Page 18

The area around Yellowknife, on Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, was undisturbed for centuries, with only Dene and Inuit people living a quiet, harmonious existence with nature in the one million square miles of the great territory.

Page 14

In Home of the Brave, Navajo matriarch Katherine Smith laments the fact that "there is no traditional prayer, there is not traditional song" that remain of her people.

"All the kids today don't understand Navajo. The young kids believe in Christianity. It's going to be the end of the world," says Smith, the keeper of the sacred bundle that protects her land.

Smith may well be among the last of the traditional Navajos left after a century-old struggle that has pitted her tribe against the U.S. Government and mining companies.

Page 10

Fifty years ago on a warm winter's day Edith and Paul Memnook were wed. Edith and her husband sat enjoying the Goodfish Lake talent show Feb. 18.

She sat among some of her many grandchildren wearing a woolen tam over her long greying braids while Paul in his Indian tanned mukluks sat with friends just a few chairs away.

"It turned out so nice and warm the kids were playing snowballs," said Edith Memnook. She smiled fondly at memories of her Jan. 14 wedding day.

Page 6

The Sturgeon Lake band is busy building a future in the world of international trade and they're doing it with chopsticks.

After two years f perseverance, the timber-rich reserve, located 10 miles west of Valleyview, is shaping up to take on the Japanese market with the first chopstick factory of its kind in North America. The building is only 75 per cent completed and already it's drumming up more ideas.

Page 6

The Valleyview Economic Development Board planted the idea for a chopstick factory in Sturgeon Lake and now it's up to the band to cultivate the plan, according to the board's vice-president Al MacGregor.

"You could say we were instrumental in coming up with idea...going from base one. The Sturgeon Lake band took it from there. They've done a bit of work on it."

MacGregor says the chopstick idea developed during a trip he took to Prince George, B.C. Two years ago when he discovered a Korean-owned operation production chopsticks.

Page 5

Tansi, ahnee and hello. This is the morning. Quiet. All around you is the evidence of the hand of the Creator. There is much in this world to connect you to who you really are. This city and its patterns can completely disappear when the eyes are opened to subtler motions.

News Briefs

Page 3

Two men were recently arrested in the beating death of an Edmonton resident by members of Boyle RCMP on the Metis settlement of Caslan.

Edmonton Police spokesperson Lori Nagy says, "Edmonton Police homicide detectives, with assistance from the RCMP in Boyle, have arrested and charged two men in the death of Gordon Desjarlais who was found on the sidewalk in front of the home on 97 Street and 115 Avenue early Friday morning (Feb.24).

News Briefs

Page 3

Fifty representatives from some twenty-three northern Alberta communities, associations and Native groups decided to form a new environmental coalition under the banner of Friends of the North at an environmental workshop held in Athabasca Mar. 4.

Their goal is to provide a united voice on social, economic and environmental issues raised by the provincial government's commitment to pulp and paper projects in northern Alberta's forests.

News Briefs

Page 3

Paddle Prairie Metis settlement held a by-election Feb. 23 which saw Emma Martineau elected to the position of councillor.

The election was called to replace Dwayne Calliou who resigned from council. Martineau collected 83 votes in winning the seat over nearest competitor Robeert Parenteau who received 65. Brad Velleneauve withdrew from the race.

Martineau joins chairman Merv Bellrose and councillors Ira Lapp, Pat Gaucher, and Joe Cardinal.

News Briefs

Page 3

After an eight-month waiting period an inquiry into how the RCMP handled investigations into deaths of Blood reserve Indians has been given the go ahead.

Premier Don Getty promised the inquiry last summer after receiving pressure from the southern Indian band who were worried about treatment they received when dealing with the police force.