Page 11

In early August, more than four months after a Federal Court judge ordered she be added to the membership list of one of the wealthiest bands in Alberta, Cecile Twinn said she had to go to a food bank to feed the grandchildren she has in her care.

On March 27, while ruling on a Crown motion made in the Bertha L'Hirondelle versus the Queen case, Federal Court trial judge James K. Hugessen ordered that 11 women be immediately added to the Sawridge band list "and be immediately accorded all the rights and privileges attaching to band membership."

Page 10

The Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement was signed in Rae-Edzo, N.W.T. on Aug. 25, giving the 3,000 people that make up the Dogrib nation a wide range of controls over 39,000 square kilometres of land located about 100 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

On hand for the signing was Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Premier of the Northwest Territories Stephen Kakfwi and Joe Rabesca, Grand Chief of the Tlicho Nation, as well as hundreds of people who gathered in the school's gymnasium to witness the historic event.

Page 9

British Columbia is operating under a state of emergency as forest fires burn across the province.

As of Aug. 26, B.C. was dealing with 818 fires, 270 of those in the southeast corner of the province. More than 17,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes under evacuation orders, and many others warned to prepare to leave quickly, their communities under evacuation alert.

Page 8

The Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) are organizing a benefit concert in support of the George family at Toronto's Massey Hall on Oct. 10. Buffy Sainte-Marie has agreed to be the featured performer.

Page 8

Secret police photos, videos ordered released

Just weeks before the family of slain protester Dudley George gets its wrongful death lawsuit in front of a judge, there have been some significant developments in the case.

The lawsuit brought by the family of the Aboriginal rights activist who died at the hands of Ontario Provincial Police at Ipperwash Provincial Park on Sept. 6, 1995 is scheduled to begin in Toronto on Sept. 8.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

There are times when we as constituents spend time looking for our leaders in the media. To hear their platforms, their stances on the day's events, how they feel about the way government is treating us.

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

What we need is a column in every Native, and if possible non-Native publication, for our latest Assembly of First Nation, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and Metis National Council leaders to voice themselves.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Columnist Dan David needs a good hard kick for his paternalistic, ignorant attitude. Who the heck does he think he is? Just whose side is he on? Does he echo the sentiments of Aboriginal people across the country? Or is he merely the 'token Indian' for the media he represents?

If he is truly the Aboriginal he says he is, then I don't need to tell him of the atrocities that the media have brought on the good people of Turtle Island.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Re: Windspeaker editorial, August 2003 edition

Thank you for your editorial. Matthew is a good man, a great leader and an inspiration to many young people, including myself. When I came back to B.C. from my attendance at the assembly, I had many young friends and colleagues asking me what I thought about the recent decision by the AFN chiefs. I asked in return, who my young friends were hoping would win, and all around, I heard them respond with 'Matthew'.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Re: Editorial-David Ahenakew

The writer takes strong exception to the above, asks for his side to be heard.

Indeed Ahenakew may or may not be the portrait of tragedy, but should that render him immune from criminal prosecution? Is Canada not a country where law is the great equalizer, for Native, non-Native, police, civilian, Christian, Jew, Muslim, disbeliever? Where does Ahenakew get special privileges? Had the situation been reversed (a non-Native leader spewing bigoted remarks about Natives) would your editorial be as understanding?

Page 5

From Sept. 5 to Sept. 7, 1995, there were almost 200 photographs and 35 videotapes taken at Ipperwash Provincial Park by police observers, and the public has yet to see them.