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The Saskatchewan Justice department announced on June 11 that former national chief David Ahenakew has been charged with spreading hate, a criminal offence. Last year, the former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations senator made anti-Semitic statements during a public speech, allegedly breaking Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code.

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The admission in June by the new chief of the Saskatoon Police Service that an officer was disciplined in 1976 for taking a Native woman to the outskirts of the city and abandoning her there has increased the intensity of the spotlight on the embattled police force.

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Just days after he sparred publicly in the press with Liberal Party leadership front-runner Paul Martin over the First Nations governance act, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Robert Nault, declared publicly that the former finance minister has his support in the leadership race.

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When the House of Commons rose for the summer break on June 13, a week earlier than expected, Bill C-7, the First Nations governance legislation, died on the order paper. But it's not over till it's over. The First Nations governance act could be resurrected in the fall.

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All three candidates said the format of the AFN needs some repair.

Fontaine said change is part of the history of the movement.

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Third place in race can make or break a chief

As predicted here last month, the campaign for Assembly of First Nations national chief will be a three-candidate affair involving incumbent Matthew Coon Come, former national chief Phil Fontaine and Roberta Jamieson, a recent arrival as an elected participant, but no stranger to the national political stage.

The election will be the centrepiece of the three-day AFN annual general assembly to be held this year at the Shaw Conference Centre in downtown Edmonton from July 15 to 17.

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Although Toronto is told that the second cluster of SARS cases is on the decline, another tragedy has occurred. A day set aside to honor the Aboriginal people of this nation has been overshadowed by a SARS benefit, "concert for commerce" for the Greater Toronto Area.

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My main concern is what is happening with our people up in the Yukon territories. I don't know if you know, but there has been a number of people who have signed off their land claims agreement, eight of them in total.

My concern is that these people are now becoming enfranchised. I think it's the biggest enfranchisement in Canadian history and nobody seems to be taking note of it, and I'm kind of wondering why.

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Dear Editor:

I am a Westbank Indian band member and believe there was an injustice done to my family by chief and council. I watched the video made for their promotion of the band's self-government legislation. I was appalled to see my deceased parents' pictures used, stating that they were striving for self-government.

My parents believed in sharing and living off the land, not in laws written for personal gain and the power to control the land and taxes.

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Open letter to Robert Nault:

Although words like First Nations or First Nations governance are being used in this act and by government spokespeople, especially to the media, they really mean Indian bands and council of the band(s).

However, given that this act will make spending of band funds and earned dollars more accountable and transparent-I whole-heartedly support this act.

-Albert Wilson