Message From Chief Dale Awasis

Issue number 2
FEBRUARY 2008
Thunderchild
Acimowin
Message From
Update On Consultation Work
Chief Dale Awasis
Tansi,
Chief and Council have
been very busy since the last issue
of Thunderchild Acimowin. With
direction and input from our Elders
we have continued to push forward
on many fronts.
I would like to take this
opportunity to introduce some of
our new partners.
First, Thunderchild First
Nation is part of a new project: the
creation of a First Nations District
for a credit union. Along with 8
other First Nations in our area,
we have come to an agreement
with Affinity Credit Union, which
was formerly known as First
Sask Credit Union. The Credit
Union will have a board made
up of First Nation members. We
anticipate that this will offer many
advantages to our membership and
further strengthen First Nations
infrastructure in Saskatchewan.
We are working toward
economic growth, with a focus on
jobs, training, education and small
business development.
Of course, we couldn’t
do it without our Joint Venture
Partners. We have recently signed
an agreement with Savannah
Energy, which could employ
10 or twelve Thunderchild First
Nation members. Under the new
agreement, the company will
provide two service rigs to be
operated in Thunderchild First
Nation’s Traditional Territory.
When the rigs are running, our
First Nation will receive the half
revenue.
We have also joined forces
with Seimens Ltd. a worldwide
telecommunications company.
Along with them we hope to
enhance telecommunications
services in our area, and
offer our membership some
training outside the oil and
gas industry.
Throughout our
negotiations with industry, we
are not forgetting the other
First Nations who live in our
area. Building strong working
relationships with them is just as
important as negotiations with big
companies. Thunderchild First
Nation hopes to build up expertise
in surrounding communities
through training and jobs, as well
as looking after Thunderchild First
Nation citizens.
Our First Nation is leading
the way when it comes to working
toward clear policies on the
government’s duty to consult with
us before the start of industrial
project planning. We are planning to meet with
Government of Saskatchewan
representatives and explain to
them who we are. We presented
our own consultation policy to
the Saskatchewan Government,
and we have received a favorable
response from the new Premier.
Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada is coming to the table
as well, and our efforts have the
support of the Assembly of First
Nations. Although National Chief
Phil Fontaine cannot attend our
initial gathering, we are pleased to
welcome his assistant, and FSIN
Chief Lawrence Joseph. We are
also receiving support from Treaty
6 and Treaty 8 First Nations.
In closing, let me say that
I am extremely pleased with what
our First Nation has accomplished
so far. I feel positive that the
New Year will bring even more
innovations, and that our First
Nation will continue to contribute
to the advancement of First
Nations in Canada.
Hai Hai,
Chief Dale Awasis
By Eldon Okanee
Since the consultation
office opened last year, a lot of
work has been done and we have
made a great deal of progress. My
job as Consultation Manager has
been a very busy but challenging
one.
Thunderchild Cree Nation
continues to take a leading role
in the area of Duty to Consult for
First Nations in Saskatchewan. With input, advice and
direction from our Elders, the
map of our Traditional Territory
was completed in July 2007.
The same month, the Chief and
Council passed our Consultation
Policy. The TCFN Consultation
Policy has been forwarded to
the appropriate Government of
Saskatchewan Ministries as well
as the oil companies working in
our Traditional Territory.
...for more news from the
consultation office, turn to
page 3
Thunder Employment Update
On behalf of Thunder
Employment and Field Services,
I would like to share that our
group has taken a step closer
toward achieving our goals and
objectives.
We are creating support
services for an economic
development program. Thunder
Employment has been working
toward establishing an effective
economic infrastructure
that provides training and
employment opportunities
through industrial partnerships.
We are now at a stage
where Thunder Employment
can implement the process
and provide opportunities to
Thunderchild First Nation
citizens. There is potential for
our members to participate
in the trades and in industrial
careers, and we anticipate the end
results will provide economic
opportunities.
