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The Canada Council for the Arts announced last month it plans to distribute $75 million in new funding over three years. The money, which is part of $560 million allocated by the federal government to fund arts and culture over the same period, was confirmed in the last federal budget of 2001.

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These are the results of the Canadian National Competition Pow wow held Dec. 21 to 23 in Edmonton. The huge event with a theme of "celebrating traditions and cultures" was hosted by the Treaty 6, 7 and 8 Alberta chiefs.

Junior Girls' Jingle

1. Lakota Scabbyrobe, Duffield, Alta.

2. Chantelle Pabtayken, Onion Lake, Sask.

3. Gina Donecappo, Edmonton

4. Tanya Crookedneck, Island Lake, Sask.

Junior Girls' Fancy

1. Tara-Lynn Gadwa, Hobbema

2. Jodette Bull, Kehewin

3. Mika Snow, Morley

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Tyler Maurice Beaulac is a 13-year-old Grade 8 student who is "good in everything," his aunt Verna Wittigo says. Not only is he an excellent all-round student at the Alexander Forbes school in Grande Prairie, but he is "an eloquent speaker" and gets very involved in school activities.

Wittigo figures that is why he was selected to receive one of the first awards presented by the Grande Prairie Public School District Education Foundation to recognize dedication and hard work in pursuit of academic excellence.

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Challenge of Crown witness delayed by judge's illness

Paul Barnsley, Sweetgrass Writer, Calgary

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 has presided over 149 days of hearings so far with the trial expected to last at least two more years.

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After successfully administering Aboriginal health programs in British Columbia for the past 10 years, an era of managing Aboriginal health funding in British Columbia is coming to an end.

On Dec. 18, 2001, the Aboriginal Health Association of British Columbia (AHABC) and its member Regional Aboriginal Health Councils (RAHC) received written notice from the Ministry Health Services that our contracts will not be renewed at the end of the current fiscal year.

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Four young Native people will find it a little easier to pay their expenses as they pursue their dreams of higher education, thanks to the a new initiative by BC Hydro.

The first ever list of Seventh Generation Club scholarship winners was announced in mid-January. BC Hydro has introduced four new scholarships to be awarded annually to members of the Seventh Generation Club. The club encourages First Nations youth to make healthy choices, participate in sports and the community, and stay in school.

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In what is being hailed as a landmark victory for all residential school victims, the B.C. Supreme Court has awarded a 51-year-old Native man more than $233,000 in compensation, loss of earning capacity and legal expenses for the sexual abuse he suffered as a child at the Christie Indian Residential School on Meares Island. The ruling states, "The plaintiff is entitled to a judgment for the following damages: $150,000 in general damages, $25,000 of which is awarded as aggravated damages; $80,000 for loss of past earning capacity; and $3,400 for future care costs."

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The Assembly of First Nations is going through a difficult and at times painful reorganization after reductions in the funding it receives from the Department of Indian Affairs forced the layoff of 70 employees.

As federal government adds more support staff and hires consultants to advise the Indian Affairs minister in his public relations war with the AFN over governance, the AFN is forced to down size and is faced with the task of finding creative ways to do more with less.

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After everyone expected them to be full of fire and gunpowder, some say the questions being recommended to the British Columbia Liberal government on treaty negotiating principles are weak and innocuous.

But the Native leadership isn't letting down its guard.

First Nations Summit representative Bill Wilson was outraged by the proposed questions.

"I think it's a colossal waste of time and money," said Wilson. "We think this is a morally repugnant exercise that is dredging up racism around the province. We urge all citizens to boycott it.

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In the continuing struggle to assert their Aboriginal rights upon traditional Neskonlith lands, two Secwepemc Elders, both grandmothers, one 73 years old and one 75 years old, plus three Secwepemc women and one youth, were arrested Dec. 28, 2001, just outside of Kamloops, B.C. They were arrested for setting up a road block on the approach to Sun Peaks Ski Resort. A sixth protestor was arrested later.