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On July 6 in Saskatoon, Sask. the 636 chiefs of the Assembly of First Naitns will gather to choose the leader who will gyide them through thenext three years.

With the possibility of Quebec's separation from Canada, the intention to dismantle Indian Affairs and work toward self-government, this is an important time in the history of the AFN.

There are five candidates vying for the position of national chief, all deeply concerned about the future and welfare of First Nations people.

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Preston Manning must be looking for a good cleaning service. After Reform Party MP Herb Grubel dropped a controversial remark about Natives in the House of Common, Party Leader Manning was left with a splattered suit.

Grubel, a German-born MP in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, likened Aboriginals to lazy children in a June 9 address at the nation's capital. He compared government funding toward Native programs to a rich uncle giving money to a spoiled teenager. Grubel made the statements during a debate on legislation to enact Yukon land claim settlements.

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The most important issue facing Inuit today is the housing crisis, states an interim report penned by the political arm of that community.

The Inuit Tapirisat of Canada report, submitted to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation May 31, indicates a shortfall of approximately 5,000 houses in the Northwest Territories and Northern Quebec, plus an undetermined number in northern Labrador.

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The Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en have adjourned the Delgam Uukw land title action in the Supreme Court of Canada. The bands have also given the province of British Columbia up to 18 months to negotiate a settlement to their 17-year-old land claim.

An accord of recognition and respect was signed June 13 by Gitksan hereditary chief Delgam Uukw; Wet-suwet'en hereditary chief Gisdaywa and B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt, thereby marking the beginning of talks on jurisdiction, ownership and self-government on Native traditional territories in northwestern B.C.

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Mohawk Chief Joe Norton and his Kahnawake council have thrown their support behind 12 Mohawk gas station owners whose businesses the province has forced shut down.

Norton said he signed an affidavit which supports the gas station owners' contention they should not have to collect taxes on sales to non-Native customers and submit tax money to the provincial government.

As a sovereign nation, the Mohawks deal with the federal government, said the chief. "The provincial law doesn't apply in Kahnawake," said Norton.

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A televised debate of national chief hopefuls was characterized by a lack of animation from most of the candidates.

The range of issues discussed June 15 at Fort Gary Place, Manitoba was diverse. The five candidates for Assembly of First Nations' top job gathered for a nationally broadcast debate on topics as varied as self-determination and the threat of Quebec's secession. But the format, styled after a traditional non-Aboriginal election campaign, forced the participants into a rigid stance which was as uninspiring as the last federal election.

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Canadian Embassy trade counsellor James Holt has two words for Aboriginals interested in doing deals with China: Be careful.

"Chinese people are the best negotiators in the world - they don't give anything away," Holt said at the kick-off of the International Trade Convention Beijing '94 on May 20.

"Every child growing up is taught strategy - strategy that goes toward negotiations."

Connections are very important in China. Business people have to get to know who they need to deal with and establish a friendly relationship with them.

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Most of the tourists in Canada's far North come from Japan, Germany - even Italy, but Lucassie Tooktoo hopes to expand that list.

His recent trip to Beijing, China was an attempt to generate more interest in tourism in the North, particularly in hunting and fishing trips. He represents 14 outfitting businesses who offer visitors everything from hunting trips on dog sleds to skiing in Pangnirtung in Baffin Island, which is much like Banff, he said.

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A trade delegation to China with nine representatives from Inuit businesses and organizations found few immediate economic opportunities in China but some potential for future business deals.

The Inuit representatives were part of a group of business people and MPs who made the trip as part of the largest group of representatives from small and medium-sized Canadian companies to ever visit China on a trade mission. It was also the first trade fair to include Inuit representatives.

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Promoting the economic development capabilities of Inuit women is one of the goals of Pauktuutit, the national Inuit women's organization whose name is taken from the pegs used to stretch animal skins while drying.

The economic contributions made by Inuit women have not historically been thought of as significant, said president Martha Flaherty. That changed with the first national fashion show featuring Inuit designs held in Iqaluit four months ago, where more than 500 pieces produced by Inuit women were showcased.