There's a busy summer coming

Page 5

Terrying About

Tansi!

Whoo-ee boy! It has sure been one busy time lately. I've just been gettin' "conferenced out." There's all kinds of things happening. On the flip side though, it has all been good, upbeat stuff. You know, that positive stuff.

In the deep south, Brocket is praying that the rains stop and the river waters recede as the good people there are in danger of flooding, especially since the Old Man Dam gates were opened up. The Peigan are presently constructing a new health centre that is scheduled for completion this fall.

At Heads-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, Louisa Crowshoe reports she is busy coordinating the July 17 to19 Buffalo Days Powwow and Tipi Village. Last year was the first time they put up "tipis for rent" at $40 a night. It proved fairly successful, so they are going to have them again this summer.

Travis Meguinis, president of the Tsuu T'ina Nation Golf Club (238-8682) is walking around pretty proud these days. The reserve officially cut the ribbon for their nine hole course with Chief Roy Whitney in attendance. Meguinis figures they will probably start construction of "the back nine" sometime in the near future. The reserve has it's annual powwow, slow pitch, rodeo and golf tourney slated for July 24 to26 at Bragg Creek. The golf tourney gets over 200 entries and they'll have two new trucks up for grabs to anyone who gets a hole-in-one.

Glen Carriere and KO Boxing hosted a fight card May 2 in Red Deer. Red Thunder Rock, also known as Willard Lewis, defeated Nathaniel "Notorious Tex" Miles from Tacoma, Washington, in a four rounder. Another Aboriginal fighter, Sherman Merasty from Saskatoon, did a number on Hurricane Hydar El Ghelabi who was KO'd at 2:49 of round three.

Ever heard of Red Power? Red Power Squad is a 12-member group working from Edmonton that puts on a high-energy program of powwow, rapping, break dancing and workshops that promote living a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. Their basic message says leader Conway Kootenay is, "we can follow our dreams without drugs and alcohol." Interested parties can contact him at 420-1555.

The Slave Lake Friendship Centre executive director, Lynne Bird, reports they had 16 people in their firefighting Initial Attack 2 course that lasted 19 days. .

The centre is also ready for the 5 to12-year-olds who wish to be part of their summer Fun in the Sun program that starts the first day of July. The community-minded organization has summer youth on staff mowing lawns and performing other helpful services for Native seniors through the Seniors Assistance Program.

The centre is also busy fundraising and planning for a program of dancing, storytelling, craft sales, tipis, bannock, tea and soup for June 21 National Aboriginal Awareness Day. Sounds like a good time!

Way up north, Dixie Kohut at Peace River's Sagitawa Friendship Centre says they had a great crowd of about 800 turn up for a May 13 concert by Tom Jackson and Michelle Thrush that focused on suicide awareness.

The centre's Heritage Village this summer will be at the Lions Park. The centre is also holding an Animal Crackers Program aimed at 3 to 5-year-olds. It's sort of a afternoon drop-in for kids. They have programs for 6 to 11 year-olds as well.

June 12 is their annual general meeting with all board positions up for election. On June 20, they host National Aboriginal Day and they plan to have traditional Indian dancing with the Hawk Valley performers on hand.