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Published November 16, 1998 A flurry of feathers! With the Last Rider drum group providing the music, this dancer helped open the First Nations NAFTA conference at the Calgary Convention Centre on Oct. 18. Aboriginal businessmen from Canada and the U. S. spent two days discussing international trade. Photo Credit: Paul Barnsley Old faces in a new group by Paul Melting Tallow Métis rider steers for rodeo career by Rob McKinley Dreamcatcher Conference a hit every time around by Terry Lusty Marvin Bourque and carving go hand-in-hand by Terry Lusty Peace Hills contestant wins on his first try by Terry Lusty Drumming for literacy at AVC by Marie Burke CFWE, The Native Perspective heard in the north by Sweetgrass staff Terrying About - Get ready for Christmas by Terry Lusty Here is a small sample of all the stories featured in the November, 1998 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not receiving your own copy of Alberta Sweetgrass, then you have missed out on a lot of information. Click here for Alberta Sweetgrass subscription information. Centre provides a home away from home Native Centre Samson school state-of-the-art superstructure Treaty land entitlement settled at Alexander First Nation Papaschase descendents looking for chiefs' support Fargo a bust; Oklahoma may host '99 games Big Sky premiere examines real life with creative style Pounding hooves signal new career for Peigan couple Peace Hills contestant wins on his first try Craft show a go, but only at the friendship centre Blue Quills graduates continue on a learning journey Student association control questioned Promoting health awareness Old faces in a new group By Paul Melting Tallow Sweetgrass Writer CALGARY First Nation chiefs and councils could be placed under the supervision of accountability boards if the deputy Reform Party critic for Indian Affairs and two Alberta Natives get their way. At Calgary Reform Party headquarters on Oct. 23, Myron Thompson, Reform MP for Alberta Wildrose, appointed Ross Shingoose and Roy Littlechief as national and regional co-ordinators, respectively, of the newly formed Aboriginals for Accountability. "We have a lot of areas that we would like to implement with the chief and council," Shingoose said. "We need some kind of a commission above the chief and council. The chief and council will be accountable to that board of directors." Shingoose said the board, whose members would not be of the nation they oversee, would review all funding received from the federal government and conduct audits every six months to ensure the money is spent correctly. Shingoose would like to see a constitution arrived at between chiefs and councils, the people and the board. "They will have to give a report to the third party management," Shingoose said. Third party management has been in place to oversee the finances on the Stoney Nation for the past year, but recently, Stoney employees and community members rebelled. They said the accounting firm that was put in place by the Department of Indian Affairs had itself become unaccountable to the Stoney people. It's been accused of treating Stoney employees in a heavy-handed manner and of not releasing financial statements. Siksika Nation Chief Darlene Yellow Old Woman said the idea of third party management could be possible for chiefs and council guilty of corruption, however, it did not apply to Siksika. "That's why we have a treasury [board] to watchdog all the departments," the chief said. "With the auditors there, they have to tell us exactly what's happening in all the departments, what council's doing, travel, whatever." Yellow Old Woman said the Reform Party's fixation on corruption began with the Stoney Nation but is now painting all First Nations with the same brush. According to Indian Affairs records, there are 600 First Nations in Canada. Thompson said members of 160 are crying corruption, but Yellow Old Woman said the party refuses to see past them to nations trying to achieve progress and self-sufficiency. "There's a lot of good happening in some communities and they're not looking at that at all," Yellow Old Woman said. "They're picking up all the negative stuff." She said Littlechief and the party are promoting animosity between Natives and non-Natives, but Littlechief and Thompson said they're in possession of documents proving corruption exists. "These are some of the documents that we are going to find a way to deal with these people through a process of courts," Littlechief said. "We got the proof but how to put these people into court is what we're going to deal with." Littlechief, who served for one term as Siksika Nation chief in the early 1980s, said the Siksika Nation people have been crying out for accountability for 20 years. Peter Many Wounds, Tsuu T'ina Nation spokesman, said