On Nov. 27, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the federal government took the next step in their efforts to create a new and improved process for handling land claims, with legislation to create a specific claims tribunal being tabled in the House of Commons. That same day, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine joined Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl in signing a political agreement that deals with issues surrounding specific claims reform not dealt with in Bill C-30, the Specific Claims Tribunal Act.

Wrongful convictions, ruined lives and families torn apart were the result of the questionable findings of a doctor who worked for the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario

Wrongful convictions, ruined lives and families torn apart were the result of the questionable findings of a doctor who worked for the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario

The father and sister of Jordan River Anderson were in the visitor's gallery on December 13 when members of Parliament gave their unanimous backing to a private members motion in support of Jordan's Principle, which calls for governments to put the needs of First Nation children first when jurisdictional disputes arise over whose responsibility it is to meet those needs.

Brenda Wolfe, Sereena Abotsway, Marnie Frey, Andrea Joesbury, Georgina Papin and Mona Wilson were all Aboriginal women who were loved and respected by their friends and family. And all six women died violent deaths at the hand of Robert Pickton, who on Dec. 9 was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in connection with those deaths.

Dear Editor:
I would like to comment on the province of New Brunswick's recently announced new gaming policy. I should preface my comments by informing you that I have lived in the Aboriginal First Nation of St. Mary's for 40 years. I am non-Native and married a St. Mary's First Nation member 40 years ago. I was employed for the nation for 25 years, starting out as the recreation director and later held the position of director of economic development. I retired in March of 2005.

Five hundred. That's the estimated number of Aboriginal women who have gone missing or have been murdered in Canada over the past two decades. Five hundred women-mothers, daughters, sisters-who have died violent deaths, or simply disappeared without a trace, leaving their families and friends to wonder what fate has befallen them.
The fate of at least a few of those women is no longer a mystery, thanks to the RCMP investigation that found traces of their DNA on the Port Coquitlam farm owned by Robert Pickton.

Former major-league baseball pitcher Frank Williams's life, which ended Jan. 9 when he was just 50 years old, could be the subject of a "rags to riches and back again" Hollywood drama.
But until his life is memorialized on-screen, he will remain a shining star to many Vancouver Island Nuu-chah-nulth youth, including niece Jacqueline Watts.

Two Nations. One Team.
That's the motto that has been adopted by Toronto's newest professional sports franchise.
The men's field lacrosse team, dubbed the Toronto Nationals, will begin play this spring in the Major Lacrosse League.
Team owners are hoping the Nationals, the only Canadian club in the six-team league, will be a place where members of both the Canadian and Iroquois national field lacrosse squads can hone their skills.

APTN TO BROADCAST OLYMPICS
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) will make a bit of history next year.
APTN will become the first Aboriginal network in the world to broadcast live coverage of the Olympic Games. APTN will provide 10 hours of daily coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. The coverage will be in English, French and Aboriginal languages.
Daily broadcasts will include two hours of prime time coverage in various languages. There will also be four hours of English and four hours of French broadcasting each day.