Page 25

Alcohol and drug abuse are not limited to Native people, or to Alberta.

The self-destructive cycle of people in search of a high, of people seeking escape from a life they can't seem to tolerate, is reaching epidemic proportions in all age groups, at all economic levels, in all kinds of communities across North America and around the world.

Coverage of the Peerless Lake tragedy by the media in Edmonton might lead people to believe that this is only a Native problem, especially in isolated northern communities.

Page 23

The Provincial Museum of Alberta in Edmonton has a number of displays of interest to the public. They are available for viewing between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. every day of the week including Saturdays and Sundays.

The Indian displays are locate don the main floor of the museum. In addition to the two feature exhibits is one which portrays recreational activities or pastimes and objects associated with such activities.

Page 23

ASSUMPTION - the students in the lifeskills and upgrading programs here feel they are very fortunate to be able to attend, and see the opportunity as a new beginning. Most of the students are guaranteed employment upon completion of the program.

This is the first time the lifeskills program has been available here. The upgrading program was offered once before but fell by the wayside. The program has since been revised in order to better serve the community.

Page 23

A January AMMSA article on the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre (NFC) Craft Shop is misleading and misrepresents their entire craft program, says NFC director Ellis O'Brien.

The article, which looked at the grievances of an East Prairie craft worker who sells her work in Peace River, had several factual errors, said O'Brien. As well, it did not deal fairly with the work and objectives of the craft program.

Page 15

The Fifth Annual Project Planning and Management Seminar sponsored by the Alberta Indian Arts & Crafts Society will be held in Edmonton April 7 to 11.

The seminar is designed to help Alberta Native artisans come to grips with making a profit from their work by gaining a clear understanding of their responsibility, role and accountability for major functions affecting their arts and crafts organization's performance.

Page 15

After a year of lobbying five federal ministers for start-up funding the founder and honorary chairperson of the Canadian Native Arts Foundation, John Kim Bell, recently announced a total of $155,000 has been donated by the federal and provincial governments.

Page 14

A bid for significant display of Native arts and crafts at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary is being pursued by the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society (AIACS).

The initiative was motivated by the keen interest AIACS members have been expressing over the past 18 months in the potential for marketing of arts and crafts the Olympics presents, according to Lois McLellan, AIACS general manager.

Page 11

Native communities are in crisis. It is not as it was a century ago during the 1885 rebellion. It is not even as it was when the native children were taken away to government or church schools to learn how not to be Indians.

Today, Native communities face an epidemic of violence, suicide and alcohol related problems, both mental and physical, which threaten to destroy Indians as a people.

Yet the problem is not a new one. It has been around for decades. This is why it is dangerous: self-destruction in all its forms has become part of the Native lifestyle.

Page 7

How to Write a column

Congratulations to the good ship, or should I say the sturdy canoe, that is the AMMSA newspaper. To its readers, staff and board who have paddled that Aboriginal appliance this far - way to go, to all of you.

Before you get to accusing me of patting my own back, let me say that I am not a card-carrying, office or secretary-occupying staff member. They only use my stuff if they like it and if they don't, they don't.

Page 6

An anniversary is an appropriate time to review pasty activities, judge past performance and achievements, and acknowledge the contributions of those involved.

It is also an appropriate time for celebration - if there are significant enough achievements to celebrate.

And sometimes, it is an appropriate time for transmission - to step across a threshold and face new level of challenges.

On its third anniversary, AMMSA has much to celebrate, and many new challenges ahead. They are detailed elsewhere in this issue.