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A weakness in the Indian Act that has allowed provincial governments to levy taxes on Indian lands will be eliminated, pledged Indian Affairs Minister Bill McKnight during the first day of a Vancouver conference on tax and economic development.

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Although the presidential race isn't over yet, it looks like Larry Desmeules by a nose over close contender, Jo Ann Daniels.

In the preliminary results of the Metis Association election held Sept. 1, Desmeules is leading the field with a total of 1,070 votes over Daniels with 943. However, these results may change as the polling station at Desmarais was late sending in its ballots, said officials at the election office in Edmonton.

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The Lubicon Lake land claim has been brought closer to home with the appointment of a Calgary lawyer as federal negotiator with the northern Cree band.

After making the announcement during a Calgary Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday Oct. 5, Minister of Indian Affairs Bill McKnight said the decision to appoint Calgary lawyer, Brian Malone as negotiator was not in reaction to the Lubicon Lake band's boycott campaign against the Calgary winter Olympic Games and the Glenbow Museum's Spirit Sings exhibition of Native artifacts.

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Newsmakers must be responsible and vocal

It appears that many people see Windspeaker as an objective intermediary ? third party who can step in and "expose" the truth. That's a nice compliment and certainly one we all want to live up to.

A telephone call I received from a Metis woman who felt she was being pressured into voting for a particular candidate in next week's election scheduled for Sept. 1, exemplifies this.

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EDITORIAL

Last week Windspeaker was criticized by someone who'd been the subject of an article in which he'd been labelled an elder. The reader indicated his embarrassment at being titled as such and gave numerous reasons as to why the name was undeserved. He had done nothing inspiring nor had he set an example to his peers. He went on in his letter to the editor to point out that an elder "must have achieved a goal or something" and be recognized for that by many different tribal elders.

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The AMMSA-ARTS regional radio, is adding a new community station which will broadcast an additional 18 hours of community news to the Lac La Biche area.

The new community station is the result of a training program which involves four local up-and-coming broadcasters and is set to begin transmission Aug. 31.

Coordinator of the program and the new community station, Ray Fox says the station will run in conjunction with the three hour regional broadcast which covers the province from Red Deer north.

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Most Canadians aren't 'rednecks' or 'bleeding hearts,' they are just ignorant of native issues and problems, says a Calgary university sociologist.

Speaking during the first day of the Alexander Education symposium, August 17, Rick Ponting told delegates that generally, Canadians are not extremists, and in fact, there are more 'bleeding hearts' than 'rednecks'.

"The 'redneck' element makes up less than two percent of the population, whereas 40 percent are volitile, or inconsistent," he said.

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"Pardon me, Thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers." ? by Shakespeare

A poster that shows a once beautiful forest destroyed by a logging company's machines, and bearing the above words, hangs on the wall of Sam Sinclair's office.

The man who's been the president of the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) for eight years is turning his thoughts from politics to land preservation. The post symbolizes the direction he will take upon leaving his position in September.

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Tuberculosis is hitting the tiny hamlet of Buffalo Lake with as many as eight confirmed cases and up to 25 infections of the disease says a provincial health official.

The victims are all residents of the Lubicon Lake Indian band and have been transported to Edmonton's Aberhart Centre for infectious diseases. A medical team has been flown to Little Buffalo and Cadotte Lake areas and testing of residents continues this week, says Dr. John Waters, director of communicable disease control for Alberta.

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An open house, a "mini-powwow" and a fiddling and jigging contest were highlights of Native Awareness Days in Rocky Mountain House Aug. 25-28.

The event was hosted by the Rocky Mountain House Friendship Centre. During the event, the centre held an open house, where crafts were displayed.

Presentations were made on the Alkali Lake and O'Chiese drug and alcohol control programs, and George Calihoo spoke on Native culture.

Wednesday afternoon, a lunch including bannock and cold cuts was held at the centre.