Windspeaker news briefs

SOME WISE INVESTMENTS AND THE
prudently timed sale of said investments has netted a windfall for northern First Nations in Saskatchewan. They have sold their interest in a number of hotels and commercial properties in Prince Albert for almost $20 million.
The bands of the Prince Albert Grand Council had pooled their money to invest in real estate, and when the market peaked last year, they sold, turning the initial buy in of $39,500 each into $500,000. Over a year-and-a-half, the group sold the Prince Albert Inn, the Marlborough Inn, Best Western hotels in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, two Ricky's restaurants and office buildings.
The sales, made when real estate values peaked last year, netted a huge profit for the member bands of the Prince Albert Grand Council. The bands' investment fund began in 1993 with a contribution of $39,500 from each band to buy the Prince Albert Inn. Each received $500,000 last month from the recent transactions. The 12 bands retain partial ownership of Westwind Aviation and some Super 8 Hotels.
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DENE LEADER GEORGES ERASMUS IS
being awarded the Northern Medal by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, for his work promoting Aboriginal rights and improving living conditions in northern communities. He helped found the Dene Nation, and served as its leader. He went on to head the Assembly of First Nations from 1985 to 1991. Erasmus was co-chair of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and is currently president of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. The Northern Medal was created in 2005 by former governor general Adrienne Clarkson as a way to honor citizens who have contributed to the evolution and reaffirmation of the Canadian North. Previous recipients have included environmental activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier, former N.W.T. premier Nellie Cournoyea and Bertha Allen, an activist for social change and the advancement of Aboriginal and northern women.
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DOROTHY GRANT AND
ANGELIQUE METATY LEVAC
were honored on Jan. 27 in conjunction with the presentation of the inaugural BC Aboriginal Business Awards, a juried competition celebrating and showcasing Aboriginal business.
"Dorothy Grant and Angelique Merasty Levac are outstanding contributors to the province's business sector and serve as examples of achievement to Aboriginal business people and all British Columbians," said Premier Gordon Campbell. "They have both demonstrated a lifelong pursuit of excellence and are very deserving of this prestigious award." Grant has established a successful manufacturing, retailing and wholesaling business featuring highly acclaimed Haida fashion and accessories sold across North America. Métis artist Levac opened Angelique's Native Arts to retail her work in birchbark biting and has expanded to offer a wide variety of Native crafts made locally and across the country.
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SASKATCHEWAN PREMIER BRAD WALL
said a revenue-sharing deal that would see First Nations get a cut of natural resource money isn't likely. "The sort of direct revenue-share, percentage revenue share, is not something the government of Saskatchewan is prepared to move on," Wall said after members of the provincial cabinet met with officials from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph said First Nations are looking for their "fair share" when it comes to natural resource revenue. "If there's a political way to actually hammer out a deal based on treaty principles, if there's political will there, well I haven't seen that yet. I think if people want to really examine that, we have to look at all options," said Joseph.
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THE NATIONAL ABORIGINAL ACHIEVEMENT FOUNDATION
announced that Great-West Life has agreed to develop financial support for Aboriginal students totaling $150,000 over the next three years. Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life will contribute $50,000 annually over three years to fund bursaries supporting students enrolled in post-secondary studies or training and development programs of at least one-year duration. These bursaries fill a gap in financial support available to Aboriginal students interested in upgrading their education or taking part in one- or two-year vocational programs.
"The foundation is very excited to welcome Great-West Life as a new partner in our education program," said President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Roberta Jamieson. "I am delighted to commend Great West Life as a company that has taken such leadership in supporting the development of our youth through education."