PDF - English River First Nation

Honi/Acimowin/News
Issue 11
April / May 2016
Message from the Council
May is the start of spring and that means the Stanley Cup playoffs
are in full swing. The month of May also represents in the Catholic
faith the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
June is graduation month, and this year English River First Nation
(ERFN) has 11 students from St. Louis School and three from Valley View School who will be reaching a milestone in their life. The
Council wants to congratulate each of these students, the future
leaders of ERFN, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Graduation is occurring too for ERFN’s Post-secondary
Students and the Council wishes to acknowledge these individuals on
their accomplishments. Please see information on the graduates on
pages 4 and 5.
Education is a cornerstone to the future as it opens up doors and
can unlock the unknown potential that every student has. The
Council continues to be a strong supporter about the benefits of
Education and will continue to emphasize how important it is for
students to consider their options regarding post-secondary training.
The Council wants to applaud the athletes, coaches and chaperones
who attended the Indian Winter Games recently held in March.
With the participation of some of ERFN’s best athletes Meadow Lake
Tribal Council was victorious in regaining the championship.
Hockey has finished for the season and the Council wishes to toast
the novice and bantam teams who competed in the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indian Nations Youth Championship and did well. The
Ice Angels entered the woman’s division and the Coyotes entered
the recreational division and the Mushers entered the 35 plus division and they all did well.
In March hunters from Patuanak, Trevor Black, Archie Campbell,
Linda Campbell and Kelly McIntyre hunted caribou and they were
successful in their quest. The hunters field dressed the meat and
brought it back to the community so it could be distributed to the
Elders and other members at the William Apesis Memorial Band Hall.
Council would like to thank the hunters for performing this task
which brought many smiles to the faces of the members particularly
the Elders and made everyone happier.
Earth Day was celebrated at ERFN on April 22 and the Council
would like to thank all those members who came out and assisted
with cleaning up the community of Patuanak. Some members of
Council, Cecile Wolverine and Sandra Wolverine were participants in
the clean up and you can see them working at this task in a photograph in this newsletter.
Some of the events that are planned for May include the annual AA
Roundup which will be taking place on May 27 and 28 this year.
The following day, May 29 will see the annual Fishing Derby taking
place. If members need more information on these events, please
contact Carol Wolverine at (306) 396-2099.
Chief Lawrence (Labada)
McIntyre
Councillor Cecile
Dawatsare
Vice-chief Russ Black
Councillor Angie
Campbell
Councillor Louis
Wolverine
Councillor Sandra
Wolverine
Planning for ERFN’s annual Treaty Day is well on its way and will be
taking place on June 13 this year. The Council encourages all members to attend, and if members want future information please contact
either Melvina Aubichon or Marlene Wolverine at (306) 396-2055.
Members are reminded that Elder Sarazine Ratt celebrates her birthday
on Treaty Day and this year will be the occasion of Elder Ratt’s 104th
birthday celebration.
Council would like to congratulate a member of ERFN who was
appointed in April to a Legacy Fund that is called the Six Rivers Fund.
Isidore Campbell of La Plonge has been appointed to the four member
board of directors. The fund was established by community leaders
from across northern Saskatchewan, Cameco and AREVA Resources
Canada Inc that will provide funding for community projects for years
to come. The non-profit corporation will support projects and activities across the northern administration district (NAD) that focus on
education, health and wellness, recreation, sports and youth.
In this newsletter is a short article and photograph on the latest activity of Des Nedhe Development, the vehicle that creates both business
and employment opportunities for ERFN members. Members of
Council attended an event earlier this year, when it was announced
that Des Nedhe Development had purchased a 30 percent interest in
JNE Welding.
This issue of the newsletter contains an update article on the Trust
Agreement and the consultations that were held in the last weeks of
March. Mervin McIntyre who works at Tron has provided information on the employment of eight members through the Collaboration
Agreement. Council encourages all members to take a quick look at
this article to find out what qualifications are required for these jobs.
Summer is a time of year when students eagerly seek employment
for a few months. Summer work can be a valuable work experience
for students and can provide them a good understanding of the
values and attributes that are needed to be successful at work.
This year ERFN has made applications for summer students through
the Northern Lights Community Development Corporation and the
Meadow Lake Community Reinvestment Fund. Please check with
Danielle McIntyre, Office Manager, in Human Resources regarding
summer positions.
continued next page...
Inside
Message from the Council���������������������������������������������������1
Meet the staff of ERFN - New Justice Coordinator
anxious to get on with challenges ��������������������������������������2
La Plonge activities��������������������������������������������������������������3
La Plonge Elder Victoria Gardiner “Still feeling young” ������3
Post-secondary Graduates for 2016�������������������������������������4
ERFN Graduates Current Status������������������������������������������5
St. Louis School Graduates 2016������������������������������������������5
Valley View School Graduates 2016������������������������������������5
ERFN Graduation Trends����������������������������������������������������6
2016 Update on developments for the
Community Benefits Trust��������������������������������������������������7
ERFN Collaboration Agreement Workforce Pillar����������������8
Des Nedhe expands its business portfolio����������������������������8
First Nation success stories on housing������������������������������9
Elder has earned a living at many occupations
in many locales�������������������������������������������������������������������10
St. Louis School Calendars ������������������������������������������������� 1 1
Upcoming Events��������������������������������������������������������������� 12
For further information ����������������������������������������������������� 12
Insert: Update from the Des Nedhe Development Group of Companies
1
...continued from previous page
All applicants for summer jobs at ERFN, and all ERFN staff along
with members of Council should be aware that ERFN’s alcohol and
drug testing is on-going with tests being conducted this month.
The Council held a community meeting during the first week of
May to discuss with community members the issue of alcohol and
drug addiction amongst members. The meeting was well attended by community members which pleased Council and Council is
happy with the feedback from members. The Council is reviewing
the feedback and will meet with the community again to continue
dialogue on this subject.
