Top News - June - 2002 Published June 11, 2002 William McGinnis of the Blood reserve takes an interest in the human heart exhibit at the Odyssium in Edmonton. McGinnis was part of a national Aboriginal science camp that toured Alberta from May 25 to June 1. Women dedicated to community Stories to be gathered from Métis Folks fill in the gaps of history This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the June 2002 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sweetgrass, then you have missed out on a lot. Women dedicated to community Inna Dansereau , Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) celebrated the achievements of 31 women at a gala dinner in Edmonton on May 24. Angels Among Us was this year's theme for the Esquao Awards, presented to the women in recognition of their contributions of love, energy, caring and commitment to their communities. "We have stylized the Cree word for woman -'Esquao' -and reclaimed this beautiful word to describe ourselves," said IAAW president and founder Muriel Stanley-Venne. "In the end, it's our beliefs that guide us...all recipients have overcome obstacles and are role models...they are the angels among us." A special Circle of Honor award was presented to the provincial Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Pearl Calahasen for her enthusiastic support of Aboriginal women of Alberta in the past seven years. This award was created in 2000 when patron of IAAW Colleen Klein welcomed the Esquao Award recipients into the circle of honour. "As an Aboriginal woman, this is one of the most meaningful times for me, to be honored in this way by my own people," Calahasen said. "I'm proud to be included in the company of such distinguished Aboriginal women...women who share a common vision and a common goal to work towards building a stronger community. "It's women...who give us reason to feel optimistic about the future of our community. As Aboriginal women, we are lawyers, business people, teachers, university professors, social workers, leaders and, equally important, we are strong advocates for our people in our community." Actress Tantoo Cardinal hosted the evening, and also received a special presentation. "We are delighted," said Stanley-Venne, "to recognize her outstanding talent and her caring for us as Aboriginal women." Since 1996, the institute has presented 108 Esquao awards to Aboriginal women across Alberta. The largest category for the Esquao Awards with 22 nominees was community involvement. Other categories this year included arts and entertainment, business, mentor/lifetime achievement, and health, medicine and culture. Each recipient's contributions to the community were profiled during the evening. The nominees and their families were entertained by a variety of performers including singer Robin Marian, stand-up comedian Julie Bull, and puppeteer Derrick Starlight. Esquao Awards 2002 Arts and Entertainment -Caroline Von Grad of Edmonton Business -Theresa Campion of Edmonton Community Involvement -Victoria Arcand of Alexander First Nation -Joyce Metchewais of Cold Lake First Nation -Donna Cyprien of Fort Chipweyan -Heather Poitras of Edmonton -Rose Lameman of Edmonton -Lynn Gauthier of Bonnyville -Donna DeCoteau of Edmonton -Margaret Styles of Athabasca -Jenny Laderoute of Gift Lake -Lorraine Burroughs of Deadwood - Freda Lynn Prince of Edmonton -Cora Fedyk of Red Deer -Doreen Wabasca of Edmonton -Noreen McAteer of Fort Vermilion -Eva Stang of Edmonton -Cheryl Sheldon of Kinuso -Louise M. Loyie of Fort McMurray -Barbara Laderoute of Gift Lake -Elaine Ward of Fishing Lake -Krista Hunter of Morley -Joely Big Eagle of Calgary -Elsie Winnipeg of Drumheller Mentor/Lifetime Achievement -Audrey Poitras of Edmonton -Shirley Hunter of Goodfish Lake -Jackie Sander of Grouard Health, Medicine and Culture -Margaret Whiteknife of Fort Chipewyan -Clara Wilson of Fort McKay   Top

Stories to be gathered from Métis Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton An initiative that will focus on the residential school experiences of Métis people was launched on May 22. Co-ordinated by the Métis Nation of Alberta, in partnership with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, the initiative is a three-year project that will see Métis residential school survivors and their families publish their experiences in a book called Métis Memories of Residential Schools. Thousands of Aboriginal children were part of the residential school system for more than 100 years, and about 20 per cent were Métis. Carol Carifelle-Brzezicki, along with researcher/writer Donald Avirom, will spend the next three years gathering the stories using a variety of tools. In year two, personal interviews with the survivors will be collected. "I think that our people have suffered in silence for many, many years," said Carifelle-Brzezicki . "Only recently have people recognized that there were Métis children in the residential schools." Carifelle-Brzezicki said Métis people do not have the same support in place as other Aboriginal people have. "That means that if you are a status person you can receive support from the federal government, but if you are a Métis person, therapy is something you have to pay for. That means if you have to choose between paying rent or food or therapy, most of our people