Thunder Employment
is continuing its negotiations
with industry, Provincial, and
Federal governments. We are
working toward recognition of
our consultation policy; a policy
that will govern the activity of
industry within our traditional
lands.
It is in our best interest
to develop an effective working
structure that will pave the way
for our community members
to participate in industry.
We believe that building this
structure will open up economic
opportunities, and that together
we can look back and say we
achieved our goals.
Thank You,
Darryle Weekusk,
General Manager
Thunder Employment and
Field Services
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 2, February 2008
Cree Culture Is
An Important
Part Of Our
School
Programs
There need to be more culturally relevant teachings
within our school system and I believe this is what is
happening in our school.
– Rob Demencuik, Piyesiw Awasis School Principal
By Wally Awasis
Piyesiw Awasis School
is including Cree culture and its
teachings wherever it will fit into
the curriculum.
The School’s Cree Cultural
Committee is working to bring
our Cree Culture to the forefront
so that Thunderchild First Nation
can reclaim its traditional ways,
and feel proud of its culture. The
Committee is working to include
Cree traditions, values, language,
ceremonies, dances, and songs in
the school day and
in academic classes.
Integrating
Cree culture into
a mainstream
school curriculum
to maintain Cree
cultural identity is
a challenge, said
school principal
Rob Demencuik, but
the Piyesiw Awasis
School is doing that
important work by
including culturally
relevant teachings within its
school system, he added.
“There need to be more
culturally relevant teachings
within our school system and I
believe this is what is happening
in our school,” said Demencuik.
The students are taking
part in the programs. The grade 6
boys have made their own hand
drums and sing with them every
chance they can. They take the
time to learn the songs during
recess time, after school, and even
on weekends.
“The boys especially love
it because they can participate
when we have our rounddances at Thunderchild,” said
Demencuik. “This is important
to them and they need to be
encouraged to continue,” he
concluded.
Culture is healing for
our youth. Drumming and other
cultural activities give students
alternatives to
doing drugs,
joining gangs
and/or drinking
alcohol. They
are able to
have a good
time, build
confidence and
enjoy their own
Cree culture
and traditions.
The school
is providing
many other
opportunities to keep traditional
ways alive. Some students
participate in the Sweat Lodge
Ceremony or talking circles.
Teachers put up pictures of Cree
role models and community
elders, and are encouraged to
incorporate cultural teachings into
their curriculum.
The Cree Cultural
Committee is making plans for the
future, including having staff and
students learn one Cree cultural
virtue a week.
There is going to be much
more in the future so stay tuned.
For more information contact
Wally Awasis.
Songs, Ceremony, and Circles: Each Morning Brings
Cree Culture to Piyesiw Awasis School
By Rob Demencuik
Every Monday the
students at Piyesiw Awasis
School assemble in the gym and
participate in a Cloth Ceremony
where our school Elder Mr.
Duncan Awasis says a prayer of
thanksgiving and asks the Creator
to bless us with a good week.
The students, who sit
in a circle, are encouraged to
participate with prayer and to
show respect by remaining
silent. This is usually followed
by the Principal’s address. Next,
other staff, students, adults,
or community members are
encouraged to share a few words
of wisdom with the students.
The weekly assembly
finishes with a song sung by the
Piyesiw Awasis School Singers.
The children do a round dance
to the beat of the drum and the
young girls sing backup. It is a
time of celebration for new day, a
new beginning, and a new week.
Finally, at the end the students line
up with their respective classes
and return to class.
The rest of the week, a
prayer and an honour song by the
Piyesiw Awasis Singers is sent out
each morning by intercom. School
announcements follow, and classes
resume.
This morning activity
may take only ten minutes each
morning, but it is very important
to the school because it reconnects
students with their cultural roots.
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 3, February 2008
Consultation Office Update
By Eldon Okanee
...continued from page 1
The consultation agreement
has also been sent to the many
companies that have signed Joint
Venture Agreements with our First
Nation: Morgan Construction,
Aramark, Swamp Mats, Savanna
Energy, Industrial Paramedic
Services, Bonnett’s Energy
Services.
