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Editor's note: There was an attempt last month to publish this article in Windspeaker, but gremlins in the machinery only saw a small portion of it make the issue. We apologize for this error and any confusion it caused. Here it is in its entirety.

A federal committee that has the rare power to keep the government honest is embroiled in a dispute that involves the Aboriginal-only fisheries of the West Coast and could become crucial to the First Nations governance act reform process.

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British Columbia's Kwicksutaineuk/Ah-kwa-mish Tribes have filed a judicial review application in Federal Court to stop what they describe as the "slaughter" of seals and sea lions by salmon farming operations near Gilford Island, about a one-and-a-half hour's plane ride north of Vancouver Island.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans admits that about 400 marine animals have been deliberately killed in the past year, but say the kills equal about half the number shot in the previous year.

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The end of the month -March 31-was the deadline and it was looming ominously when chiefs and health technicians from several treaty groups across Western Canada gathered in an Edmonton hotel March 25 and 26 to figure out what they're going to do about Health Canada.

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On Feb. 22, the Ontario Court of Appeal lifted its year-long stay of a decision in the landmark Powley hunting rights case, and upheld the Metis right to hunt and fish for food as of Feb. 23.

"February 23rd is an historic day that all Metis will mark on their calendars," said Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Tony Belcourt. "We welcome the freedom to hold our heads high as we proudly carry on our historic practice of hunting and fishing for food."

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Fourteen Aboriginal people who have demonstrated remarkable achievements in their chosen fields were recognized in Winnipeg on March 10 when the ninth annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards were handed out.

This year's ceremonies saw awards given in the categories of Arts and Culture, Business and Commerce, Energy, Media and Communications, Heritage and Spirituality, Community Development, Sports, Public Service, and Medicine. A Lifetime Achievement Award was also handed out, as well as a National Youth Award.

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An estimated 500 people, including about 200 chiefs and five Assembly of First Nations (AFN) vice chiefs, spent two days in Winnipeg in early March talking about how to stop the federal government's proposed First Nations governance act.

AFN National Chief Matthew Coon Come was a no-show on both days, despite having confirmed a time to speak on day one.

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The Haida Nation has put Canada on notice that it is asserting Aboriginal title to the Queen Charlotte Islands, known as Haida Gwaii, where the Haida make up one-third of the population. They laid claim on March 6 not only to the land, but the offshore resources, which are said to include multi-billion-dollar oil and gas reserves.

Aboriginal rights lawyer Louise Mandell, who is representing the Haida, describes the claim as "groundbreaking." She believes it is the first time a First Nation has claimed surrounding waters and offshore rights.

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Dear World:

The prophecies from all cultures have been written that this is the year of the decision. Either we are going to change and clean our Mother Earth, or keep on destroying her as we have been doing. If we do not make the change, then there is no future for our children.

The Mother Earth's veins have been clogged for many years and her veins are her water ways. Her bones have been taken out of her body, which is the uranium, oil, coal, etc. because of the lust and uncontrollable passion for power and money.

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I was born when everything seemed so natural. People loved nature and spoke to it as though it had a soul. I was once surrounded by the laughter and smiling faces of these beautiful people; their singing and storytelling lifted my spirits and was good for my health.

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I have seen and been to Oz; actually walked the hallways. Not many people can say that.

I am not referring to the prison show on television, or that certain place over the rainbow. Oz is at the Machantucket Pequot Reservation in Connecticut, home to, not only the first, but also the largest, Aboriginal casino in North America.