Marlon Strikes With A Gun of the Peigan Nation is a traditional
dancer who performed at the Arts and Crafts show and sale at
Head-Smashed In Buffalo Jump in November.
This is only a partial list of the stories featured in
the December, 2000 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not
receiving your own copy of Alberta Sweetgrass, then you have
missed all this information.
Communities across the country came together Dec. 1 to mark
the fourth annual Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Day.
The theme of this year's awareness day was "Uniting Our
Communities." It was chosen "to embody the direction
that CAAN [Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network Incorporated] is
moving in, strengthening its community ties and working together
with its membership and partners in Aboriginal communities across
Canada."
To mark the occasion, community leaders across Canada joined
forces with Aboriginal AIDS service organizations to co-ordinate
events aimed at raising awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Day is co-ordinated by CAAN, a national
coalition of Aboriginal people and organizations. CAAN provides
leadership, support and advocacy for Aboriginal people living
with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Kim Thomas is national program/project consultant with the coalition.
Co-ordinating the first awareness day was one of the first things
CAAN was involved in after its formation in 1997, Thomas said,
when they did up posters, fact sheets and information packages,
and sent them to Aboriginal communities across the country.
Thomas said the exciting thing about this year's Aboriginal AIDS
Awareness Day was the number of communities getting involved
by planning their own activities. Prior to the awareness day,
the CAAN office was receiving phone calls and e-mails almost
daily from different communities telling them what they were
planning.
Their ideas included workshops, information sessions, feasts,
an AIDS walk and candlelight vigils.
In addition to being this year's theme, the idea of uniting communities
is a theme at CAAN all the time, Thomas said, and will be one
of the major focuses for CAAN over the next year.
Thomas explained CAAN is currently working with the three Aboriginal
peoples - Inuit, Métis and First Nations - trying to
develop programs to meet the specific needs of each group.
In addition to raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, organizers
are also hoping to be able to raise awareness of CAAN itself,
and they are encouraging individuals, groups and organizations
to become members.
According to Thomas, members of the network can receive information
about such things as funding processes and programs and conferences
going on across the country.
Four levels of membership are available. Aboriginal individuals
living with HIV or AIDS can apply for full membership, which
also gives them voting rights, while other individuals can apply
for associate membership. Aboriginal AIDS groups and organizations
can apply for full membership, while other organizations can
apply for associate membership. All members will receive CAAN
newsletters. There is no fee for individuals to become members.
The fee for full membership for organizations is $50, while the
associate membership fee for organizations is $25.
For more information about CAAN, or to become a member, call
1-888-285-CAAN (2225), or visit the CAAN website at www.caan.ca
Métis
Week holds excitment for all ages
By Terry Lusty
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
Métis Week, Nov. 12 to18, proved a beehive of activity
as Métis organizations, services and individuals hosted
open houses and activities that demonstrated Métis culture
is alive and well.
The week started off with a mass at St. Margaret's Church, east
of Sherwood Park along Range Road 203. Father Laboucane announced
that the church and cemetery have been purchased by the Métis
Nation of Alberta.
The second day began with a formal declaration of Métis
Week by the Mayor of Edmonton, Bill Smith, and the raising of
the Métis flag at City Hall.
Coinciding with all this was the annual Nechi Institute's "Sober
Walk" from City Hall to Sacred Heart Church.
Throughout the week, there were open houses at the Métis
Settlements General Council, Blackstar Learning Centre Inc.,
ACES Employment Centre and Apeetogosan Development, Edmonton
Métis Cultural Dance Society, Métis Urban Housing
Corp., and the Métis Nation's Zone IV Regional Council.
Two breakfast opportunities were Nov. 14 at A Channel television,
and Nov. 15 at Métis Child and Family Services.
The Métis Literacy Project co-ordinated by Sara Skwarchuk
and Cora Weber Pillwax held its final seminar at Sacred Heart
Church Nov. 15.
A few of the guests included students from the Boyle Street Learning
Centre. The students commented about how the centre helped them
learn to communicate and speak out on something they could not
do before, and it gave them something constructive to do.
Fifty-four students were registered in the program.
