Ah-neen, Elders, community members, and employees! As you noticed most of the staff and leadership are on or going on holidays. I would like to wish the youth a good summer with work or play and for the families that they may enjoy the summer. As we all know, vacation or just hanging out at home is both time spent with our family. For those of you playing sports, best of luck to all of you!

Meetings seem to define the month of July; from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to Chiefs meetings to staff and management meetings. Other meetings also include Land Settlement Trust meetings, Cultural Teachings with the Provincial Government and Consultation Review. Even our Elders have had to go to Edmonton or wherever to get their passports and ensure that their health is good to travel in order to get ready to go to Mystic Lake.

I attended a Cultural Camp which the T.U.S Program did for the Alberta Government. The Alberta Government Aboriginal Relations Department requested a Cultural Camp in which a large number of O’Chiese Elders attended. There were different government departments such as Energy and Environment Departments and a couple of Industry personnel who attended. The Cultural camp was for four days. The Elders shared their story of what the land means to them, their way of life, and the environment of their land and how industry and government both do damage to the lands. Even though we shared our knowledge and it was well received; it seems that no matter how much our Elders share of culture, ceremony, or way of life, the funding does not match the governments growing need for our knowledge and the funding does not match our growing nation. The T.U.S. Program did a very good job.

The AFN is going through their Election; Phil Fontaine is stepping down creating room for another representative to represent us in Ottawa. We also had changes with our Treaty 6 Chief’s representatives. These Chiefs represent us in Ottawa and Alberta. Our representatives still need our continued support as they go through the positive changes.

In our home community, we continue to see the changes to our Landscape, the struggle continues with funding sources and the needs of our community continue. The hope of building a self sustaining community is the focus and goal.

As it is the summer, students are out in full force and we need to be careful and if students have summer jobs, I wish you success and make safe choices. In addition, I congratulate all the students for finishing their year and going the next step and I wish you a safe and healthy summer, see you in September!

As always, I thank the community, elders, and employees for their continued support, encouragement, and prayers.

Respectfully, Chief Darren Whitford, O’Chiese First Nation