by Derek Cornet

Some northerners are asking what happens next after the Buffalo Narrows Correctional Centre was closed as a cost-savings measure by the provincial government.

“This is a big devastation for the whole North,” remarked correctional officer Ashley Daigneault, who loses her job at the end of the June. “We’re not going down without a fight – not with the little bit of programming we have. Our jobs and livelihoods depend on this.”

Daigneault, along with fellow officers Darcy Howe and Willy Desjarlais, are among 15 people losing their jobs at the centre. They were also at a community meeting at the Buffalo Narrows Friendship Centre June 4 where they spoke with family, friends and Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger about the closure. Daigneault – who commutes to work from Ile-a-la Crosse – said there aren’t many job prospects once they’re unemployed.

“You get to put your name on a bumping list in your geographical area,” she stated. “What in this area, geographically, does the government have in this field of work? A lot of us will have to uproot our families and move south just so we can support them. We don’t want to do that. This is our life – this is our home.”

Daigneault is saddened by the closure and considers it another broken promise Premier Brad Wall has made to the North. She said, after the shootings in La Loche in January, he promised they’d pay more attention to the North and now it seems what little they do have left is being taken away.

“The premier and the prime minister said they’re going to put their focus into the North, and said they’re going to do this and they’re going to do that,” Daigneault added.

She’s also concerned about what’s going to happen to the inmates and their families. She said the prison population is 100 per cent aboriginal with inmates coming from Beauval, Dillon and Ile-a-la Crosse, and with their relocation, the rehabilitation process is lessened. Daigneault added there are families who came and visited their loved ones every week and now they’ll be forced to drive further to do so.

While some people were hoping Belanger could reverse the situation, he told those at the meeting he doubt’s the government will reconsider. He said he’d try asking them to do that, but didn’t want to raise expectations because his primary focus is finding jobs for those most in need. Belanger invited the workers to Regina, telling them they need to build a case and the community has to rally behind them.

“I want to show Brad Wall the faces of the people they fired,” he stated. “We have to fight back because there’s going to be a lot of other cuts coming. We have to show them the North isn’t going to let them do what they want.”

Belanger also said it’s a trend of forgetting the North when times are good and looking at it when times are bad.

According to executive director of corporate affairs Drew Wilby, the remaining 18 inmates will be either sent to Prince Albert, North Battleford or Besnard Lake, or could be released depending on conditions. He said the inmates are low-risk, with some working in the community during the day and returning to the prison at night. Along with officers, administrative staff and a director were also laid off.
The closure is expected to save $661,000 this year and $1 million annually.

The post Correctional staff seek answers appeared first on Northern Pride.

With a history of leadership under his belt, Elmer Campbell of Buffalo River Dene Nation wants to create a healthy economy in the Northwest. Recently, Elmer spoke with Northern Pride about his career as a chief executive office, his time as chief and the tourist hot spots near Buffalo Narrows.

Q: What’s your current role in Buffalo Narrows?
A: I’m the chief executive officer for the Buffalo Narrows Economic  Development Corporation. I’m looking for business opportunities for the board. It can either be in the community or joint ventures that will bring revenue into the community. I’ve been in the position for two-and-a-half years and it’s been OK. We’re working on some projects, but we just completed SARCAN Recycling. Now, we’re looking at a franchise establishment. I can’t talk about it much because we’re still working on it. I also make sure the rental properties we have are functioning and the tenants are happy. I also put feelers out there because Buffalo Narrows has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, so I always have my ears open for it.

Q: What places are there for people to see?
A: We have a lot of natural, virgin land that’s good for exploration for tourists – not industry. People can go on a canoe trip and camp along the lakeshore and it feels like nobody else has been there. We have endless miles of sand beaches, clear water and a lot of fish. Also, a lot of local people have outfitting businesses and they complement each other. There’s huge tourism potential in Buffalo Narrows.

Q: What’s holding people back from visiting the area?
A: We have a lot of visitors – it’s just a lot of little things. For example, nobody ever thought not having premium gas pumps would be a deterrent for some people. A lot of the newer machines need premium gas, and now, we have a pump. The people who know that come and bring their equipment. But, a lot of times people haul a lot of premium fuel and just drive through. They’re going to northern areas past La Loche. We want to make Buffalo Narrows a destination. The RV parks are already full all summer. The hotels also have a high occupancy rate and the outfitters are doing well. They’re filling up their cabins. The way the waterways are set up around Buffalo Narrows, you can boat anywhere and, even if the wind comes up, there’s shelter in the coves behind small islands. Other places, all there is is a big lake and, if the wind comes up, then you’re docked on shore waiting for the wind to go down.

Q: Are there special spots near Buffalo Narrows?
A: The beaches are pristine like at Big Buffalo Beach. There’s other places like that. At Big Buffalo, you can go out there in a boat and just give’er because there are no rocks on that side. There are some lakes where you need to be careful though, but some people know them like the back of their hand. Those are the ones who have small charter outfits. If people are unsure of the lake, they’ll show them or hire local people to guide them. Once they get the lay of the lake, the islands and the coves, people come back year-after-year. People get to know the area and get comfortable out there.

Q: Is there a particular lake you prefer going to?
A: I’m from Dillon, so my preference is Dillon Lake. The original community I’m from is across the lake at Clear Lake reserve. It draws a lot of people and it’s nice. There are spots in the Pre-Cambrian Shield, so people need to be careful.

Q: Are there tourism information centres?
A: No. We don’t have any, but the idea has been discussed. Attempts have been made to try to have summer students be the ones to take care of a centre. It just hasn’t come to be yet. There’s been some discussion with tourism consultants and that’s one of the things they mention right away. If tourists want to get a map or information about what’s going on or what’s available, the local people have it. The ones who own the camps have those things. But, some have been here year-after-year, so a lot already know where to go and where the good fishing holes are. Word-of-mouth helps out a lot too.

