Our Name


oski-pimohtahtamwak otayisīniwiwaw (Nehiyawak)
oski pima ci-owat ici ki-kay-dam-o-win-ing (Nakawē)
wana oicimani tecawosdodyē uncumpi (Dakota)
they are into their new journey to knowledge (English)





Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Photo Essay: Through the Eyes of Taish


 
This is when we went to see the Robb Nash Project.
 This is a talking circle we attended in the Moose Jaw Art Gallery.
 

This is me and my classmates eating at Jade Garden, having a good time.
 

This is us doing a Kairos Blanket Exercise.
 
This is Tyrell holding hands with a lady.
 
This is our first time going to Moose Jaw and
being introduced to Atamiskakewak National Gathering.
 
This is Raimey leading a Treaty Walk for us.
 
This is Miss Koops getting mad and screaming at me for no reason.
 
 
This is me handing out food to the poor.
 
 

 

 

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Ernie's Plan After High School

Ernie’s Plan After High School
By Ernest Goodwill

 

What am I doing after grad?
Hopefully move to Chilliwack BC
Go stay with my uncle and cuz
Probably stay with them for 2 months
Start working
Save up
Make a plan
Move back to the homelands
Get a car
Hopefully get a house
On the homeland
If it doesn’t work out then…
idk, live life on the grind
I guess
If not just live in Chilliwack BC
It should be a good year
Lots of fun things should happen
I get to play ball with my dad and brothers
Some more family members
BBQ all summer
Probably go to some sun-dance/powwows too
The powwows should be lit this year
Can’t wait
It’s still a long way away
If everything is to work out then
I got nothing to worry about
Life’s like a box of chocolates
You never know
What you’re going to get

Monday, May 14, 2018

A Week in the Life of Ernest


A Week in the Life of Ernest

by Ernest Goodwill
 

April 23rd to the 28th, the week my classmates were in Moose Jaw,  I was mostly working at Standing Buffalo Crossing. The people that work there are really nice people. And I went to my grandpa’s funeral on Monday; then babysat my sister’s baby Tuesday and Friday. It wasn’t too bad. I went to the RBI on Saturday; it’s an indoor training facility for baseball. I’m going to BC in June to go play ball, so I have to practice hard if I’m going to make it to the top. I was skateboarding with my cousin Danzel, and I got to see my brother Logan wipe out on the dirt bike yesterday.

But that’s pretty much it…

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Respect is Key; Love is Powerful: but Peace is Unimaginable

Respect is Key; Love is Powerful: but Peace is Unimaginable
by Michael Starr-Desnomie



Going to Moose Jaw was amazing
getting the feeling
that I never felt before
in my life
it was a big change for me
starting off fresh.

 
Going down that good road
I will always continue to walk
There might be some ups and downs
and challenges to face.


Talking to strangers who mostly
turn into family
and fans
was great
getting a lot of positive feedback
getting told by people
how they see you
what they think of you.

 
But mostly what they love about you.

 
I told my story
what I went through as a child
and growing up as a teenager
experiencing things that no kid
should go through at a young age.

 
What I saw in my life
it will mark me for life.

 
I fought my demons
to get my wings back and
flying high and feeling freedom
is an unexplainable feeling.


I was told by a lady that my kukum
has been with me this whole time.
She told me that she can see spirits.

I asked her what does she look like and
she told me that she has short, black, curly hair
but when she told me that
she has golden wings and a golden halo.
I was speechless when she said that to me

I looked over my shoulder
 I didn’t see her but
I knew that I was safe and
protected and getting looked after.
She told she might be a guarding angel.

 
My heart warmed up like it was on fire.

 
I found out when I was in Moose Jaw
I was told by a lot of people
how gifted I am
how I can use those gifts
by helping out the ten mothers
who came all the way from Vancouver and Winnipeg.
I listen to ever word they said
when they invited us to a presentation of theirs.

