Jon Mirasty deals a nose-breaking blow to the side of friend and rival Jeremy Yablonski's face during a matchup when Yablonski played for the Binghamton Senators, Dec. 4, 2009. “I just think one of the most exciting things is me and Jon get to play together. We get to start off this adventure together,” Yablonski said. (Photo Submitted)

By Ben Ingram

When Jon ‘Nasty’ Mirasty and Jeremy Yablonski meet each other on the ice, it’s not usually long before the fists are flying.

The two Meadow Lake pugilists have developed an on-ice rivalry punctuated by broken noses and swollen eyes, but starting this fall, they’ll be playing on the same team.

The veteran enforcers have signed contracts with Chekhov Vityaz of Russia’s high-powered Kontinental Hockey League, a team proud of its tough-as-nails heritage.

“We’ve had a lot of fights with each other,” Mirasty said, “two years ago was (one chosen as) one of the top-10 fights of the decade, voted on TSN.”

Mirasty and Yablonski have both spent several years in the American Hockey League, the minor-pro league used to feed and develop NHL rosters. Mirasty has been top-five in the league for penalty minutes for several of his seasons with the Syracuse Crunch, the minor team for the Anaheim Ducks.

Much of his time spent in the box has been a result of lengthy bouts with Yablonski, but fans might be surprised about the real nature of their relationship.

“I really look forward to playing with him. Over the last few years we became good friends, through all the fights we’ve been in and stuff,” said Mirasty, who grew up in Flying Dust First Nation.

The 31-year-old Yablonski will be leaving the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a team affiliated with the New York Islanders, to join Mirasty in Russia.

“The last couple of years we were both rated as two of the toughest guys in the American league,” Mirasty said. “There’s a huge rivalry between him and I, fighting each other.”

When asked which of the two held the advantage, Mirasty couldn’t decide, as most of their fights were “toe-to-toe,” and neither enforcer ever achieved a clear defeat over the other.

“Maybe we’d have to have a best of 10 fights and see who comes out on top,” he joked.

Both Mirasty and Yablonski have families back home. Yablonski hopes to get frequent visits from his wife and daughter who live in Boise, Idaho while Mirasty’s wife Janessa expects to stay in New York to finish her nursing education.

With the family at home, their transition to living in Russia is something they described as a coming adventure.

“We’re best friends off the ice. People don’t understand that we go out and have the fights we’ve had, then after the game we’re just like two long-time buddies,” Yablonski said. “It’s exciting for both of us, it’s nice to have a kind of brother going over there to Russia.”

After Yablonski decided to sign with Chekhov, he quickly found out that Mirasty would be joining him. The team made the decision unaware that they were close friends, but he expects the intent is to put them on the same line.

“They’ve always had tough guys. I’d imagine they’re going to put us on a line that’s going to go out there and take care of business,” Yablonski said.

The transition will not be limited to a change in culture for the two. Russia’s KHL is generally considered the second-highest level in professional hockey, behind the NHL. The players will also have to adapt to playing on larger Olympic-sized rinks, but Yablonski isn’t deterred.

“You’re expected to play there,” he said. “I think we’re going to see more ice (time) than we have in the past.”

For him, it’s the opportunity to ally himself with his biggest rival and best friend that he’s most looking forward to.

“It’s going to be one of the best things I’ve looked forward to in hockey through a lot of years,” Yablonski said.

Mirasty couldn’t agree more.

“Jeremy’s one of the toughest guys I’d ever fought. It’s nice to be on his team now, I don’t have to fight him,” Mirasty said with a grin.

By Mac Christie

A piece of real estate on the northern edge of the City of Meadow Lake could soon be returned to its original owners, Flying Dust First Nation.

A letter was recently sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs from Flying Dust’s lawyer regarding the situation, something Coun. Toby Esterby said was an attempt to move the process forward.

“It was trying to show the government everyone’s at the table, everyone’s ready to go, so let’s go,” he said.

The land, a 214-acre swath that formerly housed the railway and grain elevators, was expropriated by the Canadian Pacific Railway from the reserve in 1930. A clause in the agreement indicated that if it ever ceased to be used as a railway, the land would revert back to Flying Dust.

The city expanded its boundary after the expropriation, so the rail yards now fall within city limits.

Flying Dust has been trying to get the land returned since 1992 without success, but city officials are trying to expedite the process.

Jim Dalgleish, chair of Flying Dust’s FDB Holding Co., said the first step is for the city to move its boundary to the southern edge of the rail yards.

“We’ve entertained discussions with the town and they’re prepared to move the boundary,” he said.

Esterby agreed, noting that the city hopes moving the boundary will simplify the process. However, even if the boundary is moved, there are still some concerns. City manager Bruno Kossmann said there are water and sewer lines that run along the north side of the highway, which could cause ownership problems.

But Esterby said there’s an excellent relationship between the city and Flying Dust and he doesn’t foresee any issues.

“There are details there that would have to be worked out,” he said, “but I don’t think any of them would be stumbling blocks.”

Esterby added the city is excited for plans Flying Dust has for the land.

“We think it would be a great addition to the community,” he said. “We’re on board, supporting in whatever way we can.”

Because of the location, Flying Dust expects it to be a prime area for the city for expand to.

However, Coun. Annette Klassen worried at the July 25 council meeting that businesses built on the north side of the highway could have unfair taxation advantages, compared to those on the south side.

But Esterby said that’s not an issue, because Flying Dust has expressed their willingness to ensure an even playing field for the area’s businesses.

“We’ve talked in detail about an arrangement,” he said. “There would be fees in those taxes or some sort of set up.”

Dalgleish agreed, noting Flying Dust wants to add to the community, not draw away from it.

“Flying Dust has never participated in taking away from the city,” he said, “but always in adding.”

If the land were to revert to Flying Dust, they wouldn’t sell lots, but rather sublease them to businesses for the long-term, something like 90 or 99 years, said Dalgleish.

He also noted the boundary could be jagged for the time being, leaving properties such as the RCMP station or the car wash in the city’s jurisdiction. Even if the boundary was changed to include them the businesses wouldn’t be affected.

Those properties are part of the reason the land is the subject of a specific claim from Flying Dust, seeking restitution from the federal government for what Dalgleish said are irregularities in the expropriation process.

