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.
Maintaining rooming houses needs to be a priority
A community forum was held in May to draft an action plan for addressing the disappearance and decline of rooming houses in Winnipeg. A report released by the Manitoba Research Alliance finds that rooming houses are an important type of housing. A focused approach involving outreach with tenants and improving the complex…
Business Vancouver reports an agreement between Avanti Mining Inc. and the Nisga’a Nation regarding the mining company’s proposed $1 billion Kitsault Molybdenum Mine Project. The agreement includes a royalty of up to two per cent based on the price of molybdenum, and promises to address environmental concerns. “We are pleased to have finally reached an agreement with Avanti that will enable…
The official First Nations host of the 2015 Pan Am/ParaPan Games in Toronto is the Mississaugas of the New Credit.
A letter was signed June 2 in a ceremony at the New Credit community centre. “All members of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation are pleased to welcome the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ParaPan games, including the athletes, dignitaries and other international games guests…
American Singer Pharrell Williams has apologized to fans
after his cover shot on Elle UK Fashion Magazine after it caused a flurry of outrage. The singer appeared in a First Nation headdress. While the singer is known for his eccentric hats, the photo, said many, was offensive. Wab Kinew tweeted an invitation to Williams to attend a Sundance “so u can learn about the sacrifice that’s put…
A derailment on the only rail line to Churchill, Man. caused a shut down and people from the remote War Lake First Nation are becoming desperate, reported the CBC. They rely on the Omnitrax Canada line to get them to Thompson, a four-hour train ride, for groceries. The community had to charter a plane because they were running out of food, said the chief “We don’t have any of the necessities…
Louise Spence said she was barred from running for chief
in a June 6 election at Red Sucker Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba because she is separated from her husband. She is the sister of Elijah Harper. The rules that were put in place by elders who have long passed and only enforced recently, she said. Candidates for chief must be married. No common-law partners or divorcees would…
The Globe and Mail reports that the federal government
has not complied with a judge’s order to hand over documents about the abuses suffered in St. Anne’s Indian Residential School in Fort Albany, Ont. Lawyers representing students were back in court on June 10 to ask that the government produce transcripts of the trial of a former school supervisor convicted in 1999 on three counts of…
Timiskaming First Nation said it wants to restore the moose population in its territory —about 3400 square km straddling the Ontario/Quebec border—to a healthy size. A Ministry of Natural Resources moose population survey resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of moose tags assigned from 457 to 30 for the 2014 hunting season. “TFN is very concerned about the moose population in…
Four Alberta First Nations are taking the federal government to court to get their drinking water problems resolved.
Chief Jim Badger of the Sucker Creek First Nation said the nation just wants equality. Tsuu T’ina, Ermineskin, Sucker Creek and Blood First Nations hope to force Ottawa to upgrade their water systems, provide support to keep them operational and to refund money the bands…
Aroland First Nation in Northern Ontario is opposed to a proposal by Premier Gold to construct an open pit mine near Geraldton. “My First Nation is generally supportive of sustainable mining development,” said Chief Sonny Gagnon. “Premier Gold wants to destroy Begooch Zaagaigan, a lake that supports our Aboriginal fishery. They just put a number on this lake — A-322 — and tell us they’re going…
Jennifer Campeau became the first First Nations woman
to be appointed to a Cabinet post in the Saskatchewan Party’s history. On June 5, Campeau was shuffled into the roles of Minister of Central Services and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation. The appointment is a first for the party and only the second time in provincial history. “I am very honoured to have…
Chester Nez, 93, the last of the original Navajo Code Talkers,
Second World War heroes brought to the world’s attention by the Adam Beach movie Windtalkers, died June 4 in Albuquerque. Nez was one of 29 men who created a code from the Navajo language that allowed for information to be transmitted without Japanese deciphering the messages. His family said he died of kidney failure. He was…
The youth of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are again inviting “ordinary Canadians” to live in their homes, share their lives and explore their community. They will be opening their homes to 50 Canadians from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 at a cost of $2,900 each for the all-inclusive experience. Most Canadians know more about Third World living conditions around the globe than those plaguing First Nations…
“Almost day in, day out now for us these days, education remains a priority,” said Ghislain Picard, spokeperson for the Assembly of First Nations. Picard expects the subject to be front and centre when chiefs gather in Halifax in mid-July.
Whether First Nations chiefs are on board with AFN’s May 27 resolution to direct the federal government to scrap Bill C-33 or believe they can move…
Millbrook chief remained dedicated to his vision
“There wouldn’t be anything (in Millbrook First Nation) if it wasn’t for Lawrence’s tenacity to go out front and get things done.”
Daniel Paul’s statement about his brother holds true in a broader sense. Longstanding Mi’kmaq Chief Lawrence Paul’s negotiations in Nova Scotia with…