freedom of choice entitles searching for alternatives to current government institutions but he doesn't see the benefits of allying with the Reform Party. "The kinds of political activities that are being undertaken, what I call partisan politics, to meet a totally separate, and, quite frankly, in my opinion, a destructive agenda, aren't doing anybody any good in the long run," Many Wounds said. Métis rider steers for rodeo career By Rob McKinley Sweetgrass Writer BUFFALO LAKE MÉTIS SETTLEMENT Just days after receiving a trophy from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association for being the best of the best in junior steer riding, 11-year-old Ryan McDonald was riding with the best at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton. McDonald, a Grade 7 student at the Caslan School on the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, 200 km north of Edmonton, was Alberta's top rider in the junior steer riding category at the big show which began on Nov. 11. McDonald finished in top spot this year in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association's ranking. The placement is based on cash winnings throughout this year's pro rodeo circuit. Dale McDonald, Ryan's dad and a former bull rider, said his son grabbed quite a bit of cash this year. . . eight seconds at a time. In total, Ryan took home $4,119 in winnings this season in the CPRA. He won more than $1,200 on the amateur circuit. For his hard work, the youngster was presented with a trophy by the CPRA in Red Deer on Nov. 9. Ryan doesn't seem to think about the money or the glory. He likes the rodeo for the eight second rush and the fun of competition. He wants to keep his spurs in the rodeo world for a while yet. He has his sights set on the saddle bronc once he finishes with the steers, although he admits he would have to practice. "I've never been on a real saddle bronc horse before," he said. Before he gets onto a real buckin' bronco, however, he's been doing some training on a reasonable facsimile. "I've been riding my uncle Dean's mechanical bull," said the youngster. This will be Ryan's first appearance at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, but it's not his first showing at big rodeos. He's been steer riding for two years and rode at the Ponoka Stampede and the Calgary Stampede, just to name a few. Ryan's mom, Karen, is proud of her little cowboy. "It's something he's worked hard at all season long," she said. "I'm really glad he's made it. I'm really proud of him." The junior steer riding competition is open to cowboys between 10 and 14 years of age, which puts the Buffalo Lake rider at the low end of the age range. He's also at the low end of the size range. He's not too big," said his mom. "He's 83 pounds - soaking wet." When asked if he was scared about his national competition, he didn't hesitate with his one word answer: "No." "Most of them are pretty good, but I think I have a good chance to win the CFR," said Ryan. OK, so the kid's not scared of competition. So how about his four-legged rides? Does he get scared about riding a big beast that doesn't want to carry any hitchhikers? "No." The plucky Ryan said he doesn't think about steer riding as dangerous. "I do it because it's fun." His secret to staying on is technique and trust in his family. "I pull my rope real tight, so I can stay in there real tight," he said, adding that his dad is in the chutes with him, making sure all the ropes are tied tight. The family, and a big chunk of the Buffalo Lake community, travels with Ryan on the circuit. The Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement has helped to sponsor their newest and youngest role model, and the family is continuing to find other sponsors to help pay for travel and accommodation costs for the CFR. The practice seems to be paying off. He has gone from an up-start rider just a year ago to a national champion. "Last year when we took him around he used to fall off and fall off, but he always got back up and go better," said Ryan's mom. Although his days are spent dreaming of rodeo fame, he is also a good student in school. Ryan's favorite class is Cree. "I like it because you get to do beading projects and crafts and other fun stuff," he said. Dreamcatcher Conference a hit every time around By Terry Lusty Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON It was a highly successful Sixth Annual Dreamcatcher Aboriginal Youth Conference hosted by Edmonton's Grant MacEwan Community College Child and Youth Care Program. Entitled The Heart of Our Nations: The Family, the popular conference attracted about 1,500 delegates from one end of the country to the other, including the northern territories. The conference proper was prefaced with a Friday, Oct. 16 evening of entertainment by a hoop dancer, Dene drummers, and Métis cultural dancers. There