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A two-year study has revealed high levels of contaminants in the wild meat and fish consumed by Grassy Narrows and Wabauskang First Nations.

One hundred and eighty samples of animals that include otter, beaver, muskrat, moose, rabbit, deer, marten, jackfish and pickerel were collected. Lab results for 93 per cent of the samples collected show high levels of mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, tin or other heavy metals.

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A new school with a special focus on Cree language instruction is nearing completion on the Constance Lake First Nation.

With a $10.3 million dollar contribution from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and an additional $1.4 million from the First Nation, the school will accommodate approximately 400 students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

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The Metis Nation of Ontario recognizes Sept. 1 as the start of the big game season in Northern Ontario, but for Metis whose harvester's certificates are now recognized provincially, it's hunting as usual.

This summer the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources hammered out a deal whereby the ministry will recognize MNO-issued licences known as "harvester certificates."

This means MNO hunters will no longer have to worry about harrassment, charges or confiscation of their guns and game while hunting.

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The day he received his song is one ceremony that Tony Belcourt will never forget.

During a traditional Elders and Youth circle gathering held last month in North Dakota, the keeper of the song, Elder Francis Eagle Heart Cree, taught the song to the president of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

The gathering was held to commemorate an 1820s alliance of Assiniboine, Cree, Chippewa and Michif peoples at Buffalo Lodge Lake, in present-day northwest North Dakota.

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The Six Nations Arrows came up a bit short in their quest to win the Minto Cup, the Canadian Junior A lacrosse championship.

But the Arrows can still take pride in the fact they won an Ontario crown this season, thus advancing further than many had originally anticipated.

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Aboriginal financial leaders are hoping that an agreement signed on July 20 will lead to an increase in the amount of money available for Aboriginal business loans.

The signing ceremony was held in a meeting room at the Charlottetown Civic Centre while the Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting was in progress in the main hall.

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It is the trip of a lifetime.

For at least one man, it will be the second trip of a lifetime when the Oki Chi Taw Indigenous Martial Arts demonstration team heads to South Korea at the end of the month.

Team manager George Lepine is as pumped at the prospect of his seven teammates showing off their distinctly Aboriginal combat techniques before the world as he was last year when he travelled solo to earn a gold medal in the category of Martial Art of Uniqueness at the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival.

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Six Nations of the Grand River has been proactive in the area of employee safety since 1993. Their health and safety council developed a health and safety policy manual for the band and has implemented that since 1995.

This year for the first time, the band council's health and safety committee plans to hold an All First Nations Health and Safety Conference at their newcommunity hall in Ohsweken.

The seminars and workshops will be held from from Oct. 19 to 22.

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A 2,200 km journey that began in Sioux Valley, Man., ended Aug. 27 when the Unity Ride and Run entered Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. The Interntional Indigenous Elders Summit opened there that same day.

The Unity riders travelled the width of Six Nations land along Chiefswood Road, and reached their destination at the banks of the Grand River within Chiefswood Park just after noon.

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Aboriginal entrepreneurs are invited to Edmonton for It's All About Opportunities II, a conference that encourages business networking.

The Business Link's Aboriginal Business Services is hosting the conference, which will run from Oct. 25 to 26 with workshops and professional advice on topics such as marketing, money management and growing a business.