The Morning Star Blanket

Native American Rugs, Blankets, and Quilts
The best-known native textile art in North America is the weaving of Navajo Indian blankets and rugs. These impressive (and expensive) rugs are still made in a style that was traditional in Mexico and the southwest United States long before the arrival of Europeans: kneeling before a vertical wooden-frame loom and using a shuttle to weave colored threads together into large-scale geometric designs. Originally Navajo and other Southwest Indian blankets were made of hand-spun cotton thread, but after the Spanish brought domestic sheep to the region the people primarily switched to wool. Though Navajo rugs are the most famous weavings in North America, they are certainly not the only one.

Finger-weaving has been important throughout the continent since ancient times, and finger-woven blankets, tapestries, and clothing are still made in many tribes. The chilkat blankets of Tlingit people are one of the finest examples of finger-woven Indian blankets. Seminole sashes and patchwork are another important Indian textile art. A more recent tradition is star quilts or blankets, which originated among the Sioux tribes (Lakota, Dakota, and Assiniboine) and spread throughout the Great Plains.

Quilting was one of many Artwork techniques that Native Americans developed from European traditions and adapted into something unique to their culture. Star quilts are made by piecing a mosaic of cloth diamonds into the shape of the traditional eight-pointed morning star design of the Sioux. Before the evolution of star quilts, traditional Plains Indian Robes were made from painted, quilled and beaded Buffalo hide. When the Buffalo herds were exterminated this artform largely died out, but some Plains tribe artists still make Buffalo robes and blankets today from the hides of animals raised in captivity.

Star Quilts, Star Robes, Star Blankets are made with great care and ceremony, these robes are presented to people that have achieved milestones in their life, during birth, childhood, adulthood, and old age, even during the passing into another world - people are given StarBlankets.

The Star is represented in these robes as it is a sign of new life -every morning the Elders would wake everyone in camp to come and greet the Morning Sun - if you are able to see the Morning Sun give thanks to the Creator for the gift of another day.

The First Nations People of Saskatchewan developed their livelihood dependant on the migrating Buffalo Herds, 95% of the Food, Shelter, Clothing, Ceremonies revolved around the Buffalo - with the dissappearance there had to be a great change.

The Snowman

The winter months are long and cold, children begin to play in the drifts, digging igloos and making snowmen. Back home when I was young there would be times when my younger brothers and I would play in the farmyard and when my parents werent home, we had to look after ourselves.

We played in the snow like other children, but there were restrictions as to how we were to play, partly because our gradparents were very strict about the traditional ways and partly because we believed in the traditions, we were cautioned about the Snowman and what that represented to the First Nation Assiniboine.

The First Nation Assiniboine depended on wild game for food, shelter and clothing, therefore the environment played a major part in the hunting conditions. The large game included Deer, Moose, Elk, Bear and Antelope, other smaller game also provided food and several household items. In the winter the people would follow the big game animals and often the hunting trips would take the hunter far out in the wilderness. In the winter the snow would slow the hunter down because they would fall into the drifts making it dangerous and often deadly especially in snow that was very deep. It is beleived that if the hunter made an image of a man that the snowman would bring cold weather to make the snow hard and easy to walk on. That is why when children make a snowman the old people would order them to break it for it was an invitation for cold weather.

Assiniboine Geneology Mosquito Grizzly Bears Head Lean Man First Nation

During the summer months in my childhood years, the whole family would start to plan the summer with trips to various locations in the province. One of the trips that the family would take is our annual visit to the Cypress Hills on a reserve called The Nekaneet First Nation. This reserve is not a big reserve but it is set in one of the most beautiful environments found anywhere in Saskatchewan and the world, complete with an ecosystem that could only be found in exotic countries.

