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A father and son team of traditional healers appeared in the Superior Court of Justice in Gore Bay, Ont., Jan. 24 to request permission to go home. Juan and Edgar Uyunkar have been detained on Manitoulin Island since their arrest on Nov. 24. The two practitioners of Indigenous medicine have been charged, along with their interpreter, with a series of offences that could lead to lengthy terms in Canadian jail if convicted.

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Three scheduled weeks of hearings in the Samson Cree First Nation's $1.5 billion claim against the federal government were cancelled on Jan. 9 after Federal Court of Canada Judge Max Teitelbaum was diagnosed with cancer.

Judge Teitelbaum, 69, has presided over 149 days of hearings so far with the trial expected to last at least two more years. The judge is expected to make a full recovery, sources say, although he was expected to have surgery in late January. He was appointed judge of the Federal Court of Canada on Oct. 29, 1985.

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The North American Indigenous Games host society invited the press to a Jan. 21 ceremony at the Centennial Concert Hall in downtown Winnipeg where representatives of the federal, provincial and municipal governments signed a multi-party agreement that will see all parties work together to make this summer's games a success.

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As Ken Tralnberg showed off his new uniform top with the big red maple leaf on the back and his name spelled out across the shoulders, he just couldn't stop himself from breaking into a huge grin.

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Cross-Cultural Families of Native Children was host to an unusual, loose adaptation by the Free Spirit Theatre Troupe of Charles Dickens' popular A Christmas Carol story. A dozen vibrant youth put on the play about gambling. Aptly titled "A Nechi Christmas Carol," the performance was held the evening of Dec. 18 at the Progressive Academy.

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Saskatchewan film-maker Dennis Jackson has added another honor to his long list of accomplishments in the business.

Jackson's latest film, Christmas at Wapos Bay, had its world premiere in January at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The claymation film-produced in two versions, one English and one Cree-tells the story of three Aboriginal children who go to spend their Christmas holidays with their grandfather on his trapline in northern Saskatchewan.

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How much can be said through a pair of hands? A whole lot, if those hands belong to Lakota film-maker and media artist Dana Claxton. In her recently released CD/CD ROM Ablakela, Claxton takes an innovative approach to present her art far beyond the live theatre experience, stringing together video, music and the written word in a eclectic reincarnation of her 1999 performance in Vancouver.

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When you think of Alanis Obomsawin, what comes to mind? Singer, songwriter, performer, storyteller, director or producer of films? Activist or women's advocate maybe? Probably the Order of Canada is not near the top of your list.

Born in New Hampshire and raised in Quebec, a member of the Abenaki Nation, Obomsawin was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1983. But she is probably better known for her documentary film-making career that began with Christmas in Moose Factory in 1967.

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It took 50 years, but the government of Canada finally took notice that Gordon Russell is doing a lot to help youth, especially youth without a lot of other supports.

On Jan. 14, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson appointed him a Member of the Order of Canada, to come in effect from last Oct. 18. The honor bestowed on this selfless promoter of young people and their dreams over the last half century is in the category of sport.

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Peter Gzowski, one of Canada's most respected journalists, succumbed to lung disease on Jan. 24. He was 67.

Gzowski warm, gravely voice came across the airwaves and into Canadian homes for more than 15 years as host of CBC Radio's Morningside, and prior to that on the same network's This Country in the Morning.

His respect for Aboriginal people made him many friends in this community. He made a point of speaking regularly with as many Native artists, musicians, politicians, activists, Elders, writers, journalists, and actors as he could.