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Findings from a recent survey of 1,126 Aboriginal entrepreneurs show that 72 per cent of Aboriginal entrepreneurs reported profits in 2002, and 43 per cent reported an increase in sales revenues from 2001. Sales remained stable for 39 per cent of businesses surveyed.

Nationally, nearly two out of three Aboriginal business owners (63 per cent) anticipated growth in the next two years. This proportion reached 70 per cent for entrepreneurs residing in British Columbia and the Yukon, where it was highest.

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Craig Berube is still involved with professional hockey, but after 18 years of playing the game as a pro, Berube, a native of Calahoo of Cree descent, has stepped behind the bench for good.

The 38-year-old is an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms. The Phantoms are the top affiliate for the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers.

Berube spent the majority of his pro career in the NHL. Besides the Flyers, he also toiled for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.

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Forestry researchers, industry representatives and Aboriginal leaders gathered on Oct. 5 to address the question: "Is the industrial forestry model a viable alternative for Aboriginal North Americans?"

Delegates tackled the huge question during a morning workshop at the annual general meeting and convention of the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the Society of American Foresters, a five-day event at the Shaw Conference Centre.

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The Four Directions, a sculpture created by Lionel Peyachew, who teaches art at the University of Lethbridge, has been chosen to grace the campus of the University of Regina.

The sculpture, which featuring four stylized bows, their arrows pointing north, east, south and west, was chosen from 20-plus proposals submitted to the university by Aboriginal artists from across the country. This is the first major commission for Peyachew.

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First Nation people from across the Prairies gathered in Saskatoon Sept. 21 to 23 to discuss innovative methods to improve the desperate state of housing on reserve.

The Our Homes ... Our Future housing symposium focused on furthering economic development and asset management for First Nation communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Workshops addressed the issues of alternative housing, energy efficiency, effective housing policies, property management and First Nation land development.

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Wal-Mart Canada, in an effort to reduce property damage, injury and death from fire in Aboriginal communities in Alberta, has donated 300 smoke alarms to be distributed to Aboriginal families throughout the province.

The donation was made during the 82nd anniversary of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 3 to 9, the theme of which this year was Test Your Smoke Alarms.

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It was a day to celebrate hard work, persistence and struggle for members of the Enoch Cree First Nation as the sod was turned on a multi-million dollar gaming and entertainment project to be located on the eastern edge of Enoch territory on the fringes of west Edmonton.

There was much talk of hope and promise on Oct. 7 as Chief Ron Morin welcomed leaders of industry, government and Alberta's Aboriginal population to the ground breaking ceremony of the River Cree Resort and Casino.

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There wasn't much to celebrate for Aboriginal people as the 38th Parliament of Canada opened with the speech from the throne on Oct. 5. In fact, as Conservative Opposition leader Stephen Harper pointed out, the government devoted only six paragraphs to Aboriginal peoples in the document.

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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.

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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Metis woman painted vibrant picture of the West

When Victoria Belcourt was born in Lac Ste. Anne on Nov. 19, 1861, the formation of Canada as a country was still almost six years away. Her home community and the territory surrounding it was under the control of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and wouldn't become part of the new country of Canada until 1869, when the HBC would sell Rupert's Land to the federal government.