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Since 1993 the Battlefords Tribal Council (BTC) Human Services Corp.-Indian Child and Family Services Agency has served the communities of Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man, Lucky Man, Sweetgrass, Poundmaker and Little Pine. For its tenth anniversary the agency held a four-day celebration from Sept. 7 to 10, complete with a trail ride and relay run.

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It took almost a century, but Thunderchild and Moosomin First Nations have finally been compensated for lands guaranteed them by treaty but taken away by the Canadian government.

In a signing ceremony held Oct. 2 at Sakewew high school in North Battleford, the two First Nations saw the fruits of several years of negotiations-land claim settlements worth $53 million for Thunderchild, and $41 million for Moosomin.

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony opened the doors of a new business centre in Siksika on Sept. 26.

The single floor, 23,000 sq. ft. brick building will house more than 40 offices with a state-of-the-art technology conference centre.

Carlin Big Snake, vice-president of Siksika Resource Development, said the grand opening for the centre was impressive, with 400 guests attending.

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He's painted for more than half a century, and his work is exhibited all over the world. In 1995, he completed a masterpiece entitled Morning Star, painted on the ceiling dome of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Que.

Now you can see his art right here in Alberta with a visit to the Janvier Gallery in Cold Lake where more than 400 pieces of Alex Janvier's work are on display.

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There was a sense of accomplishment in the air as family members and friends sat down to a dinner and entertainment on Sept. 27 at the Montana Band Recreation Centre in Hobbema. They were gathered to celebrate the graduation of more than 140 students from Maskwachees Cultural College.

The fifteenth annual graduation ceremonies saw diplomas and certificates presented in a number of study categories, including Early Childhood Development, Cree Language Instructor Training, Teaching Assistant Level One, and Social Work.

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What do we really need? When it comes right down to it, life is pretty simple-food in our bellies, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and the security that springs from the knowledge that people care about us, that who we are as individuals is important. We matter.

It doesn't seem too much to ask for, does it? But look around. There are some of us that can't boast of having each of these elements in place in our lives. It's a tragedy, especially when those elements are missing from the life of a child.

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A women's retreat that is to be held Oct. 17 to 19 at the Poundmaker/Nechi Institute in St. Albert is designed to give more than 40 Aboriginal women a chance to network, gain friendships and share their concerns as they live with cancer.

Eva Bareti, president of the Wahkotowin Society in Edmonton, said the three-day retreat is geared toward dealing with the effects of all types of cancer, and will offer participants support and information.

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A decision on Aboriginal rights was brought down by the Supreme Court of Canada on Sept. 19, and included strong direction for Canada's legislators to get to work on finding a way to accommodate those rights, rather than fighting to deny them.

That's how Jean Teillet, great-grandniece of historic Metis leader Louis Riel, interprets the decision in the hunting rights case known as Powley. And she should know. Teillet is the lawyer who argued the case for Steve and Roddy Powley.

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Leaving home and then coming back can be a daunting experience, but not for 32-year-old Nancy Cree.

Cree calls Fort McMurray home. She is the co-ordinator of the Fort McMurray First Nations Industrial Relations Corporation (IRC), working as a liaison for the oil industry. She said the IRC came into effect in 2000, when the five bands in the area and the Athabasca Tribal Council agreed to work with the government and the oil industry.

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For Keith Nolan, coming in fourth in the Peace Hills Trust National Native Art Competition this year is just fine with him. For two consecutive years, Nolan has taken home first place. He said that this just means it gives other people a chance and it makes him happy to see other people win.

This year's winner is Chris Lynch-Aquart of Calgary. He will be officially crowned winner at a celebration in Edmonton in late October. (Look for a story in next month's Sweetgrass.)