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12 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 3, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com 55 b er ts p su rtis a Gadsden's 17th annual Oakville Christmas Artists, Artisans and Designers Craft Fair Handmade gifts and holiday finds November 10 & 11 Saturday 10 am - 5 pm / Sunday 11 am - 5 pm 16th annual - One of Ontario's favourite Christmas craft fairs Find great, original, handmade gifts, everything from jewellery to fine art "A first class show!", "Great quality!" Hwy 25 Highway 5, Dundas St St Discovery Station Nursery School We have a few spaces available in our nursery school program, Mon Wed Fri afternoons, 1:30 ­ 4:00 at our 1500 Sixth Line location for children 2 ½ to 5 years. This is a great program to help promote independence in your child and prepare for school readiness. Susan Aglukark 4th Line S. Traf algar St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre 1280 Dundas St. W, Oakville Adult admission $5.00, Free parking Superb Ukrainian catering at the show On Hwy 5 at 4th Line S., one km east of Third Line Craftshowscanada.com 1-800-667-0619 Aglukark asks Rotary to help By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Infant Massage (newborn to 9 months) ­ 4 weeks Join a certified IAIM instructor to learn the art of infant massage and to study techniques to help foster close bonds, improve baby's sleep and relieve gas and other symptoms of infant stress. Spaces available in our Tues and Wed afternoon classes offered at our North Service Road and Abbeywood locations. Bonjour Mardi Matin Venez vous joindrent á nous pour une petite histoire, et des chansons, comptines rondes en Français. Drop in for stories, songs and rhymes in French. Offered at our North Service Road location starting Tues Dec 4 from 9:00 ­ 9:45, for children 2 ½ to 6 years. Call 905 849-6366 for more information and to register. The Centre is a registered charitable organization, that has provided programs and services for families since 1980. Our services are designed to support all families in their parenting role. We also offer early learning opportunities for children 0-6 years. For more information on programs, parenting and services offered by the Centre please contact us at 905-849-6366 or visit our website at www.op-cc.ca Singer and Juno Award winner Susan Aglukark intends to cast a spotlight on the lives of First Nations people living in isolated parts of the country. More importantly, the Oakville resident wants to convince Canadians to do something about the Third World conditions in which Aboriginals are living in Canada. Such activism brought her to the breakfast table of the Rotary Club of Oakville West recently, in the hopes of convincing members to help. Aglukark has devoted several years traveling to remote communities emphasizing the importance of education. Aglukark recently created the National Aboriginal Literacy Foundation for this very purpose. Her latest Reawaken the Spirit campaign launches in February and focuses on instilling a love of learning among teens, adults and seniors and engaging First Nations people in their communities. "Anyone can get a Grade 12 diploma then go and hide with it. We need First Nations people to believe in themselves and with that confidence build community life, a love of learning and to give them a plan that they can make their own for two and three generations down the line and to help them open a new window to the world," said Aglukark. She hopes to personally take her message to every province and territory in the country within two years. Aglukark heads to places never heard of among Canadians. Places where there are near-poverty conditions, accessibility is limited, sewers and water pipes are non-existent and homes are decrepit. "People are ready for anything, they're so tired of living this way," she said. With fame that began in the early 1990s and continues six albums later, Aglukark said that she is "in the fortunate position of being native first and to have access to incredible organizations so that we can do what we need to do." She compares her work to a paint-by-numbers canvas in which she shows up with a blank piece of paper, painting in the colours by using the right language and partnerships to fulfill the goal. "We're at a critical stage with any First Nations group. I'm open to any help I can get," she told the Rotarians. "Without education, there are fewer choices for people," she added. This is an opinion shared by Rotarian Mickie Angus who has worked on the service club's international projects for the past four years. "Susan has given us an opportunity to look at Canada and into worlds we've never seen or knew existed and perhaps focus on issues closer to home," said Angus.