Q: As a former chief of Buffalo River Dene Nation, how long were you involved with band politics?
A: I was involved for 22 years. I was a councillor for 10 years, then chief for 12. My last year as chief was 2006, but my time in office was good – there were many advancements in our community. I had a good team and staff. There were successful programs in the schools and our health program was doing a lot of workshops to help with social issues. Economically, forestry was well and the price of lumber was good at the time. We also had our store. There were a lot of good things that happened. I was happy to be part of it all.

Q: Did you grow up on the reserve?
A: I lived on the reserve, but I didn’t go to school there. I spent five years, including my high school years, in Buffalo Narrows. I also spent seven years at a residential school. My grandparents also lived in Buffalo Narrows, so we lived here most of the time. We moved back to the reserve in Dillon in 1972.

Q: What was Dillon like in the 1970s?
A: It was OK, but there was no road. There was a lot to do, though. At that time, people were still using horses and dog teams, so there were things to be done. There were horses, cows and a lot of dogs. There were chores like hauling water with the horses and then there was school.

Q: Do people still have horses in Dillon?
A: Certain families have them and still use them. There’s a family upriver at Forty-four it’s called and they still use horses and wagons. They have a cabin at Little Dillon Lake and they’ll also use them to go hunting or to gather wood. Also, there’s some other people who bring their horses to the various communities and hold sleigh rides when there are festivals.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I like going to my cabin. I like being in the nature and I enjoy the quietness. Also, depending on the season, I’ll go hunting. Next month, I’ll be hunting moose, then in October it will be ducks. In the winter, there’s still hunting and trapping until it’s time for muskrat trapping in the spring. There’s always something seasonal to do that’s comforting and relaxing. When I go moose hunting, I fly into a lake west of Dillon. There’s been years I’ve been skunked, but I’ve had more years we’re I’ve been successful than not.

Q: How do you like to prepare moose meat?
A: When I get home from hunting, my mother and wife, Marie and Leona, will start preparing it to be fried or boiled. We try to use the majority of it for making dry meat, though, so it lasts into the winter. That’s a delicacy everyone loves.

Q: Tell me about your family.
A: My wife and I have three kids, but they’re all adults now. Jocelyn Chaplain lives in Rosthern now, but our sons, Robert and Kelly, live in Dillon. It’s good having them so close. Kelly works as an underground miner, so he works two weeks in and two weeks out. Robert works in the oil patch and right now he’s working out of Saskatoon. He works odd shifts, but when they have time off, our sons come home.

Q: What’s it like driving in the North?
A: It would be better if the roads were nicer, especially the roads off Highway 155 going into the communities. They’re all gravel and the one I drive from Dillon to Buffalo Narrows gets bad. When it rains, it becomes muddy and full of ruts and that’s hard on vehicles. In the winter it’s OK because the roads are frozen. If they’re graded nice in the fall before freeze up, they’re good. There really isn’t problems going in and out. If you have a car there might be.

The post The Conversation appeared first on Northern Pride.

An incident involving the RCMP in Buffalo Narrows earlier today has concluded.

According to police, two individuals were taken into custody without incident.

“The occurrence today in Buffalo Narrows ended peacefully and without incident,” noted an updated RCMP news release. “All evacuated persons are now able to return home, but there will be a continued police presence in the area.”

The RCMP also said an update would be provided as soon as more information is available.

“We want to thank the public and media agencies for staying away from the area and respecting any barricades in place so RCMP members could conduct their work safely,” the police stated. “Please continue to respect any barriers until they are fully removed.”

The post Suspects arrested in B. Narrows appeared first on Northern Pride.

On Monday (Jan. 16) at 12:30 p.m., the Buffalo Narrows RCMP with the assistance the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT),  executed a search warrant at a residence in Buffalo Narrows.

During the search, police seized various drug paraphernalia, cash and crack cocaine.

As a result of the search and follow up investigation police have charged four individuals. Kut Deng, 28, of no fixed address, has been charged with the following: possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine; possession of proceeds of property by crime; breach of recognizance.

Also charged was 25-year-old Abdirizak Yussuf  of no fixed address. Charges include possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine and possession of proceeds of property by crime. Meanwhile, 51-year-old George Carl Chartier of Buffalo Narrows has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine. A 17-year-old female has also been charged with the following possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine and breach of recognizance. She cannot, however, be identified as per provisions outlined in the the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

All four were scheduled to appear in Buffalo Narrows Provincial Court this morning (Jan. 18).

The post Cocaine seized in Buffalo Narrows appeared first on Northern Pride.

by Derek Cornet

A new radio tower in Buffalo Narrows will boost coverage up to 30 times.

That’s according to CIBN manager Mike Bouvier who said the tower will provide 6,000 watts, an increase from the less than 200 watts the station had before. Currently serving Buffalo Narrows, Dillion, Michel Village and St. George’s Hill, Bouvier said other northern communities will now be able to access its programming.

“We were leasing space from the Ministry of Environment,” he said of CIBN’s previous arrangement. “They have a tower just north of Buffalo Narrows and we were shooting a signal to it. We were given notice from them saying we might have to find other options.”

Bouvier went on to say work to purchase the new tower began about a year ago and it involved working with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. He stated CIBN already had the $200,000 needed to buy the tower as board members had budgeted for major projects.

“We were originally going to get a new building, but the one we’re in is still fairly new, so we felt we didn’t need one,” Bouvier remarked. “This is a big opportunity for Buffalo Narrows. It’s not about raising more money for us, it’s about providing more information to the outlining communities as well.”

Jamie Woods has worked at CIBN for 11 years as a full-time disc jockey. She’s excited about the upgrade, but also anxious about covering a wider area.

“It’s going to be very exciting because everyone will hear us all over and we’ll be able to get more publicity,” Woods stated. “I’m going to be nervous because usually I’m only broadcast in the area.”

