Windspeaker Publication

The Ktunaxa Nation Council has formed an historic alliance with the provincial Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation in British Columbia. The two bodies have come together to better assess and develop programs for vulnerable Aboriginal adults in the First Nation.

While the Ktunaxa Nation already runs programs for its vulnerable people—as well as other Aboriginal…

Two hundred people gathered in Toronto’s Allan Gardens on Oct. 4 for a somber ceremony to remember the country’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The Sisters in Spirit vigil was organized by the Native Women’s Resource Centre.

A prayer offered by grandmother Dorothy Peters, drumming by Red Spirit Singers and a healing dance by nine jingle dress dancers opened the evening…

Aboriginal women, men and children took to King Street to march together from Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services to Ivey Park on Oct. 4 to bring attention to the national issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Purple Spirit was the men’s host drum, led by Jason George of Kettle Point, and Liz Akwienzie led the women singers from Oneida in the Strong Women’s Song…

A new Indigenous speaker series is hitting the Canadian market. The creators of REDx Talks held their inaugural event in October at Mount Royal University in Calgary, and have many more planned for the future.

The purpose behind the talks is to be a platform for Indigenous speakers who want to open up about issues experienced by Indigenous people, and educate the public about them.…

Dwight Dorey has big plans for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. His plans are so far-reaching there’s little doubt that he will be looking to turn the one year he was recently elected to serve into a full term.

“There’s certainly a distinct possibility of that. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, but for the time being I want to focus on what I can get done now, in this year and…

Interveners in the Daniels case believe that the Supreme Court of Canada does not need to define Métis or non-Status Indian. And if the court does decide a definition is necessary for Métis, it should not use the Powley definition to determine jurisdictional responsibility.

The issue of definition of Métis was raised when the Federal Court accepted the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’…

After close to four hours of submissions on Oct. 8, the Supreme Court of Canada reserved its decision on the Daniels case.

But Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Dwight Dorey is optimistic that the highest court in the country will uphold the findings of the federal court which ruled that non-Status Indians and Metis are the responsibility of the federal government.

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A recent comment from Conservative Party leader, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, about Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde’s supposed flip-flop over the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, highlights the need for a strong strategy, post-election, if the Conservatives do manage to retain power.

If you are watching the polls it’s like being at the…

Premier Christy Clark announced $2 million to encourage more Aboriginal students to pursue masters and doctoral level degrees at public universities in British Columbia. “Aboriginal people are a vital part of British Columbia’s future and contribute to our diverse, growing and strong economy,” said Premier Clark, who made the announcement during closing remarks at the B.C. Cabinet-First…

An assistant professor at the University of Manitoba’s law school has been appointed director of research for the new National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The establishment of the new centre, Craft explains, flows from the settlement agreement arrived at from the residential school class actions. “Our work here will be centered around policy changes resulting from the TRC, said the…

Aboriginal women pursuing business studies at UBC’s Sauder School of Business will benefit from a $1-million gift from the family of Warren and Maureen Spitz. The Spitz Fellows Program was created in collaboration with the family and accepted its first student this month. “Our hope is that the Spitz Fellows Program will create opportunities for women to empower themselves and succeed in their…

An engineering professor at the University of Saskatchewan is using concepts from kayaks, tipis and the longhouse in his courses this year. “It’s long overdue, I think, that we bring in some excellent examples of First Nations history into engineering,” he told the CBC. Sean Maw said there’s a lot from First Nations design that engineers could learn from. “The design of watercraft across…

Imagine having to get a note from your tribal council grand chief so your son can wear a simple Mohawk haircut to school. Ridiculous, right?

Well, that’s what one family had to do in Santa Clara, Utah when their seven-year-old son, Jakobe, was pulled from his second-grade classroom when his ‘do’ violated the dress code at the, ironically, named Arrowhead Elementary School. (Gary Sanden…

The Japan Times picked up a Reuters report from Winnipeg this September about the very real possibility that the Aboriginal vote could decide the outcome of the 2015 federal election. “Spurred by anger over disproportionately high rates of violence against Indigenous women and poor living standards as well as resource development and environmental issues, Aboriginal voters are being urged by…

The Tsartlip First Nation“strongly opposes the process chosen by Malahat First Nation and [its corporate partner] Steelhead LNG for its plant at Bamberton in British Columbia. “We oppose the aggressive approach taken by Steelhead LNG and their board of directors by publicly announcing the project prior to any discussions with the Tsartlip community,” said Chief Don Tom. Tsartlip is across the…