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.
Embattled and suspended Senator patrick Brazeau cannot avoid the limelight, it would seem. On April 1, 2013 long after the accepted noon time limit for pulling April Fool's pranks the Senator tweeted:
Sen Patrick Brazeau
@TheBrazman
10:47 PM - 01 Apr 13
I will step down from my position!
Sen Patrick Brazeau
@TheBrazman
11:45 PM - 01 Apr 13
…
Judy Desmoulin, Health and Social Director of Long Lake #58 First Nation located 330 km east of Thunder Bay, Ont., became aware of the prescription drug abuse problem in her community when she was a Grade 4 teacher. She spoke about Long Lake’s experience at the Chiefs of Ontario Health Forum in Toronto in February, and in a follow-up interview with Windspeaker.
People were abusing…
Opportunity Fund helps student to change life
Robert Robinson has benefited from the University of Winnipeg’s unique Opportunity Fund. Robinson, who came to Winnipeg from Little Black River at the age of 17, wanted to advance his education after having an epiphany following an altercation with the law. “A part of me I didn’t know existed woke up,” said Robinson. “I knew…
The sovereign nation of Missinippi Nehethowak, as represented by Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, and HudBay Minerals Inc. were in Winnipeg court March 20 over protests undertaken by MCCN blocking entrance to where HudBay’s gold, zinc and copper mine is being developed near Lalor Lake, which MCCN contends is unceded Missinippi Nehethowak Territory. MCCN says neither the company nor Manitoba…
Artist—Cheryl Bear
Song—My Father
Album—A'BA
Year—2012
Cheryl Bear’s album release is a journey of Carrier/Dakelh Nation culture mixed with Christian and Indigenous spiritual perspectives shared through a hybrid of traditional and contemporary music styles. The rhythm of the majority of songs on this album follow traditional drums both powwow and round dance.…
Job-training money in the new federal budget is going to First Nations that force young people on social assistance to take part in skills development programs. Critics of the government initiative are calling it a workfare program. The budget provides $109 million over five years for “personalized skills development.” And there is an additional $132 million over five years for First Nations…
Eight First Nations have formally begun the process to remove 34 land-related sections of the Indian Act to gain greater control over reserve lands and resources by signing onto the First Nations Land Management (FNLM) regime. Kwantlen First Nation (British Columbia), Lil’wat First Nation - Mount Currie Indian Band (British Columbia), Neskonlith Indian Band (British Columbia), Shxw’ow’hamel…
The Anishnabek Nation unveiled a monument March 25 to honour citizens who have felt the impacts of Indian Residential Schools. The monument was part of the Honouring Our Children, Families and Communities project of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “I really see this monument as a testament to the resilience of our people,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee…
A reconciliation agreement between British Columbia and the Snuneymuxw First Nation will bring economic benefits to the Snuneymuxw, while increasing certainty for business in the Nanaimo region, reads a press release issued March 27. The agreement creates economic opportunities for the Snuneymuxw on Vancouver Island through the transfer of three land parcels, totaling 877 hectares (2,100 acres…
APTN reports that Human Rights complaints filed by First Nations against band councils is on the rise, with 138 filed against band councils in 2011 as compared to 87 in 2011. Complaints against the federal government, the network says, has dropped to 34 from 55 in the same two-year period. The Indian Act prevented human rights complaints against bands until 2011. “The sheer volume of…
On reserve? Check your phone bill.
If you’re paying tax on it, you shouldn’t be. Some Saskatchewan First Nations people living on reserve say they are being taxed. Amos Ratt of Lac La Ronge Indian Band has been paying tax on his phone for decades, and didn’t know that, according to the Indian Act, he should be exempt. Advocate Ron Warner said he has called SaskTel a number of times to…
Musician Paul Simon has loaned one of his famous works to a new ad campaign that opposes the Northern Gateway project. The ad, which uses the song The Sound of Silence, made famous by the group Simon & Garfunkel, was launched on the 24th anniversary of one of the worst oil spills in history. The Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989 was catastrophic, said Art Sterritt with Coastal First…
CBC has reported that an elderly woman from Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba was yelled at by security staff at Portage Place Shopping Centre and kicked out of the mall. Annie Henry, 79, is seeking an apology. She is diabetic and has a pacemaker and, when she was short of breath, needed to rest. She sat down on some marble planters and a security guard yelled as her, according to Henry’s…
Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Debbie Houle: Honesty
W: What is it that really makes you mad?
D.H: Greed.
W: When are you at your happiest?
D.H: I am most happiest when I am hanging out with my son, Darren.
W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
D.H: Fugly!
W: What one person do you…
Elouise Cobell may not be alive to see the full fruits of her decade spearheading U.S. history’s largest class action lawsuit–the Blackfoot activist died of cancer in 2011 at age 65–but as the payments from the $3.4 billion settlement roll out across Indian country, those close to her are reminded of her determination.
On March 12, the Secretary of the Interior announced that the Native…