My Kohkum Grandmother Agnes Starchief was born to Gilbert Mosquito and Wechiyan (Little Girl) in April 1897 in the Eagle Hills into a family of four boys and two girls.The oldest son, Herbert Fish moved to an Assiniboine Reserve in the United States called "Fort Belknap Indian Reservation" located in Montana. John Mosquito moved to the " Nekaneet First Nation" which is a small reserve located in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Adam Mosquito the youngest of the boys, lived on the "Mosquito GrizzlyBears Head Lean Man First Nation" all of his life, there was one more son but he accidently fell in a well and drowned as a teen. There were two girls born to Gilbert and Wicheyan and were the youngest of the family, they were Agnes Mosquito (Starchief) and Helen Mosquito (Sauve), Agnes married Peter Starchief at the age of 13 and Helen married Alex Sauve from North Battleford.

The Cypress Hills is a beautiful place to visit and we were fortunate to stay on the Nekaneet First Nation with my Kohkum's neices and nephews, who were more than happy to take us on tours within the park. I have many fond memories of the trips we used to take visiting relatives across the country.

First Nations Traditional Medicines - Tobacco

Tobacco - When a person gives Tobacco it is a form of seeking Knowledge, it is a form of seeking advice , it is a traditional way of asking for something that would benefit a person's livelihood. It is proper to present Tobacco to an Elder when you seek advice or a prayer but it is customary that when you go to visit an Elder to take a gift of Tobacco. When times are tough and Tobacco is hard to get than one cigarette will do. The purpose is that when the Tobacco is used during a ceremony, and when it is lit the smoke will carry prayers to the Creator and His Helpers. In all of North America Aboriginal People have a collective understanding about the sacredness of Tobacco.

Tobacco is usually bought in pouches or as cigarettes.

The Tipi Circle

First Nations People would generally live in small family groups for most of the year, but during the spring, summer and fall there were plenty of opportunities for several groups to gather and camp in one area. Often the village would consist of a circle of Tipis, and in the old days there was always a single standing tipi in the middle of the circle. The Central Tipi was comparatively larger than the rest, this was the gathering place, the theatre, the story telling place, the classroom, and this was also a guest house. The Gathering Place Tipi would be well maintained by all members of the village, usually the Elderly Men and Elderly Women would make sure that there was enough wood to keep the fires going and there was plenty of robes and blankets to sit on and for guests to use. The tipi was well cleaned and it was everyones responsibility to make sure that this was a place designed to keep everyone comfortable and safe. When the time came for the camp to move to a different location the Gathering Place Tipi would be looked after so that it was the last one to be taken down from the old camp and it would be the first one to be put up in the new location.
The Tipis are always put up in a circle during a camp for protection: much like the Buffalo, Antelope and animals that live in groups, when there is a predator the buffalo would herd the calves into the center and turn and face out to fight.
It is a fool who made his camp outside of this circle.

The Buffalo Society

Members of this society must have scientific knowledge of the behavior of the Buffalo, they would have to know the migratory routes of the herd, the calving of the cows, the Ceremonies, songs, celebrations and other information that would help the Band succeed in the hunting of the Buffalo.
The Buffalo provided a livelihood for the Plains People, as a source for Food, Shelter, and clothing, as well as numerous other uses.
The Buffalo Society membership required the Knowledge of Ceremonial procedures that had to be done exactly as they had been practised since time immemorial, so that the Buffalo Spirit would be appeased and not be angry and stop providing.
Children were identified for mentorship for the Buffalo Society by Elders in the Band, the child or children (often a boy and a girl) would than be taught by members of the society. As a survival tactic, two students would be chosen every year for study just in case one student could not complete training.
The members of the Buffalo Society managed the Buffalo Hunt according to traditional laws as governed by the Creator, the time for the hunt was scheduled around the migrations of the Buffalo, usually during the fall. Band members knew their role in the hunt and obeyed direction of the society. To disobey laws could endanger the whole band and the hunt could be disastrous, there were of course Tribal Police that would ensure that all band members followed rules.
The Buffalo Society have a very important role in the band, this position required yearly ceremonies and yearly sacrifices have to be made. The survival of the Band was dependant on the expertise of the Buffalo Society, the transfer of knowledge to a prospective member was a lifelong learning process.
The Buffalo Society members would have headdresses made from Weasel tails and Buffalo Horns, the hat was worn on special occasions, to own a headdress is equivalent in today's standards to a Doctorate Degree. The Band allowed only one or two people from the band to make the Headdresses - if a person made a headdress without protocol chances are they would be severely punished or in severe instances would be banished from the band.

