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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.
Fatty Legs, a true story written by Margaret Pokiak Fenton and Christy Jordan Fenton, has been chosen as the First Nation Communities Read program 2011/12 selected title.
It’s a story of courage and great endurance.
The story was selected by a six-member jury of librarians from First Nation public libraries in Ontario, with support from the Southern Ontario Library Association.…
On Sept. 29, Fort McKay First Nation and Fort McKay Métis Nation, in partnership with Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Aboriginal Relations, announced their shared commitment to work together on a community health assessment for the Fort McKay community.
“This community health assessment is an historical first for Alberta,” said Gene Zwozdesky, minister of Health and Wellness.…
This year’s passing of Elder Ernest “Ernie” Kaientaronkwen Benedict and his daughter Salli Kawennotakie Benedict deprived the Mohawk community of two great visionaries. Both dedicated their lives to strengthening their nation’s identity.
The elder Benedict was born in 1918 at a time when his people were still tied to their natural environment, nourished by the crops they grew…
Artist—Genevieve Fisher
Song—Some Letter that you Wrote me
Album—Without Borders (2010)
Label—Independent
Turn to any country based music radio station or tv video station and you’ll see there is a nice population of very talented, youthful ladies singing some fresh, catchy and memorable music. Genevieve…
THE URBANE INDIAN
Being a professional writer often requires a different set of perceptions and interests. Like most authors (particularly in the fiction genre) who try to put a little effort into what they do, I spend most of my professional time—and a sizable amount of my off-hours time—imagining ‘what if….’?
In places like my car, my mind will wander off as I ponder some…
Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Don Amero: Trust. I think it’s then when you can truly confide in someone.
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
D.A.: Bad drivers. Especially ones on cell phones... other people’s lives are at risk people!
W: When are you at your happiest?
D.A.: Sitting at home having dinner with my wife and…
Dear Auntie:
I have feelings for a married co-worker. It all started with a simple lunch, and now we’re sharing the intimate details of our lives. He understands me. I understand him. And I think he’s ready to leave his wife. I want to move forward, but I don’t want to pressure him into that decision. I don’t want to be the person who breaks up a marriage.
…
The 12th Annual imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival kicked off in Toronto Oct. 19 at the Native Canadian Centre bringing festival goers and performers together from the far reaches of the earth.
It all began with Cynthia Lickers-Sage, a co-founder of imagineNATIVE with Lisa Steele. They were working at Vtape, Canada’s largest independent international distribution centre, when…
On Oct. 8, the first ever Teweikan Music Gala was held in Quebec City amidst the rich décor of the Capitole Theatre.
Geoffrey Kelley, the Quebec Minister responsible for Native Affairs, attended the gala organized by the Société de communication Atikamekw-Montagnais (SOCAM) under the direction of Bernard Hervieux.
SOCAM, a non-profit organization that seeks to promote and…
First Nations, hundreds strong, marched to the steps of their legislatures demanding that the Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial governments honor treaty rights.
“Our people are saying this injustice is no longer okay and we will step forward and we will even use tools of mainstream democracy, like rallies in front of legislatures, to make sure that our voices are going to be heard,”…
First Nations leaders could be meeting with federal ministers this winter.
“The meeting that we have been pursuing is a First Nations-Crown gathering whereby the First Nations, and particularly Cabinet, would sit and have a meeting with First Nations leaders from across the country,” said Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo. “(The Prime Minister) has by letter expressed an…
Indigenous people in North America are standing together in Ottawa and Washington to deliver the same message: Unchecked oil development is destroying Mother Earth.
“(The solidarity) just shows the cause for concern, the severity of these projects and how widespread these issues are. The implications for these types of projects are dire and they need to actually be addressed,” said…
Aboriginal leaders in British Columbia are calling on the federal government to reform policies that allow the RCMP to investigate itself when allegations of misconduct against its members have been levelled.
The request comes amid a landslide of incidences that have shined a spotlight on strained relations between First Nations and the RCMP in Canada.
Tensions in B.C. are rising…
“Shame, shame on you” seems to be the theme this month with a number of not-so-enlightened comments about Aboriginal people and lawlessness coming from non-Aboriginal “observers.”
When Air Canada announced it would no longer put up flight crews in a Winnipeg downtown hotel because of an increase in crime in the area, it blamed the safety situation on the influx of “1,000 displaced…
Aurel Dubé showed up for his interview with Windspeaker sporting a chest full of medals.
The veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces was born on the Kitigan Zibi First Nation reserve near Maniwaki, Que., but because his mother was an alcoholic, he and his brothers were put in foster homes when he was five.
He thinks that her drinking had something to do with her experiences…