 Peguis treaty days 2010
July 19 - 25, 2010
Recognizing 103 Years
This year's Treaty Days includes a concert by CHARLIE PRIDE, Fasball and Slo-Pitch Championships, Much Music Video Dance, Chief Peguis Canoe Races, Adult Native Games, Amateur Talent Show, Triathalon, Scrabble Championship, plus much more. Click the link below to download the poster.
download Peguis Treaty Days poster
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Hodgson Area Renal Health Facility Development Update - January 2010
In collaboration with the Province of Manitoba – Manitoba Health, Health Canada, Manitoba Renal Program, Interlake Regional Health Association, Fisher River Cree Nation, Peguis First Nation, RM of Fisher Municipality, and Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation the following information is regarding the development of the Renal Health Facility adjacent to the Percy E Moore Hospital, Hodgson, Manitoba.
In 2007, the Province of Manitoba, authorized proceeding with the development of a new Renal Health Facility adjacent to the PEMH.
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 Illegal surrender update
The following documentation has been provided from T.E. Investment Counsel Inc. to show the investment appreciation that they estimate would have be realized on the Surrender Claim Settlement Trust based on an originating capital value of $118,750,000.
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Exchanges Smashes Stereotypes
SABRINA Carter had never set foot on a First Nation before, so the 10-year-old Selkirk student's first foray onto a reserve is not likely to be forgotten.
"It was pretty cool to be here," Sabrina said, halfway through a day-long anti-drug conference at Peguis First Nation on Thursday. "It was cool to see another culture."
It's an opportunity, organizers hope, she'll have again. For the last 10 years, Peguis School held its youth anti-drug conference in Winnipeg. This year, organizers decided to bring the workshops home, and play host to students from other communities instead, including 69 from Selkirk's Robert Smith School, the only group not from a regional First Nation.
The cultural exchange, organizers said, may have helped smash some stereotypes.
"(Peguis) was different from what they were (expecting)," chuckled Peguis School guidance counsellor Anita Sutherland, relaxing after a "hectic" day of corralling tweens. "They believed we still lived in teepees, or in log homes. They were able to see some of the community, and see that we're just another regular community."
Because really, doesn't every community face the same challenges?
"We're a lot more the same than we are different," Robert Smith principal Stephen Dudar, who joined the field trip, said of the message he hoped his students took from the visit. "Whether you're on-reserve or off-reserve, there's a battle with drugs. This shows that we're battling drugs together."
In total, over 260 students from places including Lake St. Martin, Pinaymootang and Crane River came out to try out workshops on traditional life, aboriginal culture and the perils of drug use.
"I hope when they leave the doors of this place they will make the right choices," said Burnell Stevenson, a Peguis-based minister and cohort of Winnipeg hip-hop preacher Fresh I.E. "As long as you get the chance to encourage them... give them a head's up, what's out there, what can destroy them."
Stevenson, 36, used to be caught up in booze, so much so that he struggled to be a father. He's been clean and sober for 12 years, a fact that struck many of the kids.
"He quit and even started a band (Fire At Night) to teach kids not to do drugs and alcohol, because they could be harmful," Sabrina raved of Stevenson's workshop, her favourite of the Peguis experience. "He was cool to listen to. He was telling us stories."
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 9, 2010 A8
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Peguis getting its act together: chief
Says renewed funding is proof positive
By: Melissa Martin | 21/03/2010 1:00 AM
Glass half-empty, or glass half-full: A day after reports Ottawa had taken control of Peguis First Nation's funds, band leadership announced a "partial victory" in securing another extension of a major line of federal funding.
At a news conference in the band offices on Saturday, Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson said the conditional one-year extension of the band's Canada First Nation Funding Arrangement (CFNA) is proof the financial co-management ordered in a letter from Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl last month does not mean the band isn't getting its books in order. The media "just doesn't understand" Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's policies on co-management, he said.
"This (funding extension) is very much a victory for us," Hudson said. "(There are) things that you as a media do not see, other than in one form of a written letter that you interpret. We've been given our extensions because we are improving."
The band's original five-year CFNA was originally slated to expire in 2008, which would have slashed up to $9 million and up to 120 jobs from the band's budget. Peguis was granted an extension of the deal and, on March 1 of this year, was informed by government its CFNA would be extended another year.
Still, the band has a long road ahead to get back to financial health. Because Peguis hasn't met reduction targets laid out by the feds on its $20-million debt, it will not be given a two per cent inflationary funding increase, and $155,000 will be cut from funding for band support.
In the last year, the band's financial position improved slightly: to a 41.78 per cent deficit in 2008-09, from a 42.16 per cent deficit in 2007-08.
That's the lowest deficit percentage since 2002-03, when it stood at 29.21 per cent. More cuts, however, will be necessary to meet federal targets, which include a 20 per cent cut in its operating deficit in 2009-10.
