Stretching Hide

 

You can try another method of stretching the hide in a frame shown in the picture. You need to let it soak still then if the edges dry just sprinkle some water on it. If the hide feels cool it is wet. If you stretch it in a frame put the fur side towards the sun while you let it dry out and scrape everything off.

by Florencio

For a better explanation go to http://www.primitiveways.com/Brain%20tanned%20buckskin%201.html

This Year Was Different

I have been going to Treaty Four, for as long as I can remember, and every year is different. I go to learn more about myself and my culture, to hear the drums and see the dancers, all the colors is really a joy. This year was different. There were more teepees and more activities in each teepee. You learn something new. Everyone is different. There were relay races and a fire where you could cook bannock on a stick. There were lots of good powwow food and people to interview. The first time I went to Treaty Four I was so excited; I remember sitting near the drums and watching the dancers with amazement in my eyes makes. It makes me very proud of who I am and my culture. 

By Caitlynn Poitras

Interviewing Chief Perry Bellegarde

 

Chief Perry Bellegarde is the Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nation (FSIN). With this role he is in charge of all Indian affairs that happen in Saskatchewan. He was also Chief of Little Black Bear Reservation for three years.

Chief Bellegarde came in second in the election for National Chief of Canada.

When I interviewed Chief Bellegarde out at the Treaty 4 gathering I learned a lot about what he does and what the gathering means to him. He was quite interesting to interview and it actually turned out better than we expected it would.   

By Tyson Bellegarde

Tipis and Bannock on a Stick

We arrived early in the morning at Treaty 4. Before starting our interviews, we walked around taking pictures of the empty pow-wow ground that would soon be filled with kids learning about our native culture.

As it started to get crowded, we took some pictures of kids making bannock on a stick over the fire. This was one of popular spots on the grounds, as everyone is enjoying their bannock on a stick.

By Megan Starr

Qu'Appelle Valley at Treaty Time

 

Justin took this picture which has been the most popular picture on the blog to date.

A Day Like No Other

Cherisse overlooking the Treaty Four Gathering

September 11th, 2013

“My day with Cherisse was like no other, because that day we became journalist,” I wrote in my article, published by the Fort Times on Tuesday, September 24^th, 2013.

My article is five paragraphs about the things we did and the stuff we learned.  The thing that I like most about the article is that it is about someone who has a big impact on my life, Cherisse, and how I got to share the experience with her.

Also, something I got to do, was take pictures of Treaty Four. I was able to take a really good picture of Cherisse looking down across the Treaty Four Gathering. I’ve included it in my blog, above. It is so beautiful! It brought tears to my teacher, Mrs. Koop’s eyes; she went on and on about how beautiful and elegant it was!

The New Kid at T4

 During my visit to T4, I chose to interview Raven, a classmate, who was attending the celebration for the first time. Raven is a new student at BFCHS, she moved here from Melivlle.

By Quinton

 

The Sequins, Beads and Mirrors Shone in the Afternoon Sun

I go to the Treaty Four Gathering because I love to learn more about different cultures and people. It’s exciting to see the dancers and horses and their elaborate regalia. This was, of course, not my first time at Treaty Four. Our class went every year back in Elementary school. I haven’t been there since Grade five, though, so I don’t remember much of what happened.

My favorite part about going is the dancers and watching them perform. I’ve always found their regalia fascinating and the colours on them are brilliant. This was the reason I chose to interview one of them.

Our group talked to one of the younger dancers, Madison Bird. What I loved about the interview was seeing her regalia and taking pictures of it in the light. She told us all about how her kokum made it for her. All of the sequins and beads and mirrors shone so well in the afternoon sun. I also got a few good photos of her dancing. It’s really a good thing I brought my camera. The one from the school wasn’t nearly as good.

By Bethany

Eric Interviews Mr. Weitzel about Treaty Four and Submits Article to the Fort Times

 

At first, I was scared. This was a last minute interview with the PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL…who wouldn’t be scared? But I decided to keep going with the interview regardless, and I started to feel like I was actually asking him as a friend, and got to know him a little better in that way!

I am still a little shaky, but everything went totally fine, and it felt really cool to be able to interview the principal on the spot like that with no problems! I think Bert Fox probably has one of the best principals that anyone could imagine…if you really think about it, a house is already a lot of work, and a school comes packaged with lots more bills, as well as managing staff, keeping up to date with teaching material, replacing and maintaining school computers…it’s hard.

