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 2
"Tradition, Change and Survival" is the theme for an up coming world conference on Indigenous peoples' education. It is guessed that the gathering will attract about 800 traditional Native leaders, Indigenous educators and international figures from 17 different countries.
The conference is being billed as, "the first conference in world history dealing exclusively with…
Page 1
After an attempt earlier this month at a meeting held at the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) to replace the Board o Directors for Metis Urban Housing Corporation (MUHC), to suspend MUHC Housing Manager Larry Desmeules and to fire Regional Coordinator Peter Pelletier failed, Desmeules claims that the group responsible for the attempt acted "illegally".
"It was an illegal…
Page 1
In June of 1984, Richard Cardinal was found hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck. Cardinal was a ward of the government, a foster child. So, too, was the 16-year-old Pamela Soosay who was discovered last August hanging from a tree on the Samson Indian Reserve with an electric cord wrapped around her neck.
An official inquiry into the cause, manner and…
Page 1
Cultural centre in jeopardy
The Dr. Anne Anderson Native Heritage & Cultural Centre may be forced to close its doors due to recent grant cutbacks, with the previous funding being denied.
At present, the centre is existing mainly on Dr. Anderson`s privately owned ''Cree Productions", but an ongoing dependence on this source will force Cree productions itself to…
Page 2
A motion that might have brought freedom for jailed Indian rights activist Leonard Peltier died here on the floor of Parliament, shortly after 6:00 p.m. EDST, last Thursday.
The motion, Bill M-28 depored the extradition of Peltier to the United States from Canada in 1976 "on the basis of faslse information filed with a Canadian court by American authorities" and says that…
Page 2
The head of the Leonard Peltier Defence Committ is a tall bony Indian name Steve Robideau. His journey through life used to be a highway of violence. Twenty years ago he was in prison for armed robbery and assault. Now, he follows the path of peace.
He was walking in a big circle when I met him in Ottawa recently. He was taking part in a two day demonstration on…
Page 2
The Pas Indian Band, the province of Manitoba and the federal government recently announced the conclusion of an agreement settling a claim arising from the acquisition of 142.6 acres of riverfront reserve land by the provincial government in 1953 for dyke purposes.
The Honourable Bill McKnight, Minister of Indian and Northern Development; the Honourable Leonard E.…
Page 3
Another public luxury must now pay the price as the Alberta government continues to implement rising costs for goods and services in an aggravated assault designed to wipe out a $3.3 billion deficit of the province.
This time it is the sportsmen who are now required to cough up more money. Effective April 1, recreational hunting licences for residents went up, in most…
Page 3
The Blackfoot band, east of Calgary, has again been plunged into mourning with the tragic death of council member, Hubert Low Horn whose death comes almost six months after the death of another council member, Adam Solway.
Low Horn, who held the portfolio of education on council died of cancer last week.
"Many of us are not participating in any of the social…
Page 3
The Native Outreach Association of Alberta has closed its Fort McMurray regional office, effective March 31, 1987. The decision to terminate career and employment services in Fort McMurray is due to the latest financial cutback of $67,569. This cutback has forced the Association's Board of Directors to act promptly alleviating some uncertainties within the organization.
…
Page 3
Weaselchild bitter about government 'tactics'
"The government is deliberately trying to break the Alberta Native Womens' Association by using its "old tactics of divide and conquer," said an angry President Donna Weaselchild speaking before more than 30 delegates at the Region 5 annual general meeting April 5.
However, the government wasn't the only target of the…
Page 4
Leory Soosay, a child welfare worker for the Samson Band and a cousin of suicide victim Pamela Soosay, has an interesting theory about how and why children are becoming lost souls. Their situation he says is precipitated due to the influence of a materialistic society in which bingo has become an obsession.
Soosay says, "I'd like to tell the world that we're having a big…
Page 6
Guest Editorial
Over the years some major Native organizations have devoted little other than lip service towards tow vital needs ? culture and education ? of its clientele.
While space does not allow this writer to address both subjects, I would like to at least address the one of culture.
The development and progress of mankind does not operate in a vacuum…
Page 7
The third annual convention of the Native American Press Association (NAPA) held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, saw "Windspeaker" walk away with eight first place excellence in journalism categories out of 13 offered in the competitions, April 8-11.
Windspeaker's brightest moment shone when it captured first place for Overall Excellence, as a weekly newspaper. This…
Page 7
Dear Editor:
What is the criteria for membership in the Metis Association of Alberta? I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Assembly of the Metis Association of Alberta on the weekend of March 14 and 15, 1987. This specific issue was brought to light on the first day of the assembly.
An individual had her membership challenged by Local #84. Once this happens…