Aboriginal youth gather for Dreamcatcher 2003

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Each year since 1993, Aboriginal youth from across Canada have converged on Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton to take part in a weekend of activity that promotes healthy living and healthy choices for a fulfilled life.

This year, the college had 1,500 young people pre-register for the Dreamcatcher Conference-Oct. 17 to 19-with hundreds more walking in to take part in the events that included workshops and presentations and a wide variety of entertainment.

The conference began with a performance by Inuit throat singers Lucy Tulugarjuk and Elena Iyerak of Igloolik, Nunavut.

Others who performed on opening night included the Rainbow Spirit Dancers from Edmonton Catholic Schools, and a dance group from the Gwich'in Nation in the Northwest Territories, who raised more than $16,000 to attend the gathering.

Opening ceremonies included a grand entry, with host drum Alexis Singers doing the honors of bringing in the college's guests and dignitaries-Elder Joe P. Cardinal and Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith among them.

Smith took the opportunity to remind the young people in attendance of the dangers of illicit drugs. He said he had made a promise to himself that whenever he had the chance he was going to talk about the toll that drug use and drug trafficking was taking on our society.

The evening ended with a round dance.

The next day participants were busy with workshops, including a storytelling presentation by Denise Miller of CFWE, The Native Perspective, a radio station heard across the province.

Miller captivated her audience with the tale of the curious little girl, among other stories, and songs filled with modern-day adventure.

Young people learned how to make rope out of cedar, what lies gangs tell to recruit, and how to move their bodies to a hip-hop beat.

Noon-hour entertainment included performances by country singer Crystal Anne and hip-hop artists REDDNATION.