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Four named for Longboats are at the top of their games

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A pair of teenagers are the latest recipients of Tom Longboat Awards, selected as the country’s top Aboriginal amateur athletes for 2009.

Ammon Crowfoot, a 17-year-old basketball and cross-country running star from Dewinton, Alta., was picked as the top male athlete. And Brigette Lacquette, a 17-year-old hockey player from Mallard, Man., was chosen as the top female athlete.

Doctor in training juggles studies with family

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Chantal Barry has it all. She’s worked hard to get it all.
She lies down with 18-month-old daughter Ena, settles her for a nap, while doing a telephone interview about her choices, both personal and professional.

“It has definitely been tough and I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices,” Barry said from her home. “But I trust I have a mission in life and part of that is being in service for others . . . being a steward for our people.”
On June 4, Barry graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton with her medical degree.

Raven totem travels home to Haida Nation

Out with the old, in with the new.
A 140-year-old raven totem pole that was erected in Jasper National Park in Alberta 90 years ago has made its way home to the people of Haida Gwaii in Old Massett, B.C. The Haida Nation is in the process of carving a new totem for the city of Jasper, which is expected to make its debut next spring.

As a feature of Jasper National Park for about a century, regular visitors and residents of the Rocky Mountain town miss the 70-foot totem, which left for Prince George on June 16.

THE URBANE INDIAN: Suffer the little writers, and get a book deal

I was flipping through the television the other day and came upon an interview with the award-winning author, Joseph Boyden. His two novels, Three Day Road and Through Black Spurce, have had the success most of us writers can only imagine. Not bad for a self-described Metis boy now living in New Orleans. I’m a self-described status Ojibway now living on the Curve Lake First Nations. I think I need to get a better agent.
Be that as it may, it was late in the interview when the host asked a particular question that caught my attention.

FSIN chief wants an Oka-style revolution

First Nations leaders from across Saskatchewan took turns slamming non-Native governments during the two-day spring assembly of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

Among top complaints from chiefs, federation senators and other leaders were Saskatchewan’s plan to reduce the number of cigarettes that can be purchased tax-free on First Nations, as well as what leaders complained was a lack of consultation from governments with First Nations in the province.

First Nations water legislation falls short

Canadians need to pay more taxes in order to ensure everyone has all their basic needs met, says environmentalist Frank Tester, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability.

He asserts that the government of Canada’s introduction of new legislation, the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, is not accompanied with enough money to make any substantial differences in water quality on reserve.

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