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Established in 1983 to serve the needs of northern Alberta, Windspeaker became a national newspaper on its 10th anniversary in 1993.
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Edward Mesher has a dream of bringing books to the 9,000 residents of 14 Inuit villages in Nunavik, Que., north of the 55th parallel along the coast of James Bay and Hudson Bay. He even has a name for it: The People's Inuit Library. It is a project for which the Concordia University anthropology student is gradually gaining support and donations of books.
"In November…
Page 18
There are no cattle, pigs or horses on Sanikiluak, the only inhabited island in Hudson Bay's Belcher Islands.
So when 12 Inuit educators from the remote island - which is now part of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory - visited Owen Sound, Ont., one of the highlights of their trip was a stop at a livestock market.
"Many of our group had never seen a cow before, so…
Page 16
Law students from across the country gathered in Windsor on March 10 and 11 to debate the federal government's fiduciary responsibilities for Aboriginal people, during the seventh annual Aboriginal Law Moot.
The Aboriginal Law Moot competition, known as Kawaskimhon, or "speaking with knowledge." involved participants representing law schools from the universities of…
Page 16
Beatrice Culleton Mosionier's 1983 classic of Native Canadian literature, In Search of April Raintree, is still drawing 6,000 new book buyers a year with its powerful narrative about two Metis sisters from Winnipeg. It has been translated into French, German and Dutch and has never been out of print. A revised high school edition appeared in 1984.
Last September, In…
Page 15
Chief Roy Whitney Jr., elected leader of the Tsuu T'ina Nation outside of Calgary, was marked for his role early. Born and raised on a cattle ranch, Whitney was working in that family business when he became a band councillor in 1976 at age 21 and chief at age 30.
He only recently stepped away from the cattle business, but says he can't point to a specific time that he…
Page 14
A lot of people in business describe their operations as innovative and "cutting edge," but John Bernard, owner and president of Donna Cona Inc., a top informatics services firm headquartered in Nepean, Ont., is all of that and more. In his line of work, if you're not leading the pack, you may not be in business long.
Bernard, a member of the Madawaska Maliseet First…
Page 13
Big Bear, the movie, a Canadian mini series aired in 1998, will soon be followed by the publication a new play of the same name, reinterpreted for the stage by playwright Michael C. Lawrenchuk and presented by the Centre For Indigenous Theatre in Toronto.
Lawrenchuck, chief of the Fox Lake reserve in Manitoba and a classically trained actor, has written Big Bear as an…
Page 13
More than 2,700 people jammed Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre in celebration of this year's 14 National Aboriginal Achievement Award winners, six of whom hail from British Columbia, the host province.
With a spectacular $1 million-set as a backdrop, Nuu-chah-nulth artist Tsa-qwa-supp (Art Thompson) received the award in the Arts and Culture category; Dr. Jo-ann…
Page 13
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is launching a half-hour First News show April 16 at 7 p.m.
The newscast with anchor Carol Adams will be broadcast weekly until Labour Day, according to senior news producer, Bruce Spence. After Labour Day it will become a daily program.
"We have correspondents, freelancers and networks across country who will be…
Page 12
Eleven-year-old Chastity Staats of Ohsweken, Ont. is a busy girl, and has added even more activities to her agenda for the coming months.
Chastity is this year's "Tammy" for Brant County, acting as ambassador for the area's 2000 Easter Seals campaign. Funds raised through the campaign are used to provide services to children with physical disabilities.
Bruce…
Page 11
Words of condolence, loss and praise were issued by leaders from across the country at the news of the passing of Chief Joe Mathias.
Mathias, hereditary chief of the Squamish First Nation, died March 10 in Vancouver at the age of 56.
A long-time proponent of Aboriginal rights, Chief Mathias dedicated much time and effort towards the goal of having those rights…
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Dudley George's friends and relatives should have been celebrating his 43rd birthday with their loved one. Instead, they were among the hundreds of people who turned out for a human rights meeting commemorating the slain activist's life. George was shot to death by Ontario Provincial Police during a peaceful demonstration in Ipperwash Provincial Park protesting for the…
Page 9
A young grey whale that apparently drowned after becoming entangled in a net pond was towed to Ahousaht, B.C. on March 9. A traditional prayer chant was performed to honor the life of the whale and seven Makah from Neah Bay, Wash. were on hand to teach the community how to butcher the whale. The Makah made international headlines last year for reviving their tradition of…
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A young grey whale that apparently drowned after becoming entangled in a net pond was towed to Ahousaht, B.C. on March 9. A traditional prayer chant was performed to honor the life of the whale and seven Makah from Neah Bay, Wash. were on hand to teach the community how to butcher the whale. The Makah made international headlines last year for reviving their tradition of…
Page 7
The south-central Skeetchestn Indian band has announced plans to appeal a recent B.C. Supreme Court decision regarding Aboriginal title at Six-Mile Ranch.
According to information provided by the Skeetchestn Indian band, the B.C. Registrar of Lands had previously refused to register notice of the band's Aboriginal title as an interest in the land at Six-Mile Ranch. In…