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Nasivvik

On April 5, 1939, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision that stands out as one of the most memorable strokes of pen in Inuit history. The question that the court considered was:

Does the term "Indians", as used in head 24 of section 91 of the British North America Act, 1867, include Eskimo inhabitants of the province of Quebec? The Supreme Court's answer was Yes.

"Eskimo inhabitants of the province of Quebec are "Indians" within the contemplation of head no. 24..." and so on and so forth...

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Music Biz 101

The promotional kit or press kit is an artist's primary marketing tool geared to solicit interest from potential presenters and the media.

An effective promo kit should be visually appealing and include a biography, a photo, a CD, press clippings, and a business card. A discography/videography and a quote sheet of excerpt statements from other artists, promoters or media are optional and compliment the package.

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Pro Bono

Dear Tuma:

I am a status Indian working for a Native political organization. Our head office is located on reserve, but we also have a branch off reserve where I work. Can my wages be garnished by debtors?

Working for the Credit Bureau

Dear Working:

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"History: Blend of both myth and selected facts alterable for political purposes. History is arguably second best to economics as evidence of academic corruption.

-found on a Web site on doublespeak

We're constantly assaulted by the "news." It doesn't matter whether you buy it at the newsstand or have it delivered by the local loudmouth, there's not much difference between the two except you pay for one and can't shut up the other.

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Naked Native people. You don't really see a lot of them. Especially at this time of year. I'm talking about their representation in television, theatre or print. And even more so, its Native men that are remarkably absent from baring all to the world.

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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.

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Chiefs and technicians marked the addition of another 17 First Nations to the 14 already participating in the First Nations Land Management Act [FNLMA] with a press conference on March 31. The main point that media were meant to take away from the discussion is that even in this one small area of governance, a lot of learning and institution-building is required before First Nations can assume a role previously performed by the federal government.

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Three Ontario Court of Appeal justices have ruled that the children-and perhaps the grandchildren?of former residential school students can sue the federal government for loss of culture.

The 3-0 ruling was handed down March 27. Mr. Justice Jean-Marc Labrosse wrote the court's decision. Madame justices Louise Charron and Eileen Gillese concurred.

It's estimated that 17,000 people attended residential school. The court decision opens up the possibility that all of their descendants can now sue for loss of language, culture and family connections.

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Chief Tom Bressette of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in Ontario, and Harold Calla, band councillor with British Columbia's Squamish Nation, met with Aboriginal media on March 28 to sell Bill C-19, the proposed First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management act.

Bressette is the chairman of the First Nation Statistics Advisory Panel, Calla, the chairman of the First Nations Financial Management Board. Both entities are the constructs of the federal government, set up in preparation of C-19 being passed.

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An attempt by the federal government to bring a stop to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations' legal action against the First Nations governance act was not successful.

The legal action, brought by the FSIN Senate under the name of former Senator David Ahenakew, asked for "a permanent constitutional injunction prohibiting the defendants or their agents or servants from passing the bill in question in Parliament."

It also asked the court to issue several declarations.