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Dear Editor:

All of my life I have gone back and forth to the United States of America with no problems, whatsoever.

I am extremely upset at recent events concerning my grandchildren who were born in the U.S.A. The children are nine, seven, and five years old.

They have been denied an education because they are non-status and born in the United States. Because of a backlog in Ottawa, it could take up to 12 months to find out if they are elibible to be registered with the Beecher Bay Reserve.

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Dear Editor:

The media plays a major role in disseminating information about the First Nation governance act. The Assembly of First Nation chief Matthew Coon Come only reports the fabricated negative impact, but does not address the real issues and benefits of the First Nation governance act.

The First Nation governance act came from the grassroots level. It is our idea and it is what we want, the ordinary people of First Nation communities. We support Robert Nault, the Minister of Indian Affairs, for initiating our request.

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Editorial

May was a month when the big story was the brief flurry of words between the man that would be king and the fellow who is doing the bidding of the current sovereign. Yes, Liberal leadership front-runner Paul Martin and Minister of Indian Affairs, Robert Nault, crossed swords on the battlefield that is the First Nations governance act, with Martin dealing a substantial blow to the legislation in which Nault has so much invested-perhaps his political future.

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Wikwemikong Chief Walter Manitowabi is urging members of his community to focus on collective healing in the aftermath of an Ontario Court of Justice decision.

The long anticipated verdict came April 25 after 17 months of controversy and grief on the First Nation. Justice Gerald Michel sentenced Ecuadorian healer Juan Uyunkar to a 12-month conditional sentence followed by twelve months' probation. The shaman's son, Edgar Uyunkar, received one day, time served, with six months' probation. He was ordered to leave Canada as soon as possible.

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Sheshegwaning First Nation, on the western tip of Manitoulin Island, is investigating quarrying as a new means of economic development.

The band entered into an agreement last year, currently being renegotiated, with Architectural Stone, a well-established stone company headquartered in the Sudbury area.

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Northern Ontario's pine forests, rocky terrain and plentiful wilderness lakes are attracting many Aboriginal entrepreneurs who are interested in carving a niche in the sport fishing and tourism markets.

The Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association (NONTA) has teamed together with First Nations businesses to offer cultural and fishing adventures to tourists looking for a unique package.

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Arnold Aron Jacobs, a man of few words, speaks volumes with the strokes of his brush.

During eight weeks last winter, Jacobs created a commissioned work for the common room wall of the Jay Silverheels Lifelong Care Centre in Ohsweken. An idea in his head went from a pencil drawn sketch to an eight feet long mural that depicted a nature scene complete with trees, animals and a flowing river.

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On April 19, the Aboriginal Voices Radio 106.5 FM showcase at Healey's drew a packed house and alerted Torontonians to a few of the many talented Aboriginal musicians currently plying their trade.

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Between 150 and 200 youth attended the sixth national Metis Youth Conference with the theme Metis Youth...the New Workforce.

The conference was co-ordinated by the Metis National Council at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa on April 25 to 27.

"Our main focus was to try and show the youth what kinds of opportunities there are out there for them. So we had some workshops," said assistant co-ordinator Avery Hargreaves.

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First Nations people who access Health Canada's Non-Insured Health Branch (NIHB) services must sign consent forms so that their private information can be used by the government. The deadline for signing is Sept. 1, and if people don't meet that deadline they will be forced to pay cash, up-front, for medical services.