On Nov. 16, the Métis Nation made its annual trek to the
Alberta Legislature where respects were paid to the memory of
the great Métis leader, Louis Riel.
The Riel commemoration was followed by a brunch at the Métis
Nation and the Delia Gray Memorial Banquet at the Italian Community
Centre. Gray had been the organization's senior Elder.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Métis Cultural Dance Society kicked
off its second annual Joey Gladue Memorial Festival at the Sands
Hotel.
A banquet with speeches by Senator Thelma Chalifoux and Liberal
parliamentary candidates Anne McLellan and Sue Olsen also included
the wit and talents of comedian, emcee and singer Winston Wuttunee
and the vocal stylings of the duo, Creative Harmony.
The festival continued Nov. 17 with the talent contest, and fiddling,
jigging and square dance competitions were held on Nov. 18.
Edmonton vocalist BevAnn Cardinal won the female vocals while
Jody Callihoo placed second. In the male category, Edmonton's
Don Gladue won out over Ed Poitras from St. Paul. Another Poitras,
Cory, won the 16-and-under category, while Crystal Anne placed
second.
Dawn Ferguson and Julie Robertson combined as Creative Harmony
to win out over Brian Powder and Roy Arcand in the duet category.
It was Caroline Von Grad who proved the winner in fiddle competition;
Camille Lavalee came second.
There was a raft of youth that contested the 12-and-under jigging.
Once the dust had settled, Duane Desjarlais from Lac La Biche
showed his mettle by winning out over Kayla Flett and third-place
Kevin Anderson, both from the Peavine Métis Settlement.
Brook Bellegarde from Turtle Mountain, N. D., and Edmonton's
Raymond Gladue placed first and second in the teen jig, while
Fane Ray from Green Lake captured the adult category, followed
by Brent Potskin from Edmonton.
As for the women, it was Jennifer Kootenay from Peavine who bested
second-place Shelley Johnstone from Edmonton.
Last but not least, the senior jig was won by Walter Cardinal,
followed by Robert Durocher, both from Edmonton.
In square dancing, Creeland from Duck Lake, Sask., danced off
with first prize over Norway House, Man. Placing third and fourth
were Pelican Narrows, Sask. and the Riel Memorial Dancers from
Green Lake, Sask.
Métis Week has been an annual event since it was begun
by the Métis Nation in 1985, which was the 100th anniversary
of the death of Louis Riel.
Randle just misses
rodeo championship
By Terry Lusty
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
Whenever the name Kenton Randle is mentioned at any rodeo,
contestants as well as spectators tend to sit up and take notice.
Randle, you see, is one of professional rodeo's top bareback
bronc riders.
He proved that again this year at the 27th Canadian Finals Rodeo
(CFR) at Edmonton's Skyreach Centre.
The Nov. 8 to 11 gathering of Canada's top 10 cowboys in each
event drew thousands on every one of the five days (six performances)
with a new single-day record set on Nov. 11 of 16,931.
The first category contested each day was the bareback bronc
riding, featuring such Canadian greats as Roger Lacasse and Davey
Shields, Jr. who have been $50,000 winners at the Calgary Stampede.
(Shields Jr., from Hanna, was the ultimate CFR winner, and was
reported to be winning big at the National Finals Rodeo in Las
Vegas at press time.) Other worthy CFR competitors were Shawn
Vant, who once qualified for the National Finals, and Robert
Bowers who made no less than three trips to the NFR.
Randle, a Métis from Fort Vermilion, was the season leader
in Canada in 1998. He was the Bud Pro Tour champion in 1997 and
'99, and was appearing his fifth time at the CFR.
The first day, Randle kicked out an 82 aboard Little Buck. Placing
second by a mere half-point was Shields, Jr.
The following day, Randle's winning ways continued as he spurred
Rascal Flats for an 80.5 and tied for first and second with Bill
Boyd, one of his rodeo travel partners and the number one money
leader on this year's Canadian circuit.
However, Randle's 80.5 on day three was not near enough to overcome
four other scores ranging from 82 to Neil Dietz's whopping 87.5
top score. That was on a Franklin Rodeo firecracker by the name
of Pop A Top.
