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VANCOUVER-Two organizations representing 23 First Nations of the north and central coast and Haida Gwaii issued a statement Sept. 25 in which they claim they have been unilaterally shut out of participating in the federal review of a moratorium on offshore oil and gas development.

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KELOWNA-The Okanagan Nation Alliance and supporters have thrown an olive branch to the provincial government to smooth the way for negotiations over forestry and land use issues. At the same time, the organizations have made it clear that First Nations will not be left out of decisions affecting prime resources on their lands.

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After 30 years of work and schooling, Tseshaht's Wally Watts attained his lofty dream Sept. 8, which was no easy task considering the size of it.

Watts reached the pinnacle of his profession last month when he achieved the captaincy of a 747-400 jumbo jet, the largest commercial airplane in the world.

"It's the top of the ladder. There's nowhere else to go now," said Watts. "At United we have 7,500 pilots and only 225 747-400 captains. It's the biggest plane and pays the most," he said.

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The Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents (FAFP) celebrated its seventh annual general meeting in new offices on Sept. 20. Business of the day was signing deals to work with other organizations, electing a new board of directors and honouring foster parents.

The backdrop to the meeting was a provincial government social service system in the midst of a massive three-year reorganization, and the issue of high numbers of children in government care, with levels comparable to residential schools in their day.

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There was a time when Poundmaker First Nation could count on playing host to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) men's soccer championship at the end of September. But the honour of hosting goes to the previous year's winner, and Poundmaker hasn't been in that position for a couple of years.

This year, chief and council decided something was needed to fill the void. That something was the Poundmaker Sports Day Classic, held Sept. 20 and 21.

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He limped in with three flat tires and a crumpled passenger door, a plume of smoke wafting from under the hood of what was left of his car, but when the dust had settled, Donald Sandhoff had captured the crown at Little Pine First Nation's third annual demolition derby.,

The derby, held Sept. 20, was the first for Sandhoff, who claimed his victory from behind the wheel of "24-7," an American behemoth from the mid 1970s.

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If you're a Metis person with a great business idea and a few dollars to back up your dream, the Clarence Campeau Development Fund wants to hear from you.

The development fund, named after the late Clarence Campeau, a Metis political leader who promoted economic development as a means of realizing Metis self-sufficiency, works to carry on the work of its namesake.

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A plan by the Battlefords Tribal Council to build a hotel and convention centre has just received a $1.5 million boost from the federal government. The money from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) was announced Oct. 1 by Minister Robert Nault.

The hotel and convention centre will be located on reserve land next to the Gold Eagle Casino. The development will include 121 hotel rooms and a 10,000 sq. ft. conference and convention facility.

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The File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council has a project in the works it hopes will improve both the physical and economic health of it's members.

Earth and Sky, a company 100 per cent owned by the tribal council, is gearing up to manufacture and distribute Omega Bannock, an organic bannock product high in omega-3, a type of fatty acid that is supposed to be good for you.

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A program designed to encourage Aboriginal youth in Saskatchewan to adopt a tobacco free lifestyle is gearing up for its second year of operation.

Young Spirits: Proud to be Tobacco Free is a joint initiative of Saskatchewan Health and Health Canada that was first launched in April 2003, targeting its anti-smoking message at youth in grades 5 to 9 in northern and community schools.