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Fifteen Alberta Metis youth converged on the city of Saskatoon last week-end as delegates to the National Metis Youth Conference.

The conference is a first and was attended by representatives from British Columbia to Ontario.

From Ontario, the official delegates came from five of the six provincial Metis zones, including three from Edmonton's local 1985 and one from Red Deer. The latter three delegates comprise part of the provincial executive of Alberta's Metis Youth Council. They are: Lawrence Haineault, Bruce Gladue, and Nicole Hrdicka.

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Opposition MLA Jim Gurnett is questioning the system of public appointments, after Sam Bull of the Whitefish Band, a board member of the Northern Alberta Children's Hospital, was convicted of assault causing bodily harm.

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While Indian leaders and Treaty 6 representatives are gathering together with the Yellowhead Tribal Council and a representative of the Assembly of First Nations this week to discuss the budget "bombshell" dropped by Federal Finance Minister Michael Wilson that would allow Indian bands to levy municipal-type taxes, the instigator of the proposed legislation has come forward.

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The true story of the heroic struggle to conquer alcoholism, and how it was accomplished through courageous leadership and vision, and a combination of alcohol intervention and economic development by the Alkali Lake Indian band, will be premiered at Nechi/Poundmakers Lodge in Edmonton on March 22.

"The Honour of All," a video-taped educational docudrama two part series takes viewers from the depths of hatred and despair to the heights of love and health of the community of Alkali Lake, 40 miles from Williams Lake, B.C.

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Working with Indian bands on policy changes to better meet the objectives of Native communities is a priority with Dennis Wallace, new Alberta Regional Director of the Department of Indian Affairs.

Wallace says he will draw from his experience with Native communities in Ontario in doing his job. The principles are the same and the basic concerns are not different. The local issues differ to a certain degree, he said.

"I intend to get into the communities, and meet the people. This is necessary in order to build any kind of working relationship."

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The promised shake-up in the funding mechanism for Native political organizations continues to be the centre of controversy after a new report commissioned by the Department of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of State was made public this week.

However, despite dark premonitions by many members of the Native community, the report holds many surprises, not the least of which is its criticism of the way Ottawa funds Native groups at the national, regional and local levels.

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Both Milt Pahl, Alberta Native Affairs Minister, and Jenny Margetts, president of Indian Rights for Indian Women, say their meeting on February 28 was a positive one with an excellent exchange of information. Neither would elaborate on their discussions, although the meetings had been scheduled to deal with reinstated women seeking their own reserve.

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OTTAWA - The following statement was made by the Assembly of First Nations in response to the federal government's budget tabled February 26:

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A group of Canadian Native leaders called the Indigenous Survival International were able to persuade several European groups to withdraw from the anti-fur lobby recently.

The Native group gave presentations on trapping and it being essential for the economic and cultural survival of some Aboriginal people. Most of the European groups had very little knowledge on the constitutional position of the Aboriginal people, Metis Association of Alberta President Sam Sinclair said on his return from a three-week tour of Europe.

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OTTAWA - A 21-member delegation headed by George Erasmus, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, are on a second European trip to present a balanced viewpoint concerning Aboriginal people's rights and economies versus a proposed ban on importation of fur products.