Pop A Top was the horse that ultimately robbed Randle of the
championship.
Going into the Sunday afternoon finals, Randle was sitting in
the lead with a 95-point total. Close behind him with 90s were
Shields, Jr. and Boyd.
As the final go round began, Shields spurred Pop A Top to a huge
84.5. Boyd managed an 82 on Rock N Roll, and Randle, despite
a superb ride, could only rake his mount, Harvey Northcott's
Dark Alley, for an 83.5.
So it was that Shields, Jr. won the title with a total score
of 130 points compared with Randle's 125. As all cowboys know,
the deciding factor when it comes down to a fine line can often
be in what they refer to as "the luck of the draw."
Shields, Jr. happened to draw a horse that usually scores better
than the mount Randle drew.
And, while that draw may have beaten Randle out of the championship,
he was more than gracious about his loss.
"That was a good little horse that Dark Alley . . . as good
as any one of them," he stated.
Still, with two wins, a second and a third, Randle walked off
with more than $21,000, which he said will go towards "a
few bills to catch up on from rodeoing all summer," and
for a good Christmas.
Randle said he felt fortunate to even qualify for this year's
CFR, given the pulled ligaments in his shoulder last fall. That
was operated on in mid-December and he needed a good six months
or so to recover.
When spring rolled around, he rode in three rodeos in British
Columbia, but felt he required more healing time. He laid off
for a few weeks before returning to the circuit.
With rodeo season fast drawing to a close, Randle had to overcome
two Canadian champions in competition-Travis Whiteside and Darrel
Cholach. In the end, he managed to persevere as he squeaked into
ninth spot and qualify for the CFR.
There have been rumours circulating that Randle, now 40, may
hang up his spurs.
When Sweetgrass put the question to him, he replied, "I
have to go back home, sit down with Audrey, my wife, and talk
it over." He hopes to make his decision over the winter.
One of most cowboys' difficulties falls in the area of finances.
They need money for travel, accommodation, meals and entry fees.
Randle feels fortunate that he gets some financial support from
the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. They provide him with
a flat amount plus a bonus any time he qualifies for the CFR.
Would he do it all over again?
"Oh yeah," said Randle. "I'd have went harder
when I was younger though."
And, what about his sons? Will any follow in his footsteps? The
two older ones, he explains, are more into hockey. As for young
Clinton, 11, "he's starting to ride steers."
Teaching
old values
By Bruce Weir
Sweetgrass Writer
CALGARY
In her 13 years working in the field of Native literacy, Priscilla
George has learned a lot about the types of programs that are
successful and an equal amount about herself.
Speaking at the provincial literacy conference held in Calgary
over the first weekend in November, George shared her approach
to teaching literacy while revealing how her personal experiences
affect her professional life.
Those personal experiences often have a large spiritual element
to them, and George firmly believes that a successful approach
to Native literacy must appeal to more than just the intellect.
As the provincial Native literacy co-ordinator for the Ontario
Ministry of Education from 1990 to1996, she came to feel the
government's approach to Native literacy was flawed.
"The institutions don't honor the spirit or the emotions,
and these are the most important parts," she told her audience
of about 60 educators and literacy practitioners. "We need
to recognize and honor the whole person, not just fill them with
math facts, grammar rules, punctuation, and how to write in a
different language [English]."
George's solution is to approach literacy from all angles and
not simply as a mental exercise. While stressing that her work
is "a thesis in progress," and that she "has as
many questions as answers," George has devised a holistic
approach based on the medicine wheel. In her system, the wheel
is divided into quarters which represent the body, spirit, emotions,
and mind of any given student. To be successful, a literacy program
must appeal to each of these separate areas.
George acknowledged this approach is a tough sell when approaching
government funding agencies. "They need proof of the importance
of emotions and spirit and we have to convince funders that the
heart and spirit are important to literacy."
George described the feeling she got when she entered a bookstore
a few years ago while searching for material to help her establish
the importance of emotions and spirit in education.
Describing a chill that ran up her arm, she said it was like
she was being guided towards a specific book. "It was like
the book was falling off the shelf," she said. "As
I caught it, I thought 'welcome to my life, you have something
to teach me.' These are the books that prove the importance of
spirit, what we already know, what our Elders knew and taught."
