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The Saskatchewan government has announced that an inquiry into the shooting death of a Native man in Prince Albert by a white supremacist will have a broad mandate.

This can only be seen as a positive step, even if it has taken more than a year for the investigation to get underway.

When Carney Nerland shot 48-year-old Leo Lachance through the door of his gun shop, it left a lot of unanswered questions. Nerland was the Saskatchewan head of the racist Church of Aryan Nations. Lachance was a trapper from the Whitefish Lake Reserve.

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The Saskatchewan government has announced that an inquiry into the shooting death of a Native man in Prince Albert by a white supremacist will have a broad mandate.

This can only be seen as a positive step, even if it has taken more than a year for the investigation to get underway.

When Carney Nerland shot 48-year-old Leo Lachance through the door of his gun shop, it left a lot of unanswered questions. Nerland was the Saskatchewan head of the racist Church of Aryan Nations. Lachance was a trapper from the Whitefish Lake Reserve.

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The constitution should include the recognition of First Nations as a distinct society, protect Native language and culture and give First Nations power over taxation, the Assembly of First Nations said.

In the final report from the assembly's First Nations Circle on the Constitution, released last week, the assembly said self-governing Native communities should have their own justice system and powers equal to the provincial and federal governments.

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The constitution should include the recognition of First Nations as a distinct society, protect Native language and culture and give First Nations power over taxation, the Assembly of First Nations said.

In the final report from the assembly's First Nations Circle on the Constitution, released last week, the assembly said self-governing Native communities should have their own justice system and powers equal to the provincial and federal governments.

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Efforts to have the inherent right to self-government entrenched in the constitution gained new momentum in two separate developments on the constitutional front.

At a first minister's meeting in Halifax, provincial premiers congratulated themselves on a "historic breakthrough" after unanimously agreeing to the principle of self-government.

Meanwhile, treaty chiefs at a national conference in Edmonton backed off concerns they have over the current constitutional process that could have weakened the drive towards entrenchment.

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Efforts to have the inherent right to self-government entrenched in the constitution gained new momentum in two separate developments on the constitutional front.

At a first minister's meeting in Halifax, provincial premiers congratulated themselves on a "historic breakthrough" after unanimously agreeing to the principle of self-government.

Meanwhile, treaty chiefs at a national conference in Edmonton backed off concerns they have over the current constitutional process that could have weakened the drive towards entrenchment.

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Protesters abandoned their marathon sit-in at the Alexis band council chambers and took their fight against Chief Howard Mustus to the courts and the Indian Affairs department.

Almost two weeks after they began their occupation, members of the self-named Alexis Action Committee stopped the demonstration to force the band council to release its financial records.

A temporary court order is preventing them from resuming the protest, which was called off when committee supporters feared continued occupation might lead to "aggression".

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Protesters abandoned their marathon sit-in at the Alexis band council chambers and took their fight against Chief Howard Mustus to the courts and the Indian Affairs department.

Almost two weeks after they began their occupation, members of the self-named Alexis Action Committee stopped the demonstration to force the band council to release its financial records.

A temporary court order is preventing them from resuming the protest, which was called off when committee supporters feared continued occupation might lead to "aggression".

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Weekly medical clinics were restored in two northern Alberta communities after the federal and provincial governments agreed to share the cost of flying in doctors.

Under a new six-month deal, Ottawa and the province agreed to split the cost while they work out a long-term funding arrangement for Trout Lake, Peerless Lake and several other northern communities.

"I just got back from Trout Lake and the people are very relieved," said Paul Caffaro, a Slave Lake doctor who had been organizing clinics in Trout, Peerless and Chipewyan Lakes.

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Weekly medical clinics were restored in two northern Alberta communities after the federal and provincial governments agreed to share the cost of flying in doctors.

Under a new six-month deal, Ottawa and the province agreed to split the cost while they work out a long-term funding arrangement for Trout Lake, Peerless Lake and several other northern communities.

"I just got back from Trout Lake and the people are very relieved," said Paul Caffaro, a Slave Lake doctor who had been organizing clinics in Trout, Peerless and Chipewyan Lakes.