INSIDE THIS WEEK Trappers Mohawks Leaders Track star's promote fur side reflect home is trade in with on past laden with Europe Lubicons year trophies See Page 2 See Page 3 See Page 7 See Page 5 Happy New Year to our readers... ...From the Board & Staff of Windspeaker PAGE 2, January 1, 1988, WINDSPEAKER Provincial Trappers promote fur business overseas By Dianne Meili "middleman" fur buyer and was there. There was even get more money for raw a figure skinning a beaver." Canadian Natives, in pelts. Lawrence Courtoreille, London recently to pro- "That's what they're IAA Treaty 8 vice -president, mote the fur trapping doing in Ontario. Maybe felt the trip was well worth industry in a city that leads we'll start sending our furs it. "London is a place where the European anti -fur to the Ontario warehouse... people are bombing fur lobby, received little play and they'll be sold directly stores. A lot of money has from the British media. to the overseas market. In been spent on good anti -fur "We were in London to the future, we might have campaigns. But, we showed heighten awareness about our own warehouse in the the other side of the story. the fur industry here...Lon- west," explains Willier. "As People over there don't don is a big place and soon as the fur changes know anything about the there's so much going on. hands from us it's sold at a way we live and wildlife. It's very hard to capture 50 to 100 per cent mark up. They don't know about fur s people's attention," said It would be better if we harvesting." Lou Demerais, one of a could sell directly to fur Courtoreille cited the group of ten Albertans who manufacturers." drumming and singing cul- spent a week in London, Willier pointed out that tural shows put on by the along with about 60 other he usually sells a coyote Natives as doing much to representatives of the fur pelt for about $50. He dispell the image of the trapping industry from roughly estimates that it Hollywood image. "They across Canada and the takes four pelts to make a understand we don't run Arctic. The group was coat which will sell for sev- around with paint on our LAWRENCE COURTOREILLE sponsored by the Canadian eral thousand dollars. faces. And we showed that ...culture dispells stereotypes government and British Trappers "are getting pen- we're able to live like they be a lot Museum in support of the nies" for their work, he do" he added, explaining It was a good way to tudes they have." It may be "There should opening of The Living Arc- says. that John Kim Bell, an east- show trappers the other easier to explain to a grass- more exhibits like The Liv- tic display at London's Archie Cyprien, a Fort ern Canada Native, con- side of the coin, too, roots person now about ing Arctic. It's no use con- Museum of Mankind. Chipewyan trapper, agrees ducted the Royal Philhar- explained Courtoreille. boycotts and why the price fronting the Green Peace "We got some coverage with Demerais that more monic Symphony of London "They saw how Europeans for pelts are down some people at the street level," from The Times of London, could have been done to during the visit. live...and some of the atti- years, he said. Courtoreille concluded. but not from some of the raise the awareness of more serious papers," adds Europeans that hunting Demerais, public relations and trapping support an officer for the Indian Asso- ancient way of life. "I talked ciation of Alberta (IAA). directly to a few people British kids learn Native ways "Things could have been (Londoners), but not that set up and organized a little many came to the opening. better...the public relations There were only a lot of In the battle against the Information official for lose the game," said Gilday. drummers. were inadequate. Some- government people there. anti -fur lobby Native people Indigenous Survival Inter- The game wil be used to The message of the one should have gone over We got some exposure, but are turning to modern national Cindy Gilday says teach school groups tour- exhibition is that hunting about two weeks earlier to not what it should have technology to teach British the Native lobbying group ing the exhibition called and trapping sustain a set up the groundwork. TV been." He didn't really talk children about Native sur- will ensure the game will be The Living Arctic which will Native way of life that dates and radio coverage were to any Europeans about vival and hunting traditions. "state of art" and will be open in London for the back thousands of years good good though," said trapping, explaining he was Georges Erasmus, include a touch-screen next 18 months. and to destroy the fur trade Demerais. "just there as part of the national chief of the method. The show was officially would also destroy Native Russel Willier, a trapper group." Assembly of First Nations, The game will be based opened by Canada's High culture. from Sucker Creek, saw Cyprien was satisfied says an "interactive video on hunting in the bush and Commissioner Roy Erasmus says the exhibi- the London visit as a good with The Living Arctic dis- game" will be part of an surviving under adverse McMurtry. As part of the tion has cost $500,000 so way to network with other play, though. Although, the education package for Brit- conditions. To succeed the opening ceremony, John far, plus $100,000 for Native trappers. After talk- recreated tipi "didn't have ish children. player must first learn from Kim Bell, a Canadian related projects. It has ing to representatives of the much in it" the trapper's The game will be based an Indian Elder. Indian, became the first been financed with grants Ontario Trapper's Associa- cabin was "presented to a on the type developed for "If they don't learn the North American Native to from the governments of tion, he and other Alberta to a tee. There was a 45- European children by Saudi tricks of tracking animals or conduct the Royal Phil- the Northwest Territories, trappers are now consider- gallon drum in the middle of Arabian officials who the conditions of the land or harmonic Orchestra in a Ontario, Manitoba, British ing establishing their own it, just like every cabin really wanted to teach westerners how to take heed of expe- concert that included Inuit Columbia and the federal warehouse to cut out the has, and all the basic stuff about Saudi culture. rienced people...then they'll throat singers and Dene government. Study preparation program at Blue Quills Athabasca University is needs of any group," says academic year. Athabasca "I can understand the ward of the government as an open, distance educa- delivering its new on -site Virginia Nilsson, university University improves stu- obstacles the students have a teenager, he had struggled tion institution serving Academic Preparation learning assistance psy- dents' study habits and to overcome to be success- through high school, later more than 10,000 students Program for the first time to chologist and the pro- they use the course content ful in post- secondary stu- pursuing management across Canada. The uni- students at Blue Quills First gram's co- ordinator. "For to practice. The program dies because I have expe- training, at night, while versity offers degrees in Nations College in St. Paul. the first time in Alberta, a uses books, films, lectures, rienced them myself," he working as a mechanic in administration, arts, and The program's goal is to multi -media program to small group discussions, as explains. Edmonton. Following a general studies, and uni- boost students' self - prepare students for the well as exercises and successful move to a man- versity certificated in confidence and improve challenge of post- secondary quizzes to allow students to His desire to help fellow agement position in a large administration and public their study skills. Deve- study can be delivered on- learn in ways best suited to Native people succeed in trucking company, he administration. Students loped by the university's site, virtually anywhere individual styles. post- secondary studies completed a B.Ed in indus- can choose from more than Student Services depart- there is a demand. It is par- But instilling self- confid- prompted him to accept trial and vocational training 150 courses. ment, it teaches students ticularly suited for those ence in students is often the the offer to teach Atha- at the University of Alberta, time management, organi- people who have been out biggest challenge says Leo basca University's program and returned to teach at the For more information zation, reading and memory of school for a number of Jacobs, who teaches the this fall. high school where he once about the Academic Prepa- skills, note taking, and years." program at First Nations battled to complete Grade ration Program, contact exam preparation. Students can apply what College. Students at the Jacobs' own success 12. He is currently working Student Services, Atha- "The program can be they learn because the pro- college are predominantly story inspires the students on an M.Ed. at the U of A. basca University, at adapted to the particular gram is taught during the Native. he teaches because as a Athabasca University is 675 -6148. WINDSPEAKER, January 1, 1888, PAGE 3 Bloods taking control of education.