Among other things, he cited the fact that property, such as Myles’ Mechanical’s lot, was sold by the railway company, something he said shouldn’t have been done.

“It was for railway use only,” he said. “You don’t go selling it when you expropriated it for a specific purpose.”

But Dalgleish stressed the specific claim and the return of the land are separate issues, and in discussions with the railway, they’re quite prepared to return the land.

He expects the land to be returned within a year-and-a-half or two years, while the restitution could take up to three years to be resolved.

“The land has got to come back (to Flying Dust),” he said.

Trainee Salina Merasty-Morin shells freshly picked peas from the Riverside Market Garden on the Flying Dust First Nation. Workers were busy preparing the weekly order for the Meadow Lake Co-op.

By Rhonda Cooper

Consumers looking to buy local produce now have a viable source from which to buy.

For the second year, Flying Dust First Nation’s Riverside Market Garden vegetables can be found in Meadow Lake locations.

The garden has grown exponentially in size, from the two acres planted in 2009, it expanded to six acres last year and currently encompasses 12 acres.

Seven of those are dedicated to potatoes and the remaining five to mixed vegetables and fruit. Plans are in the works to add another eight acres of potatoes to next year’s crop bringing the total to 20 acres.

“The idea had been kicking around the office for a number of years,” said Susan Merasty co-manager and one of the founding directors of the garden.

The five founding directors brought Len Sawatsy on board to get the project up and going.

“I teach the Green Certificate courses and am the co-manager of the garden,” he said.

Sawatsky helps to secure grants for the project as well as offering planting and harvesting advice regarding the produce. The garden is working towards being deemed organic.

“You must farm three years without any use of chemical before the organic certification can be given,” said Sawatsky.

The group is well on its way to achieving that goal, as the land that is now cultivated for produce was once chemical-free hay land. The board is already exploring the idea of adding some small livestock like chickens and sheep to the project, as a means of obtaining organic fertilizer.

Marie Prebushewski, a co-operative developer for the west side of the province was approached by the group while she was working in Big River establishing an artisans co-op.

“I came on board in 2010,” said Prebushewski. “By June 2011 we had all the by-laws in place and on June 28 they received their certification as a worker co-operative.”

The group’s desire and drive have impressed Prebushewski. Their goal to remain organic has led the group to look at future expansions that will help them grow their business.

“They have big ideas,” she said.

Since the first year the garden has continued to grow and add new items. The west side of the land is being developed into an orchard where fruits such as apples, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, hascap berries and saskatoons are grown.

This year, a half a dozen rows of flowers, which are picked and bundled into bouquets then sold were introduced. This was also the first year for cauliflower and broccoli and should some cold frames get built during the off season, green peppers will be part of next year’s crop.

Creating a source of healthy, readily available food for members of Flying Dust First Nation residents was only part of the equation. The garden offers training and seasonal employment for those who once relied on social assistance.

The practice of sharing food with other members of Flying Dust who are in need will continue to be part of Riverside’s mandate, but its top goal is to ensure the project is financially sustainable.

Amber Jodoin, produce operator at the Meadow Lake Co-op Marketplace began placing orders with Riverside Market Garden last year.

“Lots of people asked if we have locally grown stuff,” she said.

Because of the wet spring vegetables are late this year and the Co-op just received its second order last Thursday. Jodoin noted the beans are probably their bestseller while the lettuce is not quite as popular.

“I think it’s because so many people have their own gardens and they grow their own,” she said.

Some of the other produce the store buys includes swiss chard, peas, herbs, potatoes and carrots. These items are identified with flags and signs that say ‘Locally Grown.’

As the garden grows in size so do the employment and marketing opportunities. Merasty would like to increase the garden’s workforce by 10 each year, providing work for more Flying Dust First Nations residents.

A larger workforce will be necessary if negotiations with a major wholesale company serving the prairie provinces, northwest Ontario, Nunavat and the Northwest Territories are successful.

Flying Dust Chief Jim Norman and MLTC Tribal Chief Eric Sylvestre take part in the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.

By Terry Villeneuve

AAA midget hockey returned to the Northwest last Thursday and for the first time in eight years it wasn’t held at the Meadow Lake Arena, but rather at Flying Dust First Nation’s new arena.

The reserve took this opportunity to also make it their grand opening which saw several dignitaries speak to the crowd of about 400 people in attendance.

“This was a long time coming,” said Chief Jim Norman. “A few years ago there was a need for a second hockey rink in Meadow Lake and it’s an honour for me to stand here today and say, here it is. It will be used for many years by our youth in the community as well as others in the area.”

During the second intermission it was announced the arena will be named ‘PineRidge Ford Place’ with the dealership’s owners Kirt Prete and Larry Moeller on hand to help celebrate the event.

The game, a neutral-site contest between the Beardy’s Blackhawks and the Battlefords Stars, was again a fast-paced affair with Beardy’s winning 7-4.

Beardy’s got off to a quick start scoring four times, taking a 4-1 lead into the first intermission. In the second, the teams traded a pair of goals each and then in the third, the clubs scored one each.

One of the highlights of the game was a short-handed marker scored by Ile-a-la Crosse’s Regan Yew. Yew, along with twin brother Robin and Kihisis Derocher of Flying Dust, were suited up for the Battlefords squad which attracted a throng of supporters.

“It was great to see some local talent again,” said Beardy’s general manager Mel Parenteau. “For years we’ve had guys on our team from the Northwest, but this year we don’t have any – we’re going to have to get back to that next year.”

by Terry Villeneuve

There is a new twist in the search for the location of the new Northland Pioneer Lodge in Meadow Lake and health officials are
considering it a real possibility.

“Here we are at the eleventh hour and the Danilkewiches (Jake and Eve) have come to us with a land donation,” confirmed Lional Chabot, Vice-president of Development and Operations for Prairie North Regional Health Authority. “We have to be respectful with the donation and certainly we need to look at all the options.”

The Danilkewiches approached the health region earlier this month with two land parcel options. The first was along the speed curve north of Meadow Lake while the second is across the highway from the city cemetery, near the old Esso station. Both are situated in the RM of Meadow Lake.

“This way, they (the health region) would own the land,” said Eve Danilkewich. “The land behind the RCMP station would have to be leased from Flying Dust.”