The Council is calling upon members to give back to their community by asking members to sit on working groups such as Education, Elder’s Advisory, Finance, Health, Housing and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Lands and Resources and Economic
Development, Police Management/Justice, Sports and Recreation
and Youth Advisory. These working groups will make recommen-
dations regarding operations in particular areas and allows members
to have more of a voice in how EFRN operates. Please contact
Danielle McIntyre, the Office Manager at (306) 396-2055 for further information.
The Council would like to remind all staff and members to use
good judgement when using social media sites such as Facebook.
During work staff should not be accessing such sites. In the hours
when staff are on their personal time they should remember that
while working at ERFN they are associated with ERFN and hurtful
and negative comments goes against the ERFN Code of Conduct.
Staff are urged to think before commenting and are reminded
that if your comments are not going to be viewed positively then
refrain from making them.
Council would like to remind members to stay safe and have an
enjoyable and happy time in the next few months.
Meet the staff of ERFN
In the continuing series of articles on the staff at English River First
Nation, we are introducing MJ Chuey, the Justice Coordinator.
New Justice Coordinator anxious to get on
with challenges
MJ Cheuy, a retired 25 year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and a member of the English River First Nation
(ERFN) is the new ERFN Justice Coordinator.
The new Justice Coordinator is very motivated to perform well in
the position and is looking forward to working with the membership. “I don’t know the younger members because I was away for
so long, but I certainly know the parents and the grandparents of
the young members,” said Ms. Cheuy.
Ms. Chuey started in her position in early February following a
competitive process. She saw the job posting on the ERFN Website,
applied online and wrote an exam and participated in an oral interview. She attended the Beauval Indian Residential School and graduated in the late 1970s.
As a member of the RCMP, Ms. Cheuy spent her entire her career
working with First Nations. She wanted to become a police officer
due to the influence of a RCMP corporal from Beauval that she met
in Patuanak when she was 15 years-old. “By the time I graduated
from high school I was set on becoming a police officer or I wanted
to join the army,” said Ms. Cheuy.
She applied to the RCMP and enrolled in the special constable
program. Ms. Cheuy worked as a special constable for three years
at Pelican Narrows and then abruptly resigned and enrolled in the
nursing program in Regina at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, which is now known as Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
After graduating she moved to Swift Current and worked at the
hospital there until 1989. She loved nursing but missed working
with First Nations people so she decided to go back to the RCMP.
Her first posting upon again becoming an RCMP constable was
Balcarres, then Dillon, Kamsack, Craik, La Ronge, Turtleford, Shellbrook, Regina, where she worked in Aboriginal Policing and Recruiting, and then to Prince Albert where she retired.
Ms. Chuey says her heart was in coming back to ERFN and when
she saw the posting, she saw an opportunity and went for it. “I
love my job,” she says. The size of her family at Patuanak is small
and she looks forward to be with them.
The position at ERFN offers her many opportunities to work with
the members. Some of these opportunities are working with members to learn about the court system, explaining what members have
to do prior to court, providing information on programs where
members can get involved, and the interaction with court personnel
and the local RCMP.
She has already met with members of the Patuanak RCMP and wants
to have a good working relationship with these members. Plans
being made by Ms. Cheuy call for using the Fine Option Program
and informing members about it. She wants to implement the Victim/Offender Mediation Program where the victim and offender sit
down and attempt to resolve the issues.
The outdoors is a love of Ms. Cheuy and she likes fishing and hunting. She speaks fluent Dene, practices her culture and likes interacting with youth, adults and Elders. She was born at Île-à-la-Crosse
and was raised by her parents in the bush. Her family lived at lakes
2
Justice Coordinator MJ Chuey
such as Dipper, Cree, Knee, Little Flatstone and Primeau. “I was
a big kid when I started school at eight or nine and I only spoke
Dene,” she says.
According to Ms. Cheuy she believes as the coordinator she will
be helping some clients go through the procedures of the court,
as many members do not know what to do. She wants to help the
clients understand the system. She plans to educate the members
about the court system using a variety of means including writing
articles for the newsletter. Ms. Cheuy takes her position seriously
and plans to work very hard at it. All of her clients will be treated
fairly as she says, “Even if you have a long criminal record you are a
human being and will be treated as such.”
Aspirations she has for the position include initiating programs that
are going to work, and seeing the community heal, as she believes
that members must heal themselves. Ms. Chuey says she will be
there to assist. Much work needs to be done and Ms. Chuey says
she has the patience to work through the challenges.
Education is a key to creating an awareness and understanding and
she wants to work closely with the RCMP and deliver presentations
at St. Louis School. “We must work with getting rid of the drugs
and reducing the alcohol abuse,” she says, “one way is by showing
students the tough lessons about what addiction does.”
Ms. Chuey says she really enjoyed her job with the RCMP and that
it fulfilled her life. During her time with the RCMP she met many
people she still sees today. “The RCMP is part of my family and will
continue to be,” says Ms. Chuey.
She is enthusiastic and passionate about her new position and from
her heart she wants to fulfill her life again in her new career. Ms.
Chuey wants everyone to know she is there to assist all, especially
the members who will be her clients.
Lots of activity occurring at La Plonge
By Sharon Johnston
The staff of La Plonge would like to wish all a happy spring.
Lots of great things have been happening in the La Plonge community
since the last ERFN newsletter.
Congratulations to the youth from La Plonge that were involved in the
Winter Games that were held in Lloydminster during the Easter Break.
There was a great turnout of spectators from La Plonge to cheer on
our competitors. Competing from La Plonge were Brandee Montgrand-Everett and Don (Gage) Campbell who both played volleyball.
Meadow Lake Tribal Council won the most events over-all thanks to
the participation of the three La Plonge youths.
It has been at least six years since La Plonge was fortunate enough to
have their own Fire Suppression Crew, but great news! La Plonge will
have one this year and five community members were hired to work
from April until September.
Just a reminder to the readers, the La Plonge Community Building
contains a fitness room which is open every day for anyone to use.