Thanks for such an amazing interview, Mr. Weitzel! I enjoyed having such an amazing conversation!



Sunshine, Dancing, and Music at T4

 

Treaty Four Gathering is full of different activities and culture, and lots of different kinds of good food too!  There is always something to do or see at Treaty Four. We had a great time and found out lots we never knew! We learned that the vendors are really proud of their own food. We learned that it's tough to talk to people like journalists do.

All and all, it was a good time to be there; it was warm and there were lots of different dances and music.

Jingle Dancer

Jolene Creely is from Okanese First Nation. She's sixteen years of age. She has also been a jingle dancer for a year and a half. She attends the pow wows. She's also on youtube.

With My Friends at T4

Being at T4 with my friends as journalist was the best time I have ever had at T4.  We learned new things, met new people, and tasted new food.

Logan and I talked to Trev Mann, a local who tans the hides at T4.  He taught us, along with Bernadette, an elder from up north, that tanning a hide is a long process, but well worth the wait. The food at T4 was so incredible we couldn’t get enough of it! The shaved ice and cotton candy was just the right thing to satisfy our sweet tooth. Almost everyone enjoyed a bannock burger from Minnies!

Some of my friends hiked up to the top of the hills to see T4 from an above view.  I heard it was quite the hike, but a beautiful scene once you got up there. 

Being a journalist at T4 gives us a whole new perspective on the event. It gives us a behind the scenes look on what’s happening around us, from the announcers to the food to the dances. Being a journalist is a great experience and helps us understand how much work goes into putting this celebration together. I know that all my friends and I enjoyed every bit of it!

Stay tuned for my article on Tanning Hides with Trev Mann early next week.

-Megan Degelman

 

 

Horses, Horses, Horses

In the Treaty 4 parade on Saturday, September 14^th, 2013, my family, girlfriend and I watched the parade. I was very interested in the horse and wagon that was there because my uncle was driving the wagon. It wasn’t a fancy wagon, or an all wooden chuck wagon, it was just a trail wagon with rubber tires on it. It was tall and white; it could hold quite a few people.

I saw my cousin riding in the parade. He was riding bareback. Lots of riders were riding bareback, but there were lots of saddle riders, too, with very nice saddles.

By Koby

Picture complements of Sue Bland


Picture complements of Sue Bland

Hill Top Highlight

Treaty four was an interesting day, filled with learning and laughter. But I want to tell you about my favorite part of the day.

My favorite part of the day wasn’t watching the dancers or doing the interview. My favorite part of the day was being with my friends on top of the hill. We originally went up the hill to kill some time, having finished our interviews, but climbing the hill proved much more work than we had anticipated.

Once we got to the top it was nice. It was just the four of us, Bethany, Shaudai, Alyssa and me. It was quiet compared to walking around the grounds with all the noise and distractions. We ended up just sitting around and talking. We managed to get some great pictures while sitting up there. The site was beautiful; from the top you could see the grounds and all the little ant-like people. You could see the gathered tipis and flags. We spent so much time up there that we were almost late for the bus. That was definitely the highlight of my day.

by Courtney

A Photographer is Born

            When we went to Treaty 4, Coleman, Carter, and I were all supposed to be a part of a group. Long explanation short, our group got mixed up pretty badly. Carter did our interview too early BY HIM-SELF; I had no idea what kind of goblin ate Coleman, and I was still waiting out the extra half hour we needed to. On top of all that, we couldn’t even get a direct interview in the first place. So, despite being stranded on an island of nothing to do, instead of just wandering around aimlessly, hogging up the camera that I’d borrowed from the school, I put that camera to good use and went wild with the shutter button!

            Like most of the cameras loaned out that day, sharing took advantage of already having eaten some of the memory card, but there was tons of material to catch with a camera at Treaty 4! Soon enough, I forgot about what our whole group was confuzzled (confused & puzzled) about, and I really got into the picture snapping, even if I didn’t get to snap some photos of our interviewee; little did I know I would be the cause of the visual palette of pictures that a great deal of the student blogs on this section of Blog-spot are using!

