Elders' stories heard on National Aboriginal Day

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Not many people know that they can adopt a person they like to make up for the loss of a loved one, said Elder Christine (Whiskeyjack) Daniels at the National Aboriginal Day celebration at NorQuest College June 20.

"In Indian tradition, when someone reminds you of a loved one that had passed away, then you adopt that person to replace the one who had been lost," said Daniels.

"I just did that myself about two weeks ago."

Daniels lost her daughter more than a month ago and adopted a woman from British Columbia.

"When I was living in B.C., she really acted like she was my daughter-as a matter of fact, better than my daughter."

Daniels met her again during a ceremony where the woman received an Indian name-Moonlight Rainbow.

The next day, Daniels told her she wanted to adopt her to replace her daughter, to fill the void in her life. Daniels said the woman was very grateful and happy for this relationship.

A similar story is described in Daniels' book, White Man's Laws, published in 1975. It's fiction based on Daniels' past.

"This book is just the matter of explaining the differences between reserve life and city life," said Daniels.

Alvena Strasbourg, who just celebrated her 80th birthday, shared her life story also. She was born in Lac La Biche and raised in Fort McMurray. Alvena went to school where "there were mostly all Aboriginals on the first day of school, and none of us could speak English. All of us spoke only Cree," she said. She got married at the age of 16 and raised four children.

In 1957, after her marriage fell apart, she came to Edmonton with three of her children and found a job as a dry cleaner for 65 cents an hour.

Strasbourg started working with the Metis Association in 1973.

"When the welfare system started, the Aboriginal people started leaving their communities on reserves and moving into the city. But they were not ready for city life-they had no education, they had no training for work," she said.

"I was one of the first counsellors . . . we worked hard to try and get these people jobs, get them educated." Strasbourg founded the Native women's career preparation program at NorQuest College.

Strasbourg has described Aboriginal peoples' struggles in Memories of a Metis Woman: Fort McMurray Yesterday and Today, published in 1998.

The National Aboriginal Day celebration also included a barbecue, displays about Aboriginal programs, and a video. For the prayer, James Large, a student in the family intervention program, lit the smudge of sweetgrass and buffalo sage.

Blackfoot culture personalizes outdoor program

Cultural values and program strengths have brought together the youth on the Peigan Nation and the Alberta government's Junior Forest Warden program.

In early May, about 25 youth planted 5,000 white spruce and aspen seedlings on the Peigan Nation as part of National Forest Week (May 6 to 12).

Doing the work were members of the newly created Junior Forest Wardens as well as Eagle Mountain Youth Centre.

"Mother Earth is a very important part of our lives," said Anita Crowshoe, youth co-ordinator at the centre. "(The Junior Forest Wardens) instills the same cultural components back to our youth."

Rick Wolcott, regional co-ordinator for youth programs with land and forestry, agreed. Wolcott made the trip to the Peigan Nation to help unload seedlings as well as to give planting instructions.

"Junior Forest Wardens creates an awareness, appreciation and respect for the natural world," said Wolcott. "The program reflects the community because it's a community program."

Part of that reflection will see Blackfoot ways brought in. Badges will be sewn on red blankets instead of red shirts; members will gather in a circle instead of lining up; and members will be allowed to pledge the JFW code in Blackfoot.

"They've given us the leeway to use our own traditions and culture," said Crowshoe.

The seedlings were planted at the public works building, the new RCMP station, the health cetre, about 40 residences and along the Oldman River.

The seedlings were donated by corporations and in turn planted for a donation to the local JFW chapter.

Open to children ages six to 18, the program has four components: forestry, wildlife, bush skills and leadership.

It's a good marriage between two cultures, agree Crowshoe and Wolcott.

Money raised from planting will be used by the Eagle Mountain Youth Centre on a trip to Disneyland. The 30 or so youth had hoped to make the trip this past spring but fell about $7,500 short of the $12,000 needed. Crowshoe is hoping that additional fundraising will make the trip a reality next spring.