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Pauline Johnson, or Tekahionwake (1861-1913), the well-known Mohawk-English poet and orator from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, travelled around the country performing and reciting her poetry. Now a group of writers from Six Nations are making sure her words are heard again, along with their own.

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Tyke division: A final-Fort William (7) vs Whitefish River (8). B final-Sagamok (14) vs M'Chigeeng (1). C final-Wikwemikong (9) vs Garden River (1). D final-Dokis/Nipissing (0) vs Cape Croker (8).

Jr. Girls division: A final- Akwesasne (0) vs M'Chigeeng (2). B final-Fort William (2) vs Nipissing (0).

Sr. Girls division: A final-Akwesasne (3) vs Garden River (1). B final-Fort William (6) vs Wikwemikong (0). C final-Eagle Lake (6) vs. Ginoogaming (0).

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Another successful Little Native Hockey League tournament has come and gone in Ontario.

The Little NHL, as it is most commonly referred to, began 32 years ago with four days of good hockey for youth of all ages.

This year's tournament, which concluded March 13 in Sudbury, saw 113 teams take to the ice at various arenas throughout the region.

Every year, the tournament is hosted by a different First Nation; this year it was the Sagamok Anishnawbek from Massey.

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Although Leanne Simpson has an impressive string of academic qualifications behind her name and is the director of Indigenous environmental studies at Trent University, her role at a recent environmental forum in Owen Sound was not as an expert.

Her last-minute attendance at the Great Lakes Water Conference held March 28 to 30 was to bring a traditional Water Ceremony to the forum, which explored shoreline and water quality issues of the Great Lakes. Simpson filled in when Edna Manitowabi an Elder and advisor at Trent, was unable to go.

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On March 2, the Woodland Cultural Centre presented An Afternoon of Readings, which featured three, one-act plays by Six Nations playwrights ElizaBeth Hill, Yvonne Beaver and Ken Davis. Tom Hill, director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, served as master of ceremonies. Lorne Cardinal, Cheri Maracle-Cardinal and Tim Hill read several acts each, helped along by three young performers from the Six Nations Community Youth Outreach Drama Troupe: Everett Jacobs, Jason Martin and Jessie Anthony.

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To the amazement of visiting local Grade 3 students, a five-metre high tipi was erected in the main courtyard of the Vermilion campus of Lakeland College.

This activity kicked off the inaugural two-day celebration of Aboriginal Awareness Days on March 20, which followed on the heels of a larger five-day program staged a week earlier at the Lloydminster campus.

In addition to the tipi raising, the traditional food, song, dance and storytelling of First Nations and Metis people were on display.

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According to Health Canada, more than two million people have diabetes. The disease is responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people each year.

Whenever a meal is consumed, the body changes the sugars and starches in the food to energy (glucose). In order to do this, insulin, a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, is needed.

Insulin tells the body how much glucose is required, so there won't be a build-up of sugar in the bloodstream. Without insulin, glucose levels increase in the bloodstream and this is called diabetes.

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There's a balance that needs to be found between the sharing of traditional knowledge and the keeping of generational secrets. That was the message delivered by Lois Frank, a Native American Studies professor at the University of Lethbridge.

Frank, a member of the Kainai Nation, teamed up with Don Yellow Kidney of the Blackfeet in Browning, Montana, to present a workshop called Traditional Medicine and Healing Practices. The workshop was part of Native Awareness Week celebrations at the university in early April.

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When she was eight years old, Gerri Many Fingers sewed her first dress. It required buttons or a zipper and unable to do that, she used safety pins creatively.

Fasteners, gleaned from garage sales and flea markets, are now a trademark of Many Fingers' work.

In April, Many Fingers returned to the University of Lethbridge to oversee a fashion show of her designs as part of Native Awareness Week.

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On March 20, with Edmonton disappearing in my rear view mirror, I settled into my trip north. Five hours later I drove into Grande Prairie, and checked into the Grande Prairie Inn. They gave me an option of a room over the bar with music blaring until two in the morning or one on the fourth floor. I opted for the fourth floor room.

The fire alarm went off only once. I called down to the desk, and they said that they were testing a new system. They said not to worry, so I untied the sheets that I was going to use to go out the window.

GRANDE PRAIRIE: