September 2006

Providing communication to Métis and non-Métis people to create awareness, promote and preserve Métis heritage and culture.

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The opinions and advertisements contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Métis Matters Foundation of Alberta nor the opinions of any Métis local, regional, or provincial organization or their affiliates. These views expressed in this publication are those of its contributors only. The publisher invites comments from our readers but reserves the right to edit or reject material at her discretion.

To receive the newsletter, to send submissions or to advertise, contact us at:

Box 3263, Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8H 2T2
Phone number: 780-975-2084
Fax number: 780-416-4619
Email: info@metismatters.com
Website: www.metismatters.com

News and Advertisement Deadline: 20th of every month

Date to be Announced
Conklin Annual Talent Show
Conklin, Alberta
1:00 pm, Dance at 9:00 p.m.
Contact Peggy at 780-559-8900 or Wendy at 780-559-2235.

SEPTEMBER 9 - 11, 2006
Manitoba Metis Federation Annual General Assembly
Brandon, Manitoba
Contact 1-204-586-8474

SEPTEMBER 13, 2006
Southern Alberta Self Employment Seminars
Lethbridge Métis Employment Center, 740-4th Ave S, Lethbridge, Alberta
Contact Shelley Honish 1-877-800-5603.

SEPTEMBER 15 - 17, 2006
12th Annual Prince Albert Métis Fall Festival Inc.
Prince Albert Exhibition Centre, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Contact 1-306-922-1998 or Kevin 1-306-763-7936 or Nellie 1-306-763-2086

SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
Student Welcoming Celebration hosted by the Circle of Aboriginal Students
Grande Prairie Regional College

SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
MNA Local 1994 7th Annual Talent Show
Jigging, Vocals, Fiddling
Akasaka Curling Rink, Grande Cache, AB
Registration @ 6 pm
Show @ 7 pm
Contact 780-827-2002

OCTOBER 11, 2006
Southern Alberta Self Employment Seminars
Medicine Hat Métis Employment Center, #8 - 3307 Dunmore Rd SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Contact Shelley Honish 1-877-800-5603.

OCTOBER 12, 2006
Ben Calf Robe Society's AGM and Aboriginal Children’s CD Release Party
Santa Maria Goretti Centre,11050-90 St, Edmonton, AB
8:00 pm
Contact 780-477-6648

Training and Employment Opportunity for Métis Youth
Firesmart-Forest Wise Crew
Jasper National Park

This program is designed to train, develop and employ a specialized Métis crew to manage forest fuels for wildfire protection and restore natural forest conditions in the wildland/urban interface. Work is located in Jasper.

• Program starts October 19, 2006
• Full time employment runs until March 22, 2007
• Rate of pay is $15.00/hour.
• Relocation assistance available

Employees will be responsible for housing and transportation; assistance in locating and arranging accommodation provided. Commuting from Hinton is acceptable.

To apply or to receive more information visit the office at 568 Carmichael Lane or call Métis Employment Services office in Hinton (780) 865-8229 or toll free 1 888 865 8229.

Northern Lakes College Instructor Brings a Piece of Alberta to the Smithsonian
By Joe McWilliams

Fish scales. More than anything else, visitors to Margaret Cardinal's display at the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival were fascinated by her fish scale art.

“It was a big hit,” says Cardinal, who spent a couple of weeks in late June and early July at the cultural festival in Washington D.C.

“I had birch bark baskets filled with fish scales. I got people to touch them and feel them. They couldn't believe it.”

The scales were dyed, according to a process invented by Mary Periard at Northern Lakes College in Grouard, and developed further by Cardinal, in her role as instructor of the college's Aboriginal Art and Design program. As one of 120 Albertans invited to the Smithsonian's festival, Cardinal had a free hand to show off the arts and crafts she has been teaching for many years at the college.

She had also been asked – and was prepared – to answer questions about her work, her life and her culture as a Cree Albertan. She heard plenty.

“People asked what tribe I'm from, whether I still spoke my language (she does). The weather. Do you still live on reserves?”

They asked lots too about the fish scale art, surprised that the dye Margaret uses is commonly available in stores, rather than obtained from traditional sources.

