Easy living in summer months

Page 5

It's summer in Indian Country and I've spent much of it visiting with the most wonderful, friendly and respectful people in Alberta, enjoying tea made beside a campfire, and listening to their stories.

It was also great to see hundreds of people meet and greet one another at powwows, treaty day celebrations, at the pilgrimage at Lac Ste. Anne and in the variety of urban settings I was able to visit. This is the way to celebrate life. Listening to the Elders give thanks for the many blessings we have makes one realize that these qualities could easily be lost in the hustle and bustle of life as we rush from one task to another. As one Elder advised, "Remember, there are so many people worse off than you. Put yourself in their shoes for a while. Pretend you do not have any legs for a day. Pretend you cannot see for a day. I guarantee you will not focus on the little things when there are so many people with handicaps, sicknesses or terminal diseases who would give anything just to be you for a day."

Well that got me thinking. So what if I got coffee all over my white shirt and I accidentally dumped my purse while rushing to an interview? It annoys me but I'm sure there are worse things that could happen to me. I'm just going to enjoy my time in Indian Country.

(see Smooth page 6.)

EDMONTON-The Edmonton Queen Paddle Wheeler Riverboat cruises are an excursion not to be missed by thousands of Edmonton visitors each year. The 170-foot boat motors down the North Saskatchewan while passengers are treated to a brunch or buffet. The Queen is owned, lock, stock and barrel, by the five Aboriginal bands of the Lesser Slave Lake area-Sawridge, Swan River, Driftpile, Sucker Creek and Kapawe'no. It was purchased a year ago from businessman Luke Frigon. The five bands did not let anyone know until they had a number of concerns ironed out, said Jimmy Giroux, a Lesser Slave Lake Riverboat Queen board member. On Aug. 6, a group of people representing the five bands met at the riverboat to elect a board of directors, president and treasurer and to talk about a few other things.

"It is working out, really. We have bookings on the boat every day and it is holding its own. The communities are happy and if they go to Edmonton we try to get them to go on a cruise. It does not cost much and they are using something they own. For us guys, it is exciting. It is something we feel will make money for us and at the end of the year the five bands will benefit from this partnership," he said.

"For the most part it's been nice to see that the five bands think outside the box," said general manager Rene Barnes. "That they are committed to the project they are working on, and so far it's been a real pleasure working with the First Nations," he said.

The boat operates from the first week in May until the second week in October. "Again it depends on the weather," said Barnes.

The Metis Nation of Alberta is celebrating it's 75th annual assembly from Aug. 20 to 24, and according to vice president Trevor Gladue, this assembly is the diamond jubilee of the Metis Nation and will have plenty of action for people to take in.

It will be held at the Mayfield Conference Centre. Activities include a golf tournament, a trade and craft show, a community jamboree, the annual general meeting, a banquet and "Diamond Jubilee Gala" dance. Trevor also mentioned that this year they are putting together a time capsule, which will be sealed on Aug. 23 at the gala. The capsule will include Metis artifacts, crafts, photos and postcards to the future. He said that the capsule will be opened in 25 years at the 100th anniversary of the Metis Nation of Alberta.

"One of the things that I'm seeing with this time capsule is that I want to be able to inspire the youth to have hopes and dreams in continuing to build our Metis nation for the next 25 years. So that they would be able to take us to the 100th anniversary of our association and for people to be able to look ack 25 years from now and say 'Wow, this is where we were and this is where we are today."

Trevor said that they are presently recruiting youth to open the capsule in 2028. They will be called the 'Keepers of the Capsule.'

"For 75 years it has been quite an exciting time for the Metis nation. Seventy-five years ago, Joe Dion and his group of five men set out to serve the Metis people. And Dion and Malcolm Norris, Peter Tompkins, Felix Calihoo and Jim Brady all traveled Alberta to gather information on how the Metis people lived, concentrating on education, housing, and health, and it is because of their efforts that we now have the Metis settlements."

GRANDE CACHE-I also spoke to Al Findlay, president of the Grande Cache Metis Local, who said that the community is looking forward to attending the assembly here in Edmonton where they will be raffling a car, the proceeds of which will go to the purchase of a new community van.

"We want to buy a 12-seater van to use to drive the kids around to different functions in the community and province or when the kids use our homework connection program at the centre." Al said that the kids get to stay after school and do their homework if they need to and if they need extra tutoring they have tutors available. And, of course, the Elders also need transportation. "So it is going to be used for many different functions," he said. The winner will get to take home a 2003 Ford Mustang car; grey in color.

COLD LAKE-I sat through most of the talent show during the Cold Lake First Nation Treaty Days celebration and enjoyed the musicians and singers. Irene Martineau at the age of 64 is still belting out country tunes with feeling and flare.

She won second place in the adult category and I asked her how she dealt with the tough competition.

"I definitely feel intimidated whenever I sing and do not win. I get nervous wondering 'What are people thinking of me,'" But her love for singing outweighs her nervousness and she decides o go for it, whether she wins or not. She said that she sang a lot in church while growing up. She said that both her and husband Lyle love music and that they attend as many jamborees and talent shows as they can.

"There are a lot of people who have beautiful voices, but they do not sing from the heart. You have to sing from the heart and you have to love it too. You have to have a feeling for what you sing. If you are going to sing just for the sake of just singing, it doesn't come out as good. The effect is not as good," she said. Altogether $3,700, in cash prizes was dished out at the treaty day's talent show.

"I love this place. I love the lake. It was really beautiful. One year the stage was right by the lake and while I was singing I just looked at the lake and it just gave me a beautiful feeling," she said. Thank you for the interview Irene, and hope to see you at another talent show somewhere.

LAC STE. ANNE-With hundreds of people milling about at the pilgrimage site in July, it was not hard to see why the people are drawn to the area. Tents, trailers and vehicles filled the landscape as gospel music and church sermons could be heard from one end of the camp to another. The church arbor, which was filled to capacity during most of the services, provided welcome shade as the temperature soared July 19. Thanks to Charlie and Georgina Mercredi for their hospitality and the meal of fish and duck, and for Frank and Irene Marcel's soup. I enjoyed my visit to the site. Hope to see you next year.