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For 10 years, Health Canada has covered room and board fees for First Nations treaty clients attending addictions treatment at residential centres operated by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC).

Now the feds have had a change of heart. They won't pay the fees, and Nick Hossack, director of prevention and promotion overseeing the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP), is taking the heat.

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Although they did not bring home the prize from the 46th annual Grammy Awards in California on Feb. 8, founder and group leader of the Northern Cree drum group said he was excited that out of 82 groups nominated overall, they were one of five who got to go to the event.

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The weather co-operated and allowed everyone who attended the 10th annual health and healing conference in Fort Chipewyan to enjoy a fun-filled and worthwhile three-days of activities.

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To a list that already includes Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin, country music superstar Garth Brooks and former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev, you can now add Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Phil Fontaine and his current crop of vice-chiefs.

What could they all possibly have in common?

Well, each has received a white Smithbilt Stetson from the City of Calgary.

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The region of Wood Buffalo in northern Alberta is ready to play host to this year's Arctic Winter Games starting Feb. 28 and running to March 6.

The area will welcome 2,100 athletes ranging from 15 to 26 years of age from seven countries-Canada, the United States, Greenland, Russia, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Participants will be vying for a golden Ulu. The Ulu is an Inuit cutting tool, and was the inspiration for the medal creation.

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Margo Kane

Edmonton-born Metis actress Margo Kane, 36, overcame prejudice, drug and alcohol abuse and thoughts of suicide to become a successful actress and national Native role model.

She has starred in television shows ? the Beachcombers, Danger Bay and Spirit Bay, as well as numerous plays including a self-written, directed and acted one-woman play. She is now attempting to set up a national network for Native actors and actresses.

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Obituary

Veronique Cardinal (nee Ladouceur) passed away on Feb. 16, 1988, in Hay River, at the age of 96 years. She was born on June 10, 1891 to Narcisse and Julie Ladouceur who lived in the Lac La Biche and Plamondon areas.

She married Solomon Cardinal in 1909. When the First World War ended, she and her family moved to the Fort Chipewyan region. They settled at Big Point, on the south shore of Lake Athabasca, with other Metis families from Lac La Biche. There they trapped, hunted, fished and gardened.

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Editorial

Several years ago, one of the greatest criticisms about education curriculum materials focusing on Native people, history and issues had to do with how Natives were portrayed and the existence of multiple inaccuracies, omissions and negative stereotyping. Simply put, certain materials did not present a true reflection of the Native world and often, such material was counter-productive, due to biased viewpoints within the text.

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An environmental group went back to court last week to try to halt construction of the Oldman River dam project.

Friends of the Oldman River Society filed a notice of motion in the Court of Queen's Bench asking that construction licence granted to the province three weeks ago be cancelled.

Last December the society was successful in having the court quash the provinces original licence on the basis that the government had failed to properly notify the public, local officials and regulatory authorities.

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A 23-year old man from the Gift Lake Metis Settlement facing a second degree murder charge appeared in court March 1 and was remanded into custody and will appear in court again March 7.

The charges are in connection with a 25-year-old man from Gift Lake who was found shot to death on the weekend after he tried to stop an argument between two brothers.

Marvin Henry Beaver's body was found by a passerby on the road near the settlement.

Gift Lake is located about 300 km northwest of Edmonton.