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The June 16 story has now been followed up with the June 19 story that indicates that Ottawa will likely appeal the BC court ruling (see the two stories below) ...

From the Globe and Mail ...

Indian status can be traced through mother, court rules
BILL CURRY - June 16, 2007

VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Supreme Court has wiped out one of the most contentious aspects of the federal Indian Act, striking down part of Ottawa's definition of a status Indian and opening the door to hundreds of thousands of new applications for native services.

The court rejected part of the existing legal definition on the grounds that it discriminates against Canadians who trace their aboriginal roots through their female relatives rather than their father or grandfather.

The ruling alters the federal law that has long created two classes of aboriginals in Canada: the 767,000 who fit the definition of status Indian and the several hundred thousand more who don't.

The 2001 census found 976,000 Canadians who self-identified as aboriginal and more than 1.3 million who said they had aboriginal ancestry.

Many aboriginals who failed in their requests for status will now have a much better chance of success, said Beverley Jacobs, the president of the Native Women's Association of Canada.

"This opens the floodgates," she said. "I don't think we could have asked for a better judgment."

Aboriginals with status qualify for prescription drug coverage and can apply for postsecondary assistance.

Status Indians are also exempt from paying taxes on income earned on reserves. But Sharon McIvor, who successfully challenged the law with her son Jacob Grismer, argued in court that status also carries a huge social value in native communities that can mean the difference between acceptance or rejection.

In an interview yesterday, Ms. McIvor, a professor and lawyer who lives on the Lower Nicola Indian Band, where she traces her native lineage to her matrilineal grandmother, predicted the decision will have a major impact.

"Conservatively, we're looking at probably 200,000 people [who could now qualify for status that did not before the ruling]," she said. Before contact with Europeans, many native tribes operated under matrilineal power structures in which women were the community leaders. After Confederation, male-dominated ruleswere imposed on those communities through the Indian Act that meant only men could pass along native status.

The federal government claimed to have addressed the long-standing discrimination in 1985 though Bill C-31, which added about 175,000 more people to the Indian registry. But the B.C. Supreme Court said that bill did not go far enough and created problems for future generations.

"I have concluded that the registration provisions embodied in [Section 6] of the 1985 Indian Act continue the very discrimination that the amendments were intended to eliminate," wrote Madam Justice Carol Ross. "The provisions prefer male Indians and their descendants to female Indians and their descendants."

Federal government lawyers urged the judge to suspend her decision for 24 months to give Parliament time to consult aboriginal groups and draft new legislation. Judge Ross rejected that argument, meaning that Section 6 of the Indian Act - which is the entire section outlining how someone can qualify as a status Indian - "is of no force and effect insofar, and only insofar, as it authorized the differential treatment of Indian men and Indian women." The federal government is still reviewing the ruling and has not decided whether to appeal.

The Assembly of First Nations, which represents status Indians who belong to reserves, has been increasingly concerned about the rules governing status. The National Chief of the AFN, Phil Fontaine, has warned discrimination against descendants of native women is just one of many problems caused by Bill C-31.

With estimates that more than half of all natives now marry non-natives, the current law's "second-generation cut-off" means an increasing number of natives are unable to pass on their status to their children.

"The McIvor decision puts pressure on the Government of Canada for policy and legislative reform. The Government of Canada will no doubt appeal this decision," Mr. Fontaine said in a statement yesterday. The national chief of the main off-reserve and non-status group, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, said the ruling supports his organization's long-standing argument that thousands of natives are being unfairly denied access to services.

"I don't think that the majority of Canadians are aware that there are over 400,000 non-status Indians in this country who unfortunately can't access any programs and services," said Patrick Brazeau, who urged Ottawa not to appeal. "More and more people are becoming non-status Indians, so it's a question of liability and therefore a question of dollar signs."

++++++++++

From Globe and Mail ...

Appeal of native ruling likely, Ottawa says
BILL CURRY - June 19, 2007

OTTAWA — Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said his government will likely appeal a major court ruling that would expand the number of aboriginals qualifying for services by hundreds of thousands.

In a statement released by his office yesterday, the minister said he would need a ruling from a higher court than the B.C. Supreme Court, which released the judgment last week.

"I expect that the decision will be appealed, although that decision has not yet been made," Mr. Prentice said. "The [B.C. Supreme Court] decision is a significant one and it is reasonable to expect that the final decision will have to be made at a higher appellate level."

The appeal would come in spite of recently released internal documents showing Ottawa has been fighting the issue in court fully expecting to lose.
 
The B.C. Supreme Court decision could transform the way Ottawa deals with aboriginals. It struck down part of a 1985 change to the Indian Act called C-31 on the grounds that it discriminates against natives who trace their roots through their female forebears. The court also raised concern about what is known as the "second-generation cutoff" in which many grandchildren of people who were status Indians in 1985 are now being denied status due to marriages with non-natives.

For the most part, Ottawa has limited its legal obligation to "status Indians," a term it created that currently applies to about 700,000 people. That leaves out hundreds of thousands of Canadians with aboriginal heritage.

