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A social service coalition, which is only weeks away from obtaining joint-government funding to fight AIDS in Edmonton's inner city, should be expanded to include Native groups, says an Alberta Indian Health Care Commission member.

Anne Bird credits the seven-member coalition for trying to combat the deadly virus in the inner city, but fears it's ignoring a sizable population.

If cultural and language differences aren't addressed, Bird said, Native people won't benefit from the help to be offered by the coalition.

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The first Native person to test positive for the AIDS virus in Alberta has taken off what he calls his mask of shame to tell others "you have to look death square in the face and help people to understand it can happen to them too."

Ken Ward, whose anonymous letter appeared in Windspeaker Feb.16 explaining his emotional hell since being confirmed HIV positive last year, is now working with the AIDS Network of Edmonton.

Page 7

The first Native person to test positive for the AIDS virus in Alberta has taken off what he calls his mask of shame to tell others "you have to look death square in the face and help people to understand it can happen to them too."

Ken Ward, whose anonymous letter appeared in Windspeaker Feb.16 explaining his emotional hell since being confirmed HIV positive last year, is now working with the AIDS Network of Edmonton.

Page 7

The first Native person to test positive for the AIDS virus in Alberta has taken off what he calls his mask of shame to tell others "you have to look death square in the face and help people to understand it can happen to them too."

Ken Ward, whose anonymous letter appeared in Windspeaker Feb.16 explaining his emotional hell since being confirmed HIV positive last year, is now working with the AIDS Network of Edmonton.

Page 7

The first Native person to test positive for the AIDS virus in Alberta has taken off what he calls his mask of shame to tell others "you have to look death square in the face and help people to understand it can happen to them too."

Ken Ward, whose anonymous letter appeared in Windspeaker Feb.16 explaining his emotional hell since being confirmed HIV positive last year, is now working with the AIDS Network of Edmonton.

Page 5

Mary Carpenter woke up the other day and decided she would make her point.

Vincent Massey, the first Canadian-born governor general, would have loved it.

Mary woke up and dialed the Office of the Secretary of State of Canada.

A woman came on the line and asked, in both official languages, if she could help.

Mary asked if she might speak with the Secretary of State, the Hon. Gerry Weiner.

Only Mary -- born an Inuit in the Western Arctic -- asked in her own Canadian language, Inuvialuktun.

"I beg your pardon?" the woman asked.

Page 4

Skanangohwe!

How many times have you seen a movie where the man of the house is a fat-bellied, beer-swilling, half-dresses, unshaven slob? And one day, all of a sudden, he hauls off and slugs his long-suffering wife right in the chops and screams, "Shut-Up! I'm sick and tired of your nagging!"

You get the picture, I'm sure.

Page 4

Skanangohwe!

How many times have you seen a movie where the man of the house is a fat-bellied, beer-swilling, half-dresses, unshaven slob? And one day, all of a sudden, he hauls off and slugs his long-suffering wife right in the chops and screams, "Shut-Up! I'm sick and tired of your nagging!"

You get the picture, I'm sure.

Page 4

Skanangohwe!

How many times have you seen a movie where the man of the house is a fat-bellied, beer-swilling, half-dresses, unshaven slob? And one day, all of a sudden, he hauls off and slugs his long-suffering wife right in the chops and screams, "Shut-Up! I'm sick and tired of your nagging!"

You get the picture, I'm sure.

Page 4

Skanangohwe!

How many times have you seen a movie where the man of the house is a fat-bellied, beer-swilling, half-dresses, unshaven slob? And one day, all of a sudden, he hauls off and slugs his long-suffering wife right in the chops and screams, "Shut-Up! I'm sick and tired of your nagging!"

You get the picture, I'm sure.