“I'll do traditional dyes on commission,” say Cardinal. “But you have to take as long picking blueberries as you do dying scales.”

Plus, the store-bought dyes produce brighter colours. Combining traditional arts and modern methods is an aspect of contemporary Cree culture, and part of Cardinal's aim at the festival was to convey that fact.

“I had IKEA furniture in my tipi,” she says, by way of example.

Also among the questions Cardinal fielded from curious festival visitors were ones about the work she does as an instructor at Northern Lakes College.

“They wanted to know where Grouard was, what type of college, the range it covers, what type of programs.”
Cardinal answered questions too, about the Native Cultural Arts Museum, which is located on the college campus in Grouard. She has a close relationship with the museum – many of its artifacts were made by either her or her students. She had some of them along with her at the Smithsonian festival.

“I had borrowed displays from the Grouard museum,” she says.

Home now from her adventure in Washington D.C., Cardinal is ready to go back to teaching courses in Aboriginal Arts & Design wherever the college requires it. She's scheduled to provide cultural content to some of the college’s university transfer courses. Also, she expects to continue presenting short courses in communities wherever the demand arises. One place that might be – interestingly enough – is in Washington State, directly as a result of contacts made in Washington D.C. Also at the festival were traditional basket weavers from all over the United States. Cardinal became acquainted with many of them.

“These ladies in Washington want me to come down there – so they'll have to talk to the college,” she says.
There's another working trip to the States in her plans. While in Washington, Cardinal and some other people were allowed to view a collection of American Indian artifacts from a donated private collection. Particularly interested in the dolls, she noticed that some had been mis-identified as work by Cree artists.

“They were Chipewyan,” she says. “They took note and said, 'This is exactly what we want.”

The upshot was that the Smithsonian people invited Cardinal and some other people to spend a week identifying and labeling the artifacts, and making recommendations. She's not sure when she'll get the chance, but she definitely wants to do it.
Meanwhile, at that other museum in Grouard, the college is considering what its future might be. College President Rick Neidig says the college board is in the process of clarifying the vision for the museum and its associated historical village.

“I want to establish that end vision with the stakeholders,” he says.

The museum has been a part of the college since 1976. More recently, the college began collecting old buildings to form part of the historical village. Together with tents and tipis (in season) this forms the 'village' that is the basis for a series of hands-on historical programs that are popular with schools in the area.

Whether, and how, to develop the village into a “world class” facility, are questions the college board of governors and the museum's interim board must answer, “hopefully this year,” Neidig says.

Being a teacher is amazing, powerful, inspiring and, of course, exhausting work. As a former teacher myself, I can attest that when you hit your stride as a teacher, it is a dance of learning and laughter.

Teaching can be a wonderfully rewarding career that makes a real difference in the lives of pupils. Your motivation needs to come from having the desire to help children by enriching their lives. An anonymous teacher once wisely proclaimed: “If you can read this, thank a teacher.”

As attention heightened on the importance of building a knowledge-based society and economy over the past decade, the related issues of access to and success in advanced learning opportunities has grown in prominence. Educational attainment plays an important role, not only in improved labour market integration, employment prospects and earnings, but also in social and cultural health and prosperity of individuals.

As part of the Government of Alberta’s commitment to improve the levels of Aboriginal learners’ success, the Advanced Education department has developed Aboriginal Teacher Education Programs (ATEP). ATEP is an off-campus elementary teacher education program designed to improve the educational success of Aboriginal children by increasing the number of Aboriginal teachers in communities in northern Alberta.

Such support is needed. Currently, the high school completion rate for Aboriginal students is 37%, compared to 65% for the general population. The drop-out rate before completion of Grade 8 for Aboriginal students is 18%, whereas in the general population, it is only 3%.

Government funding, a steadfast belief in the possibilities, and incredible collaborative relationships with Aboriginal partners lead to the opening of ATEP sites at Blue Quills First Nations College in St. Paul followed by Northern Lakes College, which now offers a full four-year program at five campus sites in northern Alberta. Maskwachees Cultural College in Hobbema also offers ATEP. The key for students is the opportunity to complete their teacher education from within or close to their own communities.

Orientations for the 2006-07 ATEP sessions are now in underway - check your nearest site for start dates and times!