Indian Affairs documents obtained by NDP MP Jean Crowder show the department was bracing for "disruption" and rising costs after an expected defeat.

Ms. Crowder said the documents show it is time for Ottawa to stop the legal battles and craft a way forward with aboriginal groups, several of whom have also urged Ottawa not to appeal. "This government has been talking about how it's a champion of human rights, so if they appeal that decision, I wonder how they are going to justify that," she said, in reference to a bill introduced by Mr. Prentice to allow the Human Rights Act to apply on reserves.

Liberal Indian affairs critic Anita Neville agreed. "I'm disappointed he's appealing," she said. "More taxpayers' dollars should not go into fighting aboriginal women after the years of discrimination they've endured."

From Winnipeg Free Press ...

Hope amid a tragedy - An exchange trip to Shamattawa opens the door to an enduring friendship
By Alexandra Paul - Jun 17 2007

A group of 15 Ontario students visiting the remote Cree First Nation of Shamattawa last week saw an RCMP SWAT team, camouflaged and carrying rifles, search the streets for an alleged gunman, and then pitched in to help a devastated community cope with the suicide of a 12-year-old boy.

You'd think these teens from the Mississauga New Credit First Nation near Toronto would want out of the troubled community.

And you'd be wrong.

Shamattawa is fighting its way out of the grip of a solvent abuse epidemic in Canada's North that dates back decades. Five years ago, a despairing chief declared a state of emergency after three suicides in eight days. Even police are wary there.

But for the Ojibway students from southern Ontario on a trip north to see their friends in a student exchange program, the violence was eased by "tonnes" of great food, pristine scenery, fishing and great warmth from their hosts.

"We had a hard time leaving. We wanted to scoop up all the kids and bring them home with us," chaperone Veronica Jamieson, one of two adults with the 15 teenagers from southern Ontario, said from her home, 70 kilometres southwest of Toronto, this week.
 
For a send-off, the whole community got together with the visitors for a rally and a feast. Tina Keeper, the area's MP, flew in for the event and visited privately with the family of the boy who died. The bonds she saw impressed her.

"There was tragedy but in the middle of it all was this culture (with the kids). They were an impressive group, solid. These were teens meeting teens. Their experience together was give and take and it was really generous," Keeper said.

The groups got so close that one Shamattawa teenager got permission from her family to fly back with the group.

"I brought one of the girls home for the summer," said the chaperone, who raised six kids of her own, now all in high school or university. The teenager was part of a Shamattawa exchange visit to New Credit last month. Shamattawa teachers had previously pegged her as one who "could make it" outside the reserve, thinking she'd leave when she went south to high school.

The suicide made the teen seize the moment.

The chaperone said they'll never forget the week-long trip north, part of an exchange program run by the YMCA-YWCA to promote anti-bullying in schools.

"It was eye opening for the kids from Ontario to go up there. Some of the kids are still crying. I think it's still sinking in, the difference in the environment (up north). The kids are so thankful for what they have here," Jamieson said.

The group arrived for a week on Saturday, June 2. Overnight Sunday, the RCMP detachment reported hearing half a dozen gunshots ricocheting off the detachment's exterior walls. Three officers on duty huddled on the floor until daybreak. Then, they cautioned everyone to stay indoors and took action.

The RCMP flew three planeloads of officers from Winnipeg and Thompson. They painted their faces in camouflage colours, wore camouflage gear and searched the streets of the town with armed rifles.

No gunman turned up; no arrests have been made to date.

Shamattawa chief and council say they're skeptical there were any gunshots. They discovered a girl was throwing rocks at a building next door the same night. "We're saying, 'They jumped the gun'," Chief Jeffrey Napoakesik said, with dry humour. He's lodged complaints with RCMP headquarters over the reaction.

Shaune Rice, the guidance counsellor at the Shamattawa school who helped arrange the exchange student trip through the YMCA-YWCA said the arrival of the SWAT team was like something on TV, and confusing, too.

"It was unreal. It was like warriors circling with guns. It was like an Oka crisis," Rice said.

Then, Thursday night, two youngsters stumbled across the body of a troubled boy. He'd hanged himself from a tree in a backyard. Practically in plain sight. Attempts to resuscitate him at the nursing station failed.

"The thing with suicide is you hear about it all the time, but then, we were right in the middle of it," Jamieson said.

The community is devastated by the loss, the chief said this week.

"He had to have had bad feelings to do this kind of thing," the chief said in a phone interview, almost at a loss for words to explain boy's violent death. On Tuesday, one of the boys who'd found the body hanging from the tree was so distraught he, too, tried to kill himself. He was maybe nine, or perhaps 11, the chief said. Somehow, the little boy blamed himself for the other boy's death, the chief said. "He was crying and I told him it was not his fault," Napoakesik said.

YOUTH suicide rates soar among First Nations. But not this young. Not even in Shamattawa. This is a place where leaders are trying hard to make life better. The exchange trip was the latest in a couple of excursions over the past few years designed to give youngsters a taste of the world beyond the isolated reserve.

