Page 19

All-star teams representing various regions of the country will make their way to Cornwall Island in April for the first-ever, officially sanctioned national championship of Native hockey.

Midget- and bantam-age players (born in the years 1984 to 1987) will represent their regions on all-star teams in the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association sanctioned tournament. Separate competitions for male and female players will produce two national champions. Women's teams will be allowed to carry up to five over-age players, born as early as 1980.

Page 19

The Breakfast of Champions has finally decided to honor one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Native American Jim Thorpe, who was an Olympic double gold medallist, as well as a pro baseball and football player, has made it to the cover of Wheaties; the popular cereal dubbed The Breakfast of Champions.

Canadians, however, will have to travel south of the border if they wish to buy a box with Thorpe's mug on the cover. These particular Wheaties boxes will only be sold in the United States.

Page 18

Mention of rumors that he was thinking of stepping down got a chuckle from the national chief after the first day of the confederacy in Ottawa.

Page 17

Breach of Trust, a hard rocking group of four musicians, who are being compared to Rush and Pearl Jam, have burst onto the mainstream Canadian music scene after years of hard work.

But it was the Canadian Aboriginal people who came to honor them on Nov. 23.

Their second recording, "Songs For Dying Nations" earned honors for Best Songwriter, Best Group or Duo and Best Rock Album at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held at the Casino Rama Entertainment Centre.

Page 16

Organizers for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held on Nov. 23 tried a change of venue this year. Instead of holding the ceremonies at Toronto's SkyDome, as was done for the past two years, this year's event was held at the new Casino Rama entertainment centre on the Mnjikaning First Nation in Ontario. Located about two hours at rush hour north of Toronto, this facility opened in July 2001.

Page 11

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.

Page 9

National Post editorial page editor Jonathan Kay may be the most unpopular person in Indian Country.

Page 6

A special chiefs assembly is expected to be scheduled- probably in Winnipeg in February-to discuss what the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will do now that the chiefs have rejected a plan that would allow the assembly to work with the government to change the Indian Act.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I just read the article about the APTN board's plans to restructure the news operation, and wanted you to know my thoughts. Good article, well written and good timing.

Two important points just don't add up: the Sept. 25 meeting that occurred with staff and senior management, and later, your conversation with APTN CEO-Ron Nadeau on Oct. 23. You say Nadeau told you that he doesn't know anything about a $6 million deficit. Although, you also write that you have an unedited tape which suggests he does know.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

In today's world and with the employment equity allowing Aboriginal people to claim their descent for opportunities, [this suggests] new Aboriginal recruits. It appears that almost anyone can claim to be Aboriginal.

I started asking people working in the federal and provincial public sector how they obtained their positions. Many had indicated they checked the box for Aboriginal on applications. There is no proof of Aboriginal identification required, just check the Aboriginal box.