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A festive, candle-lit dining hall set the stage for a night of laughter, dancing and sharing a vision.

People from across the province gathered at Edmonton's Mayfield Inn on Nov. 30 for A Christmas fundraising gala in support of the Alberta First Nations Youth Council (AFNYC).

National Chief Mathew Coon Come was present and gave an impassioned address that focused on instructing youth to speak the truth from the heart.

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Local Metis, veterans and officials proudly came to the Louis Riel commemoration ceremony at the Alberta Legislature building Nov. 16. This year the ceremony was held inside.

Now, 116 years after Riel's execution, Metis people still remember him.

"We will go on remembering and being thankful that Riel had a vision and a belief in our nation, one that Metis leaders and citizens will carry on," said Audrey Poitras, president of the Metis Nation of Alberta.

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Metis Urban Housing Corporation (MUHC) paid tribute to the late Larry Desmeules by naming its building after him during Metis week.

A crowd of 200 people listened to memories of friends and co-workers of Desmeules, who was the corporation's first manager in 1983.

Andy Collins,founding president of the corporation in 1982, related that the Metis Nation initially hired Desmeules on a contract basis for three months which led to purchasing the first 10 units in the spring of 1993.

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Aboriginal people reach their dream of getting a satisfying job with help from three Aboriginal services, visitors were told at the Metis Week open house Nov. 14.

Aboriginal Counselling and Employment Services 2000 Society (ACES 2000), Apeetogosan (Metis) Development Inc. and Pinnacle Business Services Ltd. share the same building on the city's north-west side.

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Alberta Liberal Senator Thelma Chalifoux introduced Bill S-35 in the House of Commons on Dec. 5 in response to Metis peoples' desire nationally that Louis Riel be recognized as a Metis patriot and Canadian hero. Many would have him designated as a Father of Confederation, but some parliamentarians who support a day of honor for Riel's nemesis, Sir John A. Macdonald, oppose similar honors for Riel on the basis that he led a rebellion against "the country" of the times he lived in.

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Stay away from fast food, it'll do your body good.

That was one of the many messages given at the Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Workshop held Nov. 6 and 7 at the Edmonton Canadian Native Friendship Centre.

"The big message we want to give is diabetes can be managed," said event organizer Carrielynn Lamouche.

The event, sponsored by the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA), was the official launch of a new pamphlet and video designed to educate the Canadian Native population about the disease and what can be done to prevent or manage it.

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It just keeps getting bigger and better. More than 300 people attended the sixth annual Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta dinner and awards at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton Nov. 9. The final figure surprised even Irene Morin, organizer and event founder.

"My target was 250," she said from the Enoch Cree Nation office three weeks later. Acting as hostess of the classy evening featuring a full buffet meal, formal program and entertainment left her tired but exultant.

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A multi-million-dollar settlement that would have seen money go into education and business programs, as well as address issues surrounding water on the Peigan Nation, was turned down by membership in a close vote.

With a little more than one-third of the 3,100 Peigan membership casting ballots Nov. 28 and 29, the result was 533 voted against the $64. 3 million settlement with the federal and provincial governments and 511 voted in favor; one ballot was spoiled and 10 were classified as improper.

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Anyone possessing the kindness of spirituality can pass it on to other people, says a Native educator.

To live a wholesome, happy life people have to balance their spiritual, physical, emotional and mental needs, notes Travis Dugas, who travels Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories conducting workshops with Native youth in their communities.

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When students at the Paul band school celebrated their third annual powwow recently, they were helping to establish a new tradition in their school.

"This event just keeps getting bigger and better every year," says Bard Williams kindergarten teacher and on f the organizers.

The March 21 day of celebration is one of the biggest cultural events in the school year.