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When you think of a golf course, your mind probably turns to hot summer days rather than reading, writing and arithmetic. But for eight months, 26 members from the Paul Band walked or car pooled to the Iron Head Club House and Golf Course near Wabamun, Alta. to attend classes with the hope of achieving their high school general equivalency diplomas.

The students were pre-tested and were performing at about a Grade 8 level. Their ages range from 20 to 44 years old.

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Sandra Power believes education plays a pivotal role in both the personal and financial well-being of many First Nations people and enhances the quality of life, not only for the individual, but their entire family and, possibly, even future generations.

As a child growing up on the Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan, Power said emphasis was not put on education.

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It looks like a regular school from the outside. But looks can be deceiving.

L.E.A.P., the alternative high school in Lloydminster, is anything but ordinary. It's a place where teenagers facing tough home and social problems, substance abuse recovery or trouble with the law, can find a safe haven and get on with their lives and schooling.

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It was back in 1991 when Loretta Todd emerged on the scene with her first documentary The Learning Path, a film that looked at three First Nation women's experiences in the education system. That was more than seven years ago, and today Todd, a Metis originally from Edmonton, is recognized as one of Canada's foremost documentary film-makers.

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For Aboriginal students and aspiring arts professionals who are looking for some financial help to go to school, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation should be the first number on their list to call.

The foundation has three main scholarship programs available to status and non-status First Nations people, Inuit and Metis students - the Arts Scholarship Program, the Post-Secondary Education Awards Program and the Aboriginal Health Program. As well there are more than a dozen special scholarships available to Aboriginal students.

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The Penticton Indian Band has filed for monetary compensation for loss of an area known as the Penticton timber reserve. The multi-million dollar land claim has been filed on 1,100 acres of prime industrial and residential land within the city of Penticton.

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Administrative staff of the Westbank First Nation have applied for certification to join the British Columbia Government and Service Employees Union.

Chief Ron Derrickson, saying he will contest the initiative to the bitter end, has declared the application to be a potential disaster for his community.

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The construction of a $4 billion natural gas pipeline is scheduled to begin in Alberta in the new year with help from Aboriginal people. The partnership was marked by the signing of contracts by the Metis Zone IV Regional Council, Metis Nation of Alberta and the Western Cree Tribal Council with Alliance Pipeline.

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Trains, planes and automobiles. Throw in a boat and bus ride and you have CANDO's 5th annual national conference held in Vancouver from Nov. 25 to Nov. 28.

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Meals for Good Health

By Karen Graham

Canadian Diabetes Association

$29.95, 232 pages (hc)

A book by registered dietitian and diabetes educator Karen Graham, in co-operation with the Canadian Diabetes Association, takes the guesswork out of meal planning.

Meals for Good Health features 60 recipes that are not only fast and easy, but low in fat and sugar as well, and provides meal plans that will help manage diabetes and heart disease.