In Buffalo Narrows, Woods added the radio station is important because it provides up-to-date information should an emergency arise. She also said the bingos they host are also popular, but some of the players aren’t happy about reaching more listeners.

“In the streets, some people will say they’re excited and others aren’t because of the bingo,” Woods said. “A lot has changed here lately, but it’s always for the plus.”

A non-profit organization, CIBN employs six people and is operated by a seven-person board. Richard Petit is the current chairperson.

The post CIBN increases signal reach appeared first on Northern Pride.

by Derek Cornet

A hockey tournament organized by the Buffalo Narrows Friendship Centre and Métis Local 62 attracted dozens of athletes from throughout the Northwest.

Thousands of dollars in prize money were awarded in the two-day event, which occurred Feb. 25 and 26 at the Lakeview Complex. According to friendship centre president Dennis Shatilla, nine teams entered and players travelled from Dillon, Ile-a-la Crosse, La Loche, Patuanak and Turnor Lake. He hoped seven teams would attend, so the tournament generated more interest than planned.

“We don’t hold them very often – maybe two tournaments per year,” Shatilla remarked. “It’s good for minor hockey because it gives the kids something to look forward to. It shows them there’s something to do when they finish because we have nothing after Bantam.”

Overall, the Ile-a-la Crosse Halfsons were the top team in the tournament and earned $5,000 in prize money.
The Buffalo Narrows Jets were runners up and received $3,000 while third place went to the La Loche Bobcats who claimed $1,500. Cash was also awarded in a variety of special categories including: Most Valuable Player to Willy Desjarlais (Ile-a-la Crosse); High score to Rambo Wolverine (La Loche); Best Goalie to Carl Morin (Ile-a-la Crosse); Best Defenceman to Aaron Chartier (Buffalo Narrows); and Top Forward to Chris Pederson (Buffalo Narrows).

Shatilla went on to say the only issue encountered on the weekend was the rule of each team only being allowed two imports. Since nobody was sure where everyone came from, Shatilla stated the honour system had to be used, but complaints were still lodged. But, ultimately, he noted everyone came together for the love of the sport.

Teams also had a wide age range of players participating, with the youngest being 14-year-old Chad Young of Buffalo Narrows and the oldest, 61-year-old Louis Gardiner of Ile-a-la Crosse. However, Shatilla said it was all about the young people.

The post Northern tourney a hit appeared first on Northern Pride.

“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”

These words from professional wrestling legend and current Hollywood mega-star Dwayne Johnson couldn’t be more fitting if he’d used them to describe the consistent hard work and perseverance shown by athletes from throughout the Northwest who continually give it their all to be ranked among the very best in their respective sports.

And, who more appropriate to quote than The Rock when recognizing the history-making accomplishment of Carpenter High School Grade 10 student Jacob Ambroziak who, this past weekend, became the first-ever CHS athlete to earn a provincial wrestling championship? While a tremendous personal accomplishment, it also means a lot for the school and for the wrestling program, which was still celebrating its first-ever regional team trial wins from one week earlier. The provincial event, meanwhile, also saw twins Skyla and Savanna Russell bring home bronze medals – a first since 2014 when Caitlin Villeneuve became the initial CHS wrestler to medal at provincials.

Of course skill, talent and dedicated coaching play a big part, but the fact these competitors were able to achieve as much as they did this year comes down to their passion for the sport and the consistency they have shown in terms of improving what they’re able to bring to the dance.

The same could be said for the boys basketball team from Twin Lakes School in Buffalo Narrows. Going 2-0 at the 1A regional playdowns on the weekend, Twin Lakes advanced to Hoopla – the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association’s provincial basketball event – for the first time in that school’s history.

According to coach David Wells, however, the goal has never been a championship nor has it even been to win. Instead, he rates success on how much character each athlete displays and how well they’re able to play as a team. This in itself is enough to classify them as champions.

And, although the season is quickly cooling off with the recent arrival of spring, the local hockey rink continues to be a hot spot for athletic achievement. An example of this would be the carded tournament hosted by the Meadow Lake Novice Stampeders. The home team went 4-0 to win the tournament, defeating the majority of their opponents by fairly widespread margins. The secret to their success? According to coach Myles Gibb, it’s the simple fact all members contributed in some way, shape or form.

It’s true success breeds success, and the hard work shown by these athletes is only a small sampling of what this region’s sporting community has to offer. It’s also only the beginning for many of these youngsters and for their respective sports as a whole. Better things are yet to come.

The post Dedication does wonders appeared first on Northern Pride.

The federal government’s recent effort to leagalize and regulate marijuana has left some Canadians feeling dazed and confused.

In an historic moment, the Liberals tabled legislation last week to end the prohibition of pot and regulate it for recreational use. It was a campaign promise Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made when still gunning for the country’s top job back in 2015, and one the government hopes will reach fruition by July 1 of next year.

According to the proposed legislation, Canadians 18 years and older will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried or fresh cannabis, while consumers can also grow up to four plants at home or buy from a licensed retailer. However, not every component of the plan has been announced – including additional provincial regulations, how the pot it will be taxed, how much it will cost and where users will be permitted to light up – but, still, it’s a piece of legislation that’s been long overdue.

While not everyone is going to completely agree on the topic of drug use – legal or otherwise – there’s no denying how prevalent marijuana has become in today’s society. Medical and therapeutic reasons aside, it’s long been one of the most easily accessible recreational drugs, the enforcement of which has likely cost a hefty dollar over the years without much to show for it. Marijuana is everywhere and, most who use it, will also swear up and down to its harmlessness when compared to other, already legal substances including both alcohol and nicotine.

It only makes sense for the government to embrace an “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” mentality. It will take time, however, for some critics to recognize, accept and adjust to what will no doubt be a major cultural and social change for this country. Buffalo Narrows mayor Bobby Woods is a prime example.