I got this special feeling
when Idelette Mcvicker said
Listen with your mind.
Listen with your Heart.
Then you will feel sunlight shinning
on your wings as they spread out.
I listen to every word she said
she was telling people that
she belongs to them in a special way
well, in her own very special way.
She even pointed at me as said
I belong to you Michael.
It was a very special moment for me
because what she all said
is what I happened to me
I got a sign from that presentation.

 
I was sitting in a circle that
represents us as a nation
the four directions.
I always wanted to see that
all nations sitting and talking with each other and
taking each other as one big, happy family.

 
Melaney Gleeson-Lyall and Idelette Mcvicker and
eight other mothers that were a part of that presentation.
They all came to our Blanket Exercise that we were hosting at Moose Jaw Library.
Told them and other people that were a part of the Talking Circle.
Letting out tears of the pain of what I went through as a child and as a teenager
pouring my heart out to people.
Telling people what I went through growing up and
saying even what I been through.

 
Made me the man that I am today.
I’m not going to fail my ancestors.
I rather make them proud and
bring back my people from the shadows.
What I went through I always had a saying to it.
“I fought my Demons to get my Wings back’’
now flying high in the sky
flying so high that I never did before
feeling what I never did in years
Freedom.

 
Opening up to people and meeting them
they mostly turned into family.
I accepted everybody that said things that
never were said to me before in my life.
Having that empty space filled up with
lots of love was the best feeling ever.

 
I always held my heart because
what people say to me
gives me the strength
to love myself
even more than I did before.

 
Had so much Hope, Beliefs, Faith, Love, and Respect in me
that I’m going to continue what I do and
shine bright for people and change their lives.
 

But there’s one moment that will stay with me for a very long time.
When I was attending the Blanket Exercise with the girls
Because, well, we had two groups so
the boys took half and the girls took the other half.
I told people about my story and
when I was shaking their hands
a lady told me that I was very gifted and
that she can see me glowing.
She told that my kukum has been with me
this whole time she saw her beside me
when I was talking
putting her hand on my shoulder.
I looked over my shoulder but
I couldn’t see her
I asked her what she looks like
she told me she has short, curly, black hair.
I tried thinking, who is she.
When she told me that she had
golden wings and a gold halo
I was speechless.
She said it could be a guarding angel or my kukum.
I felt safe because I knew I was getting looked after
that I was getting taken care of, me.
That’s who is guiding me down the good road.


At least I was told because I didn’t know and
that means so much to me
that some lady who was gifted
told me what I didn’t know.
 

I talked with a lot people who mostly turn into family
feeling what I never felt in years
it was a heart touching moment and
it brought a tear to my eye.


Being honored to walk in the grand entry
was a blessing to me
because I never walked in one before.

 
When I was in the talking circle I always said.
I was that cub that was lost in the woods
trying to look for his family.
My mom never gave up on me
she found me, picked me up and
brought me back to my brothers and sisters.

 
I always give thanks to my ancestors each day I wake up.
Love knowing that they run through my veins.
Feeling protected because
I know that they are watching over me.

 
When I’m needing help
I know who to turn to and
ask for the strength
to help what I’m facing.
 

It was the best week that I ever had in my life
a lot of special moments
I will not forget.
Where I am now is much greater
than where I was before.

 
Doesn’t matter what color you are.
What tradition you live by.
We are all made by the same God.
We all feel the same on the inside.
We bleed the same color.
We should be respecting and loving one another.
Because Respect is key.
Love is powerful.
But peace is unimaginable.
Let’s all move forward together.
Let’s all come together as one nation.
As one big, happy family.

Courage


Courage by Raven Cook

During a talking circle after the Blanket Exercise at River View Collegiate, this one person acknowledged how the blankets were folding up which is representing something such as how the land was stolen, the Indian act, residential schools etc. but he pointed out how they were slowly unfolding, I never really payed attention to that. When he pointed it all out he says, he was focusing on the positive, so what he had said made so much sense. It kept me thinking about everything.

We had our last Blanket Exercise at the Moose Jaw library Lacey and I facilitated. Michael came to support us, which meant a lot. The exercise went good. During the talking circle everyone had some nice heartfelt words to say; some said how they were feeling bad and guilty. I told them “we don’t do this to make anyone feel bad, that’s never our intention, it’s okay, I forgive you.” Maybe that’s something they needed to hear.

