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While many museums across Saskatchewan have Aboriginal artifacts in their collections, those items aren't always displayed correctly, or with the proper respect required. But thanks to a project being undertaken by the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, that situation should soon be changing.

Page 14

Blood Elder Charles Crow Chief said it takes something "special" for non-Natives to receive Indian names.

In principal Ray Viel's point of view, "special" is the course St. Michael's separate school in Pincher Creek has been on for a number of years, and he and vice-principal Don Kuchison just happened to be at the helm when the Blood nation decided to honor the school's philosophy.

In April, Viel and Kuchison were given the Blackfoot names of Niina (chief or leader) and Iinastiina (little chief or little leader), respectively.

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Since 1912 the Indian Village at the Calgary Stampede has been a tourist attraction for thousands of visitors. Each year several tipis stand on the grounds during the 10-day celebration and hundreds of people from the Treaty 7 area that surrounds the city of Calgary live in the tipis while the stampede is underway.

During their stay they host a number of competitions, such as tipi-raising contests, powwow dance competitions and daily Native tradition and cultural demonstrations.

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The southwest corner of Alberta can lay claim to many Native summer events designed to lure visitors to the area, but perhaps the most hands-on activity is the fish rescue on Piikani Nation territory.

For the past 12 years, volunteers spend the Thanksgiving Day weekend recording the species and size of fish left trapped in the irrigation canals of the Oldman River Dam system after the water flow has been turned off. Then they cart by the bucket-full, thousands of fish to the river and let them go.

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An evening filled with entertainment in an Aboriginal community is not an uncommon occurrence, but when the only language used over the course of the night is an Aboriginal language, then it becomes rare indeed.

On May 29, more than 300 people attended a concert at the Nipihsihkopahk High School in Hobbema. From the moments the lights were dimmed and the concert began, it was clear that this would be no regular show. Every word sung or spoken was in the Cree language.

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He wears number 79, but Lloydminster's Lenny Thunderchild was drafted 80th in this year's Western Hockey League's bantam draft.

Thunderchild, 14, captured the attention of many junior scouts when he played for the "AAA" bantam Strathcona Warriors in Edmonton this year. Seven out of the league's 20 teams contacted him prior to the draft, but it was the Lethbridge Hurricanes, a team that didn't forecast its interest with a phone call, that chose the talented defenseman on May 1.

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More than 200 students graduated from the Composite high school in Wetaskiwin, including 17-year-old twins Danielle and Danika Lightning of the Ermineskin First Nation. Parents Inez and Rick were among the hundreds of family and friends that attended the ceremony. More than 50 people gathered at the Lightning's for a barbecue to celebrate the occasion. Danika, who is planning on being a medical doctor, has been accepted into the science program at the University of Alberta. Danielle, who is planning a career in design, is trying to decide on what school to attend.

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More than 70 Aboriginal language educators and community language advocates from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Alberta are expected to attend the fourth annual Canadian Indigenous Language and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) summer courses at the University of Alberta from July 28 to Aug.14.

The courses are geared towards Aboriginal language educators who want to expand their skills and to extend their professional growth. This annual institute gives them an opportunity to acquire university credits in a number of areas.

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How old is your grandmother? What if she doesn't have a document to prove her age and needs to apply for her old age pension? Jean Fulker, a Metis woman originally from the High Prairie area, was introduced to the hobby of genealogy 26 years ago when she began the search for legal proof of her grandmother's date of birth.

Fulker shared her story and gave many practical suggestions for others researching their Aboriginal roots at the April 26 Gen Fair in Grande Prairie.

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Thirteen students from the Chateh Community School are working at earning high school credits and raising funds for a school trip by running the Wolverine Cafe, open from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday.

The cafe serves full course meals, desserts and specialty fruit drinks.

Carlos Spinazzola, the school's cultural director, said the cafe is a creative place to visit and offers a friendly environment for the greater community to enjoy.