Recently, Woods expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s marijuana legislation. A long-time advocate for a drug-free society, Woods is concerned about the legalization of marijuana negatively impacting his community. He’s afraid, by making the drug legal, it will be much easier for the public – children included – to get their hands on it and for people to be lured toward using even more, potentially dangerous substances.

His convictions are indeed honourable, but the fact is anyone who truly wants to get hold of marijuana already has a way of doing so. The government’s simply making it so they’re not breaking the law when they do. Time will tell if the Liberals’ effort pays off, but one thing’s for certain – it’s a changing world. And as much as some people may not want to, they’re going to have to change with it.

The post Pot plan could work appeared first on Northern Pride.

by Phil Ambroziak

New legislation put forward by the federal government is likely to see many Canadians hit an all-time high.

Last week, the Liberal government tabled legislation to end the prohibition on marijuana and regulate it for recreational use.
The goal is to make legalization a reality across the country before July 1, 2018. For the time being however, things remain status quo from a policing perspective.

“As far as marijuana enforcement is concerned, we will not change the way we do business until the announcement has been digested and processed by both the province and RCMP management,” explained Meadow Lake RCMP Sgt. Ryan How. “Marijuana is still a concern in the community, whether legal or not.”

How went on to say there are simply far too many unknowns at this point.

“Our detachment management has been proactive in discussions with the city and how the changes could affect the community,” he said. “We want to be ahead of the changes as much as possible. Roadside screening for impaired driving by drug is the most obvious concern, but there are some very complex legal questions that need to be clarified as well.”

One person who expects the legalization of marijuana to be beneficial is local pharmacist Geoff Barton.

“There are already ways people have been obtaining marijuana for medical purposes, but I suppose it could soon be distributed through pharmacies,” Barton noted. “Until everything is in black and white, however, we just don’t know. It really is a wait and see for us. I do believe, though, receiving it through a pharmacy supply chain would certainly be more safe and more secure than through other sources.”

Once official, the legislation will allow Canadians 18 years and older to possess up to 30 grams of dried or fresh cannabis. Consumers can also grow up to four plants at home or buy from a licensed retailer. The new bill also prohibits marketing to appeal to youth, denies sales through self-service display or vending machines and makes it illegal to drive within two hours of having an illegal level of drugs in the blood, with penalties ranging from a $1,000 fine to life imprisonment, depending on varying circumstances.

Still, there are those who fail to see the logic behind the government’s latest move.

“I’ve never been a fan of any type of drug and I’m not sure what this (legalization) will do, but most people who work in addictions know marijuana is the gateway drug,” remarked Buffalo Narrows mayor Bobby Woods, a long-time advocate for a drug-free community. “People say it’s mild, but it can also get people started and hooked on other things that aren’t so mild. I don’t support that.”

Woods also believes marijuana will now be more accessible than it already is.

“It just seems every time we take a step forward, we take six steps backward,” he said. “Alcohol is a legal substance and so many people are addicted. It doesn’t make things any easier to have it legalized. I believe the government took the easy way out by saying, ‘if we can’t beat them, we might as well join them.’ It’s the wrong step to take as far as I’m concerned.”

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by Derek Cornet

A call out to leaders to meet about the ongoing suicide crisis in northern Saskatchewan was responded to by three village mayors and a chief.

In all, 250 community members, frontline workers and youth attended the special gathering Sept. 6 in Buffalo Narrows. Organized by concerned parents Holly Toulejour and Ali Woods, the three-hour meeting included presentations regarding suicide statistics and general discussions among attendees.

“We’re just a few moms concerned about moms killing themselves,” said Toulejour about the reason for organizing the event. “We know how it feels for families living in fear their kids are going to kill themselves. It was good to bring people together and I hope people left feeling a little less overwhelmed knowing other communities are going through the same thing.”

A social worker from La Loche Community School, Toulejour hopes the leaders who attended will be spurred into action by taking the issue to higher levels of government. Those leaders include Buffalo Narrows mayor Bobby Woods, Ile-a-la Crosse mayor Duane Favel, Beauval mayor Nick Daigneault and Birch Narrows Dene Nation chief Jonathan Sylvestre.

“Governments have shown us too often they’re not committed,” she stated. “We need to create something where it doesn’t matter who is in government, so we can continue meeting and sharing resources.”

Daigneault, meanwhile, said he was surprised by the amount of people at the gathering, stating it was a testament to how impacted residents of northern Saskatchewan are by suicide. He said the interest and support was heartening to witness.

“It shows the seriousness of the situation we’re in,” Daigneault said. “One thing we have to do as leaders is come together and create a big message when we can make our way to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention this year. We need to lobby the provincial government for some support.”

At approximately 7:15 p.m. Sept. 25, Buffalo Narrows RCMP responded to a call of an unresponsive, adult female at a residence in that community. A 56-year-old female was located injured and was taken to local hospital by EMS and later air-lifted to Saskatoon. On Sept. 29, she succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

The deceased is identified as 56-year-old Lillian Wuttunee of Buffalo Narrows.

On Oct. 11, following RCMP investigation, 52-year-old Brenda Laura Tobac of Buffalo Narrows was arrested without incident and subsequently charged with Manslaughter.

Tobac has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to next appear in court in Buffalo Narrows at 10 a.m. Nov. 8.

This investigation is ongoing and involves RCMP Major Crimes Unit North, Buffalo Narrows RCMP and Saskatoon General Investigation Section.

by Phil Ambroziak

Orano Canada Inc.’s efforts to safely and securely decommission Cluff is definitely no bluff.

That’s what a series of experts from Orano – the company formerly known as Areva Resources Canada – had to say as they wrapped up a recent tour of northern communities with a stop in Beauval last Thursday evening (Nov. 8) where they met with members of the public to discuss the steps taken to decommission the former Cluff Lake mine site and what’s happening now in terms of efforts to turn the land over to the Saskatchewan government.

