Local
Government in Saskatchewan
A Guide for Government Officials
Back to: Curriculum
The SSTA Research Centre grants
permission to reproduce up to three copies of each report for personal use.
Each copy must acknowledge the author and the SSTA Research
Centre as the source. A complete and authorized copy of
each report is available from the SSTA
Research Centre.
The opinions and recommendations expressed in this report are
those of the author and may not be in agreement with SSTA
officers or trustees, but are offered as being worthy of consideration by those
responsible for making decisions.
This
guide is written for:
mayors,
reeves, chiefs
councillors/aldermen
of urban municipalities, and councillors of rural municipalities and First
Nations
school
trustees
health board members
It describes ways that you can become involved with students as they learn about
local and First Nations government.
This
guide is a supplement to two new instructional resources that support teachers
who wish to enrich their instructional program by teaching about local and first
Nations government.
Local
Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 4 and Local
Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 12
were developed through a collaboration among six Saskatchewan Organizations:
Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
Saskatchewan
Association of Health Organizations (SAHO)
Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)
Saskatchewan
Learning (SaskLearning)
Saskatchewan
School Trustees Association (SSTA)
Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA)
Local
Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 4 and Local
Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 12 are
intended to supplement the existing Saskatchewan Social Studies Curriculum.
Grades 4 and 12 were selected as focus grades because government is included in
the curriculum at these grades. Students learn about provincial government
in Grade 4 and Canadian government in Grade 12.
Why
is Local Government Important?
The local community is
where good citizenship begins. Students of every age can contribute to
their community through participation in community projects and volunteer work.
Local government is an
important dimension of community. Decisions made by mayor, chief, or reeve
and their councils affect the daily lives of students. For example,
students rely on the fire department to keep their homes safe. They need
safe water and adequate sewage disposal for good health. Students use
facilities such as public libraries and swimming pools provided by local
government. They travel on roads and walk on sidewalks maintained by local
government.
Decisions made by boards
of education affect students’ everyday lives. For example, the
instructional resources that students use are provided by the board of
education. Health region boards make decisions about allocation of
resources that influence the health care services available in local
communities.
Because many of the
services provided by local government are practical, concrete and real, even the
youngest child can understand and relate to them.
Local government occurs
close to home, so there may be opportunities for students to meet elected
officials, to observe or read about council meetings, and to debate local
issues. These real-life experiences can help create a sense of connection
to the democratic process. They can build and strengthen students’
commitment to citizenship, both as a participant and as a leader.
Students will benefit
from learning more about local government. They will have a better
understanding of how their community works, and they may realize their
participation in local government as a voter or elected official can make a
difference.
Communities and the province as a whole will also benefit when students learn about local government. The students of today are the mayors, chiefs, reeves, councillors, aldermen, school trustees and health board members of tomorrow. They are the people who will lobby for change, lead delegations and vote in the years ahead. The better that young people are prepared for these roles, the stronger our communities will be.
Teachers may ask you to
play a role when students are learning about local and First Nations government.
Students’ classroom learning is more real and more meaningful when they
can connect it to real life.
The following suggestions
apply to all activities and to both Grade 4 and Grade 12.
Keep
explanations simple. Even Grade 12 students may have little
knowledge of local and First Nations governments.
Define
terms as you go. Even basic terms like mayor, chief, reeve and
councillor may need explanation for Grade 4s. Terms like bylaws and
resolutions may need to be defined for Grade 12s.
You
won’t need to explain the concept of an election. Most students
have participated in classroom elections (for class president, for example)
and are familiar with the idea of an election.
Use
examples that relate to students’ everyday life. Tell how a
particular service affects students’ quality of life. This approach
has more meaning to students than just listing services.
Make
your presentation interactive. Ask students questions and invite
them to give examples; avoid straight lecturing.
Keep
handouts simple. For Grade 4 use simple words and sentences.
For Grade 12 use non-technical language and provide basic background
information. Consider testing your handout for appropriateness with
your children or grandchildren or the neighbourhood kids before you use it
in the classroom.
Use
large posters that you have made beforehand to emphasize basic points.
Avoid writing on the board as this would mean turning your back on students
and losing their attention.
Give as many students as possible a chance to participate. Some students will be eager to respond to every question. Although this eagerness is admirable, make sure that a few students don’t monopolize the discussion.
Local Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 4 and Local Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 12 include suggestions for specific ways that local and First Nations government officials can be involved in the learning program. Some of these are listed below.
