Page 26

Within the next few months, as spring comes to the historic grassland south of Gleichen, Alta., she Siksika Nation will begin using a massive wetland and rangeland improvement plan developed in partnership with Alberta Prairie CARE.

The plan involves 4,400 hectares of First Nation's tribal holdings, and will restore much of the area's original wildlife habitat and multiply land uses.

Page 24

Chalk yet another victory up for First Nations athlete Angela Chalmers in 12 months studded with achievements.

The middle-distance runner from Victoria was honored this month as top B.C. athlete and named a winner for a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

The national award is to be bestowed upon her and several other Native luminaries at a ceremony March 31 at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Negotiations marred by leaked documents, critical opponents

Page 23

As B.C.'s precedent-setting land claim settlement draws closer to being a done deal, critics are crying that its proposed $125-million and 1,900-square kilometre price tag is too rich and negotiations not public enough.

But the Nisga'a Tribal Council is asking for $3 billion in compensation and 10,660 square kilometres of traditional lands and says Ottawa and the province would be getting off easy with what they offered.

Page 22

When the University of Northern British Columbia opened last fall, it was operating under a mandate to reach out to Native people in the north of that province.

It has done so using scattered campus-based classes in various communities, such as Terrace, Kitimat, Port Edward and New Aiyansh, as well as at the main campus in Prince George.

Page 21

Communities along the much-dammed Columbia River in southeastern B.C. will soon see the start of a program to begin restoration of the river. They will also see some compensation from the renegotiating of the Columbia River Treaty and the ongoing work of the Columbia River Treaty Commission.

Page 19

Edmonton, the City of Festivals, is gearing up for another summer season which will offer the public a myriad of festivals, many of which incorporate a variety of performing arts.

The Dreamspeakers Festival, however, is the only one which is completely produced, operated by and features Aboriginal people.

Page 18

REVIEW

The man that some Indians love to hate, W.P. Kinsella, has hit the big screen, Kinsella's novel, Dance Me Outside, premiered in a movie format on March 10 in Edmonton.

Directed by Bruce McDonald and produced by Norman Jewison, the flick takes its viewers to a (fictitious) Indian reserve in Ontario called Kidabanesee.

Page 17

REVIEW

Following are capsule reviews of the 1995 Juno Award Nominees for the Music of Aboriginal Canada category:

This Child

Susan Aglukark

EMI Music Canada 1995

Page 16

Federal budget cuts to all programs are affecting the Native broadcasting societies across Canada.

Each of the corporations funded under the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program operated by Heritage Canada is to have its funding cut by 22 per cent over the next three years.

Plans are for a five-per-cent cut this fiscal year, followed by eight per cent and nine per cent, respectively.

Page 15

REVIEW

Native North American Literature

Janet Witalec, Editor

Gale Research, Inc.

700 pages; $99 U.S.

North American Aboriginal literature is hardly new- storytellers, singers and poets of the various First Nations were plying their trade long before the first Europeans came ashore.