Oilers astound in first round

Page 5

Terrying About

TANSI!

Condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Anne Anderson-Irvine. Truly a fine, accomplished lady.

Congrats AMMSA on the new British Columbia paper, Raven's Eye.

Hockey has always been big in Native communities. So, it follows that professional hockey, to which many Native youth aspire, is of interest in Native circles. This talk, of course, is leading to the current rounds of NHL playoffs, and who would ever have believed it? In Game 2 of the first playoff round, the youthful Edmonton Oilers upset the Dallas Stars with a 4-0 shutout. But, they weren't done. They took the Stars to the bitter wire, then upset the cart again, beating them 4-3 in overtime. Now, the Oilers are in deep playing the Colorado Avalanche, last year's Stanley Cup champs, and this year's league leader.

Chances? Slim and none, no matter how much I support the Oilers. Still, just great hockey!

Then there's the Great One who many say is aging. Nonetheless, in Game 4 of the playoffs, Gretzky racked up yet another NHL record, scoring a hat trick in a speedy 6:23 minutes during a shift in period two. Wow!

Are the dogs of war destined to return. Throughout Alberta, and Canada for that matter, Aboriginal groups and communities participated in demonstrations, protesting the fed's choice to ignore and neglect the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People of Canada. Most of the protests, along highways, city streets, etc., involved sign-carrying pickets and marchers.

The Bigstone Cree up at Wabasca are building a new band office but, the old roads have been taking quite a beating and are in need of repair.

Down at Calgary, the Native Friendship Centre is finally getting back on track. After closing it's doors for a couple of months, it is open for business with Tyler White at the helm, plus a couple of assistants. Additional positions will be filled shortly, he said, and summer students will help with sports and rec. The centre scheduled it's annual meeting with a full board up for election May 24, one week before Edmonton centre elections May 31.

The Nistawoyou Friendship Centre in McMurray is on a health kick. Director Ella Johnson reports that their in-home care program is going well. They're also trying to secure funding for syllabic and phonetic materials on health matters. This is in conjunction with regional health, and they aim to have the materials available in Cree and Chipewyan.

Johnson adds that their employment unit is up and running. With summer around the corner, the centre is planning a round dance around June 6 or 7, and its AGM on June 8. And, yes, despite the wetness caused by floods, day camps for youth this summer will proceed as planned.

If you're over Saddle Lake way, why not drop in at Toppy's (pizza place), owned and operated by Marilyn Shirt and hubby Rawi Couch, an Aboriginal person from New Zealand. They could use your business.

Sighted at Bonnyville and Saddle Lake the other weekend were dozens of teens running amok and proudly displaying around their necks newly-acquired medals as Team Alberta qualifiers for the North American Indigenous Games. All qualifiers are now complete. The only ones that missed the boat were bantam/midget/juvenile girls golf, Sr. men and womens swimming, and women's boxing and wrestling. Go get 'em Alberta, and "Good luck." Also, the Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta) AGM is in Calgary on May 30.

Sonya Kobelsky, director of the High Level Native Friendship Centre reports that hand game tournaments are firing up with a lot of Elder participants. They plan to host one every two months and say Meander River is planning a big one soon. The centre hosted a talent show in vocals, fiddle and jig with the uproarious George Tuccaro serving as emcee.

The centre has a raft of summer projects - summer youth camps, pre-natal nutrition program, employment technician program (i.e. proposal writing), clothing depot, food bank, Alberta Head Start, andso on.

Did you know: Elvis may not be alive, but C-Weed certainly is! Errol Ranville, more widely known as C-Weed, was busy in Edmonton taking over Longriders Saloon on May 4. It will be a branch of his main C-Weed Bar in Winnipeg.