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The White Buffalo Society kicked off Edmonton's launch of an international initiative that aims to return Aboriginal land to its original inhabitants and to clean up Mother Earth.

On Oct. 19, City Hall saw the Edmonton Ecumenical Jubilee 2000 Committee launch the third international jubilee initiative - The Renewal of the Earth.

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A three-day conference organized by the Calgary-based Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) featured speakers and participants from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Despite these differences, the Fire Keepers Gathering 2000, held September 22 to 24, delivered a single, strong message about empowering Aboriginal youth. The message was that it is up to individuals to empower themselves.

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A three-day conference organized by the Calgary-based Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) featured speakers and participants from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Despite these differences, the Fire Keepers Gathering 2000, held September 22 to 24, delivered a single, strong message about empowering Aboriginal youth. The message was that it is up to individuals to empower themselves.

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A partnership between the local Native friendship centre and a school division means that Native students will get another opportunity to continue with their high school education.

The Napi Friendship Centre was confirmed in June for funding from the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Initiative for an alternative school.

"We will accommodate a small number of non-Native youth," said Carol Specht, executive director of the friendship centre. "We always try to accommodate the non-Aboriginal aspect of everything we do."

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A partnership between the local Native friendship centre and a school division means that Native students will get another opportunity to continue with their high school education.

The Napi Friendship Centre was confirmed in June for funding from the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Initiative for an alternative school.

"We will accommodate a small number of non-Native youth," said Carol Specht, executive director of the friendship centre. "We always try to accommodate the non-Aboriginal aspect of everything we do."

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On September 22, Cold Lake First Nation not only celebrated the grand opening of a community playground and two ball diamonds, but also acknowledged the generous sponsorship and support of local businesses and individuals who helped make it possible.

The opening was held to coincide with the signing of a business deal between the First Nation and Alberta Energy Company Oil & Gas-Eastern Region. The SAGD project (for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) will take place in the vicinity of the Primrose air weapons range north of Cold Lake.

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On September 22, Cold Lake First Nation not only celebrated the grand opening of a community playground and two ball diamonds, but also acknowledged the generous sponsorship and support of local businesses and individuals who helped make it possible.

The opening was held to coincide with the signing of a business deal between the First Nation and Alberta Energy Company Oil & Gas-Eastern Region. The SAGD project (for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) will take place in the vicinity of the Primrose air weapons range north of Cold Lake.

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In a perfect world, Annette L. Brown would be out of a job.

Every pet would have a good home and every domestic animal would be well looked after.

But as the new peace officer for the Lloydminster SPCA, Brown knows first hand about the neglect that some animals can suffer from their owners.

"There are good days and bad days in this line of work," said Brown, a Cree/French resident of Lloydminster, Alberta.

"A good day is when I can save one animal, rescue it from an abusive situation and get it to a good loving home."

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In a perfect world, Annette L. Brown would be out of a job.

Every pet would have a good home and every domestic animal would be well looked after.

But as the new peace officer for the Lloydminster SPCA, Brown knows first hand about the neglect that some animals can suffer from their owners.

"There are good days and bad days in this line of work," said Brown, a Cree/French resident of Lloydminster, Alberta.

"A good day is when I can save one animal, rescue it from an abusive situation and get it to a good loving home."

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Vinnia van Overdyk could ask for no better endorsement than that which she gets from her children, both flesh and blood and foster children.

For close to 30 years van Overdyk and her late husband John have opened the doors of their Calgary home to children needing love, attention and structure.

"My kids used to bring kids home that weren't getting along at (their own) homes. They found our home stabilized them, then they would contact their parents," explained van Overdyk. "When their parents found out they were safe, they left them where they were."