Spring Edition - Onion Lake Cree Nation

Spring Edition
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
SPRING EDITION MARCH
18, 2016
Spring Edition
ONION
LAKE CREE NATION
Special points of interest:

Condensed global budget.

Challenged bill C-27
Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox will not seek reelection when community members head to the polls on June

Statistic totals for 201516
In an interview, Fox said he

e-coli sampling from the
water treatment plant
made the decision in response to
concerns from some of the membership, and it is a personal decision he made after many years of
service to the community. He
said the move should not be seen
as a resignation.
“At this point in my life, right now,
I don’t want to see myself as an
old, old man, sitting in leadership
and politics, when there is a personal life that you can live,” he
said.
Inside this issue:
“In the public eye, you’re always
under scrutiny; you can’t really be
able to have your own life.”
Global Budget
Atoskasotan
3
4
TLE house
5
Admin Stats
6
Treaty Governance
Public Works
Native Justice
12
13
14
Fox has been in the news in recent years as a leader in the challenge against the federal First
Nations Financial Transparency
Act, as well as a partnership with
the Poundmaker First Nation in a
class-action lawsuit against the
federal government alleging it has
failed to protect First Nations’ oil
resources from outside drilling.
Fox has also recently made headlines due to personal troubles that
have led some to question his
leadership. A letter asking for his
resignation was sent to the band
council in November, after he was
charged in connection with domestic violence allegations. He is
scheduled to stand trial on June
29 and 30 in Lloydminster provincial court.
Following a recent interview, Fox
watched a video about the Onion
Lake Cree Nation that included
footage of him leading an attempted entry to Parliament Hill
during an Idle No More protest in
2013.
“I wish I had never done that,” he
remarked.
He said the duties of his role as
chief have worn on him over the
years, despite his enjoyment of
the position. He gave examples of
caring for band members, and
compared his own actions as a
leader to those of provincial and
federal politicians and their con-
stituents.
“Do people drive up to Premier Brad Wall’s house
on Sunday morning at 9 a.m., when he is out getting ready to go golfing? No,” Fox said.
“When I’m at home,
cutting wood or fixing
my chainsaw to go
cut wood on Saturday
morning, people drive
up, and as part of my
role to help our community I go to the
house, offer them tea
or coffee, and I listen
to them. Does the
leadership do that?
Do the MLAs do that?
The MPs do that?
No.”
Regarding his future
plans, Fox said,
“Word spreads
around.
Chief Fox at Legislature
“I was in Vancouver
for the AFN (Assembly of First Nations) meeting
that they had over there; people have offered me
employment. Ottawa, I’ve got calls, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, to work, so I will not be
out of employment. Other First Nations have asked
me, ‘Well now that you’re not going to be chief,
why don’t you consider coming to help us?’ The
opportunities are there, and I’m not terribly concerned as to where I’ll get my paycheque from.”
Dunlop Muskego, director of operations for the
First Nation, said he disagrees with Fox’s decision
not to run again, and hopes he re-thinks his position.
“I don’t speak for all the membership, but at this
point in time, we don’t support that,” Muskego said.
“I agree with the fact he has put a lot of years and
effort into leading the nation, but he has done more
for this community than most people have ever
realized, and for that alone I would suggest and
recommend he re-think his position.”
According to the First Nation’s website, Fox was
first elected to the Onion Lake band council in
1983 at the age of 21. The Onion Lake First Nation
includes lands on both sides of the AlbertaSaskatchewan border near Lloydminster.
JAMES WOOD, LLOYDMINSTER MERIDIAN BOOSTER
Condensed Global Budget
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
SPRING EDITION
Ahtoskasotan
Onion Lake Employment Training office located on the south side of community building #3-074 in the same building as the Justice
Office. Our main office number is 306 344-1544.
The purpose of OLETC is to provide the Nations’ adults support in;
1)
Career Development with,
a.) Atoskasotan mentoring personal development,
b.) Career Counselling,
c.)
Resume building support,
d.) Safety ticket training with required documentation,
e.) Drivers training (6 hours in class and 6 hours in car), road test support,
f.)
Job search support on line,
g.) ABE (Adult Basic Education at Kihew Waciston),
h.) GED tutoring(Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, 4:30 to 6pm in the Atoskasotan Classroom)
2)
i.)
