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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Three scheduled weeks of hearings in the Samson Cree First Nation's $1.5 billion claim against the federal government were cancelled on Jan. 9 after Federal Court of Canada Judge Max Teitelbaum was diagnosed with cancer.
Judge Teitelbaum, 69, has presided over 149 days of hearings so far with the trial expected to last at least two more years. The judge is expected to…
Page 20
The North American Indigenous Games host society invited the press to a Jan. 21 ceremony at the Centennial Concert Hall in downtown Winnipeg where representatives of the federal, provincial and municipal governments signed a multi-party agreement that will see all parties work together to make this summer's games a success.
The games in Winnipeg will be the first since…
Page 19
As Ken Tralnberg showed off his new uniform top with the big red maple leaf on the back and his name spelled out across the shoulders, he just couldn't stop himself from breaking into a huge grin.
The veteran of more than 20 years of top-level competitive curling is going to the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics as a member of Team Canada. Even though his Edmonton-based…
Page 18
Cross-Cultural Families of Native Children was host to an unusual, loose adaptation by the Free Spirit Theatre Troupe of Charles Dickens' popular A Christmas Carol story. A dozen vibrant youth put on the play about gambling. Aptly titled "A Nechi Christmas Carol," the performance was held the evening of Dec. 18 at the Progressive Academy.
In a poor neighbourhood, Kukoom…
Page 17
Saskatchewan film-maker Dennis Jackson has added another honor to his long list of accomplishments in the business.
Jackson's latest film, Christmas at Wapos Bay, had its world premiere in January at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
The claymation film-produced in two versions, one English and one Cree-tells the story of three Aboriginal…
Page 17
How much can be said through a pair of hands? A whole lot, if those hands belong to Lakota film-maker and media artist Dana Claxton. In her recently released CD/CD ROM Ablakela, Claxton takes an innovative approach to present her art far beyond the live theatre experience, stringing together video, music and the written word in a eclectic reincarnation of her 1999 performance in…
Page 12
When you think of Alanis Obomsawin, what comes to mind? Singer, songwriter, performer, storyteller, director or producer of films? Activist or women's advocate maybe? Probably the Order of Canada is not near the top of your list.
Born in New Hampshire and raised in Quebec, a member of the Abenaki Nation, Obomsawin was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1983. But she is…
Page 12
It took 50 years, but the government of Canada finally took notice that Gordon Russell is doing a lot to help youth, especially youth without a lot of other supports.
On Jan. 14, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson appointed him a Member of the Order of Canada, to come in effect from last Oct. 18. The honor bestowed on this selfless promoter of young people and their…
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Peter Gzowski, one of Canada's most respected journalists, succumbed to lung disease on Jan. 24. He was 67.
Gzowski warm, gravely voice came across the airwaves and into Canadian homes for more than 15 years as host of CBC Radio's Morningside, and prior to that on the same network's This Country in the Morning.
His respect for Aboriginal people made him many…
Page 10
When the chiefs-in-assembly rejected Indian Affair's sanctioned governance consultation work-plan at their December Confederacy in, whether they realized it or not, they were also rejecting the two other work-plans they had no problem with.
A meeting between the Assembly of First Nations' executive members and the minister of Indian Affairs on Jan. 28 showed that any hope…
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Pierre George was overcome with emotion as he listened to the decision of a police tribunal in the case of Ontario Provincial Police officer Kenneth Deane. Pierre's brother Dudley was fatally shot by Deane in 1995 at Ipperwash Provincial Park during a land claim protest. Deane had been convicted of criminal negligence in Dudley's death, and now was being ordered to quit his job…
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On Jan. 18, in a landmark police tribunal, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer Ken Deane was ordered to resign for breaching the province's policing code of conduct and for being convicted of criminal negligence in the death of unarmed Native protestor, Dudley George.
Adjudicator Loyall Cann delivered her decision to the 150 spectators at the hearing, which was held at…
Page 8
Manitoba Metis President David Chartrand said he expects the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench to rule the federal government can have more time to prepare its side of the land claims case that is on the docket for May 13, but he's not worried.
"We'll win," said Chartrand emphatically.
Although the Metis say they have been waiting 130 years to have their day in court…
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The British Columbia government's massive restructuring plan for the delivery of health services has predictably raised the ire of people who work for some of the agencies affected who will be out of a job April 1. In health, as in other sectors of the economy being mauled by the majority Liberal government's austerity measures, it is predictable that many are hostile to the…
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On Ground Hogs Day will the real shadow of Robert Nault please stand up!
An Open Letter to Bob Nault
Hi Bob:
In the time-honored tradition of my Elders, I have decided to bestow upon you a Native name: Bubba of Rideau Canal. But before we make the ceremony, a few points I'd like to cover.
You've got to tone down the tough guy facade. What we are seeing…