DEAR AUNTIE
By J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth Cavanagh

DEAR AUNTIE
By J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth Cavanagh

Dear Auntie:
I feel so guilty for thinking this. My children are taking advantage of me. They only call when they need something, and when they drop off my grandchildren for me to take care of they sometimes disappear for days. I think, ‘well, the grandchildren are better off with me than at a party where they could be hurt,’ but it makes me feel small, like I have no other value. When I’m not needed, I’m completely forgotten. Any advice?
Signed,
I Feel So Sad

THE URBANE INDIAN
Drew Hayden Taylor

One of the fringe benefits of what I do for a living is I have the opportunity to travel… a lot.

I get to see interesting places, learn fascinating things, and observe stuff I wouldn’t normally get the chance to sitting in the Curve Lake woods watching raccoons fight, and desperately wishing I could get pizza delivered.
I am a man of few dreams.

Artist—Billy Joe Green
Song—Keep the Circle Strong
Album—String Twister Hits & Misses
Label—Independent

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Ashley Callingbull: Trustworthy. If a friend is trustworthy, I can trust them with my feelings and secrets. Nothing is better than having someone to rely on who will always be true to you.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
A.C.: Stereotypes. They will never go away because the media is constantly pushing it in our faces. It is something I will have to live with being First Nations, but through all my success I am proving everyone wrong.

MEMBERS OF THE ALL-PARTY

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE REPORTS

THE THRONE SPEECH IN ONTARIO

Dear Editor:

Re: September 2011 issue in the article “AMMSA alum leaves cherished memories”

There’s an article in this issue of Windspeaker about the federal government’s attempt to scale back social assistance payments on-reserve to comparable rates of S.A. provided by provincial governments. It made us go, ‘huh?’