Run to help defeat diabetes

Terrying About

Page 5

Tansi!

How about those National Aboriginal Achievement Awards at Edmonton's Jubilee Auditorium on March 16, eh? Be sure to watch for them on CBC Television on April 10.

Sasquatch sighted

It's like a page out of Ripley's Believe it or Not! I remember hearing stories 25 years ago about the Sasquatch, or Big Foot. I then heard about them from Wayne Roan, now chief of Smallboy's Mountain Cree Camp in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of Edmonton.

From a reliable source comes word that there have been recent sightings on the Tsuu T'ina Reserve on the outskirts of Calgary. I am told that the band police saw evidence such as footprints.

A good cause

If you don't have a favourite charity and are looking for one, how about diabetes, one of Native people's most prevalent ailments. You can jump on this bandwagon on May 12 when Wabasca hosts the 2nd Annual Diabetes Road Relay Race of 125 km (75 miles), beginning at Slave Lake and ending in Wabasca.

The relay is limited to 25 teams with 15 runners per team and there is a registration fee. For more info, call Pauline Shaw at 780-891-2000 or Marcel Auger at 891-3778.

Inuit appointed

The Arctic Institute at the University of Calgary has a new director, Karla Williamson. Not only is she the first female ever appointed to the position, she's also the first Inuit.

Awareness days

Calgary, like Edmonton, has been sponsoring Aboriginal Awareness Days.

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology hosted theirs on the last Friday in March. Viola McClure co-ordinated it. Mount Royal College also held theirs recently with Deanna Cardinal as chief organizer.

At the University of Calgary, Shawna Cunningham, director of Native Student Services, praised the efforts of Joely Big Eagle, president of the First Nation Student Association, for putting together their Native Awareness Week.

The event included traditional and contemporary songs by Olivia Tailfeathers, singing by Piitapootakiiks (formerly the Grassland Singers), a talk about her art by Joane Cardinal Schubert, an impressive art installation called 'Parallels and Diffusion' by three architect students - Chris Clarke, Mel Quesnelle and Buddy Mistaken Chief -- as well as live theatre by Lori Villebrun, a traditional powwow with eight drums, a singing and sound workshop by Sadie Buck from the Banff Centre for Management, a personal and spiritual perspective by George Calliou, and an Aboriginal health conference by actor Evan Adams.

The university has set Sat., June 16 as the day it plans to honor Aboriginal graduates. The happenings will include a powwow at the Red and White Club at McMahon Football Stadium, immediately south of the university campus. For information, call 403-220-6034.

Mike Heron, previously active in Métis circles, has been named executive director of the Calgary Native Friendship Centre. Congrats and best wishes Mike!

Drum contest

In Lethbridge, the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Centre director, Jim Short, announces their first hand drum contest. The money competition will accept registrations until 6 p.m. April 21, then begin drumming at 7 p.m.

Pool prowess

Stan Tourangeau, formerly from Ft. Chipewyan, has done it again! On March 10-11, he captured the United States Open Bar Table 9-Ball Championship at the Sands Regent Hotel in Reno, Nevada. En route to victory, Stan soundly whipped last year's champion, Kim Davenport, 9-2 in the quarterfinals.

He went on to beat Tony Watson in a nervous semi-final standoff. Tourangeau pocketed a cool $5,000 American and a trophy.