The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Saskatoon - Police in Saskatchewan need to beef up their screening and training programs to help wipe out racism in the force, according to a commission that studied relations between aboriginal people and the justice system. "The commission has concluded that racism in police services does exist and is a major contributor to the environment of mistrust and misunderstanding that exists in Saskatchewan," according to the commission's final report. Among its 122 recommendations, the commission calls for improved training programs for officers who exhibit racist attitudes and a more aggressive strategy to recruit First Nations and Mtis officers. Lillooet, B.C. - Crews in British Columbia are battling to keep a forest fire from getting any closer to homes near Lillooet, 300 kilometres north of Vancouver. The blaze had crept about 200 metres from seven homes, whose residents have been put on evacuation alert. Last summer, fires destroyed more than 300 homes in the southern interior. More than 2,600 square kilometres were scorched. Westlock, Alta. - An aboriginal candidate running for the Liberals in northern Alberta has been the target of vandalism, with dozens of his campaign signs stolen or defaced. Liberal candidate Joe Dion, a former First Nations chief, is running against Conservative Dave Chatters in the riding of Westlock-St. Paul.
