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Windspeaker Publication

  • Shirley Honyust Windspeaker Contributor LONDON, Ont

“Baa Maa Pii Amquamzin” translates to “See you later, and be careful because we care about you” and this was the theme of the spring conference held by Eagle’s Nest Residential Group Home in London, Ont.

The intention of Eagle’s Nest is to provide a culturally-sensitive residential group home that makes every effort to create a safe environment and atmosphere to encourage each child.…

  • Dianne Meili

MoCreebec chief stepped into international spotlight

James Bay communities are still coming to terms with the sudden death of Chief Randy Kapashesit of the Moose Factory Cree of Quebec (MoCreebec).

The 51-year-old was in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his family when he died of a massive heart attack on April 25. Kapashesit had previously been diagnosed with a…

  • Review by K. Kanten

Susan Aglukark is part of what I think of as Aboriginal music royalty. Like Celine Dion to Canada’s mainstream, Susan Aglukark is to Canada’s northern communities, she is the pride of Aboriginal achievement through the art of her beautiful rich voice and easy on the ear melodies.

This album is the perfect release for anyone who doesn’t have her other releases as it’s a collection of…

  • Windspeaker Staff

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Erin Konsmo: Compassion. Those who are understanding, empathetic, and help empower others.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
E.K.: When I run out of Sharpie markers. It makes it difficult to paint the world around me. Then I am stuck with a stick and the mud. Oh, and ongoing colonization , but that’s more bearable…

  • Shari Narine Windspeaker Contributor TORONTO

The message delivered to Enbridge, and its investors in a proposed pipeline project, couldn’t have been made any clearer.

“We informed them they were wasting their money; that we were never going to change our mind on the proposed project and they could better invest the money in better projects than what they are currently looking at because this one wasn’t going to go through…

  • David P. Ball Windspeaker Contributor VICTORIA

The British Columbia government stands to regulate on-reserve business development for the first time under new legislation introduced on May 3.

The First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act (FNCIDA) Implementation Act was tailor-made to bring proposed projects in both Haisla and Squamish First Nations up to code. But some have expressed concern about a “Trojan horse”…

  • David P. Ball Windspeaker Contributor OTTAWA

“My grandmother always said to me, ‘If we destroy the land, we’re gonna destroy ourselves’,” said Jackie Thomas. “You can’t drink money. Or oil. It’s pretty basic.”

As chief of Saik’uz First Nation in northern B.C., Thomas is on the frontlines of an escalating battle over the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, currently under environmental review.

But she and other Aboriginal…

  • Windspeaker Staff

It was in May of 2000 when the people of Walkerton, Ont. began to present with symptoms of E. coli contamination from the small town’s water supply. Seven people were to die from drinking the water, and about 2,500 people became ill.

Though two men were jailed for their part in the tragedy, admitting to falsifying reports and concealing laboratory tests that had found evidence of the…

  • Windspeaker Staff

On March 31st, after two years of preparation by his extended family, Maxwxwadziy, Chief George Shaughnessy conducted a Kwixella to memorialize 5 family members and to name those born since his last potlatch in Alert Bay in 2006. The Kwixella, which is a type of potlatch a Chief can conduct if he has already initiated his main dancers in previous potlatches, was held at Wawadit'la (Mungo…

  • Review by K. Kanten

Artist—David St. Germain
Song—Come Home
Album—My Country Song
Label—Independent

Country music has changed over the last couple of decades. Some will argue that it’s not country music anymore but a country flavored pop music. All things evolve and David St. Germain, of Manitoba’s country music family royalty delivers on every front of this genre. Right off the first cut on this…

  • Shari Narine Sage Contributing Editor SASKATOON

It’s with a good feeling that the Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games wrapped up on April 13.

“Even if we do it again next year, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to surpass our standards. We’re really satisfied with what we left. If someone else can meet that level and pass it, do whatever they need. I believe we’re really happy with what we left as a legacy,” said Neil Sasakamoose…

  • Adam Martin

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  • Compiled by Debora Steel

Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan will introduce its own Goods and Services Tax where the collected revenues will go back to the band instead of Ottawa. The initiative falls under the First Nations Goods and Services Act. Three years ago, Whitecap Dakota First Nation was the first to introduce such a tax in Saskatchewan. Nekaneet hopes to make up to $20,000 a month from the tax which it…

  • Compiled by Debora Steel

The Yinka Dene Alliance, a group of British Columbia First Nations that has used its laws to ban the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines and tankers in their territories, announced April 24 that it will embark on a “Freedom Train” journey beginning April 30. The goal is to protect their rights and their freedom from the threat of oil spills. The journey starts at Jasper in Alberta and…

  • Compiled by Debora Steel

The Assembly of First Nations was compelled to layoff staff when Health Canada reduced funding to the organization by 40 per cent. The layoffs, said the AFN, will impact “its supportive and facilitative role in informing the development of health policies and programs for First Nations.” Health Canada was asked to make $200.6 million in cuts over three years as part of the federal budget’s…