Chabot noted the health authority had narrowed their site options to two – both on First Nations land – across the Meadow River and north of the police station.

“It’s always good to have more than one option and we’re now in the process of doing the due diligence piece. What’s it going to cost to get our utilities there compared to the other properties. We’re doing an environmental site assessment and also a geotech review. We’re trying to get the same information from all three sites and compare apples to apples,” he added.

The health region is looking for about 10 acres for the new seniors complex and Chabot believes more may be required.

“By looking at the footprint more closely, I’m not sure 10 is going to do it. In the end it may be a little bit more,” he said.

“We’ll have to go back to the Danilkewiches and see if I can persuade them to be a bit more generous.”

Initially, Eve Danilkewich said the former Esso property would be ideal, but with only 2.2 acres, it’s not enough land for the proposed development.

“Esso bought that from Jake’s father years ago and Esso is not willing to sell. Those big companies move very slowly when it comes to selling land,” added Eve.

The health authority is hoping to make a final decision on property by the end of the month – Feb. 29.

with files by Rhonda Cooper

by Phil Ambroziak

When it comes to Sundays, things have certainly cooled off at the Meadow Lake and District Arena.

The city is looking to do some readjusting following a decision by the Meadow Lake Minor Hockey Association to split ice time between the Meadow Lake facility and PineRidge Ford Place at Flying Dust First Nation. In past years, the hockey club would traditionally book ice time in Meadow Lake throughout the week, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. This year, however, games and practices have moved to Flying Dust for Sundays, leaving little to no action at the Meadow Lake rink on those days.

“We wanted to be fair to both places,” explained MLMHA president Brad Villeneuve. “They (Flying Dust) built this rink to help us out because, in past years, we were renting ice elsewhere since there were just too many teams to be able to stay in Meadow Lake.”

This year marks the second hockey season since PineRidge Ford Place’s construction. Villeneuve said it was time the association began utilizing the new space to its fullest.

“It helps out both rinks money-wise,” he added.

The City of Meadow Lake, however, may not entirely agree with that statement.

“There definitely is an adjustment to be made with regard to revenue drop,” remarked interim city manager Richard Levesque. “The only solution is to fill those spots. We’ve already adjusted our staffing, but there are certain fixed costs that still have to be looked at.”

While Levesque was unable to provide a figure in terms of how much of a revenue drop the city is facing as a result of the MLMHA executive’s decision, Villeneuve said the city has charged the association between $70-$74 per hour in recent years.

“At Flying Dust, it’s about $85 per hour, but there is no tax,” he said. “The hours and price are pretty much the same (overall).”

On most weekends, Villeneuve added, minor hockey runs until 7 or 8 p.m.

Villeneuve went on to note, in spite of the current schedule, minor hockey won’t necessarily avoid Flying Dust on Saturdays and Meadow Lake on Sundays throughout the entire 2012-2013 season.

“When we get into playoffs, the schedule could become somewhat hectic,” he said. “We may have to use both facilities at the same time, as well as for tournaments. The big thing to keep in mind is we have guaranteed the city the hours we have booked.”

In past years, scheduled hours would sometimes be cancelled on Sundays if teams no longer required them.

“The way it is set up now, we will use every hour we have booked,” Villeneuve continued. “They (city) are getting at least 26 hours per week or 100 hours per month. I don’t think the city was too happy when this decision was first made, but because we are guaranteeing hours, it’s not so bad.”

With regard to the city’s efforts to fill the now available ice times, Villeneuve is confident this will happen.

“If we do need the Meadow Lake arena down the road for playoffs, that is just the chance we will have to take,” he said. “It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen.”

by Phil Ambroziak

Li’l Bob has a big job ahead of him.

Robert Merasty, whose friends refer to him as Li’l Bob, is the new chief at Flying Dust First Nation following the band’s Dec. 6 election. Merasty defeated incumbent chief Jim Norman by 68 votes.

“I am very humbled and honoured to have earned the respect of band members and to have them place their trust in me,” Merasty said.

A total of 314 voters made their way to the polls on Election Day, with 191 choosing Merasty’s name on the ballot opposed to the 123 votes garnered by Norman. The election also resulted in incumbent councillors Marie Gladue, Percy Derocher and Jeremy Norman being returned to office, as well as newcomer Marie  McCallum earning a seat at the council table. Incumbent Basil Bear was not successful in his re-election bid.

“I want to pay accolades to the former chief and council, as well as to all the candidates who ran,” Merasty said. “I’m all about building community and everyone who put their names out there for this election did so because they want to help their community and because they care about their community. I hope they stay involved in some way or another. There is no shame in not being elected – everyone did themselves proud.”

The owner of his own consulting company since 2005, Merasty originally moved away from Flying Dust in 1990 to pursue post-secondary education. He has lived with his family in Saskatoon since 1996, but now plans to sell his house and return home.

“I grew up in Meadow Lake, graduated from Carpenter High School and even played hockey for the Meadow Lake Stampeders,” he said. “Everyone knows me.”

Merasty went on to say one of the big issues he plans to focus on as chief is making Flying Dust First Nation more self-sufficient and to allow it to grow economically.

“We need to be more creative and smarter when it comes to building the community,” he said. “A lot of the work I have done in the past has been about building strategic relationships. The City of Meadow Lake, the surrounding RMs and Flying Dust should be growing together. There is an opportunity here for us to work together and for all of us to benefit.”

“Those who were successful (for council positions) are all experienced,” noted returning officer Gordon Alger. “There’s something for everyone – Percy is a former chief, then you have the two ladies and Jeremy represents the youth.”

Although he was unsuccessful in his council bid, Leon Matchee is confident the new chief and council will bring good things to the table for Flying Dust members.

“I look forward to what they will do for us and am happy with the way things turned out,” he said.

Meadow Lake netminder Jared Lafond turns aside a shot in the final game while defenceman Drew Rose looks on.

by Terry Vileneuve

A team from Meadow Lake called Atomic Sports took top honours in the Flying Dust Recreation Christmas Classic Hockey Tournament Dec. 27-29 at PineRidge Ford Place.

“We had 10 teams sign up, so we’re happy with that because this was our first tournament we’ve hosted during the Christmas holidays,” said Eric Gladue of the organizing committee. “It was fast-paced hockey. The rules stated each team’s players had to play from their hometown with the exception of two imports – that evened out the competition.”

