Page 1

The RCMP Musical Ride galloped into Ermineskin Cree Nation on Aug. 26 and 27, one of just 21 communities where the quintessentially Canadian icons were scheduled to perform in July, August and September. It also marked the first time in history that RCMP horses were stabled on First Nations lands.

Page 34

John Snow was born Jan. 31, 1933 in a one-room cabin on the Stoney-Nakoda reserve in Morley, Alta., the fifth of 11 children born to Cora Bigstoney and Tom Snow.

Just days after his birth, he was given his Native name by his great-grandfather, hereditary Chief Jonas Goodstoney. He was named Intebeja Mani, or Walking Seal, after a creature that can adapt to all types of terrain and climates.

Like his namesake, he spent his life adapting to the changes and challenges that came as part of the changing world around him.

Page 26

Wegadesk Gorup-Paul is no longer doing flips in his backyard. Instead, the 18-year-old Victoria resident is performing and starring on the national and international stages.

Gorup-Paul, Mi'kmaq, is a member of the Canadian senior men's diving team. He's hoping to represent the country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

Gorup-Paul is the reigning Canadian men's champion on the 10-metre platform. He won the title at the senior nationals held in Winnipeg this past June.

Page 25

While the 2006 North American Indigenous Games held in Denver, Colorado are long over, some of the winning athletes are still waiting for their medals.

Some have been patient and understanding about the situation. Others are disappointed with the lack of organization that led to the hardware shortfall.

Page 24

Once again the Iroquois Nationals just missed out on a medal at the world men's field lacrosse championships. The Native squad was defeated 21-8 by Australia in the bronze-medal game of the world tournament, which concluded July 22 in London, Ont.

Canada beat the United States 15-10 in the gold-medal contest.

This marked the third straight time the Iroquois Nationals had placed fourth in the tourney. They also narrowly missed a medal at the 1998 tournament in Baltimore, Maryland and at the 2002 competition in Perth, Australia.

A group of Saskatchewan teenagers 17 to 19 years old made a bit of history by winning a national softball title. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chiefs captured the gold medal at the Canadian midget boys' softball championships.

The Chiefs are believed to be the first Native squad to even compete in a Softball Canada tournament. And the club earned a spot in the record annals by becoming the first Native side to win a national crown.

Page 22

The Aboriginal community in Ontario's capital city has an important new health resource, the Seventh Generation Midwives of Toronto.

Led by Ojibway midwife Sara Wolfe, the practice was launched in January.

"We knew we'd be approved," said Wolfe about the proposal she and a group of other Toronto midwives submitted to the Government of Ontario.

Aboriginal Women on the Move safely returned to their community after a 7,200 kilometre bike tour across the country to raise awareness about family violence in First Nation communities.

Cyclists Donna Metallic, Sheila Swasson and Chi Metallic make up Women on the Move. They began their awareness cycle on May 28 in Mission, B.C. and completed the three-month journey that took them all the way to Newfoundland by Aug. 11. They are now back home in Listuguj, Que

Page 19

Lately, our beloved prime minister has been making a lot of interesting promises as he settles into office, like for instance making his own government more accountable to the people. I think we all need a bit more accountability in our lives. I know I do. I think it comes from being called a "no-account" too many times.

Page 18

It's no surprise that songs from blues guitarist Derek Miller's new album, The Dirty Looks, are up for nomination at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in Manitoba in November. The album's 12 cuts are rife with an emotional personal struggle that speaks to a new time in the life of the artist.