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Lake Brochet, Man.

The caribou recovery from near extinction in northern Manitoba has meant isolated Indian communities are returning tot heir traditional way of life.

Officials estimate that at least 50,000 barren-ground caribou have moved into Manitoba from the Northwest Territories.

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Fisher River, Man.

A weekend fire gutted the Fisher River Indian band's community centre causing an estimated $3 million damage to the centre located on the reserve 240 km north of Winnipeg.

The fire destroyed an arena, a cafeteria and the band offices.

A meeting will be held on the reserve to decide how to deal with the loss of the centre described by Chief Wesley Hart as the mainstay of the 1,000 member band.

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The federal and provincial government have failed to settle the Lubicon land claim despite a federal negotiator's announcement that an interim settlement could be reached, without input from the band before the new year.

Indian Affairs minister Bill McKnight met with Alberta Attorney General Jim Horsman before Christmas to review the situation says Barb Deters, senior communications officer for Horsman who says both governments still refuse to allow former justice minister E. Davie Fulton to become involved in the negotiations.

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The Assembly of First Nations is supporting the Lubicon Lake band's boycott of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games and is urging all Indian nations to participate in demonstrations when the Olympic torch passes through or near their reserves.

The assembly says 44 reserves will be crossed by the torch bearers and in a Nov. 18 letter Georges Erasmus, grand chief, gives some advice on how to peacefully demonstrate support for the northern Alberta Cree band.

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National

A move to enshrine Aboriginal language as Canadian founding languages is being undertaken by the Assembly of First Nations in the hope that a revival of indigenous languages will have far reaching consequences on Native self-determination.

The co-ordinator of a language conference to be held in Ottawa Jan. 19 to 21 says the assembly is taking its cue from the province of Quebec which encouraged the official use of French in schools, street signs, advertising and in government.

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Weary travellers driving along highway 2 south of Wetaskiwin will be able to stop for something to eat and fuel up at any hour thanks to a new rest facility built by Ksputinow Holdings Ltd. Owned by the Louis Bull band.

Greg Berry, general manager, says the first phase of the development will include a gas station, a 150 seat restaurant, and a grocery store which will sell fresh vegetables and meat and will also house a bakery.

The first phase, on of a four phase highway development will open April 1 of this year.

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A Calgary biologist is calling for the restriction of Treaty hunting rights after the slaughter of a herd of big sheep near Rocky Mountain House in September.

Brian Horejsi, a biologist with the Alberta Wilderness Association, a conservation group, says Treaty Indians have abused their right to hunt.

Treaty Indians "should abide by the same hunting regulations as the rest of society." Horejsi points out that when the treaties were signed a hundred years ago little thought was given to conservation.

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EDITORIAL

Windspeaker would like to send a sincere and heartfelt New Year's greeting to all our friends in custody.

We enjoy your letters and poetry because your words are full of insight and hope. It's also promising to see many of you have found your Native roots while in the pen. You say Windspeaker keeps you linked to the outside world and you enjoy the cultural stories; we hope to include more historical content reflecting Native traditions of honor, respect, sharing and spirituality in 1988 editions.

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At the end of each year most of us evaluate our lives; we take stock of where we've been, what we've achieved, and what we hope to accomplish in the coming 12 months.

But sometimes it's beneficial to look beyond the last year to other advice and counsel. In this 1972 speech by the late Chief Dan George, given at a teacher's conference in Lethbridge, he expresses deep insight into his roots and the directions of his life.

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The Lubicon Lake band says the fight for their land will continue after the Olympic Games are over.

During an interview Dec. 17, Chief Bernard Ominayak said because many of the band's problems have been "inflicted upon us by the deliberate destruction of our traditional economy and way of life" the band will "simply assert our jurisdiction on the ground (land) and defend ourselves as best we can.