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The Assembly of First Nations' report on Canada's dispute resolution plan to compensate for abuses in Indian residential schools was released on Nov. 17 and presented a scathing indictment of the federal government's alternative dispute resolution (DR or ADR) process.

The report was commissioned and released by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), but more than half of the members of the expert panel that prepared it are non-Native people who hold law degrees. Many are eminent law professors and two are judges.

Dear Editor:

First: We have a culture of anti-Aboriginalism in Canada.

Second: We, as Canadians, are very skilled when it comes to concealing our true thoughts if there is any chance those thoughts might be politically incorrect or controversial. We are known around the world for our diplomacy.

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Dear Editor:

I just want to comment about all the stuff you guys have been writing about the injustices to Native people. I think it's great that you guys are doing this, but you've got to remember the cops have all the power and power corrupts. That's all there is to it. Whatever happens they are going to get away with it.

An Open Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin:

Samson Cree Nation has long been in the forefront of the struggle against the government of Canada to achieve respect for the principles and values of Treaty No. 6 and its place as the means by which Canada was extended to the Western Plains.

Our 15-year-old court challenge respecting the treaty and trust obligations of the Crown has taken 351 days of trial in the Federal Court. Final arguments in phases one and two of the case began Nov. 30.

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Dear Editor:

After reading the story about schizophrenia (November Windspeaker), I can sympathize with the writer, because I too have a family member who is schizophrenic. He pretty well goes through the same thing day in and day out. He is currently in a group home, which seems to be helping him cope with the outside world. He's been there for about five years now, since my mom passed away.

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Is that the faintest hint of positive development we see discussed in our pages this month? Let us focus your attention on page 8 where we bring you news of a remarkable report by the Assembly of First Nations' 18-member panel of experts that dealt with the alternative dispute resolution process for residential school survivors. There it is. Positive development, lurking in the background on almost every page.

We also saw it in the Haida judgement (page 11) authored by Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin.

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"It's an exciting project," the new president of SEM Resort Ltd. said about the joint venture corporation that recently rescued the financially foundering St. Eugene Mission Resort to turn it into a top-rung tourist draw.

Daniel Shilling, understandably, does not want to dwell on past "management problems and cost over-runs." He sees great opportunities for this resort located in the St. Mary's River Valley that opened for business in January 2003.

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation hosted its Keewaywin Awards ceremony at a Celebration of Youth banquet held at the annual Chiefs' Assembly this year on Nov. 3.

"These annual awards give Nishnawbe Aski Nation an opportunity to give back to our communities," said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "It is very exciting for us to recognize and acknowledge the important achievements of our people."

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In Paul Chaput's second CD, Old Lovers, the Metis musician really lets his roots shine through in a lot of his songs.

Chaput, who has been performing for more than 30 years, expresses harmony between men and women, between people and Mother Nature and between the instruments he and his accompanists play.

The opening track, Rosie, really shows what 30 years of playing can produce.