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Manitoba Pipestone - Aboriginal News Briefs

Author

Compiled by Shari Narine

Volume

30

Issue

12

Year

2013

Métis Learning Day celebrated at U of M
On Feb. 12 the University of Manitoba hosted its second annual Métis Learning Day. Christi Belcourt, the Métis artist whose work was chosen for the stained glass window in the House of Commons to commemorate Indian residential school survivors, delivered a lecture titled, Contemporary Métis Art as a Healing Practice. U of M Associate Professor Sherry Farrell Racette presented two lectures: The Flower Beadwork People: Métis Art and Clothing; and Métis History for Dummies: the Crash Course. This Métis Learning Day is part of a larger series that began last year. The University of Manitoba hosts it and a First Nation, and Inuit Learning Day as part of its Pathways to Indigenous Achievement framework.  The Learning Day series also supports the University of Manitoba’s commitment to acknowledge and affirm Aboriginal voices within the fabric of the university.


TRC holds hearing in Garden Hill
Commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held hearings at Garden Hill First Nation High School.  Commissioner Chief Wilton Littlechild conducted a two-day hearing at Garden Hill Feb. 19 and Feb. 20. The hearing provided an opportunity for those affected by the Indian residential school system and its legacy to share their experiences with Littlechild, community members and anyone else who would like to learn about and bear witness to the schools’ legacy.


Grade 3 students achieve nation-wide success in Math
Grade 3 students at Otetiskiwin Kiskinwamahtowekamik School, in Nelson House placed second in Canada for Mathletics, an internet-based program that allows students to compete in mathematical challenges. After points were awarded for participation, with additional points for each question answered correctly, teacher Nathan Lang’s students were second in Canada and 49th in the world. Last year the students received personal laptops through the OLPC Canada program. “The students are loving it. They are running around the classroom to look at each other’s monitors. They shout out to see how many points other students have. These laptops have the students loving Math. It follows the curriculum, and every spare chance they want to borrow a laptop so they can do MATH,” said Lang. OLPC Canada is a core program of The Belinda Stronach Foundation.


Thunder inducted into Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame
John Thunder of Buffalo Point First Nation was one of two 2013 inductees into the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame. Thunder was chosen along with Manny Jules of Tk’eml˙ps Indian Band by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and ESS Support Services Worldwide. Thunder held the role of hereditary chief of Buffalo Point First Nation from 1967 to 1997. Under his leadership, Thunder drove the implementation of a long-term economic development plan for his community. CCAB is committed to the full participation of Aboriginal people in Canada’s economy.


Brokenhead Ojibway signs FNLM
The Brokenhead Ojibway Nation is one of eight First Nations to sign onto the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, which will allow it to begin a process to opt out of 34 land-related sections of the Indian Act and assume greater control over their reserve land and resources. The addition of these eight First Nations to the Framework Agreement means that 69 First Nations will soon be operating or developing land codes under the FNLM regime.


Team Manitoba Manager for NAIG named
Jacinta Bear was recently hired as the new Team Manitoba manager for the 2014 North American Indigenous Games.  Bear, who lives in Winnipeg with husband Dale and their two sons, is from Fisher River Cree Nation. “I want to help make Manitoba’s team at the Games and the Games themselves one of the greatest in history,” she told Grassroots News. “I want to make sure our kids have the best time and that they also learn something about their teammates and their sports.” The 2014 NAIG will be held in Regina from July 20 to July 27.