News Briefs

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After an eight-month waiting period an inquiry into how the RCMP handled investigations into deaths of Blood reserve Indians has been given the go ahead.

Premier Don Getty promised the inquiry last summer after receiving pressure from the southern Indian band who were worried about treatment they received when dealing with the police force.

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With the issue of the education takeover going to referendum March 17, it is still as emotional and controversial as ever.

When the Bloods assumed control of the three federal schools and administered the tuition agreements for an estimated 2,000 Blood students attending off-reserve schools last April, it was without the blessing of a vocal opposition group.

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The Canadian government needs to learn it can't deny Native people the right to post-secondary education, says a political advisor for the Indian Association of Alberta.

During a meeting with Indian Affairs officials in Ottawa recently. Walter Janvier says he found that the government needs an education in human rights issues.

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A $65 million irrigation agreement which will dramatically boost the Blood tribe's economic self-sufficiency goals was signed Feb. 24 by Blood Chief Roy Fox and federal and provincial officials.

While the Old Agency drummers chanted a Blackfoot victory song, newly-appointed Indian Affairs minister, Pierre Cadieux, and Alberta Environment minister Dr. Ian Reid, signed copies of the agreement before a capacity crowd.

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Native women face two big barriers in their fight for equality; being a woman and being Native, says the president of Women of the Metis Nation.

"From my point of view, Native women have got a double-whammy they share with other women who share with other women who are noticeably different," said Muriel Stanley-Venne.

Stanley-Venne will deliver the keynote speech on racism Saturday to conclude international Women's Week celebrations.

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A handful of Metis from Marlboro held a general meeting Feb. 16 and, in the midst of discontent and frustration, voted unanimously to dissolve their local.

"Since last fall, we've been kind of thinking of putting out....we finally made up our mind," said Russel Plante, Marlboro's Metis local president.

Ever since his membership card was pulled last summer by the Metis Association of Alberta, other outstanding problems have never been resolved. Plante said the main

organization had held back their project proposals once too often.

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The Lubicons may take their land claim dispute straight "to the top" and demand a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Chief Bernard Ominayak said Sunday.

Ominayak spoke to a crowd of about 200 supporters at a Lubicon rally held to close the University of Alberta's ninth annual Third World Film Festival.

"I think Brian Mulroney has a lot to do with this," Ominayak told reporters after his speech. He was referring to the federal government's unwillingness to budge since talks broke off

in January.

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Jim Thunder won't be receiving a rousing reception at New York City's American Museum of Natural History March 21 when he arrives to claim Big Bear's sacred bundle, according to

Thunder's promotions manager, Museum officials have not agreed to co-operate.

The people of New York City are being made aware of Thunder's 4,400-km spiritual run to collect Th. Big Bear's sacred bundle, said Lewis Cardinal speaking from the American

Indian Community House in Manhattan. "But we're not making a great big event out of it. We don't want it to be a circus."

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Kristen Francis and Katherine Delorme know their business.

The two students from Miller Comprehensive school in Regina recently took top honors in E-Spirit 2002, a national-wide business plan competition for Aboriginal youth.

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There's a little more silverware in Vaughn Starblanket's trophy case.

The Regina resident and member of the Star Blanket First Nation took home the Paul LaSwisse Award during the annual Fort Qu'Appelle Lions Echo Valley Road Race, a 20 kilometre race held on May 19.

For many people, finishing a 20-km run is an achievement in itself. But Starblanket, a member of the Regina Athletics and Track Club, has his eyes on some more prizes.