Right now, the local Awasis child and family service agency is investigating the suicide and there's speculation the boy hanged himself out of a repressed despair.

"He lived with his grandpa. His father had married (again) and his mother had passed away a few years ago. She committed suicide as well," the chief said.

So, last Thursday, it was midnight, an hour after the boy was cut down from the tree when news of the death swept the community like a wild fire. The chaperones and the students from New Credit and Shamattawa swung into action, together.

Rice said he took a group of kids home where he keeps a hand drum. They got through the night with talking and singing.

Jamieson said she did the same with four local kids and more of her students, staying in the teacherage.

They, too, talked most of the night. For both groups, the violent events helped them forge an amazing bond, like comrades who survive wartime.

"True friendship is meaningful when atrocities are confronted and shared," Rice said.

Jamieson said she and her students worked hard to cheer up their new friends by telling them how they worked hard to make a better life in New Credit.

"We have our talking circles and our kids are active in singing and dancing (culturally). We said you can change things. You can make it a better place to be. It just takes a small group," Jamieson said.

"We said if you want to do a powwow (later on) we'll help you."

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A Shamattawa snapshot

The site of a former trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company, Shamattawa First Nation was established as a permanent Cree community in 1950. It is 720 kilometres north of Winnipeg, on the north shore of God's River where it meets Echoing River, south of Hudson Bay and close to the Ontario border. It is one of Canada's most remote communities.

* 1,270 registered population; most living on reserve.

* Fly-in community; no permanent road. Winter road is 200 kilometres long.

* Sewage treatment plant supplies water.

* Nearest bank is 320 kilometres away in Thompson.

* Volunteer fire department and fire hall.

* Governed by a chief and four councillors, elected according to custom to indefinite terms.

* Total annual federal funding of $12,786,134 in 2005, the last year for which audited statements are available.

* RCMP detachment with eight full-time officers, covering shifts 24/7.

* Nursing station staffed by three nurses. Fly-in doctor available four days a week.

* Abraham Beardy Memorial School, nursery to Grade 10, 250 students

* Three Christian denominations, the Full Gospel Church, the Pentecostal Church, the Anglican Church. Plus traditional cultural beliefs.

* Most residents, including youth, are fluent in Cree and use it more than English.

* Unemployment rates soar to 98 per cent.

* Alcoholism and sniff (solvent abuse) rates are also high. Drinkers make do with their own home-brew, a cocktail described as packing a punch that will put you out, but good.

* Crime rates are rising for break-ins, acts of vandalism and various forms of violence.

* Some 200 children under age 18 are under the care of Awasis child and family services. Agency has five workers on staff in the community. Most kids in care are boarded off-reserve in foster homes scattered from Winnipeg to Thompson.

Sources: Chief Jeffrey Napoakesik, Beardy Memorial School, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telemedicine (KOTM) has developed a paper focused on and entitled Making First Nations Telemedicine Policy in Ontario. This paper was distributed at the Chiefs of Ontario meeting in Sioux Lookout this past week. We are sharing this paper in order to initiate a dialogue on how everyone can make Telemedicine available to all First Nations in Ontario.

First Nations Telemedicine services have been operating in Ontario since 2001. During that time, KO Telemedicine has worked directly with First Nations and their mandated health organizations to respond to community-based demand for access to these services. After implementing services throughout the Sioux Lookout Health Zone, in the Beausoleil First Nation on Christian Island and in the Weenusk First Nation in the western James Bay area, expansion of First Nations Telemedicine services has more or less ceased. Still, we regularly receive requests from communities to gain access to this service. The Telehealth/Telemedicine Service Model presented in this paper needs to be a supported priority in all the remote and rural NAN First Nations due to their lack of immediate medical services. This effort is a critical component of this work.

KO knows that continuing to expand services to northern and isolated communities and eventually to all Ontario First Nations will require collaboration among First Nations and their health and political organizations in addition to federal and provincial system stakeholders. Everyone needs to be discussing how we might work together to bring Telemedicine services to First Nations throughout Ontario.

The Making Telemedicine Policy for Ontario document is very timely in light of Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) interest in distributing recently announced e-health funding in this fiscal year for Telemedicine expansion that would be integrated into the provincial telehealth syste. As well, Infoway has also expressed an interest in matching these investments within provincial jurisdictions.

Click on the document to view these PDF files:

1. Title page and executive summary (8 pages)
    
2. Whole document (34 pages)

Press release ...