As well, in the community building the Second Hand Store is open
daily during the week and everyone is encouraged to drop in and
see what the store has to offer. Money that is raised through this
venture goes towards items such as coffee, office stamps and office
supplies.
In a final note, please look on page 5 to see a photograph of the three
Grade 12 graduates from Valley View High School.
Remember if you have anything you want placed in the newsletter for
the upcoming editions, give Councillor Campbell a call.
Take care everyone and be safe.
The crew boss is James Misponas, and the following are members of
the crew: Timothy George, Blaine Apesis, Jordan Garr and Lorne
McIntyre.
Right now they are busy clearing away garbage and overgrown brush,
helping to clean the Elder’s yards and cutting fire wood for the
community members. In mid-May they will be going to Sandy Beach
Resort for Firefighting Training, so they will be ready if any fires start
in the community this summer.
Through some awesome proposal writing on her part, Councillor
Angie Campbell was able to obtain a new John Deere Garden Tractor
with attachments that will be used to maintain our community garden
this year. The production of vegetables from the garden was excellent
last year and with the acquisition of this equipment it will be even
better.
At this time, unfortunately, we have to offer a farewell to La Plonge’s
hardworking Youth Worker, Kaziah Wuttunee, who is leaving to go
on maternity leave beginning in May. Ms. Wuttunee has worked with
the youth of our community for 2 ½ years and the children will be
sorry to see her leave and will miss her deeply. Good Luck Ms. Wuttunee and congratulations on your new baby!
A big thank you goes out to Jade Campbell and her husband, Jason
Desjarlais, who have spent their evenings helping the Elders with cleaning their yards. Ms. Campbell always goes above and beyond her job
as home care worker to bake goodies at her house for her clients and
delivers them.
New Tractor: Fred Campbell of La Plonge tries out the new tractor on the
soil of the La Plonge Community Garden. Through the proposal writing
efforts of Councillor Angie Campbell, the La Plonge Reserve has received a
new John Deere garden tractor with attachments. Councillor Campbell on
behalf of La Plonge applied to the Northern Lights Community Development
Corporation and the application was approved. The tractor has already
been used to get the ground ready for planting this spring. Due to the
new equipment’s versatility and its ability to do more tasks, the soil should
produce a better crop this year.
La Plonge Elder Victoria Gardiner “Still feeling young”
Grade 8 in 1962. She says at the Beauval School she was lonely and it
was too far to walk home in the cold weather everyday so she stayed
in residence. Her brothers also attended the school at Beauval and
they too tried going home every day but stayed in residence too because of the cold weather. Pilomen, who was much older, was no longer attending Beauval when Elder Gardiner started going to Beauval.
Afterwords Elder Gardiner attended the Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School, St. Paul’s High School in Lebret and graduated with
a Grade 11 in the mid-1960s. After a while at Lebret Elder Gardiner
got used to the routine. She met some students from the south and
made some friends. Meeting these fellow students assisted her in
getting over her loneliness.
Personalized baby blankets: Victoria Gardiner enjoys making baby blankets.
Elder Victoria Gardiner of the La Plonge Reserve has lived her life by
the motto, “Never give up.” “If you give up on doing something that
is hard, you will end up with bannock and lard,” Elder Gardiner says.
Prior to going to residential school she was told by a friend that she
would become a nurse or a teacher. Years later these words always
stuck in her mind, and she eventually graduated from the University
of Saskatchewan with a degree in teaching when she was in her ‘40s.
Born on Oct. 20, 1943 in Île-à-la-Crosse, she moved in 1950 with her
family, the Misponases to Patuanak. Her family included her parents,
her sister Philomen, and three brothers, Armand, Micheal and Victor.
In 1956 the family moved to Beauval which was closer to the Beauval
Indian Residential School. She attended Beauval and graduated from
After Lebret, Elder Gardiner moved to Saskatoon and learned how
to be a cook by attending the post-secondary institute that was then
called Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. The institute is
now called the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Campus. Upon
completing this course, Elder Gardiner went back to Beauval Indian
Residential School working as a cook for six years.
She married Robert Gardiner and lived with him until the early 1980s
and left him due to his addiction to alcohol. Elder Gardiner returned
to school and through the Northern Teacher Education Program
(NORTEP), she became a teacher.
Since she had married a person with non-Indian status Elder Gardiner lost her status as a member of the the English River First Nation
(ERFN) once she married. Once legislation known as Bill C-31, a Bill
to Amend the Indian Act, passed into law in April 1985 to bring the
Indian Act into line with gender equality under the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms became law, Elder Gardiner applied to have
her Indian Status reinstated.
continued next page...
3
La Plonge Elder Victoria Gardiner “Still feeling young”
...continued from previous page
Continuing her education, Elder Gardiner then graduated from the
University of Saskatchewan and began her teaching career at Valley View School in Beauval in the mid-1980s. She taught languages,
Cree, Dene and Michif, native studies and life transitions.
Elder Gardiner had six children, four girls of her own, a son and a
baby girl that she fostered and then adopted. Two of her girls have
passed on, Patricia Lynn and Rhonda who is one of the Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada.
After being a regular teacher for 16 years she became a substitute
teacher and did this for a few years. She then decided to retire as
she was losing her hearing. She loved teaching, especially the subject
of First Nation languages which she says were lost by the children
attending residential school. She still speaks the three Indigenous
languages she taught.
Elder Gardiner and Linda Campbell, both from La Plonge attended a
pre-inquiry consultation session on the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women tour in Winnipeg led by Carolyn Bennett, Minister of
Indigenous and Northern Affairs in Winnipeg in February 2016.
Living in Beauval, she occupies her time by beading and making personalized baby blankets. She loves playing bingo and plays as often
as she can.
Her large family includes daughters Nicole, Ruth and Rhonda, her
son Brad, her two brothers Micheal and Victor, 15 grandchildren and
many, many great grandchildren.
While she is 72 years young she doesn’t like the new technology but
she goes on Facebook sometimes.
