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March 2007 Métis Matters Providing communication to Métis and non-Métis people to create awareness, promote and preserve Métis heritage and culture. Edited and Published by Felice Gladue We welcome donations to cover our costs. Cheques can be made payable to the Métis Matters Foundation of Alberta. Thank you for your continued support. Please forward this copy to others that may be interested in keeping updated on our community. 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:
Quotation "Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." ~ Will Rogers
Events
Education/Employment
Speaking Up, Speaking Out Métis Me
Working with You
Métis Interest Articles
National Métis News
Joke of the Month
Events
Calvin Vollrath's 15th Annual CD Release Party Dear Fiddle Fans, We’ll get things going on Friday, March 30th with an Old Tyme Dance at the Yellowhead Motor Inn, 149th Street & Yellowhead Trail in Edmonton. The amazing Patti Lamoureux (Kusturok) of Comox BC will be supplying the great dance music. Old Time Fiddle at it’s very best. I’ll get up & give her a hand once in a while as well. Tickets are $8.00 (available at the door); Dance starts at 8 PM (Doors open at 7 pm) On Saturday, March 31st, the party moves to the beautiful Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan, a short 20-min drive northeast of Edmonton for the 15th Annual CD Release Party to celebrate the release of my new CD “Looking Back…25 years of Recording”. To help in the celebration will be the Métis Child & Family Services Little Jiggers, along with fiddlers Shane Cook & Mark Sullivan, both of Ontario. The Little Jiggers are a terrific group of young dancers carrying on the tradition of Métis dance, and they are a treat to watch. Mark, who is now the feature fiddler in the highly acclaimed Don Messer’s Jubilee tribute show and Shane is the only Canadian to have won the US National Championship in Weiser Idaho. Don’t miss this opportunity to see and hear all these very talented young entertainers. Tickets are $22.50. Show starts at 7 PM. On Sunday, April 1st, it’s the 7th annual Calvin Vollrath Fiddle Gala at the Dow Centennial Centre. Here you will discover more of Canada’s finest fiddlers as they take to the stage to perform their own unique style of fiddling. This is a totally different concert than the night before. This has always been a great show and this year will be no different. I will host this show, fiddle in hand! Tickets are $16.00. Show starts at 2 PM. Hope to see you there. Tickets available at: Elder's Circle For several years, Edmonton’s Aboriginal community have been trying to find a place within the city limits to hold traditional ceremonies, including sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies, which offer an opportunity for prayer and healing. Many attempts have been made to secure a land base for the Aboriginal community and overcome some of the barriers many people have for participating in traditional activities, such as ceremonies. In the spring of 2006, the search for land to hold ceremonies began once again. A location was cited in the River Valley on the South shore of the North Saskatchewan River near Fort Edmonton, known to many as “Fox Farms” but now referred to as the “Whitemud Ravine Nature Reserve”. In the past, the land had been used to hold Aboriginal cultural ceremonies by Students of the University of Alberta, only a short walk away. Elders and other members of Edmonton’s Aboriginal community began talks with the City of Edmonton for use of the land and perhaps turning ownership of the land back over to the Aboriginal population. As negotiations with the City of Edmonton continued, the Elders saw a need to become more organized in their approach and the Indigenous Elders Cultural Resource Circle Society was created and was incorporated in January 2007. If Elders from your organization or community would like to provide input into this project and make sure that the unique protocols of your community are represented, please attend the Elders Gathering on March 29th & 30th at the Ramada Inn on Kingsway. For more information or register, please call the Indigenous Elders Cultural Resource Circle Society at 780-423-3367 or e-mail iecrc@telus.net.