Spider Resources Inc. and UC Resources Limited Commence Spring Geophysical Program at McFaulds VMS Project in Northern Ontario

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(June 15, 2007) -

Spider Resources Inc. ("Spider") (TSX VENTURE:SPQ), and UC Resources Ltd. ("UC") (TSX VENTURE:UC) are pleased to announce the startup of a UTEM (deep electromagnetic) geophysical program at the McFauld's Lake volcanic-hosted massive sulphide ("VMS") project, located in northern Ontario in the James Bay Lowlands. La Montagne Geophysics Limited ("La Montagne") of Kingston, Ontario has recently been awarded the geophysical contract to complete a UTEM 3 survey over Grid "C" that covers McFauld's #3 and #1 VMS occurrences. The La Montagne geophysical crew mobilized to the project and arrived on site June 8, surveying commenced on June 9. Approximately one half of the proposed program (plus infill lines) has been completed to date, they expect to be finished this phase of the exploration program by June 20th.

Cabo Drilling (Ontario) Corp. has recently been awarded a drill contract that involves the drilling of 4000 meters of core to commence prior to end of June. Les Helicopteres Abitibi Ltee., have been contracted to support the geophysical and drill programs. Several workers are presently on site, some of whom represent the Marten Falls Reserve and Webequie First Nation engaged in the geophysical phase of the project. Other First Nation communities will be introduced to the project during the summer program in various roles. The on-site field aspects of the project are being overseen by Billiken Management Services Inc. ("Billiken") of Toronto. Dr. Howard Lahti P.Geo., an Independent Qualified Person has been mandated with overseeing the field aspects of the project by Billiken. Neil Novak P.Geo., President of Spider Resources Inc., Vice President of UC Resources Ltd., and the former President of Billiken is fulfilling the role of Qualified Person on behalf of Spider and UC. As of June 1, 2007, Mr. Novak's interest in Billiken was sold to an arms length party, and Billiken therefore ceases to be a related party.

The current program is funded entirely by UC Resources Limited ("UC"), in compliance with their funding obligation for the project. UC has an option to earn-in up to a 55% undivided interest in the McFauld's Lake project, which is currently owned, as to an undivided 50% interest, by each of Spider and KWG, as per the LOI signed in early March 2007. UC shall then become the operator of the property during the term of their option.

The McFauld's Lake VMS project was initially discovered in 2002, while Spider, KWG and De Beers Canada Exploration Inc. were exploring the project area in joint venture for kimberlites. De Beers holds a 1.5% net smelter royalty on the project, 0.5% of which can be purchased from De Beers by Spider and KWG for $1.5 million. The claims outlined for the aforementioned perimeter survey define the property that De Beers has the royalty on. To date, 10 isolated VMS occurrences have been identified and drill tested on the project, two of which (McFauld's #1 and #3) have undergone detail drilling.

Results of the recent (April 2007) gravimetric survey by Dr. Allan Spector, consultant to JVX Ltd., suggested that there are present 4 gravity anomalies, coincident with the 4 known and partially drilled sulphide occurrences (referred to as McFaulds #1, #2, #3 and #4) all within the main "C" grid. When referring to McFaulds #3 occurrence, Dr. Spector stated "M3 is an egg-shaped gravity anomaly about 0.8 mgal in amplitude, observed on 3 lines; 500E, 800E and 1100E." The anomalous zone has a strike length of about 800m. From modeling it has a thickness of about 20m and a depth extent of over 300m." Dr. Spector estimates that the M3 anomaly represents excess mass of 6 million tons. This estimate is not considered a "resource estimate" for the McFaulds #3 massive sulphide occurrence, it is merely an interpretation of mass based upon the measured varying physical properties of the rocks that contain this massive sulphide occurrence, when compared to the surrounding rocks. This information, however, gives management a better understanding of the possible scope or size potential for this partially drilled off massive sulphide occurrence, as well as the other nearby occurrences, which were covered by the recent survey.

UC plans to continue exploring this new VMS camp and will initially concentrate their efforts on the McFaulds #3 and #1 occurrences.

States Neil D. Novak, President & CEO of Spider, as well as VP Exploration for UC: "Spider and UC are quite excited to commence this late spring, early summer program on the McFaulds project. The completion of the recent gravity survey funded by Spider offered some understanding of the scope of the project. The ongoing compilation of existing geophysical data for the project, merged with this new UTEM data, will facilitate the planning of the next, more expensive, round of exploration which will include drilling the McFaulds VMS occurrences beyond what has already been drilled. Spider and UC are currently finalizing an updated NI 43-101 report that summarizes the project results to date, and will file same upon completion. In addition RPA Scott Wilson have also been retained to provide an initial review and quantification of the resource potential of the two massive sulphide zones already drilled, which will be updated as the drill program progresses over the summer."

Spider Resources Inc. is a tier 2 Canadian exploration company, quoted for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SPQ. There are 242,193,535 shares issued in Spider.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Neil Novak, President and CEO

This press release, required by applicable Canadian securities law, is not for distribution to U.S. news services or for dissemination in the United States, and does not constitute an offer of the securities described herein. These securities have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered or exempt therefrom.

This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements are "Forward-Looking Statements" that involve such various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these "Forward-Looking Statements". All dollar amounts are Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

For more information, please contact

Spider Resources Inc.
Toronto Head Office
#1000, 15 Toronto St.
Toronto Ontario, M5C 2E3 Canada
(416) 815-8666

or

Spider Resources Inc.
Jim Voisin
Communications Manager
(519) 699-5352
Website: www.spiderresources.net

From the National Post ...

