Winners and achievers shine

Page 5

Terrying About

Tansi!

Winners, winners, winners. Isn't it wonderful!

All over the province, achievers and sport competitions have been producing all kinds of achievers and role models.

Ft. McMurray: The Feb. 21 Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards acknowledged the achievements of 20 or so people who were most deserving. Congratulations all of you, especially to lifetime achiever, Eva McKenzie and 105-year-old Rapheal Cree.

Anzac: From Feb. 21 to 22, a mere 40 km south of Fort McMurray found the 15th Annual Anzac Winterfest, which hosted all sorts of events, ranging from crib to snowmobile drag races. From Native country, however, the big thing was the "sigow," the King and Queen of the North Competition.

At the senior level, the brother-sister duo of George and Alice Martin took first place and $500, while Ryan Martin and Sherri Martin-McKenzie placed second and George Whiteknife and Niki Harris came third.

In the juniors, the winners were Crystal Powder and Clayton Roy, followed by Miranda McKenzie and Matthew Alook.

The carnival also held a fishing derby, Barni-Birkie Ski Race, Skijoring and Kids Karnival.

Gift Lake: Metis Settlement councillor Terry Anderson reports that hockey is going great guns over his way. The Lakeland Eagles, made up of players from Atikameg, Gift, Peavine, East Prairie and Sucker Creek are in their second series of the season. They beat out Manning recently and now have to get through a few more teams.

At the Alberta Winter Games in High Prairie, the Allies co-ed volleyball team took home gold and expect to compete in the Alberta Summer Games. The location is TBA.

Sucker Creek: This community produced a gold medalist in boxing from 14-year-old Erin Willier at the Alberta Winter Games in Red Deer. Wow!

Blood Reserve: Yet another community to grab medals in boxing: The Blood Reserve's Kenny Frank won in the Golden Gloves and the Silver Gloves Provincials in Lethbridge just recently.

Also from Blood Country, congrats to Charlton WeaselHead, who was named a basketball All-Canadian by the Canadian Colleges Athletic Conference. A second year guard with the Lethbridge Community College Kodiaks, he led the team to a second-place finish in the Conference and advanced to the final four.

Peigan Reserve: A great big congratulations to local Elders Joe and Josephine Crowshoe - two more recipients of National Aboriginal Achievement Awards held on March 12 in Toronto!

Siksika Reserve: This Blackfoot reserve has opened a new daycare centre near their elementary school. At the helm is Claudia Calf Robe.

Kikino Metis Settlement: Gloria Collins informs us that they are gearing up for the summer rodeo season and are really looking forward to the Kikino 9th Silver Birch Rodeo and Celebration Days, which are a true local highlight. The August 7 to 9 event usually attracts about 30 chuckwagons and about the same number of pony chariots. Fireworks, a talent show, steak supper and dance are other activities.

Edmonton: Most of the talent for the May 29 to June 3 Dreamspeaker Festival is now confirmed with the line-up including; Ulali, Maree Sheehan, Allpa Kallpa, Aaron Peters, Dene Tha Drummers, Mountain Song, The Dream Team, Harley Davis, Magoo Crew, Dallas Arcand, Eagle & Hawk, Fred Mitchell, Mitch Daigneault and youth performer Chandelle Gouchui. This year's Retrospect is actor Wes Studi with Dale Auger serving as the event's emcee.