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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For over 20 years, Air Creebec has been flying high in the northern communities of Ontario and Quebec, and giving back to the communities that have contributed to its success.
The air carrier offers regular flights, serving the communities Attawapiskat, Chiboutamau, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Fort Albany, Kashewchewan, La Grande, Moosonnee, Nemaska, Peawanuck, Roberval,…
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Air Creebec, a Cree-owned air carrier serving northern Quebec and Ontario, has taken on a new challenge as of March 31. Company president, Albert Diamond, announced that a $19-million agreement has been negotiated with the James Bay Energy Corporation. During the three-year contract, Air Creebec will transport workers from southern Quebec to a northern hydro project.
A…
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A lot has changed in the 20 years since Windspeaker published its first issue. Back then, in March 1983, the paper was published as AMMSA (Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta), and came out every week, covering the news and events affecting Aboriginal people in Northern Alberta. The name change to Windspeaker came later, coinciding with the paper's third anniversary. AMMSA…
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Nassivik
Inuit in Canada must get a stand-alone Inuktitut language television network. Here are some reasons why:
Many people point out that the Inuktitut language is relatively healthy in comparison to other Aboriginal languages, and express some pride at this good fortune. I tend to spin the state of Inuktitut from the perspective of its erosion. I have lived…
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Music Biz 101
This is prime season for music awards. Here are a few of them. Canadian artists, songwriters, recording engineers, and video producers (citizen or landed immigrant) who have released product during the period of Sept. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2003 are eligible to submit entries for the JUNO Awards.
In the juried categories, which are not based on sales,…
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Pro Bono
Dear Tuma:
I just bought a new generator for $600. After about a month, the motor went. The store gave me a one-year guarantee on it. When I tried to take it back, the store said that I didn't replace the oil so it was my fault. They wouldn't replace it. I told them that I wasn't that stupid, especially since I've worked around motors my entire life. What…
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Medium Rare
Each day I read three to five newspapers, watch and listen to TV and radio news, devour every Native newspaper that crosses my path. In other words, I work hard to stay informed.
Ever since 9/11, the "war on terrorism," the invasion of Afghanistan, and now the invasion of Iraq, I've discovered I know a lot about the opinions of people in Afghanistan,…
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For those counting on a Canada/U.S. final at the inaugural world box lacrosse championships, Rusty Doxtdator has some advice: Don't bet on it.
That's because Doxtdator is confident another club, the Iroquois Nationals, will advance and possibly even win the tournament. It should be noted, there's a very good reason why Doxtdator has this thinking; he's the general manager…
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Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Nathaniel: The best quality of a friend should be loyalty....You know what, can I change that first one? Honesty.
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
N: What truly makes me mad is how far advanced we think we are as humans, that we still can't find a way to not fight each other and kill each…
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Yes, that's still the same Cody McCormick that's been starring for the Belleville Bulls this season.
Yes, the same McCormick who was primarily utilized as a third-line or fourth-line checker during his first three seasons with the Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League.
In his first three years in Belleville, McCormick, a Chippewa, played in 174 games and earned 57…
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Saskatchewan Liberal Member of Parliament Rick Laliberte says he will propose an amendment to the First Nations governance act (FNGA) after the consultation committee wraps up its cross-country tour and the bill returns to Parliament for second and third reading.
"The amendment is the definition of First Nations," he told Windspeaker on March 10. "And the definition of…
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The man leading British Columbia's residential school survivors organization says the government has refused to consider extending the mandate of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF).
"The federal government really has no long-term strategy for community-driven healing and it's tragic. Really tragic. One of the most wonderful things that's happened in the Aboriginal…
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Canada has signed deals with two of the four churches that ran the country's 130 Indian residential schools. The government of Canada committed to cover 70 per cent of the costs of settling compensation claims filed by victims of physical and sexual assault. The Anglican and Presbyterian churches agreed to cover the other 30 per cent up to a set limit.
The parties pledged…
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Satsan (Herb George) may be the British Columbia vice-chief of the Assembly of First Nations, but that didn't stop him from urging the member chiefs of the First Nations Summit to "withdraw public support for the national chief and executive."
In a letter sent out on AFN letterhead to all B.C. chiefs on March 4, Satsan, who is also a member of the three-member leadership…
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Lawyers for the Samson Cree Nation want to call the prime minister as a
witness in Victor Buffalo versus the Queen. They are betting that Jean Chretien will fight with every means at his disposal to avoid having to testify.
Paul Barnsley, Windspeaker Staff Writer, Montreal
James O'Reilly, a veteran practitioner of Aboriginal law, filed notice in Calgary's…