“We’re here to talk about the Cuff Lake project, which was a uranium mining project that produced uranium from 1980 to 2002,” explained Dale Huffman, vice-president of health, safety, environment and regulatory relations for Orano Canada Inc. “We completed decommissioning activities, by and large, around 2006 and, for the last 12 years, we’ve been doing environmental monitoring on the site to demonstrate we’ve met our decommissioning objectives. At this point in time, we are talking with leadership in the communities and to community members about the status of the Cluff Lake site and the next steps for it.”

The former Cluff Lake site is located about 250 kilometres from La Loche, the community that served as the first stop on Orano’s tour.

“We’re working toward a commission hearing with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC),” Huffman continued. “That will probably be in June 2019, so we want to get out and communicate about the project in advance of that. At that hearing, we’ll be asking to extend our CNSC licence by five years, and subsequently we’ll be transferring the property to the care of the province’s institutional control program. We’re working toward that and we want to talk to people about what we’re doing.”

Huffman went on to say the province will only accept the property into institutional control if it’s safe and stable, and if it meets the standards in place for the decommissioning process.

“We started our tour in La Loche where we met with mayor and council before moving on to Clearwater River Dene Nation for a community open house,” Huffman noted. “We’ve also been to Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la Crosse and now we’re in Beauval. So far, the meetings have been very well attended. We got a lot of community members out, a lot of people who worked at Cluff Lake at some point in their careers who are bringing their families, looking at our information and asking some really good questions… It’s a chance for us to engage with people on a more personal level.”

He also said, for the most part, people were understanding of the process and appear to be pleased with what was presented.

“Anybody who has brought forward a question, we’ve tried to answer it,” Huffman said. “We have the technical information to support the work we’ve done and to support that we’ve met the decommissioning objectives that were set out for us… Our objective was to make the site safe and stable, and available for traditional site uses. Right now, you can hunt, fish, trap there, collect berries and do other traditional activities.”

Five people from Orano – Huffman, the Cluff Lake project manager, communications manager, northern affairs manager and the manager of the company’s corporate social response ability function all took part in the open houses.

“During our travels, we’ve had a lot of one-on-one time with people and I’ve met a host of former employees who were before my time – tree planters, people who hauled propane to the site, operators, HR people, and it’s really nice to hear about that past history,” remarked Diane Martens, Orano’s health, safety and environment project manager for Cluff Lake. “It also gives me a lot more context as I move the project toward these past steps.”

Orano, which is owned by the French government, has been operating in one form or another in Canada for more than 50 years. Since its inception in the 1960s, its been known by several names including Mokta, Amok, Amok/Cluff Mining, Cogema Canada Ltd., Cogema Resources, Areva and, finally, Orano. The decision to cease operations at Cluff Lake was made in 2002, while the decommission process began in earnest in 2004. While operations were winding down at Cluff, the mine employed between 200 and 300 people.

“Going forward, we’ve already made an application to the CNSC for a hearing,” Huffman reiterated. “We’ll now be preparing information for the hearing and, within the next couple years, we’ll make an application to the province for transferring the site. That could be a few years away, but we put the technical case together and they’ll need to digest that case and come to their own conclusions.”

Among those to attend last week’s open house in Beauval was local resident Jules Roy who worked at Cluff Lake during the mine’s early days.

“To start with, I was a carpenter,” Roy said. “I later became a supervisor – I supervised about 10 guys and worked in the shop.”

Roy said he wanted to see what the Orano people had to say, mainly out of curiosity because of his history with the site.

“I want to hear what they’re talking about,” he added. “As far as I know, I think they’re doing a good job. Of course, since I left the mine I never paid too much attention to what was going on.”

Also in Beauval, as well as the other communities Orano visited, was Ron Stenson, senior project officer with CNSC’s uranium mines and mills division.

“I’m here to gauge community concern over the site and plan for any outreach I may have to do myself,” Stenson said. “This has been a very tidy, following-the-rules process. I’m also pleased with the large turnout from each community we’ve visited. Most people have simply been curious and very few have had concerns. It’s very refreshing to see this level of community interest.”

by Phil Ambroziak

The road toward greater economic development has hit a rough patch for Métis communities in Saskatchewan’s northwest.

Recently, Pam Larson, CEO of the Clarence Campeau Development Fund, announced CCDF has been instructed to suspend its Métis Community Capacity Strategy (MCCS), a capacity building program designed to assist Métis communities gain a stronger foothold in various economic development initiatives. The suspension comes as a result of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan’s (MN-S) decision to cancel its operating agreement with the province.

“On Oct. 31, the MN-S cancelled its operating agreement with the province and, as a result, the province now has no way of transferring funds to CCDF,” Larson explained. “As a short-term solution, the province tried to reach out to the MN-S to allow for the release of our third-quarter payments in December. This would have allowed us to operate status quo, at least for the time being, but the MN-S came back with a list of undisclosed stipulations which the province could not meet.”

Larson went on to say, if a solution is not found, it could result in CCDF not receiving its fourth-quarter funding in March either, which would translate into a reduction in funding of about $1.23 million.

“This is money the Métis will lose,” she added. “As a result, CCDF has been instructed by the board of directors operating expenses and programs must be either cut or scaled back in anticipation of a long negotiation between the province and the MN-S… funding has been discontinued unless the MN-S agrees to re-establish through a release letter to the province.”

There are several communities that fall under CCDF’s Métis Community Capacity Strategy. Six of these include Ile-a-la Crosse, Pinehouse, La Loche, Green Lake, Buffalo Narrows and Beauval.

