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Keeper'n Me

By Richard Wagamese

Paperback, $13.95, 214 pages

Published by Doubleday

Former Windspeaker columnist Richard Wagamese has turned a spiritual quest into a moving, highly readable story in his first novel, Keeper'n Me.

Part autobiography and part fiction, the tale of Garnet Raven's reconnection to his family and culture is a tale of self-discovery. The journey begins when Garnet leaves the last in a series of foster homes at age 16, hitting the road with his thumb out and no particular place to go.

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The young Inuk working at his dad's gift shop-video rental outlet in Iqaluit had bags under his eyes and his voice was practically gone. He had the flu and should've

been home in bed instead of serving the white-haired gentleman with the British accent looking for a polar bear carving.

But the 18-year-old pleasantly helped him, making small talk as he rang up the purchase.

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The message is clear. Aboriginal First Nations and communities in Canada, and around the world, are actively shaping the size, strength and use of their economic power. The ripple effects of this force are only beginning to be felt.

This message was heard again and again in Toronto by participants in Open For Business: Doing Business With Aboriginal Canada.

The Financial Post's third business-to-business conference drew business leaders from Aboriginal communities in Canada and other countries last month.

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It was a beautiful Easter weekend and the Skydome was abuzz with the sounds

of thousands upon thousands of people enjoying the first-ever Toronto International Powwow. People of all nations were bustling around shopping at all the Native arts and crafts booth, or watching the dancing and drumming taking place on the field. To these powwow-jaded eyes it looked like people were having a good time.

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The third annual National Youth Conference, held in Edmonton April 26 to 29, was the largest ever, but organizers look to continued growth in 1995.

Dennis Arcand, conference founder, co-ordinator and chairman, is planning to invite American youths to the next conference, and sees that, and greater Metis participation, leading to further growth.

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A Syncrude employee's efforts in promoting Aboriginal employment in the province was officially recognized during an annual award ceremony in this city recently.

James Carbery is Syncrude's senior adviser for Aboriginal development in Fort McMurray. His work with Aboriginal leaders and communities in the area was recognized by the Alberta chapter of the Interprovincial Association on Native Employment.

Carbery has acted as a facilitator and liaison between Native leaders and the company, said D'Arcy Levesque, Syncrude manager of public affairs.

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Elder Ernest Crowe believes his experience in the Canadian Air Force was the making of him as a man, and now he's proud to be a part of an organization that offers a similar experience to other Native youth in Canada.

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The Calgary Native Friendship centre could soon be nicknamed the Calgary Native Friendship Clinic.

Starting this fall, visitors to the downtown centre will be able to get medical advice from a community Health Representative (CHR). To date, CHR's work only on reserves.

The hiring of the city CHR is part of a two-year pilot project of the Calgary Urban Aboriginal Health Working Group (CUAHWG) in partnership with Calgary Health Services (CHS) and the Calgary Indian Friendship Centre.

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Tina Keeper, who plays Michelle Kennedy on CBC's North of 60, shared the secrets of the TV trade with the students of several inner city elementary schools during a Saskatoon visit.

She was invited to speak at a fund-raising dinner on March 10 for Sasktoon's First Nations Child Development Centre. But while she was in town, Saskatoon Police Services' Aboriginal Liaison Officer Craig Nyirfa and School Liaison Officer Larry Vols persuaded her to spend some time with the students.

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The Sumas Indian Band has won a battle with Indian Affairs over a parcel of land they lost 68 years ago.

An independent commission ruled the federal department illegally sold about 11 hectares of land from the middle of the reserve east of Vancouver in 1927.

The land was part of a tract of 17 hectares expropriated in 1910 for a railway.

The railway was abandoned in 1927, and non-Native landholders whose lands also were expropriated were able to buy them back for $1.

Only about one-third of the land was returned to the Sumas First Nation.