3 month youth Job Mentoring,
j.)
Referrals to other employment and training supports.
Shuttle service for employment and training at cost.
a.) Employment and training in Onion Lake and Lloydminster,
b.) Onion Lake, one way $5.
c.)
Lloydminster, one way $10.
The contact number for the shuttle is 306 344-7440.
In the south east class room the gray door, is the “Hair Forever” Salon, contacts numbers for the stylists;
Trysta Cook(306 821-6838)and Trish Carter(306 344-7910).
For information, call our main office number 306 344-1544 and they will direct you to the individual who would be able to help
you with your specific question or concern.
Irene Carter
Manager, Employment Training
Onion Lake Cree Nation
Box 669
Onion Lake, SK
S0M 2E0
306 344-1544
PAGE 4
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
TLE House
H ou s e ava i labl e f or
O n i on L a ke m e m b e r s h ip on ly
F i xe r u p p e r, a t yo u r
ow n e x p e n s e , d oe s
N e e d in te r io r wo r k
u ti li ti e s a re you r re s p on s ib il i ty to p ay
a n d a ny o th e r a s s oc iat e d e x p e n s e s
i n c lu d e f ive re f e re n c e s s u c h a s a ny p a s t
r e n ta l , wo rk , A N D
P E R S O N A L re f e re n c e s
I n c lu d e a le t te r o f
why you s h ou l d b e
c on s id e re d f or th is
h ou s e
TLE HOUSE 750-014
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL
APRIL 15, 2016
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Contact the TLE Coordinator
Doug Barks
Onion Lake Lands Office
Email : [email protected]
Phone:
(306)-344-4000 ext. 225
PAGE 5
Drop off all information in a sealed
envelope attention to:
TLE Coordinator
Onion Lake Lands Office
Decision to be made by the end of May 2016.
SPRING EDITION
Administration Stats:
Elders Gift of $1500 when turning 65
$30,100
Urban Elder monthly subsidy
$278,511.44
Deaths
$194,550.62
New babies 2012
129
New babies 2013
147
New babies 2014
157
New babies 2015
115
PAGE 6
MARCH 18, 2016
Saskatc hewan Fir st Nations
Wintergames: Marc h 27 —
Apr il 1st 2016
The Saskatchewan First Nation Games was
started in 1974 by Chief Tony Cote and the
Council of the Cote First Nation. In 1980, Chief Norman Stevenson and Council of the Cote First Nation
proudly hosted the 1st First Nation Winter Games.Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games have been
hosted every two years in different First Nation Communities for the past 41 years.
The games are a week- long event that will feature 13 regional teams/Tribal Councils all in Saskatchewan. All athletes competing range from 9 years old to 18 years old. The games brings together our
youth, to not only learn new skills but also learn the value of teamwork, dedication, sportsman ship, and
leadership that encourages them to excel in
healthy living.
On behalf of Onion Lake Cree Nation, we
are pleased to host the Saskatchewan First
Nation Winter Games 2016 which be held in
Onion Lake Cree Nation and Lloydminster.
Onion Lake Cree Nation did host the 1996
Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games
and the 2009 Saskatchewan First Nation
Summer Games. Since then Onion Lake have
made some major developments to help us
host the First Nation Winter Games 2016.
Along with Onion Lake Chief and Council,
Sports, Culture & Recreation Department,
Mewasin Youth Centre, Onion Lake Health
Centre, Onion Lake Education, Onion Lake
Ambulance, Onion Lake Energy and Onion
Lake Business Development we would like
to thank you for the opportunity to once
again host the Saskatchewan First Nation
Winter Games 2016
PAGE 7
SPRING EDITION
Blac k Pearl Resour ses
MARCH 18, 2016
BlackPearl Resources is partnered with Onion Lake Cree Nation in oil production on the
Nation land. Photo is the oil treating facility
THE LANDS
DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN MANDATED TO
FINISH THE
COMMUNITY PLAN,
AND WILL HAVE A
DRAFT BY
MARCH 31, 2016 .
March 2016 Niski-Pῑsim
March 25—Good Friday—No School
March 28-31—Easter Monday—No School
Obedience- Nanahītamowin
To listen well or be a good listener. Doing what we are told and having
PAGE 8
respect for one another.