Struggle met

“Before this program was offered to the community, our economic development struggled somewhat in terms of finding the resources to put together a decent business plan or proposal for the purpose of seeking financial funding in the way of grants and loans,” explained Beauval mayor Nick Daigneault. “Our economic development arm – Beauval Development Inc. – was successful in 2014 in receiving funds from Clarence Campeau to start one of its first businesses, Blueberry Hill Water Bottling Company. This was done without the assistance of the MCCS program and took some time to gather the financial resources and find the right consultant to get the business proposal together. When the MCCS program was introduced in 2017, we were able to access business consultants, economic analysts, legal advice, and finance/accounting advice. This ushered in a renewed sense of excitement being able to take some of the business ideas and opportunities and run them through the MCCS program that had consultants and analysts pick apart the idea and see if there was some merit to this.”

Before the introduction of the MCCS, Daigneault said, if his community wanted to accomplish something like this, it would cost anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000.

“Our community was very careful in what opportunities it wanted to pursue because of this, sometimes the business idea never went anywhere as a result,” he added. “Beauval’s involvement in the strategy has been nothing but positive. We utilized the consultants to learn more about economic development board governance, financial statements, budgeting and developing an actual strategy for our economic development company. These things normally took a long time due to financial constraints or lack of guidance. In March of this year, Beauval Development Inc. acquired a local convenience store to add to its group of businesses. This could not have been done without the support and guidance of the strategy and the grant and loan funds provided by CCDF.”

This, Daigneault said, is why he is displeased with the MN-S’ recent decision.

“The program has now been suspended, leaving communities like Beauval in the dark as to where to access funds,” he said. “Small communities don’t often have that kind of money to toss around when developing an idea.”

Larson, meanwhile, said the MN-S can easily solve the current situation by allowing the province to release the third-quarter funding to CCDF.

“All it takes is the stroke of a pen by signing the letter the province gave to them,” she said. “I remain hopeful a solution can be found by the time the next payment is due, which is in March. If a solution is found, things can go back to normal and we can get our strategy up and running once again.”

Daigneault echoed this, stating it is entirely possible for the MN-S to negotiate new agreements whilst the current one plays itself through.

“This leads me to further believe our Métis communities are being used as a bargaining tool, something that is not appreciated,” he said.

Northern Pride reached out to MN-S president Glen McCallum for comment. He did not return calls, but the MN-S did issue a brief statement regarding the MCCS.

“In November, the MN-S agreed to the funding of Q3 and Q4 flowing,” set statement reads. “It’s now in the province’s hands.”

The post MN-S cancels CCDF agreement appeared first on Northern Pride.

by Phil Ambroziak

It’s time to change the rules.

That was the key message shared during a special meeting held Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Buffalo Narrows Friendship Centre where close to 65 people gathered to discuss issues currently facing northern Saskatchewan, as well as the beginnings of a coalition to stand up for the rights of northern people. The meeting was organized by Athabasca NDP MLA Buckley Belanger.

“Today is a very important day,” Belanger told those in attendance. “As northerners – Dene, Cree, Métis and non-Indigenous – we need to look at how we can collectively begin to work together because the amount of disrespect afforded to northern people is getting worse and worse. We see it happening time and time again. Trappers’ rights are being trampled, we’ve lost our term supply licence for forestry to a company out of B.C., and I understand a cabin was hauled away from Pinehouse yesterday (Feb. 7) on a flatbed truck… The North has got to get together. We have no choice. If you look at all the communities in our region, who is winning? The First Nations are not winning, the Métis communities are not winning, Buffalo Narrows is not winning, La Loche is not winning, and why is it we’re all not winning this fight? It’s because we aren’t getting together to stand up for what I feel is truly important and that is the North being respected and the northern people being respected on a lot of these decisions affecting our land.”

The meeting included a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity for the audience to share concerns and ask questions. Among those on hand was Dr. Greg Finnegan, CEO of Policy North, an applied research group associated with Northern Studies and Indigenous Governance at the University of Saskatchewan. At Policy North, Finnegan is tasked with building a business environment that can respond to the needs of northern communities for business and governance solutions that can build resilient communities. He was invited to Saturday’s meeting by Belanger.

“There were a lot of wonderful speakers and I know the solution to economic change is there if they want to make it happen,” Finnegan told Northern Pride. “I was impressed by how articulate the group was. They were very impassioned and they certainly recognize change is needed.”

Belanger, meanwhile, also noted the commercial fishing industry is another aspect of the North not getting a fair shake from the current government.

“Commercial fishing is a very important part of our economy, but the commercial fishing industry itself is under attack as well,” he said. “They are nickel and dimming our commercial fishing industry to death. The cost of manpower, the cost of fuel, the cost of maintenance is going up. Not only did they shut down our mining sector, they took our forestry rights and now they’re harassing the industry that helps feed a lot of families, not only in Buffalo Narrows but other places as well… If we don’t start fighting back, we’re going to see more and more things lost in the North.”

Belanger went on to say all these resources are on northern land.

“The North needs to take a step forward and say this is our land, these are our traditional resources, our traditional area,” he continued. “Why are we having trouble building cabins? Why can’t we go trapping? Why can’t we commercial fish? Why can’t we do all these things? Why do we have to follow all these rules set aside for us? Rules that don’t allow us to win. For too long we’ve been losing this battle and we’re not going to lose it forever. That’s why we need to do two things today. Firstly, we need to make sure we all participate and, secondly, we need to set up a coalition. That’s the objective today – setting up a coalition of Dene leaders, of Cree leaders, Métis leaders, First Nations leaders and community leaders – Indigenous or not. We need to be able to speak up together and start fighting back.”

In a subsequent interview, Belanger reiterated some of the comments he made during the meeting.

“Things are going to be done differently in northern Saskatchewan,” he said. “People are going to get organized and we’re going to demand industry in our own backyard because for too many years we’ve been following the rules set by others and has that benefited the North? Absolutely not. When others make the rules we are forced to follow, we lose. We need to change the rules and that’s exactly what we hope to do today.”

According to Finnegan, however, this change is not something likely to happen overnight.

