Windspeaker Publication

Reprinted with permission from the First Nations Health Authority

Ready to Quit?

First Nation’s Health Benefits covers three treatment courses for Nicotine Replacement Therapy of 12 weeks each within a 12-month period. This includes two courses of NRT patches and one course of other NRT products such as gums, lozenges, and inhalers, used on an as-needed basis. …

An increase in Aboriginal attendance at post-secondary schools across the country is reason to celebrate, but the challenge to hold on to those students still remains.

Figures released by both the University of Winnipeg and University of Saskatchewan show an increase of more than 10 per cent for first-year enrolment for students who have identified themselves as Aboriginal. Part of that…

Last of codetalkers fought war of words

Code talker Chester Nez’s Navajo (Diné) tongue helped pave the way to an allied win in the Second World War. Though unmistakably proud of his ability to serve the United States in such a unique way, he was cognizant of the irony in what his wartime work involved.

“All those years, telling you not to speak Navajo, and then…

Just recently, several sportscasters in the United States have voluntarily opted to stop using the name of the National Football League’s Washington team in their broadcasts.

Of all the Aboriginally-named teams that populate the American sports pantheon—the Braves, the Indians, Blackhawks etc. —few have been more problematic then the Redskins. It seems only the team owner still thinks…

Hat’s off to Nathan Cullen, Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, who has tabled a private members bill in the House of Commons called An Act to Defend the Pacific Northwest. It’s a piece of proposed legislation that will ban supertankers from transporting oil across the North Coast of British Columbia, a rugged and infinitely beautiful part of the world that could be left dripping…

Members
of a Regina-based men's fastball team now have a national championship they can
brag about and quite a story to tell.

The
NB Petro Hawks captured the senior men's crown at the Canadian Native Fastball
Championships, which concluded on Aug. 3 in Prince Albert, Sask.

The
Hawks won all six of their matches over a 14-hour period on the final day…

The Assembly of First Nations acknowledged
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Aug. 9 as “a time to celebrate the strength, resilience and resurgence of Indigenous peoples and nations around the globe,” said acting National Chief Ghislain Picard. “At the same time, it is an opportunity to reflect on this year’s theme—‘Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of…

The Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG) has decided
not to sign an Economic Community Development Agreement with British Columbia for the Gibraltar Mine until the province changes its engagement and benefit-sharing on major projects with First Nations. Shored up by the recent Supreme Court Tsilhqot’in title decision and in the face of the Mount Polley Mine tailings pond disaster, TNG…

New Brunswick is cancelling a revenue-sharing agreement with First Nations saying it distributes government resources unevenly. The agreement deals with tax and gaming revenues. A new formula the province plans to present will re-distribute the wealth. Chief Joe Sacobie of Oromocto First Nation says his community will lose if the agreement is cancelled, reports CBC News. Oromocoto, as well as…

Outspoken leader Derek Nepinak has won a second term
 as Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs on the first ballot of the election held at Swan Lake First Nation. Of the eligible voting nations, 48 cast ballots with 26 votes, or 50 per cent plus one, cast in support of Nipinak, whose contenders were Sagkeeng Chief Donavan Fontaine and the former chief of Black River, Sheldon Kent…

The Shubenacadie First Nation in Nova Scotia has changed
its name to something more traditional and will now go by the name Sipekne’katik band. The name is inspired by where wild turnips or potatoes grow, said Chief Rufus Copage. “It’s a return to our traditional roots.” The Sipekne’katik band also has a new flag.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance has filed a legal challenge
against British Columbia and the British Columbia Treaty Process. It was sparked by B.C.’s decision to sign an Incremental Treaty Agreement with the Ktunaxa Nation Council to transfer 240-plus hectares of land without consulting ONA. The proposed land contains village site, hunting grounds and heritage sites of ONA and their members…

First Nations are saying tactics are being employed to
silence their voices and concerns over ongoing development of the oil sands after the government of Alberta said they shouldn’t be heard at a review of environmental plans for the area, reports the Canadian Press. A panel of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan has been told the Nations aren’t directly impacted by the plan or to hear…

The Canadian Press reports that federal officials were
monitoring the “fallout” from the RCMP raid on the shale-gas exploration protesters of Rexton, N.B. The feds were concerned the raid could spark a movement similar to Idle No More. Elsipogtog First Nation members and other like-minded individuals were concerned about environmental impacts of shale-gas development and blockaded a…

Superstar actor Leonardo DiCaprio visited Fort Chipewyan
in August to research and film an upcoming documentary on the environment. Fort Chipewyan is located amongst the oil sands in northern Alberta. “I’m delighted,” said Dr. John O’Conner of the actor’s visit. “He tweeted to 11 million people this morning.” O’Conner is a well-known advocate for the First Nations people of the region and…