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Canada boasts many distinct and identifiable aboriginal groups. One group, the Metis, were created from two separate groups of people right here on Canadian soil.

The Metis are politically, socially and culturally distinct and their presence cannot be denied. Often the very term Metis draws associations with cultural concepts such as the Red River cart and the Red River Jig, but there is a lot more to Metis culture than that.

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Editorial

The ongoing anti-fur lobby is testimony to the long and often bitter feud between Aboriginal people and conservationists. Whenever the issue of hunting or trapping is discussed groups like the Alberta Wilderness Association protest that trapping is inhumane and Aboriginal hunters accuse conservationists of being overzealous tree huggers.

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University students who recently finished the fall term, celebrated Christmas with family and friends and a program of songs, storytelling, skits and a visit from Santa Dec. 11, at the U of A campus.

John Kortuem, president of the Aboriginal Student Council (formerly Native Student Club) announced changes to the image and style of operation by the Native student body. The Aboriginal student council will assert its self-governing status and voice Aboriginal student concerns into issues and matters that directly affect them.

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Five Native Advisory Committees have been established in Slave Lake, Kinuso, Faust, Joussard and High Prairie as part of the High Prairie School Division's Native Education Project.

Representatives of each of the committees shared their goals for the coming year.

"I haven't done this before, its new to me," says Marilyn McRee. "But I was so concerned about Native kids that I took the position."

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An amendment to the Indian Act to alter Indian taxation powers on surrendered lands may be introduced into the House of Commons after Christmas.

The amendment is being drafted by the Kamloops Indian band after many years of unsuccessful bids to gain band jurisdiction over surrendered lands.

The chief, of the Kamloops band located in the south central interior of British Columbia was a guest speaker on the first day of a two-day conference on Indian taxation and economic development issues held Dec. 2 and 3.

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The Ben Calf Robe School will finally be moving to its own facilities after more than three yeas of negotiation with the Edmonton Catholic School Board.

During a December 7 board meeting, a motion made by trustee Jim Shinkaruk designating the Notre Dame School in Edmonton's west end as the future site for the school was passed. The site ownership will be transferred to the school in September next year.

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Cree script's ancient origins probed

Do Cree Indians write the same script as Jesus? Research undertaken by Dr. Anne Anderson Native Heritage and Cultural Centre points to many "uncanny" similarities between the ancient Aramaic scripts and the modern-day Cree syllabary.

The Aramaic script is an ancient writing form developed in the middle east about 3,000 years ago, says centre executive director Buff Parry.

"The Aramaic language is actually the parent language of the later Arabic and Hebrew languages which are still in use today," he said.

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The Native Pastoral Centre will be changing its name to the Native Catholic Community Parish in the new year.

By making the name change, Native Pastoral Centre volunteer assistant director Jack Bell hopes to avoid "confusion caused between our organization and the (Canadian) Native Friendship Centre." People often get the two groups confused because their names sound alike, says Bell.

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Native people in the province of Alberta probably don't have to worry about moose organs being contaminated by cadium ? a toxic substance ? says an officer with Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

A recent report in the Edmonton Journal stated that health officials in Manitoba advised people not to eat moose kidney and liver after potentially dangerous cadium was found in them.

An Edmonton district officer with Fish and Wildlife Bernie Arnold, said there is "no indication whatsoever," that the same situation exists in Alberta.

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The Hobbema-owned Kiseputinow Holdings Ltd. purchased four malls in November in an effort to protect the reserve's economic future.

The investment is added security for the Louis Bull band (the owner of Kiseputinow Holdings) and will ensure economic stability will be maintained if their natural resources dry up.

"Since we all know oil is a depleting commodity ? it is therefore prudent for the band to diversify now," said Greg Berry, Kiseputinow general manager.