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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Editorial
When one understands the Canadian parliamentary system, it is not hard to believe that Canada's Indian peoples, were, for the first time, permitted to vote in 1960.
It was also in 1960 that Canada's first residents were allowed to openly purchase liquor without fear of being prosecuted by the courts or of being severely reprimanded by the lords of the…
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Indian Affairs Minsiter John Munro, Chief Leo Pretty Youngman and band members from Blackfoot Reserve at Gleichen, Alberta, signed an agreement April 6, for compensation of $1.675 million because of unkept obligations from a treaty signed over 104 years ago.
The federal government has agreed to give the band the financial compensation for cattle they did not receive along…
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Provincial Minister Responsible for Native Affairs Milt Pahl told AMMSA in a telephone interview that he is personally committed tom resolving the outstanding land claim of the Lubicon Lake Indian Band.
Pahl said he expects the federal government to give the province a "documented land claim" (outlining the number of band members in the area 100 km northeast of Peace River…
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Indian Affairs Minister John Munro said in a press conference March 7 that he is trying to have the sexually discriminatory Section 12(1)(b) of the Indian Act repealed and Indian self-government legislation passed in parliament before June of this year.
Munro said he would link the issue of the Indian women losing their treaty status when they marry anyone who is not…
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In the last issue we examined some of the old Indian prophecies as told by the Elders. Now let us take a look at prophecies and the affect that it had on the lives of the historical chiefs.
Most of the readers have heard of the Chief Red Cloud of the Lokota Sioux. Howevr, many people do not know that there was a prophecy given at the time of his birth.
On the night…
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Editorial
The 200 member Lubicon Lake Band headquartered in Little Buffalo, 100km northeast of Peace River, is engaged in a battle over Aboriginal land entitlement with the provincial and federal governments.
Since 1977 the band has sued both governments for compensation and later filed an injunction against 10 oil companies and the provincial government to halt…
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Church condemns injustices
After a recent fact-finding tour to the Lubicon lake area 100 km northeast of Peace River, a group of church leaders have called on the federal government to live up to its responsibility to provide a reserve for the Lubicon Lake Indian Band.
Leaders representing the Anglican, United, Lutheran and Catholic Churches spent two days in the…
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As far back as our Elders can remember there have always been Indian prophets who have foretold the future. These prophets were respected and honored by the people. Through dreams and visions they predicted events before they actually happened.
The coming of the whiteman was predicted before he ever set foot on this continent and the prophets foretold of the changes that…
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Premier Peter Lougheed reaffirmed his government's responsibility for Alberta's Metis people, despite reports the Metis believe the burden lies with the federal government.
Under questioning in the legislature, Lougheed detailed the stand he took at the recent Ottawa constitutional conference on Aboriginal rights.
He said Metis representatives at the conference…
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Allegations of the withholding proper funding to the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) were leveled at the Native Secretariat during a two-day MAA workshop on March 24 and 25.
MAA President Sam Sinclair said he often has difficulty in reaching high level officials for meetings and has to deal with bureaucrats. In addition, the Native Secretariat places too many…
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Editorial
Editors Note: This editorial will not carry any individual names nor will it single out any person or group involved in the power struggle within the Metis Association of Alberta and its members. One reading this editorial will quickly see who is who in this Metis struggle.
Anyone studying and following the Metis political movement in Alberta can clearly…
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Cancelled audit sparks confrontaion
During the Meytis Association of Alberta's (MAA) wrap-up panel question and answer period March 25, the inevitable political confrontation between Metis leaders, Sam Sinclair, president of the Metis Association of Alberta and Joe Blyan, president of Metis Local 97 and past candidate for the MAA's presidency, was staged on the last day of…
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Samuel John Sinclair was born November 22, 1926 in Slave Lake. He Started his education when he was five years old, in a one-room school in the old town which is by the river. Sam was sent home because he could not speak English. This is the reason why. The class was learning how to count and they were asked to repeat the numbers from one to 10 after the teacher. Mr. Sinclair…
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Indian chiefs who negotiated with the government before the signing of the treaties were very wise leaders. These leaders were sincere in their requests and were concerned not only with themselves and present but also with the future and what it held for their descendants.
The following story shows the wisdom and sincerity of one such leader. His name was Crowfoot, chief…
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Guest Editorial
Minister of Indian Affairs John Munro's approach to Indian self-government needs to be seriously questioned by the Indian nations in terms of process and substance.
The Indian nations must remember the unilateral move by Parliament in 1952 to include the provinces in governing Indians by enacting Section 88 of the Indian Act and the "…