Girl Guides reach out to Indigenous peoples

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Experienced, wise, and possessed with apparently boundless energy, Katie Poundmaker is the type of woman the Girl Guides is looking for as a leader.

And when they find someone special, other Girl Guide leaders wanted to treat her in the best way.

When Katie Poundmaker showed up at Tapestry 2000 in mid-July in Fort Qu'Appelle, the organizers thought they had a special treat for her.

The Elder and counsellor with the Saskatoon public school system was going to have the use of a rocking chair during her quiet times. But during the week-long Girl Guides event at the Treaty 4 grounds, the chair was the last place organizers went to look for her.

Instead, the "kookum" or grandmother for the more than 500 Girl Guides from across Canada and around the world, regaled campers with stories about First Nations legends and history, and showed them how to make traditional foods and crafts.

"I used the rocking chair a couple of times," she said. "Well, I have been busy."

From July 8 to 15, Poundmaker shared her knowledge of Cree culture and lifestyle with participants from across Western Canada and around the world. It's part of an ongoing program and policy by the Canadian Girl Guides association in order to introduce guides to Aboriginal culture, and to attract young Aboriginal women to the organization.

"The ones from far away - the international ones - are the ones who have been asking the most questions about us and our culture," said Poundmaker, the great-great-grand-daughter-in law of the famous Chief Poundmaker. "But once a few start asking questions, everybody else starts asking."

It led to a very hectic time for her and her niece, Sheila Kennedy, who teaches in the Saskatoon public school system and is also a Girl Guide leader. But it's also been a very rewarding time.

"Even when they're out walking around they would come up to me and say 'hi Kookum, it's nice to see you,'" she added. "I have really enjoyed it. I am really happy to have helped."

Poundmaker's and Kennedy's involvement reflect the Saskatchewan Girl Guides' move to build bridges - and attract new members - with First Nations and Metis communities.

The gathering marked the first time a Girl Guide event has incorporated the lifestyles, history and activities of Aboriginal peoples as a major part of the camp-out. The meeting brought Girl Guides from the prairies, the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Guatemala to the shores of Mission Lake, where Treaty 4 was signed in September 1874.

Events such as this provide a bridge to the future between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures, said Mike Pinay, a consultant and cultural liaison with the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council.

When the Girl Guides began to plan this event more than 18 months ago, they contacted the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council for assistance. Tribal council staff members were instructed to assist the guides in planning the event. The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Eastern Region III also held events and programs for the guides.

"Being on Treaty 4 land, the tribal council became involved in some of these programs for them," Pinay said. "There's traditional stuff, such as how tipis were erected, and making bannock and pemmican. There's also traditional Indian hand games and storytelling, travois building and beadwork . . . many things going on here.

"They've also taken a walk with one our Elders through the hills, discovering berries and plants that were used in traditional medicines . . . lots of things."

In addition, the Eagle Claw Singers drum group, based in Regina, treated Tapestry 2000 participants to a round dance.

But the cultural exchange is a two-way street, Pinay said. First Nations people - especially girls - could learn much from organizations such as the Girl Guides.

"We have this week girls from all over Canada, all over the world . . . . To me this is very important. Today we have an opportunity to show them the good side of our life.

"The irl Guides is a very good organization. It's a leadership organization. They're developing young girls to be leaders. That's very important.

"Events like this are very important, that we work together. Our First Nations people have to find that balance between the two societies. The best way to do that is through education, through gatherings like this," he said.

Pinay was also very impressed with the spirit and co-operation of the Saskatchewan Girl Guides organization.

"They have a very good organization. The event's been well organized and they're wonderful people to work with."

Okanese First Nation Chief Marie Anne Daywalker-Pelletier echoed Pinay's good feelings.

"It's an opportunity for the girls from across Canada and other countries to come together on Treaty 4, to share our diverse cultures and to take something back to their homes and communities, and to increase their knowledge," she said.

"It's a great thing and I hope our First Nation young women would get involved and get organized, participating in something like this."

In the past few years the Girl Guides has created programs specifically targeted for Aboriginal girls on reserves and in urban areas. A special subsidy program, "Project Lend A Hand," was established in the province several years ago, to make sure all interested girls and young women can participate in Girl Guide programs, regardless of economic circumstance.

In addition the guides and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations have recently developed a new guiding program. Called Kiskinoswsinahikan, the project integrates Aboriginal philosophies and traditions through crafts, games and stories.

Girl Guides boast about 6,000 members in Saskatchewan and about eight million worldwide. The year 2000 marks the 90th anniversary of the Girl Guide movement in this province.