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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.
A decision by the province of British Columbia to proceed with the controversial Site C hydroelectric dam has been described as “incredibly stupid.” The project will see a third hydroelectric station built in the Peace River region of B.C.
As well as calling the decision stupid, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, also said it was “ill-advised.”…
For the second time in as many years, patients at Attawapiskat hospital have had to be emergency airlifted to other facilities.
On Nov. 30, senior management with Weeneebayko Health Authority, which operates Attawapiskat hospital, were notified of an oil leak caused by a cracked pipe running to the furnace from the oil pump. The initial estimate was that 1,000 to 2,000 litres of oil…
The need for change within the Assembly of First Nations was underscored Dec. 9 when a university student was shut down as he attempted to ask a question of the three candidates for the position of national chief during a forum.
“I cannot acknowledge you. You do not have a chief badge,” said Chief Electoral Officer Loretta Pete Lambert to Clifford Sinclair, who stood at one of six…
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision in the Tsilhqot’in case has changed Canada forever. Justice has been served. But for how long? The answer is ours to determine.
The Supreme Court, on instructions from previous Aboriginal title cases, has clearly affirmed the legitimacy in Canadian law of Aboriginal title over our traditional territories.
This case, and others like it…
We require the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Bernard Valcourt to walk gently—be careful—when he speaks about missing and murdered Aboriginal women in future. We have been offended by his comments to the Ottawa Citizen Newspaper in speaking about an inquiry into murdered and missing Aboriginal women, violence against Aboriginal women in First Nations communities and his perception that…
Elder Elmer Courchene presents the Eagle feather
to National Chief-elect Perry Bellegarde. (Photo: Shari Narine)
…
Huu-ay-aht First Nation elected Chief Councillor Jeff Cook and Steelhead CEO Nigel Kuzemko spoke with Windspeaker to answer a range of questions arising from the proposed $30-billion (US) LNG terminal that received a nod from Huu-ay-aht citizens Nov. 29.
Huu-ay-aht voted 121-77 to proceed with an intensive feasibility study and the purchase of 330 hectares of property in the Sarita…
A core group of Huu-ay-aht First Nation members, with the support of their hereditary head chief, has vowed to fight a proposed multi-billion dollar liquid natural gas project in the Sarita River estuary.
Huu-ay-aht is one of 14 Nuu-chah-nulth nations on Vancouver Island. Their traditional territory is located on the south side of Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, and the Sarita River is…
Online exclusive:
A $1.2 million project known as the Aboriginal Pavilion will showcase the best in Indigenous arts and culture during the July 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. The Pavilion will occupy 1.2 acres at Toronto’s Fort York.
Cynthia Lickers, executive producer of the Pavilion, reports to a group known as the Aboriginal Leadership Partners (ALP). Fourteen…
Online exclusive:
The son of ousted Shuswap Indian Band elected chief Paul Sam and councillor Alice Sam has responded to allegations that his family has benefited outrageously from band finances and band-owned businesses.
A recent audit shows that Paul and Alice Sam each earned annual salaries averaging $202,000.
Dean Martin, 61, their son, has served as…
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) responded to the federal Fiscal Update delivered by Finance Minister Joe Oliver Nov. 13 that projects five years of budget surpluses starting in the 2014-15 fiscal year. The chiefs organization wants urgent investment in First Nations families and communities to address years of under-funding and reallocation of funds for First Nations.
“First…
Darlene Ritchie of Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services in London has received the John Robinson Lifetime Contribution Award for her work ending women abuse. The ceremony was held at the London Music Club on Nov. 13. The London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse created the John Robinson award in 1988. Robinson was a London police inspector. The award recognizes an individual or group…
A New Brunswick First Nation says it needs $500,000 to repair roads, but the province isn’t listening, saying the problem is a federal responsibility. Chief David Peter-Paul of the Pabineau First Nation says he has spoken with provincial officials many times and has shown them the conditions of the road, but the province isn’t offering up any money. “Anyone who has travelled through the…
A woman from eastern Ontario was in court on Oct. 20 challenging the federal government after being denied Indian status in 1995 because she doesn’t know the identity of one of her grandfathers. Lynn Gehl’s grandmother and father have status, but she was denied. “They made the assumption that this unknown grandfather was a non-Indian man, and through the process of that assumption I was denied…
MADD Canada and Eskasoni First Nation dedicate a white cross Nov. 17 in memory of a young community member who was killed by an impaired driver. On Oct. 9, 1999, Noreen Michelle Paul was walking home with a friend when she was hit and killed by an impaired driver. The 19-year-old was within sight of her house when she was struck. A white cross bearing Noreen’s name is dedicated as both a…