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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.
EDITORIAL
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The dawn of a new year is traditionally a time for reviewing the accomplishments and failures of the past year, and looking forward to doing better in the year ahead.
A year ago, at the beginning of 1986, we asked our readers whether or not they thought we should be reporting the violence, fear and persecution suffered by Native people from both Natives…
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The cut-off of funds for Status Indian students was the top item on the agenda at the most recent meeting of First Nations Confederacy in Ottawa.
The confederacy, an arm of the Assembly of First Nations, is protecting the Department of Indian Affairs' decision that November 1, 1986 would be the cut-off date for applications for funding for students commencing study in '…
Traditional park rights, too
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The Cree Band of Fort Chipewyan, the province of Alberta and the federal government announced December 23 the conclusion of an agreement settling the band's claim...the largest outstanding treat lands entitlement claim in Alberta.
Bill McKnight, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Jim Horsman, Alberta attorney general…
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What's the difference between a milkshake and a Native trapper? "Nothing," according to the animal rights movement. One of their screwball ideas is that it's barbaric to trap animals and milk cows. If they had their way, some animal rights activists would outlaw trapping and milking.
But they're going to have a little more trouble trying to ban trapping - now that a…
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OTTAWA - The federal government's new land claims policy is "a grave disappointment and an insult to the first nations," according to the Assembly of First Nations.
The AFN indicates it had expected that the government would upgrade its policy to enter into "truly comprehensive relations" with Aboriginal peoples. Instead, according to the AFN, "it now offers a process in…
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A program to provide example and inspiration for Native youth has been developed by Kahnawake Social Services in Quebec, as a result of the success of the "Caravan for Youth 1984" sponsored by the National Native Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
The first to be featured in the National Native Role Model Campaign was Olympic Gold Medal Winner Alwyn Morris, who…
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When Jules Nokohoo was young, he would watch as the RCMP officers unload a chopper to visit his reserve in northern Alberta. Something about their uniform intrigued this young man and he would always sit and wait until their next visit just so that he could see them in uniform.
Today, Jules, now 22, doesn't have to look far. In his closet hangs an RCMP uniform...his.…
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"During a difficult time in my life, I realized that I had a special talent, a wonderful gift. From that moment on, I had a reason to live, a reason to celebrate."
For Margo Kane, a Metis of Blackfoot and Cree ancestry, the gift of acting and the talent for crating theatre has led to a career on stage and in films and television.
Margo recalls that her love for…
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The rhythmic beat of the dance drum has for centuries provided the pace and marked the passion of Native life. For Evan Adams of the Coast Salish Nation in British Columbia, the drum continues to pace him through life and his many interests and activities in which he strives "to be the best I can be."
Evan's interests and background range from the academic to the…
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The legends of the Tahltan-Tlinget nation in Northwestern British Columbia has long stored the values, beliefs and mystiques of a people. Dale Marie Campbell, a carver of Tahltan-Tlinget ancestry, has captured that mystique in beautifully formed cedar masks and totem poles.
Dale, one of the few Native women carvers of the Northwest Coast, has studied her craft carefully…
Elders discuss numerous concerns
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Indian Elders addressed a number of issues and problems that are presently being faced throughout Indian country, at the regularly scheduled Elders Meeting on December 8 and 9 at the Jim Rattlesnake Sports Building at Ermineskin, Hobbema.
Elders meetings have taken place all over Alberta in the past year, having no planned agenda,…
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Ahneen, hello and tansi once again. Last week we said this week we would try to get to the bottom of why certain people object to the idea of reserves in the first place.
The image of reserves in the public mind is either as luxury resorts where the people are brown from laying around on welfare under an Indian Affairs-funded sun. Others figure the people are so poor they…
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"Hell Is For Children" is the title of a song by Pat Benatar, but all too often it is the anthem of the hundreds of kids who for one reason or another find themselves living in the street.
Running blind through the streets, alcohol, drugs, prostitution, and thievery become a mainstay of their lives. With no place to go, no place to hide, and no one to care, street kids…
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DRIFTPILE RESERVE - Eight Indian bands have combined their efforts in an eight-month long band administration training program being run in Driftpile.
Though the program began November 12, the agreements between the participating agencies were just signed.
Under the agreement, funding is provided through Canada Manpower's Canadian Job Strategy, while the 21…
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Wabasca/Desmarais and the people of the Bigstone Band have nothing to worry about when it comes to making a weary traveler or a visitor, such as myself, feel comfortable while in their community.
I couldn't believe it when Master of Ceremonies James Yellowknee said, "Okay everyone. A warm welcome to our next contestant, our chief, Mr. Mike Beaver!" This was said at a…