wouldn't even consider it an option," she said. Carifelle-Brzezicki's goal is to provide a safe environment for the Métis people to share their experiences. "A lot of the Métis people will tell you how they were treated in the residential schools. They were not treated the same as other Aboriginal students because there was no money for the Métis students. They did not get any financial support." Despite it all, said Carifelle-Brzezicki, Métis people have survived and survived well. "This book's intent will be to capture their experiences and to leave the reader hopeful that despite the realties of residential school, there is hope for the survivors and for future generations," she said. Top Folks fill in the gaps of history Catherine McLaughlin, Sweetgrass Writer, Dunvegan For generations, Dunvegan in northwestern Alberta near Grande Prairie was the traditional gathering site of the Beaver people. The Elders tell stories of seeing the river flats covered with tipis, long before the establishment of the site as a trading post, mission and market gardens. But in the early 1900s, when the trading post closed, the Dunvegan Beaver band was dispersed. Gathering Story, an event sponsored by Grande Prairie Regional College and hosted by the staff at Historic Fort Dunvegan Provincial Park, attracted people from 25 communities in Alberta and British Columbia. The gathering, held May 25 and 26, brought together more than 140 people on the shores of the Peace River in response to the desire of some instructors at the college to encourage the community to fill in some of the omissions and silences of the official history of the area. Saturday's program included a presentation by Dr. David Leonard, historian and former provincial archivist of Alberta, who provided advice for interviewing people about their past, as well as technical tips for the collection of oral history. Writer Diane Meili of Peace River said that legends keep wonder alive. She suggested that past hurts could be healed by telling stories about the way people would have liked things to be. "There are stories inside of us. Bring them out so our great-great-great-grandchildren will know them," she urged. Saturday evening's feast was offered as a gift from Beaver people who live in the area. "The sharing at this calm, beautiful gathering characterized the qualities of the Beaver people," said Carol Ferguson, one of the meal's organizers. "The feast symbolizes the social values of people of the Dunvegan Beaver band," said Thelma Boyd. "The people who come validate and legitimize the story of who we are. We needed all those people. And they came." Boyd said many Elders were present and comfortable in the setting. "It was not commercial. There was no show," she added. Archie Cardinal, who traveled from Marten Lake, a community 100 km east of Peace River, learned more about his grandmother's people. The long journey didn't deter him. "The gathering was something I've never seen before," he said. Closer to home, members of the Cummings family of the Fairview area enjoyed a family reunion, the first in 20 years, said Dave Cummings. His sister, Donna Cummings, remembered her mother and grandmother saying they always gathered at Dunvegan. "We sensed a strong presence of spirit throughout the weekend," she said. Story circles on various themes-survival, travel, food, spirituality, residential schools-involved many participants on the Saturday evening. However it was the circle of sharing on Sunday morning that told the organizers that the event was a success. More than 30 participants spoke of the strong sense of healing and spirituality at Dunvegan and its affect on people who have gathered there for thousands of years. Some who were visiting the site for the first time were deeply moved to be walking the land that their ancestors walked years ago. Stories of regret, loss and pain were told in the supportive atmosphere of the circle. They also told stories of hope for the future of the Beaver people and all people, gratitude for the Creator's guidance and forgiveness, the gift of loving people in their lives, and lessons learned. A popular place for sharing throughout the weekend was the story wall, assembled by Dr. Laurie Nock, an anthropology instructor at the college. "It was a privilege to work on the project, and I learned an enormous amount about "story-ing," said Nock. "It was a good first start," said Michael David, Native counsellor at Valleyview. "It established a connection with the extended Aboriginal community. The Beaver have been scattered throughout the country. It's time for these people to re-connect with the past through stories and the knowledge of the Elders. I hope it continues." Lyn Whitford, Aboriginal liason officer at the college, said that in order for Aboriginal people to be successful in post-secondary education a relationship must be built between them and the college. Then they will be more comfortable coming. Gathering Story was an example of how this can be done. "For those who teach at the college it was a gift that took them out of the classroom and into contact with the people who made the stories," said Dr. Duff Crerar, history instructor at the college. "We need and treasure a chance to be listeners and hope that in the future more people are able to come and share. And teach us." Top