Alberta Sweetgrass

That the City of Edmonton is looked upon as a municipal leader in Aboriginal relations is no doubt thanks to Mayor Stephen Mandel.

After nine years at the helm, Mandel will not be seeking re-election this October. However Lewis Cardinal, who has worked closely with Mandel on Aboriginal initiatives, doesn’t see Mandel’s retirement as a blow to the local Aboriginal community.

“The…

“We can never forget the amount of help we have had from our surrounding municipalities,” said Siksika First Nation Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier. “I cannot forget our friends, the First Nations members who have really come forward to show their support. Finally the industry within our traditional Blackfoot territory have stepped up and provided us with a lot of help.”

Monetary and material…

Rain-swollen rivers and torrential downpours forced the evacuation of close to 2,000 First Nations members in southern Alberta and resulted in the Siksika Nation, Tsuu T’ina Nation and Stoney Nakoda Nations declaring states of local emergency on June 20.

A week later with close to 1,000 people still displaced, the First Nations were experiencing numerous infrastructure issues including…

Release:

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and AFN Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis will meet with First Nation leadership in Alberta this evening to get an update and overview of the flooding situation and work with First Nations to ensure urgent and long-term needs arising from this crisis are addressed.

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Stoney Nakoda Nations

Press relkease

June 24, 2013

The Stoney Nakoda Nations have suffered extensive damage to roads and homes as a result of recent flooding.

We are grateful for the tremendous work that has been done by our Public Works, housing departments, evacuation centre management and staff and emergency co-ordination team and volunteers who have been working…

Release:

Statement from the Honourable Bernard Valcourt Regarding First Nations Affected by Recent Flooding in Alberta

Ref. #2-3822

Ottawa, Ontario (June 24, 2013) - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, issued the following statement today on Government of Canada support for First Nations affected by the…

List of Closures due to floods.

Morley:

Schools are closed to students but are open to accept donations

Siksika:

Schools are closed to students/teachers.

Siksika administration is closed except for essential services.

…

Message for Community Members

CALGARY, June 21, 2013 - Chief Whitney and Council have called for a local state of emergency today.  Existing emergency protocols are being enacted.  Please try to maintain your normal…

The Aboriginal offering at this year’s Works and Arts Design Festival are entitled “No Rhyme or Reason.” Aptly named, says curator Terrance Houle, as it is a reflection of who he is.

“It speaks a lot to engagement, and engaging a public…. The show deals with a lot of gender roles, a lot of historical roles, history, society, a lot of it deals with human interaction,” said Houle.  “It…

Lethbridge College recently received a $500,000 gift from the Métis Education Foundation, which will be used to fund Métis Student Awards at the college. The money will ensure over $20,000 is given out annually through awards of $3,500 each and will start in the 2013-14 school year. “Lethbridge College offers a ‘circle of services’ to assist our FNMI learners to be successful in their…

Strater Crowfoot, former Chief of the Siksika First Nation, has been reappointed to the Premier’s Council on Alberta’s Promise. Joining Crowfoot as new appointments are Dr. Marie Delorme and David Tuccaro. Delorme is CEO of the Imagination Group of Companies, an Aboriginal-owned and operated consulting firm. She also has links to a number of corporations, governments and Aboriginal…

The Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation, six independent Alberta First Nations and the Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training Services Association, have formed an alliance to address the labour shortage in Alberta. The three organizations hosted an Employment Partnerships and Job Fair to bring together industry partners, government representatives, private sector and First Nations…

The success of a pilot project to provide training in security at the Horse Lake First Nation prompted All Peace Protection to offer a second training session at the Duncan First Nation. Of the 15 people who took the course in Horse Lake, all but one is now working full time. In Duncan, all 10 registrants were successful in passing the program. The 40-hour course typically costs $400…

Cree Métis artist and author Dianne Meili was one of 20 recipients of the 2013 Alberta Book Publishing Awards and the Alberta Literary Awards recently handed out. Meili’s Those Who Know: Profiles of Alberta’s Aboriginal Elders, published by NeWest Press (Edmonton), took the Trade-Nonfiction Book Award. As well, Richard Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib Tribe from Fort Smith and former…

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities is receiving $200,000 for the 24-month project that will work to end violence against First Nations girls aged 8 to 14 in Wabasca-Desmarais. A community steering committee with representatives from the Bigstone Cree Nation Women’s Shelter, Bigstone Community School, Bigstone Cree Nation Family and Children Services, and the RCMP…