febmar15 - Blood Tribe

Transcription

TSINIKSSINI February/March 2015
February/March 2015
Published by Blood Tribe
Administration
COMMUNICATIONS Department
The Blood Tribe Administration Review
entitled ‘TSINIKSSINI’ is dedicated to the
sharing of information for the people of the
Blood Tribe. The magazine format features
news, stories, articles and an array of items
as our way of sharing what is occurring on
the Blood reserve and beyond.
We hope you enjoy your magazine and
invite any suggestions you may have in
improving our coverage on any number of
events and activities. The magazine will
be printed on a monthly basis and will be
distributed to various locations on-and-off
the reserve.
The magazine is free of charge.
The magazine is published by the Blood
Tribe Communications department and
is printed by Graphcom Printers (2011) of
Lethbridge.
The collection of information, photographs
and layout of the magazine is from the
Blood Tribe Communications department.
Reproduction of any story or use of
photographs must be requested in
writing and addressed to the Blood
Tribe Communications department. Any
unauthorized use of stories and photos
of TSINIKSSINI or from the Blood Tribe
Communications department may infringe
on tribal copyright laws.
We would like to acknowledge the Blood
Tribe Chief & Council and the people of the
Blood Tribe for your support.
Rick Tailfeathers: Communications
Director
Tom Russell: Communications
Writer
Myron Fox: Layout
Graphic Design
Sarah Sweet Grass
Photos/Stories
Published by the authority of Blood Tribe
Chief & Council
Box 60 Standoff, AB T0L 1Y0
ph: (403) 737-3753 FAX: (403) 737-2785
visit our website for more... www.bloodtribe.org
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Blood Tribe Forms Core Group
Clayton Blood
Kainai Peacemaking Program
Piikani Supports Drug Awareness
Blood Tribe to Build Grocery Store
Richard Van Camp
Narcisse Blood
Blackfeet Tribal Service Providers
Kainai Agricultural Showcase
First Nations and The Canadian Settler State
First Nations and The Canadian Settler State
2015 International Peace Pow Wow
2015 International Peace Pow Wow
BTA Security Cameras
Human Resource Conference
Blood Tribe Boxing Club
BTEST Agrcultural Training Program
PUBLIC NOTICE
A record number of dancers and drummers entertained the crowd
during the annual Blackfoot Cultural Society Powwow. The event is
proving to be one of the first on the powwow trail everyone looks
forward to.
Photo credit: Rick Tailfeathers
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BLOOD TRIBE FORMS CORE GROUP
IN ALL OUT EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES
the needle and water. The orange simulated
the fleshy part of the body where the needle
would be injected with the medication. The
thigh was the most preferred place to inject
the Naloxone medication in a real situation
involving an overdose.
A group of Blood Tribe members prepare for training on Naloxone medication.
The Blood Tribe is taking the initiative to
meet the addictions crisis head on through
an aggressive awareness campaign by a
number of concerned groups. With the
support of Chief & Council, the health
department, local agencies, concerned
community members and the Blood Tribe
Police are engaging in an organized effort
in their unified determination to rid our
communities of the drugs and alcohol that
are killing our people.
On March 25, 2015, a core group of
professionals and tribal members met with
the directors, managers and employees of
the Blood Tribe to share current information
on a number of topics related to the deadly
drug Oxy 80. During the meeting several
professionals with HIV Connection
Lethbridge, Harlee-Kay McArthur and
Jennifer Seppola, shared information with
the participants on key points to watch out
for if they are near a person experiencing
an overdose.
If a person is suspected of experiencing an
overdose, CALL 911. The next step one
would look for is to see if their lips are
turning blue. The next step is to rub your
knuckles across their chest and on their lips
and teeth to try to get a reaction to pain.
If the person still does not respond, even
by yelling at them, then CPR is required to
keep their heart pumping. If a Naloxone
kit is nearby, take the needle out and take
off the needle cap, then open the bottle of
Naloxone and put the needle into the vile
and take out 1 cc. Next, inject the needle
into the thigh and inject the Naloxone
into the person. The individual should
wake up and may be unaware they have
just experienced an overdose. Stay by the
individual until help arrives.
Naloxone kits were made available to all
the participants and a certificate was given
to those who went through the training
exercise. A total of 47 Naloxone kits were
given to the participants with a number of
departments and staff, as well as concerned
community members present to know what
to do in the event of an overdose happening.
The Blood Tribe will continue with its
efforts in combatting Oxy 80 and other
illicit drug practices and will keep everyone
informed on up-coming events. The Blood
Tribe encourages everyone to continue with
your support in ridding our community of
these deadly drug activities.
A Youtube video shown on how to respond
to an overdose situation called Narcan
Chicago showed an actual overdose and
how the people used the medication
Naloxone, or Narcan, to save the person’s
life.
During their presentation on how to
administer Naloxone, each of the people
in attendance were given a syringe, a small
vial of water (the water was used in place of
the actual vile of Naloxone), and an orange.
The cap of the syringe was then taken off
to show the needlepoint. The needle was
then dipped into the water and filled to I
cc and then the orange was injected with
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Simone Soop preparing for training.
Story by Tom Russell
BLOOD TAKES HELM OF KAINAIWA RESOURCES INC.
IN PREPARING TO MAINTAIN TRIBAL OIL ACTIVITIES
Clayton Blood, former Blood Tribe Communications specialist, is the General Manager at Kainaiwa Resources Inc.