“This wasn’t the type of meeting where you have a group of people come together who are in a position to make these kinds of decisions and to drive them forward,” he said. “I believe that will be the next stage. This was a first step in getting people together from different communities who share similar concerns and to have a concentrated, organized group ready to take things to the next level.”

With files from Terry Villeneuve

The post Northerners willing to fight back appeared first on Northern Pride.

by Phil Ambroziak

Ashraful Alam believes there needs to be a stronger police presence in Buffalo Narrows.

Alam, who serves as chief administrative officer (CAO) for the northern village, expressed his concerns about a need for more action by the RCMP when his vehicle and home were targeted by vandals. The crime was committed last Thursday night (Feb. 27) while Alam was inside his home.

“I heard a noise outside that woke me up,” Alam told Northern Pride. “My brand new white vehicle was covered in orange paint and so was the front of my home.”

This was around 10 p.m. and, while he does not know who is responsible for the crime, Alam doesn’t believe it was a random act of vandalism. He believes he was targeted because of his position as CAO and the fact the municipality has been cracking down on residents with outstanding property tax bills.

“I believe there are some people who don’t like the way things are going with the village,” Alam said. “People don’t like some of the changes we’ve been making, some of which have never been done before such as putting tax liens against some property owners who haven’t paid their property taxes in a number of years.”

Last spring, the village published a lengthy list of properties in arrears at the time, noting the outstanding taxes needed to be paid by June of 2019 to avoid the aforementioned tax lien. Notices regarding such liens, he added, have recently been issued to property owners still in arrears.

Meanwhile, Alam reported the vandalism to the RCMP, but said he is far from pleased with the response he received.

“The RCMP presence in Buffalo Narrows is very poor,” he said. “When I reported what happened, they told me there was nothing they could do about it, which is really sad.”

He also said it’s sad people feel the need to resort to criminal activity such as vandalism in order to get their message across.

“My main concern, however, is with the RCMP,” he continued. “This is a small community. I’m sure they know which people are doing what.”

As a result, Alam said he plans to write a letter to the RCMP, formally asking for more patrols in different parts of the community and at different times.

“More awareness needs to be raised about what is going on here,” he said. “It was me today and it could be someone else tomorrow.”

According to Cpl. Rob King of the RCMP’s media relations department in Regina, however, the level of vandalism reported in Buffalo Narrows is no different that most other communities in the North.

“All regular police work is being done in Buffalo Narrows to full capacity by the members who are there,” King explained. “I’m not sure what more can be done.”

King went on to confirm the incident of vandalism was reported to the local detachment and members did attend.

“The poor guy did get hit hard,” King said about the level of vandalism. “This matter is definitely under investigation, but right now there’s 1,200 suspects. It could be anyone. I understand he (Alam) is frustrated and I would be too if my white car was now orange, but as the village administrator he could end up making things even worse if he brings more publicity to himself. But, that’s his decision.”

The post Vandals target village administrator appeared first on Northern Pride.

On March 22, police officers from the Buffalo Narrows RCMP and Dillon RCMP detachments responded to the report of a disturbance at a residence in Dillon. When police officers arrived at the residence, they located two adult males with serious injuries.

Life-saving efforts were attempted by EMS to save 28-year-old Ty Armand Lemaigre, but he died of his injuries at the scene. The other male was transported to local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was later sent to Saskatoon for further treatment.

The death of Ty Armand Lemaigre is considered suspicious.

The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit North, General Investigation Sections from Prince Albert and North Battleford as well as Forensic Identification Section from North Battleford are assisting with this investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

The post Suspicious death in North appeared first on Northern Pride.

Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health staff have begun contact tracing related to a positive result for COVID-19 that had contacts in the Buffalo Narrows and La Loche area.

Due to patient privacy concerns, Saskatchewan Health Authority is not able to confirm any specifics around cases.

Contact tracing begins when positive lab results are received. The person who has a positive result is contacted by Public Health, and then a contact list is created based on information provided. Public Health subsequently tracks down and assesses everyone who came into contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Public health is working to ensure contact tracing to mitigate further spread of the virus.

As contact tracing investigations are ongoing, the SHA reminds everyone to take extra precautions to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission.

Extra precautions include:
· thorough and frequent hand washing
· coughing into your arm
· avoid touching your face
· monitoring yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19
· follow guidelines for social distancing (example stay two metres away from people who do not live in your home)

We want to remind everyone, during this time, social distancing is extremely important. We see it spreading in the community, so please stay home. Keep your distance from each other. If you are out in the community to get essential things, practice proper handwashing and disinfect the things you are bringing into your home before putting them away.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please self-isolate immediately and contact your family physician or call HealthLine 811.

For more information on self-isolation, social distancing and other public health measures you can take, got to saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.

While we request everyone to take general precautions, if you are not contacted in a context of a contact tracing, you are not at specific risk for that contact.

The post Positive COVID-19 result had contacts in Northwest appeared first on Northern Pride.

As COVID-19 slowly but surely is brought under control in Saskatchewan’s Northwest, the Northern Village of Buffalo Narrows is one of many communities remaining as vigilant as ever until the pandemic is over once and for all.

“Things are looking better for the Northwest, and specifically for us,” Buffalo Narrows mayor Melanie Aubichon remarked. “Were still sitting in the single digits in terms of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and we’ve also had a few recoveries. It hit some of the other communities much worse than ours, but, of course, population plays a big factor in that too.”

Aubichon went on to say the key to overcoming the virus is to follow all health measures and safety guidelines issued by the province as well as by local leadership, and to simply take things day-by-day.

“Much like other communities, we have checkstops in place at the north and south ends of town,” Aubichon continued. “These checkstops are manned 24/7 and have been in place for the past six weeks. Being able to monitor who is coming and going from the community has helped, especially when there isn’t as much traffic as there normally would be.”

As the risk of transmission of COVID-19 has regionalized in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, the public health order was amended earlier this week to only have travel restrictions applied to the Northwest region. Travel to and from all other areas of the North – commercial, domestic and recreational as outlined in the Reopen Saskatchewan plan – was permitted starting Tuesday (May 19).

