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.
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Canadian Classroom
Zahra Kazemi had made a career of taking photos that told stories, and that career brought her life to a brutal end.
The 54-year-old photo-journalist had traveled to Iran from Montreal in June 2003 to record for the world the plight of protestors, thrown in jail for taking part in student demonstrations. Kazemi was quickly arrested for doing her…
Page 28
The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) has launched a one-year campaign-Sisters in Spirit-to lobby the federal government to establish a $10-million fund for research and education related to violence against Aboriginal women.
The launch was part of Hate and Racism: Seeking Solutions, a four-day conference held March 20 to 23 and hosted by the Indigenous Bar…
Page 27
It's not just a clash of culture, but also a clash of ideas.
That's the message Catherine Bell delivered in a speech on protection and repatriation of First Nation cultural property, given to about 100 people at Luther College's Rex Schneider Auditorium at the University of Regina on March 18.
Bell, a professor at the University of Alberta's law school in Edmonton…
Page 27
Buffalo Spirit
It is apparent that the radical right is getting ready to pounce on the recent success of gay and lesbian couples in the courts by launching a campaign to officially limit marriage to the bonding of a female with a male.
Of course, they plan to refer frequently to "the American heritage" and to "what the Bible tells us" in order to galvanize their…
Page 25
Don Burnstick may be a funny guy, but his Redskins are no joke.
The popular entertainer's Redskins hockey team captured the Native Stanley Cup on their very first try, blanking the Beardy's Blackhawks 2-0 in the final game of the Battlefords Indian-Metis Friendship Centre All-Native Hockey Tournament.
The 40th annual tournament took place March 26 to 28 in North…
Page 24
One is a talented lacrosse player who has made his mark on the world scene. The other is a teenaged track star who has shone nationally and is hoping for glory outside of Canada some day.
Both share one thing in common. They were named the 2003 winners of the Tom Longboat Award.
Delby Powless and Deanna Sullivan were presented with their awards as the country's top…
Page 23
There were moments during the old-timers Native hockey tournament in Saskatchewan in March that he looked just like he did all those years ago-helmetless, hair flowing in the wake of a powerful stride. Just like back in the day when he patrolled right wing on the Stanley Cup championship Philadelphia Flyers.
But oh, how looks can deceive, because deep inside, The Rifle,…
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THE URBANE INDIAN
Not that long ago, I found myself walking the halls of one of Canada's newest universities and its first Aboriginal one, logically enough named First Nations University, but affectionately known as FNU. (As we say in the humor business, the jokes about the acronym just write themselves.)
The gentleman who was giving me the tour bumped into some…
Page 21
NASIVVIK
"Aboriginals to join MPs' panel: Five Groups Granted Permanent Status". The title of this recent newspaper article perked my attention to full alert. As a keenly interested observer of such developments, it sounded to me like history being made. Or at least, being sneaked in through a side door beyond the scrutiny of its supposed beneficiaries-the Aboriginal…
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PRO BONO
Dear Tuma:
I am trying to help my cousin register her kids to our band, but am having a great deal of difficulty as the band registry says that the kids are non-Native. I believe that this is wrong.
Years ago when a woman married a non-Native she lost her status, but when a Native man married a non-Native women she received full status and their…
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MEDIUM RARE
In mid-January, Kanehsatake exploded in the national consciousness once more. Looking back at the media coverage of the events, familiar patterns emerge.
Major Canadian news organizations immediately pumped up the volume by resurrecting images of the 1990 Oka crisis, masked Mohawk warriors and all. They soon transformed the story into one of criminals…
Page 20
Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Richard Peter: I guess honesty.
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
R.P.: Oh, that differs each day. I guess impatient people. So wherever that happens, whether it be driving or just in a line-up somewhere.
W: When are you at your happiest?
R.P.: I don't know. I guess when…
Page 19
This year's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards show held in Calgary April 4 cost an estimated $3 million, reports the foundation that puts together the gala awards night. That's down from last year, when the foundation held its 10th anniversary show in Ottawa at a cost of $4.5 million.
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation annually pays tribute to the…
Page 18
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation set up shop in Calgary April 4 to pay tribute to 14 accomplished member of the Native community in Canada.
The foundation's annual achievement awards gala was a lavish affair, bringing together a who's who of the Aboriginal elite and the corporate connected.
Playing host to the foundation's guests were legendary…
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Artist-Wayne Lavallee
Album-Green Dress
Song-Green Dress
Label-Independent
Producer-
Kevin Kane
with Wayne Lavallee
Important sound, lyrics in new CD from the coast
Wayne Lavallee has the most interesting voice. Think the growls that set rocker Melissa Ethridge apart, and the amazing range of Simply Red. Then think about…