On the verge of releasing both a debut single and airing a six-part television series next month; one of Canada's newest rising stars in the country music scene is proving that success comes in spades for those who want it badly enough.
Crystal Shawanda, a 27-year-old Ojibway woman from the Wikwemikong reserve on Manitoulin Island, in northern Ontario, is living the life she's always hoped after signing with renowned US recording label, RCA Nashville and working with Country Music Television (CMT) to document her journey in a six-part television series, Crystal: Living the Dream.

The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas. Legendary films like these depict an often sensationalized portrayal of the exciting and powerful lives of mobsters, gangsters and kingpins. But for former gang member, Rob Papin, thug-life was anything but glamorous.
"You see people getting stabbed and junkies shooting up. I thought that's what being Aboriginal was about," Papin said, during a telephone interview from his office at the Stan Daniels Healing Centre in downtown Edmonton.

In an effort to support the growing number of Aboriginal students in six post-secondary institutions, $2.4 million will be dispersed from the Province for gathering places.
"We've committed $15 million to help all of our institutions either create gathering places or enhance the ones they have, which will encourage more Aboriginal people to enroll in post-secondary education, and help them succeed when they do," said Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell in a news release.

In an effort to support the growing number of Aboriginal students in six post-secondary institutions, $2.4 million will be dispersed from the Province for gathering places.
"We've committed $15 million to help all of our institutions either create gathering places or enhance the ones they have, which will encourage more Aboriginal people to enroll in post-secondary education, and help them succeed when they do," said Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell in a news release.

Accusations of "bias" and "wrongdoing" have been thrown at the B.C. civic advisory board and the federal government after the funding proposal from an Aboriginal non-profit organization, aimed to help homeless women and their children, was rejected.
While the Aboriginal Mother's Centre (AMC) in east Vancouver hasn't shut its doors quite yet, Penny Irons, the program's director, thinks it's just a matter of time. "We're just barely hanging in there," she said.

The following article is the second in a series of columns by the Canadian Cancer Society that will be running in Windspeaker, providing information on healthy living from an Aboriginal perspective.

Artist-Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk
Album-OmEigwessi Reel Métis ­
A tribute to Walter Flett
Song-Medicine Fiddle
Label- Independent
Producer-Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Daniele Behn: Loyalty. There are so many other good qualities I could say, but my true friends are the ones who will stand by me through the ups and downs of life.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
D.B.: Myself. No person or situation can make me mad. It's only my reaction to situations ­ the way I choose to respond positively or negatively.

Ojibwe Northern Storm defends hockey title
An Aboriginal women's squad successfully defended its title at the Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championships.
The Ojibwe Northern Storm won its second consecutive crown at the 2007 tournament, which concluded on Dec. 30 in Toronto.
The Northern Storm edged the Japanese Typhoon 4-3 in the championship match. The Typhoon squad included Vicky Sunohara, one of Canada's top female players ever and a long-time member of the Canada's national women'sBy Marie Burke
Windspeaker Staff Writer
Winnipeg

Countless hockey-playing youngsters dream of growing up and graduating to the National Hockey League one day.
It's not too often one hears of individuals who aspire to play pro hockey ­ in the minor leagues. But since there are 30 NHL franchises, there's only a certain amount of playing jobs available in the world's premier hockey circuit. As a result, those who do not make the grade but wish to continue playing hockey can do so in the minors, provided of course, they are talented enough to toil at that level.