The public health order will include clarity for Northwestern community leaders, residents and checkpoint staff to ensure people can obtain essential goods and services when travelling for medical purposes. Remaining under the current public health order restricting non-essential travel are: Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Clearwater River Dene Nation, Cole Bay, Dillon, Dore Lake, English River First Nation, Green Lake, Ile-a-la Crosse, La Loche, Patuanak, Turnor Lake and others in the immediate area.

by Phil Ambroziak

The post North continues COVID-19 fight appeared first on Northern Pride Publications.

The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit North (MCU-N), with the assistance of several RCMP detachments and specialized units, have been working together to investigate the suspicious death of an adult male from Buffalo Narrows that occurred Dec. 20, 2018.

Police have interviewed witnesses to establish a clear timeline of the events, examined the scene, gathered evidence and worked with the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service to investigate the circumstances of his death.

Based on the information gathered, along with assistance from the Buffalo Narrows RCMP, North Battleford and Regina RCMP Forensic Identification Services (FIS), RCMP MCU-South, the death of the adult male was determined to be a homicide.

The adult male victim has been identified as 42-year-old Jason Chartier of Buffalo Narrows. Saskatchewan RCMP Victim Services have been engaged to provide Chartier’s family with the support they need.

As a result of this investigation and consultation with the Crown, 67-year-old Robert Young of Buffalo Narrows has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jason Chartier. Robert Young was arrested without incident in Buffalo Narrows by MCU-N Jan. 12, 2021, and taken into custody.

Young is scheduled to make his first appearance in court in Buffalo Narrows today (Jan. 13).

The post Homicide charge in Buffalo Narrows appeared first on Northern Pride Publications.

Darlene Petit is ready to file her nomination papers for a seat on Buffalo Narrows council for the third time in less than six months.

Petit was unsuccessful in her previous bid for a council seat during the Nov. 9 municipal election, but is letting her name stand again after a recent court decision to overturn that vote has prompted the need for another election this spring.

“I’m excited about what happened in court,” Petit told Northern Pride. “I’m looking forward to rerunning, and am hoping things work out better this time, and the community actually gets to choose who they want to be the official council members.”

Last Thursday (Jan. 7) in a Battleford courtroom, Justice Gary Meschishnick declared the Nov. 9 election invalid after quashing a bylaw imposed by the previous Buffalo Narrows council that prevented certain people from the community from filing nomination papers if they had a criminal record, were in tax arrears or were late in paying their utility bills. Although Petit was on the ballot in November, she said it was a struggle even for that to happen when it did.

“I did put my name in, but was deemed ineligible because of personal reasons the CAO had with me at the time,” she said. “I was disqualified from running, but I had it dealt with. My lawyer discussed with them (northern village), stating what they did was wrong. The next day they called me back and said I could put my nomination papers back in. I want to serve on council because I am community orientated, I love my community and feel there is so much opportunity for Buffalo Narrows, our children, our elders and everybody in the community.”

Petit, however, wasn’t the only person who had trouble in the lead-up to the November election. While some potential candidates were not given the opportunity to step forward, others were either disqualified or chose to withdraw their nominations ahead of time. In the end, Bobby Woods and Derek Petit contested the mayor’s chair while former acting mayor Melanie Aubichon, Rodney McCallum, Darrel Robson and Shaylee Gardiner were acclaimed to council positions when fellow candidates Gary Ericson, Bernice Seright and Tracy Tinker withdrew. A further call for nominations was then issued to fill the two remaining council positions, seats that were ultimately won by a returning Ericson and Tinker.

The matter was far from over, however, as the court process to have the election overturned was already underway thanks in part to the efforts of Sandy Ericson, a potential candidate who was denied the opportunity to file nomination papers.

“It (bylaw) just seemed like an attempt to ensure certain people couldn’t run,” Ericson said.

Ericson went on to say the bylaw resulted in the exclusion of at least 14 potential candidates she is aware of. Ericson said she was disqualified from running because she was told she owed land taxes on property she claims is not in her name.

“At first I tried to be nice,” she said. “I didn’t want to go through a long court battle, so I contacted Northern Municipal Affairs which, in turn, informed the mayor, council and the CAO at the time their bylaw was unenforceable, but if no one took it to court within 120 days it would become legal even though it was illegal to begin with. I sent emails to the mayor, the CAO, the village and I didn’t get a response from anyone. I figured they were just biding their time until the 120 days were up, so I decided to take it to court.”

According to Bobby Woods, who reclaimed the job of mayor when he overcame Derek Petit Nov. 9, the court decision did not come as a surprise.

“What went down in court is basically what we were expecting because what the previous acting mayor and council did went beyond The Municipalities Act,” Woods said. “It was expected, and was really no surprise to me. They couldn’t do that, they were told, but they still went ahead and did it, and now there are, of course, consequences… The law is the law and you can’t just up and make a policy that goes against it. It’s everybody’s right to run, and it’s also their right to challenge it.”

Woods said he plans to let his name stand for mayor come the next election which has been scheduled for March 24.

“The present mayor and council will still be in place until that time,” he said. “The previous council members were mostly new to their roles and didn’t have much experience, which is one of the main reasons, I believe, this happened. I don’t think there is anyone who has as much experience as mayor than myself, so it’s imperative we have somebody in that role who knows what’s happening.”

Ericson, meanwhile, said she will also be seeking the position of mayor.

“Our community needs someone who will fight for them,” she said. “We’ve had a pretty rough four years. Our taxes have increased, we’ve lost all our recreation activities and, yes, part of it has been related to COVID-19, but even prior to the pandemic this was happening. We’re just a small community and we need to be a little more creative in how we run our community.”

by Phil Ambroziak

The post Buffalo Narrows election overturned appeared first on Northern Pride Publications.