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The First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (Bill C-20) received royal assent on March 23 with all-party support in the House of Commons and the Senate.

C.T. (Manny) Jules, who led the development of the act, said the formal adoption of C-20 is "a triumph for First Nations and Canada. This bill was conceived and developed by First Nations and is about building infrastructure, attracting investment and creating jobs on reserve. Today's royal assent signals a new beginning."

Page 13

The British Columbia government's request that it be allowed to discontinue its court fight against an assertion of Aboriginal rights and title has been denied by the province's Supreme Court.

First Nation leaders see the court's decision as a sign the province knows it can't defend the position it has taken on resource harvesting on traditional Aboriginal lands.

Page 13

The British Columbia government's request that it be allowed to discontinue its court fight against an assertion of Aboriginal rights and title has been denied by the province's Supreme Court.

First Nation leaders see the court's decision as a sign the province knows it can't defend the position it has taken on resource harvesting on traditional Aboriginal lands.

Page 10

In October 2004, Will Goodon, a Manitoba Metis, walked into a provincial conservation office to discuss Metis hunting rights, produced a duck that he admitted to shooting, and was promptly charged with possession of a migratory bird without a provincial license.

The event was part of a plan to bring to a head the issue of Metis hunting or harvesting rights in Manitoba, and to challenge the Manitoba government's authority to determine who is Metis.

Page 10

In October 2004, Will Goodon, a Manitoba Metis, walked into a provincial conservation office to discuss Metis hunting rights, produced a duck that he admitted to shooting, and was promptly charged with possession of a migratory bird without a provincial license.

The event was part of a plan to bring to a head the issue of Metis hunting or harvesting rights in Manitoba, and to challenge the Manitoba government's authority to determine who is Metis.

Page 9

The 20th general assembly of the Metis National Council (MNC) was a relatively straight-forward affair until it came time for the resolutions from the Metis Nation -Saskatchewan (MNS).

Page 9

The 20th general assembly of the Metis National Council (MNC) was a relatively straight-forward affair until it came time for the resolutions from the Metis Nation -Saskatchewan (MNS).

Page 9

In his state of the nation address to delegates gathered for the Metis National Council (MNC) general assembly held in Calgary March 19 and 20, council President Clem Chartier had high praise for Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"This PM has demonstrated a willingness to put Metis issues on the federal agenda in contrast with the willful blindness we faced from Ottawa throughout the mid- to late 1990s," he said.

Page 9

In his state of the nation address to delegates gathered for the Metis National Council (MNC) general assembly held in Calgary March 19 and 20, council President Clem Chartier had high praise for Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"This PM has demonstrated a willingness to put Metis issues on the federal agenda in contrast with the willful blindness we faced from Ottawa throughout the mid- to late 1990s," he said.

Page 8

The spokesman for a powerful industry group says the federal government is responsible for disputes between First Nations and resource companies.

David MacInnis, president of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), says First Nations are often at odds with resource companies not because they have problems with the projects industry is proposing, but because Native leaders need leverage to get governments to the table to negotiate land claim and self-government agreements.