Post-secondary Graduates for 2016
Received Journeyperson Status, 2016
Jared Apesis - Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Applied Certificate, Carpentry
Alex Campbell - Journeyperson Certificate of Qualification, Carpentry
Louise Apesis - NORTEP/PAC, Bachelor of Arts
Brianna Gunn - Journeyperson Certificate of Qualification, Hair Stylist
Natashia Wolverine - S askatchewan Polytechnic, Diploma, Chemical
Technology
Introducing Louise Apesis
Louise Apesis
I was born on May 18, 1965 to
John and Christine LaRiviere. I
am married and have five beautiful children and four adorable
grandchildren who I refer to as
“my angels.”
In 2011, I decided to go back
to school and upgrade with an
Adult Basic Education Program
through Saskatchewan Indian
Institute of Technologies. And
to my surprise, I completed
the program in 2013. This
achievement persuaded me to
continue with my studies as
my worldview began to change.
With this enthusiasm, I entered
university with a positive point
of view.
Because of my inherited language in Dene, it made it possible to fully
understand my studies. I have completed a three-year program in university, obtaining my Bachelor of Arts Degree. With this achievement,
I have been accepted into the faculty of social work at the University
of Saskatchewan. Education has proved to me that I was wrong in
doubting myself and my abilities as an Indigenous woman. Education
has also given me a broader view and understanding of why things are
the way they are. It is never too late to learn for there is no end to
learning.
My name is Alex Campbell, I am
33 years old and have lived in
Patuanak for most of my life. I
have recently achieved my goal
to become a Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter. Through
working rigorously in the construction industry and gathering
the set amount of years of experience, I was able to challenge
the (journeyperson) exam.
Introducing Alex Campbell
It was a great relief to find out
that I had passed the exam and
received my Journeyperson
Certificate. My dad and uncle
are Journeyman carpenters so
it was a natural thing for me to
get into carpentry. My hobbies Alex Campbell
and interests are constructing
boats (skiffs), fishing, boating, travelling and spending time with family
and friends.
I love living in my hometown of Patuanak which is small but filled with
great people. I have managed to get where I am through help from
English River, my numerous friends, and my encouraging family members. Thank you to all.
I would like to thank English River First Nation for their sponsorship
and support of my educational goals.
Introducing Brianna Gunn
I was raised on the English
River First Nation (ERFN) all
my life until I graduated from
Grade 12 in 2012. I will never regret my move to seek a
career though it was tough
at first. Today, I am a new
journeyperson Hairstylist living
in Prince Albert. I graduated
in 2012 from St. Louis School
located on the ERFN. I moved
to Prince Albert to pursue a
career and have been living
here for three years. I successfully completed my initial
training (entry level in Prince
Albert) in hairdressing and
have been working for two
Brianna Gunn
years at Ultracuts. Hairstyling
is a fun and awesome environment to be working in; you meet a lot of people and you always learn
something new with this industry.
I thank the ERFN and its members for all the support that was pushed
my way. Thank you.
4
I’m 26, and will be 27 at the
beginning of May. I graduated
from E.D. Feehan Catholic High
School located in Saskatoon in
2007. I am currently enrolled
in the Chemical Technology Program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and will be graduating from
the program in May 2016. My
passion for chemistry started in
high school, when I witnessed
a chemical reaction my teacher
performed.
Introducing Natashia
Randi Wolverine-Hunter
My interests include chemistry,
music and books. As I was
growing up, I always had a book
and/or a music playing device
in my possession. I have always
loved to read and listen to music. I’ve been playing piano since
I was 8, and was in band from
Grade 6 to Grade 12 playing
Natashia Randi Wolverine-Hunter
various instruments, such as the
clarinet, flute and trumpet.
Valley View School Graduates Current Status
tal Employed
tal Seasonal Worker
tal Post Sec Employed
tal Unemployed
tal Current Post Sec
tal Home Maker
tal SA
tal Undertermined
5
1
11
0
2
0
1
1
tal Graduates
21
ERFN Graduates Current Status
2000 to 2015
Valley View School Graduates Current Status
Total Unemployed
0
0%
Total Post Secondary Employed
11
52%
Total Current
Post Secondary
2
9%
t Status
aker
ployed
ed
mployed
ed
yed
ed
6
3
1
3
1
4
0
Employed
2007
Seasonal
Worker
yed Sec-Employed
4
Post
Unemployed5
yed Post4Sec
Current
eceased
Home
Maker0
ed Assistance
1
Social
ployed
3
Undetermined
mployed
Deceased 3
ed
1
ployed
3
yed
2
ployed
3
mployed
3
ployed
3
2011
ed
ining
st Sec
ec
ed
ployed
ed
ec
aining
ployed
2015
UEP
ed
Worker
ined
ed
St. Louis School Graduates 2016
1
5
5
2
5
1
3
1
5
5
3
5
1
2
7
8
2
1
Home Maker
0
0%
Total Employed
5
24%
St. Louis School Graduates Current Status
Total Employed
Total Seasonal Worker
Total Post Sec Employed
Total Unemployed
Total Seasonal
Total Current Post Sec
Total Home MakerWorker
Total SA
1
Total Undertermined
5%
Total Deceased
Total Graduates
59
20
39
13
18
7
11
7
2
Total Undetermined
1
5%
Total Social
Assistance
1
5%
176
St Louis School Graduates Current Status
St. Louis School Graduates 2016: (left to right top row) Taryn Black,
LaRaine Paul, Amy Wolverine (left to right middle row) Tristen Lariviere,
Austin Aubichon, Ty Maurice and (left to right bottom row) Taylor
Wolverine and Brady Sayers. Missing Cheyenne Dawatsare, Natalie Black,
Craig Corrigal.