As an individual you may be asked to: |
Hints |
Lead Grade 4s on a neighbourhood walk, to identify some of the services municipal and First Nations governments provide. |
|
Speak to a class
about:
|
|
Respond to letters that student have written on specific local and First Nations government topics. |
|
As a group you may be asked to: | Hints |
Host students who have come to observe a meeting of mayor/reeve/chief and council, board of education or health board. |
|
Host students who are making a presentation about an issue that concerns them to mayor/reeve/chief and council, board of education or health board. |
|
Appendix
– Participating Organizations
Local
Government in Saskatchewan: An Instructional Resource for Grade 12 was
developed through a collaboration among six Saskatchewan organizations:
Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
Saskatchewan
Association of Health Organizations (SAHO)
Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)
Saskatchewan
Learning (SaskLearning)
Saskatchewan
School Trustees Association (SSTA)
Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA)
Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
What is the FSIN?
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents Saskatchewan’s 74
First Nations. The main
components of the FSIN’s governance structure are:
|
|
In
addition to the bodies listed above, the FSIN has organized several commissions
and councils with specific responsibilities such as justice, economic
development, and education. A First Nations Women’s Council provides
women with a voice.
The
decisions that are made by the Legislative Assembly and the Executive are passed
to the Chief of Staff for implementation. The Chief of Staff supervises a
staff comprised of specialists and consultants in areas like education and
economic development, accountants, as well as administrative and clerical
people.
Saskatchewan’s
First Nations are organized into 10 Tribal/Grand Councils (nine independent
First Nations do not belong to a Tribal Council). The Tribal Councils are
political units that assist First Nations in achieving their political, social,
educational, health, financial and cultural goals. Each Tribal
Council/independent First Nation has representation at the FSIN commissions.
This ensures linkages and liaison throughout all levels of Indian government.
What Services Does the
FSIN Offer?
The FSIN
focuses on the well-being of First Nations peoples in Saskatchewan. It
protects Treaties and Treaty Rights (Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 cover
Saskatchewan). The FSIN also fosters the economic, educational and social
endeavours of First Nations peoples.
The FSIN
operates several institutions that serve First Nations people and the public as
a whole. These institutions include:
Saskatchewan
Indian Cultural Centre (SICC)
Saskatchewan
Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT)
Saskatchewan
Indian Federated College (SIFC)
Saskatchewan
Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA)
First
Nations Bank of Canada
Saskatchewan
Indian Gaming Licencing Inc. (SIGL)
Saskatchewan
Indian Equity Foundation (SIEF)
Saskatchewan
Indian Loan Company (SILCO)
For more information about the FSIN visit their website at http://www.fsin.com.
For a list of
Saskatchewan’s First Nations, Tribal Councils and a map of Saskatchewan
showing the location of the First Nations go to the website of Indian
and Northern Affairs Canada.
Federation of Saskatchewan
Ind
Head Office
Asimakaniseekan Askiy
Reserve
Suite 200 – 103A Packham
Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 4K4
Telephone:
(306) 665-1215
Fax:
(306) 244-4413
Regina Sub
Office
Regal Plaza
Suite A –
1680 Albert Street
Regina,
Saskatchewan
S4P 2S6
Telephone:
(306) 721-2822
Fax:
(306) 721-2707
Fort
Qu’Appelle Sub Office
Treaty Four
Governance Centre
120 – 740
Sioux Avenue
Fort
Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan
S0G 1S0
Telephone:
(306) 332-2556
Fax:
(306) 332-2557
Saskatchewan
Association of Health Organizations (SAHO)
What is SAHO?
The Saskatchewan
Association of Health Organizations is a non-profit, non-government
association of health agencies in Saskatchewan. Members
include Saskatchewan’s regional health authorities, independent
hospitals and special care homes, as well as various agencies and
associations that provide heath services, education and/or regulations. Over 160
organizations are members of SAHO. A 15-person board of directors, which includes a chair and a vice-chair provides directions for SAHO’s work.
What Services
Does SAHO Offer to Its Members? Services SAHO
provides to its members include:
|
|
pension,
dental, group life and disability income plans for health employees (SAHO
Retirement Plan has assets of more than $1.7 billion)
materials
management (group tendering to reduce the costs of health care supplies)
workplace
health and safety (education and training to reduce workplace health
risks and injuries, and to help workplaces meet health and safety standards)
education (professional development seminars, resource centre).
