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Naomi Williams, 28, an assistant environmental technologist from Walpole Island First Nation, credits a federal government program called BEAHR with expanding her career options and providing an opportunity to help her preserve her people's natural resource heritage.

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The Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is not amused.

The organization thought it had reached a deal last July with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) that bound the ministry to recognize MNO-issued harvester's certificates for the Aboriginal hunting season in Ontario that opened Sept. 1 and continues to the end of December.

The Metis were of the belief the agreement with the province was set for two years and would be re-evaluated at the one- and two-year mark.

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As Mnaamodzawin Health Services enters its third year of a federal health transfer agreement, a new home is on the horizon.

Aboriginal wellness programs on Manitoulin Island will soon be housed in a brand new building based in Aundeck Omni Kaning.

Mnaamodzawin Health Services Inc. was incorporated on Oct. 5, 1999.

The agency administers federally funded diabetes education, mental health services, long-term care, homemaking and healthy baby programs.

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A legal move by Ontario and Canada to prevent a title claim of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation from going to trial has failed a second time. A brief decision without reasons was rendered by Justice P. T. Matlow in Ontario Divisional Court Sept. 15.

The two governments' previous attempt to quash the Aboriginal title claim to a portion of the lakebeds of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay was struck down by the Superior Court of Justice in May. The First Nations' claim was filed Dec. 23 last year.

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The proposed First Peoples' National Party holds its first strategic planning conference in Sault Ste. Marie on Oct. 15 and 16.

The meeting to discuss the fledgling political party is the brainchild of Kathryn Skov and her cousin Tyrone Souliere from Garden River First Nation, who are trying to resurrect an old idea that periodically is raised in Indian Country.

Skov, who describes herself and Souliere as "grassroots people" believes they are overdue to form a federal political party consisting of Aboriginal candidates.

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Lawyers for the family of slain protester Dudley George, who was killed by police during the Ipperwash Park occupation in September 1995, appeared before the public inquiry into his death Sept. 29 to play a tape for Chief Commissioner Sidney Linden in the hopes of having it made public.

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Dear Editor:

On Oct. 13, 1854 our ancestors signed a treaty with the Crown in Canada. By that treaty we lost some 500,000 acres in the Bruce Peninsula but reserved land, including lands still home to the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

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PETERBOROUGH-The official opening of the Peter Gzowski College, Enweying building and the First Peoples House of Learning takes place at Trent University on Oct. 16, expanding multiple student services and education supports for both Native and non-Native students.

The Enweying building-Enweying being an Anishinaabe word for "the way we speak together"-houses both the Peter Gzowski College and the First Peoples House of Learning.

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VICTORIA, B.C.-A member of Batchewana First Nation, Chief Petty Officer Debbi Eisan of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in Halifax, N.S., is the recipient of this year's Aboriginal Women in Leadership Distinction Award.

Eisan, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, began her career with the Canadian Forces in 1975.

Her roles have included service as a supply technician, buyer of aircraft parts, and leader of a close-out operation of the United Nations base in Rwanda. For five years she was posted to the HMCS Iroquois in Halifax.

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This year marked the ninth time the Ontario First Nations Technical Service Corporation (OFNTSC) held an annual technical conference and trade show, but it was the first time they invited firefighters to join in.

OFNTSC fire safety officer Brian Staats, who co-ordinated the event, said they wanted to include "all three major organizations out there that deal with some kind of technical services."