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Reports that Supreme Court ruling has helped to clarify the policing powers of First Nations constables operating on reserves in Ontario. Basis of the decision; Facts of the case against Cecil Decorte who was sentenced to nine months; Jurisdiction of the First Nation police.

The article focuses on federal government's discrimination in funding and services to off-reserve Aboriginal communities. The difficulties stem from a court ruling almost one year ago. Federal Court Justice Francois Lemieux ruled that the federal department responsible for employment and training had been discriminating against a number of off-reserve Aboriginal communities by providing a superior level of service to on-reserve organizations. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada challenged Lemieux's decision in the Federal Court of Appeal and lost.

Reports that lawyers for the family of slain protester Dudley George, who was killed by police during the Ipperwash Park occupation, appeared before the public inquiry to play a tape for Chief Commissioner Sidney Linden in the hopes of having it made public in Ontario. Inquiry's confidentiality rules; Race discrimination against natives; Testimony of Sam George, brother of Dudley.

Reports on the anticipation of Aboriginal financial leaders on the agreement signed last July 20, 2004 in Charlottetown to lead an increase in the amount of money available for Aboriginal business loans. Reason for Dan Brant, CEO of National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association, on the seeking of assistance from financial institutions; Impact of the Indian Act on Aboriginal businesses; Content of the agreement signed.

Looks into Aboriginal issues in Canada. Announcement made by Indian Affairs Minister Andy Mitchell of the creation of an Inuit-specific secretariat within the Department of Indian Affairs; Innovative approach to how the government implement projects such as housing; Changes being looked at in the Indian Act.

Reports that the 2005 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) will be postponed for a year in the U.S. Discussion of three options made by the NAIG council regarding the matter; Pressure on the part of the U.S. to come up with a winning entry; Identification of U.S. places considered by the council for the next tournament.

This article presents information on a group of 14 Aboriginal youth who were recently selected to travel to Europe as part of the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey. The young people were included in the journey as a way to pass the stories and experiences of the veterans on to a new generation. Their role was to witness the journey, listen to the stories, visit the sites of battle and then share what they'd seen and learned with other youth upon their return to Canada. The participants were chosen through an essay competition in which they were asked to explain why it's important for Aboriginal youth to remember and honor the sacrifices and achievements of Aboriginal soldiers.

Reports on statements by former Ontario attorney general and Ontario New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton on the Ipperwash Inquiry, which is investigating the case of Dudley George who was shot dead by Ontario Provincial Police Acting Sergeant Kenneth Deane on September 6, 1995. George's occupation of the provincial park to draw attention to the presence of a burial ground in the park; Expropriation of the reserve land by the federal government during the Second World War with the promise the land would be returned.

Reports on the statement by Ontario New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton that First Nation fishermen and their non-native employees are being charged or threatened with charges because the Ontario government’s Ministry of Natural Resources is operating under a policy that gives enforcement officers too much discretion. Policy on aboriginal fishing and hunting.

The article reports that the chemistry of the executive board of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will change in June 2005, now that Ontario Regional Chief Charles Fox has submitted his resignation. Fox's resignation will be effective as of the Chiefs of Ontario annual meeting to be held in Eagle Lake First Nation near Dryden, Ontario from June 14-16, 2005. His successor will be chosen at that meeting. Former regional chief Gord Peters is said to be considering a run, as is former Akwesasne chief Mike Mitchell. Two former Union of Ontario Indian (UOI) grand chiefs, Vern Roote and Earl Commanda, and another UOI candidate, Eugene Manitowabi, are also rumored to be sniffing the political wind and assessing their chances.

This article reports that representatives of the world's first national Aboriginal television network will appear before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on June 6 in Niagara Falls to state their case for renewal of the network's broadcast license. Parties concerned with the license of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), which expires August 31, must file interventions with the commission to be scheduled to appear at the public hearings. APTN has asked the commission for some changes to its license. One of those changes may spark some controversy in the cable television industry.

Features the restaurant Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro in Ottawa, Ontario. Owners and operators of the restaurant; Menus; Challenges faced by the restaurant.

Reports on the decision of the Ontario, Canada-based Aboriginal Peoples Television Network to seek refinancing in an effort to save its broadcasting operations. Financial structure of the company upon the assumption of Jean LaRose as chief executive officer; Commitments and expenditures made by the station during its five years of operation; Compensation of the company's board members.

Reports on findings of a survey commissioned by various Canadian federal governance departments regarding the public views to a proposed aboriginal governance act. Support for the legislation despite opposition from higher income groups; Administration of polling under the leadership of former Indian and Northern Affairs Canada minister Robert Nault; Impact of politics on the government-aboriginal relations.

Reports on the estimated budget of the Ontario-based aboriginal organization Assembly of First Nations for the last remaining months of 2004. Budget figures upon the assumption of Phil Fontaine to the association's leadership; Executive structure proposed by Fontaine for the aboriginal organization; Finalized projects for the remainder of the year.

Looks into the issue on who is going to vote at the confederacy meeting of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Schedule for the said meetings; Specification of Article 11 of the AFN Charter used as the basis for the said meetings; Discussion of the organizational problems faced by the association.

Reports on the Canadian government's decision to withdraw its plan to implement a universal, national consent form after facing an aggressive lobby against it by First Nations and Inuit leaders. Specific goals the form was designed to achieve when Health Canada's Non-Insured Health Branch proposed the form in 2003; Estimated number of Non-Insured Health Benefit clients who have signed the consent form.

Métis National Council President Clement Chartier has threatened to oppose the renewal of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's (APTN) broadcasting license. He did so in a letter written to the APTN board of directors in December. Chartier complained about coverage of the MNC and about the lack of Métis content in the network's programming. APTN is scheduled to go before the Canadian Radio-Telecommunication Commission in 2007. Chartier threatened to intervene against renewal of APTN's broadcast license at those hearings.

Just days before he was called on to perform a cleansing ceremony for Prime Minister Paul Martin during his swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 12, Elder Elmer Courchene slammed the federal government's treatment of residential school survivors. Elder has been involved in compensation negotiation on behalf of survivors in his Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. He said, "I have been involved in residential schools for the last six years. The residential schools played a very big part in our lives. It spreads out like a mushroom. It affects us in more ways than one."