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.
It will be close to one year before most of the compensation money that will be paid to survivors of residential schools will be distributed, but those over 65 years of age will receive payment much earlier.
"There will be an early payment to the elderly, meaning in this case 65 and over, in a matter of weeks," said Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN),…
Over and over again in Ottawa in early December, the message was "get out and vote."
With close to $9 billion worth of commitments-when you combine the figures from the residential school compensation agreement and the promises made during the First Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Kelowna-the only thing left to bring it all to fruition is the election of a government that will follow through…
At a special assembly held in Ottawa in December, a resolution that essentially endorses the agreement reached at the first ministers' meeting (FMM) in Kelowna on Nov. 24 and 25 was passed unanimously by consensus, if you don't count the Quebec chiefs who abstained en masse.
Resolution 3 is a carefully-crafted three-page document that took a great deal of negotiation to finalize.
…
Two Aboriginal groups held protests outside the site of the first minister's meeting (FMM) on Nov. 24 and 25.
The first day saw friendship centre employees and supporters vying for attention against a protest mounted by federal correctional officers who were there to criticize Prime Minister Paul Martin because his government has not satisfied their demands for better pay and working…
Only one region-British Columbia-actually sat down and signed an implementation agreement (the Transformative Change Accord) with the province and federal government after the two-day first ministers' meeting (FMM) on Aboriginal issues was held in Kelowna Nov. 24 and 25. For the rest of the country, things will be worked out in the coming months and years.
But the prime minister of…
Dear Editor:
Your recent editorial ("Getting it right" Page 5, November 2005 edition) on the attempts currently underway towards renewal of the Assembly of First Nations, cut to the heart of the matter in respect of the legitimacy of national Aboriginal organizations.
In a perfect world in which Aboriginal self-government flourished, and where Aboriginal and treaty rights were…
Dear Editor:
We would like to congratulate the Aboriginal leaders in British Columbia and across Canada who worked so hard and so patiently to secure a tripartite accord with the federal and provincial governments at the Aboriginal Summit held in Kelowna on Nov. 24 and 25. Now we would like to request all the Aboriginal leaders to unite and support us so that we can make sure that this $5…
I wanted to share a gift giving idea for this season specifically for our Elders. I know it may not make your December issue, but I think that it is an idea that can be used throughout the year.
I believe that the gift of time is the most important gift that we can give during this season. Our Elders would appreciate the gift of our time more than they would cherish electronic equipment…
The conduct of the chiefs as demonstrated at a recent special assembly held in Ottawa has given us hope for the future of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
There, we said it. And we'll freely admit it's a strange feeling now that it's out there, because optimism is just plain counter-intuitive in a newsroom.
Our job is to look at events with critical eyes, to look for holes,…
MARCH 31 MARKED THE 50th
anniversary of the right to vote for First Nations. “This is an important milestone and a cause for reflection,” said Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl. The Diefenbaker government amended the Canada Elections Act in 1960. The law received Royal Assent on March 31, 1960, and the law came into effect July 1 of that year. “Canada has…
THE JOURNAL PIONEER REPORTS
that Minigoo Fisheries on Lennox Island, P.E.I. is ready to begin processing lobster when the spring season opens on May 1. The event is an historic one in Atlantic Canada as it is the first and only lobster processing plant owned and operated by a First Nation. The Lennox Island First Nations celebrated Minigoo Fisheries Day on April 21 on…
Gordon Campbell, the premier of British Columbia, seems to have some memory issues. It wasn’t long ago that he was boasting that his government was going green. Now all of a sudden he’s reviving a massive hydroelectric project from three decades ago that will disrupt an area of the Peace Country.
Some say the Site C dam on the Peace River could potentially increase B.C’s greenhouse gas…
MMF to appeal ruling
The Manitoba Métis Federation is planning to appeal a decision handed down by the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench on Dec. 7 that dismissed its long-standing claim for compensation for loss of the land base promised to Métis people in Manitoba in 1870.
The case revolved around a claim by the MMF that they “have suffered an historic injustice” due to…
In the rapidly growing metal underground in Prince Albert, one band is making strides in a huge way.
Formed in 2003, Cessate is a five piece wrecking ball of energy. The chemistry and talent of this group is only surpassed by what each individual member brings to the band. Guitarists Justin Bender and Chad Mahberg deliver their ear-splitting and distorted chords with such power that the…
Dene author George Blondin was one of few Aboriginal people who spoke openly about medicine power because he felt young people should know where they came from.
The prolific writer passed away at the advanced age of 87 on Oct. 12 after suffering a stroke this year in his Northwest Territories home.
Blondin was candid about the past, going so far as to reveal his own medicine power…