The final featured Atomic Sports and the Frog Lake T-Birds. The two teams traded goals in the early going and after the first (of only two)period, Atomic Sports held a modest 4-2 lead. As the game wore on, Frog Lake couldn’t keep pace as they lost 8-5 in the end.

The tournament’s most valuable player went to  Freddy Stanley of Frog Lake who also won the tournament’s top scorer award. Stanley notched 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in just four games.

Gladue noted the calibre of hockey was good with a hard-fought final which was exciting for the fans.

“The games went pretty smoothly and I think it helped that we had registered referees,” he added.

Collecting the tournament’s best goalie award was Austin Rediron from the Flying Dust team while Drew Rose of Atomic Sports was voted best defeneceman.

A worker from Flatstone Construction mans the heavy equipment in the background while members of the Flying Dust Cree8 Worker Cooperative Ltd. tour the site that will soon house a year-round market garden storage facility. Pictured (l-r) are board member Alma Bear, president Bill Gladue, manager-in-training Gladys Cardinal and general manager Len Sawatsky.

By Phil Ambroziak

Flying Dust First Nation is enjoying the fruits of its labour.
Last week, work began on a new, 4,000-square-foot storage facility for the Flying Dust Riverside Market Garden. Located east of Meadow Lake, the garden has been operational for close to five years and continues to grow both in size and in its level of service to band members, as well as Meadow Lake and area businesses.
“It’s really taken off,” remarked Gladys Cardinal, a manager-in-training at the market garden. “As of June 2011, we officially became a co-op. We have a board called the Flying Dust Cree8 Worker Co-operative. The board GM, Len Sawatsky, has been here from the beginning, however, and helped teach us (through a provincial agriculture certificate program) how to become production technicians – which is a fancy word for a gardener. We learned the basics in terms of growing and eventually selling produce and we’ve been very successful.”
According to Cree8 president Bill Gladue, the garden currently spans more than 20 acres.
“By having a storage facility in place, we’ll be able to expand every year in terms of our capacity,” Gladue said. “As we go along we should also be able to get our organics licence and see how that goes.”
Although a variety of vegetables are grown at the market garden, the main crop has always been potatoes. That’s another reason the development of a new storage building is essential. By storing the potatoes properly – as opposed to keeping them in whatever buildings happen to be available on the reserve – the produce will remain crisp and fresh, and at the proper temperature. This is expected to increase the supply and ultimately prove more profitable for the garden. The new building, which will also include a storefront, office space and a processing plant, will also allow the market garden to remain open year-round.
“We’re very excited about that,” Cardinal said. “It’s been a long time coming. It will also create jobs for the community.”
The $500,000 to $600,000 project is being funded by an Aboriginal Agriculture Initiative grant, which will also cover the cost of purchasing a potato harvesting machine, two potato trucks, a potato seed cutter and more. Since its inception, the market garden has received funding from AgriFoods Canada, Flying Dust First Nation and Inroads. It’s believed, however, if the garden’s current level of success continues, it could become entirely self-sufficient in a few short years.
“We will see when the time comes,” Cardinal said. “For now, our main objective is to create jobs for our community. We plan to hire 10 new people while at least five people will be coming back as supervisors.”
Cardinal said she also hopes other First Nations can learn from the example being set at Flying Dust.
“We hope other First Nations will catch on to what we’re doing and take that knowledge back to their communities so their people can benefit in the same way,” she said.
The storage building is expected to be completed by July of this year.
“At this stage, the community is starting to realize how far it’s capable of going,” Gladue said. “But, we have to educate everybody that we’re not just a little market garden, but rather a huge market that can go a long way.”

Fire destroyed this home on Flying Dust First Nation May 6.

by Phil Ambroziak

Flying Dust First Nation elder Herman Merasty was left without a home early last week when a fire broke out at his house north of Meadow Lake May 6.

“We got the call around 11 a.m. and when we arrived, the fire was totally involved,” explained Meadow Lake fire chief Neil Marsh.

“The flames were through the roof already and progressed quite rapidly even though we weren’t long getting there.”

The fire is believed to have started outside the home, but according to Marsh, the official cause remains undetermined. It is, however, not deemed suspicious in nature.

“We’re still waiting to receive the official report from the fire chief and the RCMP before we can pursue an insurance claim,” said Sheldon Gervais, director of finance at Flying Dust First Nation.

Meanwhile, Albert Derocher, general manager of the FDB Holding Corporation, said once the process of working with the insurance company has been completed, Flying Dust will be looking at rebuilding or finding Merasty a new place of his own.

“We’re not sure how the fire started,” Derocher said. “It could have been a number of things, but it was not because of negligence. This gentleman is an elder and a very responsible person.”

Marsh said the Red Cross has been notified of the situation and was also likely to assist Merasty during his time of need. Twelve firefighters responded to the fire, which took some time to extinguish.

“It took us a little longer than usual because the structure was already compromised when we arrived and we had to fight the fire from the outside,” Marsh said. “Water supply was also an issue. We do not have our own water tanker and have to rely on local water truck contractors, which are not always readily available.”

Marsh went on to say this is a common problem the department faces whenever it responds to fires at Flying Dust or in the RM of Meadow Lake.

“It also happens in town sometimes – there are some parts of the city not serviced by hydrants,” he said. “The best way to solve this is to have a water tanker at the fire hall with a large amount of water on board. This would give us enough water to fight fires quickly. When we have to ration water, it takes longer to put out a fire and results in more damage when it’s all said and done.”

The chief said the department has never had its own tanker.

“It’s becoming more and more of a problem,” he said. “Being able to have an adequate supply of water at a fire where hydrants are not available is a continuing issue and one that’s hopefully addressed by the combined municipalities.”

However, Marsh is uncertain as to when or if this will happen.

“We keep asking, but hopefully it happens sooner rather than later,” he said.

by Phil Ambroziak

The votes have been tallied and the ayes have it.

Following a two-day vote held June 20-21, Flying Dust First Nation band members are in favour of joining the First Nation Land Management regime. It’s a move that will allow Flying Dust to opt out of land-related sections of the Indian Act and enact their own laws pertaining to conservation, use and development in an effort to invest in the future of the community.