Nominations Open for Men of Honour Awards Men of Honour Award Ceremony and Fund-raising Breakfast Ten men will be selected for distinction as “Men of Honour” at this year’s Award Ceremony on Tuesday, April 24th at the Westin Hotel (7:00 - 8:45 AM). Honourees will be chosen from public nominations by a committee of men. Visit www.paafe.org to nominate someone today! Nominations close March 20, 2007 “Men of Honour are those who act in meaningful ways to foster respect,
Contact: Doug Thompson – 378-0586 or Kate Quinn – 471-6143/717-6659 MARCH 8 - May 24, 2007 (Thursdays) MARCH 12 - 17, 2007 MARCH 30, 2007 MARCH 31, 2007 APRIL 1, 2007 Tickets for the Calvin Vollrath Events available at: APRIL 14, 2007 APRIL 24, 2007
MAY 2, 2007 MAY 3, 2007 JULY 14 & 15, 2007 Education / Employment GPRC Provides Solutions for Trucking Industry In addition to offering preparation for the Class 1 and 3 licensing, the courses in the Truck Training program include Air Brake Endorsement, Log Books, Load Securement, GODI and Bill C45. Two instructors and one training vehicle are now providing training through a curriculum that can be utilized as either individual courses or as a customized package for corporate clients. GPRC made the decision to develop its own Truck Training program after former training partner Fleet Safety International closed its Grande Prairie operation last summer. A training vehicle was purchased from FSI, and the College also hired Ruth Hopson, a former FSI administrator, who is now developing curriculum in the new program. “We are very pleased to have been able to keep the best possible instructors for this program in our community,” says Kathleen Frei, Director of Workforce Development at GPRC. “The past months have presented both a challenge and an opportunity, and we have used the opportunity to the best possible benefit for drivers and industry in our region.” Industry has been very supportive of the Truck Training Centre, and several companies have indicated their interest in recruiting successful students. “GPRC hopes to continue to work with industry to meet the demand for truck driver and we are committed to offering high-quality driver education in the region,” says Chad Boone, Truck Training Coordinator at GPRC. Boone says the program is designed for women and men of all ages who are interested in becoming professional drivers. “GPRC, working closely with industry experts in our community, has put together a very good truck training program for the general public and private business,” says Frei. “We are proud to be part of the solution to what has become a serious issue in this province.” Aboriginal Youth in Transitions Program Students will receive classroom instruction such as: Employability Skills 2007 DreamMaker Program Sponsored by Canada’s Youth Justice Renewal Fund, Dreamcatcher and Ben Calf Robe are running four, week-long summer day camps for Alberta’s court-mandated Aboriginal youth who have a history of gang involvement. We will be providing a clinical and cultural learning experience for these youth on Dreamcatcher’s 40-acre forested horse ranch, located in Ardrossan, Alberta. This experience will be healing, transformative, and rehabilitative as well as therapeutic, educational, and fun. After the camps, which will take place in July and August of 2007, the youth will attend follow-up maintenance sessions beginning in October 2007 and continuing until March 2008 to provide ongoing support to healthy lifestyle changes. The cultural summer camp and follow-up project, referred to as DreamMaker, will utilize nature-assisted therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and traditional Aboriginal teachings to intervene with at-risk youth between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Our staff consists of trained, knowledgeable professionals who specialize in behavior management, alternative therapies, and clinical and cultural issues. The camps will be directed and run by an Elder and a Provisional Psychologist. Our goal at this time is to recruit volunteers, staff, cultural arts performers, guest speakers, and mentors who will be healthy adult role-models for our DreamMaker youth. It is our vision that these individuals will assist us in ensuring the success of this endeavor by providing an attentive presence to these youth. Our goal is to provide as much support as is possible to help them realize that they are an important part of all of the Great Spirit’s creation so that their time on this earth can be used in a positive way. If being a part of this program is something that you are interested in, please consider the following positions that are available: On-site Volunteer If you are interested in becoming a vital part of our DreamMaker program by participating in one or more of these roles, please contact Amanda Slugoski by phone (780-634-8485) or email (mandysride@hotmail.com). For questions or further information about the session, please contact Amanda using the above contact information. For questions or further information about Dreamcatcher’s Nature-Assisted Therapy Association, please contact Eileen Bona MEd, Founder of Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy Association at 780-922-1047 or ebona@telusplanet.net.
Speaking Up, Speaking Out By Terry Lusty Recent passings
Métis Me
Spring Around The Corner The smell of the old leaves and the musky smell of old shoes is still part of the great realization that the spring had finally come. My twin brother Wesley was always ahead of me but he was my Mom’s favorite. We had a lot of discussion this Christmas about which one of my boys was my favorite. I didn’t know I had a favorite. But Bud said Vincent the youngest was my favorite and Rick who is the eldest said Bud was the favorite. Rachelle was the only girl and in a different category all together. I thought they were all my favorite! Our Christmases are different now because all the kids are grown up, but we still like to have a lot of jokes and telling of stories that Mom or anybody else didn’t know about until this very day. The cat was let out of the bag. Everybody told on everybody else and we had a big laugh. The stories went around and finally came to our guest who really didn’t know what was true and not true. When asked to tell a childhood story the guest replied “We don’t have any stories, we were normal.” Métis were usually big story tellers, some true and some with a little bit added - like the devil who played cards and gambled and when everyone lost their money they looked under the table his feet had turned into hooves, or when the house burned down spread on top of the ashes was a new deck of cards. Gambling was forbidden. Working with You By Trevor W. Gladue, Provincial Vice President of the Métis Nation of Alberta Further Feedback Sought from Métis Citizens on Oil Sands Development
Métis Crossing Celebrates First Year By: John Ritchie I would like to introduce myself as Métis Crossing’s new Executive Director, John Ritchie and congratulate, Juanita Marois on the arrival of her son, Koal on October 21, 2006. Although the gates are closed to the public at this frosty time, I have been hard at work preparing for the second year of operations. Our gates will be open from the May long-weekend to September long-weekend in 2007. Last year, our first year of operation, Métis Crossing welcomed over 3000 visitors. Our guests enjoyed two major events: National Aboriginal Day – June 21 – sponsored by Western Lakota Energy Services, was a huge success with over 500 visitors from the community and different schools. Métis Voyageur games were demonstrated for the first time. We now plan to have these games grow into an annual competitive event. The Métis Crossing Voyage ‘06 on August 25 & 26 – sponsored by Suncor Energy Foundation was another great gathering. The riverbanks came to life with fiddling, jigging and a host of new Métis skill challenges for the kids including Red River Cart building and hide stretching! Join us again this year on June 21 for National Aboriginal Day celebrations & on August 25 to 26 for the Métis Crossing Voyage’07. Métis Crossing is built on the support of many hardworking individuals and generous contributions from the corporate community – THANK YOU. We appreciate every contribution and welcome the newest members to our “Threads of the Sash Partnership Program” Finally, Métis Crossing sends its congratulations to Brenda Holder of Mahikan Trails; she was the recipient of the Aboriginal Woman Entrepreneur Award of Distinction. Brenda has been instrumental in the development and delivery of the programming at Métis Crossing in her role as our Program Coordinator. Hope everyone will visit Métis Crossing this season and enjoy our events or just relax in the campground along the banks of the river.
Métis Hypnotist Recognized with Entrepreneur Award
Aboriginal Relations Office Director Appointed Leona Carter encourages everyone to check out the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord document at www.edmonton.ca (please search “Aboriginal”). Leona can be reached at 496-4814. The City Manager, Al Maurer, says; “As a City, we are committed to strengthening our relationship with the urban Aboriginal communities and recognizing the significant contribution Aboriginal people make to Edmonton.” The Native Cultural Arts Museum is one of the latest museums in the province to receive the Recognized Museum designation from the Alberta Museums Association. The museum earned this designation after participating in the Museum Affirmation Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen the Association’s accountability toward the public funds it distributes through grants and programming to the province’s museums. “The Alberta Museums Association is pleased to present the Recognized Museum standing to the Native Cultural Arts Museum. The Native Cultural Arts Museum worked very hard to reach this goal. They showed dedication in taking part in a program which will undoubtedly raise the standards for Alberta museums,” said Executive Director, Gerry Osmond. The Native Cultural Arts Museum has been provided with the Recognized Museum logo to display at their museum. To earn this designation, the museum provided a panel of museum professionals with evidence demonstrating how they are meeting the internationally recognized definition of a museum. Starting in the summer of 2006, visitors to Alberta’s museums can begin looking for the Recognized Museum logo.
National Métis News
Health Canada and Métis National Council announce $10 M funding to improve the Health of Métis People The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and the Métis National Council Minister of Health David Chartrand, today announced the $10 million Health and Human Resources Initiative to improve health of Métis people. The news conference and signing ceremony took place at the Crowne Plaza in Ottawa. This funding of $10 million over four years will increase the number of Métis students pursuing careers in health sciences through bursaries and scholarships and build the capacity of Métis organizations to engage in health human resource planning. The program’s objective is to reduce long-term wait times and address the shortage of personnel in the field, also providing a cultural context for non-Métis health personnel working in Métis communities. The HHRI is a part of Health Canada’s new Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative which will develop health human resources strategies that respond to the unique needs and diversity among Métis, First Nations, and Inuit. “This is a great day for us, Métis have been waiting a long time for this day to come,” Minister Chartrand said. “Today we have with us RNs, doctors and there will be many more coming from different fields. There are twenty six categories in the educational institutions that can be pursued with these funds, and I know that our families are so relieved to hear the news that there is an investment, and that there is an opportunity for them,” Chartrand said and added: “I know that this new partnership that we are embarking upon will make such a great difference, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Métis National Council will ensure that all the resources that you are expending are spent as wisely and effectively as we can.” “Today is an important day for all of us, because we are committed to making real and lasting improvement for Aboriginal peoples’ health,” Minister of Health Tony Clement said. “I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to stand up and to be a part of the solution. We know that the Métis face some unique challenges, and some unique circumstances. Part of the solution is to work closely together on Aboriginal health care resources. We need more Aboriginal health professionals in our health care system, and in fact we need to go beyond that and work on improving the retention rates for Aboriginal health professionals. We are seeing already some great new developments along these lines,” Minister Clement concluded. As a token of appreciation, Minister Clement was presented with an engraved Métis fiddle. The MNC represents the Métis Nation in Canada at the national and international level. The Métis Nation’s homeland includes the three Prairie provinces and extends into Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northern United States. There are approximately 350,000 – 400,000 Métis Nation citizens in Canada. Joke of the Month A man wen to the doctor compliaining of insomnia. The doctor gave hime an exam and found nothing physically wrong with him. "Listen," the doctor said, "if you ever expect to cure your insomnia, you need to stop taking your troubles to bed with you." "It's true," said the patient, "but my wife refuses to sleep alone." |
Metis Matters: August 2008 |
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