The Thunderchild First
Nation is looking forward to
building more Joint Venture
Agreements with more companies
and possibly buying some existing
companies.
Our First Nation has
also completed draft protocols
on consultation with several oil
Our community also
needs to benefit by having
access to employment
and training opportunities,
especially to those jobs
that require specific
training and skills – the
jobs that bring higher
wages.
– Eldon Okanee, Manager
companies
and a draft
Memorandum of
Understanding
(MOU) on
consultation
that we
developed and
forwarded to the
Government of
Saskatchewan.
The
Saskatchewan
government
responded
with a draft
MOU, but no
agreement has
been reached
Consultation with governments and industry
yet.
is one way to protect traditional food
In
sources.
discussions with
the Government
area of things, our community
of Saskatchewan,
also needs to benefit by having
Thunderchild has worked on
access to employment and training
acquiring funding for capacity
opportunities, especially
building so that meaningful
to those jobs that require
consultation can happen.
Thunderchild plans to have specific training and
skills – the jobs that
Traditional Land Use Studies, as
bring higher wages.
well as Environmental Impact
Thunderchild
Assessments done as part of the
First
Nation
is also
consultation process. Meetings
working
to
provide
with Elders and the community
more educational
are also planned for the very near
opportunities for our
future.
community. There are
The Chief and Council have
plans in the works to
been very supportive with Duty
have our Technical
to Consult and Accommodate.
Institute up and running
The First Nation has used its own
resources to continue the important with course offerings
in the trades and the oil
work in our area. Our leadership
and gas industry. We
has recognized that with resource
have the infrastructure in
activity, our Treaty Rights on
place to provide training
hunting, fishing, trapping and
opportunities for our
gathering are often affected and
Band Members and also
that we also need to benefit from
to neighboring First
the resources on our lands.
Nations Communities.
On the accommodation
of Consultation
Above: Thunderchild First Nation’s negotiating team
has developed a draft consultation policy. Missing
from this photo is Mel Thunderchild. Photo was taken
in September.
Thunderchild is involved
in discussions with training
institutions that could come in and
provide the courses. Accreditation,
funding and other issues need to be
worked out before this becomes a
reality.
In conclusion, I invite you to
drop into the consultation office
for more details. Feel free to ask
questions or get information. We
will be posting information on
our community website regarding
Duty to Consult.
Until next time, ekosi pitima,
Eldon Okanee
Consultation Manager
Below: The Oil Industry uses a wireline as part of its operation.
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 4, February 2008
Making the Most of Our Human Resources
By Jerry Okanee
Thunderchild First Nation
is developing its human resources
strategy.
The strategy aims to
increase quality of life for
employees, include cultural values
into the work lives of employees,
and, at the same time, help the
Thunderchild First Nation reach
its goals. It will also provide
accountability to Thunderchild
First Nation members about work
practices at the First Nation.
Building a strong
organization takes time. It also
requires a clear picture of how
each employee contributes to the
big picture of how an organization
functions. Changes to the human
resources organizational plan will
help the Thunderchild First Nation
thrive and also improve employee
performance.
Ultimately, managers
are responsible for supporting
and managing their staff,
ensuring employees understand
Thunderchild First Nation’s
priorities and how their work
contributes to the First Nation.
Managers also work with
employees to give feedback
and help each worker overcome
obstacles. Employees, on the other
hand, must take an active role
in creating performance plans,
assessing and gathering feedback
on their achievements, and
monitoring their own performance.
Developing the human
resources strategy is an ongoing
process, and so the First Nation
will be working to ensure that the
process continues, with employees
and managers working to clarify
their roles.
The results of this process
will be noticed long before the
project is over. As the First Nation
works on it, employees and
managers will have chances to
talk about their work and connect
that work with the First Nation’s
goals, job descriptions, and the
way Council, management, and
employees commit their time.
At the end of the process,
Thunderchild
First Nation
will know how
each employee’s
work
contributes to
accomplishing
the goals of the
First Nation.
