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The argument is on again about who has the right to call themselves Metis. The reasoning expressed by leaders in the political organizations has a remarkably similar ring to it. The "real" Metis are in the West. But wait, the "real" Metis are in the East. Each claims a heritage going back to the days of the fur trade.

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Assembly of First Nations Chief Matthew Coon Come and the Atlantic chiefs had been on the worst of terms since Coon Come publicly accused First Nations leaders of drinking and dancing too much. But that was only one point of contention that contributed to the feeling that Coon Come would spend the three days of the AFN's annual general meeting fighting for his political life.

The Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre was the site of the July 17 to 19 showdown. It was the first time the AFN hosted its AGM in Atlantic Canada.

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Assembly of First Nations Chief Matthew Coon Come and the Atlantic chiefs had been on the worst of terms since Coon Come publicly accused First Nations leaders of drinking and dancing too much. But that was only one point of contention that contributed to the feeling that Coon Come would spend the three days of the AFN's annual general meeting fighting for his political life.

The Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre was the site of the July 17 to 19 showdown. It was the first time the AFN hosted its AGM in Atlantic Canada.

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Healing foundation wants longer life

Georges Erasmus, president of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, is negotiating with federal officials to extend the life of the foundation beyond its original mandate. The organization was given one year to organize, four years to disperse the $350 million healing fund, set aside in January 1998 by then-Indian Affairs minister Jane Stewart, and another five years to monitor projects created during the first five years.

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Healing foundation wants longer life

Georges Erasmus, president of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, is negotiating with federal officials to extend the life of the foundation beyond its original mandate. The organization was given one year to organize, four years to disperse the $350 million healing fund, set aside in January 1998 by then-Indian Affairs minister Jane Stewart, and another five years to monitor projects created during the first five years.

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About three-and-a-half years ago, I was doing a reading and lecture in, of all places, a college in North Bay, Ont. I do a lot of readings. It comes with being an author (and the simple fact that I have a hungry mortgage to feed). About a week later I saw a photograph of myself, taken at that reading, in a Native newspaper. That lone photograph ended up being perhaps one of the most expensive and painful things to happen in my life (except for one ex-girlfriend, but I won't get into that right now. That's a whole different column).

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About three-and-a-half years ago, I was doing a reading and lecture in, of all places, a college in North Bay, Ont. I do a lot of readings. It comes with being an author (and the simple fact that I have a hungry mortgage to feed). About a week later I saw a photograph of myself, taken at that reading, in a Native newspaper. That lone photograph ended up being perhaps one of the most expensive and painful things to happen in my life (except for one ex-girlfriend, but I won't get into that right now. That's a whole different column).

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Dear Editor:

Regarding your May 2001 article, "Remember the People"...I was sitting on the throne reading it when it occurred to me... I know this may sound "Aboriginally incorrect", but...umm...BINGO! My apologies to the left-wing-nuts and sociology majors.