The Rotarians of District 5550 recognized the distinguished seven member communities making up the Saskatoon Tribal Council as part of their team effort contributions:
- Kinistin Saulteaux Nation.
- Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation.
- Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
- Muskoday First Nation.
- One Arrow First Nation.
- Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
- Yellow Quill First Nation.
An honorary Paul Harris Award embodies the principles of excellence as non-Rotarians. The STC organization is living up to the ideals of Service Above Self and their work in the community of Saskatoon to advance homeless shelters, food security, promotion of wellness, assisting individuals in search of health supports and assisting in youth literacy and education through an annual backpack school supplies program are just a few examples. The Saskatoon Tribal Council and Tribal Chief Arcand have organized reconciliation walks and concerts, traditional Pow Wows, vaccination clinics during the COVID19 Pandemic, is part of the provincial drug task force and offered to run an emergency shelter when the need was identified. Tribal Chief Arcand has spoken publicly about race-based barriers in the community and then worked to overcome them. Perhaps most importantly, the Saskatoon Tribal Council invites the community to participate and be a partner in everything they do. The community was delighted by the support along with recognition from the Chief of Police of the Saskatoon Police Services.
“The Saskatoon Police Service is an advocate for the utilization of Restorative Justice practices within our community and our Service. Our Restorative Justice Coordinator works alongside the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s Urban Justice Team. The focus of their work is directed towards alternatives to the traditional justice system. Through the utilization of community referrals, they are able to address needs and help individuals access supports available to them. Through the pre-charge and post charge diversion process, dynamic agreements are created, and victim inclusion is strongly encouraged. This Restorative Justice approach provides an opportunity for victims, offenders, and communities to discuss what occurred, who was harmed and what can be done to repair the harm”.
Tribal Chief Marc Arand was presented by DG Fred Wright and accepted the certificates of appreciation and medals that accompany the award.
Several prominent individuals have been honored as Paul Harris Fellows, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, renowned U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and the distinguished developer of the polio vaccine, Jonas Salk. The significant milestone of one million Paul Harris Fellows was achieved in 2006.
In a remarkable show of support, donations amounting to $1000 US dollars have been generously contributed on behalf of the citizens residing in the seven member communities comprising the Saskatoon Tribal Council. These communities encompass both Saskatoon and their ancestral territories within Treaty 6 lands.
Within District 5550, Rotarians have been dedicated to fostering stronger partnerships in various endeavors. These efforts include providing support to organizations such as the Friendship Inn, local schools, joint events celebrating and honoring Indigenous Peoples, as well as initiatives aimed at bolstering bilingual education. An exemplary commitment is demonstrated by Nutana Rotary’s five-year, $100,000 pledge to St. Frances School, specifically aimed at enhancing indigenous language skills. Moreover, Rotarians in this district aspire to forge numerous new collaborations with indigenous and non-indigenous peoples within diverse treaty areas, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.