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Windspeaker Publication

Windspeaker Publication

Established in 1983 to serve the needs of northern Alberta, Windspeaker became a national newspaper on its 10th anniversary in 1993.

  • March 11, 2016
  • Windspeaker Staff

An Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
The family of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, who was kidnapped, interrogated, and executed in South Dakota in 1975, have grave concerns that the Prime Minister is currently in Washington DC speaking with President Obama about the notion of clemency for Leonard Peltier.

Annie Mae Pictou Aquash is one of…

  • March 10, 2016
  • Selena Neumark Windspeaker Contributor VANCOUVER

It’s been a decade since a Vancouver Sun article described the Downtown Eastside as “Four Blocks of Hell”, complete with hypodermic needles and “sex-trade detritus” on the ground, and urine-drenched alleyways.

While the article was primarily intended to spotlight a pilot clean-up project for the area, it mostly succeeded in advertising the waste and decay of this neighbourhood.

  • March 10, 2016
  • Shari Narine Windspeaker Contributor BRANDON, Man.

Dr. Yvonne Boyer expects that her second phase of research into mental health services received by Indigenous inmates in federal prisons will show that Canada is not fulfilling its Constitutional obligations.

Boyer is wrapping up more than two years of research that indicates there’s a “huge problem” with mental health care within Canada’s federal prison system. Upon completion of this…

  • March 10, 2016
  • Sam Laskaris Windspeaker Contriubtor ONION LAKE CREE NATION, Sask.

The Onion Lake Cree Nation will once again be laying out the welcome mat for a prestigious provincial multi-sport competition.

It will host the Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games, which begins on March 27 and continue until April 1.

But since the Games continue to grow – more than 3,000 athletes will be participating this year – the majority of the events will be staged in…

  • March 9, 2016
  • Shari Narine Windspeaker Contributor WHITECAP DAKOTA FIRST NATION, Sask.

Next week, Whitecap Dakota First Nation chief and council will be meeting with youth to talk about self-government.

It’s just one of a number of information sessions that will lead to a motion to approve the agreement-in-principle that has been negotiated between Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and the band over the last four years, said Murray Long, director of self-government…

  • March 9, 2016
  • Andrea Smith Windspeaker Contributor WINNIPEG

The Winnipeg Art Gallery has welcomed an exciting new collection into their midst. The Government of Nunavut has donated a huge number of archived materials to put on display at WAG, and staff at the gallery are busy unpacking and cataloguing the material, while trying to find where it all will go.

“It’s not an exhibit, but will be used for an exhibit in the future… It’s almost 8,000…

  • March 9, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

In a press release from the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association March 9, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde is being called out for insensitivity to the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women.

The family of activist “and one of Canada’s most prominent Murdered Aboriginal women, Annie Mae Pictou Aquash” is seeking an apology and retraction from…

  • March 8, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

On March 8 at the 2nd Annual Creative Leaders Symposium in Ottawa, National Chief Dwight Dorey announced that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples name will change to the Indigenous Peoples’ Assembly of Canada.

“We’ve decided after much deliberation and thought, that the term Indigenous was a much more inclusive name for the Congress, one that resonates with today’s international…

  • March 8, 2016
  • Shayne Morrow Windspeaker Contributor OTTAWA

A Private Members Bill that received Second Reading in Ottawa on March 3 has raised a firestorm of criticism from opponents fearing it would interfere with their hunting and fishing activities.

Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, was brought forward by backbench Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches—East York, Ontario).

Wide-ranging in scope, the Act would…

  • March 8, 2016
  • Windspeaker Staff

March 8, 2016 — The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), Calgary’s 2016 JUNO Awards Host Committee and Grey Eagle Casino and Resorts, are joining forces to celebrate Indigenous artists on March 31 for the JUNOfest Indigenous Showcase.

Headlined by internationally acclaimed Indigenous artist Buffy Saint-Marie, the Showcase will bring together the talents of all five…

  • March 7, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

 
The James Bay Cree Nation has commenced an action in the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario to obtain recognition of the Cree Nation's Aboriginal title and Aboriginal rights over its traditional territory in northern Ontario, Eeyou Istchee – Ontario, reads a press statement March.

The lawsuit seeks declarations of Aboriginal title (on a shared basis with other Aboriginal…

  • March 7, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

Lipinski won’t run
 
After more than two decades of holding political offices within the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), including two terms as president, Gary Lipinski announced March 5 that he will not be seeking re-election in the 2016 MNO elections scheduled for May 2016.

“Eight years ago, I was elected as president on a platform that committed to advancing Métis rights,…

  • March 7, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

Nearly 500 Grade 4 to Grade 12 students will be in the Max Bell Centre on March 8 and March 9 as part of the 14th Annual Manitoba First Nations Science Fair, an event designed to provide extended opportunities for students of First Nations schools to become engaged, and to excel, in science. 

Students from 35 Manitoba First Nations-operated schools will be taking part, competing within…

  • March 7, 2016
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

Janelle and Jérémie Wookey, a brother-sister Franco-Métis filmmaking team, are hoping to receive 100 video submissions in 100 days from Métis youth across the country that will document what it means to be Métis. The videos will be part of a project called 100métis.ca.
Seven years ago, Janelle put her family on screen to tell the story of the last three generations of the Red River Métis…

  • March 7, 2016
  • Compiled by Shari Narine

March 4, 2016. In a headdress ceremony on Friday, the Tsuut’ina Nation bestowed the name of “Gumistiyi,” which means “The One Who Keeps Trying,” on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The headdress presented to Trudeau symbolizes accomplishment, respect, bravery and peace-building. "Mr. Prime Minister, your election has…