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Friday the 13th was a little scary for Russell Gamble-but in a good way.

Gamble admitted to being "a little nervous" about accepting Basketball B.C.'s highest honour Feb. 13 at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre in Prince Rupert, and looked overwhelmed as he was ushered into the gym with traditional drumming and fellow members of the Gitxaala Nation at his side.

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It was an all-Haida evening on the final day of the 2004 All Native Basketball Tournament (ANT) in Prince Rupert, as Canadian Haidas met their American counterparts in two of the four division finals.

The 45th annual All Native wrapped up Feb. 15 at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre, with the marquee matchups featuring Haida Gwaii teams going against teams from Hydaburg, Alaska. The end result was a split, with Skidegate rolling over Hydaburg in the intermediate men's final, 120-89; followed by Hydaburg's 93-81 victory over Masset in the senior men's final.

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A building on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has been renovated to provide a safe and positive learning environment for urban Aboriginal people wanting a place to meet, study, share ideas and grow.

An open house was held March 4 at 1726 East Hastings Street to launch a resource centre offering socializing, cultural and health workshops and e-learning classes. The centre is the home of two programs known as the Skookhum Hub and the Native Youth e-Learning Centre.

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Remember that March 1 deadline for signing a government consent form or doing without non-insured health care?

Forget about it. The deadline is history. The government has changed its mind.

The government has scrapped the universal, national consent form after facing an aggressive lobby against it by First Nations and Inuit leaders and much suspicion from people that the data collected with the form would be used to undermine health care entitlements.

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Established and emerging Aboriginal artists strutted their stuff at the 2004 Talking Stick Festival in Vancouver from Feb. 29 to March 7.

Covering storytelling to feminist theatre, film-making to political stand-up comedy, mixed-media art to live music, Talking Stick showcased the cream of the crop of Aboriginal talent and filled Vancouver with pre-spring artistic vigour.

Artists Peter Morin and Sonny Assu are young, hip and cosmopolitan-just like their futuristic regalia that was on display at Vancouver's Grunt Gallery.

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Traditional Coast Salish drumbeats mixed with pirouettes and pixie dust in Ballet Victoria's production of Peter Pan.

For the first time on the West Coast, First Nations were a part of a major ballet production. Combining traditional First Nations dance movements with classical ballet, jazz dance, hiphop, Chinese contemporary, and rhythmic gymnastics, Ballet Victoria toured its ground-breaking production around Vancouver Island last month to rave reviews.

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The Adams Lake Band may soon have a Wal-Mart store on reserve. They are aiming for April 2005.

Actually the band has seven reserves, two of which are within the boundaries of the Municipal District of Salmon Arm where plans for a shopping mall are percolating.

Joyce Kenoras, who holds the economic develoment portfolio for Adams Lake Band, explained their plans and their deal with the District of Salmon Arm.

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The significance of the demonstration occurring on St. Valentine's Day wasn't lost on the participants who took to the streets in Vancouver's downtown eastside. They were there to remember loved ones gone missing or who have been found murdered.

"Many women (today) will be sharing their love and affection because they are important to someone," said Donna Dickson, a member of the Aboriginal Women's Action Network. "But there will be many more women who will never again know the special warmth that comes from knowing you are loved, wanted and respected."

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A proposed five-year plan to develop special education programs for First Nation children in the Sioux Lookout District completed its first phase in January.

Last November, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) approved Sioux Lookout area chiefs to use $240,000 previously earmarked to pay for a special education needs assessment covering the 24 schools supported by the District Education Planning Committee (DEPC). An additional $72,000 was approved for DEPC to develop a special education policy covering the 24 schools.

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The former town of Haileybury, which recently became incorporated into the city of Temiskaming Shores, may be home to a multifaceted Metis tourism business in the near future.

Connie Boyd, office manager of the Temiskaming Metis Community Council said the council is excited that its dream is beginning to take shape. She said that the area is steeped in rich Metis culture, so they want this venture to relate to the culture as much as it can.