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THE URBANE INDIAN

Nothing makes an archeologist salivate more than finding a pre-contact First Nation pipe in a 600-year-old garbage dump. That's because the pipe ceremony is the most sacred and cherished of all the Native spiritual practices.

I've often heard Elder William Commanda, a pipe carrier from the Algonquin community of Kitigaan Zibi in Quebec, say that he does not himself carry the pipe. The pipe carries him. It is, after all, considered in direct contact with the Creator.

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Saskatchewan son Donny Parenteau first made his mark in the entertainment business playing with other performers, including Brian Sklar and Neal McCoy, but these days the talented singer, songwriter and musician is standing centre stage.

Parenteau spent more than a decade as part of McCoy's band then, in 2002, he decided to leave Nashville and move back to his hometown of Prince Albert. The next year he formed his own band and in 2004 he recorded The Great Unknown, his first vocal album.

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Saskatchewan son Donny Parenteau first made his mark in the entertainment business playing with other performers, including Brian Sklar and Neal McCoy, but these days the talented singer, songwriter and musician is standing centre stage.

Parenteau spent more than a decade as part of McCoy's band then, in 2002, he decided to leave Nashville and move back to his hometown of Prince Albert. The next year he formed his own band and in 2004 he recorded The Great Unknown, his first vocal album.

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Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Carol Couchie: I guess loyalty.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?

C.C.: I guess stupidity. Stupidity and laziness. I'm a mother.

W: When are you at your happiest?

C.C.: There's so many things that make me happy. Gardening. And when I've been at a really nice birth, like after I've delivered a baby and everything's gone well. The parents are happy.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?

C.C.: Cranky, I guess.

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Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Carol Couchie: I guess loyalty.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?

C.C.: I guess stupidity. Stupidity and laziness. I'm a mother.

W: When are you at your happiest?

C.C.: There's so many things that make me happy. Gardening. And when I've been at a really nice birth, like after I've delivered a baby and everything's gone well. The parents are happy.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?

C.C.: Cranky, I guess.

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The First Nation communities that are party to the numbered treaties have voted to unify and speak with one voice, and they intend that voice to be heard at the First Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Kelowna this month.

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The First Nation communities that are party to the numbered treaties have voted to unify and speak with one voice, and they intend that voice to be heard at the First Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Kelowna this month.

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North of 60-television star Tina Keeper has been recruited by the Liberal Party to run in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill in the next federal election. She will face incumbent Bev Desjarlais who was elected to the riding as a NDP member, but who currently sits as an independent. She recently lost the party's endorsement for opposing the same-sex marriage legislation. The NDP nod now goes to Niki Ashton, the daughter of an NDP cabinet minister in the Manitoba government.

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Dreams do come true; just ask Tracey Deer, a 27-year-old director from a Mohawk reserve just outside of Montreal called Kahnawake.

At the age of 12, Deer dreamt of being a film-maker and now with two films under her belt she said the dedication and hard work has paid off.

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Dreams do come true; just ask Tracey Deer, a 27-year-old director from a Mohawk reserve just outside of Montreal called Kahnawake.

At the age of 12, Deer dreamt of being a film-maker and now with two films under her belt she said the dedication and hard work has paid off.