Welcome to AMMSA.COM, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.
Launched in 1997. A news publication specifically designed for the Indigenous people of British Columbia and Yukon.
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CALIFORNIA-Rene Haynes of Rene Haynes Casting of Burbank, California is on the search for a talented young woman to play the lead in a major motion picture.
Although she couldn't get into much detail about the film at this time, she could say she is conducting the talent search across North America and will be traveling to cities in Canada soon to meet with hopefuls.…
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Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band has added new responsibilities to his already substantial roster of board appointments and economic development initiatives.
On Nov. 20, Louie, who has served on the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board since 2001, received notification that he had been appointed to the position of vice-chair on the board. The…
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International environmental organization Ecotrust has chosen a British Columbia educator for the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership.
Jeannette Armstrong, executive director of the En'owkin Centre in Penticton, received the award for her work in environmental education. Four finalists were also honoured at the Dec. 2 award ceremony at Ecotrust's headquarter in Portland…
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On Nov. 28, a 14-foot-tall bronze sculpture created by master Haida carver Jim Hart was unveiled in a traditional Haida dance ceremony at an apartment complex in Kerrisdale's Quilchena Park area.
The monster work now standing in a waterscape setting took Hart two years to create and is one of the largest Haida sculptures ever commissioned. Hart, who has received the Order…
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Representatives of 15 B.C. Aboriginal language groups gathered in Richmond last month for a one-day orientation on language preservation. The Oct. 3 gathering marked a monumental accomplishment for First Voices Language Archives, a project created by the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation (FPCF) aimed at preserving Aboriginal languages through digitization.
After spending…
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After a year of negotiations and cultural exchanges, the Haida were finally able to take the remains of their ancestors home.
Stored in the Field Museum of Chicago for more than 100 years, the remains of 160 Haida were honoured Oct. 17 in a ceremony preceding their departure back to British Columbia. Several days before the celebration, 40 members of the First Nation's…
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It was one of the worst wild fire seasons in British Columbia in recent memory. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Shuswap Nation in the Kamloops region.
On Oct. 6, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Robert Nault toured the area by helicopter, accompanied by Chief Nathan Matthew of the North Thompson band and tribal chairman of the Shuswap Nation Tribal…
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The Hupacasath First Nation will be powering many homes in the Alberni Valley by 2005 through a micro-hydro project on China Creek, and powering the local economy with the Eagle Rock Aggregates Quarry set to open in 2004.
The environmentally friendly micro-hydro project will provide 5.6 megawatts of power to the Vancouver Island power grid, generating revenue for…
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The Aboriginal Management Institute, an independent organization providing business expertise to First Nations communities, hosted the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Conference at the Westin Grand Hotel in Vancouver Oct. 21 and 22.
The conference was timely: A recent Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) water quality assessment unearthed some alarming figures.…
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When he heard that the provincial government was looking to get rid of a former youth correctional facility up in the mountains, Kurtis DeSilva decided it would make a great place to expose young people to Metis and First Nation culture.
DeSilva, president of the Metis Nation of British Columbia, a provincial Metis organization that is not affiliated with the Metis…
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Yukon veterans and families of deceased soldiers are frustrated by a lack of government response to complaints about inequalities in the distribution of veterans' allowances.
In November 2000, a National Round Table was established with First Nations veterans and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to conduct research into legislation, policies and programs available to…
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KOOTENAYS REGION-Changes are are being promoted to child welfare services delivery in the Kootenays.
The Aboriginal Peoples Family Accord (APFA)is trying to get more involvement by Aboriginal people, whether First Nations or Metis, in the health and safety issues affecting their children.
Although Aboriginal children comprise just eight per cent of the population,…
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The Metis Nation is mourning the death of Metis leader, Fred House. His sudden passing Sept. 29 marked a monumental chapter in the life of athe Metis. Fred was a father, friend, mentor, role model and a well-respected political leader; at the age of 61, he lived more lifetimes in that one than most people ever dream of. He instilled pride and empowered thousands of people to…
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PRINCE GEORGE-Four hundred First Nations leaders, youth and Elders met in Prince George the end of last month at the second Lands and Resources Unity Conference. The event was held to mobilize an action plan to deal with recent changes in provincial lands and forest legislation. The alliance of nations had developed a joint statement from meetings held in September in Kelowna,…
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National Chief Phil Fontaine arrived in Vancouver for a special chiefs assembly with a goal of correcting what he called "an unfortunate report in the national media" that he was asking for almost $2 billion for the Assembly of First Nations.
The reality, he said, is that only one per cent of that proposed funding would go to the AFN.
Getting Results is a 10-point…