There will be
a better picture
of what needs
to get done and
how to measure
progress. Job
descriptions
will be more
accurate, giving
us a better idea of what skills are
needed for each position. That
knowledge, in turn, will make it
possible to measure the quality
of the work being done and to
recognize exceptional workers.
Most of all, human
resources development will paint
a vivid picture of what skills
and areas need to be developed
in order for Thunderchild First
Nation to succeed.
Working toward changing
the way we do business will help
us provide career development
opportunities, better feedback to
employees and managers, and
more public accountability.
Working toward changing
the way we do business
will help us provide
career development
opportunities, better
feedback to employees and
managers, and more public
accountability.
- Jerry Okanee, Director of
Human Resources
Pictures:
Top left: The desk of a hard
worker.
Top right: Work on an oil rig.
Center Left: Cutting pavement.
Above: The Thunderchild First Nation Human Services Building
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 5, February 2008
Left: Weekusk
established
Canada’s first
First Nations
Technology
Institute.
Biography: Winston Weekusk Sr.
Thunderchild First
Nation showed its appreciation
to one of its past leaders. Former
Chief Winston Weekusk Sr. was
recognized and honoured during
the Thunderchild First Nation
Industry/Business Summit:
“Introduction Towards Meaningful
Consultation.”
Thunderchild First Nation
is very proud of this distinguished
past leader.
Throughout his career,
Weekusk has steadfastly put the
best interests of his people at
the forefront while emphasizing
the Treaty relationship with the
Crown.
Weekusk served his people
most of his life. He spent 30
years as a Band Councillor, 12
years as Chief, and five years as
a project coordinator for Treaty
Land Entitlement negotiations,
and for the All Nations Institute of
Technology.
In 1976, Weekusk
instituted Canada’s first Indian
Controlled Education Program at
Thunderchild. In 1984, as Chief,
he established Canada’s first “First
Nations Technology Institute”
located on the First Nations lands.
In 1992, he made history again,
making Thunderchild First Nation
the first in Canada to develop First
Nation election, membership, and
finance laws.
In 2004, under Weekusk’s
leadership as Chief, the
Thunderchild First Nation passed a
major Governance Implementation
Throughout his career,
Winston Weekusk Sr. has
steadfastly put the best
interests of his people at the
forefront while emphasizing
the Treaty relationship with
the Crown.
Have Your Say: Vote
On New Legislation
Amendments
By Bernard Awasis
On February 7th, during the Thunderchild First Nation Industry/
Business Summit “Introduction Towards Meaningful Consultation,”
former Chief Winston Weekusk Sr. will be recognized and honoured
for his achievements and accomplishments. Thunderchild First
Nation is very proud of this distinguished past leader.
Plan, which included a
Constitution and foundation laws.
Beyond his groundbreaking contributions to the
Thunderchild First Nation,
Weekusk has also served on
a variety of FSIN Boards and
Commissions. He was also a
founding member of the Board of
Directors for the Saskatchewan
Indian Community College.
Weekusk is a humble and
respectful man. He has been a true
visionary for his people and the
First Nations of Canada. It has
often been said that he was ahead
of his time. This is highlighted
by his personal contributions to
his own people and to the First
Nations of Canada.
Your chance to vote
on changes to Thunderchild
legislation is coming up.
Thunderchild First Nation
will have a referendum at the end
of March 2008. The Thunderchild
First Nation Citizenship will vote
whether to accept revisions of
two of our Acts, the Thunderchild
First Nation Election Act and
the Thunderchild First Nation
Citizenship Act.
In addition, the Citizenship
will also vote whether to enact a
new Act, the Thunderchild First
Nation Financial Management Act.
The referendum and
law-making procedures for
enacting or amending the laws
in the Thunderchild First Nation
Constitution will be followed.
A simple majority of
eligible voting citizens will enact
the proposed amendments and Act.
Information sessions will
take place before the voting day.
For more information,
please contact Eldon Okanee.
School Launches Volunteer Program
You can help these
students succeed!
