Book recognizes efforts of women in the military

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On Thanksgiving I interviewed a number of people who attended the 12th annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Boyle Street Co-op in Edmonton. That is how I spent my day off. Along with taking pictures and gathering the interviews, I also had a chance to ask a few people what they were thankful for. Most of them said their health. Some of them said their families. And some of them said the dinner.

I myself believe that there is always something to be thankful for, whether it is because you are healthy enough to walk or whether it is because you can see, hear and speak. As someone once said to me, everyone has a dream. It does not matter who they are and where they are from, they still have a dream.

So on a perfect fall day, hundreds of people patiently waited in line to enjoy the dinner.

Deanna Many Shots from Siksika, a former volunteer co-ordinator at the co-op, called the dinner a really good community celebration that gave people the chance to come together to put on the dinner. She said that this year they had fewer people attend than last year, but they still served until the food ran out.

"I guess the best way to sum up the whole event is without community help, it would not be possible. We are so fortunate that agencies such as the Edmonton Food bank, businesses such as the Edmonton Potato Growers, NAIT's culinary students, who cooked the 60 turkeys, the Sacred Heart Church for their tables, our community volunteers and the Circle K volunteers from [the University of Alberta], and many others donated their time or effort. We were also very lucky this year. It was a perfect day. In the past we've had really cold days or a really hot day. This year it was great," she said.

EDMONTON-On Oct. 31, I dropped over for a quick visit at the Edmonton Native Healing Centre located on 123 St. and had a visit with Marion Sinclair who is the community liaison/support worker there. Sinclair, along with four staff members, offers a number of programs to the Aboriginal community, including a soup and bannock meal each Wednesday, a Health-for-Two prenatal program, and a life skills course.

The centre offers a daily drop-in centre with free coffee and snacks. Sinclair also does referral counselling for anyone who is interested, as well as for people who have addiction issues.

Sinclair, who is from Slave Lake, says that she's been in the helping profession for 25 years. In 2000, Sinclair received the Esquao award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW), who honored her for her dedication to helping people. She said that she is glad that they have an award like that because there are a lot of women in Aboriginal communities who are working for the betterment of Aboriginal people.

While at the centre, I managed to get a few photos at their Halloween party; everyone from the bride of Frankenstein to Elvis were carving pumpkins. It was evident that they were enjoying themselves.

ST. ALBERT-The Our Women in Uniform book launch in St. Albert at the Musee Heritage Museum was well attended on Nov. 1, said Ilona Cardinal, communications officer with the IAAW. The 100-page book was put together by the institute and is a collection of stories and pictures from eight Aboriginal women who served in either the Canadian Women's Army Corps or the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. The stories are based on both their experiences in the war and after, said Cardinal.

Three of the women featured in the book were present at the launch, which included speeches, a book signing and a luncheon.

"Bertha Clarke-Jones, Theresa Loyie-Anderson and Dorothy Bellerose-Chartrand were there. It went well. The books are $20 for soft cover and $100 for hard cover. There were about 109 people there, so it was a good afternoon," said Ilona Cardinal.

"Before this book was written, I did not know that Aboriginal women were in the military, so it definitely opened my eyes. This book gives me more knowledge of s as Aboriginal people in Alberta and all across Canada. I really, really like this book and I hope that they do another one," she said.

HOBEMMA-Shelli Yellowbird called to say that she is very busy helping to organize the Chiefs Dinner and Celebration to be held at the Samson Cree Nation in Hobemma on Nov. 27. She said it is important to honor the seven past chiefs while they are still living. The formal dinner will include salmon and prime rib, and entertainment will be provided. Presentations and a video screening will also be a part of the evening and special gifts will be given to the chiefs.

"We are going to have letters from different dignitaries acknowledging the seven chiefs that will be present at the dinner. Both mayors from Ponoka and Wetaskiwin will attend the dinner, as well as representatives from the government and the special guest speaker will be Dr. Harold Cardinal. It is something that is very, very special for me," said Yellowbird.

"I'm very excited about it and the families are very excited about it. I go by the slogan that I'm using in my invitations and in my formal letters that it was once said 'Once a chief always a chief.' Not too many people get to a point in their lives where they can be a chief. It takes an incredible amount of compassion, concern and love for the people. It is not an easy position or title to hold but it can be really rewarding if you are doing it for the right reasons," she said.

There is a personal reason why Yellowbird feels so strongly about having a celebration like this. She said her late father who was a chief passed on eight years ago and her mother felt so hurt when he was recognized and given a number of accolades only after he passed on.

"My mother was invited to all these different banquets he was honored at, and it really hurt her. She said that she wished that they would've honored him when he was living. She said that he would've appreciated that. So that is actually where the support came from Isn't that the way it is though? They give all these accolades to someone only after they are gone. Where is the good in that? They can't do anything with it so it is really too bad," she said.

"I know that when these leaders that we will be honoring do leave this earth, they will know that someone did appreciate and recognize them for what they did for our community."

RED DEER-Raye St. Denys, executive director of Shining Mountains Living Community Services, said she is excited that funding has been approved for a 1,000 sq. ft. building that will be a safe place for people who have addiction issues to go to at night. The grand opening for Andy's Place will take place on Nov. 19. She said they are expecting a few dignitaries and a number of people from the community. The place is named after a gentleman who was found dead on the streets from hypothermia. It was a preventable death and St. Denys does not want to see something like that happen again.

"It will be equivalent to a mat program, a safe place for people to come. We do not have a place in Red Deer where people with addiction issues can go to sleep. I believe that everyone has the right to go to a warm place at night, no matter who they are," she said.

Shining Mountains Living Community Services offers a number of programs in the city, including the Helping Hands Outreach program, a motor home unit that provides food, blankets and health and hygiene supplies to the homeless. The Healing Home program assists families in learning to live together and how to avoid child apprehension. A cultural awareness program provides teachings on Aboriginal culture.