Elders, members, youth, and children, Ah-neen! June is a good month as we begin our summer with ceremony. Our culture provides for large gathers or even small ones as members have feasts that we all try to attend. June is also a month for exams, awards, and grads. As well, this month also begins the busy season for road, house, and infrastructure construction. In the end, June becomes very busy! I am looking forward to holidays as I am sure that a number of our staff is too.
We have two cultural ceremonies this month and I am sure there are others in other communities. As a community, we get together to ensure our grounds are ready for the Sundance makers, members and visitors. In the midst of this, we have our Treaty Day. Last year was very good and I hope that this year is as good or better. Our Operations Department has teamed up with our INAC Field Services Officer to make the 2010 treaty day gathering another successful event. Thank you to the Operations Department and INAC for creating a memorable event. As community members, let us help by participating, keeping the area clean and respect the organizers by volunteering.
We have many events throughout the year to bring our community closer together and we invite others to share in the events. In the coming months, we will get together as a family for our holidays, Industry barbeque, Golf tournament, open houses and so on. It is amazing as to how many gatherings and events we host every year. The departments out do themselves and thank you to their organizing, we realize that it is extra work to create a successful event.
I would like to congratulate those students who are carrying on to another grade, continuing and graduating with their high school, diploma, degree, or masters! In addition, great work for those receiving awards, those awards are a start of a great beginning. Again, I congratulate all students and we hope to see a few summer students.
This is also the start of construction season and I know that our construction managers have summer construction and they will be busy. Gravel business will continue throughout the summer, Truck stop will go in full force as we signed the Head-lease which will release some funds, infrastructure construction will start in Carlyle, Sask., and the duplex in Edmonton will begin construction. This summer will be a busy construction season. For our community members, Shane and his department will be extremely busy as usually this department heads the infrastructure areas. In the midst of this, planning will take place for the bridge construction which should also begin in October or beginning of November. Finally, the community centre will be finished in November as well. That community centre is a long time coming.
In the midst of this construction, the band office, the business centre, and departments will see managers, staff, and leaders taking holidays. As always, we hope that holidays provide our employees for renewed energy to provide in better services and products.
As for our Leaders, we also begin to make our plans for summer holidays, take time to enjoy our families and come back refreshed to govern as best as we can for the betterment of our members and our community.
As always, I thank the community, elders, and employees for their continued support, encouragement, and prayers. Always my biggest supporters, my wife and family; I thank you.
Chief Darren Whitford