First Nations Family Groups

First Nations in Saskatchewan formed in groups called "Bands", these were made of related families, the reason for this is to ensure that everyone was well looked after. Every person had a role that was essential to the survival of the People, from the babies, toddlers, adolescents, adults, to the Elderly, each had to do their part to make sure that the Band could sustain itself.

In each Band an appointed member, (usually recognized at birth,) was to learn from early childhood as to what their contribution would be and what was expected from them once they became adults. The teachings included the Knowledge passed down from the Elders. Different related bands united for ceremonies and during the hunting season which required collective effort.

The Dakotas

"Dakotah" is the proper name for the first nations people who have occupied the Saskatchewan Plains since time immemorial. The name derives from the word "WaDakotah" which means "harmony", " a condition of being at peace with one another and with the Natural World.



According to Traditional Sacred Teachings of the Dakotas; Wakantanka, the Creator gave life to the Dakotas in the Paha Sapa , The Black Hills of South Dakota, from this birthplace the Dakotas have developed a nomadic Lifestyle on the plains of this continent.



The Dakotas believe that kinship is the True Value that keeps this culture alive, as well the gift of the Sacred Pipe from the White Buffalo Calf Woman and the Drum is always treated with respect, so sacred are these values there are ceremonies that are conducted to honour these values. Women do not touch the Pipe or the Drum because of the traditions and sacredness of these lifeways.



The Dakota have always depended on the gifts of Mother Earth and to give thanks for these gifts there are individual ceremonies that are conducted everyday and then there are the communal ceremonies such as Feasts and Giveaways.



In the 18th and early 19th centuries the Dakotas dominated a huge territory which included The Great Lakes in the east to the Missouri River in the West to as far north as the Churchill River to the Rocky Mountains and as far south as New Mexico.



Contact with the Europeans occurred in 1815 and as the years went by the Dakotas were severly impacted by settlers who continued to claim Dakota Traditional territory and the United States Government negotiated land cessions with armed forces and promises of cash and reservations, The Sisseton and Wahpeton Bands were forced to give up their nomadic life and settle onto tracts of Land and become farmers. They were also told to give up their Ceremonial practices, cut their hair and wear suitable farm clothing. Finally they were urged to banish their own spiritual leaders and medicine men and become christians.



In the late summer of 1862 the eastern bands of the Dakotas in Minnesota had not recieved their Treaty committed payments and gifts and the conditions resulting from the transition of a nomadic life to an agricultural life proved to be disasterous to a point of starvation, sickness and despair. The Dakotas became restless and in August 17, 1862, the discontent erupted into a violent revolt against the Americans, thereafter, many members of the bands were incarcerated at Fort Snelling and at Mankato, Minnisota. A Millitary court was convened and as a result 300 Dakota Leaders were sentenced to death by Hanging. President Abraham Lincoln reviewed the convictions and overturned the results and all except 38 , by the end of September the Dakotas were badly outnumbered and resulted in the loss of lives and the survivors began their journey into Canada.

My Moshum and the wagon hunts

In the days gone by, when I was younger about the age of ten , I would go with my Moshum to check the traps. In those days the way we travelled a lot of the time was with a wagon and horses, so my brothers and I would be asked to chase the horses into the corral and we would put the harness on them. Somehow when we mixed up the lines than that would cause trouble for everyone because the lines would tangle up and spook the horses, sometimes they would run. My Moshum used to hunt for a living and did not waste anything from his hunt. My moshum was a great trapper and hunter, my Kohkum was very skilled at cooking and could sew beautiful designs from beads on clothing and pouches. I learned that a person has to learn and do different things for survival and not to concentrate on one thing.

