Since it was first identified 25 years ago, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, has claimed the lives of around 25 million people worldwide. Each day, an estimated 8,000 people are added to the list of the dead.

From Aug. 13 to 18, scientists, educators, policy makers, service organizers, community leaders and people living with AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS) from around the world came together in Toronto to take part in the 16th International AIDS Conference.

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Terrilyn Dallyn of Meadow Lake and Chelsie Scragg of Saskatoon will be receiving some financial assistance when they begin their post-secondary educations this fall, thanks to the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

Each year the foundation distributes $340 million in scholarships and bursaries as a way to recognize outstanding high school students and encourage them to pursue post-secondary studies.

A new partnership project is working to provide emergency medical training opportunities to eligible non-settlement Metis learners across the province.

The partners, including Canadian Industrial Paramedics (CIP), North American Oil Sands Corporation (NAOSC), Portage College and the Metis Nations of Alberta, have joined together in a co-operative effort to recruit, sponsor and train members of the Aboriginal community to help meet industry demand for emergency medical care providers.

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A consortium of literacy experts is urging Alberta's industrial, governmental and non-profit sectors to work together to increase literacy rates in Alberta, in order to ensure this province remains globally competitive.

To that end, sector leaders are invited to take part in a day-long Think Tank which will focus on implementing a mutually beneficial literacy policy for the province.

Earlier this month, MLAs, senior government officials and industry leaders were presented with a proposed literacy policy for consideration and review.

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Aboriginal high school students from across the country are among the winners of the 2006 Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation's excellence awards. The awards recognize outstanding students for their leadership skills, community involvement, academic achievement and interest in innovation.

"The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is very proud to salute the entrance award recipients and looks forward to celebrating their continued achievements", said Gerard Veilleux, chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

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She proudly wears the gold and bronze medals she won at the 2006 North American Indigenous Games held in Denver, Colorado from July 2 to 9. Fifteen-year-old Cheyenne Bigchild from the Sunchild Reserve competed for them against other Aboriginal youth from Canada and the United States.

In the midget category, Bigchild won gold in the 25-metre javelin throw and bronze in the 22-metre discus throw. During a telephone interview with Bigchild, Sweetgrass asked her what she did with her medals and she laughed saying that they were in her dad's pocket most of the time.

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The fifth annual Paddling for Compassion event is scheduled for Sept. 16. Organized by Cornerstone Counselling Centre, the event not only raises money for an excellent cause but also provides the perfect occasion for people to get to know the river so many Edmontonians love-the North Saskatchewan.

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From the author of Keeper'n Me and For Joshua comes a novel of redemption and the power of transformation. Dream Wheels, by Richard Wagamese, is a testament to the healing power of family and an homage to the Ojibway and Sioux traditions.

Dream Wheels is the story of a physically and mentally damaged rodeo rider, a troubled and disillusioned kid and his bitter victimized mother.

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