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.
Page 9
Phil Fontaine, elected on July 16 with the support of just over 60 per cent of a record number of voters, believes no national chief has ever had such a strong mandate. He clearly intends to wield it aggressively and that isn't sitting well with many chiefs who say the national chief's job is to do what they tell him to do.
All signs indicate that Fontaine is going to be…
Page 8
A decision on Aboriginal rights was brought down by the Supreme Court of Canada on Sept. 19, and included strong direction for Canada's legislators to get to work on finding a way to accommodate those rights, rather than fighting to deny them.
That's how Jean Teillet, great-grandniece of historic Metis leader Louis Riel, interprets the decision in the hunting rights case…
Page 8
Powley determines who can access Section 35 rights
On Sept. 19, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed what Metis people have known all along; the Metis of Canada are Aboriginal under the Constitution and have Aboriginal rights under Section 35.
The case decided is known as Powley and it began with a charge under Ontario's fish and wildlife legislation against Steve…
Page 5
Dear Editor:
As the government spokesperson in the article from Windspeaker's August 2003 edition entitled, "Settlement proposal called 'trick and spin'-Compensation cap concerns litigants," I would like to provide additional comments to the partial presentation of the government's Alternative Dispute Resolution to your readership.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution…
Page 5
What the heck is a non-status Indian, anyway?
Lawyer Jean Teillet tells us there's lots more of them now than there used to be.
So who are they? Would it be fair to say that a non-status Indian is a non-Indian? If that's the case, then why call them anything at all with the word "Indian" in it?
Would you call a double burger with cheese and bacon a non-pizza…
Page 18
.
Pointing out the positive aspects of traditional lifesyles has been more than a job for Helen Meguinis who has been curator of the Sarcee Peoples Museum near Calgary for the past ten years.
She has a personal "code of ethics" that requires her to continue educating people about Natives despite retiring from the job on Oct. 31.
After ten years, her final…
Page 10
The chairman of the Alberta Human Rights Commission found more widespread discrimination in Lethbridge than he anticipated after meeting with Native groups earlier this month.
Fil Fraser says he's alarmed about charges of discrimination aimed at a local real estate agency.
After holding two days of open discussions with Native and ethnic groups in the southern…
Page 10
One of Alberta's most historic towns is still suffering under the same dark cloud of racial resentment that affected Indians after Canada's first police force was established there more than 110 years ago.
That's the claim made by local Natives who fear retaliation if they come forward with their complaints.
They say the problem of discrimination against Indians…
Page 7
Tansi, ahnee and hello.
And the trees have their teachings. Against the sky this morning they are still.
In this pale early sun they seem to vibrate with some incredible inner urgency. The leaves have gone.
This is the Freeze Up Moon. As the winter season approaches the trees seem to tell me that it is a time for silences. This is the season of contemplation…
Page 4
Even after reporting a missing child to police, parents often feel powerless and frantic.
A small measure of relief may come from the local chapter of Victims of Violence (V o V), an organization that helps look for missing children, offers counselling services and distributes information of missing children.
Shari Uri works with the current Edmonton chapter and…
Page 4
Runaways come from all social classes.
Fortunately, most return home once they realize how hard life is on their own, according to Jim White, a community services officer with the Edmonton city police department.
He says runaways mostly fall between the 13 to 17 age group.
"Roughly 45 per cent of them run from their own home, with 42 per cent running from…
Page 3
The Lubicon Lake Cree are going through what early South Africa experience and should continue their fight, says a representative of the African National Congress.
Peter Mahlangu, said early South Africa was seized by outsiders and taken away.
"We were deprived of our own land by people who came to our country," he declared at a rally Oct. 21 marking the one year…
Page 3
Downtown Edmonton rang with speeches and clapping at a rally Oct. 21 commemorating the first anniversary of the Lubicon Indian blockade at Little Buffalo.
A crowd of about 150 people gathered at Canada Place to hear speeches condemning the federal government for its treatment of the Lubicon Nation for the past 50 years.
The tiny Lubicon Indian band from northern…
Page 2
Bonnyville RCMP say they'll be looking into new evidence that the children of a Kehewin family were physically and sexually abused.
The case, which involves children belonging to Vernon Soloway and Lila McCarthy, had been closed by the RCMP earlier this month after a lengthy investigation.
The couple denied all allegations and police said they had inadequate…
Page 2
The foster parents of an Indian child ho died of a gunshot are demanding the provincial government hold a fatality inquiry.
Suzanne and Barry Gibbons, former foster parents of 12 year old Ernest Thunder, have heard conflicting reports of his recent death.
Thunder died as a result of a bullet would from a 303 Winchester, a world war two rifle. A local High Prairie…