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Though the new year has hardly begun, progress already made toward entrenching the Native right to self-government with in the Constitution is making up for 1987's dismal performance when the first ministers' conference ended in failure.

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Faust Elder Rose Auger believes people need a strong link with their cultural roots to succeed in life.

But, Auger is concerned that Natives are losing their cultural identity. "Most Indian people have lots o desire and want to help our people. But, they need more than compassion for their people ? they need to know about their ancestry," stresses the 48-year-old Elder.

Auger believes traditional ways were suppressed when non-Natives intervened in Native life, but says Indian people share the blame "for allowing spirit and culture to grow weak."

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"This is a dream come true."

These were the words of Don Burnstick, Spirit of the Rainbow program worker, spoken as he watched about 300 young people holding hands in a round dance at the Enoch rec centre gym.

Burnstick was raised on the Alexander reserve and was overjoyed to help his people, especially young ones, find their roots and grow up in the Native tradition, instead of succumbing to drugs and alcohol, at a recent Yellowhead Tribal council Eagle Flight '87 youth conference.

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People

Some call her a rebel, some say she's a trouble maker, but they all agree that history professor Olive Dickason is a feisty woman who knows how to fight for her rights.

Recently Dickason, who teaches Aboriginal history at the University of Alberta, made headlines for her fight against the university's mandatory retirement laws.

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The accusations that Indians killed a herd of Bighorn sheep near Rocky Mountain House has blown the lid off a simmering pot of explosive opinions regarding Native hunting rights.

Many people have long disputed the special status of Indians when it comes to hunting, and this incident just adds fuel to the fire. It has already prompted an Alberta Wilderness Association biologist to press for a restriction of Treaty hunting rights.

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The Zone 4 Regional Council of the Metis Association of Alberta is suing its former vice president and director for alleged removal of documents.

In a statement of claim, the zone asks $28,337.13 in damages from former vice president Ben Courtrille, former director Ron LaRocque and former bookkeeper Marjorie Freidel.

Contacted in his Edmonton office, Larocque said he would be defending the action.

Power back at Fox Lake

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The Alberta government will be going to court Feb. 8 to appeal a ruling that provincial regulations were broken in the approval of the Oldman River dam construction.

Lawyers for the government and the Friends of the Oldman River will argue whether or not Environment Minister Ken Kowalski ignored the need for public notice before approving the controversial $349 million project.

Despite a court decision in December saying the government broke the rules, construction continues at the Three Rivers site as the province was granted a stay order.

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A controversial cartoon labelled "racist" by the Alberta Press Council has been purchased by the Glenbow Museum archives.

The cartoon, published in an October edition of the Calgary Herald and drawn by Vance Rodewalt depicted a Lubicon "camp fire" scene when an Elder was instructing a youngster. The carton included references to the sacred pipe, fermented blueberries and "white consultants" who manipulate Native people.

Iqaluit, NWT.

Many Inuit say they are unhappy over an agreement Canada and the United States will sign on the movement of marine traffic in the High Arctic because it does not ensure Canadian sovereignty.

The Inuit have also complained over their lack of involvement in the negotiation process saying it was ironic that the Canadian Government sent Inuit from northern Quebec to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord in the early 1950s to assert sovereignty, but would not allow Inuit to sit in on the talks with the United States.

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Lake Brochet, Man.

The caribou recovery from near extinction in northern Manitoba has meant isolated Indian communities are returning tot heir traditional way of life.

Officials estimate that at least 50,000 barren-ground caribou have moved into Manitoba from the Northwest Territories.