were Arctic sports demonstrations, arts and crafts exhibits and opening prayers, as well as brief speeches from advisors, Elders and college president, Dr. Paul Byrne. Beginning Saturday, the youth delegates went on the attack as they fanned out to the more than 100 different conference workshops that ranged from drum making to teen parenting. Indeed, there was no shortage of options for delegates. Some of the sessions offered practical lessons in dance, drama, art, music, sports and crafts. Still others addressed Native spirituality, youth development and strategies, money management, anger control and healing processes. Overall, the workshops offered knowledge and education that go a long way in assisting youth make the most of their years of transition that lead to adulthood - information that lights the way to helping them lead constructive, productive lives in harmony with their surroundings. There were light and bright moments too. For example, the noon hours and evenings were filled with guest appearances of singers, dancers, drummers and Arctic sports demonstrations. This included performances by Asani, hoop dancer by Dallas Arcand, Roy Fabian and the Dene Drummers, and Shannon Cunningham (High Prairie) and Falynn Rose Marie Baptiste (Red Pheasant), as well as the hysterical rapping antics of the Magoo Crew. This year, the four respected Elders to the conference were Robert Cardinal, Eva Bereti, Caroline Janvier and Helen Piper. What stood out about the youth delegates this year was their exemplary conduct, their positive attitudes, respect toward others, their attendance at workshops and the interest levels demonstrated by them. The recommended five-to-one ratio for youths to chaperones also proved a factor in the youth's behavior, said Jim Parriseau, a visitor from Manitoba. Impressed also was conference advisor Millie Chalifoux who, at the conclusion of the conference exclaimed, "I was truly moved with the good conduct of this year's delegates." Conference organizers paid special tribute to one of their past contributors, the late Elder Norbert Jebeaux, who passed away last February while attending a Healing Our Spirit world conference in New Zealand. His two daughters gave a touching presentation to a sizable crowd at the closing ceremonies and talked of Jebeaux's contributions to society. In recognition of the spiritual guidance he offered youth delegates and conference-goers in the past, the college announced that it established the Norbert Jebeaux Memorial Fund which is designed to assist youth in attending future Dreamcatcher conferences. Conference chairperson Sharon Enslen said anyone wishing to donate to this cause can forward contributions to the Grant MacEwan Foundation and specify that the donation is to the Norbert Jebeaux Memorial Fund. Marvin Bourque and carving go hand-in-hand By Terry Lusty Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON Sometimes people refer to him as Starvin' Marvin. Like so many others who dabble in the profession of arts and crafts, he has had his hungrier moments in the up and down business of art sales. Marvin Bourque's carving is probably known as second only to the work of master carver Sonny MacDonald. And it is no strange coincidence that both of them hail from Fort Chipewyan, but grew up in Fort Smith, N.W.T. For the first time in his career, Bourque decided to take a stab at carving out a niche for himself in one of western Canada's metropolitan communities, Edmonton. Two months ago, the carver set up shop in Edmonton's Meadowlark Shopping Mall where he and his wife, Claudette opened a shop called Marvin's Carvings. The two are patiently waiting for business to pick up. The artist knows he must be patient and bide his time. After all, success does not happen overnight in his business. One has to "create and maintain a following," explains Bourque who often relies on repeat business from customers. And once the word gets around that a quality carver is around, the orders will happen, he believes. Apart from his own art, Bourque is also trying to build up his stock in other forms of Native artwork for his store. Bourque got an early start and remembers carving as far back as he can recall. About 10 years ago, his mother presented him with a carving he'd done when he was about seven years old. He cranked out work until his teens, then left it for a decade when he didn't feel he noticed any improvement. He went to work on the pipeline for more than 20 years. One day, he explains, a co-worker suggested he quit carving because he didn't have what it takes. "He told me, 'don't quit your day job.'" That was then, but two years later he was producing quality carvings for $600 and "that co-worker was begging for one." In time Bourque got so good, his work wound up in Germany, Italy, the United States, and France, and with a National Football