The University of Alberta's Aboriginal Student Services got an overwhelming response from the community to help celebrate the name change of Native Student Services to Aboriginal Student Services Centre (ASSC), and the grand opening of the Cathy Sewell Memorial Reference Room.
"We were hoping for about 200 people to attend. Instead we ended up with 500 people between the two events," said Irene Spelliscy, acting co-ordinator for the Transition Year Program at the university.

Interested in a challenge? The Canadian Forces offers three programs for Aboriginal youth that are intended to encourage consideration of the forces as a part-time or full-time career option.

In 1956, it took Zachary Powder of Fort McKay more than four hours by dog team to get to Fort McMurray where he picked up a marriage license that cost him $2. Fifty years later, on Jan. 20, his daughters and grandchildren surprised Powder and his wife Mary by arranging a golden anniversary celebration, which included dinner, speeches, and a dance at the Dorothy McDonald Centre.

Zachary, who worked for forestry services in Alberta for more than 50 years, wore his forestry services uniform as he and his wife Mary, 66, renewed their wedding vows in front of more than 50 people.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and the Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) have entered into a partnership agreement to work together to strengthen Aboriginal communities.
These two organizations signed the agreement on Jan. 13, which sets out arrangements to develop and deliver programs and services for Metis people in the areas of justice, children and family services, labour needs, health and economic development.

Former gang member and now president of Spirit Keeper Youth Society (SKYS), Len Untereiner, talked to the Ben Calf Robe school students to shatter the images that glamorize the gang lifestyle.

"You need to talk to these kids when they're young and let them know that this is an illusion," said Untereiner. "I hate that word, gang, because it glamorizes, it glamorizes the lifestyle that is criminal."

Twenty-three-year old Leslie Gauthier will be competing along with 51 other delegates for the title of Miss Universe Canada 2006 in Montreal on March 18.

Gauthier said she always had a passion for modeling and fashion, so competing in this pageant "just seems like a perfect fit."

When she is not practicing her runway walk or deciding what gown to wear for the pageant, Gauthier is studying for exams and completing assignments to obtain a business management degree.

The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards gala was held in Vancouver on Jan. 27 and three performers in the stage show are very familiar to Alberta's Native community.

Cherie Shot Both Sides, a 15-year-old amateur boxer from Moses Lake, is fast becoming a positive role model for other young girls her age.

She is a Grade 10 student at Kainai high school in Cardston, where she resides. After graduation, she said she wants to enroll in a registered nursing program at a school in Calgary, but also wants to continue with her boxing.

Shot Both Sides began her training at the age of 14, but she said she was interested in boxing when she was much younger.

Over two million Canadians suffer from diabetes. It is the most common cause of kidney disease and adult blindness, and the strongest risk factor predicting the development of heart disease and stroke. Diabetes in Aboriginal communities is now up to five times the national average. This epidemic can be prevented.

The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA) is hosting the second Alberta Conference on Diabetes and Aboriginal Peoples on March 2 to 3 at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre in Edmonton.

Saint Elizabeth Health Care announced it will spend $2 million over the next three years to support the national rollout of a Web-based program known as @YourSide Colleague to First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada.

The program offers 'round-the-clock access to a virtual network of experts, colleagues and peers, as well as self-directed distance education and learning tools in areas such as diabetes, wound care and palliative care. All that is needed is a computer, access to the Internet, and a username and password.