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VICTORIA, B.C.-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, born in Sault Ste. Marie, began her career with the Canadian Forces in 1975. Recently she has served as leader of a close-out operation of the United Nations base in Rwanda, and she was posted to the HMCS Iroquois in Halifax for five years. She has travelled extensively with NATO on sea exercises.

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Gerald McMaster, a Siksika member who grew up on the Red Pheasant reserve in Saskatchewan, occupies a senior position at the newly opened National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in the United States capital city.

Previously, McMaster was the curator-in-charge of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Que. He is also a well-known artist.

Now, as special assistant to the director for mall exhibitions, McMaster has opened the doors for other Canadian Aboriginal people and communities to be a part of this ambitious American project.

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In a classic case of irony, the community of Kwicksutaineuk First Nation, in which the water is undrinkable and the houses are unlivable, rests on the shores of a place called Health Bay.

Health Bay is located in a remote area on Gilford Island near the northern tip of Vancouver Island accessible only by float plane or boat.

Respiratory illnesses caused by the mold-infected homes send small children and the elderly out of the community to hospital with regularity.

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Round Lake Treatment Centre (RLTC) has just celebrated 25 years working in the field of drug and alcohol addiction.

Despite prudent management and a documented 18-month success rate approaching 65 per cent, the centre now faces significant financial challenges in continuing its programs.

The week-long celebration began with the planting of a Red Maple tree by Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Ida Chong, and concluded Sept. 28 with a powwow and feast on the park-like treatment centre grounds.

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Each year in Saskatchewan about 1,600 children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. Almost 70 per cent of those children are of Aboriginal ancestry.

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The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) is gearing up to hold its second annual conference and health information fair.

Sharing Knowledge: Aboriginal Paths to Health will take place in Winnipeg from Nov. 8 to 10. Pre-conference activities, including training and youth workshops, will be take place Nov. 6 and 7.

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The innovative technology that has given residents of the Yellow Quill First Nation clean drinking water again after eight long years of having to boil their water may soon find its way to Yunnan, China.

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The safety of drinking water was on the minds of experts from across the globe as they gathered at the Future of Water Treatment Conference hosted by the Safe Drinking Water Foundation (SDWF) in Saskatoon. The four-day event, which took place Sept. 13 to 17, was attended by engineers, professors, public health advocates and scientists from Spain, England, China, United States and Canada.

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A new student data system being brought online by Saskatchewan Learning will help the province and First Nation departments of education to ensure all school-aged students are in school and are getting the programs and supports they need to succeed.