League team, the Pope, and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. His pieces fetch up to $6,000. His advice to novice carvers: "Have lots of patience. You can't give up." Peace Hills contestant wins on his first try By Terry Lusty Sweetgrass Writer HOBBEMA It's not often that an art piece not fashioned from canvas, paper or pressed cardboard ever gets selected as the winning entry of an art contest, but that is precisely what happened at this year's annual Peace Hills Trust Annual Art Contest. In this, its 16th year, judges selected a contemporary entry crafted by Saskatchewan contestant, Calvin Sand. The 49-year-old Cree from the Mistawasis First Nation had to admit he was "surprised and overwhelmed" by his good fortune. "I didn't expect to win. I just wanted to show it." Calvin Sand receives his congratulations from Warren Hannay , President of Peace Hills Trust. Photo credit: Terry Lusty To add to the emotion of winning was the fact that this was the first time he had ever entered the competition. Sand has completed three years, with one to go, toward obtaining his Bachelor of Indian Fine Arts degree with a major in art and minor in Cree language. The first place artwork entitled, They Follow Each Other, portrays an Indian face with a soaring eagle in the foreground. All this done with oil-pastels covered over with polymer, a high-gloss veneer that is epoxy-like. The medium, said Sand, was "something new" and different from the usual entries, but he wanted to give it a try having experimented a bit with it over the last two years. He went on to explain that he normally works with canvas and oil. Joseph Sagaj from Port Hope, Ont., who now calls Wetaskiwin home, took second in the contest. Brian Cardinal, originally of Saddle Lake and now living in Nanaimo, B.C., took third with a black and white fine-line pencil drawing of the head and shoulders of an elderly Indian woman. Honorable mentions were garnered by Vancouver's Keith Brown and John Alexander Williams from Sarnia, Ont. In the teen category, 14 to 17, it proved a clean sweep with all four winners from Wikwemikong, Ont. The winners were Crystal Nicole Simon, Clifton George and Michael Maiangowi with an honorable mention given to Alicia Mandamin. The category for 10 to 13 year olds was won by Herman McKay of Scanterbury, Man. Second place went to Matthew James from Agassiz, B.C. and Sheldon Tuesday of Morson, Ont. In the nine and under category, David Scanie of Anzac walked off with the win. He was followed by Marjolaine Desormeaux Dominique of Quebec and Justin Darrow of Kanesatake, Que. Corporate and marketing administrator Suzanne Lyrintzis stated she was somewhat surprised with the high number of entries this year from the Ontario and Quebec region. Calvin Sand's winning entry Drumming for literacy at AVC By Marie Burke Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON The main lobby of Alberta Vocational College came alive on Oct. 9 with the sounds of traditional Native drumming and singing and with students in search of books. The students and staff at AVC were drawn to a book giveaway by the sound of Thundering Echo, a Native drum group who helped AVC make a unique connection for its students who were celebrating literacy during Reading Week. "Who did it better and who did it first? First Nations did," said Anna Morin, co-ordinator for senior adult basic education. Morin wanted to make the connection to the origins of storytelling by celebrating one of the earliest forms of literacy - the oral storytelling tradition of First Nations. By showcasing this aspect of Native culture, Morin feels that more attention was given to the benefits of reading. Out of the 50 boxes of books available for the giveaway, only 10 boxes were left to put away at the end of the day. Since 1995, AVC has given away 32,000 books that come from the city of Edmonton libraries. The celebration was a team effort put together by Brenda Rylands with AVC's Aboriginal student liaison services and numerous volunteers. "The school sees the need for these activities, the students do and so does the community," said Rylands. She points out that while it isn't the first time the school has celebrated Reading Week, it is the first time that Reading Week was celebrated with a part of Aboriginal culture. CFWE, The Native Perspective heard in the north Sweetgrass Staff The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) is powering up the north with a new regional radio transmitter that should provide northern residents unfettered access to its radio programming. Gone will be the dead zones between communities along the south shores of Lesser Slave Lake, said Bert Crowfoot, society CEO, a non-profit group that operates CFWE, The Native Perspective, a radio station heard on the 91.7 FM frequency in the Slave Lake area. The new large tower replaces the