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WESTBANK-The Aboriginal Peoples Family Accord (APFA) is keeping attention focused on the actions and non-actions of the provincial government when it comes to honouring its commitment to help safeguard the well-being of Aboriginal children and families. It continues to press Aboriginal peoples' inherent right to have jurisdiction over their own children and families, with the political support of organizations such as the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

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OTTAWA-Amnesty International has released a report stating "Canadian officials have too long ignored the threat to Indigenous women in Canadian towns and cities. Many are missing, some have been murdered, and Canadian authorities are not doing enough to stop the violence."

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The story of Xa:ytem is quite exceptional. The 9,000-year-old Sto:lo village, buried for centuries, was rediscovered in 1990 by archaeologist Gordon Mohs. It was his discovery that essentially rescued Xa:ytem, which means "sudden transformation," from the grips of a proposed housing development.

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A terrible tragedy visited the Penticton Indian Band Oct. 30 that left three young men dead and three more injured in a shooting incident.

Two Aboriginal men, Quincy Paul, 29 and Robin Baptiste, 24 of Penticton, died, along with Damien Endreny, a 20-year-old Caucasian male from Oliver.

They were found by RCMP at a roadside picnic pullout near a creek, just off the highway, about 4 kilometres west of the Channel Parkway.

Billy Gabriel, 18, his older brother Tommy Gabriel and Dustin Joseph Paul were found injured at the same location.

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Tracking down Mathew Strongeagle is pretty hard.

Then again, when you're a high school student at Scott Collegiate and you're moving to a new home and helping to celebrate your parents' anniversary, and you're acting in three different television shows in two provinces, you're a hard guy to pin down.

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The Regina Public School Division will soon create an Elders advisory council to advise and assist elected trustees.

The council, which is expected to be up and running by the end of December, will have two roles within the school system. The Elders will assist teachers and principals with in-class instruction of students, and will also work with the board to develop a division policy on Aboriginal education.

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Ralph Morin is planning to make some big changes at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC).

Over the summer, Morin, who hails from Big River First Nation, was appointed as the SICC's new president. He brings to the position a background in education, having worked as a teacher, principal and administrator.

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Most of Regina's Aboriginal people face housing shortages and housing conditions little better than the substandard homes on treaty land, says a recently-released report.

More Than Bricks and Mortar: The Consequences of Poor Housing Conditions in Regina's Aboriginal Community, was prepared by the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy, an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank operated as a partnership between the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, the First Nations University of Canada, and the Government of Saskatchewan.

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According to Saskatchewan Health, alcohol and drug addiction among the province's youth is double the national average. And, according to a 2001 report, Aboriginal women made up two-thirds of substance abusers in Saskatchewan despite the fact that Aboriginal people made up only nine per cent of the entire provincial population. Those startling statistics are what make centres like the Wi ci ti zon treatment group home necessary.

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The Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) has reason to celebrate.

As it does each year, MACSI is planning to celebrate National Addictions Awareness Week, being held this year from Nov. 14 to 20. But this year the organization, which provides alcohol and drug recovery programs to Metis and off-reserve First Nation people in Saskatchewan, will also be celebrating being back on track and planning for the future.