"The Free Spirit People" - Assinboine First Nations

There is so much to talk about when there is an opportunity to visit My Parents , first of all there is the play by play events of the day, than it leads to discussions about the week, the month,and then the events of the years. Eventually the visits become vehicles for travelling through time and back to the days when Mother Earth was able to tend to Her duties in a carefree manner, with the stories you could see that it was what the Western World called a "Paradise".
My Parents are of the fourth generation of the " Free Spirit People", they belong to the Assiniboine of the Eagle Hills. The "Free Spirit People" are a people that did not make contact with the Western World, even though they knew long before contact that there were other inhabitants on Mother Earth. Then there were the people who witnessed Contact and this was the Meeting of Nations, these people were helpful, perhaps too helpful because the First Nations People paid with their lives ; nine out of ten First Nations People would succumb to foreign diseases. Then there were the First Nations People who were being hunted and captured and forced into assimilation by being taken onto reserves and this period was full of hardships, sorrow and sadness, as "Freedom" was taken away. My parents are both Seventy Years Old they are the last of the connection to a past where Language was the most Important tool to survival, they both remember a time when they would meet the Very Old People- the ones that travelled the Plains without any sign of the Western People. My Father, William Starchief can still sing history through ancient songs, while my Mother Mary Jane Spyglass can tell stories of the different geographical markers within the Eagle Hills, as well as most of the Plains, She can tell a story about people travelling through the territory and show you evidence such as Teepee Rings that there was occupation.
It is such an educational time when you travel through time just by listening and eating and drinking Tea, the teachings you are privilaged to hear stay with you forever andwhen you live by these teachings than life becomes a little easier to live.

Treaty Status Card Black Market

There is a lot of talk when it comes to benefits for First Nations people who hold a status card, especially from people who benefit the most from treaty cards, many people talk about "...How Indians dont pay taxes and that thier tax dollars are being used by the Indians..." .
Well this is what I see as a Treaty Card Holder:
1. First Nations People pay Taxes just as much as the non-treaty card holder - and the tax dollars that Treaty Card holders pay goes right into the pockets of the Government, because Treaty Card Holders will probably never see Tax- Back Dollars every fiscal period. Treaty Card holders cannot under Law claim any GST or PST, unless every receipt of purchase is collected throughout the year, and is not possible for a number of reasons.

2. There a few names for Treaty Card Holders that are used:
"Indian": When people have to pay money to First Nations people, for example
when they have to pay for equity status
"Aboriginal ": When people talk about all Native people and would like to create
jobs especially when applying for grants
"First Nations": When People need something from the reserves or native business
....There are more names but I cant write them here.

3. Non-Treaty people will pick up Treaty Indians anywhere and take them to a Band
controlled store, give the Treaty Indian money and ask him to buy Cigarettes and Gas at a cheaper price and often times the Treaty Indian will be asked to find his way home with nothing.

4. There is a family of White people on my reserve who have always worked for the band as far back as I can remember, one of them was working at the Band Office as a Band Membership Clerk and she made Treaty Cards for herself and some of her relatives, this is to get tax breaks.

5. The treaty card comes with a number assigned to native people.

Around the country non -status people are beginning to claim Aboriginal Heritage as a way to get equity money from the government - some people are calling themselves "Metis" or "non-status" just to dip into the Education Dollars, housing or other benefits allotted for Aboriginal People.
The Treaty Card is fast dissappearing into history and now it is worth just about the same as the paper it is written on, pretty soon it will end up in a museum display case with the words " ...as long as the Sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow..."

First Nations Language Groups in Saskatchewan - The Denesuline

Saskatchewan is a province geographically located in the central part of North America, the southern part of the province is made up of the Grassland Plains while the northern region is comprised of forests, lakes and rivers, the central area is the tree belt and the transgression of the plains. The First Nations people of Saskatchewan have occupied this area since time immemorial and will continue to live off the land, however the diverse geographical makeup of the land offers diverse cultural traditions. The Northern part of the province is densely forested with plenty of lakes and waterways, the Denesuline have been in this area for generations and have understood how to live with Mother Earth. The Denesuline have a Language that is unique and tells of the history, traditions and culture that have been developed, practised and passed on from generations to generations. The Denesuline live in the forests and waterways which provide Food, Shelter and Clothing, and the people give thanks through ceremonies, songs and prayers so that there will always be an abundance. Mother Earth has always provided the gifts of life and with this understanding the Denesuline take care that they harvest only what they can use and take care not to disturb nature by overharvesting and cultivating. Camping areas are well maintained and when it is time to move they leave the land in its natural state.
The Denesuline are a small group of people in Saskatchewan but are part of the larger group that make thier homes in different regions of North America, for example they are part of the Apache and Navajo in the Southern United States as well there are large groups found in British Columbia and Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Alaska.

