"Many Things Have Happened Since Last Summer's Armed Standoff"

Today, more native grievances are being tackled than at virtually any other time in Canadian history.

Ottawa is promising to settle land claims by the year 2000, give natives a key role in constitutional reform and organize a royal commission into aboriginal issues.

Provinces are increasingly recognizing native rights.

British Columbia is discussing land claims after a century of denying that natives had any legitimate claim to territory in the province.

Ontario has recognized natives' inherent right to self-government.

And polls show most Canadians want native grievances addressed quickly to correct past injustices that they consider a national disgrace.

A year ago such progress seemed unlikely.