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Alberta Sweetgrass

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Community focused with a grassroots appeal. Established in 1993 to serve the needs of the Indigenous people of Alberta.

  • October 20, 2001
  • Paul Melting Tallow, Sweetgrass Writer, BLOOD RESERVE

Page 10

Everett Soop's body is frail and weak, but his heart and soul are as strong as the Rocky Mountains that watch over him and the land that he loves.

He's lived with the muscular dystrophy that has confined him to a wheelchair for 40 years, with diabetes further ravaging his body.

Despite all the physical adversity he's faced in life, his great spiritual strength has…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Joan Black, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 9

Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Halvar Jonson announced a new, three-year government strategy this summer to prevent HIV infection and help those who already live with HIV.

Jonson's press release says the strategy addresses "new population groups" in which HIV infection is occurring, identified as "women, youth, Aboriginals and non-prescription needle users."

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 8

On Aug. 7 and 8 on the tarmac at Edmonton's municipal airport, 118 teams divided into four divisions competed in an in-line hockey tournament. An inner city hockey ball team, the Skid Row Dogz walked away with a win that will have them competing for the world championships in Orlando, Florida in January. The 2-1 win came in overtime against the Fox Creek Mungers.

The Dogz…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Joan Black, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 7

Love's Kitchen is the name of a 45-minute, one-act musical that was performed seven times at the Edmonton Fringe Festival in August.

Sisters and co-creators Cathy and Anna Marie Sewell, wrote, produced and sang a slice of life reminiscent of Native sharing, caring and familial complaining around an oilcloth-covered kitchen table about the things that never seem to change…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, TORONTO

Page 6

The Skydome in Toronto will be the scene of the first Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards presented by Casino Rama on Dec. 2 to 5. The event will run in conjunction with the 6th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival and Powwow. The awards will showcase and acknowledge the diverse talents of Canadian Aboriginal musicians.

"The casino hopes to provide professional opportunities…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer

Page 6

I Knew Two Metis Women

By Gregory Scofield

Polestar, (sc)

$16.95

In Gregory Scofield's I Knew Two Metis Women, 126 pages of poems immortalize hair piled high in a bee hive, hairspray, pink lipstick, peddle pushers, dark eyebrow pencil and the guitar singing of Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells wannabes.

Back when penny loafers, bubble gum, high…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Hafford Saskatchewan

Page 5

On Friday, Sept. 3, one of the dancers of the Edmonton Metis Cultural Dance group died in a motor vehicle accident. The group was on its way to a dance competition in Prince Albert, Sask. when the vehicle that 18-year-old Joey Gladue from the Alexander Reserve was a passenger in ran into a tanker truck. The mishap occurred close to Hafford, Sask., a small community just outside…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Joan Black, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 3

The Metis Nation of Alberta Provincial Vice-President Ken Bourque asks that members give the issue of hunting and wildlife co-management more time and study before finalizing any agreement with the province. He said the process has been underway for about a year and a half.

"If we rush the process, there's a danger it will not reflect the wishes of the Metis people,"…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, GRANDE PRAIRIE

Page 3

A colorful sea of Metis sashes, people shaking hands and talking excitedly was the scene in the hallways of the Grande Prairie Inn from Aug. 19 to 21, as the Metis Nation of Alberta celebrated its annual assembly.

"Attendance for the 71st Metis Nation Association's assembly surpassed organizer's expectations, peaking at 800 people for some events," said Metis Local 1990,…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Pamela Sexsmith Green, Sweetgrass Writer, CALGARY

Page 2

Carol Adams got snagged at a very early age.

Not by some handsome young guy wearing long braids and feathers at a powwow. It happened during a tour of a radio station when she was just 15 that Adams first got passionately hooked on the media, the art and craft of being a storyteller. And she has never looked back.

Twenty years later, at the youthful age of 36, Adams…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue , Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 1

This year marks the seventh year the Dreamcatcher youth conference will be held at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton. This year's theme is "Dancing Our Four Directions: All My Relations." The conference, which is hosted by the college's Child and Youth Care Program, will be held from Oct. 15 to 17.

"We are looking at having four youth representing the four…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 1

The 1999 general election for the Metis Nation of Alberta was held on Sept. 7 with voters casting ballots at 41 polling stations throughout the province. Unofficial results provided by the Metis Nation saw incumbent Audrey Poitras of Elk Point returned to the post of president. The provincial vice president is Brenda Blyan Calliou.

"I'm very happy with the results, and I…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Joan Black, Sweetgrass Writer, EDMONTON

Page 20

Prince Charles School celebrated 50 years as a public elementary institution on Sept. 23. A high level of community spirit and participation was evident throughout an energetic evening of renewed acquaintance, shared reminiscences, entertainment and, of course, delectable eats. There was lots of bannock.

Assistant Principal Liz Yule helped make sure everyone found a place…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Shari Narine, Sweetgrass Writer, LETHBRIDGE

Page 18

In 1994, Lethbridge became one of two Alberta cities to pilot a program called Native Head Start. Since that time, said team leader and Blackfoot teacher, Charlotte White Quills, the program has increased in popularity. Native Head Start, held four days a week, September through June, is aimed at both pre-school aged children and their parents.

If parents don't feel…

  • October 20, 2001
  • Shari Narine, Sweetgrass Writer, LETHBRIDGE

Page 18

Understanding both Natives and non-Natives and creating stronger family units is what the upcoming workshop "Parenting children of survivors of the residential school experience" is all about.

"With so many of the Native people taken away from their families and put in residential schools, they ended up not being able to parent," said Sharon

Herman-Loran,…