Raven's Eye

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has developed a new DVD educational tool that it hopes will increase cultural safety for Aboriginal people in the health care system. Speaking at a ceremony at the Quinsam Centre on the We Wai Kai Nation/Cape Mudge as part of the VIHA board meeting in Campbell River in March, VIHA President and CEO Howard Waldner said: “VIHA serves broad and diverse…

The independent lawyer appointed to represent Aboriginal interests at the inquiry into the Robert Pickton police investigation of murdered and missing women backed out of the hearing last month and has now been replaced.

Art Vertlieb, Commission Council for the inquiry being conducted in Vancouver, announced March 21 that Commissioner Wally Oppal has appointed lawyers Suzette Narbonne…

An early 18th century pre-contact Nuu-chah-nulth artifact that once belonged to explorer Captain James Cook has returned home to the Northwest Coast, thanks to the generosity of a wealthy art collector.

The nearly 300-year-old artifact was purchased by Vancouver art philanthropist Michael Audain last December from a private New York collector. It’s estimated worth is $1.2 million.

The Skidegate Saints of Haida Gwaii are this year’s 2012 BC Junior All Native Basketball champions, beating the Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella in a hard-fought 66-62 match on March 23 in Port Alberni.

Heiltsuk battled hard against the big Skidegate squad, but the Saints took an early lead and never looked back, though Heiltsuk did come within striking distance in the second half.

On Feb. 3 and 4, nearly 4,000 people came together in cultural pride and celebration to recognize the Nisga’a Nation’s New Year.

This year’s celebration was the largest to date, said organizers with the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society, the group that hosted the event. The society represents the 1,400 Nisga’a citizens who reside in the urban centers of greater Vancouver and on…

Traditional songs sung by Haida First Nation members opened a milestone event Feb. 22 in the Haida Gwaii school district (SD 50) as representatives of the provincial government, school district and local bands signed their first Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. The agreements are commitments between the signatories to support Aboriginal student success and the inclusion of…

An Assembly of First Nations justice forum in Vancouver that began Feb. 21 was used to explore the idea of a national inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, said Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Phillip has been critical of the province’s missing and murdered women’s inquiry, headed by former attorney general Wally Oppal. He said the focus…

Photo caption: Shawn Atleo, Assembly of First Nations national chief, addresses graduates at the BCIT convocation ceremony on Feb. 16.

On Feb. 16, the British Columbia Institute of Technology bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Technology on Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo. “BCIT is honored to be able to recognize Mr. Atleo – a person who clearly sees the…

First Nations and environmental groups opposed to coalbed methane gas exploration in the Sacred Headwaters of northern British Columbia are demanding that the existing moratorium on drilling in the region be extended indefinitely.

“Four years ago, the B.C. government listened to northwestern communities and pushed pause on drilling in the Sacred Headwaters. Now it’s up to Premier […

Team BC is seeking top Aboriginal hockey players and coaching staff for the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council have announced details of the Player Selection Camp and the members of the Coaching Staff for Team BC’s participation in the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships to be held May 6 to 12 in…

Promises made in the Yukon 140 years ago cannot be enforced by the court. The Yukon Supreme Court decided there is no legal obligation to negotiate unsettled land claims in the territory, despite an edict that would have compensated First Nations for lands lost. The Ross River Dena have been in court for 10 years trying to get Ottawa to live up to that edict from 1870 in which the Yukon and…

The Tsawwassen First Nation has voted in favour of the construction of two malls in Delta. “(The malls) are a major part of our economic development plans,” said Chief Kim Baird. “We’ve done comprehensive land use planning around to try and create economic opportunities that through revenues, taxes and employment opportunities will contribute toward sustainability for our community.” One mall…

The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)
in Canada are looking for more say over the approval of mining projects in the region. Grand Chief Ruth Massie said the CYFN will not sign off on the current review of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act unless First Nations are made full partners in the process. “What we are basically seeking as First Nations is equal…

The Gitxsan First Nation has reversed a decision to participate in a controversial oil pipeline project that would have generated $7 million for the band.

Gitxsan hereditary chiefs voted 78 per cent in favor of withdrawing from the Northern Gateway pipeline agreement during a meeting held on their territory Jan. 17.

“The chiefs reviewed the agreement with Enbridge and it seemed…

Vancouver – The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation will honor this year’s recipients of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in a special gala event on Feb. 24 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. The awards celebrate excellence in the Indigenous community and the limitless potential that Indigenous people represent.

The awards recognize the highest level of…