Welcome to AMMSA.COM, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.
Launched in 2002. A publication specifically designed to serve the Indigenous people of Ontario.
Page 3
Faron Johns has a tough time explaining his success.
The 49-year-old is the lead singer and songwriter for the Pappy Johns Band, which stole the spotlight by winning four trophies at the fourth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held on Nov. 28 at Toronto's SkyDome.
Johns was selected as the best male artist at the awards. The Pappy Johns Band also received…
Page 3
OTTAWA-At the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic's first award dinner, Elder William Commanda accepted the Aboriginal Justice Award from Ontario's Lt.-Gov. James K. Bartleman on Nov. 14.
This year's gala was called, in English, Honouring the Work Towards Aboriginal Justice.
Commanda is the 89-year-old Algonquin Elder from Kitigan Zibi, Que. who has…
Page 3
Dear Editor:
For someone who was not aware of the existence of Birchbark newspaper, I certainly was not prepared for its introduction! And what a pleasant one at that, to find myself on the front page of your wonderful newspaper. [November issue]
I read with interest all the articles, and found them most informative, and the paper itself, extremely professional and…
Page 3
CORNWALL ISLAND-The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), formed in 1995 to promote more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Aboriginal peoples, awaits nominees for its two awards: one for an Aboriginal athlete and one for an Aboriginal coach.
The ASC is a collective of Aboriginal sport bodies from across the country and that now bills itself as "…
Page 2
One might wonder how a shy girl from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (Saskatchewan) won the 2002 Lincoln M. Alexander Award. This award recognizes youths who demonstrate leadership in promoting racial harmony and eliminating discrimination in their schools or community.
Tamara McDonald, now a confident 18-year-old living in Thunder Bay, won the community part of this award.…
Page 11
From Oct. 17 to 19, the Diabetes Wampum Belt was biked and walked into Walpole Island to bring diabetes awareness to the community.
It was the latest of a series of treks that brought the respected symbol into First Nations across Ontario.
The Diabetes Wampum Belt has made the trip from its home in Kahnawake to Akwasasne, Tyendinaga, Alderville, Hiawatha, Curve…
Page 9
People are tired of being hounded about eating well, according to Ellyn Satter, a Wisconsin dietition. In a recent address to First Nations health professionals, the respected authority on healthy eating outlined a more relaxed and common-sense approach to nutrition.
Satter, author of Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family, led a workshop at M'Chigeeng on Manitoulin Island…
Page 8
Trent University has received $854,000 from the federal government to assist in building the First Peoples House of Learning. The money will be used to construct and equip a performing arts space in a new college that will house the Native Studies department. Peter Adams, MP for Peterborough, made the announcement on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, on…
Page 7
Suzanne Rochon Burnett wore the Metis sash and held the eagle feather in her right hand while she spoke at Brock University's fall convocation. It was also the occasion of receiving her own honorary doctor of letters degree.
The St. Catharines university chose the occasion to recognize Rochon Burnett for her support for Aboriginal art and her contribution to Canadian…
Page 6
Aboriginal culture took centre stage in Toronto over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Wataybugaw: An Aboriginal Thanksgiving was a two-day outdoor festival featuring drummers, powwow dancers, musicians, Aboriginal foods, cooking demonstrations, and a marketplace. It was a family-friendly celebration that included make-and-take crafts and storytelling sessions for children.
…Page 5
Now there are two Native players on one of Canada's most talked about junior hockey franchises.
Nathan O'Nabigon is a third-year left winger with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) franchise. The club's roster also includes rookie defenceman Ian Maracle.
They both play for the Mississauga-based IceDogs team.
The IceDogs finished at the bottom of the standings in…
Page 5
The first Native Women's Broomball Classic 2002 was held at the Fort William First Nation Arena in Thunder Bay, Oct. 11 to 14.
The Waswanipi Northern Stars took an early lead and beat the Moose Factory Islanders 3 - 0 to take the A-side championship. The Northern Stars, the sole Quebec team, showed the Ontario teams the strongest competition they had ever encountered.…
Page 4
Ontario artists dominated the spotlight at an awards ceremony that wrapped up imagineNATIVE, a First Nations media arts festival in Toronto.
The festival, which ran Oct. 24 to 27, featured about 65 pieces of film, video, television, radio or multimedia work.
Six awards were handed out at the closing night reception, and Ontario artists won three of them.
…
Page 3
A needs assessment program focusing on community safety will be conducted in the Sudbury area over the next year. The Aboriginal Community/ Police Advisory Committee of Sudbury has received federal funds to launch a crime prevention program.
Nancy Cada, a member of the Sheshegwaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island, will co-ordinate the Aboriginal Community Needs…
Page 3
Megan Ritchie of Peterborough, a great-granddaughter of Allan Ritchie, the first Aboriginal telegraph operator for Canadian Pacific Railway, has been interested in technology all her life. The 21-year-old, who avidly pursues her interests in computer science and geography, is getting a boost to her education thanks to some financial support from Xerox Canada's Aboriginal…