The Kainawa Resources Inc. has a new
general manager—Clayton Blood. The
former IT Communications specialist
is preparing to manage the tribal entity
with regard to oil and gas development
and business enterprises. Blood, hired on
March 12, 2015,
“We’re in the driver’s seat with regard
to development of oil and gas in our
community,” he said. “What we’re trying
to do is to have the right people in the right
places to do the work we need done. We
have people now, training in the areas of
geology and engineering who will assist as
vital resources as we move forward.”
Becoming familiar with his duties is a
priority Blood is encountering, but already
foresees key priorities in progressing with
KRI objectives.
“We feel we can be competitive with
the industry players so that we can bring
our people everywhere we need to go,”
explained Blood of the need to enhance the
skill level and networking opportunities.
“We’re hoping, down the road, to build
alliances with other Blackfoot Nations such
as the Blackfeet, Siksika and Piikani in the
oil and gas industry. Not just in exploration,
but also in refining and marketing of all
these products.”
In keeping with practices already
established by KRI, Blood realizes oil
exploration is required, however, all
tribal sacred and significant areas must be
protected.
“Our staff is quite concerned about
maintaining our environment in our
community. We have some sacred areas
and we would like these companies to be
aware of our culture and not disturbing
them,” he said.
Maintaining transparency is another area
Blood is aware of.
“As I become more involved in my duties, I
will be more forthcoming to our community
members with respect to our revenue
and finances,” he said. “These are things
people have been asking for. We want to
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make people more familiar with the drilling
processes and other concerns to help them
understand through the information we will
be providing.”
Blood said vital information will be
provided to leadership to assist in decisionmaking ventures and for members to take
advantage of the opportunities in the oil
and gas industry.
“Kainaiwa Resources Inc. is one of the
bigger players when it comes to First
Nations in Canada,” he said. “We’ll be
sitting with the government of Canada
as well as Alberta in trying to say this is
what we want to do here. We need to give
our leadership information to make those
choices. We can definitely work with the
industry, but there has to be rules that we
play by. We have to make sure those rules
are fair to us as well. My dream is for the
Blood tribe to one day be self-sufficient.”
For more information on Kainaiwa
Resources Inc., please call at 403.737.3950.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ANNOUNCES
FUNDING FOR KAINAI PEACEMAKING PROGRAM
Funding supports culturally appropriate justice activities in the Kainai First Nation
Stand Off, AB –
The peacemaking sessions facilitated by
the KPP help offenders carry out restitution
to the victims. By following traditional
Blackfoot protocol, offenders can also
help restore individual relationships and
community harmony and develop an
appreciation of Blackfoot values critical to
spiritual healing.
In addition to services rooted in Blackfoot
traditions, the KPP also has strong links to
mainstream counselling and assessments to
treat the diverse needs of its clients, both
offenders and victims.
Staff of Kainai Peacemaking Program with Tribal Elders and MP, John Barlow
Department of Justice, John Barlow,
Member of Parliament for MacLeod, on
behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay,
Minster of Justice and Attorney General of
Canada, announced $641,860 in funding
for the Kainai Peacemaking Program
over 2 years. This community-based
program works to restore personal, family
and community relationships by using
traditional Kainai peacemaking practices
such as mediation and conflict resolution.
The funding is being provided as part of
the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, through
which the federal government works
with provinces, territories and Aboriginal
communities to support communitybased justice programs. These programs
provide an alternative to the mainstream
justice system for less serious offences
in appropriate circumstances. They also
enable Aboriginal people to assume greater
responsibility for the administration of
justice in their communities and strengthen
the voice of victims.
Economic Action Plan 2014 had already
committed the Government to invest $22.2
million over two years in the Aboriginal
Justice Strategy. The Government recently
announced that it will extend its support of
Through the Aboriginal Justice Strategy,
the Government will provide the Kainai
Peacemaking Program with $641,860; this
includes $320,930 in fiscal year 2014-15
and $320,930 in fiscal year 2015-16.
this important work to include an additional
$11.1 million for fiscal year 2016-17.
The Kainai Peacemaking Program (KPP)
has been providing justice services to
its community members since 2008.
Along with its partners, the KPP focuses
on restoring communal relationships by
revitalizing traditional Blackfoot justice
practices. Their services are open to the
Crown prosecutor, Alberta provincial
courts (including youth and family courts),
Blood Tribe schools, elder advisory groups
and a variety of other community-services
agencies.
The KPP Coordinator works with four
advisors and 10 Peacekeepers to provide
restorative justice for the Blood Tribe’s
members. Through its strong network,
the KPP ensures that clients have access
to mental health services, individual
and family counselling, stress/anger
management, counselling for anxiety
or depressive disorders, parentingskills development, conflict resolution,
traditional elder counselling, and a variety
of traditionally based healing services to
help offenders and victims seek resolution.
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MP, John Barlow giving announcement at media
conference.
Story by Rick Tailfeathers
Members from the Piikani and Kainai First Nations on drug awareness walk through the Piikani townsite.
A large group of people gathered on Piikani
territory on February 12, 2015, to take their
concerns to the public as they marched
through their townsite in raising awareness
on the abuse of prescription and illegal
drugs. The awareness walk was supported
by students of the Piikani and Kainai school
systems, and by concerned residents and
elders who voiced their issues in reducing
drug abuse on their reserve.
Marlon Swag, Piikani, was one of the
organizers of the walk and emcee’d the
gathering in the Piikani Community Hall
where they listened to individuals who
shared their experiences with the people.
Among those was Kainai member Pam
Little Bear. Today, she is a strong advocate
for a healthy lifestyle, however, as a former
abuser of prescription drugs, Little Bear
gave the audience a glimpse into a way of
life she was fortunate to survive.
