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.
The Toronto Star reports that the Assembly of First Nations exchanged information about protests with the Mounties and provincial police and developed common stances leading up to a national Aboriginal day of action in the summer of 2007. RCMP documents reveal that RCMP and Ontario and Quebec police met for the “first time in history” with then AFN national chief Phil Fontaine to “facilitate a…
Canadian Rangers Corporal Donald Anguyoak died in a snowmobile accident during a training exercise near Gjoa Haven, Nunavut on Feb. 17. The member of Canada’s Arctic reserve force was on a military exercise intended to monitor snow and ice conditions in the Northwest Passage. “This is a stark reminder of the very real dangers that the Canadian Rangers and other members of the Canadian Armed…
The 82nd session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) began Feb. 18 in Geneva, Switzerland. The CERD is considering a submission from the International Indian Treaty Council and the Mushkegowuk People of Attawapiskat First Nation. They had filed an Early Warning Action the previous week. The filing states urgent violations of treaties and…
The Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network has launched its new Web site, www.uakn.org. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the National Association of Friendship Centres has been co-leading the creation of the UAKN for several years. The goal of the UAKN is to create a research infrastructure that focuses attention…
Aboriginal populations in Canada rank at the top of the list of disadvantaged groups with the highest rates of stillbirth in the Western world. A study published in the February issue of CMAJ shows that stillbirth per 1,000 births were greater among Inuit (6.8) and First Nations (5.7) than among non-Aboriginal (3.6) residents. Stillbirth rates in Aboriginal populations were…
The federal government has committed over $600,000 to the Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent in MontrÈal to help strengthen the knowledge base of Aboriginal service providers so they can better address the issue of the sexual assault of girls. Funding was announced late January by Rob Nicholson, minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In total, $630,074, with $380,074 from…
The Chronic Disease Prevention Through Local Food Procurement Initiatives is one focus of the Indigenous Health Research Group, a multidisciplinary team. The Initiatives is currently focusing on community-based food initiatives aimed at addressing chronic health issues among Indigenous populations. Initially begun with three communities located in northern Ontario, regions accessible…
Writing and performing in Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way was a journey of discovery for Monique Mojica, actor and playwright. Mojica is descended from the Guna people of Panama and the Rappahannock of Virginia and currently lives in Toronto. She performs in the play together with her mother, Gloria Miguel, a founding member of New York’s Spiderwoman Theatre.
Chocolate Woman is a…
The Ministry for Children and Family Development failed in its dealings with an 11-year-old Aboriginal boy with complex care and rage issues, reads a report released Feb. 7 by B.C. Children’s Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafonde about a tasering incident in the province’s north.
The report, entitled “Who Protected Him? How B.C.’s Child Welfare System Failed One Of Its Most…
Perhaps one day organizers of the Little NHL Tournament will want to consider changing its moniker.
That’s because the event—officially the Little Native Hockey League Tournament—is not quite so little anymore.
A tournament record of 153 clubs will participate at the 42nd annual running of the event, scheduled for March 11 to 14.
That’s a far cry from the 17 squads that…
Government funds programs
Five Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia will benefit from some provincial government funding aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles. Premier Darrell Dexter announced on Feb. 8 his government was putting up a total of $625,000 towards physical activity leadership programs.
Programs will be started in the following First Nations;…
Until the relationship improves between health providers and their patients, Indigenous people will continue to have high rates of chronic illnesses.
“The world of health and medicine has not always treated First Nations, Metis and Inuit people very well,” said Dr. Jo-ann Episkenew, director with the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre in Regina.
Racism, whether intentional…
Liberal Senator Nick Sibbeston wanted to see political officials acknowledge the voice of the Idle No More movement, so he asked Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan to delay the First Nations Financial Transparency Act for six months.
When that didn’t happen, he and two other Liberal senators walked out of a commitee meeting. A week later, Sibbeston made a similar request of the…
First Nations are not denying measures that assure accountability and transparency from band governments are needed, but Bill C-27, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, as it stands now, is not the answer.
Bill C-27 may also be illegal, said Sawridge First Nation Chief Roland Twinn. He was speaking to the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on Feb. 12. Twinn…
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is opposed to a national approach to First Nations education.
“We already [have] got resolution to say no to education legislation because it’s very, very premature at this time as well because we just got the commitment from the Prime Minister for a high level mechanism to help and assist in implementation of treaties and inherent rights in…