First Nations important to energy future: minister
April Lindgren, CanWest News Service, June 14, 2007

TORONTO -- Aboriginal land claims in Ontario represent both a challenge and an opportunity in terms of the province's future energy security, Energy Minister Dwight Duncan said yesterday.

"First Nations are extremely important to our energy future, particularly our renewable [energy] future," Mr. Duncan told reporters after announcing a program aimed at encouraging the development of small water power projects in northern Ontario.

The minister acknowledged the slow pace of resolving land claims has caused delays in some cases.

"I wouldn't call it a threat [to the province's future energy security] but it causes too much time to go by ... We believe they [land claims] have to be resolved."

The Ontario Power Authority, for example, last year outlined a long-term power-generation-and-transmission plan that aims to ensure adequate supplies of electricity in the future. Release of the final report, however, has been delayed by several months until August in order to consult more fully with aboriginal groups.

In addition to encouraging the development of small hydro projects in the province's north, Ontario's Liberal government is negotiating a major purchase of electricity from Manitoba that would require the construction of a long-distance transmission line across large tracts of land claimed by aboriginal people.

Mr. Duncan noted aboriginal leaders have expressed an interest in becoming partners in a range of electricity-related projects and "our view is that we have to involve them intimately."

Michael Fox, a resource development adviser with the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund in northern Ontario, said yesterday aboriginal groups see the power projects as a major opportunity to generate jobs and investment.

He said there are at least two dozen hydro and wind projects in the north that First Nations groups expect to participate in either as the principal developers or through minority or majority partnerships.

An alliance of First Nations is also exploring the impact of the proposed transmission corridor from Manitoba with a view to perhaps becoming the main proponent for the project, he said.

Mr. Fox said aboriginal groups in the north are also benefiting from an Ontario government policy that says only aboriginal groups can apply to develop hydro projects on northern rivers.

"That's a quantum leap from the old Ontario Hydro days, when they would come in and cherry pick" the best projects, he said.

Mr. Duncan's comments come as Ontario First Nations chiefs prepare to vote on a proposed deal that could bring them $2.5-billion in provincial lottery and casino revenue over the next 20 years.

The agreement in principle was signed a year ago and negotiators have been working out the details since then.

It will go before Ontario chiefs for ratification on Monday.

Under a pre-existing contract that runs until 2011, First Nations in Ontario were entitled to a share of gaming revenue from a single site, Casino Rama.

That was worth about $60-million annually.

Once the existing deal expires, the new arrangement will give 133 aboriginal communities about $125-million a year from all provincial gaming operations.

From CNEWS ...

We need to listen to Native leaders
By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD -- Sun Media - June 14, 2007

PICKLE LAKE (Sun Media) -- It was the children who captured the heart of Governor General Michaelle Jean on her first visit to a remote Ontario aboriginal community.

At a small welcoming ceremony at Pickle Lake airport, it seemed as if everyone in this tiny, isolated community 2,200 km northeast of Toronto had turned out to meet her.

The Canadian Rangers, an aboriginal group attached to the military, stood stoically on the sweltering tarmac awaiting Jean's inspection.

School children waited patiently, carefully holding up a Canadian flag for the vice-regal visitor.

On cue, they burst into a heartfelt rendition of O Canada. They waved their flag and sang at the top of their lungs for her.

It touched the hearts of the visitors not just, I suspect, because adorable children doing lovely things always touch our hearts.

In this case, you also look at their young faces and wonder whether that flag and the government it represents deserve such passionate loyalty from this group of disadvantaged children.

Poverty is intense in isolated aboriginal communities. You see the ramshackle homes, the poorly-equipped schools and you come to the conclusion this is our Third World -- in the backyard of a First World country.

That's the view of Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, who was on hand in neighbouring Mishkeegogaman First Nation, where 134 chiefs from around the province welcomed Jean to their annual three-day conference. He noted that the 100th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 9, which established his nation, happened two years ago -- so a visit from a government official is overdue to celebrate the centenary.

That said, he's glad Jean battled the blackflies to meet with them.

The Grand Chief added that treaties have worked well for the rest of us in the province -- but not for aboriginals: "Canada and Ontario have benefitted greatly from the agreement we made 100 years ago, but from our side, we haven't benefitted at all."

Beardy isn't a hothead. We should take heed when he says he'd like to see First Nations people share in the rich resource revenues. They need a cut of the economic pie.

Aboriginal young people want training in mining, forestry and the pulp and paper business but Beardy points to the De Beers diamond mine near the James Bay aboriginal community of Attawapiskat as an example of goverment meddling.

First Nations leaders negotiated a revenue-sharing deal directly with the multinational diamond company. But those revenues have now been sharply reduced by a massive hike in mining royalties announced in Finance Minister Greg Sorbara's spring budget.

