Dykota Letourneau, 13, of Pincher Creek, was one of 16 children recognized in October through the Great Kids Awards. Dykota was singled out as a natural leader through her volunteer work at the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society and her involvement with the Métis Nation youth group. She celebrates and shares her heritage by playing the fiddle, facilitating bannock and craft-making workshops, leading cultural presentations in schools and sharing information at community events. Dykota is also involved in sports, including dog sledding.

The Doig River band has declared its intentions to establish a 90,000 hectare “tribal park” spanning their traditional territory in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta. K’ih tsaa?dze, which means “old spruce” in the Dane-za language, would be the name of the park, crosses the provincial boundary in an area that the Doig say is a place to hunt, fish and go for spiritual renewal. Herb Hammond, of Silva Ecosystem Consultants Ltd., was hired by the band to draft a management plan for the park. The lands identified fall under the jurisdiction of each province.

Alberta representatives from First Nations Grain Management were part of a delegation led by Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo on a trade mission to China, Oct. 21-31. Gordon Rauscher, president and CEO, and Victor Buffalo, chairman of FNGM, participated in the opening of the FNGM office in Dalian on Oct. 25. The goal of the mission was to discuss economic development partnership opportunities with Chinese government officials and Chinese businesses.

Jean Teillet, legal counsel for the Métis Nation of Alberta, has been awarded the designation of Indigenous Peoples’ Council by the Indigenous Bar Association. The IPC is awarded annually to an Indigenous lawyer in recognition of outstanding achievements in the practice of law. In particular, the IPC award takes into account the manner in which the individual pursues the goals and objectives of the IBA and serves her community and the Creator with honour and integrity. Teillet has been at the forefront of the MNA’s battle for Métis harvesting rights in Alberta.

The Mikisew Cree First Nation has rejoined the Cumulative Environmental Management Association as a full member. Melody Lepine will represent the Mikisew Cree. The revised CEMA – creating a sector based management board of four caucuses: Aboriginal, industry, government and non-governmental organizations – is why the Mikisew Cree renewed its membership. Said Chief Steve Courtoreille in a news release, “We very much hope that the new governance structure and operational mode of CEMA will allow for meaningful input of our knowledge and expertise.

An independent investigation has cleared an RCMP officer in the fatal shooting of a man on the Driftpile First Nation last fall. Bernard Emery Giroux, 37, died after being shot outside his house Nov. 19 when he aimed a loaded hunting rifle at officers. The investigation was undertaken by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team and took 11 months. It concluded the officer who shot Giroux “was justified in firing his weapon and was acting lawfully.” The officer shot twice, hitting Giroux once and killing him.

Newly appointed Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said he will continue to work with the First Nations on the Education Memorandum of Understanding which was signed February 2010 between the federal and provincial governments and Treaty 6, 7 and 8. Said Lukaszuk in a teleconference with the media, “I firmly believe that every child, and I underscore every child, in Alberta, should have access to the highest possible level of education regardless of where they live and what their creed, race or ethnicity or religion happens to be.

More than 4,000 people and groups have registered to speak at upcoming regulatory hearings over Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project. Annie Roy, spokeswoman for the hearing told the Calgary Herald that the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel, which will recommend a final opinion on Northern Gateway to the federal cabinet, is committed to hearing from each person. Presenters have a maximum of 10 minutes to speak.

A founding meeting for Remembering the Children Society will be happening shortly so work can be undertaken to commemorate more unmarked graves of children who died in Alberta during their time in Indian Residential Schools.  The society is being launched from the group that was formed two years ago which planned the sacred ceremony remembering the students at the former Red Deer Indian Industrial School.

Bigstone First Nation fire chief Vern Gladue and emergency services supervisor Trevor Bigstone congratulated students from Oski Pasikoniwew Kamik school as fire safety poster winners. The school is also working with individuals and agencies to expand the OPK food bank in order to meet the growing needs of the greater community within and beyond the reserve. Plans are in the works to initiate a large food drive to stock the shelves for the long season ahead.

Photo: DENIS CARNOCHAN