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Community focused with a grassroots appeal. Established in 1993 to serve the needs of the Indigenous people of Alberta.
Sexual assault centres will be receiving $2 million more from the province and women’s emergency shelters will receive $3 million more to support 70 new beds and an additional $1 million for salary and benefit increases to help retain and recruit staff. The additional funding is part of the province’s plan to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families, with more supports added so…
First Nations and Métis settlements are eligible to apply for funding along with municipalities from the Alberta Community Resilience Program for projects that protect critical municipal infrastructure from flooding and drought. The recently announced cost-share program will direct $325 million to municipalities over the next three years for projects such as berms, dikes, and riverbank…
New research suggests an increasing number of people outside of Edmonton and Calgary are homeless. The Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research commissioned the project, which looked at 20 rural communities in Alberta and another 20 rural communities across the country. Overall, Drs. Jeanette Waegemakers-Schiff and Alina Turner found homelessness persists in those communities. “…
A fatality inquiry into the murder of a 17-year old Aboriginal ward of the calls for more funding for Aboriginal children in care. Judge F.K. MacDonald, who conducted the inquiry into the stabbing death of the youth dubbed “M,” which occurred Apr. 25, 2009, said, “The care of a youth like M would be a challenge for any organization, let alone one that is inadequately funded. I recommend that…
On June 19, the federal government gave approval to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, which will carry 200-million barrels of diluted bitumen annually 1,177 km from Bruderheim to a marine terminal in Kitimat, BC. There it will be loaded on tankers bound for Asia. Alberta Premier Dave Hancock called it a “step forward in accessing new markets for Canada’s energy resources.”
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As of June 20, the Blood Tribe was among 10 municipalities in southern Alberta to have declared states of local emergency due to flooding. Approximately 435 people had been evacuated from the Blood reserve, with 96 residences impacted by flooding and another 90 evacuated due to leaks in roofs, windows and doors. A reception centre was established in Standoff. Several local roads were covered…
Tamar Quist, with baby Peter and his mom, became the first midwife to work in Alberta Health Services north zone. Her midwife services are being offered at a clinic based in High Level and through prenatal and postpartum outreach programs in La Crete. Midwives are fully responsible for examinations, assessment of risk, screening and diagnostic tests, and collaborating with other health…
A Cree high school in Alberta is one of four in the province that has received funding from the TransCanada Equipment Grant.
The Nipisihkopah Secondary School, located on the Maskwacis First Nation, is using its $10,000 grant to upgrade its fashion program.
But Alvina Flormann, the principal at the school, said it won’t just be students who benefit from the equipment upgrades.…
“At a time when there are a lot of stressors in our community, awards such as these are exactly what we need,” said Mark Laycock, director of Métis Calgary Family Services of the recognition received at the annual Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3 Entrepreneurial Awards held in late April. “In a sense it’s a way of qualifying and sanctioning the work we do. Dealing with families in crisis is…
International Chief Wilton Littlechild will be invested in this year’s Alberta Order of Excellence.
“I would like to see that recognition add weight to my voice,” said Littlechild, who recently spoke at the United Nations assembly in New York, where he serves as the North American representative to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Littlechild has been a considerable…
Jamie Medicine Crane of Young Medicine duo performs a traditional dance at Opening Ceremonies of Calgary’s Aboriginal Awareness week.
City commemorates flood of 2013
On June 20, the City of Calgary commemorated last year’s flood with a blessing from Elder Leonard Basteen of the Piikani Nation, unveiling the 2013 Flood Commemorative display. There was a video…
A comic book being published in Calgary will give young readers a chance to learn the Blackfoot language.
The graphic novel, entitled “Ihtsipatatiyoop” (“Creator” in English), will be a series of illustrations and text boxes designed to appeal to youth.
“The whole point is trying to develop a format that will get youth interested in learning an Aboriginal language,” said John…
Heart of the City celebrations
Spirit Woman Singers performed at the Heart of the City in Giovanni Caboto Park on June 8. A traditional vocal and drum group, Spirit Woman Singers are committed to walking a spiritual path and singing for healing, inner peace, and inspiration. Heart of the City is an annual music and arts festival that takes place the first weekend in…
March 14, 1974, marks a significant date in Ruth Scalp Lock’s life, a turning point at the Winnipeg Inn on Portage and Main, where she experienced a spiritual awakening.
“I heard this voice that told me I had to do something about my life. A power higher than me was with me,” said Scalp Lock at the launch of her personal story, My Name is Shield Woman a hard road to healing, vision, and…
Métis Elder Elsie Yanik likened receiving an honourary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta to Christmas in June.
“When I learned that the University of Alberta was going to give me an honourary degree, I felt a great sense of happiness and appreciation for everything. It was overwhelming. It was a familiar feeling. When you’ve been around for 97 years, most things become…