Page 11

People who went through the residential school system know what it has cost them in lost childhood, lost dignity and lost opportunities in life, but the financial cost of settling up with them for a portion of these losses is more elusive.

Ottawa is talking about a $2 billion bail-out in legal costs for the churches that were parties, along with the federal Department of Indian Affairs, to the assimilation of generations of Aboriginal children into a foreign way of life.

Page 11

People who went through the residential school system know what it has cost them in lost childhood, lost dignity and lost opportunities in life, but the financial cost of settling up with them for a portion of these losses is more elusive.

Ottawa is talking about a $2 billion bail-out in legal costs for the churches that were parties, along with the federal Department of Indian Affairs, to the assimilation of generations of Aboriginal children into a foreign way of life.

Page 10

The 28 communities in Treaty 3, encompassing an area of 55,000 square miles, held an assembly early this year that confirms for their grand chief that they are well on the way to re-instituting traditional governance outside of the Indian Act.

The Jan. 23 to 25 assembly adopted an Anishinaabe nation childcare policy and endorsed continued movement towards a tradition-based government structure rather than an Indian Affairs-dictated one.

Page 10

The 28 communities in Treaty 3, encompassing an area of 55,000 square miles, held an assembly early this year that confirms for their grand chief that they are well on the way to re-instituting traditional governance outside of the Indian Act.

The Jan. 23 to 25 assembly adopted an Anishinaabe nation childcare policy and endorsed continued movement towards a tradition-based government structure rather than an Indian Affairs-dictated one.

Page 9

The federal Indian Affairs Department has hired the accounting firm KPMG to take over the Innu Nation'?s finances following an audit that revealed deficits.

The intervention applies to both the communities of Davis Inlet and Sheshatshiu, with a combined population of 2,000.

Government officials won?t say how much the deficit is, the percentage the Innu are allegedly over budget, or the reason DIAND jumped immediately into imposing third-party management rather than taking the less drastic co-management approach first to balance the books.

Page 9

The federal Indian Affairs Department has hired the accounting firm KPMG to take over the Innu Nation'?s finances following an audit that revealed deficits.

The intervention applies to both the communities of Davis Inlet and Sheshatshiu, with a combined population of 2,000.

Government officials won?t say how much the deficit is, the percentage the Innu are allegedly over budget, or the reason DIAND jumped immediately into imposing third-party management rather than taking the less drastic co-management approach first to balance the books.

Page 7

British Columbia announced a three-year moratorium on grizzly bear hunting Feb. 8 that puts conservationists and hunters on opposite sides of the fence, pits urban dweller against rural, and splits Aboriginal opinion on both sides of the question.

The province plans to conduct a scientific study of grizzly bear populations to determine accurate numbers and whether or not the species is at risk as some claim. Current estimates vary between 4,000 and more than 13,000 grizzly bears in British Columbia.

Page 7

British Columbia announced a three-year moratorium on grizzly bear hunting Feb. 8 that puts conservationists and hunters on opposite sides of the fence, pits urban dweller against rural, and splits Aboriginal opinion on both sides of the question.

The province plans to conduct a scientific study of grizzly bear populations to determine accurate numbers and whether or not the species is at risk as some claim. Current estimates vary between 4,000 and more than 13,000 grizzly bears in British Columbia.

Page 6

The federal cabinet will soon get a chance to prove the government is sincere about the merits of openness and accountability.

Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault has said many times in recent months that First Nations need to be more accountable. Recently the department froze funding for band councils that have fallen behind in meeting departmental audit requirements. Matthew Coon Come, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, wants to see if the feds are willing to be as open.

Page 6

The federal cabinet will soon get a chance to prove the government is sincere about the merits of openness and accountability.

Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault has said many times in recent months that First Nations need to be more accountable. Recently the department froze funding for band councils that have fallen behind in meeting departmental audit requirements. Matthew Coon Come, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, wants to see if the feds are willing to be as open.