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Dear Editor:

Re: Lubicon Cree-Windspeaker October 2005

Once again, the Lubicon Cree are moving into the spotlight, or at least the leaders are. A Lubicon delegation will be going to Geneva to witness the United Nations Human Rights Committee question Canada on its unethical tactics of negotiation.

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Editorial

We read with great interest the leaked eight-page executive summary of the final report of the Assembly of First Nation (AFN) Renewal Commission, in which profound changes to the way the AFN functions are proposed. (see page 8.)

The idea of who represents whom is identified in the report as a most pressing issue and rightly so. Given that the First Ministers' Meeting on Aboriginal issues, arguably one of the most important moments in the history of Crown-Indigenous relations, is fast approaching, the timing of that conclusion really makes us think.

Page 5

Editorial

We read with great interest the leaked eight-page executive summary of the final report of the Assembly of First Nation (AFN) Renewal Commission, in which profound changes to the way the AFN functions are proposed. (see page 8.)

The idea of who represents whom is identified in the report as a most pressing issue and rightly so. Given that the First Ministers' Meeting on Aboriginal issues, arguably one of the most important moments in the history of Crown-Indigenous relations, is fast approaching, the timing of that conclusion really makes us think.

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The world has lost one of its great storytellers. On Sept. 10, Bernelda Wheeler passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.

She began her life on April 8, 1937 on Muskopetung First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan, one of six children of Cree, Assiniboine and Saulteaux heritage born to Colin and Clara Pratt of George Gordon First Nation.

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Southern Alberta's newest tourism attraction, the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, hosted its official launch on the 128th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7, Sept. 22.

The facility, located south of Cluny, Alta. on the Siksika Nation, is built on 2,000 acres of prairie grassland overlooking the Bow River. The site is where Treaty 7 was signed in 1877.

The celebration marked the completion of the vast majority of the construction elements. The facility will be open to the public in early spring 2006.

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Southern Alberta's newest tourism attraction, the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, hosted its official launch on the 128th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7, Sept. 22.

The facility, located south of Cluny, Alta. on the Siksika Nation, is built on 2,000 acres of prairie grassland overlooking the Bow River. The site is where Treaty 7 was signed in 1877.

The celebration marked the completion of the vast majority of the construction elements. The facility will be open to the public in early spring 2006.

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Something that started out as a hobby has turned into a "viable" business for Michaelee Lazore, a Mohawk from the Akwesasne reserve near Montreal. Sequoia is the name of her bath and body boutique that opened in March 2004 at the Tewatohnhi'saktha business complex in Kahnawake.

The name Sequoia comes from the giant sequoia trees that live to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Lazore said she wanted to pick a name that was related to nature, just like her products, because like the Natives, these trees were here before Columbus.

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Something that started out as a hobby has turned into a "viable" business for Michaelee Lazore, a Mohawk from the Akwesasne reserve near Montreal. Sequoia is the name of her bath and body boutique that opened in March 2004 at the Tewatohnhi'saktha business complex in Kahnawake.

The name Sequoia comes from the giant sequoia trees that live to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Lazore said she wanted to pick a name that was related to nature, just like her products, because like the Natives, these trees were here before Columbus.

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Cheryl Sorell is happy to receive a little help to pay her tuition this year.

Sorell, who is in her third year of studies towards a bachelor's degree in child and youth care, is just one of 78 Aboriginal students from across Alberta who will be receiving money from the provincial government to help cover their education expenses.

The province is providing a total of $338,000 in bursaries to the students, all of whom are enrolled in health care related programs.

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Cheryl Sorell is happy to receive a little help to pay her tuition this year.

Sorell, who is in her third year of studies towards a bachelor's degree in child and youth care, is just one of 78 Aboriginal students from across Alberta who will be receiving money from the provincial government to help cover their education expenses.

The province is providing a total of $338,000 in bursaries to the students, all of whom are enrolled in health care related programs.