Ekweskeet
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Ekweskeet Healing Lodge is an accredited First Nations Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center providing a caring and safe
environment to individuals in order to address unresolved issues of addictions and past trauma. Reclaim selfidentity and self-awareness by reconnecting with cultural teachings and values.
Our mission is to provide opportunities got recovery form addictions and promote positive changes in the lives of First
Nations people through traditional and contemporary method of teaching and healing.
Our Vision Statement is to re-awaken the spirit for a healthy and positive lifestyle.
Our values are based on Traditional and Natural Laws.
Kindness-to all living things
Sharing-our love and respect with each other, without prejudice
Strength-through pride, self-determination and traditional beliefs
Straightness-through working and living in honesty and truth.
Our services and programs are as follows:
Inpatient Treatment Program (Individuals come and stay with us for 6 weeks)
April 11-May 20-Woman’s Intake
May 30 Jul 8-Men’s Intake
Jul 25-Sept 2-Woman’s Intake
Sept 12-Oct 21-Men’s Intake
Nov 7-Dec 16
Outpatient Treatment Program is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00
This is for individuals that want help and support in overcoming their addictions but cannot commit to staying here due
to family and job restrains.
Program runs the same time as the inpatient program.
AA Group is held every Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.
Everyone is welcome to come join in on this. It is a support group for those that are recovering from their addictions.
We also do Support and counselling, Outreach service, Home Visits, Referrals to other Treatment Centers and Detox
Centers.
For more information, they can go to our website at:www.ekweskeethealinglodge.com
PAGE 9
Youth Care Home
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Onion Lake Child Youth Care Home
Onion Lake Child Youth Care Home is a therapeutic program that provides services of care to
children and youth ages 9 to 14 both male and female. Younger and older clients up maybe be
admitted with approval by OLHBI.
Onion Lake Child Youth Care Home’s vision is to reconnect children to families, to maintain a
healthy lifestyle and to be supported by the community as they travel through their healing
journey.
Programs and Services include the following; FASD assessments,
Drug and Alcohol counselling, sexual assault counselling, Walking through grief programs,
Healing and Wellness basic one to one counselling, Anger management, mental health supports, recreation/organized sports, cultural programs and ceremonies, as well as religious
church services, finally work experience for youth.
Misty Whitstone, OLCYCH Manager
Box 70
Onion Lake, SK S0M 2E0
Telephone: 306 – 344 -2378
Fax: 306 – 344 – 2691
Toll Free Number 1 844 344 2378
[email protected]
MEMORY LANE:
Waiting for
Ernest Monias to
come out and sign
autographs @onion
lake arena.
Ernest Groupies :)
PAGE 10
Onion Lake Gas
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Onion Lake Gas – 2015
Onion Lake Gas has been very active in the year 2015. Onion Lake Gas has installed natural
gas services to 37 more units into the forever growing infrastructure. We have purchased and
installed a new RMO station for the reserves growing demand. What is an RMO?
RMO stands for regulate, measure and odorize. One of the key points of an RMO station is to
regulate gas flow. This means bringing 1000+ PSI down to a distributable pressure for our end
users. Next step would be the measuring stage. This is very vital for gas utility companies because a gas leak can be detected from the station’s point to the end user. Third and final stage is
odorizing. Natural gas is colorless and odorless at its natural state, therefore mercaptan is
added to give it its rotten egg smell.
This RMO station distributes natural gas from the Transgas pipeline and into our homes. This
new RMO will be capable of producing enough gas pressure for Onion Lake three times its
current size. So as long as the Transgas tap remains active, this RMO will continue to distribute safe and reliable natural gas. Onion Lake Gas currently employs 7 band members:
* Kyle Dillon – Manager
* Laverne Jimmy – Financial Clerk
* Dematri Lewis – Gas Billing Clerk
* Travis Pahtayken – Gas Utility Operator
* Zach Pahtayken – Gas Utility Operator
* Delbert Chief – Serviceman
* Sherone Checkosis – Serviceman
PAGE 11
Treaty Goverance
PAGE 12
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Onion Lake Public Works
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Onion Lake Public Works:
Providing essential services to the Nation in a safe, reliable and efficient manner.