If you have any questions about Alberta’s Métis and Aboriginal policies, contact Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development by e-mail at aand.website@gov.ab.ca or call (780) 427-8407. Send letters to:

Hon. Pearl Calahasen
403 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB. T5K 2B6

Rose never failed to follow the traditions of her people and was an outspoken individual who frequently honoured the sacred elements of her culture and the plentiful bounties of Mother Earth. She was known far and wide as a Medicine Woman, a healer and a spiritual Elder who proved an equally powerful orator whenever the occasion warranted it. Whenever she spoke, there was a force you just knew had to be respected.

A recipient of a National Aboriginal Achievement Award a few years ago, Rose was never afraid to express her thoughts or mince words. Anyone who knew her, knows that. It’s unfortunate we no longer have this articulate and vocal advocate in our midst. Her absence will definitely be felt for some time.

A traditional wake on August 4 at Faust, Alberta, and a funeral on August 5 at Driftpile First Nation Reserve closed the book on Rose’s life but her memory will live on through her children – Fred, Anne Marie, Dale, Laura, George and Michael in addition to four brothers, six sisters, 32 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Listening to People
It’s going to be interesting to hear back from Edmonton’s Aboriginal Accord Initiative, which is collating data gathered after holding a series of community gatherings with the Aboriginal sector of the city regarding a vast array of issues and concerns of the city’s urban Aboriginal population. The organization will certainly offer up a raft of suggestions and recommendations that will be brought to the attention of city council.

Dubbed “Your City, Your Voice,” the community discussions were part of a process meant to help guide Edmonton as its Native community continues to grow, a city that is purported to be on the verge of intense increases in population, so much so that it is thought it will outstrip the largest existing urban Native population (Winnipeg) within several years. When that happens, will Edmonton be prepared to take on the burden? Numerous individuals, organizations and services participated in the gatherings to offer their insights and express their hopes and fears of what lies ahead and to better prepare for the future of Edmonton’s Aboriginal community.

The accord is guided by a group of Native Elders and advisors that really do have their work cut out. To its credit, the Accord advisors and staff have the foresight to study conditions and programs in other parts of the country and will undoubtedly take the best from those models to design one that they feel will meet the wants and needs of Edmonton.

For those who may not already know, Edmonton has the largest number of Aboriginal services and programs of any urban center in the entire country. This singular fact is one that the city and community can well be proud of.

In Sports
LaRose. Do you know the name? No? Well get used to it. I’m referring to J.R. LaRose and for those not in tune, the family name stems from the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, just a short ways east-north-east of Edmonton.

Anyway, this year the 6’ 1” J.R., who was only on the practice roster last year, cracked the starting line-up for the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos this season and by mid-August was able to legitimately lay claim to no less than seven special team tackles in four games.

The Eskies head coach, Danny Maciocia, spoke highly of the 197-pound LaRose and has great expectations of this man whom he described as “unbelievable.” Indeed! How could he not impress when after his first turn at the grid iron versus Saskatchewan, LaRose chalked up five tackles and five hits! Maciocia figures he could last anywhere from eight to 12 years and like any new teammate, J.R. has veteran Eskimo players that he will surely learn from.

At press time we were unable to contact LaRose, his coach or communications personnel at the Eskimo office. However, watch for the next issue of Metis Matters when we hope to update our readers about this promising athlete.

Lac St. Anne
Another summer’s come and gone and with it, another round of the Lac St. Anne Pilgrimage. This year, however, the Board Chairman, Charles Wood, raised a few weighty concerns. Two of the more pressing ones, he noted, revolve around the matter of needing more volunteers and more money. In short, the huge annual event is short-handed and in financial difficulty. Needless to say, it is looking at all sorts of possible options to rectify matters and is open to suggestions and donations of money and/or manpower.

Can you help? If so, don’t be shy. Pick up the phone and contact 780-445-7986 or 924-2022.

I saw this statue and wrote a letter to the Edmonton Journal protesting the fact that the First Nations man wasn’t identified. McDougal was named so why wasn’t the other person. In other words he was a “No-Name Indian”. The Journal did publish my letter and gave me the name of the sculptor who was retired and living in B.C.

