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Wabasca/Desmarais and the people of the Bigstone Band have nothing to worry about when it comes to making a weary traveler or a visitor, such as myself, feel comfortable while in their community.

I couldn't believe it when Master of Ceremonies James Yellowknee said, "Okay everyone. A warm welcome to our next contestant, our chief, Mr. Mike Beaver!" This was said at a talent show that saw almost the whole community turn out to try and raise money for this year's Santas Anonymous fund. They collected $1,500 at this particular gathering.

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"The Roots of Chile" is an exhibition of photos and artifacts that portray the culture of Chile's Native peoples. The display, produced by Carlos Toro and Bessie Parry, is scheduled to open at the Musee Heritage Museum in St. Albert at 7:30 p.m. on January 8. The public is invited to stop by and enjoy traditional Chilean entertainment and refresh-ments.

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The long-awaited release of Alberta's Native education policy continues to sit in the wings while educators, Natives and those concerned with the educational welfare of Native students can only second-guess what lies in store.

When contacted by Windspeaker, Darrell Osbaldeston, executive assistant to education Minister Nancy Betkowski, assured us that the policy will be released, but just when remains unknown.

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Have you ever seen one of those science fiction movies where Earth is invaded

by the kind of aliens that get into the minds and bodies of people but nobody suspects because the aliens look like normal people but then they start taking over and pretty soon everybody else is acting kind of weird and then the only normal people left in the whole world are you and your girlfriend and all of a sudden she gets a glassy look in her eye and wants to bite you on the back of the neck?

Parliamentary Report

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OTTAWA - Canada's external affairs department treads too softly in its defence of the fur industry, says Parliament's Aboriginal affairs standing committee.

Liberal Committee member Keith Penner, his party's Indian affairs critic, says that external is too "timid" in its support of a traditional industry that brings millions of dollars to the country's Aboriginal peoples.

Penner was speaking at the release of the committee's report on the fur industry: "The Fur Issue: Cultural Continuity, Economic Opportunity."

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OTTAWA - The Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance (PTNA) says it will not accept the outcome of next spring's First Ministers' Conference unless it is included at the FMC table and at the ministerial and officials' meetings leading up to the conference.

Spokesmen for the PTNA say that whenever they bring the issue of their participation in the process up with the federal government, they are told to resolve their differences with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), from which they split.

Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts

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CALGARY - The withdrawal earlier this month by Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society (AIACS) from the Calgary Winter Olympic Games has drawn angry speculation of an "unholy alliance" between OOC '88 and various provincial and federal government departments.

"I feel AIACS was deliberately pushed out," says a bitter and angry Lois McLellan, executive director of the Society.

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A group of 21 Indian bands from western Canada have formed their own oil company, as of November 1986.

The 21 bands are shareholder in the Canadian Native Oil Corporation (CNOC ) and have each purchased $1,000 in shares. The bands come from various areas in Alberta, Saskatchewan British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

At the November meeting, goals and objectives were passed by the shareholders and elections for board of directors took place.

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Once again it is that time of year when different Native groups and organizations begin hosting their annual Christmas get-togethers. Such was the case last Thursday when approximately 75 people stopped in at the Heritage Lounge of Athabasca Hall as guests of Native Student Services at the University of Alberta.

For university students, it was the end of term and time for a little breather as they begin to prepare for final papers and exams. Following that they'll enjoy a three week Christmas/New Years break before going on to the winter term.

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The grand master of contemporary Indian art, Norval Morrisseau, is making his presence felt once again in the city of Edmonton. The 2nd Annual Norval Morrisseau Art Exhibition was officially opened at Manulife Place on December 9 and offered a slightly different flavor than his exhibit one year ago.

There is a noticeable shift in much of Morrisseau's more recent works in which he seems to employ softer tones that have a more subdued effect as opposed to his bright, vibrant colors as has been customary of his past works.