eight smaller transmitters that had been serving the area. The eight smaller transmitter sites taken out of the Slave Lake area to make way for the regional site will be moved south and placed in Native communities that still don't receive the CFWE signal. The Slave lake regional system is the second large-scale make-over for the organization. Recently, a regional site was set up in southern Alberta to serve the Blood and Peigan reserves, as well as the city of Lethbridge and the towns of Pincher Creek and Fort Mcleod. The boosted up radio signal is heard across southern Alberta on the 89.3 FM frequency. Crowfoot said the society will be testing the effectiveness of the new tower, discovering where the weaknesses are, and putting up repeater towers to fill in the holes where the signal isn't clear. This will take time, he said, and he hopes the listening public will be patient with the process. And the public can help by calling the station to tell technicians where the signal is weak. "This is all new to us. It's a big endeavor for such a small organization," said Crowfoot. With the two regional service areas and other Aboriginal communities being served by the smaller, localized transmitters, the coverage area of the radio station is growing by leaps and bounds. Crowfoot estimates that the numbers of listeners could grow by 400 per cent. He said the plan is to have full provincial coverage in the very near future. The society has plans for four more regional sites to be set up by the year 2002. With that kind of coverage, CFWE, The Native Perspective "will truly be the Aboriginal voice of Alberta, covering all the Métis settlements and First Nations in the province," said Crowfoot. Currently, 49 communities across Alberta are served by CFWE, The Native Perspective. Terrying About - Get ready for Christmas By Terry Lusty Tansi! Christmas is just around the corner. Soon all those shopping centres are going to be one huge traffic jam! I need your HELP! I am still trying to locate the whereabouts of Jim Thunder. If anyone knows where he is or knows a relative of his that I can contact, please call or write to me in care of Sweetgrass paper. Thanks. (403-455-2700; 15001-112 Ave., Edmonton T5M 2V6) The Oct. 15 Peace Hills Annual Art Contest awards and the grand opening of the new Nipisihkopahk High School on the Samson Reserve at Hobbema the following day were quite a treat to attend in case you missed them. Edmonton's Aboriginal female performing artists have certainly left an impression on Canada's artistic jurors. Recording artist Laura Vinson and a cappella singing group, Asani, both from Edmonton, have been the only two Albertans chosen to represent their province at - who-eee, get this -the Canada Council Showcase of Culturally Diverse and First People's Music at Vancouver's Centennial Theatre on Nov. 22. The council's intent is to promote and heighten awareness of Aboriginal artists in Canada. Approximately 250 individual acts from all over Canada applied for spots, and Vinson and Asani (Cathy Sewell, Sherryl Sewepagaham, Karen Donaldson, Julie Golosky-Olmsted) were two of the 48 selected. Congrats ladies! I know you'll do our province and people proud. The Nistawoyou Friendship Centre in Fort McMurray has a new executive director, Gerald White. Prior to this, White worked one year with Native Counseling Services as a court worker, and three years with the Fort McKay reserve's National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program as its co-ordinator and director of programs. He's now held office for three months and said the centre is going to host an old-time supper to recognize some of its founding members. It'll likely be around mid-December, he added. A Nov. 20 Round Dance and 6 p.m. feast sponsored by the Whitehorse Family and the Edson and Hinton Friendship Centres will be held at the Hinton Community Centre. Everyone is welcome. The Native Seniors Centre in Edmonton has a free Christmas dinner Dec. 11 at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre for members of either centre who are 55 years old and over. Speaking of the friendship centre, it is hosting its annual Christmas Round Dance on Dec. 4 with a traditional meal at 6 p.m. The first eight drums will be paid. Everybody welcome! On Dec. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the friendship centre in Edmonton hosts its annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Sale. People are encouraged to turn out and support our artists. On Dec. 13, the Edmonton friendship centre hosts its annual Children's Christmas Party, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You have to register children in advance and be a member with the centre to qualify. And, speaking of parties, Crystal Kids is offering their Christmas dinner and Santa gift-giving on Dec. 16 at the Eastwood Community Hall.