Page R11

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.

Page R9

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."

Page R8

You can hear the kids playing in the next room of the new Mi'KMaq Child Development Centre if central Halifax as Christine Gibson smiles with the knowledge that the centre if finally opening.

"This community has been dreaming about something like this for 25 years.

It's sometimes been frustrating but it's finally all coming together," says Gibson.

Page R5

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.

Page R4

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."

Page R3

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.

Page R3

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.

Page R3

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."

Page R2

Don't ever make the mistake of calling the music of this six-man group from South America Latin music.

Members of Allpa Kallpa will be the first to tell you that Latin music is the property of Conquistadors who invaded their countries centuries ago. Theirs is the music of the Andes and of their Indian ancestors who fought the invaders.

Page R2

One of the highlights of the 1994 Dreamspeaker Film Festival was a four-film series of contemporary Maori dramas. The Nga Puna Maori films brought to Canadian viewers slices of Aboriginal life in New Zealand, from a story about a Maori radio station to a warm portrayal for the love between an old man and his granddaughter.

Karen Sidney, who wrote one of the series' outstanding programs Kahu an Maia, attended the Alberta festival to network with other Aboriginal film makers in hopes of establishing collaborative projects.