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.
Page 5
An elite society known as Red Feather (or Akicita) has evolved to recognize and pay homage to Indian war veterans who were wounded in war while acting on behalf of their country or people.
Based in South Dakota (S.D.), the society honors the veterans each year during an annual powwow at Spearfish, S.D. Renewed in 1983, the society has close to 20 inducted members most of…
Page 12
It is "back to culture" for Back to Batoche, the Metis Heritage Days celebration. Such was the decision of the cultural committee which plans this annual event, says committee member Murray Hamilton.
"There've been a lot of requests from our Metis local and Metis people in general that we get back to some of the old time traditions," explained Hamilton.
This year,…
Page 11
Out of 320 entries by 56 Native artists, Kim McLain emerged as this year's winner of the Asum Mena Alberta Native Art Festival and received an award of $5,000.
McLain was last year's runner-up in the contest which is sponsored by the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society in Edmonton.
The winning piece was a bold, impressionistic depiction (which McLain refers to…
Page 10
Bill 33 has the potential to limit, even remove, vital funding for the ethnic projects and programs, including those of Native groups which often rely on cultural grants.
The Alberta Cultural Heritage Amendment Act received third and final reading on June 4 and will soon be given legislature assent. It contains amendments that will dissolve the Alberta Cultural Heritage…
Page 8
Changes and additions to the school act may not be too far off with the newly-proposed School Act, Bill 59, having been introduced in the Alberta legislature recently. The new bill demands very close scrutiny before it passed by those whom it will affect.
One section of the new act has made provision for the establishment of school councils that would be comprised of "…
Two teachers at the Blue Quills Native Education Centre near Saddle Lake ? Dave Hansford and Marlene Craig ? say the attendance rate at the junior-senior high school is pathetic. Furthermore, Hansford says "the kids we're missing aren't missing anything."
"I've had Grade 10 students that couldn't even spell their name," adds Craig
The teachers spoke up after any anonymous letter…
Rumors of another Pope's visit to Fort Simpson can rest. Officials from the vatican staff have confirmed that Pope John Paul II will fly to Fort Simpson September 20.
The Pope will fly to the Northwest Territories from Detroit, his last stop on the U.S. fall tour. He will be spending the night of September 19 at a Grey Nuns residents in Edmonton before flying up to Fort Simpson. There…
Page 3
At a recent public forum in Calgary, Conservative MLA Janet Koper said the Lubicon Lake Indian Band is in "some ways blackmailing" Calgarians by boycotting the Olympics. She added that the federal and provincial governments have "acted in good faith" in dealing with the Lubicon's 47 year old land claim.
Liberal MLA Nick Taylor, who was also present, disagreed with Koper.…
Page 3
Premier Don Getty's recent remarks have angered Aboriginal leaders. He stated that separatism would have been considered if Alberta had been forced to accept entrenchment of Native rights in the constitution at last May's First Ministers Conference.
IAA vice president, Percy Potts, said "it's not Tory Blue, it's Tory Red ... red necked!"
Metis Association of Alberta…
Page 3
With the elections of officials over, recently incorporated Local 1885 Metis Youth Council's main objective is to address issues concerning the Metis youth in Edmonton, concentrating especially on social activities.
Newly elected President James Atkinson said during their regular monthly meetings they will focus on social, recreational and cultural activities. He said the…
Page 3
Accommodation for married students at the Alberta Vocational Centre (AVC) in Grouard will be built near the institution itself ? not in High Prairie.
This long-awaited outcome, which mainly affects Native students, follows a protest from a year ago May. Local residents view the choice as a major coup which will help keep the community united and intact.
Local…
Page 3
Former AIM spokesman runs for US presidency
Los Angeles
Former American Indian Movement spokesman, Russell Means, has announced his candidacy for the president of the United States.
The Sioux Indian will run on the Libertian Party ticket. He ran in 1984 on a ticket with Larry Flint, publisher of Hustler Magazine.
"The nation has become one big Indian…
Page 3
I was lucky enough to have a front row seat when the Native media honoured their own recently because I was one of the judges. The National Aboriginal Communications Society (NACS) organized the Native media awards. The ceremony, held in Banff, Alberta, was the first of its kind and it was a huge success.
When the organizers asked me to be a judge a few months ago, I said…
Page 2
Well-known Metis actress, Tantoo Martin-Cardinal, will be one of the featured speakers at the first ever World Festival of Aboriginal Motion Pictures, October 8 to 11 here.
The hosts of the conference are the Pincher Creek Film Society, in co-operation with the five Indian tribes in Southern Alberta: the Bloods, Peigan, Stoney, Blackfoot, Sarcees and the Blackfeet tribe in…
Page 1
A group of nearly 20 concerned Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) members have collectively asked MAA President Sam Sinclair to take unbiased control of current disputes plaguing the Metis Regional Council Zone 4.
The group, which assembled in MAA's office on June 15, asked Sinclair to take a solid stand and decide whether or not he recognizes and supports the Zone 4…