“As a First Nation that thrives for its own independence in terms of self-determination and self-efficiency, we need jurisdiction and authority over our lands,” explained Flying Dust First Nation chief Robert Merasty. “We don’t have a lot of investment capacity, but we do have a lot of land and a lot of business knowledge.”

The First Nation Land Management Act is a federal law enacted in 1999. It provides signatory First Nations the authority to make laws in relation to reserve lands, resources and the environment. First Nations under the Land Management Act also have the authority to create their own system for making reserve land allotments to individual First Nation members, as well as the authority to deal with various property interests or rights.

“We want to be independent and autonomous, and a big part of achieving this is putting our own legislation in place – this is one of the first key pieces of legislation we need,” Merasty continued. “The First Nation Land Management Act will replace 34 sections of the Indian Act and will address the specific processes we have to follow whenever we want to do anything with our land.”

According to Darwin Derocher, director of land resources at Flying Dust, the new regime will replace federal legislation more than 100 years old.

“We’re replacing it with our own – with something that was created in our community, not by a bunch of folks in Ottawa who don’t know what it’s like to live at Flying Dust,” Derocher said.

Meanwhile, Merasty went on to say the Land Management Act has been ratified by 36 other First Nations throughout Canada.

“Every one of them has been very successful in terms of exerting their independence, as well as in terms of meeting socio-economic needs of their respective communities,” he said. “We’re working toward building our own revenue stream. We’re not sitting around. We’re taking the bull by the horns and building for our future.”

Merasty also mentioned the long-term efforts to establish an oil and gas project on Flying Dust’s land holdings near Estevan. Through Treaty Land Entitlement, Flying Dust was able to purchase more than 900 acres in the southeast corner of the province, a process that took seven years for the federal government to sign off on.

“We’ve been waiting for all kinds of bureaucratic red tape,” he said. “For years, the Indian Act has been a barrier to First Nations people looking to do business, but now it’s out of the equation. The Land Management Act will do so much for us in terms of meeting the socio-economic gap many First Nations face.”

by Phil Ambroziak

The recent arrest of three youths in connection with a break-and-enter to a residence in Meadow Lake has police describing the incident as anything but typical.

According to the Meadow Lake RCMP, on Oct. 6 around 5:15 a.m., three young offenders wearing black bandanas broke into an off-duty RCMP officer’s house. No damage was done and nothing was stolen.

“Two off-duty officers were in the living room and gave chase, catching one of the offenders,” noted Meadow Lake RCMP Cst. Trevor Hanson in a recent press release.

This led to the other two suspects also being arrested. Hanson went on to state the three individuals were aware it was a police officer’s house at the time of the break-in. All three were charged with break-and-enter, as well as disguise with the intent to commit an indictable offence. They appeared in Meadow Lake Provincial Court last week.

Meanwhile, five young offenders and one adult, Louis Merasty, were in court Oct. 10 after being arrested and charged in connection with a residential break-and-enter in the 800 block of Centre Street Oct. 8. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. while the homeowner was present.

“They had bandanas over their faces and stole two guns from the house,” Hanson continued. “The homeowner was not harmed. Shortly after the break-and-enter, reports of shots fired on Flying Dust First Nation were received.”

The investigation resulted in the six arrests. Both guns stolen from the residence were recovered, including a loaded handgun. The suspects were charged with break, enter and theft of firearms, disguise with the intent to commit an indictable offence, breaches and careless use of a firearm.

In spite of the number of young people involved, police want to reassure the public that matters are well in hand.

“It’s certainly not often we arrest so many young people at one time,” noted Meadow Lake RCMP Sgt. Brian Neilmeyer when interviewed last week. “The good thing is we have several people in custody. In the last couple of nights there have been no incidents reported, so it appears we’re on the right track to rectifying this situation and finding those potentially responsible.”

A meeting to discuss further steps toward establishing crime reduction strategies between the RCMP and other community-based organizations is scheduled for Oct. 23 at the Lions Den.

“Ultimately, our goal is to have fewer people, especially youth, involved in the justice system,” Neilmeyer said.

by Phil Ambroziak

The gate to the corral has been left open and the Meadow Lake Broncos are on the loose.

The Broncos were victorious in their Beaver Lakes Hockey League (BLHL) home opener Nov. 1 at PineRidge Ford Place on Flying Dust First Nation when they shut down the North West Rebels 11-3.

“We got off to a really slow start and they were able to get a couple of quick goals on us,” explained new Broncos coach Kevin Arnold. “This caused the guys to panic a bit before getting settled down and turning things around.”

The Rebels opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the game, and then added the next one about a minute later. At the 17:17 mark, Tyler Wilson put Meadow Lake on the board. The Broncos tied things up at 15:22 thanks to the efforts of Devin Piche while Broncos veteran Ray Ross gave the team a 3-2 lead at the 5:58 mark. The Rebels tied the game 3-3 at 2:18, but Meadow Lake pulled ahead with only 26 seconds remaining on the clock following a second tally by Wilson.

The second period was all Broncos, ending with a score of 8-3 thanks to goals by Craig Slater, Luc Rodrigue, Brandon Sinclair and Cliff Bear.

The Broncos would increase their lead even further in the third with another goal from Ross, another from Bear and one from Peter Gamble.

“We played all three of our goalies – Mike Opikokew, Jon Neufeld and Cody Bannerman – and Cliff Bear had a really good game,” Arnold continued. “He notched a couple of goals and was probably our player of the game.”

Arnold also recognized the efforts of Ross among others, adding all four lines had a strong night.
Arnold, who has extensive experience coaching minor hockey, replaces former Broncos coach Darryl Worms. He said he was more than pleased to accept the job when approached by team officials.

“Management had a meeting where I suppose they threw a few names out there, one of them which happened to be mine,” he noted. “I’ve been coaching minor hockey since the early 1990s – for about 15 years. They approached me with the offer and I accepted.”

This coming weekend, the Broncos will be in Big River, a confrontation Arnold said will be a measuring stick for the local team.

“Big River has always iced good teams,” he said. “We’ll see how well we do against them to get a better idea of where we currently stand in the league.”

