Travel fears keep columnist on the watch for signs

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While going to a lot of different communities, I'm finding out how important signs are. The maps are not up-to-date, so if a road has been worked on and the direction of the road changes, it is not yet recorded.

Years ago, Aboriginal people used a lot of land marks-trees, rocks or lakes. Today, I did not realize how important a sign would be. Someday I know that I'm going to get on a backroad by mistake and run out of gas. That is my fear, but so far that hasn't happened and thank goodness for cell phones. I can always call someone. If I need help I'll have to give them directions, so I'm always on the lookout for landmarks so I can tell someone 'You will see three trees standing by themselves, turn right there and as you near a hill you will see a lake on the left side keep going and turn left,' for example.

On that note, thank you to Gilbert Fayant and his wife Audrey for guiding me into the community of the Fishing Lake Metis Settlement so I could cover the veterans commemoration on Sept. 26 (see page 2), and for joining me for lunch at the community hall. I also had a chance to attend a gospel tent meeting at Cyrus Desjarlais' place. Thank you for the hospitality Cyrus and the visit with Faye and Yvette Desjarlais, and thank for not asking me what I was going to write about, because my main goal is to bring out the positive stories from the Aboriginal communities.

HOBBEMA-Vernon Saddleback, a computer services information systems manager at Maskwachees Cultural College, was able to share an interesting fact about where the name Hobbema came from. He said that Hobbema is not a Cree word. It actually came from a Dutch landscape artist's name. He said that the community had a railway stop. One of the men who was working on the railway knew this Dutch painter so he decided to call the community Hobbema. Saddleback said that many of the Elders still call the community by its original name of Maskwachees, which means Bear Hills in Cree. So that is an interesting fact. Indeed, I was wondering what Hobbema meant in Cree. I was about to ask my grandmother.

JANVIER-Evelyn Janvier, the project co-ordinator with Chipewyan Prairie First Nation in northern Alberta, gave us a call about the sod turning ceremony that was held in Janvier on Sept. 22 for a $1.2 million facility, which is presently under construction. The Chipewyan Prairie First Nation Multiplex, built by Log Technologies Inc., will be completed by the end of this year. The 12,600 sq.ft. building will be used as an education facility, as well as a recreation hall. "There will be two wings with a main body and foyer. We will be able to utilize it for our community events. One wing is for the Keyano College's adult upgrading classes, and another wing will hold the high school students. Before the construction of this building we had portable classrooms for our students, but we will now have a large enough place to have dinners, dances or weddings," she said. More than 20 companies, including Syncrude, Suncor, Nexen and Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, helped fund the construction of the new building. Janvier said the building is also creating employment for the residents of the community.

EDMONTON

-I attended the Native Senior Centre's annual volunteer appreciation dinner on Sept. 19, where more than 100 people enjoyed a barbecue and entertainment.

Anne Cardinal, the administrator at the centre said that she was happy to see such a good turnout.

"It was great. We had about 18 tables set up outdoors and they were pretty well full. We had a good crowd," she said.

Brent Michial, a Garth Brooks impersonator, my brother Don Gladue and Judy Payou performed during the certificate presentations. Cardinal said that this year they honored 80 volunteers with certificates. She said that they also selected a male and female volunteer of the year and two runner-ups. There are only five full-time employees at the centre, so all the volunteers are really appreciated.

"Hugh Belcourt was selected as male volunteer of the year, because he volunteers for a lot of the centre's activities, van driver, a treasurer on the board of directors, for outings and lots of other activities. And our female volunteer of the year was Christine L'Hirondelle, who looks after our quilting group and she is also part of our crafters group on Thursday and at the different craft shows that she helps out at. Whenever we are stuck for someone to come and help us out, she is always ready, willing and able.

"If we did not have the volunteers we would not be able to do all the things that we do. All the entertainers that perform here and all the people who come in and do the presentations, they are all here on a volunteer basis," she said.

A fall rummage sale, a talent jam and soup and bannock lunches are some of the exciting things happening at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton. Niki Jenkins, the program director at the centre, said that things have been on the upswing since the centre has formed an auxiliary committee, which is comprised of a number of interested volunteers who work together to offer a number of activities for the youth and adults. She said the committee was formed in 2002, works hard to raise funds for the programs with bake sales and a lunch every Thursday. The full-course meal costs $3.50, and includes the dessert,coffee, soup and bannock. She said some of the other programs includes the youth art and culture project for young people ages 13 to 21, and the youth drama workshops.

"In the art project, the youth will be doing a mural where they will be able to display it here at the centre and outside the centre as well. A lot of the kids haven't had a lot of exposure to painting before, so this will give them a chance to experience what art is about.

In the youth drama workshops, the Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations will help participants learn basic drama skills. It will be held every Tuesday evening. Forfurther information call (780) 479-1999.

I had a chance to meet and photograph 11 firefighting trainees from northern Quebec. They were in Edmonton training with some of Edmonton's finest fire fighters. Len Riley, of the Vermillion fire department, said that the nine men and two women were taught such things as tactics and strategy in fighting fires and the proper way of handling dangerous goods.

"What it will do for them is give them a better chance when they go back to their communities to be officers or captains in their fire departments. Maybe some of them will be deputy chiefs in their communities. You never know. This course will give them the training and information they need in their communities.

"We have a contract now called Fire Fighters Without Borders and a gentleman by the name of Michel Vayacou, who has a contract with Cree communities, offers fire training and security training to them. So we subcontract to do some of the training with the Cree Nation in Quebec. It is nice to see, especially with the Aboriginal communities, that they are seeking more and more training in the rescue services. It is really nice to see," said Riley.

Michael Snowboy from Whappmagostui in northern Quebec on the Hudson's Bay Coast said that he's taken courses to be a professional firefighter.

"I expect to instruct our fellow firefighters back home. It is a good place to be and to learn all about fire fighting. Our Cree Nation sent us here. They found out that this place offers good training for fire fighters" he said.

LETHBRIDGE-While at a Metis Elders conference in Edmonton, I had a chance to speak to 68-year-old Rod McLeod, from Lethbridge. McLeod, who recently graduated with a diploma in Child and Youth Care was 66 years old when he decided to go back to school. He said that school definitely had changed from when he was last there 42 years ago.

"It was really quite a thing to go back to any type of class after 42 years. A lot of the students know the basi things they would need in class because they've graduated a few years ago, but I did not know if I should take 50 colored crayons or a scissors or what I should be taking to the college. Everyone knows how to use computers, so there was a lot of things that I had to catch up on, but everyone treated me really good, both the students and instructors," he said.

McLeod is a father to six children who were really supportive of him. He said that he was quite pleased when he was hired by the company where he did his practicum.

"I finished school on April 28 and then I immediately went into working there full-time, so that was kind of nice," he said.

So what does he have to say to people who want to make a career change later on in life?

"For anyone wanting to go back to school, I would say to them, it is a continuation of a learning journey that they are capable of doing. That no matter how old they are they should go back to school or go out and become active members in their communities. They can still help and make a difference."