“I had a lot of things in my past that I didn’t
deal with, so I turned to meds (prescribed
medication). It helped me numb these
things,” she said of her initial journey
into prescription drug abuse. “What these
drugs did to me was it took away my job,
my health, my money and it took my
memories. It also took away my love for
my family and my life.”
Little Bear is taking the opportunity
to share her experiences with her drug
addiction. She is one of a handful of people
who are stepping forward in the hope that
her ordeal with the abuse of prescription
drugs can help others overcome the
unhealthy and destructive lifestyle. “When
I look back on my life, I didn’t see a future,
I wasn’t happy, I didn’t care anymore,” she
said. “But today, I can say I am truly alive.
There’s help out there and I encourage you
to continue your fight against the Oxy 80s
and prescription drug abuse.”
Florence Weasel Bear, Piikani Prevention
Counseling Services, was thankful for the
awareness walk. “Our biggest fight are the
addictions on the reserve, whether it be
alcohol or prescription drug abuse; there’s
no need for that on our reserve,” she said.
“We’re trying to give our community a
better way of life, but we all have to work
together to stop these addictions that are
killing our people.”
Patsy
English,
Piikani
Prevention
Counseling Services, reflected the concerns
of the community. “These addictions
are killing us,” she said. “What we want
is for our community to take charge, to
work together. Our children look up to us
as role models. Let’s give them a future,
something healthy and positive to follow
and build upon.”
Doug Iron Shirt, co-organizer of the
awareness walk, has experienced the
addictions and now is a supportive
community member helping others to live
healthy lifestyles. “Today, I’m clean, sober
and healthy,” he said. “We can beat these
addictions, but you have to make up your
mind. Just remember, you are not alone,
there are supports here to help you.”
Lydia Mistaken Chief and other instructors
of Saipoyi School supported the walk in
the hopes of promoting positive choices
for the students. “Life is too short,” she
began. “We really need to think about
our lives. Make sure you say something
positive about people because it makes a
difference.”
The Piikani Nation wants to continue in
their collective efforts to live in a healthy
community free from alcohol and drugs.
Horse riders lead the way on walk.
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BLOOD TRIBE IS PREPARING FOR GROCERY STORE
AND OFFERING ALTERNATIVE HEALTHY SHOPPING
The Blood Tribe will be home to a
supermarket for local members to buy
fresh produce and products. The grocery
store is based on a coop model rather than a
franchise will tentative be called the Kainai
Market Place. Situated near the former
Kainai Industries building, the grocery
store will offer fresh fruit and vegetables,
meat, a deli, bakery goods, dairy, groceries,
household goods, and personal care items.
Rob
Crow,
Director,
Economic
Development, and his staff prepared a
feasibility study to address a need, problem
and concern in the community, as well
as generate income, address economic
leakage, create employment and improve
the standard of living for the members of
the Blood Tribe.
The building is scheduled for completion
and a soft opening in November 2016,
once all details have been met. The grocery
store staff will include four management
positions with nine full-time employees.
According to a community survey
undertaken in September 2014, it indicated
that 93% of the respondents felt a grocery
store was either very important (55%) or
important (38%). Over 84% of respondents
indicated that they are more likely to
support a store with more community
involvement. Many of the comments
arising from the survey indicate a strong
desire to have members own and operate
a grocery store, and employ local member
residents.
Also, to substantiate the need and financial
feasibility of this project, prior research
has clearly demonstrated that: “Blood
Tribe members spent over $17,500,000 in
groceries and toiletries in 2007. Grocery
purchases are constant and form part of
the standard economic structure in any
community.”
The Blood Tribe has successfully received
a $1,550,000 grant from the Government of
Alberta – Aboriginal Relations. The Blood
Tribe Chief and Council have matched the
grant amount with a contribution of $ 1.5
million, and the economic development are
currently approaching financial institutions
for debt financing, currently estimated at
$2.7 million dollars.
Architect rendering of the proposed Kainai Market Place building near the former Kainai Industries building.
The goal is to bring affordable, fresh, healthy food products to on reserve First Nation
members who currently have no alternative to convenience store junk food. This is
especially important considering the myriad of health issues and lack of nutritional
choices that members face.
Blood Tribe Economic Development Director Rob Crow.
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AUTHOR AND STORYTELLER VISITS BLOOD NATION
TO SHARE HIS WORK AND TO MOTIVATE CHILDREN
Richard Van Camp is a Tłı̨ chǫ writer from
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. He is
best known for his 1996 novel The Lesser
Blessed, which was adapted into a film by
director Anita Doron in 2012.
On March 12th, 2015, The Kainai Public
Library, Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School,
and Kainai Board of Education First Nation
Student Success Program (FNSSP) hosted
Van Camp’s visit, which included an
evening of wonderful storytelling. About
50 Community members came to listen and
were mesmerized by his stories. Everyone
who came received an autographed copy
of the novel: The Lesser Blessed. The
following day, Friday, March 13th, 2015,
he visited with the students.
A proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho)
Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Van camp
is a graduate of the En’owkin International
School of Writing, the University of
Victoria’s Creative Writing BFA Program,
and the Master’s Degree in Creative Writing
at the University of British Columbia.
Richard Van Camp is an internationally
renowned storyteller and best-selling
author. His novel, The Lesser Blessed, is
now a movie with First Generation Films
and premiered in September of 2012 at
the Toronto International Film Festival.