When I phoned to ask the sculptor why he hadn’t give this man a name, he got pretty upset and said, “I made him up”. He said he looked in books, copied others and made a composition of an Indian. He said he put the bone in the man’s hair because that is what he thought an Indian should look like. He was very annoyed that I had asked him the question.

I told Ron Hayter the Edmonton City Councilor that if the Métis hadn’t been cheated and frauded of their script that they might have been the prominent business people in the city and maybe the statue of a Métis businessman would have been placed in front of the Public Library and the Chamber of Commerce offices.

So now if you are ever in downtown Edmonton go visit the statue directly across on the north side of the Westin Hotel. You will see the generic statue of the man handing John McDougal the pelt.

P.S. Another distorted bit of our history is that many of our women buried in the St Albert cemetery are not named. They were only given the title “wife” of someone. Also the degradation and the violation of the Métis gravesite south of Andrew is horrible.

The first event was the 9th Annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest just outside of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from August 10-14th, 2006. This was a four day festival in which the first two days were fiddle, guitar, piano and jigging lessons. I joined in the fiddle lessons and learned a couple of new tunes. The next two days were filled with fiddling and jigging competitions, and let me tell you, it was awesome! There are so many talented people out in Métis Country! My hat's off to John and Vicki Arcand for a job well done.

The second event was the 78th Annual General Assembly held in Lac La Biche, Alberta, August 17-20, 2006. This year’s assembly was held at the Portage College. The community of Lac La Biche did an excellent job of showcasing their Métis pride including lining Main Street with Métis flags and businesses displaying “Welcome Métis Delegates” on their sign boards. It was business as usual during the reports with most questions directed at membership issues and the Interim Métis Harvesting Agreement. There were four special resolutions tabled and all did not receive the 75 % support required to pass. The most debated issue was the special resolution to move the Assembly to Métis Crossing starting next year and leaving it there. Most of the speakers felt that it was too early to move there and that people enjoyed going to the different communities.

There were also two ordinary resolutions tabled and passed this year. The first was to extend the deadline for the old Métis cards until April, 2009. The second one was to provide part time membership staff to the locals to help with the membership. Both received overwhelming support by the voting delegates.

The third event was Métis Crossing’s second Annual gathering. It was a really good experience, as there was great entertainment, cultural workshops and lot of visiting. It was nice to set up my tent there and fall asleep under the stars, with the sound of fiddles and laughter being shared around the campfires. I must commend the Métis Crossing board of directors, the staff and the volunteers for a great job done. As this is only the second year, there are still some bugs to be worked out, but according to the numbers of people camping there and coming through the gate (over two thousand people throughout the weekend) it is evident that Métis Crossing is here to stay.

All in all the summer has proven to be a busy one, and with school now around the corner I wish all the students a successful year.

If you would like more information on any of these events, or any Métis issues, I can be reached by email at tgladue@metis.org or toll free at 1-800-252-7553.

The weather was downright wonky with a mixture of torrential downpours, raging winds, and beautiful sunshine, but Mother Nature’s moodiness didn’t seem to deter festival goers in any way, shape or form. Participation in Thursday’s roster of fiddle workshops and an evening concert – both new offerings this year – was phenomenal, with 293 registrations for workshops and an audience of over 500 for the evening concert. Saturday’s workshop numbers exploded with 590 registrations in fiddle, Red River Jigging, guitar, and piano. To put that growth in perspective, the year 2005 saw 252 workshop registrations and there were 108 in 2004.

“I knew that the demand for training in fiddle music and dance was growing among people from both my Métis culture and non-Métis cultures,” says the festival’s founder John Arcand. “This rate of participation proves that we need to do more to find the resources necessary to develop young musicians and dancers and present their art to the public.”

