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Alberta Sweetgrass

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Community focused with a grassroots appeal. Established in 1993 to serve the needs of the Indigenous people of Alberta.

  • April 20, 2010
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

People warn Bernadette Iahtail that revisiting the "60's Scoop" welfare system will result in her "just opening a can of worms."

But the president and co-founder of The Creating Hope for the Future society knows healing is needed as a result of the damaging 1960's and '70's government practice of breaking up families to place children in often non-native foster homes.

The feisty…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Terry Lusty, Sweetgrass Writer, Tallcree First Nation, Ab.

Media flocked to North Tallcree First Nation, 45 km south of Fort Vermilion, after loose dogs killed a five-year-old boy Nov. 16.

Immediately after the incident, the band office temporarily closed to allow community members the chance to grieve and ward off further inquiries.

Sweetgrass Newspaper offers condolences to Ruby Ribbonleg and her family for the loss of her son, Lance.…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Terry Lusty, Sweetgrass Writer, Tallcree First Nation, Ab.

Media flocked to North Tallcree First Nation, 45 km south of Fort Vermilion, after loose dogs killed a five-year-old boy Nov. 16.

Immediately after the incident, the band office temporarily closed to allow community members the chance to grieve and ward off further inquiries.

Sweetgrass Newspaper offers condolences to Ruby Ribbonleg and her family for the loss of her son, Lance.…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Alberta Sweetgrass Staff

In an article entitled "Making moccasins for the many an act of love" Alberta Sweetgrass reported that the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) publishes a newsletter called Metis Matters. It does not. In fact, the MNA publishes a magazine called Otipemisiwak. We apologize for any confusion.

  • April 20, 2010
  • Sharon Small, Sweetgrass Writer, Calgary

It will be known as the party to beat all parties in 2007, if the organizers get their way. Hundreds of staff, volunteers and participants of the Rediscovery program will gather to celebrate 30 years of hard work and contribution to Indigenous education.

The Rediscovery International Foundation was established in the Queen Charlotte Islands in 1978. Today, 40 Rediscovery programs…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Alberta Sweetgrass Staff

The Alberta government has released a framework designed to make post-secondary education more affordable for students, but the Alberta College and Technical Institute Student Executive Council (ACTISEC) said the18-month review of post-secondary education is mediocre effort that lacks detail. They say, however, it is a step in the right direction.

A key component of the framework, said…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Donna McCorrister-Beyer, Sweetgrass Writer, Calgary

The youth-focused organization, Child and Youth Friendly Calgary, hosted its annual Youth for the Future Gathering on Oct. 24 to 26, an anti-racism event for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth.

More than 80 young people, teachers and volunteers from Kainai, Morley, Tsuu T'ina, Siksika and various schools in Calgary came together for three days at Camp Horizon in Bragg Creek. Sandra…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Alberta's own Daniel McKennitt and Alexander Angnaluak, along with 10 other Aboriginal youth from across Canada, were presented with a National Aboriginal Role Model Award from Gov-Gen Michaelle Jean during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Oct. 16 in Ottawa.

Each year the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) recognizes the accomplishments of 12 Aboriginal young people, ages 13 to…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Stephanie Douglas, Sweetgrass Writer, Sunchild

In September 2005, the suicide of an 11-year-old girl galvanized the communities of Clearwater County to come together to find a way to change the lives of people feeling alone and hopeless. The girl was the ninth person in the area to take her own life in the space of six months.

During 2005, besides the nine completed suicides, there were 58 attempted suicides, the oldest being 87 and…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Sam Laskaris, Sweetgrass Writer, Duncan, B.C.

The federal government is doing its share to ensure the 2008 North American Indigenous Games are a success.

Canada's Minister for Sport Michael Chong announced on Nov. 3 the government is pledging $3.5 million to the event.

This support represents slightly more than one-third of the anticipated $10 million that will be required to run the games that will be held in British…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Alberta Sweetgrass Staff

Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), says he is shocked at the news of cuts by the federal Conservative government to Aboriginal language preservation funding.

On Nov. 2, Bev Oda, the minister of Heritage and Status of Women, provided a written response to a question about language funding by Member of Parliament Charlie Angus. Oda stated that monies set…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Usually when my editor knocks on my door, she's there to assign stories, not to send me on a casting call for a movie, but that's exactly what she did on one recent Friday afternoon. I read the newspaper clipping that requested slim Aboriginals with long hair go to the Wingate Inn in Edmonton and apply to work as extras for the movie production of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

The…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Laura Stevens, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton

Usually when my editor knocks on my door, she's there to assign stories, not to send me on a casting call for a movie, but that's exactly what she did on one recent Friday afternoon. I read the newspaper clipping that requested slim Aboriginals with long hair go to the Wingate Inn in Edmonton and apply to work as extras for the movie production of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

The…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Alberta Sweetgrass Staff

The Art Gallery of Alberta will present the work of Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc., Canada's first Inuit independent film company. ISUMA: to have an idea will run from Dec. 9 to Feb. 19, 2007.
Isuma was founded in 1990 by Zacharias Kunuk, Pauloosie Qulitalk, Norman Cohn and the late Paul Apak Angilirqu. The production company became internationally known through their breakout film…

  • April 20, 2010
  • Alberta Sweetgrass Staff

Will they or won't they? That is the question being asked by treaty First Nations people about the requirement that passports be necessary for people crossing from Canada into the United States.

So far officials don't seem to know if First Nations people will need passports, reports the Canadian Press, or if treaty cards will be sufficient identification when crossing the border, as is…