George acknowledged that introducing this spiritual element turns
some people off but she has a wealth of personal experience to
back up her contention. She shared her past experiences, which
included relying on her spiritual nature to turn her life around
after becoming cross-addicted and having her kids taken away
by Children's Aid workers.
"I was considered a weirdo in my family when I first started
this [recognizing her spiritual side], but now they come to me
because of the positive change in my life and getting my kids
back from Children's Aid."
In addition to her belief in appealing to the various aspects
of a student's personality, George has been involved in developing
the Rainbow Approach to Aboriginal Literacy project, which was
initiated at the Parkland Regional College in Melville, Sask.
George saw the invitation as another validation of her spiritual
approach.
That is because her spirit name is Rainbow Woman and she had
recently done research into rainbows and their significance in
Aboriginal cultures. Applying this knowledge to Native literacy
was a chance she couldn't pass up.
The result is a still-evolving system that looks at each colour
of the rainbow separately and relates it to a specific element
of Native literacy. Red is the first colour of the rainbow and,
in Aboriginal cultures, is often associated with the life force.
For George, that means it represents the importance and usefulness
of Natives achieving "literacy in our own languages and
not just in the language of commerce."
Progressing through the colours of the rainbow, orange represents
fire and self-esteem and relates to oral literacy. Yellow is
symbolic of the moon and creativity. In George's system, it represents
the realization that the written word is only one way of communicating,
and creative means of expressing oneself such as drawing and
music are equally important. Green represents growth and refers
to literacy in French and English. Blue relates to truth and
staying true to one's vision and commitment. It is also the colour
of the sky, which is increasingly home to the instruments-towers
and satellites-of modern communication. Blue therefore also represents
the skills needed to communicate using technology. Indigo is
the colour of the night sky and relates to the importance of
interpreting natural things and dreams as a way of teaching literacy.
The final colour in the rainbow is violet, a healing colour,
associated in Aboriginal cultures with wisdom. "Indigo refers
to the holistic base to Aboriginal literacy," George said.
She added that it relates back to her medicine wheel because
it reinforces the need to "deal with the spiritual, emotional,
mental, and physical learning and to strive for balance."
City recognizes four young achievers
By Terry Lusty
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
Michael Sound, a boxer on the verge of turning pro, has lost
most of his family including both parents. Somehow he's managed
to survive the streets of Edmonton and, although he is 20 and
has very few support systems, he diligently pursues a high school
education.
Tannis Bolt, 13, a transplant from Nunavut, has had to deal with
culture shock upon moving to Edmonton. The Grade 9 student is
an educational and athletic achiever who serves as a positive
role model.
And fifteen-year-old Angel Chipaway survived a tumultuous childhood
and overcame many obstacles in life. Still, she hasn't let that
hinder her from volunteer duties.
Grade 12 student Myrnie Stone House, 17, not only excels in sports,
but also helps others and has concerns about social and political
issues that affect the Aboriginal community.
All four of these students share certain commonalities: a) all
are Aboriginal, b) all live in Edmonton, c) all contribute positively
to society and, d) all received a $500 education award on Oct.
30.
The four Aboriginal Youth Awards were presented at a formal gathering
at City Hall that was attended by Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith,
four city councillors, and Willie Littlechild, a lawyer and former
member of Parliament.
Originated in 1999, the awards are presented annually by the
Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (EAUAC).
Cree Elder Robert Cardinal opened the awards ceremony with a
prayer that was followed by words of welcome from Val Kaufman,
the EAUAC chairwoman.
Kaufman explained that the awards were created to honor urban
Aboriginal students as an incentive for them to remain in school,
complete their education and continue to contribute to the Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal community at large.
"The committee is continually encouraging young people to
volunteer all over," Kaufman said.
The awards also recognize cultural awareness, athletic ability,
perseverance and determination.
After a few congratulatory remarks, Mayor Smith commended the
recipients saying, "These are people who pushed themselves
to do more than the minimum."
He said the four students are individuals who demonstrate "individuality,
determination and resolve [which are] traits of our future leaders."