Arcand’s mandate in founding this festival was to preserve the traditions of fiddle music and dance that are such an important part of the Métis cultural fabric, but were dying with the loss of Elders over time. It seems that John’s most fervent wish to keep the traditions of his heritage alive are coming true. Of the 883 registrations for workshops received in total, 307 were by youth 12 and under. The participants come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Saturday and Sunday featured a sanctioned fiddle contest and the Canadian Red River Jigging Championships. A record fifty-four fiddlers – who ranged in age from under ten to over 70 – competed. Winners were declared in a dozen categories on Sunday. Thirty jiggers competed in six categories. The jigging contest culminated in an exciting challenge between the judges’ chosen Men’s first place finisher, Scott Duffee of Saskatoon and second place finisher Ryan Richard of Sandy Bay, Manitoba. After an exhausting 45 changes, Ryan successfully won the challenge by one upping Scott with a 46th step to finish in first place and also to win Overall Grand Champion.

With a variety of concerts and dances packing the house to round out the weekend as well as a fiddles & flapjacks breakfast bright and early on Sunday that drew a record 187 people, organizers consider the 9th Annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest a complete and total success. “Our attendance over the four days went from 2170 in 2005 to 3730 in 2006. That’s about 72% more people,” says Vicki Arcand, the Festival’s Director. “There were times when we wondered where we would put everyone and how we could possibly look after their needs, but they are a great bunch of people and everyone took the challenges resulting from our growth in stride. Many have been with us since the very early days of the festival. They feel like family and they support us every way that they can, including being patient in line ups for food and washrooms or cuddling their chairs closer to their neighbours to make room for more people. We will immediately start the job of preparing for an even larger edition of our festival for 2007 – our 10th anniversary year. We have an interesting road ahead as we find the ways to grow our resources to meet this incredible demand and celebrate this important anniversary.”

Some of the highlights of the festival’s performance line up included a presentation of Métis Square Dancing by the Kikino Northern Lights Dancers of Alberta, Les Cireux d’Semelles, a French Canadian group from Saskatchewan, among many others. The perennial favourite presentation by John Arcand and Friends packed the house for the festival’s largest crowd of the weekend on Saturday Night. Les Moccasins of Manitoba and Bannock Country of Debden provided music for two old time dances that took place Friday and Saturday evenings.

The 10th Annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest will take place August 9-12, 2007 at the Arcand’s acreage just west of Saskatoon.

Métis Nation of Alberta Region 5 Report
FASD Workshops
Florence Gladue is available to deliver workshops regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Region 5. Interested organizations, schools or communities please call Florence at 1-780-843-6312 or 1-780-849-5830. It is important to get the facts and dispel the myths to our communities for awareness and prevention. Workshops are for everyone and are in delivered in a safe and nonjudgemental manner.

You see what you want to see,
And reserve your familiar looks,
For the tribe that you have seen and heard,
Expelling the whiteness from your books.

You litmus test my skin
And then you demarcate a line.
Muted air fills our space,
Why isn’t this a crime?

You stare but can’t define my self,
So you sling a verbal-arrow.
You retain your view of race and kin.
I lament for my People of tomorrow.

You behold my ambiguous mixed-race face.
And reserve your familiar looks,
For the tribe that you have seen and heard
Expelling the whiteness from your books.

Your mind grapples to discern me.
To you my culture is counterfeit.
You don’t say much, but I hear the insolence.
You don’t talk, or smile, or find a fit.

Prejudice is a baneful and persistent evil.
Because it leaves no space to talk.
Unearth the filthy lines of dissension.
They cripple our people, ‘til we can’t walk.

Let’s not waste our grandfather’s work,
That they have earned in tears.
No more dismissive overtures.
This recognition space could take years.

Let’s smile and talk, and build that bridge.
This silence is surreal.
Let's heal ourselves, our hearts, and minds.
And live with the Medicine Wheel

Announcement of New Book The Metis – Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities
An informative and exciting new book titled The Metis – Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities by the Métis historian George Goulet and his wife Terry is now available.

This is a fascinating and factual book that provides a truthful picture of the Métis and their history. The information in this book has been extensively researched and it includes reference notes, bibliography, and an index.

It provides an insightful picture into the history, heritage and culture of the Metis people and brings to life many of their fabulous feats and magnetic personalities. It describes:
● the term “Métis”; the genesis of the Métis Nation; Métis symbols and their origins; and the lifestyle of the Métis people;
● the Battle of Seven Oaks; the Sinclair Expedition; the buffalo hunt; the Red River Resistance; and the North-West Uprising;
● other Memorable Events such as Constitutional and Supreme Court Recognition of the Métis;
● Memorable Personalities including Louis Riel, Gabriel Dumont, Cuthbert Grant and Harry Daniels.

