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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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A shortage of trained and qualified workers in the tourism industry in British Columbia could translate into a wealth of job opportunities for Aboriginal youth.
A number of factors, including high employee turnover, and a shift in demographics that translates into an aging workforce heading towards retirement and a drop in the number of young people available from which…
Page 28
"I'm the most fortunate guy in the world," said Winnipeg businessman Arnold Asham, his bemused tone hinting that even he isn't quite sure how his life turned out so satisfying and successful. "I get paid for doing something that I'd do for free."
Asham is talking about curling. It is a sport that has been the 52-year-old Metis man's passion for most of his life. It has…
Page 28
It's no news to any of us that healthy eating is a part of healthy living, but it isn't always easy to make the right choices in the foods we eat. But soon those choices will be a little easier to make, thanks to changes in the way foods must be labeled.
Under new requirements announced by Health Canada in early January, nutrition labeling will become easier to read and…
Page 27
Buffalo, N. Y. will be the host city for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in 2005.
Harold Joseph, NAIG council president, said the site was chosen through a process of elimination between Santa Fe, N. M., Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kamloops, B.C. Although these games were scheduled to take place in the U.S., the council decided to let Kamloops take part in the…
Page 27
Though he is in his final season of junior eligibility and has not been drafted by a National Hockey League club, Ryan Johnson is hoping to continue playing hockey for several years to come.
The 20-year-old centre is currently toiling for the Merritt Centennials, members of the British Columbia Junior A Hockey League.
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, is known for…
Page 26
For the first time ever, a sporting event in the Canada Games will he hosted by a First Nation on its own territory.
The Eel River Bar First Nation will host the fencing events for the games, which start Feb. 22 and continue until March 8.
Mi'kmaq people are excitedly preparing for the event because they will have a major role to play, not only in hosting the…
Page 24
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is refusing to hand over human bones that are thousands of years old because it says the Native group requesting them cannot prove the remains are those of its ancestors.
While the two sides are at an impasse, spokesmen say they plan to meet in February to discuss the issue.
"I've indicated to the museum 'No doors are closed as…
Page 24
Twelve years of planning, designing and constructing have resulted in the establishment of a permanent exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa-Gatineau. The exhibit, which was officially opened on Jan. 30, represents thousands of years of Aboriginal history.
Andrea Laforet, director of ethnology and cultural studies at Canada's national museum, explained…
Page 21
Alwyn Morris, the president of the Aboriginal Sports Circle, has also been following the progress of Bill C-12, the new sport bill that lacks explicit committment to funding minority groups.
"All the way along, one of the things we said is when sport policies and acts are moved it always takes just a tremendous amount of effort to move the yardstick. By having the wording…
Page 20
The mayor of Winnipeg, Man., Glen Murray, issued a state of the city address on Jan. 23, in which he told 600 people attending a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that "On the current track, we (the city of Winnipeg) are not sustainable."
He said the city can pay its bills but cannot provide services "at the level and quality currently desired" without "a change in funding."…
Page 19
The Assembly of First Nations' national chief, Matthew Coon Come, immediately responded to the census with his own bulletin commenting on the finding that half the First Nations population is under age 25 and more than a third are under age 14. He stated the federal government should target spending on youth and Aboriginal languages as an "investment in Canada."
As…
Page 17
Aboriginal organizations responded quickly to the release of Statistics Canada's 2001 census results last month, which show a 22.2 per cent increase over five years in the number of people identifying themselves as having some Aboriginal ancestry. Aboriginal people now account for 4.4 per cent of Canada's population.
The census shows 976,300 people identified as a North…
Page 15
A Metis man who feels his provincial organization is not meeting his needs believes there's enough people in all parts of the country who feel the same to make it worth forming a new national organization.
Gary Boudreau of Calgary called Windspeaker in early January to invite us to a strategy session he was holding in Edmonton on Jan. 18. About 20 people attended the…
Page 14
Sections of the Indian Act that have allowed First Nations to repay creditors will disappear when the First Nations governance act is passed into law as it's currently constructed, says a Winnipeg consultant who is trying to help private businesses collect on debts owed by First Nations.
Alan Isfeld, a Waywayseecappo First Nation member, has read the First Nations…
Page 13
A story published in the Edmonton Journal on Jan. 13 has many Native people wondering just what's going on with First Nation education.
After discussing First Nation education reform with the newspaper's editorial board on Jan. 8, Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault spoke to a staff reporter to explore the idea of educational reform. The news story that followed stated…