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Community focused with a grassroots appeal. Established in 1993 to serve the needs of the Indigenous people of Alberta.
When Coun. Brian Pincott stood up to bear witness at Words & Actions: A Roundtable Discussion of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Indigenous Women’s Rights at Mount Royal University earlier this year, he spoke powerfully.
“We will carry your pain, share your pain, take some of your pain away and move forward. We have to. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “By not…
The Shaw Conference Centre has created a place on its property intended for people to meet, share, and connect. The Community Medicine Wheel Garden was officially unveiled on June 18.
Located on the rooftop of the Riverview Room, the garden overlooks Edmonton’s river valley. It was created with the guidance of local Cree Elder Francis Whiskeyjack, and features four sections…
MNA, Fort Edmonton Park sign agreement
Métis Nation of Alberta president Audrey Poitras and Fort Edmonton Management Company board chair Doug Goss signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation on Aug. 7 that represents a significant step forward between the MNA and the park. The MOU commits the two organizations to working together in the spirit of reconciliation…
Two young Lethbridge women are helping strengthen the Aboriginal voice through voting.
Mairin Gettman and Kristin Krein—both students at the University of Lethbridge—have been coordinating special events to share knowledge about politics in Canada with Indigenous people who might otherwise be lacking in it.
“We’re not doing it so people vote, I really don’t care if you vote. But…
The Mikisew Cree First Nation is asking the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to classify Wood Buffalo National Park as a World Heritage Site “in danger.”
“We felt we’d exhausted all the ways to voice our concerns (provincially and federally) and then we found out about the UNESCO process and felt it was an important enough issue to pursue,” said Melody…
Buffy Sainte-Marie was named an honourary witness by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which wrapped up in early June in Ottawa. However, speaking truths about social issues that are ignored or covered up is nothing new to the legendary singer/songwriter.
“It’s really a two-way thing,” she said of being named an honourary witness. “One, I am very much honoured to have my…
In a move that has been applauded by First Nations leaders, NDP Premier Rachel Notley has directed her Cabinet ministers to “conduct a review …of your ministry’s policies, programs and legislation that may require changes based on the principles of the (United Nations) Declaration (on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
“It’s good that they’re doing that,” said Craig Mackinaw, new…
The Fort McMurray First Nation is requesting the raw data collected from one of Alberta’s largest oil spills in its traditional territory.
“There’s concern about the environmental impact. (Nexen Energy) has given us access to the site, we’ve been looking at it, but lately, we’ve requested the raw testing data so we can look over it ourselves,” said Councillor Byron Bates. That data has…
The University of Saskatchewan’s Colleges of Education and Nursing have signed a memorandum of understanding with Onion Lake Cree Nation to create additional opportunities for potential post-secondary students to learn where they live. The agreement gives Onion Lake students the option of entering into either education or nursing, or completing prerequisites for other health sciences in Onion…
Following the auditor general’s report, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman has appointed MLAs David Swann and Danielle Larivee to undertake a full-scale review of Alberta’s addiction and mental health system. Auditor General Merwan Saher said that the department had failed to properly execute its 2011 addiction and mental health strategy. He said the strategy did not have to be redesigned, but…
A partnership between Siksika First Nation, the province, and the Indian Business Corporation, will see the distribution of $2.7 million in loans to create and develop business opportunities for members on and off the reserve. The First Nation will contribute $2 million and the province $700,000 while IBC will oversee the distribution of the funds. “We have the willingness, the capacity and…
Northland School Division is reporting results three years into its division-wide literacy initiative. Gail Sajo, literacy supervisor, told the board at the end of June that both long-term and short-term student growth has occurred. Since October 2013, the number of students reading at grade level in Grades 1-8 has increased by 19 per cent. Sajo said, “We are pleased to see a large majority of…
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation dropped their legal challenge on July 16 against the Site C dam after receiving a commitment from BC Hydro to monitor the dam’s downstream impacts. The case was to begin in federal court July 20. The two First Nations had filed suit against BC Hydro and the federal government over approval of the $8.8-billion dam on the Peace…
Sawridge First Nation and Onion Lake Cree Nation have requested that court proceedings initiated by the federal government be delayed. Their arguments will be heard in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Aug. 19 and 20. In a notice of application to federal court, the government said that eight First Nations failed or refused to comply with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which…
Cold Lake First Nation and the city of Cold Lake aided evacuees, who were forced from their northern Saskatchewan homes due to wildfires in early July. More than 1,000 evacuees from La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band were bussed to Cold Lake, where they were housed in the local recreation facility and provided for by Red Cross. Cold Lake First Nation community members brought…