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Youths jailed more often than non-Native offenders

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The voices of Native youth in the prison system don't come out in a recent report on youth justice in Saskatchewan, just cold, hard facts, much like the cold, hard prison walls which surround them.

Aboriginal youth are over-represented in the courts, remanded in custody more often than non-Aboriginal youth, and sentenced to custody more frequently, according to the report.

Moccasin trail leads to Internet highway

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The use of computers in North American Native communities, especially in Native schools, has doubled in the past 10 years. With computer modems linking computers through telephone lines the way fax machines do, Native communities throughout North America are using the technology to their advantage. They are linked to the Internet.

And what is the Internet?

Briefly, the Internet is a network of computers linked together through universities, research and government organizations, and businesses.

Arctic Rose blossoming in southern climes

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Performing at Victoria's Inner Harbour during the XV Commonwealth Games last month was one more drop of sunshine on the growing popularity of Inuit singer Susan Aglukark. Her strong, sweet voice filled the harbour, washing over some 60,000 spectators gathered to enjoy a night of First Nations artists.

"She's so cute," exclaimed a happy Verna Charles of Victoria. "I've never heard her before, but she's great."

Freeman unfurls Aboriginal pride

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Australian Yvonne Goolagong was as famous as Aboriginal athletes get, winning the 1980 Wimbledon tennis tournament on the famous grass courts.

But Catherine Freeman's credentials compared favorably after becoming the first athlete - male or female - to win the 200 and 400 metres in the same Commonwealth Games.

Nor did Aboriginals have just one athlete of the same roots to point to as possible role models with the completion of the XV Commonwealth Games here - two Aussies and half-Sioux Angela Chalmers of Canada all captured medals in track and field events.

Athletes immortalized at new Sports Halls of Fame

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After nearly two years of research for worthy inductees, the Saskatchewan First Nations Sports Halls of Fame is now a reality.

"The Sports, Culture and Recreation Commission talked about it informally and we put together a resolution with the chiefs and it was unanimously passed," said Federation of Saskatchewan Indians vice-Chief Eugene Arcand.

"For 18 months to two years we sought out from the various tribal councils who would be suitable for induction and the five that were picked were continuously recommended."

Boreal forest protection urged

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Indigenous people and environmentalists tried to find common ground at the second annual international Taiga Rescue Network conference.

The week-long conference on boreal forest preservation got underway in Edmonton Aug. 23 with Indigenous and non-governmental organizations participants from 30 countries. Representatives from Greenpeace International from Holland, the Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice form Korea, and the Japan Environmental Exchange also joined the conference.

Take! - Film festival wraps up

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Despite funding cutbacks which prompted last-minute admissions fees to many venues, the third annual Dreamspeaker Festival was, by all accounts, a resounding success.

The three-day festival of music, film, craft and dance is the only festival of its kind in the world. The Aboriginal festival drew a crowd of more than 30,000 to its six different downtown venues from Aug. 24-27.

That figure, which was up slightly than last year, came as a pleasant surprise to organizers who had worried the $6 admission charge might deter people from attending.

Public hearings a sham - Innu of Labrador

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Public hearings to evaluate a study conducted by the Canadian military on the impact of low-level fighter jets over Labrador would be a travesty, say Innu of Shesatshiu, Labrador.

"It's a sham," said Daniel Ashini, director of Innu Rights and Environment for the Innu Nation. "We are extremely disappointed in the decision of the (Federal Environmental Assessment) panel. Their decision was made despite a fatally flawed environmental impact statement prepared by the Department of National Defence."