There is a new opportunity
available to Thunderchild First
Nation citizens. Help out with
education at the school. Volunteers
can assist in the classroom, help
out with after-school programs,
cultural events, or teaching. You
could even volunteer to help a
student with their homework.
Community involvement
is very important to our students.
Volunteering with the school
shows the students that adults
value their education and care
about their futures.
The people who volunteer
at the school will receive a
token of appreciation for their
contribution to the future of our
community.
If you volunteer during
February and early March, you
will receive a pass for your
immediate family to attend a
fun night at Table Mountain
Resort. Tubing and lift tickets
will be provided, along with
transportation. The park will only
be open to staff and volunteers.
“I encourage you to come
to the school and become a part
of our learning community,” said
Rob Demencuik, the principal
at Piyesiw Awasis School. “The
students need to see that the
community cares about their
education.”
Come volunteer and be a
part of the success at the Piyesiw
Awasis School.
For more information and to
volunteer, please call Robert
Demencuik @ 306 845 7358.
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 6, February 2008
Principal’s Message From The
Piyesiw Awasis School
Wow! January has certainly
gone by fast. It only seems just
like yesterday that the students
were returning to school from their
Christmas holidays. The students
have been really busy getting back
to their studies. They have already
finished their exams, and the Second
Term Report cards have been sent to
their parents.
It is an exciting time because
this year, many more of our high
school students have decided to stay
in school. This year we had only
three students drop out of our high
school program between the end of
September and finals. In past years
this number was over 20.
Our work to raise the
expectations of our students has
brought positive results. We have
implemented high standards for
student behavior and performance
and the students are beginning to
live up to them. Thank you to our
students, and the community that
supports them.
Part of the reason for our
success is that the school is including
Cree culture in our programming,
along with other innovations and
community involvement. We want
to provide our students with the best
education possible.
In the elementary grades
we have started using the Animated
Literacy Program. The program turns
songs, games, and actions into the
keys to reading, instead of having
the students simply sit at their desks
while they learn. The program makes
reading more fun and it is working.
The students enjoy their classes and
are learning faster than they have in
the past.
We are also including more
cultural programming this year. Elder
Duncan Awasis joined our staff and
has been an important part of these
changes. He has been very helpful
providing counseling to students and
staff, holding circles, and conducting
ceremonies in the school.
Our drumming groups sing
every morning; we have a dance
troupe, and weekly smudging
ceremonies for the entire school.
We have also started an oskapewis
program for our students: the
program trains our young boys how
to be elders’ helpers. Several students
have taken this program up, and it is
a great benefit to the community.
We will be bringing more
Cree culture into our school’s
curriculum. Mr. Wallace Awasis will
be working part-time with the rest of
the teachers to develop more cultural
content for academic classes like
science, social studies and math.
Including cultural material
in the core courses is important for
two reasons. First, the students need
to learn about their culture. Second,
the students want to learn about their
culture and are more engaged in
learning when it is part of the lesson.
By using Cree culture in class we
will reinforce the traditions of our
students, and convey the academic
points required at school.
Yours in Education,
Celebrating Success:
Awards Day at the Piyesiw Awasis School
Invitation to write:
Thunderchild Acimowin is looking for contributors. If
you want to write about good news that is happening
at the Thunderchild First Nation, or you have a story
idea for the paper, please contact us. The person to call
is Eldon Okanee at (306) 845-4300, or email him at
[email protected]
Robert Demencuik
Principal
Working Toward Band Development
Above: Chief Dale Awasis and
Deputy Chief Mel Thunderchild
at September’s signing
ceremony.
By Jerry Okanee
New opportunities
are always welcomed at the
Thunderchild First Nation.
To that end, the
Thunderchild First Nation
has begun considering Band
Development Initiatives in
consultation with the Treaty Land
Entitlement (TLE) Trustees.
The intention of these
Band Development Initiatives
is to ensure progress and good
infrastructure for Thunderchild
First Nation and its citizens.
