Alberta Sweetgrass

A tip received by the Blood Tribe Police Services on April 20 led to the disturbing finding of two hollow point .40 calibre bullets on the floor of a van.  The ammunition is criminally prohibited and is only to be possessed by law enforcement personnel. Police are concerned that this type of ammunition has been found. Two passengers in the van were taken into custody on outstanding warrants…

An email obtained by the Haisla Nation, an access to information request filed almost four years ago, shows that Environment Canada had concerns with the Government of Canada’s proposed consultation approach for the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project. Some of the concerns outlined in the email, dated Sept. 1, 2009, included: First Nations not involved in the design of the consultation; “limited…

Cold Lake First Nation’s Elder Nancy Scannie addressed a crowd from the steps of the Alberta Legislature on April 12, saying, “Our water is so important. Without our water we are nothing… nothing would be alive… let’s all help one anoth  er right across this country….” Scannie, also a member of the Keepers of the Water, rallied the group that all the Harper government cared about was money.…

The work of a Métis artist will grace the new Mill Wood Seniors and Multicultural Centre set to open in June. Destiny Swiderski’s creation “Milled Woods” was chosen from 32 responses to a national public art competition. The piece is made of off-cuts of two-by-four spruce that have been cut, sanded, and stained to reproduce an optical illusion of the Mill Creek Ravine.

“Public art can…

Get ready for hip hop downtown

 The Edmonton Arts Council’s weekly CypherWild started up again at the end of April. Every Thursday evening the free, all-ages community gathering brings hip hop culture to Sir Winston Churchill Square through live DJs, mixes, open invitation breakdancing  and street art. The event is hosted by DJ Creeasian, aka Matthew…

Commitment and family, say two of this year’s 15 Esquao Awards recipients, are important values that young women, who want to make a difference in their communities, need to grasp.

For young women, who are hoping to make their mark in the world, commitment is the most important factor for success, says Louise Omeasoo.

“Show up when you’re expected to show up, no matter what it…

As Alberta Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations Cameron Alexis waited to give support to his family, who are searching for his first cousin Misty Potts, he received news that the skeletal remains found April 19 near Rollyview, AB, had been identified. They belonged to Delores Brower.

“It’s sad to hear… that a historical Aboriginal woman has been found,” said Cameron, who…

Misty Potts Sanderson has an impressive pedigree. Her first cousin is Cameron Alexis, Alberta Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. Her distant cousin is Treaty 8 Grand Chief and Mikisew Cree Nation Chief Steve Courtoreille. She is the highest educated in her community of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation with a master degree in environmental studies from the University of Manitoba. She…

Alberta Crown will be appealing the not guilty verdict rendered in
the case of Cindy Gladue, an Indigenous woman, mother, and sex-trade
worker whose body was found in a bathtub in a motel in Edmonton four
years ago. On March 18, a jury of nine men and two women acquitted
long-haul truck driver Bradley Barton on a first-degree murder charge.
Gladue died after she…

Members of the Aboriginal community will now feel more comfortable when receiving medical treatment at the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre. A room recently opened in the hospital is dedicated to honouring and respecting traditional Aboriginal beliefs about health.

“It’s a huge step forward because in allowing them to pray and to do ceremony, we are acknowledging that part of our…

While traditional healing has always been a key part of Aboriginal culture, Camille Pablo Russell believes it is becoming more widely accepted by Western medicine.

“It has always been there, but not at the level it is now accepted by Western medicine, and it has given the Aboriginal population the access to use it and in the past it wasn’t there for them unless they went to reservations…

Cory Nicotine certainly believes in inclusiveness.

That’s why the 26-year-old from the Saddle Lake Cree First Nation has put together an Edmonton-based event called Knowledge Is Pow Wow.

The program, which is geared towards all youth, features presentations on various religions.

The event began on Feb. 20 with a night dubbed Indigenous Spirituality. The Mar. 20 session was…

Thanks to a generous grant from the Canadian Red Cross, First Nations youth from various communities will now be able to participate in an established outdoor education program.

Officials from the Canadian Red Cross have agreed to provide more than $320,000 to the Canadian Rockies Public Schools board.

The money comes from funds the agency raised following the devastating floods…

As one of the province’s few Aboriginal physicians, Dr. Daniel McKennitt is both confronting and breaking down stereotypes while continuing to work towards bigger and better goals in his field. McKennitt is Ojibwe, originally from Sandy Bay First Nations outside of Winnipeg, but grew up in Edmonton where he went to university and medical school. He recently finished his residency in family…

A partnership between Whitefish Lake (Goodfish) First Nation and the Christian Labour Association of Canada is helping Whitefish Lake members get into the trades.

Whitefish Lake First Nation approached CLAC to ask if the organization would be interested in developing and delivering a training program for the construction industry, said Warren Kootenay, Aboriginal initiatives coordinator…