Valley View School Graduates 2016
Total Post Secondary Employed
39
22%
Total Seasonal
Worker
20
12%
Total
Unemployed
13
8%
Total Current
Post Secondary
18
10%
Total
Home Maker
7
4%
Total Employed
59
34%
Total Undetermined
7
4%
Total Social
Assistance
11
6%
Valley View High School Graduates 2016: (left to right)
Tyson Campbell, Don (Gage) Campbell and Eddy Gardiner.
ERFN Graduation Trends
In general, ERFN has been
experiencing higher levels of
educational success in recent
years. In total, there were 209
ERFN students enrolled in
school in Patuanak and La Plonge
in the spring of 2016
ERFN reports that approximately
80% of students entering
kindergarten will graduate high
school; there is a 100% graduation
rate for students entering grade
12. The graph to the right shows
graduation trends for ERFN
students at St. Louis (Patuanak) and
Valley View (Beauval) during the
period from 2000 to 2016.
5
2016 Update on developments for the Community Benefits Trust
By Cheyenna Campbell, BA, LLB; chair of the Community Benefits Trust
The trustees are: Cheyenna Campbell (Chair and Off-reserve representative); Lewis Black (Patuanak); Barry Janvier (Patuanak); Fred
Campbell (La Plonge); and Max McIntyre (Patuanak). Our Elder
Representative is Pat Campbell, our Youth Representative is Meghan
Garr, and our Chief and Council Representatives are Councillor
Cecile Dawatsare and Chief Lawrence McIntyre. The trustees work
together with Kristin Cuddington (Cameco), Glenn Lafleur (AREVA),
and are supported by ERFN’s legal counsel, Jamie Dickson.
The year 2015 was an exciting year for the ERFN and for the
trustees. In addition to funding housing projects, post-secondary
training, cultural events and sports and recreation, the trust funded
summer students in Patuanak, La Plonge and Saskatoon.
The four high school students from Saskatoon (Beskkaii Paul, Cole
Dawatsare, Maggie Campbell and Tiandra Wolverine) were employed
as urban summer students at the Tron office. Over the summer,
the students participated in four work placements. They worked as
clerks in the Tron office, grounds maintenance at Grasswood Business complex, sandwich artists at Subway and gas jockeys/cashiers
at the English River Travel Centre’s Grasswood Petro Canada. They
gained valuable skills and work experience that helped to build their
resumes and will serve them for years to come. All four students
now have part time jobs at the English River Grasswood Petro Canada. Great work Cole, Beskkaii, Maggie and Tiandra!
The date August 20, 2016 will mark two years since the English River
First Nation (ERFN) Community Benefits Trust has been up and running. Since the trust was formed, the trustees and Chief and Council
have worked hard to implement positive change in our community.
The trustees are looking forward to 2016 and the projects and events
that will be funded by the trust. Just like in 2015, the trustees held
community consultation meetings in Patuanak, La Plonge and Saskatoon. At the meetings, members were asked how they would like the
$1.25 million in trust funds to be spent this year. All of the meetings
were well attended, and the trustees received valuable feedback about
what type of events and projects the community members would like
to see funded by the trust this year.
Beskkaii Paul
Cole Dawatsare
Maggie Campbell
Tiandra Wolverine
Cheyenna Campbell B.A., LL.B., ERFN Lands and Resources Officer
6
In Patuanak, the community members indicated that they would like to see:
• community charter bus
• Dene learning centre
• Elder’s residence
• home renovations
• life skills training
• new homes
• post-secondary funding
• sports and recreation/community events
• summer students
• youth drumming program/after school program
In La Plonge, the community members indicated that they would like to see:
• culture camp
• General Educational Development (GED) Program
• graveyard upgrades
• Elder’s care
• job creation
• language institute
• La Plonge school reopening
• log home building training and skill program
• new furnaces/plumbing
• new homes
• post-secondary support
• renovations
• sports and recreation
• road upgrades/grader
In Saskatoon, the community members indicated that they would like to see:
• culture camp
• day care supplement
• new home down payment assistance
• drum group
• funeral costs
• off-reserve rent/mortgage supplement
• Patuanak fire hall
• post-secondary support
• tool and trades funding
• sports and recreation
• summer students
• winter/summer games athlete support
• urban Christmas party
• urban day care
• young offender rehabilitation program
• women’s gathering
• young parent program
This information was provided to the Chief and Council, and together with the ERFN Program heads, they developed proposals. These
proposals are then provided to the trustees who met on April 27,
2016 to review and determine the 2016 allocation of Trust funds.
port and input over the last year. The trustees will continue working
together to better our community and our membership.
The following are the areas that received funding in 2015:
On behalf of the Trustees and the ERFN Chief and Council, I would
like to thank everyone from ERFN for providing us with your sup-
Sports and recreation
• Patuanak
Housing
• La Plonge
• renovations
• Off-reserve
Socio-cultural
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
market garden
Dipper Rapids Repair
Elder’s Pilgrimage to St. Anne
Elder’s Advisory Council
Youth Advisory Council
summer students (Patuanak, La Plonge,
Saskatoon)
Key Lake Camp
La Plonge van
Elder’s heating assistance
Youth Leadership Camp
emergency evacuation funding
Education
• individual Post-secondary
sponsorship
• Northern Resource Trucking
training
• Northlands Education
• off-reserve school supplies fund
Wellness
Legacy Fund
• Key Lake Road Camp
7
ERFN Collaboration Agreement
Workforce Pillar
ERFN Collaboration Agreement – Workforce Pillar
By: Mervin McIntyre, Tron CA Labour Services Coordinator
Cameco and AREVA are both uranium companies with mining operations located in northern Saskatchewan. The mines are located within
English River First Nation’s (ERFN) traditional territory where ERFN
members exercise traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, and
trapping.
The Collaboration Agreement (CA) is an agreement between ERFN-Des Nedhe/Tron, Cameco and AREVA. The Workforce Development pillar of the CA provides funding for eight ERFN members
to work at either ERFN or the two mine sites. In the past two years,
members working in these eight positions have renovated residential units at ERFN, performed community infrastructure repair and
maintenance at ERFN, engaged in introduction to entry level trades,
performed labourer work at Key Lake and McArthur River mines,
and began electrical apprenticeship work placements at the Cigar Lake
mine.