Childrens Toys in First Nations Culture

In First Nations Culture , children are held in high regard and are known to be pure and have a special place on Mother Earth, children are sacred and are respected as such. The Old People have always said that " the children are only on loan from the Creator and if we do not look after them properly and teach them right the Creator will take them away from you...".

Childrens love to play with toys and in First Nations Culture, toys were made in exact replica of the things that adults would use with intricate Craftsmanship and was often fully functional except smaller and easier to handle. The Toys made also served a purpose as a teaching tool for respecting property and how to share with others. The toys would also be a tool to teach children how to use tools properly, for example a toy cradle board would show how a baby fitted properly in the safety seat. (the toys than were teaching methods on survival) .

Boys and girls were allowed to play with each others toys untill they were told that they were too old perhaps at about age 10, at this time teachings of the Adult world would take over from the carefree days of childhood.

The Medicine Hat Society

When a child is born into a family that is well known for a specific role in the community, it is understood that the child would learn the those particular skills from his family.

Within the Medicine Hat Society members are recognized and groomed from childhood and are taught all kinds of medicine. The teachings include the origin of the plant, the proper protocol of harvesting the plant, the ceremonies that come with the plant and its medicines. The songs, chants and ceremonies that come with the medicines must be learned in the way that they had been practised since time immemorial.

The Medicine Hat is made of feathers of all kinds of Birds which may include the Eagle, Crow, Magpies, and other birds; as the knowledge is transferred from one person to the other it is signified by adding a feather onto the bonnet. The hat becomes rounder and rounder as feathers are added. Each of the Feathers represent a knowledge or a medicine.

The owner of the Medicine Hat would have their own individual ceremonies for the Hat itself, during the summer months there would be a gathering of Medicine Men and this gives the opportunity to have a Community feast and celebration, this also gives a chance to hold workshops on new technologies and healing methods.

To be the owner of the Medicine Hat is equivalent to owning a doctorate degree in todays standards, there are both male and female Medicine Hat Owners.

The Early Years - Town Schools and the reserve

The first thing that I would wake up to was the smell of fried bannock every morning when I used to live with my Kohkum Irene Spyglass, I must have been about 10 years old and already I had been living at my grandparents since I was about 8 years old. My parents lived in a house that was about maybe 200 yards from where my Kohkum's house was so we were'nt really seperated from safety. During the winter months I would be sent to school in town - so I would have to catch the bus at the highway real early in the Morning. There was six of us on the bus plus the bus drivers children - I think there were four of them and that would be all the students from my whole reserve that went to a town school, everyone else went to the Indian Day School where they probably had it just as rough as we did. To the other children on the reserve we were the outcasts because we attended the town school which kind of set us up to be rich or well off or smarter, what ever the case the other children on the reserve didnt understand us. The reason that my mom wanted us to attend a catholic School was to see what was beyond the reserve, even though the only thing that stood out in my memory was how much the Priests and Sisters did not like Native People and how they taught other students not to like Native People - I think to this day those classmates of mine still dont like Native People , but make a living from Native People.

My Kohkum and her pow wow dress

Just this past Christmas, my niece's two children got into an accident, they are only 4 and 5 years old, my grandson Marcus had a surgery to repair some damage to his stomach and my granddaughter, Michelle walked away without a scratch. This was a very scary time for me as well as for the parents, my grandchildren who I refer to as My Moshum and My Kohkum are doing fine now. I am currently making my Kohkum a Powwow outfit and hopefully she will learn about the Traditions of the First Nations in that way... even though I try to teach them both a lot of the old ways it is always nice to learn with others. The reason that I am making my Kohkum an outfit is to give thanks to the Creator to let my Moshum and my Kohkum live healthy lives cause it could have been alot worse.. My Parents always say that "while you are alive, you should be proud of your body and make it beautiful by wearing beautiful clothing, make your body dance while you are healthy - in this way you are giving thanks to the Creator for giving you life - Miyo - Pimatisowin". My Kohkum is so excited about her new dress but my Moshum is already asking when he will be getting his. By the way there is protocol to introducing the children to the powwow, my Parents gave away a Horse and lots of gifts and money at a Powwow in Onion Lake when My niece Charmaine was a Princess for Mosquito and Red Pheasant reserves.

