Cruiserweight to do battle

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Tansi!

Brenda Ryland from Alberta Vocational College on 108 St., Edmonton, says they are inviting people to their Feb. 27 Round Dance which, of course, is open to the public.

Happy birthday Thelma! Feb. 8, eh! Canadian Senator Thelma Chalifoux's office, in co-operation with the St. Albert Liberal Constituency and the federal Liberal Party, is organizing and hosting a "first," the 1999 Senators' Ball. The event is scheduled for March 27, 6 p.m. at the St. Albert Inn. Call Irene at 459-5712.

Chalifoux is also scheduled to be a special guest at the March 6 Aboriginal Women Celebrating International Women's Day at 11:30 a.m. at Edmonton City Hall. That evening, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women will hold a fund raising dance at Edmonton's Native Friendship Centre.

The bell rings again for Aboriginal boxers at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Edmonton's downtown Shaw Conference Centre where Canadian Cruiserweight champion Willard Lewis (15-0) squares off against Detroit invader Robert Whack (16-5) who once fought for the world light-heavyweight title and went the distance. Will Lewis whack his head off? Be there! Also on the card is another Aboriginal, Richie Goosehead, a heavyweight, against a B.C. invader whose name was unavailable at press time.

Another community fund raiser takes place March 5 at the Enoch Rec Centre where one can dance to the talented Dean Malcolm Band. Call daytime to 470-5646.

Blue Quills First Nations College at St. Paul is strutting about with its chest puffed out after a successful first semester of its new Leadership and Management Program. College director Leona Makokis, says they are looking at partnering with Athabasca University so they can start a two-year program via distance education.

The college had 13 Pre-Trade students; the intake has now increased to 20 for the second semester. The program also opened its doors to part-time students.

Blue Quills is additionally proud of its Bachelor of Indian Social Work program with 23 students doing practicums at such communities as Bonnyville, Fishing Lake, Frog Lake, Goodfish Lake, Kikino, and Saddle Lake.

The Bonnyville Friendship Centre's program co-ordinator, Renee Fayant, reports they'll be holding an Elder's workshop Feb. 24 at the centre beginning with a pipe ceremony. The centre has a Council of Elders who often address questions and issues about addictions, suicide and family violence.

On Feb. 15, the centre hosts its annual King and Queen Trapper Festival.

By March, the centre expects to receive word on its application for recognition as a bonafide member of the Boys and Girls Club of Canada. For the past year, the centre has partnered with Family and Community Social Services in running a local Boys and Girls Club out of the Bonnyville centre.

Way down in the windy south, the new director of the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, Rubin Plain Eagle from the Peigan Reserve, is planning for March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The centre has established this area of concern as one of its priority issues, says Plain Eagle. They've invited the city mayor and councillors to an all-day workshop and hope the Blood Reserve will also participate. One of the matters requiring attention, he adds, is how to overcome cultural, social and linguistic barriers. Plain Eagle formerly worked at the Calgary Rockyview Hospital as the Aboriginal representative and as a go-between for Aboriginal-mainstream society.