Band Development is a
term that includes any activity that
benefits the membership. It means
that the band uses the money in its
trust for business, to acquire land,
minerals, or make improvements
for the benefit of Thunderchild
First Nation or its members.
Band Development
could mean new buildings,
renovations to existing buildings,
or construction of multipurpose facilities. It could also
mean providing assistance to
Band members for personal
improvement and competitive
opportunities like commercial
and technical courses that are not
available from the Government of
Canada. Band Development also
covers investments, agriculture,
forestry, minerals, petroleum and
natural gas, and tourism.
The Trust Agreement
requires that all funds used for
Band Development projects be
tied directly to the completion of
projects within six months.
Programs and departments
are sending in project proposals
right now for Band Development,
and individual requests may be
accepted later in the future. Stay
tuned for that announcement.
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 7, February 2008
Watch Out! Here
Comes Thunder
By Manny Campbell
Basketball is the big news
for Thunderchild First Nation
this spring. The Piyesiw Awasis
Thunder has strong teams, and
they hope to go far in provincial
high school playoffs.
Both Thunder senior
teams have winning records in the
Midwest Basketball League and
they are out to defend their titles.
Senior girls are 3-1 in
league action, and the boys are 4-0
in league play.
On February 26 and 27, the
boys team had the opportunity to
defend their title.
Rockin’ In The Rez, the
2nd Annual Senior Boys basketball
tournament,was a great success
and enjoyed by all, as our teams
The next few months will be action
packed for the Piyesiw Awasis Thunder:
February 9-10
at Maidstone (Senior Boys)
February 15-16
at Meath Park (Senior Boys and Senior Girls)
February 22-23
at Middle Lake (Senior Boys)
March 7-9
Conference Playoffs (Senior Boys)
March 14-16
Regional Tournament (Senior Boys and Senior
Girls)
March 21-23
Hoopla Provincials (Senior Boys)
strove to defend last year’s
championship title.
“It was all round a
good tournament,” said Manny
Campbell, the coach for the
Thunders. “The kids felt good,
community support was good, the
refing was great, and all games
were exciting – the match-ups
were good.”
Thunder took second
place in the tournament. First
prize went to Sakewew High
School, Onion Lake took 3rd place,
Macklin took 4th, Cando was 5th,
sixth place went to Poundmaker,
seventh to Whitefish, and Makwa
Sahgaiehcan School took 8th place.
Thunderchild Acimowin Page 8, February 2008
Please Join
Thunderchild First
Nation For These
Community Events
Senior Boys Basketball team travels to compete
Feb 9-10/08 – at Maidstone
Feb 15-16/08 - at Meath Park
Feb 22-23/08 – at Middle Lake
Cowboy Society Round Dance
February 8-9
Chief James Okanee Memorial Gym
Carl J. Wapass Memorial Oldtimers Hockey Tournament
February 16-17
Saulteaux First Nation Arena (16 team limit)
UPCOMING
Keep your eyes open for notices about these events
Cooking Classes
Teaching cooking to pre- and post-natal parents at the health center.
Vote
Vote on revisions to Thunderchild First Nation Election Act and the
Thunderchild First Nation Citizenship Act. In addition, the Citizenship
will also vote whether to enact a new Act, the Thunderchild First
Nation Financial Management Act.
February is Health Month. Please join us at the Health Center for any of
these events:
Blood Pressure Clinic
February 14 and February 28
Baby Clinic at the Health Center
Every Wednesday, immunizations, talks about growth and development.
9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.. Katherine Smallboy
Prenatal Clinic at the Health Center
February 12 and 26. 1-3 pm.
Do a prenatal assessment for blood sugar, blood pressure.
Take a half-hour to see if the pregnancy is doing well.
Diabetic Clinic at the Health Center
February 20
Diabetic screening and teaching about health maintenance, checking
blood sugar monitors.
Acknowledgements – Thank you to everyone who helped to put this newsletter together, including Chief and Council, staff members,
joint venture partners, and community members. Thank you also to those who generously agreed to have their photos included in this
newsletter.