We at Public works thank the Nation for putting out a news letter, it gives the opportunity to inform the
public on what they do and what their plans are. We at public works have taken over some departments
that used to be under Maintenance.
ONION LAKE WATER TREATMENT PLANT:
The treatment plant consists of 3 water treatment plant operators; Vernon Lewis, Aaron Dillon and
George Stanley. Our goal is to provide clean safe drinking water for the community of Onion Lake Cree
Nation.
The Treatment plant was built in 1997 just south of RC area and is classified as a level 2 plant. The plant
was classified as a G.U.D.I system (ground water under direct influence.) This is where the water comes
from wells that are underground aquifers and is saturated from the North Saskatchewan River. There are
5 wells situated along side the North Saskatchewan River and to which the raw water is pumped into the
water reservoir also situated behind the main water treatment plant. When the settling pond is being
refilled potassium permanganate sis added to the raw water which helps with color, taste and odor. After
the 3 to 5 day duration of the settling pond, the raw water is then drawn into the main water treatment
plant for filtration and more treatment.
The Filtration and treatment process is started when the raw water enters the main water treatment
plant. The raw water will go through a rectangular shaped clarifier/gravity filter tank at 47 litres per
second, and then coagulant is added to remove any remaining suspended solids and to control turbidity’s
form the raw water. This added coagulant creates a flocculation to make larger particles that will be
removed at the top of the dual media of the gravity filter. After filtration the final treatment is to add 12%
liquid hypochlorite solution to the proper feed rates before being sent into the main plant reservoir. The
treated water is now able to be fed to the community of Onion Lake Cree Nation by piping it from our
low pressure systems into booster stations. The booster stations will pre-chlorinate and feed the near
community areas. The main water treatment plant distributes approximately 219,000 gallons a day to the
residents and community buildings of Onion Lake Cree Nation.
To ensure clean safe drinking water, our local water technician Eugene Lewis does a weekly test for
bacteria and e-coli sampling from the water treatment plant, booster stations and at all distribution end
points within the community.
*Through the winter months we sometimes see the manganese come out of the solution and discolor our
piping, its only manganese and can be flushed out in a matter of minutes and should not cause a state of
panic. Whenever in doubt feel free to call the treatment plant and ask for assistance.
PAGE 13
Native Justive
SPRING EDITION
MARCH 18, 2016
Another successful year has passed and we look back and reflect at all the things we achieved and also the hard work and commitment that
employees had ensuring that we are in line in achieving those task that were identified in 2016. It has always been a struggle to get to where
we need to get like anything else that needs to be achieved by anyone or anybody however we look to the guidance of not only the business
plans we develop as guidelines to helps us continue the work that we need to do but we also look to the recommendation’s and thoughts and
ideas and comments made from band members, Chief and Council including people from outside of the community in terms of what they
see that we could do to upgrade our services and some of the changes we might do to ensure that our services are providing all the needs of
the membership of Onion Lake Cree Nation. It is without a doubt first and foremost in anything we do we use our protocol, ceremonies in
everything that we work on because we know these are the guiding principles. The Creators’ Laws that help us not only in this work but the
spirit world, to help us, so that things will run the way they are meant to be. This is one of the very main important items that we always
make sure we do. It is without notice that those people who have passed on who were previous board members who were the people that
were also responsible in working towards the vision they had and that was a safe, peaceful and value based community. They believed that
the Creators’ Laws would be what we need as First Nations People in our community to keep us peaceful with one another so that we could
coexist and work collaboratively with one another. That we could live in harmony with one another, so that we resolve disputes in a respectful manner so that we could eventually one day use our own Laws to deal with the day to day things that cause hardship within our
communities. It is that same vision the Native Justice Board believes and today work towards.
Some of those items the board is currently working on are the Community Safety Officer Program, Self-Administered Police Service, the
Reintegration Facility, the Self-Administered Police Service, Drug Strategy, Native Justice Building which will be structured to accommodate the development and implementation of the Onion Lake Cree Nation Judicial System. To add to this on November 2014 Native Justice
Staff and Board Members developed a business plan and in it included the development and implementation of our own Judicial System. In
the business case this task was listed as one of the core businesses in identifying what a quasi-judicial service would look like in Onion Lake
Cree Nation. Two of the outcomes identified were to create a culturally relevant Judicial System in OLCN and Nation members employed
in the OLCN Judicial System. How this will be measured would depend by the percentage derived from the database, which was recently
created and implemented in October 2015. Some of the Strategies and Initiatives identified were;
Conduct research on best practice First Nations Judicial Systems suitable for OLCN.
