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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.
Norval Morrisseau has been known by many names. Some have called him the father or grandfather of Native Canadian art. Others dubbed him the Picasso of the North. He was also known as Miskwaabik Animiiki, or Copper Thunderbird, the name he was given when he was 19 and gravely ill and which he credited with saving his life.
Morrisseau was born on March 14, 1932 in Fort William, now part of…
For the first time ever, a Canadian has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Superintendent Shirley Cuillierrier, an Aboriginal employee with more than 25 years of distinguished service in the RCMP, was named Indian Country Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2007.
Cuillierrier was project leader in the implementation of a co-ordinated police response…
It's taken a lot of hard work and determination, but Deanna Perrault is realizing her dream of making a better life for herself and her family.
The Trent University student has had to balance pursuing a post-secondary education with the responsibilities of caring for her two children, but has risen to the challenge. Perrault, who had dropped out of high school in Grade 9, decided to go…
When Tantoo Cardinal made her film debut in the early 1970s, acting was not a viable career for Aboriginal people. Today, working in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera, is a rewarding career choice for Aboriginal people and Cardinal, a Métis woman who was raised by her Cree grandmother in northeastern Alberta, thinks it's important for youngsters to know that.
"(…
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation has annouced the names of its latest batch of National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipients. The foundation hands out the awards each year to recognize the contributions of exceptional Aboriginal people.
Chief Jim Boucher of Fort McKay First Nation in northern Alberta is being honoured with an achievement award in the business and commerce…
Goalie cut by national team
Leland Irving will not have an opportunity to win a second consecutive world championship.
A year ago Irving was the backup goaltender for the Canadian hockey squad that captured the gold medal at the world junior championships in Sweden. Canada went with an all-Aboriginal duo between the pipes for that tournament. Starting goalie Carey Price, who is now a…
The 2008 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) set for Cowichan, B.C. are still eight months away, but organizers are confident all preparations are running smoothly at this point.
"Over the last two years we have been operating as a host society," said Rick Brant, chief executive officer for the games. "Everything is in place."
Essential contracts to feed, house and transport games…
The 2008 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) set for Cowichan, B.C. are still eight months away, but organizers are confident all preparations are running smoothly at this point.
"Over the last two years we have been operating as a host society," said Rick Brant, chief executive officer for the games. "Everything is in place."
Essential contracts to feed, house and transport games…
A thriving community is a key goal for the newly elected chief of Six Nations of the Grand River, home to the largest Aboriginal population in Canada.
"The way ahead for me is to put back the public affairs of our community into a healthy and sustainable state," said Bill Montour.
He defeated incumbent chief David General by 663 votes to 287 in the Nov. 17 election.
"The…
Judi Kehler has mentored many girls from the time they were curious five-year-olds through their teens. She's been involved with Girl Guides for 35 years, but she believes one of her biggest accomplishments is the inner city program at Albert community school in Regina.
"I got into Guiding with Albert School about 10 years ago," said Kehler, who was Girl Guide commissioner for Regina. "…
Invasive mould, spongy floors and leaky ceilings forced the evacuation of 31 people, more than half of them children, from five uninhabitable homes of the Piikani Nation Nov. 23.
"We declared a state of emergency for the Piikani Nation because of our housing situation," said Adam North Peigan, a band councilor. "Some of our Nation members would not have survived the winter."
Poor…
What do an aspiring First Nations artist, a welder and a business administrator have in common? All are paving the way for a bright future through education, and were all acknowledged for their academic pursuits after becoming British Columbia's Northwest Community College bursary and scholarship recipients for 2007.
This year, Northwest Community College (NWCC), which has campuses in…
Artist-Sandy Scofield
Album-Nikawiy Askiy
Song-Raining in Vancouver
Label- Independent
Producer-Sandy Scofield and Shael Wrinch
Since the release of her first independent album, Dirty Water, in 1994, Sandy Scofield has been a musical force to be reckoned with. . In 2000, her second album, Riel's Road, won the awards for best alternative album and best single for…
Twenty-two-year-old actor and student Larissa Tobacco is probably best known for her work as host of the APTN program Upload, and her time spent as a contestant in MuchMusic's 2006 VJ Search. In the New Year she'll be adding another entry to her resume, when she takes on the hosting duties for the 15th annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards gala, to be held in Toronto on March 7. The…
The following article is the first in a series of columns by the Canadian Cancer Society that will be running in Windspeaker, providing information on healthy living and cancer prevention from an Aboriginal perspective.
Living a healthy lifestyle is an important way to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. And it's one of the most important things you can do to reduce…