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Oil rich bands in Alberta are feeling the pinch of lower international oil prices and may be forced to renegotiate lower royalty payments in order to remain competitive, says an Indian Minerals West officials.

Wally Dombroski, acting director with the Department of Indian Affairs department, says if bands want to stay in production they are going to have to consider some "reduced rates and sharing with the (oil) companies.

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BONNYVILLE - Quentin Watchmaker, a seven-year-old mentally handicapped Kehewin boy afflicted with fetal alcohol syndrome, has been removed from the Duclos School special education class here by his mother following allegations of child abuse.

The boy was in the news late last year when he was removed from a foster home after it was discovered his sleeping quarters were in a makeshift pen under the homes' basement stairs.

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VANCOUVER - Expo hype is growing. Vancouver stores are busily cleaning and redecorating, hotels are raising rates and clearing out their regular residents, and the rattling skytrain is keeping Vancouverites awake at night.

However, despite the glitter and glitz, many visitors are already asking why there is no pavilion for the original peoples of this land.

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OTTAWA - The Nielsen Report review on program delivery to Native people has been described by its critics as "dangerous," "offensive" and "completely out of touch with the reality of Native life in this country."

To let you decide for yourself here are a few of the suggestions made in the report.

On Native Housing:

The report suggests that the government develop a new housing program that "ensures that there is no incentive through housing to remain on reserves with no long-run economic potential."

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VANCOUVER - The investigative journalist conference held at the Pan Pacific Hotel, March 15-16, drew 151 journalists from throughout Canada.

Various techniques of investigative journalism were discussed. Native self-government and policies workshops were aimed at the mainstream media. The bigger portion of time was taken by third world issues.

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VANCOUVER - The Save South Moresby Caravan (Supercontinental #3) arrived at 1:30 p.m. January 15, to a hero's welcome, with approximately 1,500 people clapping and cheering the caravan group at the CN station.

The caravan group left St. John, Newfoundland on March 4, and picked up supporters at station stops. The caravan group split in two at Winnipeg with one group continuing via Calgary and the other via Edmonton. The group (via Calgary) arrived 9:30 a.m. January 15, and were on hand to greet the rest of the group arriving via Edmonton.

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Nominations of Indian athletes for the Tom Longboat Award are still being sought by award organizers.

The deadline for nominations, originally set for December 6, 1985, has been extended to April 20, 1986. The regional winners and the national winner will be selected during May and the National award will be presented to the winner at the VIIth Annual Chiefs' Assembly in St. John's Newfoundland, in June.

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The concerted efforts to produce a three-part television series of Native Nashville North (NNN) by producers Gail and Rocky Woodward have now come full circle. And what a fine piece of work it was!

For those who attended the March 18 and 19 on-location taping sessions by CBC-TV at the Citadel's Rice Theatre, they were treated to an excellent return on a small five dollar investment as the production unfolded to reveal laudable and professional performances by musicians, singers, and dancers.

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A day-long Native Talent Show offering $3,850 in cash prizes will be held at

Elks Hall in Fort Macleod, April 5.

The show will be followed by a dance in the evening featuring the Sarcee Indian Reserve's Silver Creek Band, and a Lip Sync. Competition during intermissions at the dance.

Talent show categories will include amateur male and female (18 and up), junior male and female (17 and under), square dancing, fiddling and breakdancing.

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When entertainer Winston Wuttunnee walked up on stage inside the Alexander Reserve's school gymnasium, March 17, his professionalism as a great performer came through.

Wuttunnee, who had just recently finished a concert in Manitoba, flew down to Edmonton and on the request of the Alexander Reserve, performed for two hours for adults and children alike.

The next day, Wuttunnee would go through rehearsals, and later that same evening he would perform for the Native Nashville North show.