Page 15

When stone carver Jason Noel practices his art, each of the steps he takes is part of an unbroken circle of creation.

Keeping that circle whole is important to Noel. That is why, whenever possible, he goes out, finds the raw stone and digs it out of the ground himself, giving thanks to mother earth as he does so.

It is also one of the reasons he tends to shun the galleries and chooses instead to bring his work to the people, so he can meet with those who buy his work, and they can meet him.

Page 14

There are two kinds of music publishers: the independent publisher (including self-publishing) and the record label publisher.

The music publisher is involved in the creative, financial and administrative aspects of a songwriter's copyright.

The creative work involves development of a songwriter's career to market demos in the hopes of getting a record deal.

All the business aspects, such as negotiating, investing in developing talent, and how much to spend on recording demos, are part of a publisher's daily workload.

Page 12

For years, the Saskatoon-based Yanke Group of Companies has been trying to increase the number of Aboriginal people it employs, but with little success. So now, the company is trying a new approach.

Instead of trying to reach out to individual Aboriginal people to interest them in positions with the company, Yanke is working to develop partnerships with tribal councils across the country, who will then in turn work to get the word out to their members about career opportunities in the trucking business.

Page 11

More than 800 people attended the ninth annual Knowing Our Spirits Conference on Nov. 27 to 29 in Edmonton, bustling from workshop to workshop devoted to health and healing.

Conference director Bernie Makokis said participants were impressed not only with the diversity of the workshops available, but also with the number of communities represented.

Page 10

Not that long ago, I remember reading a quote in an article written by an incensed mixed blood Maori woman (who's name unfortunately escapes me) who had just been asked how much actual Maori blood she had.

"I have just as much blood as any other Maori woman," she said defiantly. Unfortunately, not everybody understands that simple concept. Today, what can be accepted as being Native and what isn't is still wrestled with.

Page 9

A special team will be established at Assembly of First Nations headquarters in Ottawa to lead the fight to stop the First Nations governance act and other legislation proposed by the minister of Indian Affairs.

A resolution was passed by the chiefs on Dec. 12 to focus political action on lobbying to stop the suite of legislation put forward by Minister Robert Nault.

Page 7

Darren Bonaparte is a first term councillor on the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. He believes the local councils have become overly dependent on government money.

Page 6

Wilmer Nadjiwon, 81, was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI), an organization he helped found in 1969 and of which he was the first chief.

Remarkably vigorous for a man of his years, he operates a commercial wood-carving business and also runs a thriving Native-theme camp ground for tourists in Tobermorey, Ont. He was chief of the Cape Croker First Nation from 1964 to 1978.

Page 6

Robert Corbiere, the deputy chief of the Wikwemikong Unceded Nation made a long speech about his concerns about the national First Nations agenda.

Page 6

What to do? Kevin Christmas, a Mi'kmaq Nation citizen who lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has been circulating essays he wrote that are harshly critical of those chiefs who have chosen to work with the government. He has been especially tough on members of the AFN executive.

He told Windspeaker the Mi'kmaq Elders have identified a pattern of co-optation that is used by the government.