This month has been exciting, our community is undergoing a clean up, a community garden is been built right outside my office window, and a couple of rodeos will be occurring in the nearby towns and I hear that some of our people are going to be participating. In addition, our Treaty Day is June 17th which is camping day for one of the Sundance Ceremonies. We will have 2 Sundance Ceremonies for sure. Therefore, this month’s newsletter is going to be early as we have a community meeting on the 26 and I want to ensure that we have it to give out. Between work and play, we need ceremony to keep things balanced.
This is also the second year of our Newsletter, I hope that it brings you news, gives you more information on what is happening around our community, and keeps you informed of Leadership’s roles and responsibilities. It is the intent of our Leadership and administration to keep you informed of meetings, community functions, government impacts, and business achievements. It is exciting that we have been able to sustain and be consistent about producing our newsletter for the past 2 years. Thank you to those who continue to contribute to the newsletter in a way that promotes our community, our programs, and services.
Our community is important to your Leadership and to you. We have created a beautification program as you have noticed we have a number of visitors in our community. As we do every year, we have had students and band members clean our community around June, this is slightly different as we are expecting the residences to clean their own yards and beautify their surroundings. In addition, we want to create a clean, respectful, and environmental friendly community which speaks to our heritage. The Leadership and administration just want to remind you of our cultural heritage responsibilities. Judges will be flying up on the helicopter before the Treaty Day Festivities to take before pictures of each residence and at the end of judging, someone will win a 10 by 10 shed compliments of our Operations Department. Good luck to our housing participants! A letter went out to all residences explaining the prize. Thank you for participating and doing our part!
Not only are we beautifying but we, the Health Department are providing a community garden space behind the Band Office. Our Health Department has been providing programs that remind and teach us about parenting, good nutrition, and great health, a community garden was just the next step. Come to the health centre and see what is happening next. Great work, Health Department!
As I stated earlier, the nearby rodeos will see a few more of our young people participating in the rodeo events such as barrel racing, if you have time, please go and cheer on our members! Good luck to the rodeo participants!
It is good to see a number of members show up at the community housing meeting. We also handed out the housing policy, please read and provide your suggestions. We will have another housing meeting set at our community meeting. We apologize that we did not have enough time to go through the policy.
It is pleasing to see the Elders, parents, and children reading, looking, and doing the activities in the newsletter. Please continue to read for your goo-kum, mo-shoom, children, and yourselves, reading and understanding what you are reading is the key to understanding, communication, and success! Newsletters can be obtained at the reception desk usually around the first week of the month. Thank you to the editor and to those who submit to the newsletter!
Respectfully, Beatrice Carpentier, O’Chiese Band Manager