Top 10 Aboriginal web sites make research easy

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Whether you're ready or not, the World Wide Web is sweeping the globe and that includes Saskatchewan and its First Nations.

What started a few years ago as a sort of encyclopedia for scientists, now covers as many subjects as there are users. Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan and elsewhere have been quick to embrace the net and its empowering features.

SaskTel's Sympatico has about 60,000 Internet customers in Saskatchewan, with about 6,000 of those using high-speed connections. Those numbers exclude other web servers like Cable Regina and Shaw Cable, numbers that are changing thanks to dropping computer prices. About one in four homes have access to the net.

So, what's out there in cyberspace for Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan? There's hundreds of Indian web sites - some good, some bad. Let the editor of Sage know about your favorite web site.

Here's our choice for the Top 10 Aboriginal-related web sites:

ammsa.com - Well, we don't want to brag, but the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) gets high marks for the attractiveness, ease of use, scope and quantity of information on its web site. The site received recent "Pick of the Week" honors from the giant portal Yahoo and gets tens of thousands of visitors. There are back issues of Sage to 1996, copies of articles from the Sweetgrass newspaper covering Alberta, the Raven's Eye covering British Columbia and the Yukon, plus Windspeaker covering national Aboriginal issues. For youth it also includes a classroom edition of Windspeaker.

http://elders.firstnations.ca - This site was experiencing some technical difficulties when visited. The content looked promising. It revolved around Saskatchewan Elders and includes interviews, a browse list, an Elders' database, and maps of band locations.

afcs.com - The site for the Saskatchewan Friendship Centres is powerful and useful. There are links to employment, weather, copies of Doug Cuthand's articles on Aboriginal issues in Regina's Leader-Post - you name it. Of course, it carries content about friendship centres around the province and the various activities, services and staff.

firstnationsbank.com - This commerical site is of interest because it's the only full-service Aboriginal bank in the country. First Nations Bank, an affiliate of the Toronto Dominion Bank, started with a branch in Saskatoon in 1997 and added another in the James Bay Region in 1998. The bank, funded by the FSIN's Saskatchewan Indian Equity Fund along with the TD Bank, has gone virtual and allows web banking for its customers.

inac.gc.ca - Say what you want about Indian and Northern Affairs, but they've got an excellent web site. There's no Saskatchewan component, but the width and breadth of the content merits its inclusion on this list. There's everything from information about Aboriginal entrepreneurs to treaties, from Royal Commissions to Northern Affairs Programs. There's an extensive links list. Check it out.

fsin.com - If you're interested in Indian government in the province this is the first stop. The site is short of photos and visuals, but several areas are being updated so maybe something will be added. The site is fairly attractive and the search engine feature is handy. There are a number of useful links to Indian institutions such as the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. An archive of press releases, which highlight the FSIN's position on various issues, would be helpful.

siit.sk.ca and sifc.edu - The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology has an excellent site that's easily navigable and full of information about programs and staff. If you're considering training or education upgrades, check it out. On the other hand, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College web site is more modest, but it's now being revamped. There's some useful information on the departments, alumni, Indian links, and the proposed new college building. More than 64,000 people have visited the site since pril 1998.

http://law.usask.ca - As part of the U of S general web site, it's a must stop if you're interested in legal matters such as treaty claims, treaty entitlements and residential school lawsuits. The site is attractive, there are lots of photos and it's easily navigable. The web site links to the library, of course, and numerous other law-related sites.

http://members.tripod.com - The url isn't easy to remember, but this personal web site is a gold mine for Metis, Cree and Dene residents in Saskatchewan. Michael Durcher's legal research site is full of useful information and links regarding all things legal. Durocher, a lawyer living in Beauval, will be articling with Sask Justice in Regina this summer. It's a homegrown site but attractive, with pictures of Louis Riel used as wallpaper. This relatively unknown site has seen more than 18,000 visitors since March 1997.

sicc.sk.ca - The power of the web is well demonstrated at the updated Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre site. The 25-year-old centre is dedicated to maintaining the cultural identity of Saulteaux, Dakota, Assiniboine, Dene and Cree in the province. Aside from its library data banks, the centre keeps everyone up to date on events, language workshops, web page building workshops, various Aboriginal-related web sites, and more. An attractive site that's easily navigated - and worth the visit.