Develop and implement our own judicial system including court, sentencing circle, dispute resolution and etc.
Develop and implement a business case to acquire sufficient financial and human resources for this and other Native Justice Inc. initiatives.
Develop and implement a Human Resource Development Plan to support our own judicial system.
To further add and In collaboration with Onion Lake Treaty Governance a two day think tank was coordinated to speak to who, what,
where and how we would work towards a judicial system in Treaty Six Territory. In between this time a focus group of First Nation People
who were influential in developing their own systems within their community collaborated to begin the process of creating a business case
plan for a Judicial System within Onion Lake Cree Nation and further for Treaty Six Territory. Once completed the business case will be
presented at the next think tank sessions with First Nations Treaty Six for their review and input. Onion Lake would continue working on
the core businesses identified in the business case transitioning out of the current European Justice System to Judicial System based on the
needs of the people of Onion Lake
CRIMINAL CODE OFFENCES:
Arson:
Assaults:
B&E Business:
B&E Residence:
Causing Disturbance:
Noise Disturbance:
Possession of Stolen Property:
Public Mischief:
Robbery (incl. attempts):
Thefts from Motor Vehicle:
Thefts of ATV's:
Thefts of Motor Vehicles:
Thefts under $5,000:
PAGE 14
Unlawful Trespassing:
0
0
6
1
12
8
11
5
12
0
3
2
5
0
SPRING EDITION
Native Justive Continued
MARCH 18, 2016
The Onion Lake Native Justice Program continues to restore and reintroduce traditional justice practices to the community
members on Onion Lake. The program has and always will continue to focus on healing, rehabilitation, and working towards
identifying the needs of individual in conflict with the laws, as well as their families, by ensuring that community-based services are available. The program aims to preserve and protect families and the community-based justice services on the family
unit. The program continues to concentrate on addressing the problems of alcohol and drug abuse among both adult and youth
by putting preventative measures in place and by working with other community-based departments. The Onion Lake Native
Justice Programs continues to carry out various programs from Reintegration, Alternative Measures, Aboriginal Court Worker
Program, Fine Option, Young Offender Program, Community Services, Victim Services Advocate and the Peacekeepers. Liaison work continues between all Native Justice Programs and the RCMP to provide professional, effective and efficient policing services for the community of Onion Lake.
Youth Prevention Stat – Tara Waskewitch- Youth Prevention Worker
42 youth all together
6 females
36 male
The youth prevention worker works with youth from our community who have trouble dealing with the law and it’s a rewarding experience. It’s different everyday and everyday my youth make it worth while. The youth I work with me laugh
all the time. I always look forward to their stories and jokes. This is my second year working with Native Justice. A lot of
the youth are concerned about their future. Education and employment are at the top of the most youth’s lists. A better
understanding of today’s youth. What they face today is different from what older generations grew up with. Not all youth
play sports, not all youth dance pow-wow, no youth are the same. There are some who slip through the cracks, and they
are the ones who need our help. “It takes a whole community to raise a child”.
Kevin Littlewolfe, FRP Manager reports staff are hardworking people and they do more then what is
required of them. There is a firefighter, peace keeper and rescue personal. These are all full time occupations and each person from FRP
does them all. FRP have a valuable role within the community. One minute they are fighting a fire and the next minute they are responding
to an accident. They all work a fast pace environment and I believe they define the strength, pride and respect. FRP can be a good experience if someone wants a career in law enforcement. With the CSO program, the FRP’s are the ones who get a chance to move into that
program. Always remember that we work for the people of Onion Lake. FRP are a great group of people. They are the first responders to
any call from the community they are there for the community.
Justice Program Stats - Jolene Carter- Justice Coordinator
Summary of the statistic totals for the period of April 1 2015 to March 30th 2016.
Number of Referrals for Alternative Measures
a. Total number of referrals received
Number of referrals for Community Mediation
Total number of referrals received
Number of referrals for Reintegration
Total number of referrals received
Case Totals:
PAGE 15
Year Totals
21
11
12
44