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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.
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Several new members of the AFN executive were attending their first assembly as national office holders. Newly elected Alberta Vice-Chief Jason Goodstriker addressed the assembly, but steered clear of controversy. The new Manitoba Vice-Chief, Francis Flett, stated his opposition to C-19. Yukon Vice-Chief Rick O'Brien attended the annual assembly in Edmonton in July immediately…
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National Chief Phil Fontaine arrived in Vancouver for a special chiefs assembly with a goal of correcting what he called "an unfortunate report in the national media" that he was asking for almost $2 billion for the Assembly of First Nations. The reality, he said, is that only one per cent of that proposed funding would go to the AFN.
Getting Results is a 10-point…
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Opposition chiefs hijack special assembly agenda
Opponents of Bill C-19, the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act, succeeded in forcing an agenda change at the Oct. 8 and 9 special chiefs assembly that allowed them to defeat a resolution in support of the bill.
The chiefs who opposed the fiscal institutions legislation were on the offensive from the…
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I want to talk about the idea of Aboriginals being recognized in the Constitution under Section 35, and I'm sitting here wondering if that was a ploy to pull us out of Aboriginal cultural significance as we look at ourselves and define ourselves.
By being recognized in the Constitution, are we not being pulled into the white man's process of trying to get our answers from…
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Dear Editor:
In the October 2003 edition of Windspeaker, comments were attributed to lawyer Jean Teillet about the effect of the Powley decision on non-status Indians, and specifically on the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP). These comments are inaccurate.
Ms. Teillet reportedly said that the Powley decision is "going to be very difficult for organizations like…
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This month, chiefs on both sides in the fight over such issues as Bill C-19, the fiscal institutions legislation, accused each other of sour grapes, of failing to accept the presence and legitimacy of the other's position and of failing to come to terms with political realities.
Each side accused the other of stubborn, single-minded, almost childish behavior. There's…
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When astronomers and amateur stargazers look up into the night sky at Saturn, they might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Ijiraq, Kiviuq, Siarnaq or Paaliaq.
Those are the names of four of Saturn's 31 moons, given Inuit names thanks to astronomer Dr. J.J. Kavelaars and Inuit author Michael Kusugak, whose book Hide and Sneak helped inspire Kavelaars to suggest Inuit…
Page 31 Her dream of one day establishing a Native cultural centre -If we could have a lot of people go through [a cultural centre] and learn what it's like, what it was like and take the good things out of it and put it into our society today I'd think we'd be far better off. We'd learn to respect Mother Nature, we'd learn to respect ourselves, respect others. Those are the things that I…
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Mathew King-Chief Noble Red Man-was a long-time spokesman for the traditional chiefs of the Lakota Nation and official interpreter for Frank Fools Crow, the Lakota high ceremonial chief. King was also one of the leaders of the great Indian Reawakening that began in the late 1960s.
He provided political and spiritual counsel to the activist of the American Indian Movement…
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Dear Buffalo Spirit:
I live in Alabama and am Native American by descent. I want so badly to learn the old ways of my people, but it is hard discovering just who my people were.
I was told by my grandmother that we are Cherokee, and I am also some Native American on my father's side.
You know, when we are young and crazy, we do not care who we are or where…
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Dear Buffalo Spirit:
I have read with deep respect your article on recording our Elders' stories. I began what I call a 'journey of healing' back around 1995 ...
Part of my 'journey of healing' related to wanting to rid myself of my abusive behavior towards women. I was a very angry young man in my twenties, and I believe my anger had a lot to do with my 10 years…
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On a scorching summer Saturday, friends and family of Edgar Charlie (Hanuquii) gathered at the Thunderbird Hall to witness his seating as the head chief of Kelthsmaht.
Kelthsmaht traditional territory is on Vargas Island, in view of Tofino. Kelthsmaht is one of the several nations that amalgamated to form modern-day Ahousaht.
The rightful heir to the Kelthsmaht…
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What started out as a place for First Nations schools in Atlantic Canada to get help with their computer and Internet problems has grown into an organization that helps students develop the skills they need in an increasingly technological world.
Atlantic Canada's First Nation Help Desk started up in 1999 when Industry Canada set up DirecPC systems across the region,…
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The Indian Communication Arts program at the First Nations University of Canada is making a business out of teaching its students, in more ways than one.
Over the summer, 10 students from the department took part in the Sask Scene project, traveling across the province, visiting festivals, interviewing young people about what they think of Saskatchewan, and using cameras…