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News

Non-insured health benefits, including things like eyeglasses, dental services, prescription drugs and medical supplies, may be cut or severely re-stricted under new budget guidelines being hammered out by Health Canada.

A letter sent to the Assembly of First Nations and signed by assistant deputy Health minister Paul Cochrane said there are five options the medical services branch of Health and Welfare is considering:

Prioritization of all medical services branch programs;

Review of all non-insured benefits and benefit levels;

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The RCMP have identified as many as 90 suspects in their investiga-tion into physical and sexual abuse at Native residential schools in British Columbia. Of those identified, however, many are dead and others may be, before any charges can be laid.

Though suspects have been identified, there are still two years of evi-dence gathering to go before the RCMP will lay charges, said Const. Don Scott of the Port Alberni detachment. He is one of a 16-person task force set up to investigate the complaints.

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The RCMP have identified as many as 90 suspects in their investiga-tion into physical and sexual abuse at Native residential schools in British Columbia. Of those identified, however, many are dead and others may be, before any charges can be laid.

Though suspects have been identified, there are still two years of evi-dence gathering to go before the RCMP will lay charges, said Const. Don Scott of the Port Alberni detachment. He is one of a 16-person task force set up to investigate the complaints.

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Miners and construction workers are flooding into Innu and Inuit ter-ritory in Labrador, where the world's biggest nickel and copper mine has been discovered in the middle of an ancient Native burial site.

"It's scary. They just might set up another town right there in the middle of Innu territory," says Chief Katie Rich of the Mushuau Innu First Nation, whose mother's parents are buried at the Voisey Bay site.

"They're just drilling anywhere and everywhere. People are angry. Is it going to be another Oka? I don't know."

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Miners and construction workers are flooding into Innu and Inuit ter-ritory in Labrador, where the world's biggest nickel and copper mine has been discovered in the middle of an ancient Native burial site.

"It's scary. They just might set up another town right there in the middle of Innu territory," says Chief Katie Rich of the Mushuau Innu First Nation, whose mother's parents are buried at the Voisey Bay site.

"They're just drilling anywhere and everywhere. People are angry. Is it going to be another Oka? I don't know."

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On June 22, in the posh surroundings of Edmonton's Hilton Hotel, members of the Lubicon Lake Cree Nation called a press conference to an-nounce that they are seeking to form their own band. The break-away group's leader, Billy Joe Laboucan, explained that the Little Buffalo Cree Nation, as they plan to be called, had applied formally for band division in February.

"We have to tell you about an unfortunate divorce situation," said Karen Trace, one of the group's lawyers. "We're now at the separation stage."

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On June 22, in the posh surroundings of Edmonton's Hilton Hotel, members of the Lubicon Lake Cree Nation called a press conference to an-nounce that they are seeking to form their own band. The break-away group's leader, Billy Joe Laboucan, explained that the Little Buffalo Cree Nation, as they plan to be called, had applied formally for band division in February.

"We have to tell you about an unfortunate divorce situation," said Karen Trace, one of the group's lawyers. "We're now at the separation stage."

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Differences between the Walpole Island Band Council and members of that community have escalated so that there are now calls for the chief''s resignation. The unhappy Ontario community of just over 1,000 has been racked with internal strife, made visible by protests, petitions and the use of what are described by one of the dissident members as goon squad tactics.

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Differences between the Walpole Island Band Council and members of that community have escalated so that there are now calls for the chief''s resignation. The unhappy Ontario community of just over 1,000 has been racked with internal strife, made visible by protests, petitions and the use of what are described by one of the dissident members as goon squad tactics.

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Over one thousand Inuit are expected to meet at the seventh assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference to be held in Nome, Alaska, July 24 through 28. Inuit from Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia meet every three years to discuss issues of common concern, define policies and elect a new council and president to head the conference. Circumpolar Inuit also use the triennial assembly to sing, dance, renew old acquaintances, meet with relatives and be entertained by throat singers, traditional dancers, mod-ern musicians and Inuit theatre groups.