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A new federal bill which would authorize bands to levy taxes on reserves and lease land to outsiders is a "touchy issue" for bands in this province, says the president of the Indian Association of Alberta.

Gregg Smith fears the taxation bill is being viewed by the federal government as an Indian self-government issue, "in order to justify their desire to get out of trust responsibility."

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The Indian Association of Alberta (IAA) is backing a demand from the band council of the O'Chiese reserve to have the use of liquor banned.

Chief Theresa Strawberry says the request comes after her band spent more than two years combating widespread alcoholism on the reserve.

In an interview from his Edmonton office Gregg Smith, president of IAA said he feels "great about this decision.

"I have always felt strongly about drug and alcohol abuse and that is the reason I declared war on alcohol shortly after my election (in June 1986)," said Smith.

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Newly formed locals are being blamed for causing division amongst Edmonton's Metis people.

Local 1885's president Stan (Butch) Plante blames the small turnout at his group's annual assembly on March 19, at which he was reinstalled by acclamation, on the formation of five more locals in the city. He believes Metis people are breaking up into smaller groups, as they join locals closer to where they live and unity is suffering.

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The government's attempts to repatriate Native foster children back to Native homes is ruining the life of a five-year-old child, says Rose Shawana, who is protesting the placement.

Shawana, a Treaty Indian, along with the child's foster brother and aunt, camped out on the steps of the Alberta legislature on March 23 and 24 to protest the return of the child to a Saskatchewan reserve. They claim the child is better off with her foster parents, who have applied to adopt her, and to whom she has formed a bond.

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Members of the Metis settlements have "mixed feelings" about Resolution 18, a discussion paper dealing with land entitlement and the governing of the eight settlements.

"There's a lack of understanding. There are some people who are dead against it because they think we're selling out on Aboriginal rights," says Randall Hardy, president of the Federation of Metis Settlements. Others have put their trust in the council, he adds.

The document, which was tabled by the province last June 17, centers around the issue of land and consists of three proposals.

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Funding from a utility corporation is helping the Peigan Nation tackle the problem of illiteracy both in the school and in the community.

Last November, the Peigan School Committee received $15,000 from UtiliCorp to purchase the literacy program that their Napi Playground Elementary School had been borrowing for five years, and to hire a co-ordinator.

Being able to purchase the Partnership Approach to Learning program has allowed new co-ordinator Henrietta Yellow Horn to adapt it to meet the needs of her learners.

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Lynda Cockerill, a family court worker with Native Counselling Services of Alberta, is one of 10 domestic violence workers recently chosen to be a recipient of one the first Jerry P. Selinger awards.

The awards, named for Calgary's former chief crown prosecutor who passed away in May 2000, are administered by Homefront, a Calgary agency working to prevent domestic violence. The ceremony was held Nov. 7.

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Sara Scout of the Blood Nation said that having one foster mother out of 14 foster placements who "gave a damn" made a difference in her life - she's now pursuing a career in print journalism at Lethbridge Community College. But she's scared about the future of her nieces and nephews who are presently in foster care.

Scout attended a forum to address funding cuts being made by Sun Country Child and Family Services, held in Lethbridge on Nov. 30.

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Cross-Cultural Families of Native Children was host to an unusual, loose adaptation by the Free Spirit Theatre Troupe of Charles Dickens' popular A Christmas Carol story. A dozen vibrant youth put on the play about gambling. Aptly titled A Nechi Christmas Carol, the performance was held the evening of Dec. 18 at the Progressive Academy.

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Emile Berube, softball player, coach, sponsor and above all, promoter, has raised the sports profile of the community of Calahoo with his exemplary achievements over the past 40 years.

Now his daughter Shelley (Berube) Gadoury has made her own mark as a champion softball player.

The Alberta Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame has recognized them both. Emile was inducted into the hall of fame in the sport builder category, while Shelley was inducted into the athlete category on Oct. 13 last year.