CMHC Housing Creating Ghettos on Reserves

Recently there was a murder on my reserve and four teenage boys were taken into custody, this was a shock to the community as these young men came from families that were well known in the community, thier parents were band councillors, NNADAP workers, and from families that went to First Nations Gospel Revival Groups. So what happened on that night of the murder? I dont know the details of the murder but what I can tell you is what led to this murder: The Government knows that there is a shortage of Housing on Reserves, so they along with the Indian Agent " Buddy G." made plans to create a townsite, Build lots of houses in a central location so that plumbing and power would be cheap. This was a bad idea because First Nations people do live in Bands but each family group in the band are used to living in their own groups- with their own little sub-traditions. The townsite was created and devided into little blocks and each of these little blocks have about 6 houses with their own little sections- the houses are than given to lucky families (if your related to the Chief or the Council).
The families come from seperate family groups and are lumped together in these blocks, families that may have different histories and backgrounds and normally would live within their own areas. The blocks were a mixture and a clash of sub-cultures, there are problems,chaos and confusion, people had to learn a new way to get along.
The Townsite is a breeding ground for breakins, gang violence, alcoholism, drugs and other social ills, this is the new Reservation Ghetto.
Buddy G. and his cost saving idea is killing First Nations Communities, oh yeah the Government doesnt really save money because the houses were contaminated by mould which created a Health Hazard and many people had to move out of their homes, these abandoned homes were supposed to be fixed but they ended up as party houses brewing up more trouble. The Chief and Council arent really worried because they all have first choice of housing and of the renovations. As for Buddy G. - every reserve has a parasite - (even the show "North of 60" has one) , Buddy now owns an acreage, hundreds of cows, lives with one of the ladies from the reserve, has a house on reserve and a fat little paycheck and bank account, all on the expense of The Mosquito Band bank account. - ("...if you want to get rich and be a millionaire, work for a band office..."(Buddy G. 1989)
As for the young men they are still being investigated.

Urban survival for First Nations Children

There are many First Nations people migrating to the urban centres such as Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert, for many reasons they are leaving the reservation life, but the main reason is that the First Nation People are outgrowing their reserves. The reserves offer very little for the growing population. My parents; William Starchief and Mary Jane Spyglass are now 70 years old and are still healthy, they tell of the times when the reserve (Mosquito First Nations) had a total population of 98 people, today there are 1278 people and is rapidly growing. The Housing sortage is evident as they are about 10 - 15 people living in a two bedroom house, often the house is a cheap house and is run down in its first few years. People would say that First Nations People do not know how to take care of thier houses, but when your house is made out of cardboard and is overcrowded, and welfare only gives you $98.00 every two weeks than you cant really afford to renovate broken things. There are no jobs and even if you had one than you have to pay all your bills ( when you live in a substandard house- heating costs will go up, about $400.00 a month in the winter, plus the Band office will charge the rent for the house, plus all the other costs - to tell you the truth, it is more expensive to live and work on the reserve than it is to live and work in the city, it is better to be on welfare on reserve.)
The Government on the other hand is getting richer and will probably take our reserve lands away in the end.

The truth about Traditional culture

In todays world there is faster communication and a faster way of doing things, sometimes we bypass certain steps to gaining knowledge. The way that I acquired my knowledge is through the Traditional way: Offering of tobacco, blanket and monetary gift, these gifts to my teachers would give me accurate knowledge and passed down from generation to generation. The reason we give gifts is a way that Cultural Keepers can manage the Knowledge and the environment. Be careful out there when we seek to find culture, sometimes the teacher is just in the process of learning, when you are not sure - find your family Elder and take their advice, if you dont have a family Elder than find one who is a ' Language Traditional Elder' ( One who grew up with the Language and lived the culture since birth)