            Today, I came into class, thinking it was going to be just another normal ELA, do my work, stuff like that, but then I looked at the folders of each camera we used, and Mrs. Koops had clicked on the folder marked with the camera number I had, Camera #11. The majority of the photos in the folder turned out to be the ones I had taken, and I actually just noticed it today. Like I said, I was totally focused on snapping shots of T4 (short for Treaty 4), and I did not count it, but the pictures were still a great hit!

            This made me feel more confident in my photography in our school. We have four afternoon blocks.  My final class in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters are Communications Media (mostly Photoshop 101 from what I’ve heard), then Photography, both respectively. I think I will actually take my Photography and ask Mr. Cochrane how soon I can move it, and if I can only swap with my Comm Media, then I will do so anyway. I think Photography could be another career option for me if Computer I.T. (Information Technician) does not let me through its doors for whatever reason, and if it does, Photography could still be a fantastic hobby to take up!

            Anyway, I very much enjoyed Treaty 4. The food was great, the activities were fun and amazing, the huge ring they ask the audience to form every year is fun as well, and all of this makes up for so many things to take pictures of! One thing I missed was when Bert, the school mascot, got to drum with the other drummers. But I thought, “Eric, you already half-filled a memory card and made it more than worthwhile…Great job!”

Pics from Camera Eleven Not Yet Featured

Elders and Veterans at Flag Raising Ceremony

Eagle Claw at Flag Raising Ceremony

Flags Raised at Flag Raising Ceremony

Creeson Agecoutay with CTV News

Chenoa Interviewing Chief Perry Bellegarde with

Ashlie Interviewing Emcee, Howie Thomson, in the Background

Parkland College Display

 

Kids Trying on the Suits

Howie Thomson Interviewing Erroll Kinistino

Joining Hands in the Round Dance

Bert Fox invited into picture with Eagle Claw Singers and Veterans

after the Victory Song and Flag Lowering Ceremony

Howie Thomson Telling Another Story

Tanning Hide Long Process

 

Treaty four is a celebration for people all around North America. There were people from as far as the States there.

We interviewed a guy, Trev Mann, who tanned and smoked hide. He was just learning from an elder who has been doing it for a long time. She told us that it was a very long process.

Watch for Megan and my article early next week. We typed everything from our interview in a Q&A style.

By Logan

First Bannock Burger

Treaty Four this year was pretty interesting considering the fact that we went for three days in a row. This year I tried my first bannock burger. It was greasy and delicious. Minnies is the best place to buy them because Marlene is a certified chef. Her burgers are cooked on a grill; you can get them with our without cheese. They are made with one piece of bannock on the bottom, a beef burger, then some cheese, and last, another piece of bannock to top it off. They are $6.00 for a bannock burger with cheese, and $5.00 without.

 

So go check out Minnies at Treaty 4 next time you're there.

 

By Cyrus

Treaty Four is One Exclamation Mark After Another

My experience at T-4 was absolutely amazing!

Everything about T-4 was awesome. The food was very satisfying. Don’t even get me started on the bannock burgers! I probably ate three bannock burgers for each day that I was there! Although bannock is the first thing that comes to mind when entering T-4, Hannah, Avery and I explored the activities that were held there.

My favorite activities would have to be cooking bannock and hiking up the hill. The people hosting the bannock cooking were two girls who made the dough; they made the bannock earlier in the morning before T-4 started. I know this because Hannah and I interviewed them while cooking. In their dough they also put whole grains for a healthier bannock snack!

After the delicious bannock, we made our way to the steep hill behind the big tipi. The climb was very challenging, but it was worth it because the view was absolutely breathtaking! I was able to the see all of the Treaty 4 grounds! The view I was seeing was unexplainable; there was so many beautiful features and rich color that would be hard to write in text.

Overall, my days at Treaty 4 are the highlights of my year so far!

By Cherisse

Victory Song

On Wednesday, September 11th, the grade 10 English class was sent out to conduct an interview about someone from Treaty 4. We could either interview someone individually or in group of two to three people. I choose to interview with my friend Ashlie.  Ashlie and I originally decided to interview a head organizer, but sadly that plan fell through. So for a back-up we decided to interview Howie Thomson, the emcee of Treaty 4.