He is the author of three collections of
short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern,
The Moon of Letting Go and Godless but
Loyal to Heaven, as well as two children’s
books with Cree artist, George Littlechild:
A Man Called Raven and What’s the Most
Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
His first baby book, Welcome Song for
Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, was the
official selection of the Books for BC
Babies program and was given to every
newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008.
Richard followed this up with another
board book: Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song
for Babies. His third book for babies, Little
You, is now out with Orca Book Publishers.
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PHOTO CREDIT: SHARON TAILFEATHERS
Richard Van Camp
The amazing Julie Flett is the artist. Little
You is published in Bush Cree, Dene and
South Slavey, courtesy of the South Slave
Divisional Board of Education.
All of Van Camp’s children’s books are
available in Braille for free, anywhere in the
world, courtesy of the Provincial Resource
Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI)
and Accessible Resource Centre-British
Columbia (ARC-BC). Richard’s first comic
book on deterring youth away from gangs,
Path of the Warrior, is published with Cree
artist Steve Sanderson through the Healthy
Aboriginal Network. His second comic
book on sexual health is Kiss Me Deadly,
with Haida artist Chris Auchter, is now
out and can be read in its entirety at www.
thehealthyaboriginal.net.
Richard wrote for CBC’s North of 60
television show for two months under their
Writer Internship Program and was a script
and cultural consultant with them for four
seasons. He taught creative writing at the
University of British Columbia, worked
as a Creative Writing and Storytelling
instructor with the Emily Carr Institute
and was the Writer in Residence at the
University of Alberta for 2011 and 2012,
and at MacEwan University in 2013 and
2014.
This was a truly unique literary experience
hosted by Kainai Public Library and
sponsored by the FNSSP initiative to
promote literacy.
Richard Van Camp visited the Kainai Community
Library
U OF L NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT’S LOUNGE
TO BE NAMED ‘TATSIKIISTAMIK’ AFTER BLOOD
The University of Lethbridge honored a
former alumni and contributor to traditional
and contemporary education in naming the
Native American Student’s Association
lounge after Narcisse Blood.
Blood, who passed away in a tragic car
accident near Regina, Sask., was to visit the
Piapot reserve where they were working
on a media project. His contribution to
academia was a contributor to requests from
universities worldwide where he shared his
tremendous knowledge and insight.
Surrounded by Blood’s loving wife Alvine,
and their children, grandchildren and
friends, Dr. Leroy Little Bear, a long-time
friend and associate, made a presentation in
honoring Blood.
“We’re very proud of our university and all
of our students are making a big difference
in our communities; they’re the change
makers, they came here to learn and they’ve
gone out to serve,” he began. “As well
know, Narcisse Blood made a great imprint
here at the university, just as he did out
there in the community. Today, our Native
Chapter did an honoring so that we can
regroup; let’s continue the work Narcisse
did out in the community. We want to give
a little recognition to his family.”
Little Bear then called upon Mike Bruised
Head, Kainai councilor, to make the
announcement.
“It is with great honor, that we have
communicated with the U of L president’s
office and the Faculty of Education and
the professors who have worked with
Narcisse,” he began. “The President (Mike
Mahon) has agreed the Native American
Student’s Lounge will be named after
Narcisse, the Tatsikiistamik Lounge.”
Narcisses’ wife Alvine shared her thoughts
on the presentation.
“I am really humbled by the outpouring of
support,” she said. “I never imagined this
unimaginable loss of my dear husband.
He was a beautiful person. He had nothing
but respect for me and our family. He put
everyone first before himself. He admired
everyone and their abilities. I want to thank
you all. Let us continue his work. Thank
you for the dedication.”
A plaque commemorating the dedication
will be presented to the family and will be
posted at the Tatsikiistamik Lounge. Kainai Councilors Mike Bruised Head and Billy
Wadsworth shared their thoughts as alumni at the University of Lethbridge.
The legacy of the late Narcisse Blood will live on.
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BLACKFEET TRIBAL MEMBERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
WORKING TOGETHER TO LIVE FREE FROM ADDICTIONS
Newly appointed Blackfeet Chief of Police Jess Edwards addresses the tribal members of current tribal police activities.
The influences of illicit and illegal drugs
and alcohol are not only wreaking havoc
here on the Blood reserve, but are also
affecting tribal reserves on both sides of
the border. On the Blackfeet reservation in
northern Montana, alcohol and drug abuse,
especially methamphetamines (crystal
meth), suboxone and marijuana, are a large
enough problem that many community
members, services providers, professionals
and the local law enforcement are working
together in seeking solutions for the
betterment of their tribe.
Blackfeet tribal member Lester Johnson,
Office of Prevention administrator,
Blackfeet Tribal Health, facilitated the
community meeting that was well attended
by local people and a number of agencies
and departments who shared their concerns.
Prior to the beginning of the meeting,
the participants were asked to complete
a survey that included many questions
regarding a number of topics related to
addictions and health care.
Johnson introduced Dr. Joe Gray who
began practicing medicine in Browning in
2005. During an informal discussion with
other physicians, they realized how many
babies were born with addictions. They
researched medical records from 2008 on
babies born from mothers admitting to
abusing pills, drugs or alcohol. “In 2008,
the numbers were about 22 per cent, so we
kept track every year since of babies born
addicted,” he shared. “In 2013, it was up
to 44 per cent and in 2014, it was between
49 and 51 percent of all babies born on
the Blackfeet reservation are borne from
substance abusing mothers.”
