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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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Charges of nepotism and corrupt election practices, responsible for a bitter dispute on the Big Prairie Metis Settlement (Peavine), continue and are confirmed by a government official who states the recent elections "were not fair and were not democratic".
High Prairie Metis Settlement Liaison Officer, Andre L'Hirondelle, was the returning officer during the July 16…
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PEOPLE
Being offered the opportunity to sing the opening song at the Winter Olympics is an honor at which few can boast. But for Winston Wuttunee, a Native folk singer, it is an honor he had to reluctantly refuse.
"I strongly support and believe in the Lubicons' boycott of the Olympics," says Wuttunee. "They are fighting for a cause they believe in, and I feel I am…
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EDITORIAL
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced last Tuesday the long awaited establishment of a western provinces diversification program. The business communities have expressed some optimism that this plan, coupled with steadily rising oil prices, holds hope for an economic revival in the west.
Nor surprisingly, the special needs of Native people were given…
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The First Ministers' talks were not a failure and the fact that no constitutional amendment as formulated has only made Aboriginal groups stronger and more determined to entrench their rights and uphold treaty promises, says AFN Grand Chief Georges Erasmus.
"The talks would have been a failure if we had accepted the prime minister's proposal," he said. "However, as it…
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The federal government is trying to force Indian people to accept federal terms for Indian self-government by means of economic starvation, according to Gregg Smith, spokesperson for the Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance (PTNA).
"The objective in the eyes of the federal government is not to deal with Indian people fairly," said Smith, who is also the president of the Indian…
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In this issue of Windspeaker we take a look at self-government. The First Ministers' Conference has been over for several months now and of the four lobbying groups involved, only the Inuit Committee on National Issues has made a visible move toward following up on this subject. The other groups have kept quiet.
What is currently happening and what's next in the bid for…
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There'll be free corn-on-the-cob and hot dogs at the fourth annual "Metis Kids Picnic" tomorrow ( Aug. 8) between noon and 6 p.m. at Victoria Park in Edmonton.
The picnic is being held for Metis and other Native children in Edmonton and surrounding areas. Kids will participate in games such as sack races, baseball games and other activities throughout the afternoon.
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Champion Forest Products (Alberta) Ltd. recently announced that its fully bleached market kraft pulp mill, located in Hinton, Alberta, will undertake a modernization and expansion project which will double the capacity of the mill.
Prior to commencement of construction, the company will undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment which will assess the impact of this…
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After one month of alcohol and drug abuse treatment, O'Chiese reserve band members successfully finished a mobile treatment program on August 5.
The unique program is designed to treat abusers by literally going into their homes and working directly with clients.
Program Coordinator and Nechi Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counsellor Emile Ward noticed a difference between…
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A youth camp, hosted by the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, is to be held during the week of August 17 ? 21. The camp will feature many activities as well as talks on issues which deal with youth today.
The camp is geared towards the youth between the ages of 13 and 17. It will feature activities such as canoeing, hide tanning, fishing and trapping. It will also…
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Brian Chalifoux, Leon Chalifoux, and Brian Davis got ready to ride off into the sunset at the Swan River culture camp at mile 8 on Highway #33.
Swan River Band Chief Gordon Courtoreille says the site on the bank of the river has been used by band members for many years, but this year's culture camp is a first.
"It's nice fo rthe kids," Courtoreille says as he looked…
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After touring the Alexander reserve housing project on July 31 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) official Mike Young called it a "success".
"The tour was very informative . . . I enjoy seeing the finished project on the land," he said.
Jobs and an economic base have been created by the ongoing housing project which has seen 34 houses built since 1983.…
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ALEXANDER RESERVE
Enthusiastic response from across Canada to the National Indian Education Symposium to be held here August 17 to 19 has caused organizers to revise their attendance estimates.
After meeting with organizers from across Canada in Winnipeg last weekend, the team from the Alexander Reserve organizing the event here returned to revise their plans to…
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When the tornados that caused 26 deaths, more than 300 injuries and $150 million in damages ravaged Edmonton, the Calahasen home was virtually untouched.
"We believe that God protected our home," said Roland Calahasen, in an interview at his Millwoods home located directly in the path of violent tornado funnels.
Sweeping through the city July 31, the tornado caused…
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Nancy Desjarlais is the "happiest person in the world right now because my son is alive, I'm alive . . . and I just want to continue with my life."
Desjarlais and her son narrowly escaped the tornado which cut a swath of devastation through areas of Edmonton on July 31.
More than 300 people were injured and another 26 were killed by the tornado which destroyed…