Alberta Sweetgrass

Rally organizer Steven Townsend and hate victim Chevi Rabbit, in front of a sign reading “From Hate to Hope,” were pleased with the turnout for the anti-hate march.

Rally shows support for diversity

Men and women, many wearing purple, joined Chevi Rabbit to march from 110 street and 84 avenue to the Alberta Legislature on Aug. 2 as…

In 2007, Blackfoot Crossing received the Travel Alberta ALTO Award for Sustainable Tourism.

Blackfoot Crossing celebrates five years

Last month marked the opening of Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park five years ago. Approximately 100 km east of Calgary, located near Cluny, the 62,000-square-foot centre houses cultural artifacts of the Siksika people to preserve…

The trek to the “healing waters” of Lac Ste Anne was an especially significant one this year with special homage being paid to the coming canonization of North America’s first-ever Aboriginal, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

“She is a role model for all,” said Fr. Gary Laboucane, a Métis, who has been returning for the event as long as he can remember.

The July 22-26 Lac Ste. Anne…

Now in its final months of exhibition, the Maskwacîs (Bear Hills) art show is sharing its special story at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton.

Over the past two and a half years, more than 85,000 people have seen the exhibition and the feedback has been tremendous.

“It’s been really well received because it’s eclectic, a really in-depth snapshot from artists of all ages and…

Pat Ness remembers when the interpretive centre opened its doors at the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump site. She has been employed there for one-quarter of a century.

 “August 23, 1987, was the first day I made the long walk up that pathway,” recalled Ness, of the trek she took exactly one month after the centre began operations.
Ness currently serves as temporary office…

Nakita Kohan was two years old when her mother rescued her from the clutches of a neighbour who also happened to be a three-time sex offender. That horrific near-tragedy propelled Carrie Kohan into a new world of advocacy. Why, she asked, was a pedophile able to live in a family community?

In the 14 years that have passed since then, the young mother of two has worked in the halls of…

Blue-green algae in Lac Ste. Anne are cause for concern for more than the people who waded into the lake during the annual pilgrimage.

“We get our water from Lac Ste. Anne,” said Chief Cameron Alexis, of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. “Now we’re being told don’t go into the water, don’t drink the water, don’t let your animals drink the water.”

The First Nation of 1,200 residents…

According to the Edmonton Public Library, its Aboriginal Advisory Group has run its course.

However, a pipe ceremony held in 2008 that unveiled the group and began the formal relationship between Aboriginal people and the EPL meant the commitment was deeper and stronger, says Jacqueline Fayant, member of the AAG.

“We believed in this. We felt so strongly about making change in a…

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is proposing a co-management approach with the federal and provincial governments to protect the woodland caribou and wood bison in traditional ACFN territory.

However, said Eriel Deranger, spokesperson for ACFN Chief Allan Adam, provincial ministers Diana McQueen (Sustainable Resources Development) and Robin Campbell (Aboriginal Relations) had…

First Nations are claiming credit for new steps put into place by the provincial government to address pipeline safety concerns.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, Dene Nation, Keepers of the Athabasca, which includes the Fort McKay First Nation, and the Indigenous Environmental Network were among over 50 organizations to participate in a…

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is hopeful that having a new premier will mean a more open approach to dealings between First Nations and the provincial government.

“ACFN needs to have an open door policy with the provincial government so that we can have constructive dialogue rather than constantly challenging their policies and their framework agreements,” said Eriel Deranger,…

A letter to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada stating there is now only one chief for the Lubicon Lake is not enough for the government to relinquish its hold on the northern First Nation.

“That (decision about the Chief) was a decision made arbitrarily. Our understanding is that it was not done in concurrence with the membership,” said Chantal Patenaude, spokesperson for ANAC.…

Thick smoke from two forest fires and flames as close as 17 km north from Meander River at one point forced a week-long precautionary health evacuation of 400 plus people for that Dene Tha’ First Nation’s community.

“I’m really happy with the way people pulled together. We had good cooperation from the community and volunteers were able to make things work for the evacuation,” said…

First Nations continue to push for resource development inclusion while balancing care for their traditional territory and the environment.

Rallied by actress Tantoo Cardinal, First Nations representatives from Alberta, the Northwest Territories and British Columbia gathered in Fort McMurray Aug. 4, walking 13 km through the tar sands to stress the environmental impact of oil and gas…

Treaty 7 Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead appeared as a witness at the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on May 29 to voice conditional support of Bill S-8, an act respecting the safety of drinking water on First Nation lands. Weaselhead told the senators that after decades of neglecting critical issues, “it is promising to see a federal government finally taking real steps to…