Over the past two years, approximately 18 ERFN members have been
given the opportunity to work in one of the eight CA labour positions.
CA Labour Services Coordinator
Mervin McIntyre has recently taken on the position of Collaboration
Agreement Labour Services Coordinator. As part of this position,
Mr. McIntyre develops and identifies training programs to prepare
ERFN members for work in the mining sector. He works closely with
Cameco/AREVA, Tron Construction and Mining, Post-secondary,
Pathways Coordinators and Chief and Council.
Mr. McIntyre meets with these representatives to set educational
goals, implement training strategies and prepare and mentor ERFN
membership, to place ERFN members in the CA labour positions.
Skills Database
One of the objectives of the CA was to develop an ERFN Skills Database. The goal of this database is to compile a list of qualifications and
training that each ERFN member has obtained. The primary use of
this database is to efficiently identify and recommend ERFN Members
for CA positions at Cameco and
AREVA mine sites. If you wish
to be part of a long-term initiative for future work at a Tron
and Cameco/AREVA mine site,
please forward a current resume
to Mr. McIntyre at [email protected] or via fax to
(306)664-8923. Please make sure
your resume is up to date and
highlights your training, education and certificates.
Ensuring Success
It is recommended that any
person who applies for a Tron
Mervin McIntyre
Construction and Mining position
at Cameco or AREVA mine sites
to have Grade 12 or equivalent education; Valid safety certifications
(Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Fall
Protection, Fire Extinguisher, Confined Space, First Aid, and Safety
Construction Orientation Training (SCOT); Valid driver’s license; and
a Pre-access Drug and Alcohol Test.
1Q.
What are the requirements needed by an ERFN member to be
successful in their position at a Tron/Cameco mine site?
1A.- Ability to work in a camp setting for two weeks or more at a
time.
-W
illing to abide by site conditions and Occupational Health
and Safety Rules.
- S eek personal development in the form of further education
like Apprenticeship Training.
- Be diligent in your work habits and follow instructions.
-B
e willing to ask questions and learn safe and proper methods
of industrial work.
- Set goals for continued advancement in upper management.
- Present a positive attitude, and loyalty to the company.
Des Nedhe expands its business portfolio
Des Nedhe Development, the business arm of the English River First Nation (ERFN) expanded its business
holdings in January when it purchased an interest in an
established Saskatoon based firm.
Des Nedhe Development and the Peter Ballantyne
Group of Companies each purchased a 30 percent
share in JNE Welding of Saskatoon. JNE is a major
fabricator for the companies working in the areas of
construction, mining, oil and natural gas and power-generation. The fabricator has been in business for
35 years.
JNE Welding makes pipe spooling, pressure vessels and
other custom fabrications and has served the potash
and uranium industries in Saskatchewan for years. The
firm has about 140 employees working as trades persons and professionals.
Announcement of partnership: (left to right) Chief Peter Beatty of the
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Jim Nowakowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of JNE Welding and English River First Nation Chief Lawrence
McIntyre attended the announcement of the partnership.
8
At an announcement for the partnership, Chief Lawrence McIntyre spoke on behalf of ERFN. Chief
McIntyre noted that English River First Nation and
Des Nedhe Development are proud to partner with the
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and JNE Welding to make
our group of companies, communities and Saskatchewan stronger. “Our combined strength is our greatest
asset,” said Chief McIntyre.
First Nation success stories on housing
Editor’s Note
The following article appears on the Canada Mortgage
and Housing Commission website at:
reprinted here with the permission of Canada Mortgage and Housing Commission.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/ab/finasust/upload/
Sumas_68055_W_ACC.pdf under the heading Sumas
First Nation Getting to know members and adopting
a team approach at the heart of success. The article is
Members with access to the internet are encouraged to
view the other articles on this website regarding First
Nation success stories on housing.
Sumas First Nation
Getting to know members and adopting a team approach
at the heart of success
The problem of accumulated unpaid rent in the
Sumas First
Nation hadunpaid
become
The problem
of accumulated
rent ainsignificant
the Sumas concern
First Nation
over a long
periodconcern
of time.over a long period of time.
had become
a significant
One housing manager after another did their best to develop a rent
One regime,
housingbut
manager
after
another
didwith
their
to of
collection
with little
success.
Even
thebest
support
develop
rent collection
with
success.
leaders,
no onea could
find a way regime,
to collectbut
from
thelittle
people
who
wouldEven
not pay
rent,
let
alone
catch
up
with
accumulated
unpaid
with the support of leaders, no one could find rent.
a wayFirst
to collect
the people
wholocated
wouldone
nothour
pay east
The Sumas
Nationfrom
is a small
community
of Vancouver.
It hascatch
55 houses,
andaccumulated
a lot of peopleunpaid
wanting
housrent, let alone
up with
rent.
ing. But with no money being put into the maintenance fund, the
existing
deteriorating
the First Nation
hadn’t
Thehousing
Sumasstock
First was
Nation
is a smalland
community
located
one hour east of Vancouver. It has 55 houses, and a lot
of people wanting housing. But with no money being
put into the maintenance fund, the existing housing stock
was deteriorating and the First Nation hadn’t built a
new homeTo
in 12read
years.the full article on the Sumas
09-01-14
communication strategy would be needed. She started
by
visiting
built
a new families
home in in
12 their
years.homes to give them a history
of their house, a record of their account and, most
The turnaround began when the First Nation hired a new housing
importantly,
anO’Brien
outlinerealized
of the she
expectations
around
manager. Erna
wasn’t going
to haverent
any greater
success thanand
thehome
previous
managers unless she found a new appayments
maintenance.
proach. She learned that, if it took the whole community to create
the problem,
it was difficult
going toattake
whole community
to solve it.
