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Agriculture was in the spotlight Sept. 18 to 21 as the residents of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve celebrated the importance of food producers locally and globally. The theme of this year's fall fair was "agriculture around the world."

The annual event is sponsored by the Wikwemikong Agricultural Group.

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Two environmental groups, Earth Wild International and Wildcanada.net, released a report in July naming Canada's 10 most endangered rivers.

The Groundhog River, 70 km southwest of Timmins, was number five on that list.

The biggest threat to the river, according to Moose Cree First Nation chief Norman Hardisty, is Falconbridge Limited, which has applied for an easement from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to put a mine effluent ditch into the river within Groundhog River Waterway Park.

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Nibinamik First Nation, formerly known as Summer Beaver, is still reeling from the disastrous Sept. 11 plane crash that took the life of seven community members and the pilot, just 10 km from the landing strip.

A Wasaya Airways Cessna Grand Caravan was on its way from Pickle Lake to Nibinamik, about 480 km north of Thunder Bay, when it went down. There were no survivors.

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Worried that a rapidly expanding youth population means a concomitant increase in the number of Aboriginal children who will end up in foster care situations, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan are taking steps to build their own foster care home. They've got the blueprint; they know how they want to run it; they don't have the money to implement it yet.

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A mini powwow was held during the Bain Avenue Street Festival that was hosted by the Bain Avenue Co-op last month in Toronto.

In addition to the drumming and dancing, the event featured craft tables, and samples of bannock and strawberry juice.

Festival organizer Derrick Bressette is the co-ordinator for the Visiting Schools Program at the Native Canadian Centre in the city.

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Remnants of the infamous Hurricane Isabel threatened to spoil community events planned for mid-September, but organizers of the annual Wikwemikong Fall Fair were undaunted. The celebration of agriculture went off without a hitch Sept. 18 to 21.

The fair opened Thursday with a talent show and princess pageant. Wasse-Abin high school student Sheena Wasegijig was crowned princess and reigned over the weekend's festivities.

Friday's agenda included a bike relay, judging of school projects and agricultural exhibits at the arena, and a family dance in the evening.

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Rebecca Baird and Phillip Cote have completed a cross-Canada trip to gather archive photographs of First Nation families from First Nation visual artists. The result is a touring exhibition called Everyday Light: First Nations History As Seen Through The Family Photograph Album that opened Oct. 3 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The 38 black-and-white photographs dating from the early 1900s up until the 1960s are on display until Nov. 23.

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A group of Canadian Olympic athletes received a very warm reception on the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve Sept. 15 to 19. They visited Manitoulin Island as part of Act Now, a wellness promotion program.

The Act Now contingent included downhill skier Kate Pace Lindsay, canoeist Larry Cain, relay runner Desai Williams, and synchronized swimmer Kristin Normand. They were accompanied by chiropractor Dwight Chapin, dietitian Heidi Smith and psychiatrist Cornelia Wieman.

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Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a liver disease affecting eight times as many First Nations People in British Columbia as non-First Nations people.

PBC is a rare autoimmune disease that is believed to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Ninety per cent of diagnosed cases are middle-aged women, although it can also affect men. In British Columbia, several women who have been diagnosed with PBC are related.

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Dear Editor:

As a Two-Spirited Catholic I feel extreme embarrassment and disappointment over the recent decision by the Vancouver archdiocese to ban VanCity from its schools because of their open support of the queer community. Obviously Archbishop Exner is quick to point out the "intrinsic evil" of the homosexual act while omitting the greatest Christian teaching, love.

If you love, then you don't judge, you don't condemn, you don't marginalize and above all-you don't persecute!