The Metis - Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities provides a colorful and enlightening history of the Métis people. It is a book co-written by a Métis to provide a factual well-researched account of the Métis people, some of the Memorable Events and some of the Memorable Personalities in their unique history.

You can purchase their 336 page new book The Metis - Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities from the web page www.fabjob.com/metis.html for approximately $19.95 (Cdn.) per book plus shipping costs. See this web site for additional information on the book and the authors.

Métis organizations can contact the Goulets at (403) 289-5846 with respect to a discount for bulk sales.

GEORGE GOULET is the best-selling author of the book The Trial of Louis Riel, Justice and Mercy Denied and is also the author of the legal text Public Share Offerings and Stock Exchange Listings in Canada. He was born at St. Boniface, Manitoba and is a registered member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Pierre Delorme (George’s great grandfather) was in Louis Riel’s Provisional Government and is profiled in this book. Also profiled is George’s great uncle, the Métis martyr Elzear Goulet.

TERRY GOULET was the chief researcher for the book The Trial of Louis Riel, Justice and Mercy Denied (www.fabjob.com/riel.htm).

Terry and George have co-authored other books, and have given dozens of talks about the Métis people to thousands of people across Canada - from Vancouver Island in the Pacific Ocean to Prince Edward Island in the Atlantic Ocean. They will be guest speakers at the following events during the month of September:

September 2, 2006 – Montana Metis Days, Lewistown Montana;
September 18, 2006 – Lethbridge Public Library, Lethbridge, Alberta;
September 22, 2006 – Gabriel Dumont Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba;
September 29, 2006 – Annual General Meeting of the Metis Nation of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC.

GEORGE AND TERRY GOULET
74 Artists View Drive,
Calgary, Alberta, T3Z 3N4
Telephone: (403) 289-5846; Fax: (403) 287-3883

Sound familiar? They should. After all, they are but a few of the huge hits belted out by Alberta’s own home-grown country music phenom, Terri Clark.

Clark, a Metis and one of the biggest names to ever come out of Medicine Hat or Alberta for that matter, kicked up her heels in familiar fashion once again this year as the closing act on Sat., Aug. 5, at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta.

Talk about being a credit to the country music scene, that’s Clark. As anyone who has attended her concerts can attest, she’s a high-flying, dynamic performer that gives her audience 100 per cent and then some.

With no fewer than three platinum albums, Clark has ridden an amazing wave of success after hitting the charts in 1995 with Better Things To Do. Following a mere decade in the business, she’s become the idol and model of many aspiring Canadian artists and was welcomed and inducted as a member of country music’s most prestigious circle, the Grand Ole Opry. She is the first female Canadian artist to accomplish this feat and feels humbled to have shared stage with some of the biggest and best in the business. Indeed, she’s toured with the best – Brooks and Dunn, Vince Gill, Reba, George Strait, etc – and has, on five occasions, won the Canadian Country Music Association’s fan-favourite award, Entertainer of the Year. But, Clark is not only a fine vocalist; she’s also a talented musician and a prolific songwriter who’s penned a number of her own hits.

Although she’s been living in Nashville for some time now, Clark often returns to Alberta, never forgetting her roots and the people who helped her on her road to stardom and, yes, that includes her tens of thousands of fans.

Clark was in some good company this year joining the likes of the main headliner, Gretchen Wilson, as well as Lorrie Morgan, Lee Ann Womack, Montgomery Gentry, Jeff Foxworthy and Sawyer Brown.

Still, Big Valley also showcased one additional country artist who is of Native ancestry. The face is that of Shooter Jennings, son of Jessi Colter and the late and great Waylon Jennings.

Shooter and his band, the 357s, were the fourth act on opening day of Big Valley and it proved a hard act for many in the audience in that most could not figure out if he was country, country rock, southern rock, something else or, a little of each.

No matter how one labels his music, Shooter’s songs truly are his. He’s the real deal, not one trying to live off his dad’s fame or style. Shooter follows his own heart, just like his dad before him. He simply does his own thing, is true to himself and doesn’t compromise for anybody or anything.

