Alberta News Briefs [July]

World Chicken Dance Championships held
The third Annual World Chicken Dance Championships were held at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park on June 19. Dancers participated in five divisions: Tiny Tot (under 6); Junior (7-12); Teen (13-17); Adult (18-44) and Senior (45+). All participants (except Tiny Tot) completed three rounds of competition to determine a champion. The dancing competition was evaluated by a seasoned group of Blackfoot judges who chose a winning competitor in each category based on the participant who had accumulated the highest number of points in the final round. Judges awarded points based on five key criteria. Among the competitors were returning champions Nat Iron Heart, Heart Butte, Montana, in the adult category; Stan Whiteman, Browning, Montana, in the senior category; and Colin Raine of Westaskiwin in the teen category. Most of the intricately designed costumes worn are hand made by the competitors and their family members.

Oil sand activists take message to Montana
George Poitras, former chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, which is downstream from the oil fields in Alberta; Simon Reece, a youth with the Fort McKay First Nation; and, Eriel Deranger, who is Athabasca Chipewyan, were all in Montana recently to talk about the impact of the tar sands. A free screening of the 75-minute documentary “H2Oil” took place at Missoula’s Roxy Theatre and kicked off what organizers dubbed “A Walk Through the Tar Sands.” The focus on Montana comes because “Montana is considering collaborating to some degree in terms of tar sands production here … whether it’s heavy-truck hauling in Montana or pipelines that are running through their traditional lands that are coming from the tar sands,” said Poitras as reported by Buffalo Post, a blog about Native American news.

Hobbema tackles diabetes with walk, medical help
Hobbema hosted is 12th First Nations Diabetes Walk in May. Maskwacis Health Services director Randy Littlechild, who is diabetic, noted that First Nations people develop diabetes 20 to 30 years earlier than non-First Nations people and children as young as four had been diagnosed with diabetes. Littlechild said the change in diet from wild meat and natural foods is one of the main reasons First Nations people are battling diabetes. The four bands in Hobbema are taking a pro-active approach to battling the disease, which includes cutting the wait for a diabetic specialist down from four to six months (the usual wait) to two to three weeks. The community also has access to a dietician.

Callingbull second runner-up
Ashley Callingbull, a 20-year-old Cree woman from Enoch, was named second runner-up in the Miss Universe Canada pageant. The aspiring model and actress finished behind first runner-up Aleksandra Malkin, 22, of Concord, Ontario and 26-year-old Elena Semikina of Toronto. Callingbull studies drama at Concordia University College, in Edmonton. She was one of 62 women from across the country to compete for the title. The national winner will now compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas in August.

Local youths recognized for writing prowess
Five Alberta youths are among the top 10 winners of the Historica-Dominion Institute Canadian’s Aboriginal Writing Challenge. They are Benjamin Giroux from Sherwood Park, 5th place; and Leah Harvey and Alistair Ness, both of Edmonton, 7th and 10th places respectively; all in the 19-29 age category. Cochrane resident Raven Weal-Robson’s story earned a 6th place finish, while Dylan Boxall of Rocky Mountain House placed 8th in the 14-18 age category. This is Canada’s largest essay writing contest for Aboriginal youth.

Provincial cuts hurt Aboriginal training
While unemployment among Aboriginal people continues to rise, AFL analysis shows the provincial government cut employment training programs by more than $20 million, affecting Aboriginals and youth the most. “The government had in place a number of very successful programs that helped Aboriginals and youth overcome obstacles and find meaningful work. The stats show us that these programs are needed now more than ever,” said Mike Sutherland, a former job-placement co-ordinator with Native Counselling Services in Edmonton, in a news release. The most recent Labour Force Survey showed Aboriginal unemployment (both men and women, off-reserve Aboriginal people) rose to 17 per cent in early 2010, up from 14 per cent in 2009. Youth unemployment remains high at 12.6 per cent, up from 11.4 per cent just a year ago. Alberta Federation of Labour numbers show the provincial government cut employment training programs by $23 million for 2010. Alberta’s unemployment rate hit a 14-year high in March 2010, reaching 7.5 per cent for the first time since 1996. Aboriginal skills development experienced a seven per cent reduction in its budget between 2009 and 2010. A further $10 million will be chopped from career development and programs that partner with industry.

Cardinal's show wins
Wolf Canyon, starring Lorne Cardinal, Kevin Sorbo, and Nikki Payne, received five wins and two additional nominations at the 2010 Leo Awards. Wolf Canyon is about a dysfunctional cast and crew of a third-rate syndicated television series who are isolated from any urban contact and who struggle to fight spirit-numbing boredom and madness in their makeshift trailer town on an Aboriginal reservation. The series won for Best Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series as well as Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Picture Editing in the Best Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series Category. Jessica Harmon won for her performance in Wolf Canyon in the Best Performance or Host (s) in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series. Matty Finochio and Lorne Cardinal, who is Cree from Sucker Creek, also received nominations in this category.

Machine named by Paul Nations kids come to life
TransAlta’s $180 million digger, named Misikitew (the Big One) by school children at Paul First Nation, recently began digging.  The custom-built Bucyrus 8750B dragline took more than two years of assembly by as many as 220 engineers and tradespeople and can dig down 80 metres. Draglines are the largest and heaviest excavators and are used to strip off the ground which lies above ore. The Misikitew will be used for the five minable coal seams which stretch south from Wabamun Lake and make up the Highvale Mine, Canada’s largest surface strip coal mine. The area stretches 26 kms over 12,000 hectares. The mine feeds TransAlta’s Sundance and Keephills power plants.

McGill sports camp teaches teens to lead
Teens from First Nations in Alberta were among 31 young people to take part recently in the Eagle Spirit High Performance Camp, a program designed to facilitate access to sports through education, at McGill University. The First Peoples’ House, the university’s Aboriginal student group, hosted the event. Lectures, skills development, physical testing and social outings were part of the three-day program. Aboriginal teens from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia also participated.

Banff Centre recruiting to enhance Aboriginal leadership
The Banff Centre is looking for someone who will be responsible for researching and understanding the “unique components of Aboriginal communities and participants from across Canada to maximize their own ability to promote our programming and funding options, and ensure accessibility for Aboriginal leaders,” according to a job posting in NationTalk. The position priority is to “ensure desired participant levels in the public Aboriginal Leadership and Management programs.” Knowledge, experience and “comfort working in Aboriginal… communities is essential.”
Compiled by Shari Narine