Services Failures Admitted by Jeanne Lepine

1 INSIDE THIS WEE GRADUATION TIME is here again, and among the first to < completion of studies were two groups of early childhood devc program graduates, from Wabasca- Desmarais and from the Enoch See pages 10 and 11. SUNCHILD RESERVE has an abundance of problems, including z desperate need for an ambulance service. See page 4. TROUT LAKE is developing plans for a multi -purpose centra to s. community. See page 23. Suicide major kille By Gunnar Lindabury and two- thirus, u.e Task Force on Suicide says Views on Native suicides the error may be as high as can be put into two general 100 %. That means that camps: a group which sees instead of 61 per 100,000, them as symptoms of a the suicide rate is as high as major problem in the com- 120 per 100,000. As far munity, and a group which back as 1976, suicide was remains skeptical about identified as the leading just how bad the problem cause of death among is. Columbia, the Indian sui- Albertans, and among In some villages, there cide rate in 1978 was 66.5 Alberta Indians in particular. are rather startling suicide per 100,000, compared with How is it that suicides are clusters; eight or ten dead a provincial rate of 17 per underestimated? Religious by their own knife in a 100,000. and social restraints, says community of 200 in a one- All of these are consi- the Task Force. "The influ- year period. Clusters and dered "high "; a "healthy" ence of religious and social groups of suicides are rate is supposed to be taboos can be observed in common within Indian fami- about 6 per 100,000 -- concealment, at various lies and villages, especially although even that is not levels, of the true cause of in isolated areas where little truly "healthy ". In New- death; by the suicide victim support exists. Overall, foundland, where unem- himself in order to "spare" how many Indians actually ployment. and other prob- the bereaved survivors; by commit suicide? lems, are hurting the the significant others, in Five times the national province, the rate is less order to "protect the rate, and growing. that 4 per 100,000. name" of the deceased; and Between 1978 and 1982, Official suicide rates are by well- meaning officials 146 Status Indians commit- deceptive; despite the high (police, doctors, coroners) ted suicide in Alberta. This figures for Alberta and to spare surviving family is a rate of 61 suicides per B.C., they actually under- members." 100,000 Indians. The pro- estimate the situation. Problems with underes- vincial rate was 16 per Researchers suggest the 100,000 residents. In British error is between one -third Continued Page 12 Services failures admitted By Jeanne Lepine A preliminary report revealed that the government's failure to deliver services effectively in isolated communities con- tributed to the fatal drinking party in Peerless Lake March 10 that claimed the ALMOST SPRING lives of six Natives. There for a while it seemed so much like spring, that Patrick Milt Pahl, minister of Tremblay, 4, of Edmonton couldn't wait to be sure before he Native Affairs received the launch his first kite flight of the year. -Photo by kan Morin preliminary report on April 4, and said the province will be seeking solutions although he doesn't see the problem of ineffective support in isolated communities being totally eliminated. "The government isn't guilty of spending too little money on support services May 8 vote for isolated communities. There are too few people to By Clint Buehler Opposition leader Ray Martin of the station permanently in New Democrats admitted surprize, but these isolated communi- Premier Don Getty has called a said his party was ready for a campaign, ties, so you have what I provincial election for May 8. and had a few surprizes of its own. characterize as fly in, fly The announcement, made immedi- Representative Party Leader Ray out. ately following the presentation of a Speaker expressed concern over the "We're spending a lot of budget with a record -setting deficit of effect the election will have in delaying money on people flying in $2.1 billion on projected expenditures aid to farmers, while Liberal Leader and flying out and perhaps of $10.65 billion - up more than four Nick Taylor said his party was ready, not staying long enough to USICAL PRO per cent but make everybody in the over last year. not as ready as he would like it to t everyone at the Legislature when the new The election announcement stunned be. community aware of the ssion opened were supporters of government MCAs and observers despite expect- The budget does not call for tax or service," Pahl said. ger to applaud their representatives. Performers, ations "People here were just of a spring election. Only Getty, health care premium increases, nor akers, sign wavers and catcalling protesters