As for touring, Shooter is no stranger to that world. After all, he spent his waddling years on his parent’s tour bus. He got into drumming at age five, then made the transition to piano and, finally, immersed himself in a guitar at 14. He hasn’t looked back since. Having done the club circuit in Los Angeles for several years, Shooter picked up some new musicians, named them the 357s, and recorded Put the o Back in Country.

The rest, as the saying goes, is history. By the way, Shooter’s legal name is Waylon Albright Jennings.

No show
A no show at Big Valley this year was another artist of Native ancestry – Mel Tillis. Mind you, he had good reason as his tour bus broke down in North Dakota and could not be repaired in time for him to meet his time frame at Big Valley.

Responsible for composing such monumental hits as Detroit City and Ruby Don’t Take Your Guns to Town, Tillis appeared numerous times on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, on the Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour and, along with Dolly Parton, was a featured artist on the Porter Wagoner Show, and for six consecutive years Tillis was named the Country Music Association’s comedian of the year. He last appeared at Big Valley in 2002.

Call for Abstracts - Journal of Aboriginal Health
This is a call for abstracts of papers for emerging knowledge in the area of First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis women's health to be submitted for consideration for publication in the fourth issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Health, published by the National Aboriginal Health Organization. Some general Aboriginal health research abstracts will be accepted to complement the theme as these abstracts may also fit into future issues of the Journal. The Journal of Aboriginal Health is seeking abstracts of papers that enhance our understanding of Aboriginal women’s health issues from a variety of writers including academics and scholars, students, community health professionals, traditional healers and community members. Contributions are encouraged from Aboriginal community-based practitioners and/or researchers whose work may involve innovative, preventative or traditional approaches to Aboriginal women’s health.

The Journal of Aboriginal Health strives to provide Aboriginal health research excellence with community relevance and follows a double-blind peer review process by both academic and community scholars. To that end, the Journal shares success stories in Aboriginal health, discusses issues and opportunities and provides the latest information and research of interest to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Abstracts are welcome in either official language; however articles will only be published in the language of submission.

Submit original, unpublished abstracts of 250 words, of papers approximately 20 pages or 5,000 words suitable for peer review, by October 15, 2006 to:

Journal of Aboriginal Health
National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 1200, Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9
Tel : 1-877-602-4445 / Fax: (613) 233-1810 / Email: dsoucy@naho.ca
Electronic submissions are preferred.
Ensure to consult the Journal of Aboriginal Health style guidelines at:
www.naho.ca/english/communications_journal.php

View the full call for abstracts at www.naho.ca

At the John Arcand Fiddle Fest jiggers really have a chance to showcase their talent!

Usually Red River Jigging competitions require each dancer to perform only 2 or 3 changes (fancy steps), not at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest. At this festival jiggers have to really work for their prize money and title. Dancers must demonstrate talent and stamina. Talent because they must be able to remember and dance "traditional" steps and stamina because they must dance as many steps as they know continuously.

John says that this is the traditional way that Red River Jigging competitions were held and credits his father, Victor Arcand, with the following rules and regulations:

Challenges

Those awarded second place in their category can challenge the first place contestant.

Wild Rice Salad
Courtesy of Chrisit Belcourt
The Mé tis Cookbook & Guide to Healthy Living
Métis Centre @ NAHO

1 cup wild rice
3 cups water
1/2 tsp of salt (added to rice when cooking)
1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
1/2 small onion, finelt chopped
1 cup fresh or 1 small can of corn (not creamed)
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper
small pinch of allspice
1/4 tsp rubbed sage (only a dash if using ground sage)
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp canola or light olive oil

Add 1/2 tsp salt to water in a pot and bring water to a boil, add wild rice, cover, reduce heat and simmer fo 45 to 50 minutes until all wild rice is opened. Drain and let cool in a large bowl.

Chop onion, green pepper and red pepper. Add chopped vegetables and corn to wild rice. Toss together. Add vinegar, oil, salt, sage and allspice to mixture and toss several times. Taste. Add more salt if desired.

Refrigerate leftovers and it keeps for 4 to 5 days. Not suitable for freezing.