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A group of Indian bands have taken a major step in preventing the loss of their children to the dominant society and assuming control over their children's welfare.

The Yellowhead Tribal Council (YTC) has just signed an agreement with Indian Affairs Minister Bill McKnight and Alberta Social Services Minister Connie Osterman that will place the control of child welfare programs in the hands of five Alberta Indian bands: Enoch, Alexis, Alexander, Sunchild and O'Chiese.

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Economic development within the Native community was discussed by Native business leaders at a forum hosted by the U of A Native Student Club March 4 at the Newman Center of St. Joseph's College.

"Forums tend to be a problem centered, however it is equally important to look at the initiatives and achievements by Native people," said Mattie McNeill, president of the U of A Native Student Club in her opening address to the forum.

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The Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance (PTNA) announced March 5 they have yet to convince the prime minister to allow them direct participation at the upcoming First Ministers' Conference (FMC) on Aboriginal constitutional matters.

The Indian organization representing 120,000 Treaty Indians from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. was left out of the federal talks when they broke away from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) just prior to the last FMC talks in 1985.

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Canadian acceptance of aboriginal self-government is not translating into government policy. That was the message Native leaders gave at a forum previewing the First Ministers Conference on Aboriginal constitutional matters.

This Forum held at the University of Alberta March 6, was the last of a series of forums organized by Native university students to heighten the general public's awareness of Native self-determination.

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"If everything falls into place with the funding agency, our first chopsticks made from the best wood will be heading for Japan very soon," commented Sturgeon Lake Band Counsellor Keith Goodswimmer at a recent interview with "Windspeaker".

Negotiations have been taking place between representatives from the Sturgeon Lake Band, located 20 km west of Valleyview, and the Japanese for months now, and a trip to Japan has been planned for further negotiations.

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A January court ruling by a Calgary magistrate that the Calgary Indian Friednship Centre's 1986 elections were unconstitutional has caused the centre to hold new elections this past weekend. The court action was brought by one of the centre's members, George Chatsis.

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Kevin Daniels was there presenting the opening address on national television when the first Ministers' Conferences (FMC) on Aboriginal rights began four years ago. With the last FMC looming on the horizon, the 25-year-old activist is so worried Saskatchewan Metis and non-Status Indians will get nothing from the process he says his recently abandoned hunger strike will probably be resumed on Parliament hill.

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Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) voters will be choosing from a slate of candidates, to elect directors to 4 Zone positions being contested on election day, March 30.

Two zone directors have already been filled by acclamation in the MAA elections, which will see the use of province-wide polling stations for the second consecutive MAA election.

Roy C. Dumais of Zone 2 and Jeff Chalifoux of Zone 5 have been acclaimed to their positions, reported Bill Haineault, MAA Chief Electoral Officer.

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Indian governments are one step away from gaining full control over oil and gas development on their lands after meeting with the minister of Indian Affairs, following an all Chiefs meeting on March 6 at the Edmonton Inn.

An Indian oil and gas task force set up last year to look into the existing level of service provided by the federal government to Indian bands with current and potential resources presented it's report to Indian Affairs Minister Bill McKnight at the Chiefs assembly.