Gray said the national average is about 3 to
13 per cent, and said the babies born with
addictions on the Blackfeet reservation is
alarming. Many of the children growing
up with addictions is already straining an
overburdened health, law enforcement and
educational system in caring for children,
youth and adults with Attention Deficit
Disorders and related health and mental
issues.
Newly appointed Blackfeet Tribal Police
Chief Jess Edwards and his staff cover
a huge area and answered 19, 414 calls
for service in 2014. In the past 7 months,
they answered 7,829 calls; 1,833 arrests;
107 domestic violence calls, 168 assaults,
55 drug arrest, 1,062 traffic offenses, 710
DUI’s and 123 juvenile crimes. Edwards
said the police force is doing what they can
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despite their limited staff.
“The past 5-10 years, it (drugs and alcohol
abuse) wasn’t that bad, but now it’s getting
worse. Enough is enough, let’s work
together,” he said to the people. “Our
Chairman and Council want to see us grow,
and we have their full support. The children
are our future, and our youth and elders
are very important. Let’s start building
that foundation for our people and our
generations.”
Among the other groups who shared
information were the Blackfeet Boarding
Dormitory, community members and
Project Aware presenters Ray Cobell,
Tribal Attorney Sandy Watts and Council
member Cheryl Little Dog. Tribal member
Wendy Burd also shared her story on drug
abuse and of her attempt now to change her
lifestyle for the better. She will be featured
soon in a documentary shot in Browning on
the topic of drugs and addictions.
The Blackfeet are organizing a planning
group to begin the process of positively
helping the community. The planning
groups next meeting is April 8, 2015, at 5
p.m. at the Blackfeet Stick Game Building.
FIRST EVER KAINAI AG SHOWCASE ATTRACT MANY
TO SEEK CAREERS IN THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
The Blood Tribe Ag Initiative has farming equipment ready for use.
The Blood Tribe Agriculture Training
Initiative hosted a Kainai Ag Showcase at
the Multipurpose building on March 18,
2015, where a large number of departments,
entities and local businesses featured
current and past initiatives in an effort to
guide our youth and community members
in seeking a career in the agriculture
industry.
Travis Plaited Hair, Liaison, Chief &
Council, introduced Francis First Charger
who gave his blessings and then called
upon Calvin Cross Child, BTAP general
manager, to welcome the people and
vendors in attendance.
“I want to welcome everyone here today,”
he said. “The Blood Tribe Agricultural
Training Initiative began with one vision
of how we wanted to see our lands and
agricultural resources protected, managed
and utilized in the future.”
Chief Charles Weasel Head shared his
thoughts of those promoting agriculture.
“We want to educate our people in
agriculture,” he said. “We leave a huge
footprint in southern Alberta and are in a
prime position to capitalize on that. This
is a tremendous opportunity for us to take
over our lands. Agriculture is our biggest
economy on the Blood reserve, so we
need our young to move in that direction
to strengthen our future. The Blood Tribe
Agricultural Training Initiative is a huge
step forward. I thank everyone for your
support here today. ”
The Economic Development Chair Frank
Black Plume shared a few words with the
people. “We had a vision to start farming
our own land. We are looking at the future
for our children, grandchildren so that they
can have a better standard of living,” he
said.
Blood Councilor Al Black Water
commented on the showcase and its
progress. “We want to be able to farm all
205,000 acres of our land and we know this
isn’t going to happen overnight,” he said.
“The goal is to get the Blood Tribe to farm
our own land. I also want to acknowledge
our trainees who will be prepared to begin
in the spring.”
A number of other businesses and vendors
were asked to share their contributions and
information with the people.
Among the departments, entities and
vendors who contributed to the showcase
included: Blood Tribe Chief & Council,
Recreation, Lethbridge College, Blood
Tribe Economic Development, Red Crow
College, BTEST, Kainaiwa Resources
Inc., KBE, Land Management, Social
Development, BTAP, Remington Museum
Carriages, Steve Frank, Petting Zoo, B&D
Water Farms, Lowe Ranches Inc., OK
Tire, I Beam Metal Erectors Ltd., Bank
of Montreal, Lethbridge Toyota, C & C
Farming Ventures, Zimmatic Irrigation
Solutions, Kainai Headstart Program,
Larsen’s Custom Feeders, MNP, Running
Coyote Enterprises and Western Tractor
John Deere Ltd.
Armond Duck Chief provided the
entertainment and a number of people won
a few door prizes.
The children hold the key to our future.
The Blood Tribe Agricultural Project booth was one of many at the showcase.
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TSINIKSSINI april/may 2014
RESERVATIONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE:
FIRST NATIONS AND THE CANADIAN SETTLER STATE
The policy of the federal government
of Canada with respect to First Nations
specifically and Aboriginal peoples
generally has been one of expediency
subject only to the political whims of the day
and lacking any coherent understanding of
peoples and history, laws and governments
or responsibilities. Political exigencies and
ill conceived policies do not help either the
Canadian settler state or First Nations better
understand the nature of their relationship
or shed any light on how or why certain
subjects came to be regarded as important
or where we should be going from here.
Elders, grass roots people, traditionalists
and students alike have emphasized
the importance of the treaties between
Aboriginal governments and the Canadian
settler state and the need to preserve
and continue the nation-to-nation treaty
relationship that historically existed
between our respective governments.
Indeed, as Vine Deloria Jr., suggests, to
reopen the treaty making process would
place both the United States and in our case
Canada in the forefront of civilized nations
in their treatment of the aboriginal peoples
of the continent and he laments that the
“aboriginal question” is a problem that not
even Japan and the Soviet Union have yet
to resolve.