During the talking circle I shared how I wanted to help unfold the blankets, representing to help our people. I talked about not knowing where to start but it’s something I want to do. It was a good Blanket Exercise.  After the talking circle was over we did our reciprocity hand shake. A lady named Amanda came up to talk to me; she wanted to give me this necklace, the word “courage” was on the key, courage to use my voice. I’ll wear it all the time to remind myself when I do need some courage. If I find someone who needs courage I will pass it on and hope it means something to him or her, just like how much it means to me.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

I'm Glad I Went to Moose Jaw

By Tyrell Tudor

I had a good time in Moose Jaw. I think it was fun. I bonded with people and I talked to some of the local folks, and they were nice to me.

I helped with the Treaty Walk and I had a great time. We were doing this one Treaty Walk and they said, "Let's hold hands and walk down this path in the park." So, I grabbed this lady's hand and walked down the path.

The last day in Moose Jaw we took a picture by the Moose. We made a song and it was good.

I'm glad I went to Moose Jaw.


Wearing Shades


Wearing Shades
by Kaheau Ironeagle

When we walked into the banquet room I saw lots of people sitting at tables, enjoying themselves. I recognized some people from earlier in the week. The pot roast was pretty good. I liked the way that they made their cakes, like the chocolate kind and the carrot cake.

When Chris and Kallie got up to the microphone, they were thanking all the people who sponsored Atamiskākēwak and volunteered throughout the week. They congratulated us on being there, overcoming obstacles to help others. They invited people to go up and say some good words about how good it was to work with everyone throughout the week.

The guys were going up and I didn’t want to be the only person not going up. So I just went up there. It was damn nerve wracking. I was going to say lots, but I started shaking. I remember that I did say that everybody should be happy. I was thanking everybody.

It was a special moment to look back on. It was a fun week. In that moment it was exciting to talk to lots of people. It was fun. In some ways it was easy because I didn’t know the audience. I could see myself doing this again. Wearing a pair of shades, it’s easy.
 

 

Monday, April 30, 2018

Here for You


Bert Fox Koops’ Family

Hey Guys,

It is Sunday evening, and I am sitting here thinking about you.  You have impacted so many lives, that it’s very difficult to grasp the impact that you have actually had here.  For a small group of young men and women from Reserves around Fort Qu’Appelle, you rocked this place.  There is no hiding where you come from, your background, your stories, your reality.  You came here with open minds and hearts, but what you brought to the table was something no one could have planned or predicted.

As a team, you were given a fairly comfortable schedule, which included, classroom visits, Blanket Exercises, and Treaty Walks.  The classroom visits were good, but the Blanket Exercises were amazing, beyond any expectation anyone had.   You did eight, you had to double up on three of the days.  How amazing is that!  The impact from those sessions was very telling in the responses of the participants and people passing by.

I wanted you guys to be here more than you will ever know.  Our country is hurting, our world is hurting, and we need young people like you to lead us in a direction of healing.  There were a few of you with voices when you arrived, but when you left here, each and every one of you had a voice.  I believe in each and every one of you, that now you have been given the opportunity to step up and be a leader in your community and beyond.  You can make a difference, each and every one of you.

I love you, and will always be here for you.

Deb Negraiff

Atamiskakewak National Gathering 2018 Education Chair
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Family at Atamiskakewak


Family at Atamiskakewak by Austen (Boss) Elliott
In our time in Moose Jaw we became closer together as a family and as brothers and sisters. We all have something in common that make us family. We all have stories that we can all relate to. In Moose Jaw we met so many great people with very big hearts. I’m very grateful to have met so many wonderful people and so many wonderful kids. Everyone we met had such a wonderful heart, and how they’re able to share their beautiful stories with us. This is Austin Elliott part of oskipimohtamwak otayisiniwiwaw I’m very grateful to be a part of the National Gathering.
 

Imagine Canada


Imagine Canada
by Taish Desnomie


Imagine a Canada were people can be all they can be without having to over think their lifestyles and trying to figure out who they are.
 

