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There was a special moment in the audience's exuberant applause for world championship hoop dancer Lisa Odjig's performance-a moment when an incredible bond of respect and admiration for Lisa and the other Native female performing artists united both audience and performers.

The audience, an eclectic mix of Native and non-Native people, were gathered to watch Lisa and the others showcase their talents at the Red Spring Sisters' concert in the Glenn Gould studio in Toronto May 24.

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High on a hill in Elliot Lake, stands an independent, post-secondary art school and innovative centre like no other in the world. Housed in a brand-new building filled with natural light are plants, a ceremonial court, skylights to naturally light the eight artists' studios, an extensive multimedia artists library, a world class gallery and art shop unique to northern Ontario. All this is surrounded by pristine wilderness. On May 4, the White Mountain Academy of the Arts held its first four-year graduation ceremony.

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Ontario government legislation purported to regulate social service workers is causing confusion and anxiety among First Nation community workers. In an attempt to clarify the implications of Bill C-76, the registrar of the fledgling Ontario College of Social Service Workers and Social Workers was invited to Sudbury May 7.

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A forum of First Nations community care workers met May 7 in Sudbury to spell out perceived flaws in the Ontario government's strategy to regulate social workers. Forty delegates from Aboriginal wellness and educational organizations were invited by the Circle of Original Peoples Council to provide feedback.

At the end of the day they reached a consensus: no meaningful consultation has taken place with the Native people affected by Bill C-76.

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The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC) in Toronto released a report on May 22 titled Tenuous Connections, a study of urban Aboriginal teen sexuality. The study looks at reasons so many urban Native youth, some as young as 11, are sexually active, and what can be done about teenage pregnancy rates that far surpass the national average.

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Aboriginal Catholic youth from across Canada will be joining with thousands of other young Canadians as they welcome the world to Toronto for a celebration of their Catholic faith.

From July 22 to 28, the city will play host to World Youth Day 2002, with more than 350,000 registered participants from 150-plus countries expected to take part.

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A Saugeen First Nation man described by his lawyer as a "gentle bear of a man with no violent intent" has been sentenced to six years in prison for the accidental shooting of a camper on the Victoria Day weekend two years ago.

Garry Kewaquom, 58, was initially charged with second degree murder in the death of Allan Thompson, 26, who was shot in the face at point blank range after a dispute with Kewaquom's sister escalated to racial slurs.

Kewaquom later pled guilty when the charge was dropped to manslaughter.

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Walpole Island Police Constable Paul Neudert died in a collision between two Walpole Island cruisers on May 7, north of the reserve in St. Clair Township.

Neudert was travelling in his police vehicle in heavy fog when he was hit by another police vehicle driven by Sgt. Lyle Johnson. Both officers were rushed to the hospital in Wallaceburg with serious injuries. Neudert succumbed shortly thereafter. Johnson remains in hospital in fair condition.

They were heading toward the Petrolia OPP detachment to do administrative work when they collided.

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Susan Aglukark is a busy lady but when asked by the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto if she would perform a benefit fund-raising concert for them, she readily agreed.

The cause, The Gate Community Chaplaincy, has been in operation for three years and is the only organization of its kind in the Greater Toronto area.

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Suggested changes to Canada's Access to Information Act may not only protect to First Nations' burial sites and other sacred information, but may also make past confidential government documents accessible by First Nations.

The Selected Concerns of Aboriginal People report recommends protecting records that may contain information about burial sites, and other sites of historical value that are traditionally considered confidential by Aboriginal people.