Communique April 19, 2012
FSIN Adult Hockey Championships
Meadow Lake Tribal Council will be hosting the Adult Hockey Championships April 20, 21 & 22, 2012 in Saskatoon at the Jemini Arenas
- All division draws are posted on the FSIN website. www.fsin.com
Senior Contact 9 Teams Entered
Recreation 24 Teams Entered
Ladies 10 Teams Entered
Legends 16 Teams Entered
Masters 5 Teams Entered
FSIN Youth Hockey Championships
FSIN SCYR will be hosting the Youth Hockey Championships April 27, 28 & 29, 2012 in Saskatoon at the Jemini Arenas.
National Aboriginal Hockey Championships 2012
The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships will be hosted in Saskatoon, in May 6-12, 2012 by the Saskatoon Tribal Council. Both male and female teams have been selected; rosters are posted on the FSIN website.
Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games
- The 2012 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games was hosted by the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, April 9-14, 2012 in Saskatoon.
| TEAM | Total Points 2012 | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| A.C.T.C. | 289.6 | 9 | 11 | 5 | |
| S.T.C. | 273.6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | |
| Team Woodland | 202.9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| M.L.T.C. | 176.3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Y.T.C. | 170.9 | 4 | 6 | 5 | |
| P.A.G.C. | 161.3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| SET 4 T.C. | 128 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| F.H.Q.T.C. | 127.4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| O.L.C.N. | 121 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| B.A.T.C. | 118.3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| T.A.T.C. | 100.9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| B.T.C. | 70.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Beardy's & Okemasis F.N. | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 TONY COTE AWARD: Yorkton Tribal Council
13/04/2012 6:34:26 PM Unofficial ***Winning Team of Each Sport Underlined
| Team | Badminton | Broomball | Curling | Hockey | Volleyball | Basketball |
| A.C.T.C. | 225 | 26 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 0 |
| S.T.C. | 202 | 11 | 10 | 40 | 11 | 0 |
| Team Woodland | 104 | 16 | 9 | 37 | 38 | 0 |
| M.L.T.C.l | 76 | 22 | 0 | 35 | 45 | 0 |
| Y.T.C. | 81 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 53 | 0 |
| P.A.G.C. | 92 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 34 | 0 |
| SET4TC | 66 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 37 | 0 |
| F.H.Q.T.C. | 57 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 34 | 0 |
| O.L.C.N. | 55 | 18 | 3 | 20 | 26 | 0 |
| B.A.T.C. | 58 | 29 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 0 |
| T.A.T.C. | 65 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 0 |
| B.T.C. | 45 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
| Beardy's & Okemasis F.N. | 34 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 10 |
- The Winter Games are going to be live streamed by Objectified Software
Video from the Winter Games will be archived on the BATC website
- Total number of participants that were accredited was 3,942
- The 2013 Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games were awarded to the Muskoday First Nation and will be hosted in Muskoday and surrounding communities.
- The 2014 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games were awarded to the Prince Albert Grand Council and will be hosted in Prince Albert.
Market Garden Project
The FSIN Market Garden project is being initiated not only because of our desire to promote and develop sustainable livelihoods but also because of the need for healthy lifestyles, nutritious food consumption and food sovereignty and security at the Band level. The increasing reliance upon the diet and food sources of mainstream Canadian society by indigenous peoples is one of the main causes for the poor health and diseases such as diabetes common among First Nations in Canada and Saskatchewan. In the context of economic, social, political and educational dependencies, it is vital for First Nations to exercise self-reliance and sovereignty with respect to the food we eat and sustainable livelihoods. With the availability of rich, arable land for agricultural purposes, a great place to start exercising inherent rights on Reserve is with development of food sovereignty and security.
The principles underlying this project consist of
• community-based self-sufficiency,
• organic production using heritage seed,
• food sovereignty and security,
• ecological and sustainable production,
• public education about healthy lifestyles and nutritious food consumption,
• creating sustainable livelihoods,
• personal growth of the participants and
• cultural appropriateness.
