Community nestled in gentle valley

Page R3

Author's home in southern Saskatchewan a welcome sight after a long absence.

During the years I lived off reserve I always had a growing sense of anticipation when I returned, especially when the reserve came into sight.

The boundaries of the reserve are clear. Pasqua Lake is on the north with the southern border having a tree-line where adjacent farm land have little or no trees.

Pasqua supports 15 active farmers. Not all have cleared their lands while many Saskatchewan farmers are being encouraged to plant shelter belt. Trees not only benefit wildlife but keeps topsoil from blowing away.

Many of these adjacent farmers are farming what used to be Pasqua reserve land. Chief Pasqua, signatory at Treaty Four, chose the valley to be home for his people.

The Pasqua Band is located in southern Saskatchewan, nestled among the Qu'Appelle Valley and prairie grain belt.

The size of Pasqua's reserve would be greatly reduced through subsequent land surrenders.

Today however, the Pasqua Band has initiated a land claim in an attempt to recover lands lost.

The original membership of Pasqua's band was a mixture of Cree and Saulteau and numbered some 40 lodges.

Today there are 97 on-reserve homes housing 40 per cent of the band membership with over half under 18. Our off-reserve members are scattered everywhere, on other reserves, in other towns and cities, and in other provinces, territories and countries.

Living on the reserve gives our children the freedom to roam freely, unlike urban restrictions of being cooped up in a house or yard.

The Pasqua membership works toward supporting our young and old.

Hockey, Twon-Kwon-Do and field trips are some activities being offered to our youth. Bingo, hockey and dances are geared toward the older members.

Physical activity is important for a healthy mind and body.

Our infants and elderly are provided for under Pasqua's health care program. Home care is available where community home care workers make home visits to the elderly.

A community health nurse visits the band regularly to insure our members have had all their necessary shots, whether it's an Elder getting a flu shot or an infant getting his or her first needle.

A healthy lifestyle needs a healthy diet, and many members still include rabbit, deer, and/or fish as part of their diet.

While not as readily available as store bought goods, members still go out to the lake to fish or out to the bush and hunt.

The conveniences of modern living are available in Fort Qu'Appelle, just 24 kilometres west, or 45 minutes southeast of Regina.

Although Pasqua has their elected leaders and band staff, Pasqua members do their share by taking the time to get involved.

Band members do fundraising, cooking, dress hockey players or sit on various clubs or communities. Some help out just by coming out and playing bingo.

Bingo is played weekly and benefits the community rather than having players travel off-reserve. 'Follow the bouncing ball to Pasqua Bingo' is the logo on our daubers.

Dances, rodeos, workshops and conferences do not happen by themselves and band members getting involved help to make such events happen.

After all, Saskatchewan has a high of volunteerism, and Pasqua is no exception.