Hi. I am an inmate doing time in the Northern Treatment Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. I am writing to you to voice my opinion and let others know of how our ceremonies are being dishonored. Is it not bad enough that when doing the sweat we have to heat our grandfathers with propane on a barbecue-like surface with no sacred fire, but then also to dishonor the ceremony by not smoking the pipe? It is to my knowledge and belief that without the smoking of the pipe, the ceremony is incomplete and means nothing. The pipe is like our eucharist.

Dear Editor:

I'm a Migmaw from Nova Scotia. We had National Aboriginal Day in Nova Scotia, and I know everybody did across the country, but a lot of the people I talked to said there was only one thing missing. We don't have a national flag across the country. The Canadians have a national flag, the American's have a flag and the Acadians have their national flag and Nova Scotia has the flag, but isn't it about time the Native people of Canada had a national flag that we could fly year-round alongside of the Canadian flag and the American flag.

We read with dismay the letter Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrote to the editor of the Calgary Herald in mid-July announcing that he would initiate a judicial inquiry into the decline of the Fraser River salmon fishery.

The achievements of more than a hundred M'Chigeeng graduates, employees and athletes were recognized July 8 as the community held its education awards and community recognition celebration and marked the 25th anniversary of the M'Chigeeng First Nation Education Program.

Two organizations from Ontario are among nine chosen to receive funding through the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Cultural Projects Bursary program. The Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford will receive $5,000 to help it mount the Planet IndigenUs arts festival in 2007, while Kaha:wi Dance Theatre in Hagersville will get $20,000 to help fund its Here on Earth tour.

Three candidates have thrown their hats into the ring to vie for the position of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) grand chief, including current Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

Also running for the NAN executive?s top position are Brian Davey, managing partner and co-founder of First Nations Equity Inc.; and Mike Metatawabin, chief of Fort Albany First Nation and president of Five Nations Energy Inc.

The Ontario government has announced $500,000 in funding to support programs aimed at providing summer employment and training opportunities to Aboriginal youth.

The money, announced by Minister of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay on June 27, will be divided between two programs, the Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Pilot Program and the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program.

The chiefs of the Anishnabek Nation have committed to make their communities smoke-free.

The chiefs voted to adopt a resolution during their grand council assembly held on Sand Point First Nation from June 12 to 14 that will be used to phase in no smoking policies within the Anishnabek Nation?s 42 member communities.

The Ontario government has agreed to pay Henco Industries Limited $12.3 million for the Douglas Creek Estates property in Caledonia that has been occupied by Aboriginal protestors since Feb. 28.

Anishinaabe-mowin - the Ojibwe language - is now the official language of the Anishnabek Nation.

The chiefs of the 42 communities that make up the Anishinabek Nation voted to adopt a resolution declaring Anishinaabe-mowin its official language during the annual Grand Council Assembly held June 12 to 14 on Sand Point First Nation.