Page 8

The long-awaited and much-heralded Maskwacis Winter Celebration at Hobbema on the March 15 to 17 weekend proved a fun-filled time.

Using local schools, recreation centres and arenas, this first-time event had much to offer the estimated 6,000 or more visitors who travelled to the festivities from all over the province as well as from Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Most arrived to participate in or to simply enjoy sport tournaments and cultural activities offered up at no cost.

Page 7

Recent tallies put the number of homeless in the capital city at 1,600. The figure may be higher.

That's up from March 2000, when the Edmonton Homelessness Count Committee determined there were 1,125 homeless in the city, 579 who were identified as "absolute homeless" and 546 who live in emergency accommodations. Forty per cent were identified as Aboriginal.

Page 6

When it comes to hockey, winning is never an easy feat. Just ask the 171 teams that converged on Edmonton's major sheets of ice for this year's Alberta Native Provincial Hockey Championships, April 4 to 7.

Atoms to Midgets turned up to show what a force they could be. They came out smoking, gunning for a win.

Page 5

Aboriginal history is filled with misunderstanding and mistrust between Native people and the police. The stereotypical picture is the guy in a car who arrives when there's trouble, applies a Band-Aid solution and leaves. This is an image Const. Daryl Mahoney is working to change.

Mahoney is Metis, his mother being from the Key First Nation in Norquay, Sask.

Page 4

An unpleasant experience on a school bus in British Columbia has turned into a winning video for four students at the Tatsikiisaapo'p Middle School on the Blood Nation, in southwestern Alberta.

A 90-second video produced by the media club of that school has been chosen as one of 10 winners in a national competition hosted by MuchMusic.

Page 3

Sometimes it only takes 30 seconds for your life to change.

When Travis Youngchief, 31, attended a powwow almost three years ago in Frog Lake he had no idea his life would take on a new direction.

As he watched a young boy about seven years-old named Sundance Wapass celebrate his Aboriginal culture by dancing, Youngchief felt a spark inside his own spirit.

"I only caught him dancing for about 30 seconds," said Youngchief, adding it was all he needed. "He inspired me."

Page 2

Quinton Crow Shoe is excited about a program that the Napi Youth Council is accessing for the second consecutive year.

Funding through the YMCA of Greater Toronto is paying for 15 children from the Peigan Nation, located about an hour's drive west of Lethbridge, to make a one-week trip to Montreal in May.

"We're the only Friendship Centre in the province taking advantage of the YMCA's youth exchange program," said Crow Shoe, who is both program co-ordinator at the Napi Friendship Centre in Pincher Creek and advisor to the youth council.

Page 2

When Peigan Elder Joe Crow Shoe was buried on Nov. 2, 1999, the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre shut its doors in honor of the man who was instrumental in shaping the centre.

On Apr. 8, 2002, the centre opened a door in honor of Crow Shoe.

Words of tribute, a Sundance, smudge ceremony, and a drumming procession all preceded the cutting of a ribbon by Crow Shoe's sons, Joe Jr. and Mervyn, which marked the opening of the Joe Crow Shoe, Sr. Lodge.

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Participants of Vision Quest 2002 will have their eyes focused on the future, as the two-day conference examines the many economic development opportunities that lay before Aboriginal communities across Canada.

A Future of Opportunities is the theme of this year's conference, being held May 15 and 16 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The conference will feature four areas of special focus-opportunities for youth, community development, business opportunities, and financing options.

Page 28

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's news and current affairs employees have asked the Canadian Media Guild to represent them as a union.

"Congratulations, APTN news department employees," Gerry Whelang, a union organizer with the media guild wrote in an email to the employees affected on March 12. "This is a day to celebrate."