Page 8

Out of 180 young people nominated from across the province for a Queen's Golden Jubilee citizenship medal, 18-year-old Michelle Durocher of Fishing Lake was one of five to receive it.

On Feb. 11 at a dinner in the community, Durocher also picked up a $5,000 education scholarship. She was recognized for her outstanding involvement in her community and also for her commitment to education.

Page 6

Spouting off to an official might not seem to be the best way to handle yourself on the court, especially in a one-point ball game with less than a minute remaining. However, Charlton Weasel Head redeemed himself after he drew an unsportsmanlike technical foul when he led a frenetic charge in the dying seconds of the final game of the 26th Annual Oki Basketball Tournament on the Peigan reserve in Brocket.

Page 5

A feast, powwow and giveaway was held on Feb. 21 as a way for the men of the Natoyikiimaan Men's Lodge to say thank you to the community for its support. The lodge, which opened its doors in 2001, is an 11-bed lodge that houses single men.

Romeo Crow Chief is the volunteer manager of the lodge. He said the event was great and the turnout was excellent, despite the cold. His duties at the lodge include checks on the men, making sure that the facility is safe and that the men have food.

Page 4

The students at the Keyano College, Fort Chipewyan campus took to the road this February. Instructor Maureen Clarke and her husband Tommy accompanied 10 students to Drumheller, Banff and Edmonton to visit sites of interest.

Clarke said a number of the students had never been south of Edmonton before and the paleontology museum in Drumheller, a ride on the gondola up Sulfur Mountain in Banff and several hours at the Odyssium in Edmonton were highlights of an eye-popping trip.

Page 2

Hi, I'm Yvonne Irene Gladue, editor-at-large for Alberta Sweetgrass, and I'm getting my monthly column off the ground. The title is Indian Country, and the column will reflect the kindness and courage of our people in the Native communities located across this province.

Page 11

Ryan McMahon, 25, is a youth worker at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.

"I focus on identifying youth who have instant anger towards the system," said McMahon. "We've gotten over the hump and are intelligently addressing the issues."

Page 10

The grand opening for a Children's Exhibition was held in Toronto at Metro Hall on March 4.

The evening gave parents, teachers and others a chance to view some of the work that students from six schools in the Toronto District School Board, including First Nations Elementary School, had been doing during the past two weeks.

All Things Are Connected - A City-Wide Celebration of Aboriginal Perspectives was a program developed by the school board's visual arts department to explore less-known forms of teaching with art.

Page 10

Many First Nations youth are discovering that hard work can build both their bank accounts and self-esteem.

An innovative forestry company, based in Wikwemikong, is giving urban and reserve youth a chance to learn employment skills and life skills simultaneously.

Page 9

Page 9

The Moose Deer Point First Nation serves as a role model for First Nation communities looking for creative ways to boost local economies.

Recently the Ontario government paid tribute to their ground-breaking initiative with Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. and the Schad Foundation to develop Niigon Technologies. The company operates a precision injection molding facility on reserve.