While sharing the produce with other members of Band in need should remain an ongoing practice, an overall goal of the project is to ensure the project is financially self-sustainable and offers meaningful employment to other members of the Band.
Another long tern goal of this pilot project is to ensure that our communities have the opportunity to market their produce for resale to our local stores or Wholesale companies.
We are currently seeking First Nations at are interesting in being part of thins pilot project.
Meeting with Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)
Vice Chief Bird travelled to Winnipeg to talk with the First Nations of Northwestern Ontario, represented by NAN, at their Chiefs Committee on Education meeting. Also in attendance were the representatives from First Nations Education Council (FNEC). Issues discussed included the Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Report on the Challenges and Needs in Kikinahamaagewin (Education) put forward by NAN as well as the Report on Priority Actions In View of Improving First Nations Education released last January by the three First Nations organizations. The three organizations are in agreement
- that funding is one of the primary concerns.
- the Federal Budget is inadequate to meet the real needs in First Nations education.
- That there are grave concerns with the EIS and are supportive of PAGC.s position to reject the EIS.
NAN, FNEC and FSIN pledged to continue to work together on the Education file.
Human Rights Education Issues
The Federal Court judgment on a 2007 case from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations will have significant impact on the future of education funding for schools on reserve. On April 18, 2012, Justice Anne Mactavish set aside the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's original 2011 decision to dismiss a 2007 case and ordered that a "differently constituted panel" hear it. Postmedia News reported today that “… First Nations groups allege the federal government discriminates against aboriginal children by consistently underfunding services on reserves, leading - they contend - to poverty, poor housing, substance abuse and a vast over-representation of aboriginal children in state care”. It is common knowledge that First Nations education in the Saskatchewan region has the same issue with underfunding. On reserve funding is on average $6500/student while provincial funding is on average $10,500/student. Caring society executive director Cindy Blackstock was "overjoyed that (Mactavish) looked at the balance of the evidence and saw what many Canadians saw, which is the complete obvious, that what's happening here is fundamentally wrong." The federal government has 30 days to appeal the ruling.
The challenge has been taken up by Quebec First Nations who are launching a similar Human Rights complaint aimed specifically at the funding of education on reserve. Vice Chief Bird invites dialogue with the Chiefs of Saskatchewan on this matter and encourages their participation.
Nuclear Waste Management Organization
The FSIN Lands and Resources Secretariat (LRS) continue to fulfill its commitment to provide information sessions to First Nations on nuclear waste management by way of its agreement with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) which was signed on November 5, 2010. The FSIN-NWMO agreement is in its final year, whereas community visits and a few large scale workshops will be undertaken. Specific workshop dates and locations are yet to be determined.
The FSIN advocates for free, prior and informed consent regarding consultations on projects that impact First Nation Inherent and Treaty Rights. The FSIN will not be consulting with NWMO or the Government of Canada on behalf of First Nations at any time. The exclusive right to consult lies with the individual First Nations.
Specific Claims
Vice Chief Cameron and Specific Claims staff met with a number of First Nations regarding the Last Mountain 80A claim. The First Nations in attendance provided direction on how to proceed. Staff also met with Flying Dust and Pelican Lake regarding work on their specific claims. The Director attended meetings of the technical working group on reforming the Additions to Reserve policy in Toronto.
The specific claims department has not received confirmation of its budget for 2012/13. It is expected in the next few weeks so the staff can begin planning work for the fiscal year.
Environmental Youth Council presents “Kee-way-tâhn Youth Culture Camp”
(Kee-way-tâhn – meaning ‘together we return back to our land, our roots, our culture’)
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN), Lands and Resources Secretariat and the Environmental Youth Council would like to announce a Kee-way-tâhn Youth Culture Camp. This camp will take place in July 9-12, 2012, at the Prince Albert National Park - Paspewin Heritage Cultural Site (located just 30 minutes south of Waskesiu, SK. This event will be open to First Nations youth in Grade 9 to 1st year university that are interested in learning more about lands, resources, and educational/career opportunities within the environmental areas. Seats are limited to a maximum of 40 youth. For more information please contact the FSIN Lands and Resources Secretariat at 665-1215.