Personally for me the back-up plan we chose couldn’t have been a better one! Howie is just such a nice, caring, respectful and not to forget, funny person. He was very entertaining to listen to. The stories he told were passionate and captivating. For example, he told us the meaning behind the Victory Song that the Native people sing. To Howie that song means so, so much because his grandfather was a warrior, of which the Victory Song tells about coming home from battle. I never could’ve understood the meaning if it wasn’t for Howie telling us.  So now when I hear of the Victory Song, I can relate with the First Nations people who hold that song so close to their hearts.

By Danica

Bert Fox and Treaty Four Gathering Emcee, Howie Thomson

I Saw My Family, Old Teachers, and Old Friends

There were a lot of people at T4 this year. I saw a lot of my family, old teachers, and old friends.  I saw a lot of students learning about the treaties and having fun at T4, getting involved with all of the fun activities that were set up in and around the tipis. Some of the activities included caches, bead work, elders talking, and hide tanning. Myself, I didn’t get too involved with the activities, I was concentrating finding the person I was supposed to interview. I enjoyed my time out there and will likely return in the future. 

Written by Chris McDougall

My Classmates on Actual TV

 

We were interviewed at Treaty 4 by CTV news on our journalist grade 10 experience. It was really cool seeing my classmates on actual TV. I  was asked to be interviewed. I was too shy, but I was behind the camera listening to the interview which was cool to see the professionals do the interviews.

Treaty 4 is about people meeting in one place from different nations to eat, dance and learn about our culture.

By Michaela Badger

I Didn't Know Anything About Canada or First Nations

 

This Treaty 4 was my first time, and also a good time for me.

I went to Treaty 4 with Mrs. Koops and Alex in that morning.

And when I reached out, I could see many white houses (tents?) called `TIPI’.

I think those houses were made of some woods and fabric.

 

And then, I could see some First Nation foods.

 I thought those were marshmallows because those were white, but I learned it was called bannock.

I ate one of them with jam; it tasted like a bread.

 

And then, I just walked with Alex; we heard a sound of music under the flags.

I didn’t know what they said, but I liked that song.

Then, we interviewed Eroll Kinistino; we asked many things about Treaty 4,
but he answered always kindly.

I could learn many things about Treaty 4 and First Nation because of this interview.

 

I think Treaty 4 was teaching many things to me and other people.

I didn’t know anything about Canada or First Nations,

but I could learn many things about it because of Treaty 4.

So I think my first time at Treaty 4 was very good and fun.

I want to go Treaty 4 again next time, if I can.

by Jun

Being a Journalist

 

Have you ever wanted to be a journalist? I have, but it’s not all what you might think it is. It takes a lot of patience and you have to be a good listener; if you’re good at that, then you will be an awesome journalist. This blog will show you how to be journalist and give you some tips that will make your article the best, better than everyone else’s.

 

 

The first thing you should do is know who you want to interview, or if it’s a subject, then look for a person who knows about it. After that, set up an interview (make sure you have a pen and paper) ask them when and where they could meet you (make sure you get their name). This step is like a pre-interview; you ask them simple conversational questions – this pre-interview should help you with information on the subject in case you need to change your questions, or if you want to ask more. (Remember, this is NOT the real interview, so don’t ask all your questions, and remember when you are doing the real interview, not to make it too long). Now that you have a person to interview and some information on the subject you are ready for the real interview.

 

 

Before you go and start asking questions, make sure you have everything you need. The most important thing you should have on you is a pen and paper. Those two things should make your interview a lot easier. The other thing that would make it easier would be a recorder, that way, if you want to go over the interview after, and if you think you missed something, you can just listen to the recorder. You should also bring a camera so you can show people who you interviewed and also catch readers’ attention.

 

Now you know how to be one, you can start your journey on to being a journalist.

 

These steps are what helped me become a journalist; I hope they help you.

 

By Alyssa Paul



Berty is Having So Much Fun with the Kids

 

It was a Thursday morning when Bert came to Treaty Four to see all the kids. All of the kids wanted to give him hugs and high fives, and Bert loved it all.

 

Then Bert met a certain little girl who wanted to give him a gift. If Bert could talk, I think he would say, “Thank you very much, but these are your chips, but thanks for the offer.”

 

 

 

Since all the kids were so nice to Bert, he did a little dance for them and they cheered for him. 

 

But now Bert has to go, and all the kids are sad.

He leaves the grounds, but don’t worry he’ll be back next yeah. :D

by Tyree