You could try to install the openfwwf package. It may work but I wonder if it
will. If it does, great!
If it does not, the reason is that it requires proprietary software in order
to function. (That also explains why it works with other distros, as you say,
because they commonly include such proprietary junk.)
A solution is to replace it: Either with another internal card or with one of
those little USB WiFi nubs. They're about the size of a thumbnail.
http://www.fsf.org/ryf has details on the USB WiFi nubs.
