Alberta Sweetgrass

After years of fighting legal battles, a housing complex that will serve the needs of homeless individuals and couples of Aboriginal descent is set to open its doors in February 2015.

Ambrose Place, named after Ambrose Daniels, an Aboriginal man who died on the street of pneumonia, is a 42-unit, four-floor complex operated by Niginan Housing Ventures. Niginan, which means “home,” is a…

“In Canada, Indigenous art is still fresh,” said Sandra Laronde, director of Indigenous Arts at the Banff Centre. “It is so different, so unique, so inventive. Indigenous Arts are at the cutting edge of the Banff Centre in a lot of ways.”

All art forms - dance, theatre, music, writing, visual and new media, and film - are represented in the centre’s local, national and, increasingly,…

New provincial and federal funding for the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights will allow the two organizations to enter into a partnership allowing them to sustain their work with Aboriginal youth, as well as build bridges between the Aboriginal community and other Albertans. 

In many ways, this new partnership is the…

Renaissance man performs

Siberian Canadian artist Zinour brought his unique dance style to the Aboriginal Awareness week gala. Zinour is often referred to as a “Renaissance Man” as he has achieved excellence in both dance and fine arts. 

Harper government funds job creation for Calgary Aboriginals

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Drummers perform at celebration

Drummers from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation helped mark Treaty 6 Recognition Day held in Edmonton in late September. The event allowed the city to further strengthen its renewed relationship with the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.

Job fair provides…

On Oct. 18, the Glenbow Museum exhibit Where Are the Children? Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools, opened in conjunction with Edmund Metatawabin’s reading from his book UpGhost River: A Chief’s Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History.

Where Are the Children? Is a collection of 118 framed archival photographs that portray the residential…

The City of Edmonton has committed $20,000 to Confederacy of Treaty 6 for the continuation of research that could result in a more accurate story of the First Nations people being told at Fort Edmonton.

“It’s a positive step forward,” said Rob Houle, liaison to Grand Chief Craig Mackinaw. “It can probably lead to great programs, great educational tools for the visitors that attend the…

The next time the lights go out because of a glitch in Fort Chipewyan’s power plant, the Elders and youth lodge will be lit up like a beacon thanks to solar energy.

“Not everybody has wood burning stoves, so if we lose power, we can bring the Elders here,” said Greg Adams, with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation’s Housing and Special Projects. The solar panels would keep electricity in…

Banning an Aboriginal cultural support advisor from Edmonton City Centre has resulted in cries of racism and racial profiling.

Cree Elder Gary Moostoos posted on Facebook that on Oct. 27 he “was eating noodles at City Center food court and a couple Security approach and stand over me as I eat… The one says that I looked (suspicious) and look like a person they banned.”

Despite…

By the end of the year, the seven largest cities in the province will have a better understanding of what homelessness looks like in their communities thanks to a coordinated count which took place mid-October.

“The 7 Cities are playing a leadership role within the province of Alberta,” said Susan McGee, chief executive director with Homeward Trust Edmonton. “We work as 7 Cities in…

Nearly 50 years after being dug out of the ground, the remains of 25 Sharphead First Nations people – and three more unearthed in 2007 – were returned to their land.

“It was a very sad and solemn ceremony, but afterwards, knowing that everything was done right ceremonially, I felt better,” said Bill Snow, consultation manager with the Stoney Nakoda Nation.

A wake and ceremony…

Northland School Division Superintendent Donna Barrett (far right) presents the Alberta School Boards Association Zone One Friends of Education Award to (from left) principals Reg Bellefontaine (Atikameg school) and Barb Laderoute (Gift Lake school) and Whitefish Lake First Nation Councillor Darren Auger. The award recognizes Whitefish Lake First Nation for coming to the aid of Gift Lake…

Suncor Energy has been awarded a Silver level certificate for Progressive Aboriginal Relations from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. PAR is the only certification program of its kind focusing on Aboriginal relations best practices. The process leading up to the award included Aboriginal stakeholder reviews and an independent assessment in the areas of employment, business…

The Federal Court of Appeal has granted leave to Gitxaala Nation to apply for Judicial Review to challenge the approval of the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project. The court’s decision means it will hear and decide on the Gitxaala Nation’s lawsuit challenging cabinet’s approval of the Enbridge project. Gitxaala contend the federal government relied on an unlawful and unreasonable Joint Review…

After 11 years as a volunteer-run newspaper, Martyshuk Housing has acquired Alberta Street News and intends on operating it as a social enterprise endeavour. “Alberta Street News has developed a loyal following and strong credibility as a voice for Edmonton and Calgary’s marginalized and homeless population,” says Eric Rice, board chair of Edmonton Street News…