Welcome to AMMSA.COM, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.
Established in 1983 to serve the needs of northern Alberta, Windspeaker became a national newspaper on its 10th anniversary in 1993.
Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Louis-Karl P. Sioui: Loyalty. Honesty. Dedication. That would be three. Okay. Loyalty, then.
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
L.P.S.: Oh, I got a long list of things that make me quite mad. Actually, I add one or two items on that very list each week. But my top three never change much. Those would be…
“We want to be involved in all phases of our new home … and we’re willing to play bingo ‘til there are no more dabbers.”
Quotes like this one, by Bertha Allen speaking on behalf of the Elders’ Society at a 1999 Inuvik public forum on health and social services, capture the unrelenting passion and humor of this much-respected leader.
After years of social activism in the north,…
Note: This is the first part of a two part series.
Canadian Aboriginal cultures are many, diverse, unique and mysterious. Aboriginal Nations have for thousands of years sustained vibrant and rich cultural identities in Canada.
When I think of some of these cultures my thoughts conjure up a multitude of images, including various symbols, numerous ceremonies, languages, celebrations…
It is hoped that Aboriginal women and children will no longer have to abandon their homes and communities due to relationship breakdowns on-reserve once new legislation comes into effect, perhaps as soon as the fall of 2010.
The legislation known as Bill S-4, Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act was drafted as a result of both a nationwide consultation led by…
The 2008 death of Raymond Silverfox of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, Yukon is motivating members of the federal parliament to call for the end of a protocol that allows the RCMP to investigate themselves when a civilian fatality or serious injury occurs in custody.
“The time has come for this legislation,” said NDP MP Nathan Cullen, referring to the Civilian Oversight Act (Bill C…
Chiefs support request for public inquiry
A letter was sent June11 to Nova Scotia Premier Darryl Dexter asking for a public inquiry into the death of Wagmatcook First Nation member John Simon who was fatally shot by RCMP. An RCMP constable was called to Simon’s house on Dec. 2, 2008 where he climbed through a window to deal with a man who was allegedly drunk, suicidal…
Two years after Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued his apology for the government’s role in residential schools, close to 4,000 people, mostly Aboriginal, gathered in Ottawa to participate in the National Forgiven Summit.
“The crowd was excited to see the actual Declaration of Forgiveness which 24 Elders signed from across the country and was, of course, presented to (Indian and…
THE CALGARY HERALD IS REPORTING THAT
Dr. Melvyn Lavallee is suing the Siksika Nation Tribal Administration, its health services and a senior manager of Siksika Health Services for damages for wrongful breach of contract and defamation. The paper reports the doctor’s trouble stems from Siksika’s response to an interview he did with Windspeaker in 2004.
Lavallee spoke…
“I was sick of poverty,” said Marshall Schuchert, an Ojibway /Odawa from Sault Ste Marie, Ont.
Schuchert was one of 100 recent college/university graduates attending Inclusion Works 10 held in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel April 27 to 29.
Schuchert was also one of the few older graduates attending the conference, organized by the Aboriginal Resource Council.
“In…
A pair of teams defended their titles at this year’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).
The Saskatchewan boys’ squad captured its third consecutive NAHC crown. Saskatchewan thumped Manitoba 8-1 in this year’s gold-medal contest held on May 8 in Ottawa.
The Manitoba girls’ side won its second straight national championship, edging Ontario North 2-1 in the final, also…
Iroquois team prepares for worlds
The Iroquois Nationals will be one of six teams participating in the highest division at the men’s world field lacrosse championships this summer. The tournament will run from July 15 to 24 in Manchester, England.
The Iroquois Nationals, who will feature players from both Canada and the United States, will compete in the Blue…
Store association VP jumps into the smoke shack debate
The Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA) wrote to the federal Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq, in April, challenging her to enforce Bill C-32 on Native reserves. This was in reaction to an investigation proving that it was a easy thing for a 15-year-old teenager to buy flavored cigarillos on the…
Life is now a little sweeter for an Aboriginal comedian who is in the process of filming episodes for her new television show.
Candy Palmater of Halifax is on cloud nine now that she is living out her childhood fantasy of hosting a program that combines her love of music and her natural ability to make people laugh.
The Candy Show is now in production and will air on APTN in the…
Artist—Tumivut
Song—Love Song
Album—Movement
Written by—Tumivut
Label—Arbor Records
Tumivut was created in Montreal, when four talented artists discovered each other’s yearning and quest for musical expression. The word Tumivut when translated in English is ‘our footsteps’. They blend Inuit throat singing to contemporary sound and have mastered something that only…
Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Sammy Kent: Trust
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
S.K.: Ignorance
W: When are you at your happiest?
S.K.: On a beautiful bluebird day in the mountains with a good friend skiing 20-plus centimetres of fresh powder.
W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
S.K.:…