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Bigstone Band angered by RCMP shooting

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The shooting of a Bigstone band member by an RCMP officer has angered the chief of the Bigstone Cree Band and the man's mother.

Bigstone Chief Chuckie Beaver says the band will be filing a complaint with the RCMP public complaints' commission over the incident.

Lesley Gladue, 22, was shot after a high speed chase near Wabasca-Desmarais Aug. 24 after ha and an accomplice abandoned their car and attempted to run away.

Gladue was wounded in the left arm and ear form a shotgun blast.

Lone Fighters divert Oldman

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Having diverted the Oldman River to its original creek bed, some Peigan nation members are now settling their sights on halting construction of the $350-million Oldman River Dam.

On Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. a Caterpillar at work in the northern area of the Peigan reserve scooped up a bucket of dirt to remove the last barrier between the river and the creek. Water started to trickle in weeks ahead of provincial predictions as Peigan Lone Fighters looked on.

Painting doubles as therapy

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Kathy Shirt finds peace and well-being from painting. "Many of life's experience need to be expressed," she says. And Shirt should know. Through the years she has known good times and bad like attending the Indian residential school at Blue Quills, raising her children and getting accustomed to city life.

Artist has nine works on display at Asum Mena

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"I guess going to Grant MacEwan really helped," laughs Brenda Jones. She has nine works of works of art accepted for inclusion in Asum Mena, the annual art exhibit and show sponsored by the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society. "Two sculptures, five paintings and two drawings all went into the show," she says.

Last year, Jones only had one exhibit in Asum Mena, but it sold. That was all the encouragement she needed. "An unbiased buyer bought it, not a relative or friend," she adds.

Jones feels it's an exciting time to be involved with Native are.

Talent a natural gift from the Creator

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"There are so many things all of us have - something we can do others can't. It's just a natural gift from the creator."

This is how Saddle Lake's Lawrence Large describes his artistic abilities which include sketching, designing logos and greeting cards, illustrating books and painting acrylics.

Being involved in the Saddle Lake Cree cultural program for the past 13 years Large has had the opportunity to work on and design interesting and popular projects for the community.

Metis leader laid to rest on settlement

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A big part of Paddle Prairies culture has been laid to rest.

Albert Wanuch, a long-time resident of the community, passed away Aug. 11 at the age of 63. Wanuch had a sincere desire to stand up for Metis people. His life centered around them.

He was born at Carcajou, on the edge of Paddle Prairie settlement - where he spent most of his life - just prior to Christmas in the winter of 1927.

John Wayne rides again

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There's a new anthem making the rounds in Indian country.

It goes:

O Canada, your home's on Native land,

With new patriot love we balk at your command.

With knowing hearts, we seethe and rise

The Mohawk, Blood and Cree.

And guard our stand, O Canada.

We'll guard our stand on thee..

God owns the land,

Not you or me.

O Canada we take a stand on thee.

O Canada we take a stand on thee.

What others say

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Native people in Alberta need no lessons from Mohawks in Oka about the frustrations of land disputes. They are experts on their own turf.

Their measured response to the Mohawk blockades is particularly admirable in this light. After years of waiting for fair resolutions to their own land claims, their natural sympathy must lie with the Mohawks of Oka.