These
visits were
first.theO’Brien
didn’t know
the
peopleneeded
but she
consistently
visiting several
“Everyone
to persisted,
work together
on the accumulated
unpaid
rent. The
problem
just
too big relationships.
for one person,”
Ms. O’Brien
families
a week
to was
build
personal
Some
said. “We had huge historical rents unpaid and very few families
visits
were easier than others. She gave credit where
paying regular rent.”
credit was due (sometimes by straightening out the rental
accounts), and some families found they owed less than
they expected.
It wasn’t just the tenants who needed education.
First
Nation
success
visit: of her
O’Brien
also needed
to story,
build up please
her knowledge
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/ab/finasust/upload/Sumas_68055_W_ACC.pdf
job. She immersed herself in learning and, with the help
The turnaround began when the First Nation hired a
of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC),
new housing manager. Erna O’Brien realized she wasn’t
she benefited from the feedback of CMHC Aboriginal
going to have any greater success than the previous
Housing Advisors through client visits and calls. She took
managers unless she found a new approach. She learned
workshops in property management, planning, rental
that, if it took the whole community to create the
development
CMHC works with First Nation communities to support their arrears
efforts tomanagement,
take charge ofpolicy
their housing,
to buildand
newclient
and
problem,improve
it was going
to
take
the
whole
community
existing housing and to further develop their capacity
to manageUsing
and maintain
all had
aspects
of their
housing.O’Brien
counselling.
what she
learned
allowed
solveinformation,
it.
For to
further
contact your local CMHC office; or call 1-800-668-2642
or
visit
the
CMHC
website
at
www.cmhc.ca/firstnations.
to establish goals for what she wanted to achieve with
the team she had created.
“Everyone needed to work together on the accumulated
09-01-14
unpaid rent. The problem was just too big for one person,”
O’Brien said. “We had huge historical rents unpaid and
very few families paying regular rent.”
The First Nation’s leaders gave O’Brien the support and
flexibility she needed to build a team by bringing together
the administration, home occupants and community
members. She knew that, to make this effective, a good
O’Brien and the families then began to work together
getting little maintenance jobs done—repairing a light
or fixing a door—small things that the First Nation could
afford. This helped to establish the First Nation’s track
record of house maintenance and let O’Brien begin to
identify other problems or barriers that prevented
families from making their rent payments.
Working together for housing solutions
9
Elder has earned a living at many
occupations in many locales
Elder Noel McIntyre, a member of the English River First Nation
(ERFN) worked at many diverse occupations in his life before he was
diagnosed with cancer in 2013. He is cancer free now but due to
surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments he becomes tired if
he physically exerts himself. Due to this restriction he retired after
beating cancer in 2013.
Prior to retiring, Elder McIntyre lived in many places all over Saskatchewan from Stoney Rapids in the far north to the capital city of Regina
and in Calgary.
Born in Île-à-la-Crosse on Aug. 1, 1943 Elder McIntyre grew up at
Dipper Lake with his family which was headed by his father, JB and his
mother, Cecilia. His other siblings included his older brother Rene,
his older sister Delia, his younger sisters Yvonne, Rheda and Margaret
Rose and his younger brothers Victor and Ovide.
At Dipper Lake Elder McIntyre learned how to live, prosper and
survive in the bush. Prior to going to school, Elder McIntyre learned
aspects of his culture, and the Dene language. As a youth he learned
how to survive in the bush and how to fish, hunt and trap. At a
young age Elder McIntyre learned the techniques of hunting and
these days he still exercises his Treaty right to hunt by going moose
hunting.
In 1951 Elder McIntyre was sent off to school at the Beauval Indian Residential School. He describes his time at the school as a “cultural shock.
I could not speak my first language, Dene, if I did I was punished,
mostly by being strapped,” he said. “I was forced to learn English.”
He left school in 1959 and believes he finished Grade 7. While at Beauval he played sports, in spring it was fastball and in the winter is was
hockey. His position in hockey was a goalie.
After he left school he went back to Dipper Lake and became a commercial fisherperson and trapper. Due to the fact that he had developed good skills for these tasks, he made money and was able to buy
one of the first snow machines in the area. This was in 1964 and the
machine cost $800.
Elder McIntyre left Dipper Lake, went to Saskatoon and starting working construction in 1966. He worked as a labourer on the project which
would become the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium. He says since
he did not have many skills when he left school he thought he would
become a labourer. “I worked for one winter on the project and since I
was only making $2 an hour and room and board was expensive I quit.”
He returned to the north and worked at commercial fishing on lakes
around Île-à-la-Crosse. Eventually he saved his money and was able to
purchase his own boat and motor. The fish he caught were pickerel,
jackfish and whitefish. “I was making four cents a pound for the fish,”
he said. He also went back to trapping and did this until 1973.
In 1973 romance was in the Elder’s mind and he married his wife Celina.
They remained in Patuanak until 1974 when they moved to Calgary. In
Calgary his wife began her studies in police science and he worked at
construction again. “The wages in Calgary were higher than they were
in Saskatoon,” he said.
Respected for his story telling: Elder Noel McIntyre is well-known and
respected for his oral Dene traditional story telling.
In 2001 he and his wife moved to Stony Rapids where he again worked
as a justice coordinator for Black Lake Dene Nation. His wife worked as
an addictions worker with the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Program in the community. They remained in Stony Rapids for three
years, returning to Patuanak in 2004.
He then started working for Cameco at the mine at McArthur River
Uranium Mine as the site Elder. He continued in this position until
2013 when he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes.
Today he lives in Patuanak and goes fishing occasionally. He goes to
bingo and other non-strenuous physical activities.
Elder McIntyre and his wife have three boys who were all adopted,
Joel, Jonathon and Ricky and a daughter Jerimi Brianne who likes to be
called JB. He has one granddaughter, Madison who is now 14.
Spring clean up at
Patuanak
While in Calgary he saw an advertisement for a small motor mechanic
in La Ronge and a recruitment poster for the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP). While he accepted the position in La Ronge he ended
up entering the RCMP in October 1974 at the training academy in
Regina. He says he developed an interest in policing when his wife was
taking the course in Calgary on police science.
