Page 9

A proxy from British Columbia squared off with the national chief on July 21 over the role being played by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in the compensation process for survivors of Indian residential schools.

The debate resulted in a public promise from Phil Fontaine to seek a "full and open apology from the prime minister" for Canada's residential school system and the abuses suffered by Aboriginal people who experienced it.

Page 8

Many Assembly of First Nations meetings end with not enough chiefs present to attain quorum. When it happened in Charlottetown, several chiefs felt the need to chastise their colleagues. Sowalie Chief Doug Kelly, also a member of the First Nations Summit executive task force, suggested that having a quorum is not the only way to do business.

He said the Summit gets around that problem by letting those delegates who stay to the end make the decisions. If you want to have a say, you better plan on being there for the whole meeting, he said.

Page 8

The Assembly of First Nations' habit of not playing by its own rules has caused trouble again, this time in Charlottetown at its annual general meeting held July 19 to 22.

Only two of the more than 60 resolutions filed by chiefs concerned with a variety of pressing matters were dealt with over the course of four days. A golf tournament was fit into the schedule, however, as was a banquet and dance in honor of New Brunswick and P.E.I. Vice-chief Len Tomah.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

For years now there has been a suicide epidemic devastating our northern communities. The last estimate of successful suicides is well over 200. I believe without proper support or resources, suicides will continue and this will be utterly shameful for Canadians as a whole.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I whole-heartedly disagree with the exorbitant pensions and severance packages that our retired and defeated MPs receive. I agree with a letter writer to the Saskatoon Star Phoenix who asks how Jim Pankiw, Saskatchewan's most infamous federal parliamentarian, could receive a $70,000 severance package (this on top of his healthy pension) for stirring division and pandering to society's most base prejudices?

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I enjoyed reading the article "Grassroots network prepared to fight 'collaborators'" (August 2004 Windspeaker). You let Mr. Taiaiake Alfred know that there are many here in Saskatchewan that are prepared to join the movement.

We do not have much use for our present so-called leaders of the First Nations people. They are more department of Indian Affairs' lackeys than leaders. You do not stand alone. You go ahead and print this letter. Let the elite know that Mr. Alfred is not alone.

Victor Mispounas

Beauval, Sask.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Recently, I was informed that the Canada revenue agency would revise its existing law to change the Aboriginal education system in Canada. Aboriginal students are going to be paying some heavy taxes on their education endeavors.

The Liberal government plans to fully tax students based on their tuition, living allowance, books and other supplies.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I've always listened to people about the negative actions of their chiefs and councils, and I must say that these accusations are true, but our people must understand that they put these people in office, mostly by being bribed or given false promises. And these communities' heads seem to forget the people and the things they promised when they get the votes they wanted.

Page 5

It's a little ironic, and more than just a bit hypocritical, for the Northwest Territories vice-chief for the Assembly of First Nations to be pooh-poohing a thing like the AFN charter. (See Windspeaker's story on page 8 for details.) It is, after all, the rulebook for an organization that has kept Bill Erasmus and many of his colleagues gainfully employed and well fed for a great number of years.