First Nations Child Welfare Framework Update
The First Nations Child Welfare Framework team would like to welcome Shaun Soonias in his role as the new Director of Social Development. Shaun brings many years of experience within the child welfare landscape and we welcome him the Health and Social Development Secretariat.
The FSIN First Nations Child Welfare project team remains hard a work developing the First Nations Child and Youth Agenda (FNCYA) and the First Nations Child Welfare Framework (FNCWF). A draft framework document was submitted to the province on March 30, 2012; a finalized and official document will be submitted once approved by the FSIN Chiefs Legislative Assembly. The project team will continue to work with various stakeholders in the development of FNCYA and FNCWF documents.
The FNCWF project team Technical meetings related to the FNCWF have occurred with representatives from the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations. These meetings were held March 5, 2012 and March 13, 2012 respectively. There will be a joint Technical Advisory Group/Chief’s Political Task Force on Child Welfare meeting held on May 29, 2012.
If you would like further information, please contact the Director of the First Nations Child Welfare Framework at (306)956-6903
Federal court orders new hearing for First Nations child welfare
Canadian Press, April 18 - OTTAWA - The Federal Court has handed First Nations groups and child-welfare advocates a victory. In a much-anticipated ruling this morning, the court rejected the federal government's attempts to prevent First Nations groups from arguing for better funding for child welfare on reserves. First Nations groups say Ottawa is discriminating against native kids because the support the feds provide for child welfare on reserves is much lower than what kids off reserves get from provincial governments. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal initially sided with the government and rejected the case, saying it was not fair to compare federal services to provincial services. But the Federal Court disagreed, and has ordered the tribunal to hold a new hearing. First Nations children dominate the child-welfare system across Canada, and there are far more native children in care now than at the height of the residential school system.
FSIN Home Community Care Working Group Meeting, April 19, 2012 Saskatoon
The FSIN Home Community Care Working Group met on Thursday April 19, 2012, in Saskatoon, the focus of the meetings was to prepare and do updates in regards to the National Partners and Coordinators meeting that will be held in Saskatoon on May 15-17 and the Health Home Aid Conference which will be held at Wanuskewin on May 29 & 30, 2012. Other areas of discussions were focused on Policies and Development, Training and Capacity Building for Home Community Care Workers. The next FSIN- HCCWG meeting will be held on June 14, 2012, here in Saskatoon. There is also a Home Community Care and HIV Collaborative Planning Session in Saskatoon on April 25, 2012, here in Saskatoon.
National eHealth Advisory Committee (NeHAC) April 19, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario
The Assembly of First Nations National eHealth Advisory Committee met on April 19, 2012 to discuss a Requirements document towards a First Nations eHealth strategy. The document will be presented to the Senior Technical Advisory Group for review and recommendations on April 25th. Capacity-building around the principles of First Nations Ownership, Control, Access and Possession will be key to a successful eHealth strategy.
AFN lays off staff after losing health funding
Health Canada cuts $15 million from funds given to dozens of aboriginal groups
The Assembly of First Nations says it is forced to lay off staff after Health Canada reduced its funding by 40 per cent, making it the latest aboriginal group to feel the impact of budget cuts at the federal agency.
The AFN said in a statement Thursday the cuts will result in staff layoffs and would impact "its supportive and facilitative role in informing the development of health policies and programs for First Nations." While AFN is not a direct deliverer of health services, it provides support to other organizations.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has said her priority is to protect primary health care services. (Canadian Press)
Reductions on a regional level or the impact of the cuts to AFN's other departments are not yet known, the organization said.
Employees at the organization, many at its headquarters in Ottawa, began receiving layoff notices Thursday. The AFN, which employs about 113 people, would not reveal how many jobs would be cut nor the dollar figure of the cuts.
Health Canada was asked to make $200.6 million in cuts over three years as part of the federal budget's review of departmental spending.
$15M cut from dozens of organizations
Health Canada's First Nation and Inuit Health department accounts for about $2.2 billion, or about two-thirds of the agency's budget, said Health Canada director of communications Steve Outhouse.