Imagine a Canada without suicide where kids can be kids and not have to worry.  We would not have to go to another funeral in sorrow and heart break. 
 

Imagine a Canada without gangs then we wouldn’t have to fight each other over who controls north, east, south, west, none of that would matter.
 

Imagine a Canada without racism where we could all be one without having somebody on the media telling each other they’re not good enough to do this or good enough to do that. Where our skin color doesn’t define who we are but our respect for one another does.
 

Imagine a Canada where young indigenous women can walk down the street at night without having to look over their shoulders in fear, just imagine that for a second and think to yourself what would Canada be like.
 

Imagine if Canada could be an actual place of peace and refuge for new comers. Not only to come here and be put through the same prosecution they have already been through.
 

Imagine if Canada never had an Indian Act and we never had to be on reserves, killing each other, poisoning our sprits with alcohol and drugs then we could be a rich, glowing culture again
 

Just imagine if Canada could help its homeless veterans; then they would have a better time of dealing with their problems fitting in to society not only wondering why they deserve this.
 
Imagine a Canada without the things called 60s scoop, residential schools and intergenerational trauma because of things like racism towards one another, stereo types for each of us. Imagine a Canada like that.
 

Imagine a Canada where everyone’s voice can be heard.

I Found My Voice


I Found My Voice by Lacey Missens
This week we went to Atamiskakewak National Gathering. We had big opportunities the whole week and mine was speaking in front of crowds and “Finding My Voice”. I facilitated a Blanket Exercise. It wasn’t a big crowd but it was a step into something for me, and it meant something to me, to go and speak to people and facilitate the KBE.

At the end of the week we went to a banquet. My class and I were sitting near the front and Kallie and Chris gave everyone an opportunity to go and speak. My class mates started going one by one. My friend spoke and told me to go up; I didn’t really have a choice. I walked up towards the microphone.

And this is what I said. “I’d like to thank Mrs Koops for this and making this class, and my class (I pointed at them), I’m happy to be a part of their lives. I wrote a blog a few months ago about finding my voice and this is the time, I found my voice.”

Thank you.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Finding My Voice


By Lacey Missens

Lacey on a Treaty Walk in Fort Qu'Appelle last September
 

I’m sitting here, thinking to myself, what should I write down? when I have so many things I could say to myself and everyone around me. I just don’t know how to put my words on the page. I do know I have a voice and the people around me know I do; still, I’m just trying to find mine when I’m in front of crowds.

These are my thoughts during the Kairos Blanket Exercise. I was always a shy person and many times I didn’t want to read the Blanket Exercise script. I would watch my classmates. Every time I would try to step up, I would try to say I wanted to finally read, but I would start thinking to myself I know I won’t be able to do this because people around me will doubt me and my thoughts would listen to those people and I would start to doubt my own self.  

When I went to Balgonie, I read for the first time. It was hard for me because that’s when my thoughts came into my head and I would start to have bad thoughts. For many people around me, they could speak in front of the crowd because they found their voices and everyone has a story.

Lacey reading from the Kairos Blanket Exercise script
for the first time in Balgonie, second from the right

When I found out about this class, I didn’t know what I was getting into. When I walked in on the first day we were in a talking circle and there weren’t too many people around me. I was still scared to speak up; to this day I’m still learning who I am and what I could actually do to motivate other people around me. I did learn that I shouldn’t care about what other people think about me when I do speak. People around you will listen to what you’ve got to say for yourself.

My goal from now to the end of the year is… I hope I will find my voice. I know I can see a difference from my first day in this class to present day. I’m slowly starting to find my voice in me. I just think you should never give up on what you believe in and push yourself to the good things in life instead of the negative.

Back row, Left to Right: Lacey, Taish, Jason Weitzel (principal of Balgonie)
Raimey, Glen, Kisis Cappo (from Balcarres) and Raven
Front row, Left to Right: Austin, Calen, Michael


 

Monday, February 12, 2018

My Year

by Raven Cook

 
Lately I’ve been asking myself “Is everything I’m doing going to be worth it?”