American television (PBS) personality Mark Fenton toured Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation Jan. 29 before speaking at a Saskatchewan In Motion symposium at PineRidge Ford Place the following day. He was in the area promoting the incorporation of active lifestyle amenities in urban design. Here, Meadow Lake architect Monty Samson explains his group’s plan to link the Lions Park and Flying Dust walking paths.

by Derek Cornet

Close to 100 people gathered Jan. 30 to brainstorm ideas on how to make Meadow Lake and area a healthier place to live.

However, prior to Saskatchewan in Motion Moving Together Symposium, held in the mezzanine at PineRidge Ford Place on Flying Dust First Nation,  Mark Fenton – host of the PBS television series America’s Walking  – toured Meadow Lake and Flying Dust to determine how well the communities serve those who wish to be more active.

Meadow Lake mayor Gary Vidal guided Fenton through the city, noting he had many positive comments about what the community has already been able to achieve.

“It was very encouraging because much of what he had to say was included in our community draft documents,” Vidal said. “It’s nice to be advised on what we’re doing really well and then offered suggestions on how we can make it better.”

Saskatchewan In Motion steering committee member Anne Duriez was excited to see the results of the meeting. During the morning, participants listened to Fenton talk on how to incorporate healthy living into the design of towns and cities. If communities are built to support active lifestyles and physical activity, Duriez said residents are typically happier, healthier and more knowledgeable on healthy habits.

“We’re learning most children in the country are not active enough,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is find ways Meadow Lake and Flying Dust can increase their opportunities to be active by community design alone.”

In the afternoon, participants were placed in groups where they were given a special task. Each group was asked to come up with a list of potential projects they felt could make a healthy impact. After each table made their selections, a master list was then complied, outlining which projects received the most votes.

Meadow Lake resident Denise Bohn was invited to attend the symposium and said she learned a lot about incorporating healthy living into her day-to-day life. She said people need to be physical throughout the entire day, not just during segregated activities such as visiting the gym.

“Our table came up with ideas geared toward school-age kids and includes a broad range of activities,” Bohn said.

Among the ideas on the list were the promotion of local venues open to the public, restricting traffic on streets during certain hours, a recreation centre and the establishment of a winter festival. Bohn also said her group agreed it would be a good idea to connect the walking path in Lions Park to the one on Flying Dust.

Vidal said it was a fine idea and he’s happy people are talking about the issue.

“I really do think some good will come out of this, but only time will tell,” he said.

A recent water-main break had Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation residents anxious as they scrambled to ensure they had adequate water reserves. Both water and sewer services were unavailable for more than 24 hours as city workers located and repaired the broken pipe.

by Phil Ambroziak

The derailing of the Saskatchewan Express was only one of several irritants to arise as a result of the recent water-main break in the City of Meadow Lake.

The musical theatre performance, which was scheduled for Thursday (March 6) at Jonas Samson Junior High School, was ultimately cancelled as school officials awaited word on when exactly the city’s water supply would be restored.

“They (Saskatchewan Express) were scheduled to come here as they neared the end of their tour,” explained JSJH vice-principal Linda Harman. “But, because the performers were going to be billeted by local residents and we were still unsure if we were going to have running water, we unfortunately had to cancel the show before they arrived.”
Because the Saskatchewan Express tour was nearing its end, however, it’s impossible for JSJH to reschedule a performance for the immediate future.

“Local resident Olivia Balisky toured with the Saskatchewan Express last summer and that’s what triggered our interest in bringing the group here,” Harman added. “We wanted to show our students this is something they could aim for and a dream that could be within their reach. But, when you’re dealing with the unknown, things often happen that you have no control over.”

Along with the cancellation of various extracurricular activities, including air cadets, gymnastics lessons and other evening functions held throughout the community, the water outage also resulted in the Northwest School Division sending students home early on Tuesday and encouraging them to stay home on Wednesday. Classes resumed Thursday morning, but not before Carpenter High School was forced to postpone its annual Swing Into Spring fundraiser from last Wednesday to tonight (March 11).

“School administrators and I had a meeting on Tuesday (March 4) to see what could be done,” remarked CHS wellness coordinator Judy Waites. “We decided, if the water came back on by 10 a.m. the next day, we could still go ahead with our event as planned. By lunch, however, we realized – if we did have to cancel it – it would mean a lot of phone calls to  make and a lot of rearranging on short notice. That’s when the decision was made to postpone the event.”

Waites said the school was fortunate the caterer was still available and the various businesses involved in the event’s silent auction were understanding.

“We were all going through the same thing,” she said.

Local businesses also felt the effects of the water outage. While the Nor’Wester Motor Inn had no choice but to close its restaurant and lounge for the day, salons such as Bliss Hair Studio on Centre Street offered limited services.

“We could still do haircuts, waxings and nails, but we had to cancel more than half of our hair appointments,” said Melissa Albright. “But, the city got things going again fairly quickly, which was awesome.”

Nor’Wester co-owner Tammy Edwards agreed.

“I was expecting the water to remain off for at least another day if not longer,” she said. “When it came back on, we opened our bar immediately, but didn’t open the restaurant until Thursday morning. I’m not blaming anyone for the outage because these things sometimes happen and the city did a great job of getting it back up.”

Patuanak Pats player and nephew of Abe Apesis, Jonathan Apesis, receives a hug from Kayleen Apesis, Abe Apesis’ daughter.

by Phil Ambroziak

It seemed almost fitting.

The Patuanak Pats of English River First Nation were the overall winners of the 2014 Abe Apesis Memorial Hockey Tournament held this past weekend at both the Meadow Lake and District Arena and PineRidge Ford Place on Flying Dust First Nation. Apesis, who died in 2007, was a long-time Pats player and a strong supporter of the team and hockey in general.

“He was the Pats’ leader for many years,” explained English River First Nation councillor Archie Campbell, who helped organize the two-day event. “When he retired, he was considered a legend and was always called up for any major tournaments and such. But, he wasn’t just a good hockey player – he loved the sport so much he pushed a lot of young guys and girls to improve their game.”

The money raised from the tournament will go toward youth development at ERFN, as well as educational support for after-school programs.

“Aside from hockey, Abe actively promoted all sports throughout the community,” Campbell continued. “When he passed away in November 2007, it was was a big loss for the community because of how much he was involved with our local youth. He pushed them hard – showed them what they had to do if they wanted to make it to the next level. He was also an outdoors person who truly loved the land.”

