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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.
The capsizing of the whale watching tour boat Leviathan II off the West Coast of Vancouver Island has brought the vulnerabilities of search and rescue capabilities into sharp focus.
Many are calling for First Nations communities to have an official rescue role in search and rescue services.
First Nations men fishing in the area where the Leviathan II was swamped by a rogue wave,…
The newly-elected Prime Minister of Canada has put his best foot forward and chosen a Cabinet that reflects the country, including putting two Indigenous people in key positions.
It was touted soon after the election results were in that Jody Wilson-Raybould of the Cape Mudge First Nation, elected to the riding of Vancouver Granville, was a shoe-in for a Cabinet post, but it surprised…
Grandmother’s kindness and wisdom helped a nation
As Nov. 8, the birth date of her late grandmother, came and went a few weeks ago, Tanya Kappo reflected on the words written on her mentor’s gravestone.
“She passed away last March. This month, she would have been 94 years old,” Tanya said. “I was thinking a lot about her and came to a realization. If I want to…
Tasza Tarnowski has already had her share of hockey highlights in 2015, and she’s now waiting for some news that hopefully will make her year even better.
Tarnowski, a 17-year-old whose mother is Ojibwe, is hoping to get a positive call from Hockey Canada officials. She’s waiting to hear whether she’s earned a spot on the national girls’ under-18 squad that will participate at its world…
Honorary degree for sports leader
A First Nation sports leader has received an honorary degree from the University of Victoria. Baptiste Harry (Skip) Dick was presented with an honorary doctor of education degree on Nov. 10 in recognition of his First Nations advocacy work.
Dick, who was born in Victoria, was taken as a youngster from his home and placed in a…
Day pledges to bring attention to national health concerns
Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day, who recently assumed responsibility for the Assembly of First Nations national health portfolio, has issued a call to action. He says health for First Nations people in Canada is deplorable and unconscionable and he will make a determined effort to raise the awareness on the…
A novel recently published by well-known Canadian journalist Carol Daniels brings to light issues surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Bearskin Diary is the story of a young girl who was taken from her family by the Canadian government, and placed in foster care during the 1960’s. To Daniels, the “60’s Scoop” was one of the last great efforts at the assimilation…
When he was in the prime of his professional playing days, Reggie Leach was one of the National Hockey League’s most prolific scorers.
It’s little wonder then that Leach continues to be a straight shooter these days. His recently released autobiography published by Greystone Book called The Riverton Rifle tells it just like it was.
He manages to stay humble and doesn’t omit the…
A Toronto-based fashion arts project that seeks to challenge issues of cultural appropriation in clothing design is underway.
Setsune Indigenous Fashion Incubator, the name of the team of artists who came up with the idea, launched the Collective Creation Project officially this month, and are working with specially selected individuals—both professional textile artists, and…
Edith Cloutier is appalled at the situation, but relieved that action is finally being taken in response to allegations by a growing number of Aboriginal women – and a handful of men – that members of the Val-d’Or police abused them.
But it took the airing of the Radio Canada investigative program Enquête in mid-October before Quebec Premier…
If the Ontario Court of Appeal decides that records from the Independent Assessment Process are to be held on to, one residential school survivor has given notice he will take legal action.
“This is a legal matter that will boil over and, I guarantee you, I won’t be the only one in the line-up. There will be others following,” said Allan Adam, who…
A former Onion Lake Cree Nation councillor is challenging the credentials committee of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations for not allowing her to run in the Oct. 28 election.
Dolores Pahtayken was one of four potential candidates who did not meet all criteria set out for filing nomination papers. Missing from her papers by nomination deadline was the vulnerable sector check.…
The numbers won’t be in until the New Year, but the stories support strongly an increase in Aboriginal voting across the country, both on reserves and in urban centres.
“I would venture to say it would be significantly higher that it’s been in previous years,” said Dwight Dorey, National Chief with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which represents Indigenous populations in the urban…
A Siksika First Nation man affected by a disastrous flood two-and-a-half years ago says he and other band members will protest until chief and council “open the books” into how money sent to the community for remediation is being spent.
Ben Crow Chief is also demanding that he and other flood evacuees who are still in temporary accommodations get input into where their new permanent…
A little over 50 kilometres north of Peterborough, Ont., a tempest is brewing involving people who have spent huge amounts of money to buy or build a cottage on the shores of Pigeon Lake in the last couple of decades, and an Indigenous form of grain harvested by First Nations people for thousands of years. It’s a battle of aesthetics and culture, property values and subsistence, of Muskoka…