Page 17

Paddle Prairie, AB

Her face reflects her long life and hardships, but the inner depths focus on strength, wisdom, and a sense of humor.

One of the first settlers in the area Mary Christian, 95, recalls moving here by horse and wagon.

Born in Grouard, she moved to Wabasca area with her parents. Her father was a trapper and many times she made drymeat to store for winter use.

Talking about dry meat, makes Christian wish she were back in the days when wild meat was plentiful.

Page 9

Ottawa

Metis leader Louis Riel may be on the verge of being recognized as Father of Confederation, more than a century after he was hanged by the federal government for being a

traitor.

On Aug. 25, the Aboriginal caucus of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative party unanimously passed a resolution in Ottawa calling on the party to recognize Riel as a "Father

of Confederation."

Page 9

Conklin, AB

The Metis Association of Alberta wants the provincial government to fund a comprehensive program to address the needs of rural Metis in the province.

MAA president Larry Desmeules told a gathering of Metis at a regional meeting in Conklin last week that such a program would help address the needs of Metis living within

improvement districts in Alberta.

Page 6

Tansi, Ahnee and hello. It's been a long summer. Sometimes it seems that the further along this Earthwalk one gets, the longer the lessons take to learn. Summer. This is the

season of learning. This is the time on the Great Wheel of Life when much is revealed and the searchers find themselves growing, maturing and trusting in the wisdom of the

earth. It's been a long summer.

Page 4

Montreal, Que.

Internal violence that erupted this week on a New York Mohawk reserve could threaten the sovereignty of Indian bands near Montreal.

That's the warning from band councillor Davis Rice of the Kahnawake Mohawk band.

Rice told Windspeaker members of his Quebec based Mohawk band are "on edge" because of heated confrontations between U.S. Federal state troopers and two opposing

band forces on the Akwesasne Mohawk reserve, which straddles the U.S. Canadian boarder near Cornwall, Ont.

Page 4

Edmonton

The Lubicon Lake Indian band in northwestern Alberta is drawing support form one of Canada's largest religious sectors in opposing the newly-created Woodland Cree band

recognized recently by the federal government.

The United Church of Canada plans to join a coalition of support groups during National Lubicon Day, slated for Oct. 15.

The day commemorates the week long Lubicon band blockade one year ago which attracted international attention to the beleaguered band's 50-year-old land claim dispute

Page 3

Kehewin, AB.

Kehewin chief Gordon Gadwa, tentatively ousted as leader by a group of reserve residents alleging fiscal mismanagement, says the real issue is the payment of gas royalties to

former enfranchised Indians who have been reinstated with treaty rights under the federal government's Bill C-31.

"Many of our long-time band members had taken out bank loans using their monthly gas royalty payments as collateral. Earlier this year, the band council made a decision to

Page 3

Grande Cache, AB.

Residents in four Native housing co-operatives are breathing a sigh of relief after the provincial government rescinded a tax notice this week, effectively ending the possibility

their land could be sold.

On Aug. 28, residents in Susa Creek, Joachim Enterprises, Grand Cache Lake Enterprises and Muskee Sepee were informed that tax notices sent out on Aug. 11 had been

rescinded by the provincial government.

Page 2

Kehewin, AB

A grieving Kehewin man is hiding from police while he and his wife continue their fight to regain custody of three children apprehended by Alberta Social services.

"I don't want them in a foster home anymore," said Vernon Solowjay.

"I hope we can get a court injunction to bring my kids' home to the reserve."

He said the Metis Associaton of Alberta has offered legal assistance.

Page 1

Edmonton, AB

A family shopping spree turned into a nightmare of humiliation for Indian leader Percy Potts when he was charged with trespassing at the Eaton Centre shopping mall in

downtown Edmonton August 29.

Potts, a Treaty 6 vice-president for the Indian Association of Alberta, was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by mall security guards in the lobby of the centre's lavish hotel

after being accused of using an elevator that is only authorized for use by guests and visitors of the Eaton Centre Hotel.