For more information
about SAHO visit their website at http://www.saho.org/.
Saskatchewan
Association of Health Organizations
1445 Park Street
Regina, SK
S4N 4C5
Telephone: (306) 347-5500
Fax:
(306) 525-1960
Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)
What is SARM?
The Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is the independent
non-governmental association that represents rural municipal government in
Saskatchewan. SARM’s members
are Saskatchewan’s 297 rural municipalities. All municipalities
belong to SARM on a voluntary basis. The Association is
governed by an eight-member board that is elected by delegates at the SARM
Annual Convention in March. All board members must be elected rural
municipal officials from their local municipality. The President and Vice-President are elected each year and serve a one-year term. Other board members serve a two-year term. The president of the Rural Municipal Administrators Association sits as an ex-officio member of the SARM board. |
|
What Services Does
SARM Offer to Its Members?
SARM serves its members
in a variety of ways:
SARM
reviews and interprets provincial and federal legislation, lobbies
provincial and federal governments to change legislation, and communicates
important political developments to members.
SARM
provides a range of insurance plans and employee benefit plans to rural
municipalities.
The
Trading Department provides the benefits of volume purchasing of products
such as printing and stationery, rodent control products, road signs, safety
supplies, tires, fuel, and office equipment.
The
Legal Services Department provides casual legal services to rural
municipalities.
SARM
publishes the Rural Councillor Magazine six times per year, with a
circulation of 3,000.
SARM administers various funds for municipalities on behalf of the provincial and/or federal government. These funds include the Treaty Land Entitlement Tax Loss Compensation Fund and the Wildlife Habitat Trust Fund.
For more information
about SARM visit their website at http://www.sarm.ca.
Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities
2075 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK
S4P 2E1
Telephone: (306) 757-3577
Fax:
(306) 565-2141
Saskatchewan
Learning (SaskLearning)
What is Saskatchewan
Learning?
Saskatchewan Learning is
the provincial department responsible for education in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Learning’s general website address is http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca.
What Services Does
Saskatchewan Learning Offer?
Saskatchewan Learning
develops curriculum for K-12 education, coordinates special education services,
facilitates the SchoolPLUS vision and provides many more services to
schools, school divisions and communities.
Social Studies teachers
will find the online curriculum guides for K-12 education very helpful.
Curriculum guides for 12 different subject areas are available online.
Social science curriculum guides, bibliographies, information bulletins and
other assorted document are available at http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/social.html.
Saskatchewan Learning
2220 College Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3V7
Telephone – Social Sciences Unit: (306) 787-6136
Saskatchewan
School Trustees Association (SSTA)
What is the SSTA?
The Saskatchewan
School Trustees Association represents Saskatchewan boards of education.
Membership in the Association is voluntary. It is governed by a
14-person Executive which includes a president, vice-president and
directors representing various areas of the province. All the members of
the Executive have been elected as school trustees in the regions they
represent. Day-to-day work is carried out by a 15-person staff in
the SSTA’s Regina office. What Services
Does the SSTA Offer to Its Members? The SSTA’s services to its member boards of education include:
|
|
For more information
about the SSTA visit their website at http://www.ssta.sk.ca.
Saskatchewan School Trustees Association
400 – 2222 – 13th
Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3M7
Telephone: (306) 569-0750
Fax:
(306) 352-9633
Saskatchewan
Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA)
What is SUMA?
The Saskatchewan
Urban Municipalities Association represents urban municipalities. Membership in SUMA is voluntary and is open to cities, towns, villages, resort villages, northern villages and northern hamlets. SUMA’s membership represents approximately 75 percent of Saskatchewan’s population.
A Board of
Directors provides direction for the organization. The board is
comprised of: |
|
a president,
three
vice-presidents (one for cities, one for towns, and one for villages, resort
villages and northern municipalities), and
14-16 directors from various parts of the province.
What Services Does the
SUMA Offer to Its Members?
SUMA serves its member
municipalities by:
providing
a forum for the discussion and resolution of issues that are of concern to
cities, towns and villages
lobbying
federal and provincial governments for changes in legislation, programs and
municipal financing
purchasing
supplies and equipment in bulk for its members in order to get lower prices
providing a variety of insurance and employee benefits plans to its member municipalities.
For more information
about SUMA visit their website at http://www.suma.org/.
Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
#200 – 1819 Cornwall Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 2K4
Telephone: (306) 525-3727
Fax: (306) 525-4373
Back to: Curriculum