Beardy represents 50 communities over a 5-million hectare area. Two-thirds of the population is under 29 and unemployment in that age group is 85%.

In Ottawa, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announced a new process to speed up land claims this week.

At least it's a start.

Beardy says the native Day of Action June 29 isn't about blockades and disruption. He hopes it will be an opportunity to peacefully educate the rest of the country about the disgraceful conditions on remote reserves.

"I hope we can create awareness for the general public that yes, there are treaties that are legally binding," Beardy said.

We should listen to him. Then when aboriginal children like those at Pickle Lake proudly wave their red maple leaf, we can look them in the eye and tell them we will not fail them.

From CNEWS ....

Natives benefit in casino deal
By CHINTA PUXLEY - June 14, 2007

TORONTO (CP) - Ontario's aboriginal communities could get $2.5 billion over the next 20 years for community health care, education and infrastructure under a new proposed deal to share revenue from provincial lotteries and casinos.

Provincial negotiators say the deal, if ratified by Ontario chiefs when they put it to a vote June 18, would be the first agreement of its kind in Canada since it gives 133 aboriginal communities a cut of the province's gaming revenue.

The deal would also give First Nations representation on the board of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., giving them a say in how the organization is run. Ontario chiefs would in turn agree to drop an ongoing lawsuit against the province regarding casino revenues.

"This is a huge deal," said former Ontario Liberal premier David Peterson, the province's chief negotiator.

"It's a big, big, big pile of money. It's a flow of money into these communities the likes of which they haven't had. It's stable. They can count on it for education, for water, for all the things that are so important in the communities."

Under the current deal, which expires in 2011, some aboriginal communities get a cut of the revenue generated by Casino Rama near Orillia, Ont., which works out to an average of $60 million a year.

Under the proposed agreement, the 133 aboriginal communities would get a cut of all the provincial cash that comes from gaming, essentially doubling their annual revenue share to about $125 million.

Communities would get $112 million immediately upon signing the deal.

"This is groundbreaking," said Peterson, who has been negotiating the deal since February 2005. "It is a brand new partnership with the aboriginal communities. . . . I think the rest of the country can look at this and say this is something we can be very proud of."

Sharing gaming revenue has been a thorny issue for governments of all stripes in Ontario. Casino Rama was originally set up as a First Nations Casino with revenue going to communities within the Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership.

A 20 per cent "win tax" - imposed on Casino Rama by the former Conservative government in 1996 - prompted several lawsuits from aboriginal communities and Ontario chiefs, claiming the government was not entitled to a cut of the casino profits.

Harvey Yesno, chair of the First Nations partnership, said chiefs are split on whether they want to continue with the lawsuit or settle for a stable source of revenue.

"This deal is not a slam dunk by any stretch," said Yesno, adding it has to be approved by a two-thirds majority. "There are some serious concerns. There is going to be a debate."

Some chiefs feel the $2.5 billion isn't that much when they look at how much the province rakes in from its lotteries and casinos, he said.

The cash communities have received from the current agreement has been put to good use and has been used to leverage even more money for community centres and health promotion, Yesno said.

Other chiefs, however, are looking for more than just money, he added.

"This is just one more source of revenue," Yesno said. "It's also about the relationship between the province and the First Nations. That's part and parcel of the whole arrangement."

David Ramsay, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said he knows chiefs have mixed feelings about the proposed deal because some would like aboriginals to have complete jurisdiction over gaming in Ontario.

But Ramsay said he's still hopeful the deal will be ratified since the money would make a huge difference to the province's aboriginal communities.

"It's really badly needed money and I hope there is a positive outcome," he said.

New Democrat Gilles Bisson said $2.5 billion is little more than an easy way for the province to avoid costly lawsuits.

It may sound like a lot of money, but Bisson said it doesn't make up for the cash taken over the last decade by the province through the win tax, nor does it address the desperate need of many aboriginal communities.

Over 60 northern aboriginal communities don't have potable water and most don't have adequate sewer systems or proper housing, he said.

"People need to understand that $2.5 billion over 20 years is a drop in the bucket towards the needs of those communities," he said. "This is obviously needed money but it doesn't undo the damage that's been done up until now."

AFN Media Advisory ...

Conference on the Canadian Truth Commission on Indian Residential Schools
 
OTTAWA, June 14 - Beginning tomorrow, Friday, to Monday, June 17, the University of Calgary and the Assembly of First Nations will co-host a unique and very important conference to address the historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission which begins its work this fall.

The Truth Commission is one part of the comprehensive settlement reached between the AFN, the residential school survivors, the churches and the government of Canada to settle thousands of claims brought in the courts for sexual and physical abuse as well as for loss of language and culture which occurred over several generations of students.

