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NEWS
BRIEFS
By FP staff
Fed's renew funding to track northern pollution
Yellowknife, NWT.-After the results of a study of Inuit babies over
the last five years showed a subtle but statistically significant
change in nervous system and behavioural changes in the children
linked to mercury and PCB pollutants, the federal government has
announced it will be renewing its Northern Contaminants Program's
Canadian Artic Contaminants Assessment Symposium.
The announcement was heralded by Dene Chief Bill Erasmus of the
Yellowknives First Nation.
"It's important because we once thought that because we were
so far from the rest of the world that our environment would always
be pristine and that we could continue to live the life we want.
But the statistics show that is changing."
And he says that the traditional aboriginal diet in the north of
fish. Moose, caribou and other game have become increasingly contaminated
by mercury and other chemicals.
NAFTA accepts aboriginal arguments in softwoods dispute
Thunderbay Ont.-NAFTA has accepted arguments by B.C. and Ontario
aboriginal groups that say the proprietary interests and environmental
concerns of aboriginal peoples must be recognized in the ongoing
Softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the U.S., according to
Grand Council Treaty 3 Grand Chief Leon Jourdain.
"Our peoples are very proud of the acceptance of our submissions,
which shows that (our) concerns are taken seriously by international
trade tribunals, where national governments often fail to take them
into account or implement them."
And Jourdain charged that the Canadian government has refused to
recognize aboriginal title or enforce environmental measures such
as streamside buffers and noted that the government has consistently
opposed the participation of public interest groups in trade disputes
while at the same time making joint submissions with various industry
associations.
In WTO and NAFTA proceedings Jourdain says the Canadian government
and industry set out to misrepresent Canadian Law by arguing that
stumpage fees paid by large forestry companies holding tenure rights
was not the price paid for Crown Land timber but "akin to a
tax," which Jourdain says implies that the companies own the
trees as they stand in the forest.
Youth program extended
Ottawa, Ont.-Heritage Canada has announced a two-year extension
of the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Initiative, which
has funded $100 million in aboriginal youth projects over the last
five years.
The program offers urban aboriginal youth between 15-24 with culturally
relevant projects and activities in their communities aimed to assist
the youth in enhancing their economic, social and personal prospects.
Art Bank purchases aboriginal art
Ottawa, Ont-The Canada Councils' Art Bank has purchases 71 works
valued at $150,000 by aboriginal artists across the country as it
moves to enhance its collection.
The purchase follows an open invitation last fall to aboriginal
artists to submit their works for consideration. More than 400 artists
responded with 61 aboriginal artists being selected.
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