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Despite financial restraints, the Native Council of Canada (NCC) remains undeterred and continues to battle for the entrenchment of Native rights and self-government in the Canadian constitution.

As one of four major Canadian Native organizations, representing the interests of Canada's Native people, NCC stand firm on five basic principles they want recognized by government:

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Metis self-government is being thwarted by Canada's three western premiers, says a director of the Metis National Council (MNC).

Although the federal government and the MNC agree to the concept of self-government, the only way to legislate it is through a provincial agreements. If this agreement is not forthcoming neither is self-government, says Yvon Dumont, director of the MNC and president of the Manitoba Metis Federation.

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A member of the Big Prairie Metis Settlement (Peavine) council says he has been denied access to administrative records and financial records of settlement corporations.

Ken Noskey, who was elected to council last year, says he has requested information and documentation on land records and on the three Peavine corporations, Peavine Development, Waskayigun Corp. and the Cattlemen's Association.

"I only found out about the last one two months ago. I don't know who is on the board. They are not telling the people at all," said Noskey

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An Inuit group feels left out in the cold after the Canadian government signed an agreement with Quebec that recognizes that provide as a distinct society of Canada.

The Inuit Committee on National Issues is calling for major changes, hinting that if their concerns for self-government are not added to the constitutional agenda, there will be no incentive for Natives to obey federal laws.

A frustrated co-chairman of the Inuit group, Zebeedee Nungak said: "If there is any distinct society in this country, it's us."

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The widely accepted story that the Indian sold Manhattan to the Dutch for $24 worth of beads has never been proven and was probably made up by a historian, says a researcher.

"There is no documentary evidence that even suggests European trading beads were used to buy Manhattan Island," says Peter Francis, director of the Centre for Bead Research in New York.

The legend states that Indians took the beads and signed away the 22,000 acres that comprise the most valuable island in the world.

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John Pelotte, the first Indian bishop, will ask Pope John Paul to make a Mohawk woman a saint.

The candidate for sainthood is Kateri Tekawitha. Kateri was baptized by Jesuit missionaries in 1676 and vowed to remain a virgin. She died of smallpox in 1680, at the age of 24. Catholic legend states the smallpox scars vanished from her body and her skin turned white as she died. The story of Kateri has spread across the country, said Pelotte.

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Sargeant Clayton Lonetree, a Winnebago and Navajo Indian, has pleaded not guilty at a court martial trial on July 22. Lonetree, a former guard at the U.S. Embassy at Moscow, is facing charges in the sex-for-secrets scandal at the embassy.

Lonetree, 25, is accused of having an affair with a female Soviet employee at the embassy, and is charged with passing secrets to Soviet agents at her request.

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A tipi and yurt (a traditional tent dwelling used by Chinese desert people) exchange planned to mark the start of a co-operative fossil study project between Canada and China in the Gobi desert, has been cancelled due to a lack of funding.

Initially, the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA) had planned to have Peigan elder Joe Crowshoe present several painted Blackfoot tipis to the Chinese at a project camp in the Gobi desert.

The tipi's were to have been painted on the Peigan reserve August 15, according to a design authorized by Joe Crowshoe.

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The Calgary Olympic winter games is once again embroiled in controversy over Native involvement.

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The recent decision by the United Nations to hear the Lubicon Lake band's complaint over Canada's alleged violation of an international covenant, denying the band their right to maintain their lifestyle, has been applauded by the band and other Native leaders.

However, the Canadian government has refused to comment other than to complain that the band should return to the bargaining table and then send a contradictory letter thanking the band for returning to the negotiations.