An ambassador for Natives

Page 11

Leslie McLaren plans to speak out in support of Native people whenever the opportunity arises during her reign as Miss Canada 1991.

McLaren said she is amazed "how much ignorance about Native culture there is out there" and hopes her year as Miss Canada will give her many opportunities to speak out favorably on behalf of Indian people throughout the country.

McLaren claims her Native heritage through her great-grandmother, a Cree resident of Fort Chipewyan. Speaking at a news conference held at the Cedar Park Inn in Edmonton Nov. 26, McLaren said she was pleased with the recent advances made in land claim negotiations with various Indian bands and Metis settlements.

The St. Albert woman is a Native studies student at the University of Alberta. "I was to be the first student to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the program this December but I'm putting my education on hold for awhile," she said.

McLaren has lived in urban areas all her life but keeps in touch with her culture as much as possible. "Last summer I participated in Raven Mackinaw's camp located 80 miles west of the city, where we concentrated on cultural experiences," she said.

McLaren has also worked as a summer student for the Indian Association of Alberta.

The newly-crowned Miss Canada also feels strongly about declining respect and care of elders by young people.

McLaren, who made headlines by publicly supporting trappers shortly after being crowned, said she has "been questioned by a lot of people already about my stand on trapping, especially when I wear my fur coat as Miss Canada. I try to impress upon propel the economic and social importance to the trapping industry among the Native people of Canada's North."

McLaren will spend much of the next year traveling throughout the county.

With her parents and four brothers she has already traveled to various parts of Canada, much of the time camping. As an exchange student, she spent three months in Ste. Therese, Quebec.

While English is her main language, she speaks some French and Cree as well.