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A member of the Waywayseecappo First Nation (Manitoba) who now works for the Prince Albert Grand Council in north-central Saskatchewan, could only watch with horror as her son's adoptive parents gave permission for his organs to be removed for donation and the body to be cremated.

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Aboriginal Canadians who are thinking about joining the Canadian Forces have a new program that allows them to 'test drive' a military career before signing up for service.

The Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program (CFAEP) is a new initiative of the Department of National Defense (DND), designed to let interested Aboriginal candidates experience first-hand what a military career is like, allowing them to make an informed decision as to whether to pursue a career in the Canadian Forces.

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The question of how non-renewable resources in the western Arctic can best be developed for the benefit of everyone is currently being examined by a task force of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE).

NRTEE is an independent agency of the federal government, responsible for researching and examining issues relating to sustainable development.

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Aboriginal people must take the lead in developing Manitoba's non-timber forest products (NTFP) industry if they are to receive the benefits, participants at a recent conference were told. Conference speakers also emphasized, however, that co-operative relationships with forest products companies are an essential part of the mix.

The Non-Timber Forest Products Conference held March 17 and18, was organized by the Cedar Lake Community Futures Development Corporation, based in The Pas.

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For 30-year-old Duane Morrisseau-Beck, speaking at conferences is not always easy. Morrisseau-Beck, who is Metis, was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 22. He continues his battle with the disease while advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS.

"When going to conferences and speaking about living with HIV/AIDS it always brings me back to day one when I first found out," said Morrisseau-Beck. "I was diagnosed with the disease in the early 90s; there was not much information on HIV/AIDS back then. The profile on the disease was really negative then," he said.

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Nechi Training, Research & Health Promotions Institute released a report Feb. 29 on the study it did last summer into the prevalence of gambling among adult Aboriginal Albertans.

Copies of the "Dream Chaser" report have since been sent to all 29 participating communities, where many of the 500 people surveyed have identified significant problems with gambling issues.

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The Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society's Substance Abuse Treatment Centre in Lantzville, B.C. received funding to the tune of $450,000 from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation in Ottawa. The funding is to be used towards a five-week residential program for Aboriginal adults who are living with the residual effects of trauma from their experiences in residential schools.

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Brad Hortie called it on March 3. He worried that his fighter, Crystal "Braveheart" Arcand, was being set up for a fall by her opponent's handlers. They were looking for someone who would help their fighter, Laila Ali, move up the ladder in a controlled fashion, someone who would provide a bigger challenge than previous opponents but not too much of a challange.

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Would you drive 15 hours on winter roads to play some hockey? Many players and their families who participated in the annual Nishnawbe-Aski Nation hockey tournament held in Thunder Bay did just that.

The NAN Cup is more than just a sporting event. It's an opportunity for people in remote communities to get together, learn new hockey skills and raise money for youngsters who find sports a great way to build friendships and confidence.

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In the chaotic sport of wild horse racing, Steve Solway is known as an ear man. This title should not be confused with the gentle art of horse whispering, however, because Solway is not interested in talking to the horse. His task, when the chute opens and a wild horse bursts into the rodeo arena, is to subdue the beast by grabbing, twisting, and occasionally biting, its ear.