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Northern Saskatchewan has achieved the highest participation rate of Aboriginal people in the mining industry for all regions of Canada, said Graham Guest, information officer at Saskatchewan Northern Affairs.

Out of the 1,075 employees working at mines in the province's northern region, 905 or 84.2 per cent of them are of Aboriginal ancestry. Aboriginal northerners represent 41.34 per cent of the total mining work force, said Guest.

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Northern Saskatchewan has achieved the highest participation rate of Aboriginal people in the mining industry for all regions of Canada, said Graham Guest, information officer at Saskatchewan Northern Affairs.

Out of the 1,075 employees working at mines in the province's northern region, 905 or 84.2 per cent of them are of Aboriginal ancestry. Aboriginal northerners represent 41.34 per cent of the total mining work force, said Guest.

Page 10

A chance at managing the forestry is what Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan want. They will get the opportunity to submit their requests at the National Aboriginal Forestry Association's third annual conference, which will take place in Prince Albert in September.

"Aboriginal people want to show the government that First Nations people are very capable of managing the forests," said Duane Hiebert, forestry co-ordinator for the Prince Albert Grand Council. "They want more access to forest other than what's on reserves."

Page 10

A chance at managing the forestry is what Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan want. They will get the opportunity to submit their requests at the National Aboriginal Forestry Association's third annual conference, which will take place in Prince Albert in September.

"Aboriginal people want to show the government that First Nations people are very capable of managing the forests," said Duane Hiebert, forestry co-ordinator for the Prince Albert Grand Council. "They want more access to forest other than what's on reserves."

Page 9

Members of Peepeekisis First Nation are hosting an arts and crafts trade fair promoting Aboriginal artists. It will be held in Regina.

Co-ordinators are optimistic the event, entitled Follow Your Dream Arts Festival, will become an annual occurrence. They are cautiously avoiding mistakes of previous shows held in Toronto and Vancouver by recognizing which ideas worked and which failed.

They've agreed it's imperative to focus on building the event first by making it affordable for artists and audiences alike.

Page 9

Members of Peepeekisis First Nation are hosting an arts and crafts trade fair promoting Aboriginal artists. It will be held in Regina.

Co-ordinators are optimistic the event, entitled Follow Your Dream Arts Festival, will become an annual occurrence. They are cautiously avoiding mistakes of previous shows held in Toronto and Vancouver by recognizing which ideas worked and which failed.

They've agreed it's imperative to focus on building the event first by making it affordable for artists and audiences alike.

Page 8

There are more than 28 million people in the world with HIV and AIDS, with one-half of all new infections occurring in young people under the age of 25.

These are statistics that most people don't want to think about.

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There are more than 28 million people in the world with HIV and AIDS, with one-half of all new infections occurring in young people under the age of 25.

These are statistics that most people don't want to think about.

Page 8

Although diabetes has become an epidemic among the Aboriginal population, concerns are escalating that sufferers may not be receiving proper education and treatment to manage the disease.

Saskatoon's First Step Program, which specializes in meeting needs of diabetics and other chronic illness sufferers, has an extremely low percentage of Aboriginal people. Organizers say they are working to develop new and innovative ways to get more Native people involved.

Page 8

Although diabetes has become an epidemic among the Aboriginal population, concerns are escalating that sufferers may not be receiving proper education and treatment to manage the disease.

Saskatoon's First Step Program, which specializes in meeting needs of diabetics and other chronic illness sufferers, has an extremely low percentage of Aboriginal people. Organizers say they are working to develop new and innovative ways to get more Native people involved.