[ windspeaker looks back ­ 1983 ] - A year of optimism in Indian country

The following article is the first in a series of retrospective stories that will be running in Windspeaker, providing a look back at news and events that made headlines from 1983 to present day.

Pride, confidence and gratitude were emotions felt by participants at the graduation ceremony at the Grouard campus of the Alberta Vocational College. Featuring an aptly named theme of "New Dawn," a large contingent of Aboriginal students graduated with certificates in registered nursing assistant, business management, computer accounting and several other disciplines. The students had returned to the classroom after several years of educational inactivity, and all said they appreciated the on-site counselling services and small class sizes which helped them reach this eventful day that signalled a new beginning for them and their families. AVC Grouard had seen over 3,000 students reach their career goals since it was established a scant 10 years earlier.
Down the road in Slave Lake, Métis students were also being honoured, with Alberta Métis Nation Association President Sam Sinclair returning to his hometown to present plaques and trophies at the Friendship Centre. A dozen students from the local schools were presented with awards for their great efforts in their scholastic pursuits. It was especially gratifying to see some of the awards were for excellence in the newly-added Cree program, ensuring that the language will continue to be spoken by the younger generation.
The Universiade was held in Edmonton as university athletes gathered from all over the world to compete and 16 Aboriginal artists were front and centre in creating works on the theme of "Unity." Their artwork was on display at the capital city's convention centre throughout July and artists included those who would become household names in years to come, such as George Littlechild, Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Henry Nanooch, and Alex Janvier, to mention just a few.
The world Modeling Assocation recognized Tim Sikyea as Designer of the Year, the only Canadian and the only Aboriginal to ever win the prestigious award. Sikyea, a member of the Yellowknife Dogrib Nation, had come up the ranks in the fashion world following extensive experience in the Toronto garment industry and through many years of studies.
In the Alberta Legislature, an act was passed allowing representatives from northern Aboriginal communities to serve on local school boards and as school trustees. As a large population of the students in the area were of First Nations ancestry, the act was a positive step towards improving the education level of the students. The benefits of having representatives of the Aboriginal community on city and town councils was also discussed in an editorial as municipal elections were upcoming in the fall of 1983. Not only was the input of Aboriginal people deemed to be necessary, but it was observed that serving on civic and educational boards and councils was a great stepping stone to higher positions at provincial and federal levels.
Environmental concerns about the Arctic regions are not recent issues as when the third Inuit Circumpolar conference met in Frobisher Bay with representatives from Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, pipelines and non-renewable resources were among the many items on the agenda.
Harry Chonkolay of Alberta's Dene Tha First Nation received plaques honouring his 45th anniversary as a lifetime chief. Achievements noted during the 74-year-old's time included the opening of nursing stations, new housing, and installation of electricity. As well, a store was established, making grocery shopping more convenient and providing a place for young people to learn the trade of cashier and manager.
On the sports scene, Hobbema First Nations sponsored their first-ever boxing card and it proved to be a hit as it was attended by no less than 450 eager spectators at the Howard Buffalo Memorial Centre. Keith Nepoose and Frank Morin were two of the local boxers who stepped into the ring against combatants who came from all over western Canada to compete.
But it was not all upbeat in 1983. The Inuit community of Inuvik, NWT, was reeling from an unusually high number of attempted teenage suicides. Residents were lobbying the government to reopen a badly-needed substance abuse counselling centre that was sitting unused following a scrap over paying the power bill. And in Cadotte Lake, near Peace River, a 90 per cent unemployment rate was plaguing the community, with social assistance payments barely covering daily necessities.

Attempts to fish and trap for food had been foiled by extreme industrial and energy development in the area, which had scared the game away and fouled the waters of local lakes and streams.
The controversial elimination of the Papaschase reserve in Alberta was in the news that year too. Descendants of the former residents were attempting to receive compensation for lands illegally taken from them in the 1800s. It is interesting to note that little progress has been made and this claim is far from over as it continues to this day to be unsettled.
Meanwhile, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations at the time David Ahenakew became embroiled in a discussion about racist comments that were spoken by a senator in Canada's upper house. Ahenakew demanded that a parliamentary committee be set up to investigate racism, citing examples by judges, doctors, politicians and the public at large. History has shown that the tables were turned when, 25 years later, Ahenakew was accused of uttering uncomplimentary racist remarks himself, an action which caused him to be stripped of his Order of Canada and other awards, and which is still in the news.
The Métis Association of Alberta began a project in the summer of 1983 which saw three students hired to conduct research and collect primary data on the youth who were working the streets in Edmonton. Residents of correctional institutions as well as educational and social groups were also interviewed to discern the problems that face young people. The information was to be put into an audiovisual display which would be shown to vulnerable youth in the hopes it would keep them from the perils of street life.
Fond memories of Christmases past were related as the year closed. Shirley Oker remembered when her grandmother was hosting the family for Christmas dinner in her Rose Prairie, BC home, but forgot to thaw the turkey. The result was the unusual, but apparently very tasty, modification to the traditional feast as the family sat down to enjoy boiled turkey along with all the trimmings. And Roderick Ratt remembered coming in from the trap line at Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan, to decorate a Christmas tree which they'd cut down themselves, and being reunited with old friends when all gathered in town to shop for groceries and presents.
Shirley Tsetta recalled the Christmas of 1973 when her Yellowknife, NWT, family set aside the many chores and duties that needed to be done, and attended midnight mass together. Opening presents and receiving guests were enjoyed the following day which was made extra special because all the family members had returned to celebrate the occasion. Her remembrance set the tone for the end of 1983 as she reminded us that regardless of the social problems experienced by Aboriginal people, there was always love and support of family and friends to celebrate.