standards of the mainstream. She was such an advocate for sovereign Aboriginal education.” Both Tsuaki and Heavy Head say that they hope Marie’s legacy will continue to live on in Kainai studies at Red Crow College. “There was a break in our knowledge because of the residential school system,” said Tsuaki. “That was her passion—making sure that our people could get all of this traditional knowledge, so that it’s not lost forever.”

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PHOTO: SUBMITTED

EDUCATION

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015

New training will enhance children’s lives in Aboriginal communities By Sam Laskaris Sweetgrass Writer FORT McKAY

Julia Soucie is hoping to take advantage of an Aboriginal component that will soon be added to the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association’s HIGH FIVE program. ARPA has been running HIGH FIVE since 2007. The training program focuses on how coaches, leaders and instructors can enhance the quality of sport and recreation programs in their communities. But until now, very few of those trained have been Aboriginal. The HIGH FIVE program was developed with the belief that the experiences children have with their recreation and sports events help to shape them in their adult lives. Also, the better prepared those running programs are the better the chances they will have the tools and knowledge to create positive experiences for youth. Since the inception of the HIGH FIVE program, about 3,500 people across the province have been trained in how to implement it in their

communities. Substantial funding recently received by ARPA will allow the program to focus on Aborignal leaders in Aboriginal communities. Soucie, who lives in Fort McMurray, works about a 45minute drive north of the city where she is the director of the Fort McKay Wellness Centre. Since 2012, Soucie has been involved with ARPA’s Communities ChooseWell program, which promotes healthy eating and healthy living. Soucie is now hoping she will be among those chosen to be trained in the HIGH FIVE program. “I think it would be an amazing opportunity to be involved with that,” she said, adding many First Nation communities do not have the financial resources to send officials to initiatives such as this. Fort McKay is primarily a First Nation and Métis community. About 700 people live in Fort McKay. Soucie helps run an afterschool program for about 100 youth, aged 6-17. Besides various recreational activities,

the program also provides tutoring and homework assistance. Allie Pratley, ARPA’s children and youth programs co-ordinator, said the new funding ARPA has received will remedy the lack of Aboriginal participation in the program by enhancing that component. For starters, the RBC and Canadian Sport for Life Learn To Play Project gave ARPA a $25,000 grant in December. This was followed up with $17,000 in funding from the Telus Community Foundation. Pratley is hoping to kick off the program’s Aboriginal segment soon. “I’m currently trying to find 12 participants to do the training,” she said. Pratley is working with officials from the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association to identify potential trainees. Once program participants are chosen, the week-long training sessions are expected to be held in or near Edmonton. “Hopefully we can do it in March,” Pratley said. “It will depend on when they’re all available.”

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Funding from RBC will help add an Aboriginal component to the HIGH FIVE program (from left: Greg Krischke (Chair of the Recreation for Life Foundation), Lise Lepine (RBC), and Allie Pratley (ARPA Children and Youth Programs coordinator).

Pratley is thankful a pair of organizations have come forward to help launch the Aboriginal segment of the HIGH FIVE program. She’s hoping others also step up to

provide additional money to help the program grow. “It would be nice to have a little bit more (funding),” she said. “But I can make it work with what we have now.”

Alberta Sweetgrass - February 2015