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I didn't think I'd ever find myself taking Brian Mulroney's side in an argument with Native leaders but I am now. The South African ambassador to Canada recently criticized Mulroney for neglecting Canadian Native people. Glen Babb also said the life of Blacks in South Africa was no worse than the life of Native people in Canada.

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CALGARY - A Calgary city committee chairman is calling the federal government and the minister of the Department of Indian Affairs to task over Bill C-31 which he claims has created "two classes of Status Indians."

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The decision to move the location of the Metis Association of Alberta assembly to Edmonton from the originally planned Slave Lake site, was prompted by a quiet sit-in by dissatisfied southern Alberta Metis on February 11.

A group of Metis from Calgary along with Edmonton supporters, held a sit in at the MAA offices to protest the proposed location site of the upcoming MAA assembly slated for March 14 and 15.

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Native chiefs from Alberta and Saskatchewan in a prepared statement have announced that they will not participate in the First Minister's Conference (FMC) scheduled for March.

In the statement, the chiefs said at the last two ministers' conference, the United Indian First Nations of Treaty 6 held demonstrations out side the conference, something they have agreed not to do next month. The chiefs say that a demonstration at the FMC would lend credibility to the government's capability to deal with Indian treaty nation issues.

25 years of affiliation

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I met 68 year-old Delia Gray, who was born near Wabasca, at a Canadian Native Friendship Centre Christmas party last year. We spoke privately in one of the upstairs offices where she proudly stated in her convincing manner, "I've been affiliated with the friendship centre coming up to 25 years."

Silver Jubilee

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It was an occasion to kick up one's heels and that's exactly what happened last Saturday night as the Canadian native Friendship Centre (CNFC) commemorated its Silver Anniversary at the Montgomery Legion in Edmonton.

Approximately 200 guest attended the gala event to pay tribute to the individuals and organizations who have been involved over the years in seeing the centre bridge the

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NOTE: It is with respect that Windspeaker proudly announces the arrival of a new family member to the newspaper, Winston Wuttunee, entertainer and now Windspeaker Columnist.

Winston Wuttunee is a member of the Red Pheasant Reserve in Saskatchewan and as his first column indicates, he will be sharing many of his experiences with us.

Welcome aboard Winston!

EDITORIAL

Over the years, a number of Alberta's Indian reserves have been able to better

their socio-economic position. For many, that has been the result of incoming revenue generated from oil and gas royalties. When those "have not" communities became "have" communities, their social and economic conditions were dramatically altered.

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DUFFIELD - The Paul Band community threw its support to a band member who

lost everything in a house fire by holding a benefit round dance on February 7, at the community hall. Local residents gave donations to help Edith Paul get started again.

Paul, a young single mother of two and a widow, received the community generosity and donations with sincere gratefulness.

"I'm very proud of my people for doing this. I really appreciate the things they have done and given to me," said a happy Edith Paul.

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A home-based community-centered program offering support to troubled families is reducing the potential for child abuse while keeping families together.

The Yellowhead Youth Centre's Family Support Program, operated by the Edmonton Region of Alberta Social Services, is an alternative to placing children in residential care.