News conference to be held at 10: 45 a.m. (Mountain Time) tomorrow, Fri., Jun.15/07

MacEwan Hall Ballroom (2nd floor MacEwan Hall), University of Calgary

Present will be Conference Co-chairs:
National Chief Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations
Kathleen Mahoney, Professor, Faculty of Law
Bob Watts, Interim Executive Director, Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Available for comment/interviews:
Lisa Magarrell, International Centre for Transitional Justice
Rev. Bongani Finca, formerly of South African Truth Commission

Other Key Note speakers include: Minister Jim Prentice, Piers Pigou (South Africa), Dr. Sophia Macher (Peru), Mary Raftery (Ireland), Michael Enright (CBC), and others.

For further information: Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor - Office of the National Chief, (613) 241-6789 ext 243, (613) 298-6382, npine@afn.ca;. Kim Reinhart, University of Calgary, Bus: (403) 239-8982, Cell: (403) 861-2065, cantus@shaw.ca;. Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789 ext. 229, cell (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca.

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From the conference web site at http://www.truthcommissionconference.org

On June 14 - 17, 2007, the U of C Faculty of Law and the AFN will host a national, interdisciplinary conference on this historic Truth Commission which begins its work later this year.  The conference is designed to engage and inform survivors, and the general non-Aboriginal public about the Commission’s mandate, and how they can participate. Conference delegates will discuss such topics as:

• The nature, challenges and opportunities of a truth commission;
• Lessons learned from truth commissions in other countries;
• Intergenerational and gender issues;
• The impact of media on the process;
• Involvement of Elders and Youth
• Research requirements and involvement of experts;
• Commemoration ideas and projects;
• National and community events;
• Preserving the historical record

The conference will simultaneously seek extensive input and recommendations on the various elements of the Commission and its future work, including strategies that will ensure maximum participation in the Truth Commission.

Additional links to Residential School information:

1. The Assembly of First Nations Residential Schools Unit - www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.html
2. Indian Residential Schools Class Action Settlement – Official Court Website – www.residentialschoolssettlement.com
3. National Residential School Survivors’ Society – www.nrsss.ca
4. The Native Center at the University of Calgary - www.ucalgary.ca/nativecr
5. Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada - www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca
6. Federal Representative – Indian Residential Schools – www.iacobucci.gc.ca/english/index.html
7. Bibliography of Residential Schools Court Cases – www.usask.ca/nativelaw/rsbib.html
8. Xwi7xwa Library – First Nations Residential Schools comprehensive internet links listing – www.library.ubc.ca/xwi7xwa/res.htm

Press Release ...

Superior Initiates Diamond Drill Program, Canopener Gold Joint Venture, Lansdowne House Area, Northwestern Ontario

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(June 14, 2007) - Superior Diamonds Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SUP) ("Superior" or the "Company") is pleased to announce commencement of a first phase diamond drill program on its 50%-owned Canopener Property, located near Lansdowne House, Northwestern Ontario. Superior's joint venture partner is Lake Shore Gold Corp.(1). This program was initiated once an agreement was reached with the Neskantaga First Nation, upon whose traditional territory the Canopener property occurs.

As previously reported, the interest in this area for gold was sparked by the recovery of anomalous numbers of total gold grains from overburden samples, including anomalous values of pristine gold grains. (Gold, being relatively soft, remains as pristine grains for only a short distance from its source.) These samples, part of a regional sampling program, were originally collected to evaluate the area for its diamond potential. When Superior analysed the results of the overburden sampling program, it identified two significant and well defined gold grain dispersal trains. In addition, there were several single samples with anomalous gold grain values that did not appear to be associated with dispersal trains.

These anomalous gold grain values are associated with shear structures that occur within the Peeagwon metavolcanic assemblage of the Wunnummin Greenstone Belt. This belt is considered under-explored for gold. The Canopener property strategically covers a significant area of these shear structures from which the individual anomalous gold grain values and gold grain dispersal trains are thought to have been derived and within which several gold showings have been previously identified.

This purpose of this first phase of diamond drilling is to gain a better understanding of the local geology and to test some of the gold showings. Nine to twelve holes are planned and drilling should be completed by mid- to late July. A program to collect 200 to 250 overburden samples is planned to follow, for completion by mid-August. The purpose of this program is to: a) determine if there are other gold grain dispersal trains on the Canopener property, and b) determine if the single samples with anomalous gold grain values are part of other gold grain dispersal trains. Once the data from the first phase of diamond drilling and overburden sampling has been compiled and interpreted, Superior is anticipating a more extensive diamond drill program in early 2008.

About Superior Diamonds

Superior Diamonds is a junior Canadian exploration company, primarily searching for diamonds in the under-explored and highly prospective regions of the Canadian Shield within the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Over a period of just three years, Superior's highly skilled team has defined four promising target areas through grass roots exploration, and is now focused on prioritizing these targets for drilling. To diversify risk and balance its portfolio, the Company has adopted a strategy to explore for other commodities where it has a proven track record of expertise, including uranium. The Company is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP.

