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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Coast Salish carver Jane Marston calls Simon Charlie "The Father of Coast Salish Art."
His carvings and totem poles are exhibited in museums and displayed in private collections all over the world. His welcome figures greet visitors to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria and his totems are well known in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. He has received the Order…
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While the skills of firefighters at volunteer fire departments on reserves has improved in the past 20 years, the vice-president of First Nations' Emergency Services remains concerned about how the lack of funding is hampering fire protection.
Richard Norman Brooks, who as chief of the Kitsumkalum Volunteer Fire Department hosted the provincial firefighters challenge on…
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Though it appears to be fun and games, the recent firefighters' challenge on the Kitsumkalum First Nation is deadly serious.
The reserve, located three kilometres west of Terrace, hosted the annual provincial competition for First Nations Emergency Services (FNES) on May 31 that culminated a week of training for volunteer firefighters. This gathering, which has occurred…
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Uchucklesaht head chief Clifford Charles (Tootapooth) was honoured in Vancouver June 16 for 35 years of service to the Canadian Coast Guard.
Charles, whose father Martin was in the coast guard for 32 years, said he did not follow in his father's footsteps but got into the coast guard by accident, both literally and figuratively.
"I was fresh out of high school, and…
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Kate Harris has found the solution to fitting more hours into the day-or so it would seem. Given the number of projects and activities this 19-year-old, straight A student is involved in, you would have to assume a normal 24-hour day just wouldn't do.
Harris is a Metis from Duncan. She is one of five 2003 winners of the national Royal Bank Aboriginal Scholarship, which is…
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On June 17, four days ahead of schedule, eight Nanaimo youths who left that city on April 1 walked into the city of Ottawa and arrived at the legislative buildings. Their aim had been to arrive on June 21, National Aboriginal Awareness Day.
The purpose of the First Nation youths was to raise awareness of youth suicide and to help prevent a problem that takes 250 lives each…
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Ten years ago, the policy at the Royal Bank, Canada's largest bank, was "Don't lend money to Indians."
Today the Royal Bank is working in partnership with Aboriginal people. It is wooing their business and actively seeking and training Native people across Canada to become bankers.
On June 3 and 4, the bank held its eighth National Aboriginal Banking conference in…
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In the early morning of June 19, bagpipes called in more than 50 people to witness a ceremonial event near Cranbrook.
The Ktunaxa Kinbasket Interpretive Centre, which is housed inside a former residential school, held its grand opening. The ceremony began with the bringing in of an eagle staff adorned with seven feathers representing the seven bands of the Ktunaxa Nation…
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In mid-May, Edmonton hosted the third Meet the North Conference and Exposition, which carried the theme Best Practices for Business Success in the North.
It was hailed by many as the most important gathering of northern business people, economic development officers and community leaders in Canada this year.
The purpose of the conference was to focus on finding…
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A joint plan by the Squamish and Lil'Wat Nations to build a $15 million cultural centre within the resort municipality of Whistler got a $7.7 million shot in the arm on National Aboriginal Day.
On June 21, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Robert Nault and Premier Gordon Campbell announced that both governments will ante up a share of the cost to develop 1.6…
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As part of the Liberal government's strategy to privatize public services, the Haida at the northern end of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) have been awarded a contract to manage a provincial park.
The Haida were chosen from among four finalists applying for the contract.
Following the completion of an extensive 50-page application outlining how the park will…
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The sun shone almost as brightly as did the entertainers during a First Nations theme day at the 26th annual Vancouver International Children's Festival, which took place May 26 to June 1.
Festival publicist Ellie O'Day said of the May 29 First Nations Day, "We honour the site we're on. It's old territorial land here on the inlet."
She explained that the festival'…
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The legal hot water in which the Haida Bucks restaurant in Massett found itself two months ago appears to be simmering still.
Haida Bucks was told by the Starbucks coffee chain to change its name, because of alleged trademark infringement, but so far the tiny eatery has refused to comply.
One of the four co-owners of Haida Bucks is Darin Swanson.
He has…
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The National Aboriginal Professional Artists Training Program (NAPAT) is helping emerging First Nations artists get back to their roots while getting their art work out into the world.
Developed by the En'owkin Centre, an Indigenous post-secondary institution in Penticton, the program provides career development to professional Aboriginal artists and is one of a kind in…
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Ahousaht youth and men paid tribute to the women in their lives with a mark of respect that has become an annual event. Mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and anyone playing a role as mom were invited by Ahousaht's youth and men for two feasts and a day of rest from the kitchen.
Ahousaht's teenagers arrived early in the morning to reverse roles-to make breakfast for…