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When I first began contemplating working in the field of HIV/AIDS, I hadn't anticipated the many mountains that would be placed in front of me. I, like all, have had my share of knocks in the past and, in a way, they have prepared me for all that I have encountered and will encounter in this work.

Page 17

Only seven days after the provincial government announced the week of Nov. 15 as Celebrate Adoption Week, Lyle Oberg, minister of Family and Social Services, admited the adoption record for Aboriginal children in the province is shameful.

Alberta Liberal Family and Social Services critic, Linda Sloan, questioned Oberg about the inadequate support for Aboriginal children and the adoption process. She said more than 1,000 Aboriginal children are in limbo waiting for adoption.

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A 23 year-old Cree from Hobbema, Alta. has been honored with the Barney O'Connor Boxer of the Year Award for "displaying exemplary character, courage and boxing ability."

Canadian Cruiserweight champion Willard Lewis (also known as Red Thunder Rock) was presented with Alberta boxing's most prestigious award on Dec. 7.

Page 15

A boxing training camp may not be the place most people expect to be during the holidays, but for Jesse Derocher, a member of Team Saskatchewan, it's part of the journey to get to the 1999 Canada Winter Games.

Derocher, 16, and his six teammates will be in Cornerbrook, Nfld. on Feb. 27 to compete in the intermediate boxing events. In the meantime, it will be training camps and a dedicated workout schedule for Derocher who is from the Flying Dust First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Page 5

Dear Editor:

December 10 marked the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was celebrated with much fanfare and speech-making and so it should have been. The acceptance of human rights as universal was a significant step on the road to creating a body of international law.

Page 4

A very long time ago, before Manitou created man, he created animals. And he smiled on them and he gave them the gift of speech.

Nor did the animals ever forget that the Manitou had smiled on them.

With the season of the "first snows" the animals had a celebration of Thanksgiving. The eldest, Owl would sing a special song for Manitou.

Also thanking and honoring their Creator, animals offered drum-songs. In the sounds of the drum, their heartbeats went out to the Creator.

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Isn't Canada lucky?

The federal government has a fiscal dividend at a time when it has been told by a United Nations committee that it should stop playing politics with the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

What perfect timing! With all this extra money in the federal treasury, Canada can afford to prove to the world that it really believes in the ideas contained in the International Bill of Rights.

Sometimes things just fall together so perfectly, don't they?

Page 3

Most of the problems of First Nations people are brought on by themselves.

Strongly disagree 17%

Disagree 27%

Neutral 17%

Agree 23%

Strongly agree 16%

Don't know/refused 1%

First Nations people are managing their own affairs well.

Strongly disagree 12%

Disagree 31%

Neutral 20%

Agree 25%

Strongly agree 7%

Don't know/refused 5%

First Nations people should have their status respected to protect their language and culture.

Strongly disagree 5%

Disagree 10%

Page 3

As government decision-makers weigh their spending options for the next federal budget, the Assembly of First Nations has given them some new information to consider.

The first-ever national public poll commissioned by an Aboriginal organization was conducted by Ottawa's Environics Research Group for the AFN between Nov. 27 and Dec. 5. The preliminary results of the poll were announced on Dec. 10, just five days after the last of the 1,500 phone interviews was conducted.