Superior Diamonds is owned 13.0% by Southwestern Resources Corp. and 10.8% by FNX Mining Company Inc.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

(1) For details, see Superior's news release dated January 15, 2007, available at www.superiordiamonds.ca.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact

Superior Diamonds Inc.
John G. Paterson
President
(604) 806-0667
(604) 688-5175 (FAX)

or

Superior Diamonds Inc.
Thomas F. Morris
VP Exploration
(705) 525-0992
(705) 525-7701 (FAX)
Email: info@superiordiamonds.ca.
Website: www.superiordiamonds.ca

Honouring the mothers and their new babies was the theme for the Wednesday evening gathering at the Kejick Bay Health Centre in Lac Seul First Nation. Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telemedicine in partnership with the Lac Seul First Nation leadership and community members hosted this special event for the Chiefs of Ontario.

Delegates attending the Chiefs of Ontario assembly in Pelican Falls First Nations High School in Sioux Lookout travelled out to Kejick Bay after their long day of meetings. They loaded onto boats for a short boat ride over to Makwa Lodge. A feast of walleye, prepared by Lac Seul band members and Makwa Lodge staff, was shared with all the guests. From there, the guests travelled by boat over to the Kejick Bay Health Centre where they were given a tour of the new Health Centre.

Then the main event of the evening took place with the guests connecting via video conference with the parents and their new baby boy (Lenny) who were in the Mishkeegogamg Health Centre. The entire session was webcast and archived so everyone can watch it at http://streaming.knet.ca/Lac_Seul_Demo.wmv.

Stories are told across the north about the changes that took place in the northern communities when mothers began to leave their homes to deliver their babies in far away communities. There are still times when mothers and their families do stay in their community to deliver their babies. With the use of telemedicine, these two new babies, their families and their communities were able to celebrate these new lives and new beginnings at home.

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From WawatayNews.ca ...

Weather forces videoconference births - The miracle of birth occurs no matter what.
June 14, 2007: Volume 34 #12

On May 19, in two separate communities, two mothers-to-be found this out first hand.

In Kejick Bay on Lac Seul First Nation, rough weather prevented Kennifer Bottle from getting to Meno Ya Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout as she went into labour just before 2 a.m.

Later that morning, around 9 a.m, a mother in Mishkeegogamang went into premature labour. There was no time to get her to the nearest hospital in Sioux Lookout.
The baby had to be delivered there and then.

With no other option, the delivery of the babies would have to happen in the respective communities. With the aid of modern technology and a little human ingenuity, it was all made possible.

Back in Kejick Bay, Bottle was unable to be airlifted out of the community and it would be next to impossible to have her transferred by boat because of rough waters caused by inclement weather.

With no resident nurse in the community, family friend and former community health representative, Bertha Bottle, was called in to help with the situation. Rita Brisket, a prenatal educator, was also informed and she alerted two visiting Northern Ontario School of Medicine students and Const. Phillipe LaPorte of the Lac Seul Police Service.

The crew, along with parents, Bottle and Lewis Wesley, made their way to Obishikokaang Community Health Station where they contacted physicians at the emergency department of Meno Ya Win Health Centre.

After much difficulty explaining the situation to doctors over the telephone, it was decided it would be best to use the videoconferencing system through Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) Telemedicine Network.

Stephanie Kejick, community telemedicine co-ordinator, was called in at 2:00 a.m. to set up of the system.

“After realizing the reality of the situation, I became a bit nervous,” Kejick explained of arriving at the scene to assist with the videoconferencing hook up.

The nervousness didn’t go away as Kejick had difficulties hooking up the system. As a result, everyone had to move to another room where the system was working properly.

Once connected, the doctors in Sioux Lookout provided directions to the crew in preparing the room for delivery.

The room they were now in was too small so furniture had to be removed so there was room to operate.

“Half the team moved the furniture into the hall as the other half prepped the equipment and mother for the move,” Kejick said.

In Mishkeegogamang, Darlene Panacheese had just driven through bad weather and arrived home at 3 a.m. from Dryden, Ont. At 9 a.m., she got the call about the mother in labour.

Still half asleep and in her pajamas, Panacheese went to work setting up the telemedicine videoconferencing station.

As in Lac Seul, the nurses in Mishkeegogamang had trouble getting directions from the doctors on call in Sioux Lookout.

Again, it was decided to use the telemedicine system.

Afraid the workstation would fail her Panacheese went to work. Once set up, the doctor was able to assess the situation and provide direction to the two nurses.

At 11:18 a.m., Lenny Wassakeesic was born.

“It was amazing to see the doctor and nurses working together in delivering the baby,” Panacheese said of how the team communicated using videoconferencing.

However, earlier that morning, another baby boy took the honour being the first baby to be delivered using Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s Telemedicine Network.

At 3:48 a.m., Kraven Armadeus J. Wesley was born, weighing 5 pounds 1 ounce.

“After mother gave birth, I was so happy that baby and mother were fine and thankful there were no complications,” Kejick said.

In Mishkeegogamang, the reaction from the nurses was the same as the delivery of the baby went smooth.

“It was a very positive uplifting experience,” nurse Lorena Clace said afterwards.

Brent Wesley — brentw@wawatay.on.ca