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The federal government is pumping $8.3 million into Native economic development through a lending institution called the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation.

The funding is expected to create more than 500 new jobs and 250 Indian-owned businesses, generating up to $27 million into the province's economy over the next decade.

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The federal government has offered the Lubicon Indians cash compensation for loss of treaty benefits but says Alberta may want to claim half of the oil and gas revenues on the land under claim by the band.

In a letter to the band, federal negotiator Brian Malone says Alberta may be constitutionally entitled to "50 per cent of all monies gained from the sale, lease, or other disposition of minerals on Indian reserves transferred after 1930."

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The Fort Chipewyan Cree band has received its first parcel of reserve land; close to 2,000 acres which is rich in red granite.

The 1,300 member band located about 627 km north of Edmonton has already received a cash settlement of $26.6 million.

The crown land transferred from the province to the federal government is one of seven land parcels which makes up a land claim package agreed to by the band and both levels of government in December 1986.

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Over the past decade the number of Native recording artists in Canada has increased from a mere handful to dozens.

In a tribute to fans and performers alike, Windspeaker is pleased to present a brief profile of well known and not so well-known artists. The following short biographies are intended as brief introductions to some of these performers. If space permitted Windspeaker would have included more profiles.

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Editorial

"He (whiteman) kidnaps the earth . . . his appetite will devour the earth . . . continue to contaminate in your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste."

The above is an excerpt from Chief Seattle's speech, delivered in 1854 as he prepared to sign treaties with the whiteman who had overrun Indian lands. The great Indian orator obviously knew what his tribe would burdened with when they surrendered land to the newcomers.

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Increasing cross-cultural dialogue between medical practioners and the Native community is required to better serve urban Native held care needs.

This was the overall recommendation delegates submitted to the Inner City Health Symposium, held in Edmonton on Jan. 28, 29 and 30.

Allowing sweetgrass ceremonies, using medicine pouches and other traditional spiritual practices in hospitals, providing traditional foods to patients and adopting a consultation process with the Native community were suggested to improve health care services to Native people.

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Residents will soon be enjoying the first powwow and round dance there in 20 yeas if all goes well.

And, a round dance is just what the doctor ordered, according to organizer Everett Lambert. He hopes the event will help bring the Metis settlement closer together, following political problems that threatened to split the community last summer.

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Native students can cash in on new post-secondary education grants being offered by Esso Resources Limited.

Esso announced recently that grants up to $4,500 per year will be available in the next school year to students in either college or university through Esso's Native Education Awards Program.

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Spiritual support

A cultural awakening is surging within Alberta's prison walls as Natives practice spiritual ceremonies within.

But once prisoners are released there is no support program to help them continue building their spiritual awareness which many claim helps them stay on the straight path.

This concern prompted the Native Brotherhood Society in Edmonton to organize a support group to establish a program that will continue offering spiritual guidance through Elders and such ceremonies as sweats to those just leaving penal institutions.

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Exotic game ranch caters to Oriental market

Barns, corrals and fences are almost completed here in preparation for the raising of woodland elk and prairie bison.

The exotic game ranch, located 40 km southeast of High Prairie, will cater to a large Oriental market for velvet antlers in Canada and Pacific rim countries. A similar wildlife ranch is in operation at Kikino Metis settlement near Lac La Biche.