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

On the Look Out: Tipi, Teepee, Tepee...

 How, that’s the question here. As in how in the world do you spell Tipi? Lots of people have been wondering how you do, well there are a few ways that it’s spelled: tipi, tepee, and teepee. The word means the same thing; it means a conical tent, traditionally made of animal skins and wooden poles. Some common misspellings are Teepe (67%) and tepe (33%).

In finding different ways of spelling tipi, I look in to publications. In Treaty Essential Learning’s: We Are Treaty People, written by Office of the Treaty Commissioner, the word is spelled “Tipi”.  In the UXL encyclopedia of Native American tribes they spell it “Tepees”. So, is there a right way to spell tipi/teepee? I wanted see how other people spelled tipi; the first person I talked to said “Teepee”, the next person told me “Teepe”, and the last person said "tipie."

By Randi                                                                

 

 

Climbing the Hill at Treaty Four for the View

 

On the second day of Bert Fox going to the Treaty Four Gathering a group of friends and I climbed the hill overlooking the gathering and the lake.

 

Looking at the hill from the pow wow grounds it looks much closer and less steep than it actually is; we expected to be at the top of the hill in ten or so minutes. We were wrong. It took us about half an hour to get to the hill and all the way up to about the top where we stopped.

 

It was an amazing view and you could see lots of the valley, town, and all of Mission lake. Three of us made it to the top, but the other two made it about halfway and stopped. It was the first time I had seen that much of the Qu’Appelle valley, so it was a really cool experience!

 

By Lane

 

Heading back to check if the others were coming to the top.

 

It was a steep hill, but It was well worth the climb.

Wow, That's an Awesome Picture

 

The Treaty 4 gathering was an awesome week for me because I got to go outside and experience it. I walked around and met a couple people that Bren and I interviewed. I took lots of pictures and I learned to be a Journalist. I learned a little bit of culture, and I saw lots of people, some who used to come to school here in the Fort, like Nick who goes to school in Cupar or some other school.

The site of Treaty 4 was cool. I saw a photo, that I didn’t take, but someone else did. It showed the whole valley from on top of the hill and I wanted to put it on my blog and say ‘’WOW’’, that is an awesome picture.

Wednesday was neat because I looked at the culture, people, all of the tipis and all of the activities that took place, like the round dance and the missing game. The day was cool and my interview was done. Later I got to meet Creeson Agecoutay, a little bit, and then we did nothing after lunch and a lot of guys started walking back to the school, but I waited until we got back on the bus and left.

That was the end of the day and the next day we went back there for one period and I took pictures and tried to interview the people that some didn’t get to interview. The week was great and I hope I’ll get to share it with my friends and cousins, and I hope that the others had a good week, too!

By Hunter