News In Brief

Model appearances

Northern Styles is a production and promotions company based in Edmonton. The group of youth entrepreneurs produce shows featuring performers, artists and fashion plays.

Northern Styles most recent show took place Sept. 11 at Edmonton's Hyland's Club.

The dinner show featured five-year-old singing sensation Jared McAllister, Native flute player Eagle Child, and the fashion designs of Coyote Crossing and US Designs.

The Aboriginal models who wear the designs are working under the name Club Models, and do much of their work through Northern Styles.

Northern Styles will be taking some of their models to Toronto in November for the Metis Nation of Ontario's youth conference where they will put on a show similar to the one viewed recently in Edmonton.

Northern Styles group will also be putting on a series of Aboriginal arts showcases, including a fashion show featuring US Designs and a play directed by actor Nathanial Arcand, who recently completed shooting Grey Owl with Pierce Brosnan (the latest James Bond). The showcases will be a part of the upcoming Canadian Aboriginal Festival taking place at Toronto's Skydome.

School award winner

Lolita Ladouceur from Plamondon in northeast Alberta was presented with a cheque for $500 and a plaque after being selected by the Lac La Biche Native Education Parents Advisory Committee for their Native Education Project award winner.

Ladouceur, graduated this year from the Ecole Plamondon School in the small village and said she is very proud of the recognition.

"I feel that education for the Native youth, and for all youth for that matter, is necessary for survival," she said.

The award and cash was also presented to Andrea Huppie, a student at the J.A. Williams High School in the neighboring town of Lac La Biche.

Both recipients were selected for their leadership qualities and work with student government. Other criteria for the award is that a student must be Aboriginal, attend either the Plamondon school the Lac La Biche high school or the New Opportunities School, be in need of financial assistance to further their education and have a letter of acceptance from a post-secondary facility where they are planning to attend.

Few northern grads

According to research done by the Northwest Territories Education, Culture and Employment department, the number of students graduating high school in the territories is 40 per cent fewer than in the rest of Canada.

Recent numbers show that only 325 out of approximately 1000 students in Grade 12 actually graduated last year.

Although that works out to only a 30 per cent graduation rate, it is still up 10 per cent over last year and two times that of 1990 statistics. The national average, based on 1991 and 1992 figures, is a 73 per cent graduation rate.

Some reasons for the low number in the north may be the lower accessibility to schools for children and the need to find more compatibility between testing - which is sent out from Alberta - and the current territorial curriculum.

Aboriginal business open

Cold Lake area Aboriginal people have a new place to go if they want to look at starting a business.

The Aboriginal Business Development program has opened its doors and can provide entrepreneurs with all the reference material and expertise available.

The Aboriginal Business Development program will use traditional and cultural values in dealing with its clients.

They can be reached in Cold Lake at 594-1477.

Fort Chip on TV

The northern Alberta community of Fort Chipewyan played host to a traveling film crew in mid-September. The crew are collecting interviews and footage across Canada on the path which Alexander Mackenzie took to explore Canada 200 years ago.

Fort Chipewyan, as well as Peace River, Yellowknife, Inuvik, Bella Coola, Thunder Bay and Montreal will all be seen on a documentary television show which will air on the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) in Scotland and by History Television in Canaa.

No exact date has been given for when it will be seen on the television.

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.