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After 25 years in the making, the Alberta Elders Cree Dictionary is finished.

According to Dr. Earle Waugh, editor of the book, Sister Nancy LeClaire began to compile information for the dictionary more than a quarter of a century ago, and that work was recently completed by Elder George Cardinal.

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On Feb. 6, Edmontonians had the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the original songs and music of Canadian folk music artist Dennis Lakusta, who is Metis orginally from Edmonton, but now lives in Victoria.

Performing before a packed house at Edmonton's Full Moon Folk Club in the Riverdale Hall, Lakusta introduced the audience to a few choice cuts from his new and third CD, Crow-child. One of the songs, "The Warrior's Song," talks about one of Canada's most historic personalities, the Metis leader Louis Riel.

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Tina Keeper may appear to be keeping a low profile ever since North of 60 was cancelled last year, but nothing could be further from the truth.

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Some of the faces that helped to establish North of 60 as one of Canada's most widely watched television series over its six year run, reunite on the screen in the upcoming In the Blue Ground: A North of 60 Movie, slated to air March 28 on CBC.

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Mayor Al Duerr of Calgary has declared Jan. 27 as Family Literacy Day. In honor of Family Literacy Day, the Bow Valley College has launched its new Aboriginal Literacy and Parenting Skills Program. The program, known as A-LAPS, includes a manual that combines how-to reading exercises and how-to parent training by using Aboriginal history, stories and legends.

Laureen Mackenzie and Elaine Cairns produced the program and now co-manage it.

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Tansi!

Brenda Ryland from Alberta Vocational College on 108 St., Edmonton, says they are inviting people to their Feb. 27 Round Dance which, of course, is open to the public.

Happy birthday Thelma! Feb. 8, eh! Canadian Senator Thelma Chalifoux's office, in co-operation with the St. Albert Liberal Constituency and the federal Liberal Party, is organizing and hosting a "first," the 1999 Senators' Ball. The event is scheduled for March 27, 6 p.m. at the St. Albert Inn. Call Irene at 459-5712.

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Commentary

The inquiry into the deaths of Connie and Ty Jacobs has started, and life for everyone went on as usual, everyone except the Jacobs family. The hope of many Aboriginal people, especially for Aboriginal women, is that the results of the inquiry may lessen the chance of history repeating itself. For others the issue is where to lay the blame.

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It's Tuesday and a small group of Grade 3 girls eagerly gather in a classroom to open the teaching circle with a sweetgrass prayer. They are here to learn more about the Cree language, the legends and the values of Aboriginal people.

The group, made up of students at St. Patricks Catholic School, meet once a week in the teaching circle under the guidance of Marilyn Gladue, Native student counselor for Edmonton Catholic Schools.

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The wants and needs of pre-schoolers have always been of importance to many Aboriginal people. In light of this fact, an educational system directed at children ages three and four was developed and called Head Start.

In Edmonton, Alice Bolduc, a program co-ordinator for the Ben Calf Robe Society Mother Earth and Me Head Start Program, explained that the project, generally speaking, is an early intervention program for pre-school children. The system provides learning through play and some teacher-directed activities, said Bolduc.

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Recommendations will be presented by the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women at the Connie and Ty Jacobs fatality inquiry. The IAAW has gained standing at the inquiry and will base its presentation on the recently released report called Violence against Aboriginal Women.

"We have to get attention to the problems and the situations that Aboriginal women are facing, but we also want to focus on solutions," said Muriel Stanley-Venne, president of IAAW.