The colonial nature of the relationship
between First Nations and the Canadian
settler state is cancerous albeit rarely
acknowledged or admitted fact of life
within both Canada and the United
States.
Our particular circumstance of
internal colonialism has meant that First
Nations and Aboriginal peoples are the
first to experience the negative effects of
colonialism in North America. Indeed to
resolve the matter of colonization of First
Nations and Aboriginal peoples would also
mean to resolve issues threatening to the
environment and the whole of humanity.
Maturation of the modern Canadian settler
state has meant that First Nations and
Aboriginal peoples continue to suffocate
in the yoke of internal colonialism
by living in the most grinding sort of
poverty. The situation of First Nations and
Aboriginal peoples is more characteristic
of a Third World environment than of rural
communities situated in a country that
boasts to be the best place to live on the
planet.
The problem with describing the “bond”
between Aboriginal peoples and the
Canadian settler state as “colonial” in nature
is that colonialism is considered illegal
under provisions of the United Nations
Charter since 1945 and other elements of
international law and is considered the
means to “save succeeding generations
from the scourge of war” by reaffirming
“fundamental human rights, the dignity and
worth of the human person, in the equal
rights of men and women and of nations
both large and small” as stated the United
Nations in the Statute of International Law
Commission.
As a result, among the colonists or
beneficiaries of the colonial praxis in
Canada and the United States they have
sought wherever and whenever possible
to deliberately create the misimpression
that despite all appearances to the contrary,
what is really isn’t. In this respect, Sartre
remarked “concealing, deceiving and
lying” is believed to be a national duty
“among those whose minds are mortgaged
to rationalizing whatever benefits and
privileges they might obtain from the
colonial order.”
It is therefore not surprising that both
Canada and the United States have
“consistently sought to defend its relations
with First Nations and Aboriginal peoples
by referencing the Marshall Doctrine’s
rationalization that the U.S. [and Canada]
has assumed a trust responsibility towards
rather than outright colonial domination
over Native North America.” In response,
First Nation and Aboriginal leaders have
explained “correctly, that trust prerogatives,
in order to be valid under international
law, must be tied to some clearly
articulated point at which the trust resume
independent existence. This requirement
has been contrasted to the U.S./Canadian
governments’ claims that they enjoy a
permanent trust authority over indigenous
nations; the assumption by any nation
of such authority over another’s affairs
and property is the essential definition of
colonialism, and is thus illegal under a
12
number of international covenants.”
Both Canada and the United Stated have
vociferously argued that their relationship
to First Nations and Aboriginal peoples
is not colonial in nature since the “Blue
Water Thesis” embodied in United Nations
Resolution 1541 (XV) states that “in
order to be defined as a colony a nation
must be separated from its colonizer by
at least thirty miles of open ocean.” The
“Blue Water Thesis” has effectively halted
application of the right to decolonization
and self-determination under contemporary
international law to First Nations and
Aboriginal peoples. Thus, Canada and
the United States have been able to assert
that their ongoing colonial domination of
First Nations and Aboriginal peoples is not
really colonial in nature.
Of course, the presumption underlying
United Nations Resolution 1541 (XV) that
the territory under consideration has been
legitimately acquired is simply not the case
with respect to both Canada and the United
States. Even avoiding questions regarding
forced and coerced land surrenders, the
United States federal government’s own
“Indian Claims Commission concluded in
its 1978 final report that the U.S. possessed
no basis at all for its assertion of title
to/jurisdiction over approximately 35
percent of its claimed gross territoriality”.
The same may be said with respect to
Canada’s assertion of territorial integrity to
substantial portions of its country where for
example, in British Columbia no treaties
exist.
First Nations and Aboriginal peoples
have been characterized as occupying a
Fourth World , which sits above the First
(capitalist), Second (socialist) and Third
(developing) World’s. There are at least
5,000 indigenous peoples in the world today,
and only 199 states. And all the capitalist,
socialist and developing countries “owe
their existence to the appropriation of the
Fourth World landbase, the expropriation
of natural resources rightly belonging to
those indigenous to that landbase, and
to other usurpations of our rights, both
collective and individual.” And the nature
of the relationship between indigenous
peoples and the nation states in which they
The turtle shown here represents North America as what our ancestors called Turtle Island.
“Turtle Island” Painting by Mark Wagner
are encapsulated, Blue Water Thesis notwithstanding, remains colonial. Until we acknowledge the colonization of First Nations and
Aboriginal peoples, rhetoric about achieving a “post-modern” or “post-colonial” world order “will remain an illusion to be pursued
but never attained” for the worlds 5,000 indigenous peoples. In fact, avoiding calling things by their right names has historically and
presently caused untold suffering for the victims of colonization. Indeed, cultural geographer Bernard Nietschmann, has documented
that of “the 122 armed conflicts … occurring on the planet in 1993, only one was between states, while 97 involved efforts by indigenous
peoples to free themselves from domination by states and military operations aimed at (re)subjugating them.” And “of the remaining
24 conflicts, 23 are classified as state responses to “insurgencies,” usually by leftist guerrillas. Several of these, such as that of the
Sendero Luminoso in Peru, are composed at the grassroots level by primarily native people.” And it should be pointed out that the U.S.
conducted a counterinsurgency campaign against the American Indian Movement during the mid-1970s in their efforts to decolonize
Native North America and to force the U.S. government to live up to the treaties it signed with American Indian peoples.
13
Submitted by James Oka
2015 INTERNATIONAL PEACE POWWOW
BRINGS NATIONS TOGETHER TO DANCE
The International Peace Powwow at the
Enmax Centre in Lethbridge brought record
numbers of participants and spectators.
The event brings together the nations of
the Blackfoot Confederacy - Alberta’s
Piikani, Kainai/Blood, and Siksika and
Montana’s Blackfeet - as well as tribes and
First Nations from across western North
America.
Hosted by the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural
Society annually for the past 15 years, the
event has become very popular among
drummers and dancers who follow the
powwow trail. The mid-winter event
from February 28 to March1, 2015, at the
spacious Enmax Centre, showcases the
best that Aboriginal cultures have to offer
in music, dance and the visual arts.
Grand Entry at the Enmax Center, Lethbridge AB, premier event of the pow wow
International Pow Wow did not dissapoint participants
14
Jingle Dancers in competition, many tribes were represented.
Ladies Traditional dancers, some familiar faces from the Pow Wow trail.
15
Mens Traditional dancer in finest regalia.
SECURITY CAMERAS MOUNTED IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
OFFERS GREATER PROTECTION TO OUR TRIBAL ASSETS
The cameras do provide an additional
blanket of security as the Blood Tribe
Police have requested for taped footage of
suspicious activities in the parking lots and
within the two buildings.
“We have assisted the Blood Tribe Police
on some of the things that have happened
here, like altercations,” he says. “The
cameras provide us with a certain time and
date and we then burn the footage on a disc
and give it to the police.”
Chief Calf says the security cameras are
here for a purpose
“These cameras here are for the safety of the
public and the employees,” he comments.
“Also, we need to protect all tribal assets.
So, these cameras play an important role in
offering protection and safety.”
Photo of a security camera mounted on the Blood Tribe Administration building.
The Blood Tribe Administration recently
upgraded its security system with the
addition of a number of high definition
cameras. The cameras have the capability
to accurately monitor any activities for
security reasons for the protection of the
public and tribal assets. Danny Chief Calf,
security, has been employed in his current
occupation for the past 12 years and says
the present security system offers a greater
sense of protection and coverage.
“When I first began here, we had only one
camera here,” he says. “And just recently,
we upgraded our camera system. We can
now zoom in on people, or on a license
plate. We can actually move them around.”
The cameras provided by Pinnacle Systems
from Lethbridge, offer expanded reach
for both the Blood Tribe Administration
and Human Resource buildings. With
approximately 40 cameras mounted in
strategic locations, Chief Calf says the
tribe is in a better position to monitor any
activities deemed suspicious or dangerous.
“Many of these cameras are in obvious
locations, but we do have cameras that are
situated in areas that the public may not
be aware of,” he says. “These cameras do
have a purpose. For example, one time we
saw someone jump over the counter at the
main reception area of the administration
building. I saw this and went to investigate,
however, it was an employee’s child. The
monitors picked up a situation such as that
and helped us in providing protection.”
The cameras are motion sensored and begin
recording when movement is detected
within range. Chief Calf says not all areas
are within camera reach, but these areas are
covered during their routine surveillance of
the buildings.
“Many of these cameras
are in obvious locations,
but we do have cameras
that are situated in areas
that the public may not be
aware of ” -Danny Chief
Calf
This is one of the new security cameras protecting tribal members and assets.
16
HUMAN RESOURCES HOST CONFERENCE
IN MOTIVATING EMPLOYEE STANDARDS
Blood elder Carolla Calf Robe.
Stacey Da Silva holds a painting she recieved
The Blood Tribe Human Resources
department hosted a conference on March
19 – 20, 2015, as a measure of informing
employees of current trends and embracing
change in the workplace. With over 300
employees currently involved in many
departments and entities, the need to
keep employees motivated and up-dated
with current employment standards is
key in maintaining a healthy and vibrant
workplace environment.
The conference had a number of guest
speakers including councilor Mike Bruised
Head and Dorothy First Rider and elder
Carolla Calf Robe. Emcee Travis Plaited
Hair introduced the three facilitators to the
employees who participated in each of the
three workshops during each day.
Dianne King, PMC Advisors in Indigenous
Renewal, facilitated Understanding Change
and Tradition; Stacey Da Silva facilitated
Motivation and Kristal Frank facilitated
Utilizing Teams During Periods of Change.
Each year, the Human Resources
conference grows as employees realize
the need to have a better understanding of
the workplace in meeting the needs of the
people they serve.
Mike White Grass was the winner of an
Ipad.
Frank Scout, on behalf of his staff, thanks
and acknowledges the facilitators, guest
speakers, Holiday Inn and the employees
who attended the conference.
Blood Councillor Dorothy First Rider
The Human Resource Conference was well attended by employees who were informed on many topics.
17
Story by Tom Russell / Photos by Sarah Sweet Grass
BLOOD TRIBE BOXING CLUB HOST CARD
IN ATTRACTING TOP BOXERS TO EVENT
The Blood Tribe Boxing Club hosted a
very entertaining boxing card on March 7,
2015, which kept the crowd in attendance
on its toes throughout the day. A number
of categories kept the fans cheering as the
contestants battled head-to-head in heated,
but friendly competition.
Fight organizer Dexter Bruised Head
was pleased at the number of boxing
clubs and boxers who attended. He also
acknowledged the boxing hungry fans who
enjoyed every bout during the day.
“I am very happy with age groups that are
participating. The young boxers are eager to
learn and listen. The boxers range from age
8-15. Everyone had a great time including
parents and grandparents. I’m especially
proud of the parents who have organized
and fundraised for the club. Without them
getting involved it would have been very
difficult to host an event,” he said. “Thanks
to past boxers who attended such as Dennis
Chiefmoon and Gilbert Blackwater Sr. who
were awarded with beaded medallions.
