Saskatchewan News Briefs [July]

Fire damages Moosomin RCMP office
The RCMP office on the Moosomin First Nation, located 35 kilometres north of Battelford, was badly damaged from a fire set in a suspected arson on June 22.
An on-duty officer realized the building was on fire at approximately 3:30am, after a suspect set fire to the exterior of the office next to the building, which is leased to the RCMP.

Police have not made any arrests but are asking anyone with information to call the Battlefords detachment at (306)446-1720.  

Commemoration of 1885 Battle of Duck Lake
MP Maurice Velacott was on hand to represent Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honorable James Moore, to announce funding for the Duck Lake Historical Museum Society on June 25.

The funds – which come from the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage – will go towards an exhibition and publication marking the 125th anniversary of the 1885 Battle of Duck Lake.
“This exhibit will ensure the preservation and presentation of Saskatchewan Cree and Métis heritage,” said Vellacott in a media release.

The Battle of Duck Lake on March 26, 1885, was fought between forces of the Métis Provisional Government of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Mounted Police and factors within it led to the Northwest Resistance.
A commemorative project on the battle will offer Cree and Métis interpretations and accounts from settlers and Northwest Mounted Police in the area.

Material will be presented in English, French, Cree and Michif and an educational storytelling program on the 1885 events will be provided.

The Duck Lake Historical Museum Society is a non-profit charitable organization that operates the Duck Lake Regional Interpretation Centre, which encompasses a museum, art gallery, and showcase of artifacts relating to First Nations, Métis, and pioneer history from 1870 to 1905.

New funds for Aboriginal training and skills development
Government of Canada representatives gathered in Melfort on June 25 to announce a federal contribution of $7.5 million towards the Employment Development Partnership project, which is expected to boost the provinces construction industry with skilled Aboriginal labour.

“Our government is working with industry and Aboriginal organizations to help Canadians get good jobs in the construction industry,” stated Prince Albert Member of Parliament Randy Hoback, adding that it enables Aboriginal people to gain skills to participate and succeed in the job market.

The project is based on an agreement between the Government of Canada, the construction industry, a post-secondary institution and Aboriginal organizations who have all contributed a total of $15 million in funding.
Participants will receive skills training needed for the construction of a hydroelectric facility and once the project is complete, they can use the transferable skills to gain long-term employment.

The federal funds for the project come from the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program.

Protests mark National Aboriginal Day
On June 24, First Nations citizens from the North Battleford area held a one-day demonstration on a northbound bridge along Highway 16 which diverted traffic to one lane for five hours.

Demonstrators were bringing attention to a long list of issues ranging from poverty on-reserves to treaty rights and held the event in solidarity with other demonstrations across the country.

Organizer Sharmaine Roy told media that she understood how frustrating the protest was to motorists, shown in a few insults that were hurled their way, but protesters were bringing attention to the issues Aboriginal people continue to face daily, such as the effects of poverty, broken treaty promises, and ongoing racism.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo, stated that on June 24, thousands of First Nations citizens and supporters held demonstrations including blockades, rallies, and marches to bring attention to honoring treaties, respecting First Nations rights, and strengthening First Nations languages, culture, education, housing, opportunities, economies and governments.

Demonstrations were held the day before Canada welcomed world leaders to the G8 and G20 meetings in Ottawa.

“Canada speaks to its international commitments at the G8 an G20, yet First Nations people suffer while surrounded by the riches of their traditional territories,” Chief Atleo said in a press release. “We are ready to move, We are ready to work. But, as was made clear on June 24, we will not wait.”

The Canadian Council of Provincial Child and Youth Advocates recently released a report stating First Nations children are in crisis, as they lag behind others across all social and economic indicators.

“By the age of 18 they are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system than they are to graduate,” it stated. “More of our children are in state care today than during the peak of the Indian Residential School System.”

SIIT receives $3.5 million donation for aviation program
A Canadian defense contractor, Lockheed Martin Canada, announced on June 25 it had made a $3.5 million donation to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT).

The donation comes in the form of a package of training materials to SIIT’s Aviation Maintenance and Engineering faculty. The package contains courseware and instructor’s materials for training that covers three-dozen engineering disciplines.

“We are honored to have a partnership with Lockheed Martin Canada,” said President and CEO of SIIT, Randall Morris in a June 25 press release. “We will implement this training package within our Aviation Learning Center, a new training facility site located at the Saskatoon Airport.”

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors is donating the courseware as part of a commitment to the Canadian government to satisfy industrial and regional benefits associated with its role as prime contractor for the mid-life modernization of the combat systems on board the Navy’s Halifax Class frigate. The $1.6 billion program was awarded in 2008 to Lockheed Martin Canada.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Vice Chief Delbert Wapass commended the efforts of SIIT staff in their work to develop training programs.

An FSIN press release states that in 2005, SIIT started discussions with Lockheed Martin about starting an Aircraft Maintenance Program, resulting in an initial investment of $1.5 million by the company. Other world-class defense contractors followed suit with their own investments, including Boeing and Rockwell Collins, which continues to further the training opportunities for the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Center, a 25,000 sq. ft training facility at the Saskatoon Airport.

Variety of activities expected at ‘Back to Batoche’ days
The ‘Back to Batoche’ celebrations take place this summer from July 18-25th. Over 40 musical acts from across the continent are expected to provide eight days worth of entertainment and music, stated manager of festivities, Clara Bélanger-Parker.

The main attractions this year are award-winning singers Michelle Wright, Andrea Menard, Donny Parenteau, and renowned fiddle-player John Arcand.

On July 23, Parenteau will play the music as attendees attempt to break a Guinness World Record for ‘most people playing spoons at once’. The current record is held in the UK with 345 people.

Bélanger-Parker announced various activities for all ages and interests, including a Métis Film festival and the Cameco Youth Program. A children’s program will be set up every day, and on July 19, attendees can come out to the ‘Métis Motion’ event to help raise funds for a future national Métis Veterans memorial to be erected at Batoche.

“The first of our Back to Batoche celebration is our call to volunteers,” stated Bélanger-Parker. Volunteers can put in a minimum of 12 hours and will get a free festival pass, participate in onsite activities, and be treated to a barbeque sponsored by SaskEnergy.

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) President, Robert Doucette, announced a special historic event to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the 1885 Northwest Resistance. On July 18 at 2pm, descendents will gather at the historic gravesite at the Batoche National Historic Site, to commemorate the fallen soldiers of all sides of the battle.

“Descendents of the following Métis, First Nations of the Resistance will join members of the RCMP who are of Métis and First Nations ancestry, as well as RCMP veterans in this reconciliation ceremony,” Doucette said. “We would like the Métis Canadian soldiers and First Nations families to come forward, identify themselves and participate in the ceremony to honour those who fought in Batoche during the Northwest Resistance.”  
Those wanting more information can go to www.backtobatoche.ca, send an email to backtobatoche125@cntgrp.ca or phone (306)584-3524.