NLCDC Partnering With Santa Claus and Transwest Air

BY RON MERASTY

Ken Landers, left, Marketing and Sales representative of Transwest Air, accepts a $5000 donation from NLCDC, represented by Eddie Head, centre, and Terry Mirasty. The donation took place at the Prince Albert Airport, from where Santa will be leaving for Athabasca communities on Sunday, December 10, 2006. RON MERASTY PHOTO

Santa will be traveling without reindeer on this special trip, and will depart from Prince Albert Airport at 7:30 am on Sunday, December 10, 2006 in a 16-passenger turbo-prop British Aerospace Jetstream 3100 aircraft. Although Santa won’t be visiting Uranium City personally on that day, he will forward some of the goods to children of that community.

The event will provide gifts, an orange and candy cane for approximately 1250 children up to the age of 12. When Santa and his helpers arrive at one of the communities (and weather will determine where they land first), the Jolly Old Elf will be meet the kids in a receiving line.

The oranges and candy canes are donations by The North West Company and Northern Stores. The kids will have an opportunity to have a brief chitchat with Santa and maybe even get a photo with the northern visitor.

Santa Claus Takes Flight was an idea created by the managing partners of Transwest Air, Jim Glass and Pat Campbell Jr. and their families, said Ken Landers, Marketing and Sales representative for the airline.

“They wanted to show northerners that they are not just customers but that they care for their families and children,” that use Transwest Air’s northern air service. He added that it was a way to say “thank you.”

The value of each of the gifts is about $5.00. This year, Transwest Air is again partnering with Prince Albert’s Your Dollar Store With More to be the supplier. New owner Trevor Ives has graciously consented to be part of this worthwhile project.

Other sponsors for the approximately $10,000 total cost, which includes airplane costs, include: Northern Resource Trucking (NRT); Imperial Oil & Saskatoon Airport Esso; SaskEnergy; Northern Lights Casino and SIGA; Torson Contracting; SaskTel; Camsell Portage Transportation Services; Athabasca Denesuline Child & Family Services Inc.; Claude Resources; Adventure Destinations International; Econo Lumber and Lakeland Ford.

The project has gathered recognition across the country and the story was broadcast on national television.

NLCDC General Manager Eddie Head and Assistant Manager Terry Mirasty attended the announcement at the Prince Albert Airport on November 14, 2006 bringing with them a huge $5000 cheque. They were accompanied by Loren Sproat, Marketing Manager of NLC.

“On behalf of the NLCDC Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce – one of the things we recognize on the board is joint partnership – we are pleased to announce this afternoon that we are contributing $5000 toward this event,” said Eddie Head.

Head said that the board started discussions last summer on participating, “and this project fits our criteria, meaning joint partnerships between First Nations and non-First Nations.”

“What I like most about it is providing to the children in the far north, in giving them a special gift on behalf of people from our communities that live away from their communities,” he added.

The NLCDC receives 25% of the net profits of the Northern Lights Casino to distribute to charitable causes in its catchment area in north-central Saskatchewan. Since its inception in 2001, the NLCDC has distributed over $16 million to worthwhile causes.
process from which we can actually honour s.718 of the Criminal Code,” the Gladue decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, and also the Young Criminal Justice Act that contemplates, “before you incarcerate Aboriginal people, to look at all the options.”

Section 718.2 (e) of the Criminal Code of Canada mandates that sentencing judges to consider all available sanctions other than imprisonment, and to pay particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders.

Research needs to be done to implement this provision, he says, “to make sure that government is accountable, and secondly, that they provide services so that the other options can be considered. So First Nations can actually take over formulating First Nations solutions for First Nations problems.”

The FSIN has called for a Special Chiefs Legislative Assembly for November 29 and 30 to address the gaming issue. Renewal of the casino framework agreement will be due in 2007.

Gaming is important, is here to stay, he said, and that a new gaming agreement will impact everyone in Saskatchewan “in a good way.” It has its negative side, with problem gamblers, as well as its positives, but says that it is not “the be-all and end-all to our economic benefit in the province of Saskatchewan.”

Other economic development ventures and business developments need to be focused on. First Nations cannot always rely on government transfers he said, but says that they are owed in any case, “because we did not extinguish our rights to lands and resources.”

The Kelowna Accord is not dead – not in Chief Joseph’s eyes – citing that he’s had discussions with MP Gary Merasty to “at least put in motion what was agreed to by government, not the Liberals, but government, to get the Kelowna Accord wheels in motion.” He expects a political declaration will be endorsed at the legislative assembly November 29 and 30.

If lines of communication with tribal councils have been weak, he wants to connect with them, to get, as he says, the direction from First Nations leadership, “and that way, we are not isolated.”

He’d like to open the legislative assemblies for opportunities for more Chiefs and others to speak out on the issues that impact at the community level.

“I want to… give back the Federation to the people as much as possible, through communication and also opportunities at the assembly.”

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