Campbell went on to express how pleased he was to see such strong support for the tournament, not only from participants, but also from fans.

“In Northwest Saskatchewan, hockey is still by far a very important part of peoples’ lives,” he said. “This is our third year for the tournament and, for the first two years, we held it in Prince Albert. While we appreciate the support we had from that community, we also received a lot of requests by Northern residents to hold the tournament in a location more accessible for them. Abe was known throughout the Northwest big time.”

Twelve teams from across the Northwest competed on the weekend.

“This event is also a great way for people from the North to come together,” Campbell added. “It’s been a brutal winter, so being able to bring so many people together is really what it’s all about. We’ve also had a lot of community support. This event is great for industries such as hotels and restaurants and we’re grateful to the City of Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation for supporting us through the usage of their arenas. To support an event featuring 12 teams over two days is quite something.”

Meadow Lake councillor and parks and recreation board chair Curtis Paylor agreed.

“We’re really happy to support this event because it brings a lot of people to the community,” Paylor said. “We haven’t hosted a tournament like this in a few years. Arenas often operate at a deficit, so the more revenue we can bring in the better. It benefits everybody – hotels, businesses and concessions.”

For their efforts on the weekend, the Pats earned $12,000, as well as jackets, a championship banner and a trophy. Second place, which included $8,000 and a trophy, went to the team from Flying Dust First Nation while the third-place spot and $6,000 were claimed by the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Urban. Fourth place and $4,000 went to the Goodfish Lake First Nation Flames.

Meadow Lake and area hockey fans once again had an opportunity to see the National Hockey League’s greatest prize – the Stanley Cup – up close and personal Aug. 6 when Meadow Lake’s Dwight King brought the hardware home for a special celebration at PineRidge Ford Theatre in Lions Park.

by Phil Ambroziak

Paradise became reality for Meadow Lake and area hockey fans last week when multitudes flocked to the hillside at PineRidge Ford Theatre in Lions Park Aug. 6 to witness the arrival of hometown hockey hero Dwight King and, with him, the sport’s holy grail – the Stanley Cup.

As per tradition, members of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) championship team are given one day with the Cup and King wanted to make sure his day was shared with his family, friends and fans who continue to support him throughout his professional career.

“I’m very happy to be here today,” King said. “Having grown up in this community, I’ve probably ran into most of you in the last 25 years. I’m proud to still call Meadow Lake home and look forward to many more summers here.”

King went on to give special thanks to his wife, Lauren, who he said doesn’t always get the recognition she deserves.

“I’m very appreciative of everything she does for our family,” he said. “I’d also like to thank my parents (Donna and Dwayne) who have been the backbone of my career and who have made me what I am today. I would not have achieved all the things I have if not for their support – both emotionally and financially – that allowed me to play hockey when I was a kid.”

King also thanked his siblings – sisters Danene and Dana, and brother DJ – all of whom have had successful careers on the ice.

“Growing up, we weren’t always best friends every day, but the lessons I learned from you I would not have wanted to learn anywhere else,” King noted. “You have all had a big impact on my life.”

Also on hand to address the crowd was Meadow Lake mayor Gary Vidal, RM of Meadow Lake councillor Garry Ratke and Flying Dust First Nation chief Robert Merasty. The chief described the entire King family as tremendous role models, stating children who look up to the Kings and who believe in themselves also have a chance to achieve great things. Vidal, meanwhile, expressed how pleasing it was to have the Stanley Cup in Meadow Lake for a third time – once in 2003 courtesy of Jeff Friesen who played for the New Jersey Devils and again when King, still representing the Los Angeles Kings, did so in 2012.

Vidal and Ratke also presented King with the ‘Key to the Community’, a special award recognizing the athlete’s success as well as the contributions he’s made to the Meadow Lake area.

Also in attendance were King’s former minor hockey coach Brent Dubray, Meadow Lake Métis Local 31 president Guy Tourand and Meadow Lake Minor Hockey secretary Jenny Dennis.

“Hockey is in the hearts and souls of our many young players, as well as the hearts and souls of our many volunteers,” Dennis said. “Dwight, the many hours of sweat, pain and heart you put into your game have rewarded you twofold. You’ve become an icon for many young boys and girls… thank you for continuing to support minor hockey in Meadow Lake. We will continue to cheer you on and show pride in you. You are our champion, you are our hero, you are our great one.”

One of the many young fans to take part in the festivities was 10-year-old Nathan Ouellette.

“I only got to see the Stanley Cup once before,” Ouellette said. “I’m happy he won it again.”

Organized by a special Stanley Cup committee, the visit also proved beneficial for the local needy. In order to receive a pre-autographed photo of Dwight King, those in attendance were encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item to the Door of Hope’s food bank. A total of 821 pounds of food was collected that day as well as close to $700 in cash donations.

As a group of elders from Flying Dust First Nation look on, Flying Dust chief Robert Merasty and Vivian Pengelly, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster, sign a memorandum of understanding Oct. 17 that marks the official agreement to develop an elders lodge on the reserve.

by Phil Ambroziak

Flying Dust First Nation made history last week when it became the first reserve in Canada to enter into a partnership agreement with Habitat for Humanity.

The deal – which was made official Oct. 17 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties – will see Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster work with members of the Flying Dust community to build a 10-unit elders lodge, as well as retrofit vacant houses in an effort to allow young families an opportunity to realize their dreams of home ownership. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.45 million.

“Our elders want to know they’re being taken care of and an elders lodge is something they’ve been asking about for a long time,” explained Flying Dust chief Robert Merasty.

The major stumbling block for the reserve, however, has always been money. It wasn’t until the band’s oil and gas company, Flying Energy, established itself as a viable entity did the idea really begin to move forward. While the band will still pay a mortgage on the new lodge, Flying Energy’s contribution of $700,000 toward initial capital costs – along with the unique opportunity to work with Habitat – is what Merasty believes has helped the project become a reality.

“A few people suggested we look into working with Habitat for Humanity, a group whose mandate is to provide families with homes, but they’d never done anything on-reserve before,” Merasty noted.

A recent trip to Toronto, however, provided Merasty with an opportunity to meet with a Habitat for Humanity Canada representative where his “out-of-the-box” suggestion was well received.

