News In Brief

Youth funds available

The Saddle Lake First Nation has received an $1,800 grant from the Lakeland Health Authority's Action for Health Community Grants Program.

The funding means that for four weeks, youth activities in the community can be planned, including a multicultural camp.

The learning program will enable participants to feel more positive about their community and being members in the community.

Partners in the program include the local Education Authority, the health centre, Networks program, Human Resources, Brighter Futures and the Wah Ko To Win childcare society.

Youth video ready to go

The Bonnyville Friendship Centre, along with the Bonnyville RCMP and the local health unit will be working together to produce a video dealing with youth health issues, family violence, and youth (gang) violence.

The project is hoped to teach teenagers about the dangers of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Keeping tummies full

The Fishing Lake Metis Settlement has received $3,995 in funding to initiate a morning snack program for elementary school children.

The program will provide snacks to all children prior to the start of morning classes. Food supplied will include at least two food groups from the Canada Food Guide, most likely grain product and milk or juice.

The settlement is also starting a young chef's program to help children and youth make healthier eating choices.

The goals of this program are to develop skills in meal planning, food budgeting and preparation and to develop or enhance social skills including team work and co-operation.

Employer awarded

Andrew Orr, the owner of Mista Amisk Construction Company at Peerless Lake is this year's winner of the Ivan Ahenakew Award for leading the field in providing Aboriginal employment.

Orr, who has already been named the top Aboriginal employer in Alberta, started his company just two years ago.

Mista Amisk Construction carries out work for pipeline and power companies by slashing and clearing corridors for pipeline and transmission lines.

Orr, originally from Wabasca, was presented his latest award at a recent Inter-provincial Association of Native Employment Inc. conference in Prince Albert, Sask.

The Ahenakew award's namesake is believed by many in the field of Aboriginal employment to have helped create the Inter-Provincial Association on Native employment in 1974.

Other recipients of the award include the Winnipeg Police Service and the Gift Lake Development Corp.

Youth achiever award

Christopher Buggins is the 1998 recipient of the Youth Achievement Awards presented by Calgary Mayor Al Duerr and the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee.

Buggins is the first in his family to graduate from high school and is an active member in the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary.

Buggins is planning to attend university and was helped along that path with a $500 bursary. He was also presented with a plaque commemorating his achievement.

Buggins said the reward is a special honor for him and he hopes other people will use it to see the important contribution that youth can make to society.

Buggins made a special thank you to his parents and a school counselor.

Busy getting their man

A report released by RCMP K division rates the Hobbema RCMP detachment as the busiest in the province for 1997.. The report states that each of the 12 mounties there carry a case load of approximately 175 Criminal Code files per year. The Hobbema detachment takes in approximately 7,500 people.

Second busiest on the list was the Assumption detachment, where seven members see approximately 112 files each for their service area of 2,800 people.

Mayerthorpe came in third with 140 files for a population of 6,700 people and the Peigan Nation landed in fourth position where just three officers maintain the order for 2,000 people. Each officer carried an average of 126 Criminal Code cases annually.

By comparison, the least active office was the Edmonton Regional Airport detachment, where 18 mebers investigated less than 10 Criminal Code offenses in a year.

Treaty 8 museum show

The Grande Prairie Museum has received $30,000 in funding for a Treaty 8 display and promotion project.

Through the Regional Museums Grant Program and the Researching Communities Grant Program, the Grande Prairie Museum will be able to plan, organize and produce a travelling exhibit depicting the signing of Treaty 8.

The project includes the creation of portable education kits, the production of booklets in commemoration of Treaty 8, the creation and implementation of a large scale school tour schedule and the development of displays illustrating the effects and implication of Treaty 8.

New name for old rock

A mountain overlooking Canmore, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains has a new Native name, to replace an old moniker thought by some to be offensive.

Chinaman's Peak has been the name given to the neighboring mountain peak for more than a century, but it was recently changed to Ha Ling Peak - the name of the Chinese worker who scaled the 2,680 meter mountain on a $50 bet in 1896.

Along with the peak's name change, the entire mountain has also been given a new name.

It was recently named Ehagay Nakoda, - which means "the last human" - based on a submission from nearby Stoney and Nakoda residents.