Mary Spencer eventually wants to return to her university studies, but that’s probably at least a couple of more years away as she focuses on another goal she’s had since last year.

The 25-year-old Aboriginal boxer, who won her third world championship in Barbados in September, is hoping to represent Canada at the 2012 London Olympics. Women’s boxing will make its Olympic debut at those Games.

New sports body
Ontario’s Aboriginal sports body has a new name and a new Board of Directors. The Aboriginal Sport & Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO) held its first meeting Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 in Sudbury. ASWCO is governed by 12 volunteer directors.

The board has representatives from all parts of the province with four members each from the northern, central and southern parts of Ontario.

On a rooftop in Toronto’s busy downtown, a native garden with a sweatlodge, traditional plants and an area for a healing circle connects the city’s Native clients with their culture.

Designed by Levitt Goodman architects, the recently opened garden completes a three-year re-development project undertaken by Native Child and Family Services of a deserted office building at 30 College Street.

Chief Bob Chamberlin of Kwicksutaineuk-Ah-Kwaw-Ah-Mish First Nation (Gilford Island) said people cannot be lulled to sleep by this year’s historic returns of sockeye salmon to the Fraser River.

In fact, the 35 million sockeye that found their way back to the river this August after their four-year ocean journey is perhaps a real indication that the department of Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea doesn’t have much of an understanding of what is going on at sea in regard to salmon migration, he said.

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Gerald Auger: Trust. I am in an industry where I have to follow my instincts to determine who I want around me and I always ask myself “Why are they wanting to be around me?” I am so used to having people take me for granted because of my caring and giving qualities and for who I know in the industry. I am at a point in my life where I need to be able to rely and trust on a friend that will be there for me through the highs and lows of my life and career, as I would be for them.

A Seattle-based filmmaker is trying to explore the many worlds in which Indigenous people walk.

“I’m very interested in finding these stories of contemporary Native people,” said Tracy Rector. “We are a huge part of urban communities and we’re trying to figure ourselves out.”

It’s been three years since the United Nations ratified the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also marks three years since Canada was one of only four countries globally to reject the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Since then, Australia and New Zealand have reversed their decisions and now endorse the declaration, and the U.S. has implied that it intends to work towards endorsement.

If the future of a country is its youth, then Canada’s future is increasingly Aboriginal. Canada’s Aboriginal youth population is growing at three times the national average. It is and will be a force to be reckoned with. But whether these youth are a force for positive change and economic growth will be determined by the actions all of us take.

One of funny man Charlie Hill’s best jokes deals with the Caucasian preoccupation with digging up or building on Indian burial grounds. Charlie Hill is the well-known Oneida comedian from Wisconsin who has been tickling the American funny bone with his Native humor for more than 30 years.

Clement Chartier remains frustrated with his people’s plight to be included en masse in residential schools compensation payments. That frustration became evident in his fourth appearance before the senate, this time making his presentation to the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on Sept. 28.