The parents and boxers adopted the phrase:
‘I may never make a living boxing, but
the discipline from boxing will make a
living for me; Honour Strength Courage
Endurance Respect.’ Thanks to Recreation
for all the support and everyone who came
out to support the club. It was a great
Saturday afternoon to come together for a
very positive event for our youth. The club
is gearing up for Buckskin Gloves in Fort
Hall Idaho in April and North American
Indian Championships San Carlos, AZ, in
July.”
The winners of each match were:
Ryker Bruised Head, Gabriel Bastidas, Jeff
Black Water, Raymond Eagle Bear, Jaxon
Duff, Chris L’hirondelle, Brandt Beebe.
The sparring provided the kids with an
opportunity to step in the ring as if it were
a real bout. Each one received a trophy and
t-shirts for sparring. Each winner of the
regular bouts received a trophy belt with a
beaded medallion made by Teena Calfrobe.
Bruised Head acknowledges and thanks
all the Boxing Clubs, boxers, fans and
sponsors who contributed to the card.
The referee shares final instruction before match begins.
Following are the boxers and weight class
during the card:
Matches:
11-12 yrs. Novice
1. Cameron, Cougar 126 lbs vs Jett Black
Water, Blood, 129 lbs
12 yrs. Novice
2. Raymond Eagle Bear, Blood, 152 lbs vs
Gus Calf Robe, Blood, 150 lbs
14-15 yrs. Novice
3. Brandt Beebe, Blood Tribe, 155 lbs vs
Josh Hynes, Medicine Hat, 164 lbs
Sr. Novice
4. Chris L’hirondelle Cougar (Ward)
136 lbs vs Paul Carson, Cranbrook, 139
lbs
11-12 yrs
5. Jude Blackwater, Blood, 100 lbs vs
Gabriel Bastidas, Cougar (Ward) 105 lbs
14-15 yrs
6. Evan Duquette, SS Legion, 145 lbs vs
Kaleb Day Chief, Blood, 154 lbs
Sr. Novice
7. Yannick Fluery, Cougar, 152 lbs vs Alex
Malaba, SS Legion, 152 lbs
Kids Sparring
1. Ty Kolbeck, Cranbrook, vs Bryson Reis,
Lethbridge
2. Whisper Whiteman, Blood, vs Nathan
Big Sorrel Horse, Blood
3. Ryker Bruisedhead Blood, vs Jackson
Mattern, Cougar (Ward)
4. Alex Eagle Bear Blood, vs Isaigh Bottle
Blood
5. Matthew Calf Robe, Blood, vs Jacob
Black Water, Blood
18
Classic pose of boxer in action.
Story by Tom Russell / Photos by Sarah Sweet Grass
BLOOD TRIBE EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS TRAINING
LEADING THE WAY TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE
Blood Tribe Employment & Skills Training
is proud to host the Agriculture 2015
Training program. This program is a result
of the collaborative effort of Blood Tribe
Agriculture Project, Blood Tribe Social
Development, BTEST, Kainai Board
of Education, Red Crow Community
College and a number of other partners.
This program is the first in series of
programs and initiatives that is focused on
encouraging our community to consider
Agriculture as a career.
The program combines the teaching of our
own cultural studies program with elders
teaching the group about the Blood Tribe’s
historical ties to agriculture, beginning
with our first farming and ranching efforts.
Today, agriculture dominates the area.
From there, we tap into current agriculture
trends by providing introduction course
offered by Lethbridge College. The college
offers seven different courses that have
been tailored to meet our students’ needs.
Classes are a combination of hands-on
learning combined with theory. Students
will also participate in two mentored
work experience training where they will
be placed with a farmer or with our own
farming operations for a total of 13 weeks
of work experience. The program began
in January and will run until the end of
August.
The current program recruited in November
and December 2014 and selected 30
trainees. This will be the first of many
programs that could range from operator
and safety ticket courses to specialized
training in various fields. The Blood
Tribe has over 200,000 cultivated acres,
which is farmed mostly by off-reserve
farmers. The goal is to build capacity onreserve, so our own members can take
over every aspect of agriculture including:
agronomy, environmental monitoring and
management positions. With a combination
of over 12,000 members and over 350,000
acres of land stretching from the outskirts
of Waterton to Lethbridge, this focus will
allow the Tribe to utilize our greatest assets
to build a long-term, sustainable base for
industries in the future.
We’ve held programs that focused on
building capacity for off-reserve jobs and
they have been successful to some extent,
but our people want to be close to home
which means we need to grow our own
economy to support our people. If we
can build jobs and careers here, at home,
then both the Tribe and our community
prospers. Using our own resources with
band funding and investing in our people is
the best situation for all. We’ve done this by
collaborating with various project partners.
It’s exciting to see the field of agriculture
grow into the future and we are happy to
help make it a reality for our people.
Blood Tribe Employment & Skills Training Director Wayna Beebe at their booth.
19
Submitted by Wayna Beebe
FREE DOG & CAT
WELLNESS CLINIC
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Registration (please bring your dog/cat)
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saipoyi School
Your pet would be:
Spayed or neutered
Tattooed
Vaccinated and treated for parasites (worms and fleas)
No appointed or pre-registration necessary
Sorry, we cannot provide vaccines only
(403) 837-7442
Sponsored by Blood Tribe Chief and Council and
The Alberta Spay and Neuter Task Force

febmar15 - Blood Tribe

Transcription

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