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Across the province, thousands of people took part in Aboriginal Day celebrations on June 21 and during the week leading up to the special day. From small, quiet lunches to an attempt to organize the world's largest round dance, the activities varied depending on the location. In Alberta's two largest cities, the activities leading up to the specially designated day drew more crowds than seen in the previous two years the event has been held.

In Edmonton, they almost broke a record at the Alberta Legislature. . . Almost, but not quite.

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A mix of traditional and spiritual ceremonies and the recalling of political history were the focal points of the Cree Nations Gathering at Saddle Lake First Nations from June 23 to 25.

The three-day event given the Cree name Nehiyaw Pimatisiwin, (Cree way of life) was intended to gather Cree people from across Canada and the United States for discussions on forming a Cree confederacy.

"Our [Canadian] government's stragegy and policy has been to divide and conquer," said Ted Moses, ambassador of the Grand Council of Crees in Quebec.

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Graduates of the Native Artisan Program at Lac La Biche's Alberta Vocational College completed their school year with an act of goodwill.

A large mural depicting a traditional feast was hand-crafted by the six graduates of the program.

Students Gloria Bearhead, Patrina DeBruyne, Jackie Rennie, Mae Cardinal, Christine Lapratt and Patsy Jackson, presented the mural to the local seniors home.

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The friendship centres in Pincher Creek and Calgary have many similarities, despite the difference in their locations.

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It's a trip that 25 Grades 5 and 6 students at Napi Playground Elementary School on the Peigan reserve are not likely to forget. The students, with 10 chaperones, including principal Gayle Strikes With A Gun, teachers Margaret Thomas, Sheena Jackson, and Elder Elsie Crow Shoe, took their classroom on the road - all the way to Ottawa to see the workings of the nation's capital first-hand and to lobby the government for a new fine arts centre on the reserve.

The group left on May 15 and returned on May 24.

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Not bronze . . . Not Silver . . . Gold!

That's what the team that worked to create the Syncrude Canada Gallery of Aboriginal Culture received on June 16.

Almost 50 people on the gallery team, including, Fort McMurray's Pete Ladouceur, Brocket's Reg Crowshoe, Rita Marten from Fort Chipewyan, Russell Willier from High Prairie and even Alberta Sweetgrass writer Terry Lusty, were recognized as 1998 Premier's Award of Excellence gold recipients.

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Terrying About

Tansi!

Folks all over the country were celebrating National Aboriginal Day from June 19 to 21, and the province's capital sure did do it up in style. Special thanks and congrats to co-ordinators Jane Woodward and Heritage Canada's Val Kaufman. Super job folks!

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When the movie-going public sees Wes Studi in films like Last of the Mohicans and Dances With Wolves they see a hardness in his eyes. But a few weeks ago, the public saw Studi's eyes up-close, and they were laughing.

Studi was recently chosen as the honored retrospect guest at the seventh annual Dreamspeakers Festival held in Edmonton.

Studi is best-known for his role as Magua in Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis and the lead in Geronimo.

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The story of Lewis and Hugh will touch, and possibly disturb, the spirit of those who see the play.

Lewis and Hugh, the theatrical debut of Calgary-area playrights and performers 4Roadz Artist. It is the story of two young Blackfoot men who have moved off the Blood and Pikuni reserves and into Calgary. They meet while auditioning for a movie and soon form a close friendship despite the fact that they come from different backgrounds.

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It's been an exciting 16 months for Asani. The five women vocal ensemble have played Carnegie Hall in New York City, overhauled their musical line up, and have just recorded their first CD, which is scheduled for release at the end of July.

The CD will feature live recordings from their June 17 and 18 concerts at the Edmonton's Grant MacEwan Community College Seventh Stree Campus. The concerts were the first time the group played a full length program and they shone.