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Alberta Sweetgrass

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Community focused with a grassroots appeal. Established in 1993 to serve the needs of the Indigenous people of Alberta.

  • April 12, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Sherwood Park

Page 10

As the Aboriginal tourism sector continues to grow, so does the need for Aboriginal interpreters. These positions would be filled by people of Aboriginal decent who have the desire to tell the Aboriginal story and can do so in two new heritage sites, including Metis Crossing in northeastern Alberta and Blackfoot Crossing in the south.

Lakeland College, in collaboration…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Sweetgrass Staff

Page 9

After her father suffered a brain injury in a workplace accident and spent months in the hospital, April Auger knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She credits nurses at the University of Alberta Hospital for helping the family through it all.

"They really made a difference. If not for them, our family would have fallen apart. Nursing is about improving…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Page 7

The University of Alberta's Aboriginal Student Services got an overwhelming response from the community to help celebrate the name change of Native Student Services to Aboriginal Student Services Centre (ASSC), and the grand opening of the Cathy Sewell Memorial Reference Room.

"We were hoping for about 200 people to attend. Instead we ended up with 500 people between the…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Sweetgrass Staff

Page 6

Interested in a challenge? The Canadian Forces offers three programs for Aboriginal youth that are intended to encourage consideration of the forces as a part-time or full-time career option.

The first two part-time programs are Bold Eagle and RAVEN. They are designed to allow youth to enroll in the Primary Reserve and complete basic training during the summer months of…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Fort McKay

Page 5

In 1956, it took Zachary Powder of Fort McKay more than four hours by dog team to get to Fort McMurray where he picked up a marriage license that cost him $2. Fifty years later, on Jan. 20, his daughters and grandchildren surprised Powder and his wife Mary by arranging a golden anniversary celebration, which included dinner, speeches, and a dance at the Dorothy McDonald Centre.…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Page 4

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and the Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) have entered into a partnership agreement to work together to strengthen Aboriginal communities.

These two organizations signed the agreement on Jan. 13, which sets out arrangements to develop and deliver programs and services for Metis people in the areas of justice, children and…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Page 3

Former gang member and now president of Spirit Keeper Youth Society (SKYS), Len Untereiner, talked to the Ben Calf Robe school students to shatter the images that glamorize the gang lifestyle.

"You need to talk to these kids when they're young and let them know that this is an illusion," said Untereiner. "I hate that word, gang, because it glamorizes, it glamorizes the…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Page 1

Twenty-three-year old Leslie Gauthier will be competing along with 51 other delegates for the title of Miss Universe Canada 2006 in Montreal on March 18.

Gauthier said she always had a passion for modeling and fashion, so competing in this pageant "just seems like a perfect fit."

When she is not practicing her runway walk or deciding what gown to wear for the…

  • April 12, 2006
  • Sweetgrass Staff

Page 1

The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards gala was held in Vancouver on Jan. 27 and three performers in the stage show are very familiar to Alberta's Native community.

Shane Yellowbird, a country singer who hails from Hobbema, took part in the event that served to honor 14 Inuit, Metis or First Nations people who have excelled in a variety of areas and categories.…

  • January 13, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Cardston

Page 10

Cherie Shot Both Sides, a 15-year-old amateur boxer from Moses Lake, is fast becoming a positive role model for other young girls her age.

She is a Grade 10 student at Kainai high school in Cardston, where she resides. After graduation, she said she wants to enroll in a registered nursing program at a school in Calgary, but also wants to continue with her boxing.

  • January 13, 2006
  • Sweetgrass Staff

Page 9

Over two million Canadians suffer from diabetes. It is the most common cause of kidney disease and adult blindness, and the strongest risk factor predicting the development of heart disease and stroke. Diabetes in Aboriginal communities is now up to five times the national average. This epidemic can be prevented.

The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA) is…

  • January 13, 2006
  • Sweetgrass Staff

Page 9

Saint Elizabeth Health Care announced it will spend $2 million over the next three years to support the national rollout of a Web-based program known as @YourSide Colleague to First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada.

The program offers 'round-the-clock access to a virtual network of experts, colleagues and peers, as well as self-directed distance education and…

  • January 13, 2006
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Page 8

Participants in the Urban Aboriginal Dialogue Executive Forum, held Nov. 21, 2005 in Edmonton, have set out to identify opportunities for the city and the Aboriginal community to work together in new ways.

The full day of presentations and relationship building brought together a wide range of people from different sectors.

The forum provided opportunities for…

  • January 13, 2006
  • Debora Steel, Sweetgrass Writer, Calling Lake

Page 6

Just call Thor Houle Auger Mr. October. That's the month on this year's Aboriginal EnvironCareers calendar where his artwork is published.

Houle Auger was the provincial winner in a national art contest designed by BEAHR (Building Environmental Aboriginal Human Resources) to raise awareness in Aboriginal youth about careers in the environmental sector. The Grade 10 student…

  • January 13, 2006
  • Heather Andrews Miller, Sweetgrass Writer, Ottawa

Page 5

A project organized by the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) is giving up-and-coming Aboriginal performing artists a chance to have their music heard.

Dig Your Roots-Aboriginal will showcase the talent of up to 100 Aboriginal artists from across the country, who will have their work featured on the Dig Your Roots Web site. Out of those 100 or so…