Article Origin
Volume
Issue
Year
Masters program offered in north
At a Nov. 12 signing ceremony at the University of Saskatchewan, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, Rob Norris, announced $250,000 for a new Masters in Northern Governance and Development program that allows northern residents in Sask. to earn a degree from their home communities.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild was at the event and commended the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development (ICNGD) at the university for undertaking the initiative.
“A dedicated investment in research and education for the North is long overdue,” he stated. The program is a first in North America and, according to ICNGD Director Dr. Greg Poelzer, is expected to enhance the knowledge of northern communities.
AFN offers condolences for notable Mohawk scholar
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-Chut Atleo offered his condolences to friends, families and colleagues on the passing of Mohawk lawyer, activist and educator Patricia Monture, who died of cancer on Nov. 17 in Saskatoon.
“We join the entire Mohawk community in celebrating the life of a proud Haudenosaunee scholar, friend, and mother,” said Chief Atleo. “Patricia was dedicated to promoting discussion and ideas on Indigenous theory, governance, law and responsibility.”
Monture, 52, was originally from the Mohawk Nation, Grand River Territory. She wrote two books, Thunder in my Soul: A Mohawk Woman Speaks, and Journeying Forward: Dreaming First Nations Independence, as well as various peer-reviewed articles, scholarly volumes, and reports.
“Her published works showcase her strength and pride as an Indigenous woman and proud Mohawk,” Chief Atleo stated. “Her contributions and advocacy for social and political equality will continue to mentor and inspire.”
Leaders address Sask. HIV/AIDS rates
National Aboriginal organizations, government officials, and health-care providers gathered in Regina to share information and expertise about HIV/AIDS rates in the country during Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week from Dec. 1-5.
Speakers at a luncheon included Sask. Minister of Health Don McMorris, Métis Nation-Sask. President Robert Doucette, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild, and President of the National Association of Friendship Centres, Vera Pawis Tabobondung.
“Aboriginal people make up a unique segment of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada: 48.8% are women who test positive for HIV, and 32.6% are youth,” a release stated. Saskatchewan has the highest rates in Canada with 174 new cases in 2008, with 70% of those First Nations and Métis.
“Too often, we find people who live with HIV being ostracized,” said Ken Clement, CEO of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network. “Especially in Aboriginal communities that are small… it really creates barriers for people who are living with HIV. In a lot of cases, all that’s required is empathy.”
Sask. Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Moira McKinnon, said strategies should focus on getting people tested early and on treatment.
Disclosure of chiefs’ salaries demanded
Soon after MP Kelly Block called for a bill to publicly disclose First Nations chief’s salaries, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) reported in Nov. that salary figures they managed to obtain from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada reveal some First Nations chiefs get paid more than mainstream politicians.
The CTF stated that within Sask. 120 First Nations politicians receive a greater than $100,000 taxable equivalent pay, with two Sask. chiefs’ salary exceeding the pay of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 43 Sask. chiefs’ exceeding that of Premier Brad Wall.
“The numbers confirm what we’ve been saying all along,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig in a news release. “Many reserve politicians are paying themselves exorbitant salaries while keeping their band members and taxpayers in the dark.”
The CTF called the pay data they obtained “jaw-dropping” and further stated this “reinforces the CTF’s call for greater transparency of reserve politicians’ pay levels and the need for reform.”
CTF called for the public to sign a petition to support MP Block’s Private Members Bill C-575, and said if it passes INAC “would place pay amounts that reserve politicians receive with federal dollars on the internet.” However, as that would not disclose pay received from band-owned enterprises such as casinos and gas stations, the CTF is calling for an amendment to the bill to require all pay data be placed online.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Morley Watson said the comparison is an unfair assumption and many chiefs are underpaid for the amount of work they do.
“To us what is jaw-dropping is that our chief and councils can serve for years in their community and do not receive benefits/pensions once their term has expired. Unlike MP’s and MLA’s who receive lifetime benefits for their services,” he stated in a release.
“(CTF) should be promoting harmony instead of giving misleading information and widening the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations people,” Watson added.
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo wrote in a letter to the National Post, that Block’s proposed bill fails to address the real issues such as unfair funding in critical areas that directly affect the wellbeing of children. The same effort put into the bill can be applied to addressing these priorities, he stated.
“The unfortunate reality is that First Nations are unfairly funded for all basic services,” said Chief Atleo. The AFN and Canada’s First Nations are putting forth many ideas and action plans to deal with shared priority issues, he added. “To date, these plans have been dismissed or ignored by government.”
Canada accepts UN Declaration
On Nov. 12 the Canadian government endorsed the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) after three years of refusing to do so.
Since it was passed by the United Nations in 2007, Canada along with Australia, New Zealand, and the US were the only countries that voted against it. In April 2010 New Zealand reversed its decision and shortly afterward the US announced they were consulting with tribal governments on the Declaration.
Federation of Sask. Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild said the core principles of respect, partnership and reconciliation found in the UNDRIP is the benchmark for how the relationship between the Indigenous people and Canada should proceed.
“This signals a way forward in which the relationship with Canada and the Indigenous Peoples will be designed,” stated Chief Lonechild. “As the Federation works in the areas of education, employment and training, and resource development we will continue to engage the governments of Canada and Sask. with accelerated optimism.”
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-Chut Atleo recognized the efforts of Indigenous leaders to getting the Declaration recognized.
“Our real work together with Canada begins as we continue our journey toward a new era of mutual respect and responsibility,” he stated.
Urban Elders lodge opens in Saskatoon
The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) celebrated the grand opening of an Aboriginal Elders lodge on Nov. 30 in Saskatoon.
The lodge is located inside the former Sion Middle School on Seventh Street East near Preston Ave. It is a place for Elders to gather and socialize, access counseling and partake in other cultural programming. Aboriginal youth and adults are invited to use on-site programs that allow them to interact with Elders, who in turn share their wisdom and advice. The lodge will be run by STC on a $100,000 annual contribution from the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis People and Non-Status Indians.
FSIN receives $1 million from nuclear organization
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) has begun a process that could potentially invest $1 million over three years to two northern First Nations communities.
The village of Pinehouse and the English River First Nation are both interested in exploring the multi billion-dollar industry and becoming host community to nuclear waste for long-term storage.
FSIN signed an agreement on Oct. 1 with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) that ensures an educated decision within the First Nations and the province on whether or not they will accept nuclear waste in their communities. The monies are used to plan forums, workshops, surveys, etc, said FSIN Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish.
- 1873 views