Smith said success is often tied to obstacles and, despite the
hurdles, these youth persevered.
He encouraged them "to continue to believe in your own ability
and face the future knowing that you do have what it takes to
succeed."
As the keynote speaker, Willie Littlechild proved more than an
outstanding role model himself. Here was a Cree man who left
his reserve, moved to Edmonton and went on to the House of Commons,
the Supreme Court of Canada, the United Nations, and competed
in international sports. He also received the Order of Canada.
Littlechild stressed the importance of building a foundation
that encompasses the physical, mental and cultural elements.
"Most important," he added, "is spirituality."
Anyone who applies these values in approaching their goals in
life "will continue to win," he stated.
Ready for Christmas holidays
By Terry Lusty
Tansi!
Season's greetings to each and every one of you!
Group visits Labrador
Marcel Peltier, director of the Whitestone Project based out
of Sacred Heart Rectory in Edmonton, left in late November with
four students and a youth facilitator for Sheshiatshiu, Labrador.
They went to lend support to the Innu community having problems
with solvent abuse. The group will stay one to two weeks.
Band elections
There've been a few recent band elections in southern Alberta.
The Tsuu T'ina First Nation near Calgary has re-elected Chief
Roy Whitney for a seventh consecutive two-year term.
Newly elected to council were Hal Eagletail, Steven Runner and
Bruce Starlight.
Further south, the Kainai First Nation has re-elected Chris Shade
as chief.
My mistake
Apologies to federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan. In my last
column I stated she is Métis. She says she is not but
was very gracious about the error when I recently spoke with
her.
Elder passes on
Alice Steinhauer, wife of the late Eugene who was the founder
of Alberta Native Communications Society back in the 1960s, passed
away Nov. 29. The originator of the Voice of Alberta Native Women's
Society in 1967 and a teacher with Blue Quills College in St.
Paul, she was also the recipient of an Esquao Award in 1998.
Hungry at Christmas?
The Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton is hosting
its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 22. The meal is free as are
other Christmas meals around the city: Dec. 13 at the Salvation
Army, 9611-102 Ave. (pre-register by calling 429-4274); Boyle
Street on Dec. 25 at Sacred Heart Church, 10821-96 St. (call
Carl to pre-register at 478-7384); Victoria Christian Centre
hosts a 5-8 p.m. meal at Shaw Conference Centre (phone Diane
988-5433 to pre-register).
For New Year's, try Boyle St. Community Hall for the Bissell
Centre's meal from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. (call Elli Gibson 423-2285
to pre-register).
Sports news
The Saddle Lake Warriors ball hockey team defeated Edmonton's
Midnight Express to win the Poundmaker's Lodge second annual
floor hockey tournament, Nov. 4 and 5.
The third annual Siksika High School Basketball Tournament featured
eight teams and was won by the Cochrane Cobras who had beat the
Crescent Heights Vikings from Medicine Hat 68-52 in the semis.
Also in the semis, Siksika Suns downed Canmore Collegiate 71-68
to advance to the finals against the Cobras. In the end, the
Cobras prevailed to win the finals of the tournament 68-62 over
Siksika.
Of the six girls teams, the Rosemary Rockets won the finals by
a sizeable margin of close to 30 points over the Kainai Jazz.
Coming third was the Tsuu T'ina Royals, who bested the Morley
Mustangs. Scores for the girls were unavailable.
Rodeo results
The Canadian Indian Finals Rodeo at Hobbema's Panee Agriplex,
Nov. 16-19, saw a number of Alberta winners.
In bareback, Alison Redcrow from Siksika was the winner; boys
steer riding saw Lionel Shade from Kainai win with Wynn Bruisedhead
second; steer wrestling went to Norbert Blackwater and David
Shade from Kainai; and team roping to Kirk and Miles McLean from
Morley, while Clem and Jay Crawler also from Morley placed second.
In ladies breakaway roping, Colleen Crawler from Morley placed
second and Kainai's Lisa Creighton came second in senior barrel
racing. The "All Around" title went to Boyd Wesley
from Morley who took second in calf roping and fourth in team
roping.
Published
December 11, 2000
