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Researcher sues Dempsey for blocking investigation

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Dr. Hugh Dempsey and the Glenbow Museum are being sued by Buff Parry, a researcher who claims Dempsey and the Glenbow blocked his investigation of an ancient stone tablet bearing symbols matching Cree syllabics.

The tablet was uncovered a hundred years before the Rev. James Evans, who Dempsey claims invented the syllabics, set down his writing system.

Both Dempsey and Glenbow officials refused comment at press time.

Metis prez says ruling contains discriminatory language

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Metis Association President Larry Desmeules says a court ruling against the International Woodworkers of America, Local 1-207, contained discriminatory language.

Justice A.T. Cooke said in his ruling that the behaviour of the union picketers indicated they were "simply naive persons from a small northern Alberta community, many of part Native blood, who were without experience in matters of labor disputes."

Metis local serves bannock at Olympic food fair in Calgary

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Volunteers from Metis Local 14 will be serving up home-made bannock at a booth at the Calgary Canadian citizenship food fair during the Olympics.

The bannock will be served with a host of condiments, says president Theresa Arseneau and will be open from Feb. 15 to 18 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The food fair will be constructed along Calgary's 8th Avenue Mall and will highlight foods from 60 countries.

Vandals attack environmental art and strengthen its statement

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Who is vandalizing Joane Cardinal-Shubert's sculpture?

Whether it is the work of another artist, a group of people with a message or just a gang of delinquents is not known, but those responsible are certainly persistent.

Six times within the last three months vandals have attacked the art work entitled Abandoned Camp ? Keeper of the Culture, an environmental sculpture by Red Deer-born artist Joane Cardinal-Shubert, which stands in front of the Muttart Gallery. And with each new attack, they go just a little bit further, says Cardinal-Shubert.

New Guinea's Natives vote to withdraw from Australia

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The government faces tough negotiations with a group of about 6,000 Aboriginals living in the Torres Strait, near Papua, New Guinea, after the islanders voted to withdraw from Australia.

The Aboriginals have called upon the United Nations to help them seek the independence and the Australian government has been presented with a huge compensation claim for illegal conquest and 200 years of "devastation and deprivation."

In an attempt to address Aboriginal grievances Australian Prime Minister Hawke has promised to grant self-government.

Writer claims Britain for his mourning people

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An Aboriginal writer from Australia raised the red and black Australian Aboriginal flag on the white cliffs of Dover claiming Britain on behalf of all Aboriginals.

Burnham Burnham staked his claim Jan. 26 while the rest of Australia was celebrating its 200th birthday. Australian Aboriginals claimed the celebrations were a ritual of mourning for their people who died in the thousands when the country was settled by Europeans shortly after it was "discovered" by Cpt. Cook in 1788.

Manitoba Metis seek control of institutions, approach gov't

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The Manitoba Metis Federation is the first Metis group in Canada to enter negotiations for a province-wide agreement to gain control of housing, education, economic development and family services.

Federation President Yvon Dumont announced that both levels of government had agreed to begin negotiations which would eventually lead to a fourth level of government in Manitoba. "Just about any other Metis group in Canada would like to be in this situation . . . this is the cutting edge of the definition of Aboriginal rights throughout Canada," he said.

Turner pledges support for rights

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Aboriginal self-government can be entrenched despite the controversial Meech Lake Accord, says Liberal leader John Turner.

Speaking at a student forum at the University of Alberta Jan. 21 Turner said Liberal support for the accord only came after the government agreed to organizing further first minister conferences.

The accord gives veto power to the federal government and the ten provinces over further changes to the constitution. Before the accord, signed last summer, any amendments required the agreement of seven out of ten provinces.