his wife recipients of and a handful of cabinet does it include cuts in social services. programs re also on hand to . ministers knew the date, and when it The deficit is blamed on the drop in where people would fly in, +vernment "failur would be announced, in advance. oil prices. Continued Page 3 A NEW DAWN IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS PAGE 2, APRIL U, 1986, WINDSPEARER Impressive showing from NWT for-Fxpo By Garey Emile going to give the world a fiddler Angus Beaulieu the Fort Rae Dene Heritage Northern women have sical guitar and sing in the taste of how rich and how from Fort Resolution; will demonstrate the mak- been known for their artist Icicle Restaurant. Both girls VANCOUVER - Native diverse the north really is." NWT Metis Reelers from ing of various pre -European tic work iitarts -and crag. are from Fort Simpson. entertainers from the The majoring performing Yellowknife; Fort Good contact clothing, tools and The Producer 8tagélocated Birch baskets will be Northwest Territories will venue is the NWT Air Hope Drummers, traditional implements in a recon- in the pavilion will provide shown by Martina and be displaying their talents Stage, where visitors walk- Dene drummers; Delta structed Dene Summer some of the finest crafts Karen Kotchea from Fort to the world when Expo '86 ing by the pavilion will be Drummers and Dancers Camp. Also, Dene drum- people from the NWT, with Liard, and Snare Lake in Vancouver opens May 2. entertained by scores of from Inuvik; Shidene, feat- ming and handgames, moosehair tufting by Ber- women will demonstrate May 2 to October 13, northern Native musicians, uring John Landry Dene rarely seeps outside the nice and Carol Bonne - Dene leather and beadwork. performers and demon- as well as several national Band from Fort Providence NWT, will be presented. trouge, Slavey women from strators from every region and international performers. and the Northem Games Fort Providence. Sarah Icicle Restaurant, a 250 - Inuit from the Arctic Bay in the NWT, will be fea- The list of Native per- athletes from several Cleary from Fort Norman seat, will provide patrons Kayak Builders and Cultu- tured in music presentation formers during Expo northem communities are will demonstrate northern with musical performances. ral Performers will show a and arts and crafts, as includes: Garey Emile, some of the exciting pres- sewing skills and Sonny On sunny days, entertain- construction of an authen- ment will be artists, and story- telling as pianist and songwriter from entations at the fair. Mcdonald from Fort Rae held on the tic sealskin kayak, carving outdoor patio, and each of the four distinct Fort Smith; Charlie Pani- The next presentation will present a woodcarving evening, and Inuit drum dancing, musicians and performing areas. goniak, Inuit Guitarist and includes a variety of cultu- chair he made for Pope storyteller while the Uniaq Construc- and authors According to NWT Pavil- songwriter from Eskimo ral and lifestyle demonstra- John Paul II. will entertain tion, people from Eskimo ion Commissioner George Point; Larry Hagen, songw- tions in one large canopied guests. Jim Green, an Point, will build and launch Braden, the cultural corpo- riter from Arctic Red River; area. Located outside the Inuit soapstone carvers award -winning poet and a large skin boat. rate partners and sponsors David Gon, Dogrib songw- pavilion, Native people will will be present, including raconteur from Fort Smith northern artists Peit Van whose humor has enhanced the program. riter from Fort Simpson; show many bush skills and The art of paddle and and insights Loon from Fort McPher- "We are tremendously Pat Burke, Metis singer techniques demonstrated snowshoe making will be into northern life delight son and Archie Beaulieu excited at the prospect of from Fort Smith; Ernie by the Lennie family from demonstrated by Phillip audiences across Canada is from Fort Rae. one the being able to showcase Constant, Slavey singer Arctic Red River. and William Netsiza from of performers. such a wealth of northern from Fort Providence; An authentic caribou Lac La Martre while Jane Slavey twins will also be Northern residents will atlent at Expo." Simonee Keenainak, Inuit skin tent and implements Dragon and Elizabeth showing their talents, as be celebrating a one -day Pat Buckna, manager of accordian musician from from the Keewatin will be Bourke from Fort Smith Bernadette Norwegian will affair, when June 21 is set cultural programs and spe- Frobisher Bay; Native provided by the Baker will show the art of moose - show her artistic ability aside as the Northwest cial events, says "we're Lake Cousins Band featuring Traditional Camp and hide tanning. while Bertha will play clas- Territories Day at Expo 86.

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