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Nathaniel Arcand of North of 60 and American Outlaw fame is a busy man. The Edmonton-born actor will be seen in early December in the CTV's Literature Series movie called 100 Days in the Jungle, the real-life story of eight pipeline workers kidnapped in Ecuador in 1999. In February he'll be seen in a Warner Bros. remake of the Lone Ranger (Arcand plays Tonto). In March he has a role in the Hallmark production called Wildfire 7. He plays the role of a smokejumper called (eh-hmm) Red. (It must be funny south of the border.)

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Alberta's rapping WARPARTY had a couple of reasons to celebrate at the fourth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held on Nov. 28 at Toronto's SkyDome. WARPARTY's Exclusive Rez was chosen as the best rap or hip hop album. And the band also took home the best music video award for The Reign.

WARPARTY won the best rap album at the 2001 awards show.

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The minister of Indian Affairs was the featured guest at a gala dinner at Fort McMurray's Sawridge Hotel on Jan. 9 as an agreement involving five First Nations, the private sector and the federal government was celebrated.

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In promoting Community Friendship Week, to be held Jan. 12 to 19, 2003, the Napi Friendship Centre is going beyond its usual mandate. It's a stretch that executive director Carol Specht thinks is necessary and not uncommon for this particular centre.

Specht believes that having an event that focuses on the different cultures that comprise the area, such as First Nations, Hutterite, and Mennonite, will attract more people and promote a wider buy-in to the event.

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Edmonton was treated to some exciting events during the week-long celebration of being Metis. The week began with a proclamation read by Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith designating Nov. 10 to 16 a week for the Metis, and a flag-raising ceremony at city hall.

"It is a way to kick off Edmonton Metis Week. For the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA), it is a very important week to us," said Audrey Poitras, president of the MNA. "It gives us an opportunity to promote our culture within the Metis community and to the rest of society."

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According to the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres (FNCCEC), a national non-profit association that represents 77 First Nations Cultural Centres and colleges in communities across western Canada, keeping Aboriginal languages alive and in use is of utmost importance.

The group has watched the dramatic decline of Aboriginal language use over the years, with 87.4 per cent of Aboriginal people speaking their languages in 1951 down to 36 per cent of adults and 21 per cent of youth in 1991.

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Assumption, Alta.

The Dene Tha' referendum on the leadership of Chief Harry Chonkolay has again been postponed.

Scheduled for Sept.. 7, the referendum was abruptly cancelled when electoral officer Roy Meneen, from the Tall Cree Band, failed to show up, said an Assumption band office worker, who refused to give his name.

"People were showing up to vote and there was nobody there," he said, admitting it was very frustrating.

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Edmonton

The controversial Child Welfare Act will be given a new interpretation, says a recently appointed social service children's advocate.

Bernd Walter, who was named to the government appointed post of children's advocate last week, says a new system will soon be in place to define the role of the province

when placing children with foster families.

Under the province's new Child Welfare Act amendments, the children's advocate will investigate or review individual cases at the request of the child, the social services

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Duffield, Alta.

A Duffield Indian has just returned from an international conference held in Japan, where he joined with 2,000 other people to declare the 21st century - "The century of hope".

"I'm hopeful," there'll be changes, said Ed Burnstick, whose children and grandchildren will inherit the future.

"The way things are going worldwide there has to be a change of attitude," he said.

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Tansi, Ahnee and hello.

This summer is winding down. There's a chill in the air these mornings and on my frequent drives into the country I've noticed the hawks becoming more numerous and busy as

they prepare themselves for the long flight to the south.

There are even the first sightings of leaves on the ground. Somewhere in this change of seasons I can imagine the children discovering that fallen leaves are one of the most