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.
There are still more than 12,000 cases–more than one-third of the applications received–that need to work their way through hearings in the Independent Assessment Process.
The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat expects it will be 2018 when all reviews are concluded and the last compensation made.
Unless new schools are added to the Indian Residential Schools…
The Alberta and Yukon governments are the latest to commit to curriculum development to get the history of Indian residential schools taught in the classroom. But for the real story to be told, instruction has to go deeper and be consistent, say proponents of Aboriginal learning.
“I don’t think it’s enough for us just to say, ‘Listen, we had residential schools, it’s terrible and we…
Valerie Crowshoe and her husband Ivan McMaster chose not to tell their stories at the seventh and final national Truth and Reconciliation Commission event held in Edmonton March 27 to March 30. But the event did open their eyes.
“We learned something new every day,” said Crowshoe. “I may be preparing for my healing journey.”
Crowshoe attended the Anglican Church-run St. Cyprian…
“I am inspired by the stories that we have heard and the dialogue and commitment to reconciliation that we have witnessed … I have been moved by the incredible generosity of spirit that we have seen from survivors and from the intergenerational survivors… I was brought to tears by the acts of love you showed each other,” said Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair Justice Murray Sinclair in…
The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation marked the 30th anniversary of the fight against logging on Meares Island in the Clayoquot Sound at a gathering in Tofino April 20.
On April 21, 1984, Tla-o-qui-aht declared Meares Island a tribal park, and that began the push back against forestry giant MacMillan Bloedel’s plans to clearcut 90 per cent of the timber—old-growth forest with trees as old as…
The fear of unexploded munitions has forced Enoch Cree Nation to immediately close its golf course and historic cultural grounds indefinitely.
The Alberta First Nation is the latest First Nation to find its land had been used for war exercises, says legal counsel for Enoch, Will Willier.
Reserve land was regularly used for training exercises in the First and Second World Wars and…
Shira Leuchter and Chris Hanratty of Unspun Theatre have brought to light a long-forgotten 200-year-old story of a murdering fur trader, Chippewa Indian brothers and a sunken ship. They’ve turned the story into a performance piece that will be staged May 15 to May 18 at the Enwave Theatre located at Toronto’s Harbourfront.
In 1804, the HMS Speedy set sail on Lake Ontario enroute to…
Both the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) are lauding the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision upholding a lower court ruling that the federal government has jurisdiction over Métis and non-status Indians.
However, in making its unanimous ruling that both groups were covered under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, the Court of Appeal said that non-…
Guest Column
On behalf of the Métis Nation, I applaud the April 17 decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in the Daniels case. It reinforces our longstanding position that the federal government has constitutional responsibility to deal with the Métis.
Ottawa’s non-recognition of Métis for jurisdiction purposes never made sense. Logic dictates that it should be Canada’s national…
Despite winning the National Energy Board’s support last year, Enbridge Northern Gateway took a hit on April 12 after the town of Kitimat, B.C. voted 58.4 per cent against the controversial project, despite being the job-rich terminus for the pipeline.
A spokeswoman for the Yinka Dene Alliance applauded the referendum results, but said that regardless of the outcome it wouldn’t have…
The Urbane Indian
It’s been said we live in kinder, gentler times, that overt and aggressive stupidity by some people, especially towards other people, is gradually being weaned out of our society.
Witness all the zero tolerance messages being enforced in grammar, middle and high schools these days. I heard of one seven year old being sent home for pointing his fingers like a…
Dear Editor:
My name is Francine. I have worked in the Pacheedaht First Nations community of Port Renfrew for almost six years. We are a small community of 300 First Nations and non-Native community members.
I have been a grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 16 years. We have a small meeting every Monday and Thursday. We have five members. I am contacting you because my…
The Christy Clark government of British Columbia has really stepped in it this time, going behind the backs of First Nations in its haste to develop the Liquified Natural Gas industry in the province, poisoning relationships and endangering the $78 billion development that the BC Liberals have pinned so much hope on.
It all came crashing down during an LNG Summit in Fort Nelson First…
Chief worked hard to retain Mi’gmaq identity
Though she wasn’t allowed to speak Mi’gmaq in residential school, Chief Margaret Pictou Labillois of Eel River Bar First Nation preserved her language because her mother and sister pressed her to speak it.
“When I was away at school I forgot certain words to make a sentence … I spoke only English and when I came home I was lost for…
Online exclusive
The Federal Court of Appeal on April 17, 2014 confirmed the 2013 Federal Court ruling for the 400,000 Métis in Canada, but distinguishes the Métis from 200,000 non-status Aboriginal people stating that non-status people who live off reserve.
The appeal court did not include non-status Indians in the decision, arguing it was a separate issue that needed to be…