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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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CALGARY - A Calgary city committee chairman is calling the federal government and the minister of the Department of Indian Affairs to task over Bill C-31 which he claims has created "two classes of Status Indians."
Andrew Bear Robe, a Blackfoot band member and Chairman of Calgary's Native Urban Affairs Committee (NUAC0 has written a strongly worded letter to Minister Bill…
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The decision to move the location of the Metis Association of Alberta assembly to Edmonton from the originally planned Slave Lake site, was prompted by a quiet sit-in by dissatisfied southern Alberta Metis on February 11.
A group of Metis from Calgary along with Edmonton supporters, held a sit in at the MAA offices to protest the proposed location site of the upcoming MAA…
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Native chiefs from Alberta and Saskatchewan in a prepared statement have announced that they will not participate in the First Minister's Conference (FMC) scheduled for March.
In the statement, the chiefs said at the last two ministers' conference, the United Indian First Nations of Treaty 6 held demonstrations out side the conference, something they have agreed not to do…
25 years of affiliation
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I met 68 year-old Delia Gray, who was born near Wabasca, at a Canadian Native Friendship Centre Christmas party last year. We spoke privately in one of the upstairs offices where she proudly stated in her convincing manner, "I've been affiliated with the friendship centre coming up to 25 years."
As Gray recalled the original site of the…
Silver Jubilee
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It was an occasion to kick up one's heels and that's exactly what happened last Saturday night as the Canadian native Friendship Centre (CNFC) commemorated its Silver Anniversary at the Montgomery Legion in Edmonton.
Approximately 200 guest attended the gala event to pay tribute to the individuals and organizations who have been involved over the…
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NOTE: It is with respect that Windspeaker proudly announces the arrival of a new family member to the newspaper, Winston Wuttunee, entertainer and now Windspeaker Columnist.
Winston Wuttunee is a member of the Red Pheasant Reserve in Saskatchewan and as his first column indicates, he will be sharing many of his experiences with us.
Welcome aboard Winston!
In…
EDITORIAL
Over the years, a number of Alberta's Indian reserves have been able to better
their socio-economic position. For many, that has been the result of incoming revenue generated from oil and gas royalties. When those "have not" communities became "have" communities, their social and economic conditions were dramatically altered.
While the Cree at Fort Chipewyan are…
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DUFFIELD - The Paul Band community threw its support to a band member who
lost everything in a house fire by holding a benefit round dance on February 7, at the community hall. Local residents gave donations to help Edith Paul get started again.
Paul, a young single mother of two and a widow, received the community generosity and donations with sincere gratefulness…
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A home-based community-centered program offering support to troubled families is reducing the potential for child abuse while keeping families together.
The Yellowhead Youth Centre's Family Support Program, operated by the Edmonton Region of Alberta Social Services, is an alternative to placing children in residential care.
A recent evaluation showed 94 per cent of…
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An Indian massacre that took place in the jungles of South America 200 years ago is the subject of a new movie that's getting a lot of attention. It's called The Mission and it stars Robert DeNiro. It's already won some major awards in France and England and it's sure to be in the running for an Oscar this spring.
The movie starts with Robert DeNiro working as a slave-…
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"It is government policy not to let Indian know what is going on around them. We've been kicked around for many, many years now."
These are the words of Ken Steinhauer, President of the Blackpowder Association of Alberta.
"This time though, it's not only Natives, but non-Natives as well."
Mr. Steinhauer was referring to the pesticide spraying incidents…
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GRAND CENTRE - The beleaguered Grand Centre Satellite Friendship Centre faced last year with eviction and closure, now faces a challenge that seems insurmountable - a total lack of funding and no commitment frpm any quarter to supply the need.
Late last year the owner of the building which houses the satellite had notified the directors he had a pending agreement with a…
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FORT CHIPEWYAN - The Cree Indian Band will make its first historical distribution of part of its recent settlement with both the federal and provincial governments.
Of its $26.6 million received for compensation, the band will distribute $3,529,000 on February 15, 1987.
At its recent meeting with band members, an eight member working committee was selected to work…
OPINION
BEING IN PRISON
Over the past five years of my recent imprisonment, I've been in a number of Canadian federal penitentiaries, right across the country, everywhere from the Millhaven Special Handling Unit in Ontario, to the Prince Albert Special Handling Unit in Saskatchewan, and now, the Edmonton Institution.
Prison can be a very difficult environment to live in…
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EDITORIAL
To swear on the bible is viewed as a gesture that you are telling the truth. However, one wonders why so much turmoil persists even though various individuals have gone through this noble symbolic ritual ranging from the ordinary citizen to the various cabinet ministers who at this point continue to display hypocrisy.
I, being a Native person, often…