Alberta Sweetgrass

Jim Boucher, chief of the Fort McKay First Nation for almost two decades, was stripped of his title by a Federal Court decision. Boucher won the 2011 election by one vote. The court is citing voting irregularities as the reason. Cecilia Fitzpatrick, who lost the election, appealed the decision to an arbitrator. The arbitrator ruled against her. The CBC News reports no election date has yet…

If the decision is made to go-ahead with the Northern Gateway Pipeline project, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is warning that the courts could overturn the decision because of “unreasonable” consultation with Aboriginal communities. “Lack of funding may limit the ability of Aboriginal groups to reasonably and meaningfully participate in the consultation and environmental…

Alberta’s Liberal energy critic Kent Hehr is asking the ethics commissioner to investigate the province’s rejection of a proposed $6.6-billion bitumen refinery operated by the First Nations. The Alberta First Nations Energy Centre was refused funding by Energy Minister Ted Morton. The government is saying the project had too many financial risks and not enough advanced preparation. Hehr is…

Devon Energy Corp. earned a Responsible Canadian Energy Award for its efforts to establish a secondary school in Conklin, northern Alberta. While establishing operations at its Jackfish project, Devon officials learned that students in the area had to leave home to attend high school. In response to the situation, Devon brought community partners together—the Northlands School Division, the…

Sporting history was made in Hobbema when the Ermineskin Junior Senior High School played host to the provincial boys’ high school A basketball championships from Mar. 15-17.

This marked the first time the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association had staged a provincial championship at a First Nations school.

Competition was tough and the 12th seeded Ermineskin Eagles lost all three…

Officials for Northland School Division say it isn’t premature to be entering into an agreement with Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council to share expertise and resources even though the future of the school division remains undecided.

Since January 2010, NSD has been operating under a province-appointed trustee when then-Education Minister Dave Hancock dismissed NSD’s 23-member corporate…

Skye Quintal-Janvier once again had an instrumental role with some medal-winning performances at the Arctic Winter Games.

Quintal-Janvier was the head coach for Northern Alberta’s Dene Games participants at the competition, which was staged Mar. 4-10 in Whitehorse.

The AWG, held every two years, attracted about 2,000 athletes competing in 20 activities.

Quintal-Janvier was…

It was a deliberate decision to only access provincial dollars for the New In Town Aboriginal centre that opened its doors last September, but now operators are looking to the City of Edmonton for financial aid.

“(Mayor Stephen Mandel) said it is a service to welcome people to the city who are moving here, so the City of Edmonton should be more involved and he really wants to continue…

Last month, Jane Woodward was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award through the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Award, which recognizes Aboriginal people in Fort McMurray and surrounding areas who have worked for the betterment of Aboriginal people and culture.

 “She is a true role model for this community and we are proud to honor her with this award,” said Nora Flett,…

The voice of the United Nations has been added to that of First Nations Chiefs in urging Alberta and Canada to start implementing the treaties and to follow the 46 articles in the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted by Canada in 2010.

In March, the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination presented its observations stating Canada…

Cree Bachelor of Education student and artist Neepin Auger presented the Iniskim Centre with the commemorative mural “Creator, I Walk in Two Worlds”  in honour of their fifth anniversary.

The Iniskim Centre, which supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at Mount Royal University, recently celebrated five years. Iniskim, explained Leonard Weasel Traveller, a former Blackfoot…

Iniskim Centre celebrates five years
The Iniskim Centre, which supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at Mount Royal University, recently celebrated five years. Iniskim, explained Leonard Weasel Traveller, a former Blackfoot Confederacy Chief who named the Centre on March 21, 2007, likens education to the ancestral buffalo hunt. “Iniskim is our relation to the…

The University of Alberta was host last month to 100 Years of Loss: The Residential School System in Canada travelling exhibit.

Exhibit provides opportunity for learning, healing
100 Years of Loss: The Residential School System in Canada, an exhibit from the Legacy of Hope Foundation, spent some time at the University of Alberta, brought in by Dean of Education,…

Elsey Gauthier, from Alberta Health Services, was one of five recipients of this year’s  ROOPH awards recognizing those for their work towards ending homelessness.

“I was honoured to be recognized by (Homeward Trust Edmonton),” said Gauthier, who works with the DiverseCity Housing Initiative. “It’s been part of my work to help people find a home and they are often Aboriginal. As a Cree…

The second gala event hosted by the Mikai’sto Foundation wasn’t only about raising money for the new Learner’s Resource Centre/Campus Facility planned for Red Crow Community College, on the Blood First Nation.

“Galas really do not raise a lot of money, but they create awareness, allow for opportunities to network and to meet with potential investors,” said Francis First Charger, CEO of…