He said as part of the cost reduction, Health Canada has cut $15 million annually to a few dozen aboriginal groups who receive grant funding but who do not provide "primary front-line health care services."
Outhouse said the agency defines front-line health care services to include nurses, doctors, health centres and primary services like vaccinations.
The organizations were informed in the last week, he said.
NAHO won't be resurrected
After Health Canada cut its funding entirely, the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) said last week it would be closing its doors after 12 years operating as a research hub for aboriginal health.
The Native Women's Association of Canada said it was also losing all its funding from Health Canada, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami said its funding for health programs and research was being cut by 40 per cent.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in a statement the NAHO was cut in part because of "governance issues" it was unable to resolve and said the organization had lost the support of aboriginal organizations.
The Royal College of Physicians and surgeons said in a statement it wanted the government to create a new organization to continue on NAHO's work, saying addressing substance abuse, addictions, suicide, high rates of diabetes and infectious diseases required "a dedicated base of knowledge from which communities can draw."
But Outhouse said there were no plans to resurrect the organization. He said the Institute of Aboriginal People's Health — one of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research — already received $30 million annually for doing similar work.
The ministry said the other two organizations were cut because they did not deliver front-line health-care services to communities.
MOU Update
The Project Management Committee will be having a face-to-face meeting in early May to prioritize the project charters to be worked on in the upcoming fiscal year and to present this to the MOU Steering Committee at the June meeting. The 10 year First Nation Health and Wellness Plan is in the final stages of approval from Health Canada and the provincial Ministry of Health. We are targeting the June Legislative Assembly to provide a formal announcement to the public on this important document.
Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF) Update
The Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF) Round Dance and Feast was held in Prince Albert on March 31st. Approximately 400 people were in attendance. Consultations with communities are expected to take place over the next year as we build upon the CRF with input from communities, leaders, Elders and individuals both on and off Reserve.
Saskatchewan First Nation Veterans Association (SFNVA) Update
Grand Chief Ray Sanderson and Vice President of Prince Albert Branch Norman Henderson met with Guy Parent who is the National Ombudsman for Veterans Affairs Canada on Thursday April 19, 2012 in Saskatoon. Grand Chief Sanderson presented a package to the Ombudsman informing him about the SFNVA and the long outstanding issues our Veterans face. The Ombudsman will review the package and contact the SFNVA about what he can do.
Bold Eagle 23 Update
The deadline to apply is April 30, 2012. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age with a completed grade 10. Please contact FSIN if you would like more information.
Upcoming Meetings
April 24, 25, 2012: Senior Technical Advisory Group Saskatoon Best Western
April 25-27, 2012: FNIHB Saskatchewan Region will be hosting a First Nations Water Monitor Forum at the Park Town hotel in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
April 26, 2012: Sask First Nations Disability Working Group, Ramada Hotel Saskatoon
May 8, 2012: IJC/CTA signatories meeting at Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
May 8-10, 2012: FSIN HSDS Staff Retreat is being held at Wanuskewin, Saskatoon, SK
May 14-15, 2012 : First Nations Addictions Rehabilitation Foundation-Saskatchewan First Nations Responsible Gambling Technical Working Group - Prince Albert SK
May 17-18, 2012: First Nations Health Information Working Group meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the Best Western
May 24 and 25, 2012: MOU Steering Committee – Jackfish Lodge (tentative)
May 24 and 25, 2012: First Nations Environmental Health Working Group meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the Best Western
May 28, 2012: Senior Technical Advisory Group, Duck Mountain, SK
May 29, 2012: FNCFS-TAG and Child Welfare Political Task Force at Duck Mountain, SK
May 30, 2012: HSDS Commission Meeting hosted by Cote First Nation at Duck Mountain, SK
May 30, 2012: Lands and Resources Commission, Saskatoon Inn
June 21 – 24, 2012: Health and Social Development Secretariat; TRC Saskatchewan National Event, Saskatoon
July 9-12, 2012: Kee-way-tâhn Youth Culture Camp, Paspewin Heritage Cultural Site, PA National Park