His first posting was in La Loche at age 31 in 1975. He moved around
with the RCMP going to Beauval in 1982 and in 1991 he was transferred
to Pelican Narrows. “I did not like the posting at Pelican Narrows so I
took a two-year leave of absence,” he said.
While on leave he went to work for the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations as a justice coordinator, and then went to the Meadow
Lake Tribal Council and then ERFN as the justice coordinator. When
he was about to return after the two-year leave of absence, he was informed he would have to go back to Pelican Narrows. He did not want
to do this so he quit.
Elder McIntyre continued working as the justice coordinator at Patuanak and while he was in this position he worked on the negotiations to
establish the Patuanak satellite detachment. When describing the work
on the Tri-partite Agreement he talks proudly of this achievement.
10
Performing clean up chores: Councillor Cecile Dawatsare (left), member and
Manager of the Aboriginal Head Start Program, Roseann Black (centre) and
Councillor Sandra Wolverine (right) worked on Earth Day to clean up debris
left over the winter. These three, along with other members contributed to
the beautification of Patuanak.
St. Louis School Calendars
St. Louis School – May 2016
Sunday
1
Monday
2
Tuesday
3
Wednesday
4
Family Game
Night 6-8pm
Thursday
5
6
Grad and Family
Portraits
NASA Trip
8
9
10
Mother’s Day
15
11
OCOL
ALL WEEK
K-12
16
Friday
NASA Trip
13
SOM
ASSEMBLY
17
18
7
NASA Trip
12
Saturday
14
OCOL ENDS
19
20
21
No school
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
No school
29
30
31
St. Louis School – June 2016
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
Kindergarten
Grad
12
13
Saturday
Grade 12
Grad
14
15
16
17
18
21
22
23
24
25
Treaty Day
19
20
Last day of
classes
26
27
28
29
Staff last day of
school
30
11
Upcoming Events
May
Celiac Awareness Month, Cystic Fibrosis Month,
Food Allergy Awareness Month, Foot Health,
Awareness Month, Foster Care Month, Hepatitis
Awareness Month, Huntington’s Disease, Awareness Month, Lyme Disease Awareness Month,
Medic Alert Month, Multiple Sclerosis, Awareness Month, National Hemochromatosis Awareness Month, National Physiotherapy, Month,
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month, Vision
Health Month
May 9 to 15
Naturopathic Medicine Week
May 9 to 6
National Nursing Week
May 23 to 27
Aboriginal Awareness Week
May 22 to 28
Paramedic Services Week
May 30 to
June 6
May 17
Canadian Environment Week
International Day Against Homophobia and
World Hypertension Day
May 18
International Museum Day
May 23
Victoria Day
May 25
National Missing Children’s Day
May 27 and 28 Annual AA Roundup, contact Caroline Wolverine 306-396-2099
May 28
Amnesty International Day and National Multiple Awareness Day
May 29
World Autoimmune Arthritis Day
May 29
Fishing Derby, contact Caroline Wolverine 306396-2099
May 31
Save Your Hearing Day
May 31
World No-Tobacco Day
May 27 to 29
Annual AA Roundup, contact Caroline Wolverine 306-980-6577
May 28
Amnesty International Day and National Multiple
Awareness Day
May 29
World Autoimmune Arthritis Day
Fishing Derby, contact Caroline Wolverine 306980-6577
May 31
Save Your Hearing Day
World No-Tobacco Day
June
ALS Awareness Month (Lou Gehrig’s Disease),
Brain Injury Awareness Month, Camping Month,
Great Outdoors Month, Relay for Life, National Aboriginal History Month, PTSD Awareness
Month, Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, Stroke Awareness Month
June 5
World Environment Day
June 5
Clean Air Day
June 6
Kindergarten Grad
June 8
World Oceans Day
June 10
Alcoholics Anonymous Day
June 10
St. Louis School Grade 12 Grad
June 13
June 15
Treaty Day at English River First Nation contact
Melvina Aubichon or Marlene Wolverine (306)
396-2055
World Blood Donor Day and Men’s Mental
Health Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 17
Celebrating Healthy Lifestyles
June 18
Go Fishing Day
June 21
National Aboriginal Day
June 21
Summer Solstice Day
June 22
St. Louis School Last day of classes
June 24
St. Louis School Last Day of School
June 26
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking
June 26
Canoe Day
June 27
Canadian Multicultural Day
June 29
World Scleroderma Day
June 14
Important Dates in First Nation History
May 11, 2000
Nisga’a Final Agreement came into effect recognizing the lands and self-government of the
Nisga’a indigenous people of British Columbia.
May 18, 2011
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the
department’s name change from Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada to Aboriginal Affairs
and Northern Development Canada.
June 11, 2008
Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an
historic formal apology to former students of
residential schools and sought forgiveness for the
students’ suffering as well as for the impact of
the schools on Aboriginal culture, heritage and
language.
June 18, 1812
War of 1812 starts.
June 21, 1996
Declaration of National Aboriginal Day.
June 1 to 7
National Sun Awareness Week
June 17, 1998
First Nations Land Management Act Proclaimed.
June 12 to 19
Nursing Assistant’s Week
June 28, 1985
June 21 to
July 1
June 1
Celebrate Canada
Bill C-31 Amendments to the Indian Act passed
by Parliament.
National Cancer Survivors Day
For further information, please contact:
12
English River First Nation
Box 30
PATUANAK SK S0M 2H0
ERFN La Plonge Sub-Office
Box 119
BEAUVAL SK SOM OGO
Toll-free 1-800-594-9925
Post-Secondary toll-free 1-800-905-7678
Health toll-free 1-877-396-2072
Phone (306) 396-2055 or (306) 396-2066
Fax (306) 396-2155
Phone: 306-288-4417
Fax 306-288-4678
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.erfn.net/
@Copyright ERFN 2016