Hudson, who was elected chief in 2007, said the band is planning to take a critical look at its budget to eliminate "inefficiencies," including potentially cutting the band's controversial travel budget and consolidating financial services. Social and health programs would not be cut, Hudson said, and job losses were not anticipated.
That's some good news for the band, which has been racked by public calls of corruption and a protracted power struggle between Hudson and former chief Louis Stevenson, who Hudson said managed the band for 26 years. While the tension has frustrated many of Peguis's 8,500 members, Hudson didn't mince words when it came to the former chief's contribution to the current state of affairs. "Sure, people call me a bad manager, but I wasn't the one who drove the debt over $20-plus million. So you tell me who's the bad manager," Hudson said. "It's transition, it's change. It's taken 26 years to get to the debt levels where we're at, and it's going to take a minimum of five years to address."
A meeting to discuss governance policies with band members is scheduled for March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Selkirk Friendship Centre. "Members have every right to ask questions. We have an upcoming meeting... we were going to release this then, as it is very much a victory for us," Hudson said.
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 21, 2010 A12
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 Olympic torchbearer
Velma Jean Davies is the daughter of Garda and Ebenezer Sutherland. She grew up in Peguis with her seven siblings: twin Rick, Randy, Darlene, Shirley, twins Fern & Ray and baby sister Pearl. She was born in the local hospital on the reserve and enjoyed helping her grandmother, Pearl Williams, and mother around the home.
She married and had two children, Glennis and John, with Glen Bird Jr. In 1999, she laid to rest her son who had been missing for five months, he was 22 years old at the time of his disappearance. Velma drew strength from family, friends, and her strong faith in God. Today, Velma enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren, Chloe and Colton, who live in Winnipeg with daughter Glennis and son-in-law Rick Bushie.
Velma moved to BC in the early eighties and remarried. She currently lives with her husband, Bob, in Abbotsford and her daughter Rachel and husband Shane live close enough by to make it over for holiday dinners, which she loves hosting. “Vel” as she is often referred to as, enjoys giving her time and lending a helping hand to family and friends.
She has worked at Zellers, for the past twenty years this coming April, and has received the opportunity through work to participate as an Official Torch Bearer in the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Velma was selected after she submitted a 150 word essay which highlighted her as First Nations woman from Peguis and a brief history between the Hudson’s Bay Company and First Nations people.
January 26th Velma will be walking the torch somewhere between Kelowna and Revelstoke BC. The location and time have yet to be announced, however, three to four weeks prior she will receive her Official Olympic Wear and exact location and time. Family and friends are excited for her and wish her well!
View letter of confirmation
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 Winnipeg Free Press,
Incorrect Information
Dear Mr. Lett,
In your article published in the Free Press on November 7, 2009 you indicated that “no one knew whether Hudson's allegations of impropriety were true”. That statement is incorrect. You may recall that I ran for Chief of Peguis First Nation in March 2005 and lost that election by only 29 votes. I filed an appeal with Indian Affairs alleging that Louis Stevenson had engaged in corrupt practices in the course of the election campaign. This appeal was dismissed by the Minister of Indian Affairs. I was convinced that the Minister was wrong and filed a judicial review of his decision with the Federal Court Canada. Justice MacTavish concurred with my position and made the following findings:
“For the reasons that follow, I am of the view that the decision that the evidence did not support a finding of corruption was unreasonable, as it was based on erroneous findings of fact, and was made without regard to the evidence. Accordingly, the application for judicial review will be allowed.”
You may read the entire decision on the Federal Court of Canada website. The case Hudson v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) 2007 FC 203 Date: February 22, 2007.
In view of the above, I would urge you to file a retraction regarding the article published today. The allegations of impropriety were in fact true and the court recognized them as such.
You may contact me on my cell discuss at ***-****. I look forward to speaking with you.
Chief Glenn Hudson
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Federal probe rejects Peguis vote appeal
Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson has been vindicated after an appeal of his March election victory was dismissed by the federal government.
more information
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Peguis Treaty Days
Peguis Treaty Days photo gallery is here. Including pictures of Crystal Shawanda, Don Amero, and Derek Miller.
view photo gallery
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 H1N1 Vaccine Information
For complete information about the H1N1 Vaccine in Peguis First Nation, as well as general H1N1 Vaccine information, please click the link below.
Click here for complete details
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Assembly of First Nations says Citizenship Issue does not end with McIvor case
Although the Supreme Court of Canada announced, today, that it will not hear Sharon McIvor’s case regarding the continued gender discrimination in the “status” provisions of Indian Act, AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and AFN Women’s Council Chair Kathleen McHugh stated that First Nations will continue to push the federal government to fully and meaningfully work with First Nations to restore the inherent rights of First Nations to determine who their citizens are.
Click here for complete information
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