Events change with the seasons

Page 5

Terrying About

Tansi!

Now that the summer powwows have come and gone, we are fast entering the fall-winter and season, and that of course means round dances and more round dances.

? One of the first to kick into gear was the Oct. 2 Red Road Healing Society Round Dance in Edmonton which drew a capacity crowd that enjoyed the evening. It included a feast and giveaway as well as raffles and 50/50 sales to help the organization generate some extra capital for its programming.

A number of round dances are upcoming this month in Alexander, the Slave Lake Friendship Centre, and at Saddle Lake. So get out there, enjoy the good company, the drum groups and the exercise.

? On a sadder note, there have been some recent tragedies in our communities which have left heavy hearts and sorrow.

On Sept. 30, Hobbema parents, Betty and James Buffalo, buried their 17-year-old son, Jordie Buffalo, the victim of a traffic accident along Highway 2A, south of Wetaskiwin, that also sent two other people to hospital in critical condition. His funeral packed the Howard Buffalo Memorial Arena where several hundred, many of them youth, paid their final respects.

Much further north, in the first week of October, police charged a High Level man with second degree murder in connection with the death of 12-year-old April Lambert. She disappeared after a Aug. 29 party on the Bushie River Reserve.

Just a week or so earlier, 46-year-old Marvin Beauregard of Wabasca was walking home from a wedding reception when he was struck down by a vehicle driven by a Camrose resident.

These two unfortunate and untimely deaths serve notice to all of us that we must take more precautions and exercise preventative measures. You have to be the judge of your own situation because they all vary and are not all the same. Please, think before you act and if you are in doubt, it may be better not to proceed with the action you intend to take. Life is far too precious not to heed precaution.

? The Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre has just completed their annual Multi-cultural Fall and Food Fest, from Oct. 1 to 3. The event included a Chili War contest won by Bernard Menary, Sr. a jigging contest won by Jenny Sinclair and a moose calling contest won by Walter Sinclair. In the singing category, the female vocal winner was Carol Baker and the male singer honors went to Richard Davis. The best amateur crooner was Rose Sawan, and youth category finishers were Katy Cardinal in first, followed closely by Jayline Wolf.

The friendship centre's director, Lynne Bird, informs us that there will be a children's Halloween party on Oct. 30 for children 12 and under. The town hosts one elsewhere for 13 to 18-year-olds. As well, the centre is hosting traditional dance classes on Mondays and Thursdays, and youth night on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

? Oct. 23 is the date for the grand opening of an infants' receiving home on the Montana Reserve at Hobbema. Marianne Strongman continues as the director of the new home which is co-sponsored and used by the Louis Bull Band. The new facility was constructed thanks to the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

? The Siksika Nation, which now numbers about 5,000 population,is coming off a huge Sept. 22 Blackfoot Days celebration that featured a commemorative signing of Treaty No. 7 with representation from all Treaty 7 groups as well as outside visitors and guests.

Upcoming at Siksika is a an Oct. 15 open band meeting regarding the distribution of funds (i.e. Christmas bonus).