“It was taken back to the Habitat board of directors for discussion and they made it work – we’re finally going to have the elders lodge everyone’s been asking for,” he said.

Habitat Lloydminster’s role will be to provide the leadership to engage and mobilize Flying Dust volunteers and community partners to donate money, and to gift-in-kind materials and services.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Flying Dust to address housing needs on First Nations land,” remarked Vivian Pengelly, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster. “This is a community project and it’s one we can’t wait to get started on.”

Merasty said, effective immediately, Flying Dust will be working to pull together the necessary committees to get the project going.

“It’s a huge positive for our community,” he continued. “Not only will it provide homes for our elders, but also for our young families. It also provides opportunities for Flying Dust youth to obtain training and skills in building, and it supports community engagement. We start to care for each other, about our elders and we help each other out.”

Other benefits to the project, he said, include enhanced awareness about the maintenance and management of homes and assurance the homes are adequately built. He also said it’s a great achievement to be able to accomplish something like this without a handout from the provincial or federal governments.

“I’ve always said, one day we’re not going to rely on support from the government – that’s my dream, that’s my vision,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Flying Energy also announced an additional $30,000 over three years for Flying Dust Gospel Church and $20,000 for the development of a new playground in the community.

Work on the elders lodge is expected to begin next spring.

Broncos defenceman Randy Lariviere attempts a blocked shot from a Beardy’s player in second period action Saturday evening at PineRidge Ford Place on Flying Dust First Nation.

by Derek Cornet

It was all defence behind the Meadow Lake Broncos’ 4-0 victory Nov. 15 against the Beardy’s Blackhawks in Beaver Lakes Hockey League action.

“I just played a good defensive game,” said forward Eric Alger who was voted the game’s most valuable player. “We were trying to run a two-on-two system where two guys were going in high and we kept one high man to block their d-man the whole game from making a stretch pass. That was my job and I think I accomplished it.”

The match took place on Flying Dust First Nation and, by the end of the second period, the Broncos were up 2-0 and, in the end, the Broncos won 4-0. Jordan Oystrick scored twice while Tyler Wilson and Quincy Winkler had one each.

Alger noted the team has been able to do well because of the guidance from senior players.

“We have some pretty experienced guys on the team like Ray Esau and Rick Dallyn who are helping quite a bit,” he said. “It helps a lot when Darryl (Worms) is here too.”

Esau agreed the win against the Blackhawks was largely due to strong defence.

“We did a good job at shutting them down,” Esau said.

Since the Broncos were defeated 9-3 by Big River Nov. 8, Esau said the team has also been working on staying in position. He added it’s important players worry about their own position on the team and let the rest of game take care of itself.

Interim-coach Darryl Worms said the team’s performance was different in the Nov. 15 game because key players were in the lineup. Worms went on to say the game played was what fans could expect from the team and he praised the performance from his players.

“We have a really good defensive team,” Worms said. “We can score goals when we need to. We’re not flashy – we’re gridiron.”

Worms felt the 4-0 win was right for the team and the shutout was well-deserved by Dallyn. He also noted the game featured a newcomer to the roster, Randy Lariviere, and described him as a solid defenceman who moves the puck well.

Worms noted a coach for the Broncos could also be announced by the end of the month. He added management has a candidate in mind, but a decision hasn’t been made.

Next action for the Broncos is Saturday, Nov. 22 when they host the North West Rebels.

by Phil Ambroziak

Flags flew at half-staff outside city hall last week as colleagues and friends mourned the loss of an individual described as a true pillar of the Meadow Lake community.

Elaine Yaychuk

City councillor Elaine Yaychuk died in hospital during the early hours of May 27. She was 63.

“During the last few months, Elaine faced significant challenges that kept her from doing a lot of the things she wanted to do,” explained mayor Gary Vidal. “Life became a struggle for her and eventually she lost that struggle. I think we’re less of a community now because of that.”

Born in Kelvington, SK, Ms. Yaychuk came to Meadow Lake in the late 1980s. With a background in education, she completed the last 10 years of her teaching career locally at what was then known as the Store Front School (now Transition Place Education Centre). After retiring, she also worked for former Meadow Lake MLA Maynard Sonntag and was renowned throughout the community for her many volunteer efforts.

“She was an incredible asset in terms of her commitment to education, fundraisers and various community groups,” Vidal continued. “That’s just the kind of person she was – if she thought something was important, she made it happen.”

Elected to city council for the first time in 2009, Ms. Yaychuk served as both a councillor and, until recently, as deputy-mayor. While health issues restricted her from attending meetings regularly throughout the last several months, she would still participate via telephone, whether it be from home or her hospital bed.

Vidal went on to describe Ms. Yaychuk as a sort of mentor for him upon his initial foray into politics.

“She was an incredible ally in terms of helping me adapt to my new role,” he said. “We would spend hours talking. Not only did she become a close colleague, but also a good friend. She will be missed.”

Meadow Lake isn’t the only community feeling a sense of loss following Ms. Yaychuk’s passing. Throughout the years, she worked tirelessly alongside members of Flying Dust First Nation on various projects, fundraisers and other initiatives.

“Any time we needed a helping hand, quick as could be she would be the first person to say yes,” explained Flying Dust band councillor Richard Derocher.

Some of the events Ms. Yaychuk assisted with over the years included the annual FDFN Father’s Day Smash, as well as the First Nations Summer Games.

“She was very instrumental with that – she was probably one of the main people to help us out with the Games,” Derocher noted. “She also did a lot of behind the scenes stuff no one really knew about like making donations to our school and our breakfast program. Elaine Yaychuk was a very beautiful person and we will sadly miss her. I’d like to thank her family and the community of Meadow Lake for sharing her with us. This is a sad day for both communities.”

News of Ms. Yaychuk’s passing was especially hard on the people of Flying Dust, as two band members – Betty Matchee and Howard Lachance – also died last week.

A celebration of Ms. Yaychuk’s life was held yesterday (June 1) in Meadow Lake.

Meanwhile, city manager Diana Burton said the date for a by-election to fill Ms. Yaychuk’s seat at the council table will be determined at the next council meeting scheduled for June 8. The next regular municipal election isn’t scheduled until the fall of 2016.