We’re two months into 2018. The whole thing with New Year’s resolutions (New Year, new me) has me thinking about what I want to change about myself. I have probably failed most of my resolutions already, haha. But when we fail at something we can choose to let it break us or we can choose to learn from our failure and come back stronger.

The more I've thought about it, I’ve noticed I have a lot of things to look forward to my last semester of high school. With days going by so fast, I guess I’ve been scared for this semester to end. Things I look forward to is travelling with my “oski-family”; finally graduating high school; and continuing my journey. I think these next few months will probably be some of my favourite and will help me find some sense of self.

When I turned 20, I had this feeling that it’s actually going to be “my year.” The year I find some true happiness and my happiness won’t be temporary, like I’m so used to it being. The support I have from my “oski-family” makes me feel I can keep going.  

Everything I’ve done with Oski-pimohtahtamwak otayisīniwiwaw has always been worth doing. So I think the answer I’ve been looking for is “yes, it’s all going to be worth it.” Everything will be okay.
 

 
 
 

Friday, February 9, 2018

The Most Loving Group Hug

The Most Loving Group Hug
by Michael Starr-Desnomie

The day when we got on the bus I was really pumped to go to a different school to show people about the Kairos Blanket Exercise, sharing the history of Canada that they didn’t know about. Driving to Regina was a good, looking out the windows and seeing beautiful land and animals.

When we got to Mother Theresa Middle School I knew it was a Catholic school. I and my brother were outside of school grounds having a smoke before we went in. Walking into the school, looking around, it was a pretty nice school, I've got to say.

We met Evan Whitestar who told us that he grew up in Fort Qu’Appelle. He told us all that he did for the Fort. It was good to meet another Fort kid that became big. He was telling me and my classmates about the history that he had in the Fort. He knew a couple people that played for the Fort Knox and that went into the WHL. I didn’t know that. It was great hearing what he was saying, what he did when he lived in the Fort. When he was done talking to us the principal, Terri Cote, showed us the gym so we could get set up for the Blanket Exercise.
 
 

The Blanket Exercise went good; there were over 60 kids in the gym, all in a circle. After the blanket exercise we always ask the people to get into a circle so we can talk about how we think and feel. Some of the kids in the circle didn’t want to speak, so I was waiting until it was my turn.

At the beginning I told my brother Taish I’m going to pour my heart out. I bro-handshaked him, then went back to the talking circle, waiting for my turn.

I was the last one to speak.

When it was my turn I stood up.  

I spoke my heart out. I was telling all of them, “You are all leaders and family to me.” I also told them, “I don’t care what color you are, I care for each and every one of you like family. I give you – each and every one of you – Much Love and Respect."
 

I told them about the kids from the north that are needing our help and I told them my reactions. How I couldn’t get through the first 4 pages on the book called Shhh… Listen We Have Something to Say. I told them what I wanted to do. How I was feeling on that day. That I needed to talk to someone about how I wanted to help them and on the ideas that would work for them. I felt their pain. I know what they went through, and don’t call me crazy, but I heard their voices in my head saying help me Michael.

I couldn’t sit down or stay still for a long time. Told them who I talked to on the phone, what I told them, how I was feeling and what was on my heart. There was a lot of pressure on my heart. I told them I don’t care what people say if I cry in front of people, it shows me that I’m a true man, standing my ground, speaking my heart out to people, telling them how my life is, like the Blanket Exercise told them my history, how it all made me the man that I am today, how it made me became a great leader.

When I was done talking I told them all thank you. One of my teachers, Sherie McKay, who was helping us with the blanket exercise said, “Michael deserves a group hug” and I said, “If you guys want, I’m a hugger.”

Some kids came running up to me and hugged me, then all 60 kids came up and hugged me. Well, I got a good group hug with mostly all of them.

They told me that what I said, it touched all of them and I felt happy and loved by all of them. It was an amazing feeling. I had never gotten a group hug in a Blanket Exercise. I’ve got to say, that was the best Blanket Exercise that I have ever had.