Page 18

PRO BONO

Dear Tuma:

I had my eyes enucleated three or four years ago and have been experiencing excruciating pain ever since. I am getting the feeling that the doctor who did the surgery must have made a mistake. Is it too late to do anything? I'm getting really depressed because not only do I have to deal with my blindness but also the pain in my eye. I feel as though I'm getting the run around from this doctor.

Seeing Red

Dear Seeing Red:

Page 18

THE URBANE INDIAN

Not that long ago I was at a conference in Montreal on traditional knowledge, or as its affectionately known around our circles-TK. And as it drew to an end, we were all given a button to put on our jackets. It said "Mais avez-vous paye' l'artiste?" Translated it means "But have you paid the artist?" Deep, philosophical, almost religious words for a freelance writer like myself.

Page 17

Silver Wave Records' recently released album Many Blessings features 15 songs that showcase the diversity of today's contemporary Native American music, with styles and influences originating from all four corners of the Americas.

The songs on the CD run the gamut from New Age to jazz to rock melded with Native American rhythms, themes and soul.

Page 16

Page 15

Page 15

If you missed it the first time, don't miss it now. Richard Van Camp's The Lesser Blessed, first published in 1996 to rave reviews as a powerful first novel has been re-issued by Douglas & McIntyre.

Page 15

Sun on the Mountains, Book 1

The Story of Blue Eye

By Tyler Trafford

Thistledown Press Ltd., 2004

$18.95; 349 pages (sc)

Not since I devoured saga after saga by that great chronicler of the American West, Zane Grey, 45 years ago have I enjoyed a story of the wide open spaces so much.

Page 14

Kinnie Starr might look delicate, but looks can be deceiving. During a recent show at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre she told the audience if they remained in their seats they would be "asked to leave." Everyone laughed, but they stood up as instructed, because they knew she wasn't kidding.

"I'm not known for being polite," Starr said in a pre-show interview. "I respect people, but I don't hold my tongue."

Page 13

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.

Page 12

An announcement of a new process to oversee implementation of modern day land claim and self-government agreements may come in early October.

If it does become a reality it will be in large part because of a document prepared by a coalition of seven Indigenous nations that have signed self-government agreements with Canada.