After eight years in office, Sam Sinclair is calling it quits as president of the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA).

He announced his decision not to run in September's election last Friday, the final day which nomination papers could be filed for those seeking office in the up-coming elections.

"It was the toughest decision of my life because I like politics," said Sinclair, who spent a total of 12 years on the MAA executive, two of them as vice-president.

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Dalton Arcand, 19, of the Alexander reserve died on impact when his truck hit another vehicle and burst into flames in a head on collision on Highway 26.

Arcand was driving to his home in Alexander when the accident occurred two miles east of Camrose shortly after 3 a.m. on July 31.

Investigating RCMP Constable Roger Coutuer said, "The vehicle he (Arcand) was operating blew up after the collision. HE was pinned under the truck, which rolled on its side."

Funeral services were held for Arcand at the Alexander reserve on August 5.

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By the time the weather starts turning colder this fall, residents of the Sucker Creek Indian Reserve will be able to turn on the gas and warm up in comfort.

Sucker Creek Band Chief Jim Badger says construction has begun on the quarter-million dollar project that will serve every residence on the reserve.

Badger says that the council has worked with Indian Affairs officials for over a year to bring the project to fruition. Band manager Ronald Sunshine, Badger says, prepared an excellent proposal and did a good selling job to get the project approved.

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For the Native people, an air of disappointment surrounded the royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of York when they officially opened the Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump, here, July 23.

Elders Eddie Bad Eagle and Jim Many Bears had burned sweetgrass and prayed the night before in their teepees so that ideal weather conditions would prevail at the opening ceremonies instead of the predicted rainshowers. Sure enough, there was no sign of rain and the sun was out and smiled on the Duke and Duchess as well as the 4,000 people who flocked to the interpretive centre.

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To meet a member of the Royal family is certainly memorable, but when you have a second chance, it's a thrill of a lifetime.

It's even more thrilling if you have the opportunity to escort the Duke and Duchess of York during their private tour at the recent opening of the Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump Interpretive Centre.

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No one ever imagined that the site where the Peigan Indians roamed and ran buffalo over the cliff would be the place of pomp and ceremony 150 year later.

Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, located 15 km west of Fort MacLeod in southern Alberta, was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of York, July 23.

Under ideal weather conditions, Prince Andrew and Sarah were greeted with shouts of "Happy Anniversary" from the 4,000 people present when they arrived at the afternoon ceremonies.

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"This is what Batoche is all about," said Maria Campbell describing the annual procession to the Batoche Cemetery during the Batoche Days celebrations.

The procession has always been a rather informal gathering of people. They meet around 10 a.m. on Sundays and march just over a mile to the cemetery.

This year, a procession of approximately 50 people was led by war veterans who served as the flag bearers.

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The focus of this year's Batoche days was the return to the traditions and culture of the Metis people, however, if organizers have their way, permanent facilities could be built on the traditional grounds.

Sporting events official Claude Petit says he would like to see permanent facilities on the grounds. Big tops have been rented for the cultural competitions and dances but Petit feels the thousands of dollars used for these rentals should be used for permanent structures.

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This year's Ecumenical Conference, July 27 to 30, at the Morley Reserve west of Calgary, was considered a "planning vehicle" to begin the momentum of a massive return to spirituality.

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EDITORIAL

The traditional wedding held at last week's ecumenical conference on the Morley Reserve was indeed a site to behold. All those fortunate enough to watch it walked away feeling they'd witnessed a profound display of what love really is.

The rigidity and pomp of the church was absent. Instead, some 60 to 80 people crowded into Albert Lightning's buffalo-painted tipi and sat on the blankets or furs in a very relaxed way.