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According to a recent poll, most Canadians do not consider improving the quality of life of Aboriginal Canadians to be a high priority for the federal government.

The poll, conducted by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC), suggests almost one in two Canadians (49 per cent) believe that Aboriginal Canadians are on an equal footing with, or better off than, other Canadians. Forty-four per cent say Aboriginal people are worse off than other Canadians.

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If you hold this publication up and give it a shake your Windspeaker 2005 Aboriginal History Calendar should fall out from the pages.

The calendar is an annual December insert in Windspeaker, much anticipated by the readers, who look forward to seeing which two Aboriginal smiling faces will grace the walls of their offices, school classrooms and homes for the next 12 months.

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When people say someone is so generous they'd give you the shirt off of their back, they are usually speaking figuratively. With Clarence Campeau, that statement could be taken at face value.

Campeau was a man known for his generosity, for his sense of humor and for his dedication to improving the lot of the Metis people of Saskatchewan.

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The University of New Zealand will host the seventh annual World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2005. The conference will be opened by the Moari Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu who visited southern Alberta in 2002 when Morley hosted the event.

The event includes keynote speakers from around the world, seminars, workshops, and an array of activities and sight seeing opportunities.

The theme of the 2005 conference is Te Toi Roa which calls for a celebration of Indigenous stories and beliefs, values and history.

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A new Web site has been developed for practitioners of Aboriginal early childhood development. The first of its kind, www.accel-capeaca, is a clearinghouse of information including a bulletin board, calendar of events and database of research resources on best and promising practices and links to training and mentorship opportunities.

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An agreement signed Nov. 5 will focus the efforts of nursing associations to encourage the participation of Aboriginal people in the nursing profession.

The agreement was signed by the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (ANAC), the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), and the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative.

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The idea of incorporating Aboriginal perspectives, content and knowledge into the school curriculum isn't a new one, but it's one that has taken time to catch on. And the extent to which it is being done varies from province to province, and from school district to school district and from school to school within each province.

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Coyote's New Suit

by Thomas King

Key Porter Books ($19.95)

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Why do they write?

Storykeepers: Conversations with Aboriginal Writers

By Jennifer David

Ningwakwe Learning Press

$14.95 (sc)

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NASIVVIK