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Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Georges Erasmus has denounced the creation f a new northern Alberta Indian band as a federal ploy to destroy the Lubicon people.

Erasmus charged the government is offering the Woodland Cree special concessions while ignoring the pleas of other Indians who want to be organized as a band.

The Woodland Cree, scheduled to e officially recognized Aug. 28, will be the 593rd Indian band in Canada.

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Goodfish Lake band Chief Ernest Houle finds the creation of the Woodland Cree band of northern Alberta alarming.

But Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak is taking it all in stride.

Ominayak told reporters Wednesday he's not opposed to the creation of the Woodland Cree as long as it doesn't interfere with his band's long-standing land-claim dispute with the

federal government.

"We've been in this fight for 50 years and we don't intend to go away," Ominayak said.

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Canada's Metis are negotiating with the federal government to gain control of the historic Batoche site in Saskatchewan.

Preliminary discussions have begun with Minister Responsible for Metis Affairs Doug Lewis, the executive-director of the Metis National Council told Windspeaker last week.

"We're looking at a total recapture of the land around there," Ron Rivard said. "We're trying to make our case. They're listening."

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The Saddle Lake band is shrouded in a cloak of secrecy after holding a premature election of chief and council Monday.

Nine people were voted in to succeed Chief Eugene Steinhauer and his council after they resigned early last month.

The election was held one year ahead of schedule after a group of disgruntled band members rallied to oust the leadership.

"They're out because they never did a thing," said a band member who wished to remain anonymous.

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"They say, 'life is a stage.' But, it's not like that for me. I'm considered an actress, but I don't act everyday, said Tantoo Cardinal, explaining the career she has nutured for 15 years.

"I live real experiences and feel real emotions. So, I try apply this to my acting ? acting is a translation of real life, and life is not lived on a stage."

Cardinal has won the Best Actress Award at the 13th Annual Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association (AMPIA) presentations for her lead role in the movie 'Loyalties'.

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The holidayland of Penticton, B.C., is once again the site of a large women's gathering sponsored by the Native Okanagan Women's League August 20 to 23.

The theme of this second annual women's circle is "Rejuvenation of our Strength" and it is designed to bring women into closer contact with each other and to share experiences, according to organizer Jeanette Armstrong, director of education at En'owkin Centre in Penticton, out of which the women's league operates.

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OPINION

Jack and Helena Kakakaway are "modern day" missionaries. They recently spent several weeks in a reserve in northern Saskatchewan. The people they met and the poverty and disease they witnessed had a profound effect on their lives.

In this, the second of a two-part series, Helena tells how other nearby communities reacted to their visit and how she and Jack are now re-evaluating their lives and are learning a new appreciation for the many luxuries they used to take for granted.

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EDITORIAL

The troubled Peavine Metis Settlement is embroiled in a bitter controversy over a recent election. The dispute has divided the tiny settlement into two camps, pitching son against father, neighbor against neighbor, and family against family.

But the underlying problem is more than simple infighting between clans or mere squabbling over boundary lines. Something greater is at stake ? that of Native self-government.

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The fury of the ravaging tornado that hit Edmonton, July 31 has been overcome by the generosity of caring people from all over North America.

During its blistering sweep through the city, the tornado took 27 lives, injured scores of people, and left hundreds homeless.

In reaction to the tragedy several concerned citizens formed support groups, including the newly formed "Artists for Tornado Relief" committee organized by Brian Clark.

"I felt the need to do something for the victims," says Clark who is busy organizing an art auction.

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The devastating killer tornado that ripped through Edmonton July 31 has left some Native residents of the Evergreen Trailer Park in shock as they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

The tornado, which reached speeds of about 332 km per hour ripped through the trailer park leaving at least eight Native families the Anderson, Herons, L'Hirondelles and three separate Ladouceur families homeless.

Eva L'Hirondelle was at home with her 7-year old grandson, Breton, when the tornado unleased its fury.