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 almost 100 years people have journeyed to the Lac Ste. Anne prilgrimage site to pray and bathe in the waters of the lake.
This year it's estimated that close to 10,000 came to spiritually renew themselves and visit with old friends.
The pilgrimage site, located near Alberta Beach, 65 kms. west of Edmonton was again transformed into a sea of tents, trailers and…
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EDITORIAL
Native rights and issues in Canada are not what you would call a "box office" attraction. But if one Canadian superstar of rock, Bryan Adams, has his way, these issues and more will become internationally known three his recent album "Into the Fire."
Referred to in Maclean's magazine as Canada's brightest male star, Adams is as well known internationally…
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Hugh Richard Chalifoux, 22, of the Swan River Reserve pleaded not guilty on July 15 to a charge of murder. He was charged in connection with the death of three-year-old Nathan Robert McCue of Kinuso.
The child was the son of Chalifoux's wife's sister. Chalifoux was babysitting the boy at the time the alleged assault occurred. An autopsy performed on July 9 by Dr. John…
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Key changes to the Metis Settlement Act protecting land transfer to Metis settlements will have to wait another year after a proposed amendment was tabled during the final days of the Alberta Legislature's spring sitting.
The draft proposal would see an amendment to the 50-year old Metis Settlements Act and the Alberta Act that would, in effect, protect land transfer to…
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A committee of Native people was formed recently to discuss ways to protest the upcoming Fifth Centennary of the Discovery of the Americas.
The committee is the result of discussions held at the World Council of Indigenous People (WCIP) held July 11 ? 16 in Lima, Peru. The 1992 Centennary in question will commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America…
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Many members of the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) may not be permitted to vote in the upcoming elections scheduled for September 1 if membership lists are not submitted to the electoral office in Edmonton in the next two weeks.
"We have given the locals until August 10 to submit their lists otherwise there won't be a polling station set up in their local," says Chief…
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Test your Indian know-how
It's quiz time again! Grab you paper and pencil and test your knowledge o the itty-bitty happenings in the world of Native affairs. All the questions are multiple-choice and remember ? neatness does not count.
Question #1 involves the national Inuit organization, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC). The ITC held its annual assembly in…
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The Indian Association of Alberta is still seeking an "urban Indian" representative, who will address the concerns of Treaty Indians not living on reserves.
IAA President Gregg Smith says the organization and its newly elected board members have not had enough time to select the representative after a two-day monthly board meeting in July.
The appointee will observe…
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A protest concert called the "Last Stand of the Lubicon Lake Indian Band" featuring well-known Native activist and singer Buffy Saint Marie will take place in Calgary this fall.
The concert is being organized by the Committee Against Racism (CAR), a Calgary-based organization which has been a support group of the Lubicon Lake Band during its long land claim dispute with…
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Heavy funding slashes cultimating in a huge deficit have forced the Indian Association to lay off employees.
When the lay-offs become effective July 31, IAA employee Helen Gladue's position will be terminated.
Contacted at the IAA Enoch office, Gladue said, "I have no bad feelings. My job in the financial department enabled me to see what was happening. I knew the…
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Frank Ward seldom lets a year slip by without making the trip to Lac Ste. Anne even though it used to take him three days to travel to the pilgrimage.
"I used to come by wagon and a team of two horses," recalled the 72-year old Cree elder, originally born in St. Paul. "I had all kinds of jobs all over the place, but I always tried to make it to Pilgrimage from wherever I…
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A bitter feud which surfaced during a Zone 4 Regional meeting in April, and which has been angrily waged between various factions during the past two months, has culminated in a lawsuit filed by the Regional Council against other members of the council and Zone 2 vice president, August Collins.
A statement of claim filed in Edmonton July 17 against eleven defendents claims…
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He came to sing . . .and sing he did while winning the hearts of many fans during his taping on the Native Nashville North show last June.
Herb Desjarlais has been singing and playing most of his life, ever since a baby sitter taught him three chords on the guitar with a laugh, he says the first song he learned was "wooden heart."
Born and raised in High Prairie,…
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Addictions director
Kicking the nasty habit
Ruth: Have you ever smoked cigarettes?
Maggie: Yes, I have smoked for the past six years and previous to that I smoked or I didn't smoke for two years and I smoked for ten years before that.
Ruth: Were you addicted?
Maggie: I like to smoke. I was addicted. It was a habit. I think there were a…
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EDITORIAL
The apparent "disintegration" of the Saskatchewan Metis Association may well set an example to Alberta's Association if infighting, alleged dishonesty and accusations continue to run rampant amongst leaders and members.
A good, long, hard look must be taken at the candidates in the upcoming election. A faultless method of selecting the leaders must be…