A team of scientists with Simon Fraser University has discovered that ancient coastal Indigenous people were more than hunter-gatherers. Archaeologist Dana Leprofsky and 10 collaborators have discovered that Northwest Coast Indigenous people didn’t only make their living just by gathering the ocean’s bounty. Rather, from Alaska to Washington, they cultivated productive clam gardens to ensure abundant and sustainable harvests.

Three Feathers, a graphic novel about restorative justice, is just one of six new works from Richard Van Camp anticipated for release in 2015. He worked on Three Feathers with artist Krysal Mateus.

It tells the story of three young men who return from the land after nine months of learning their language and culture.

In the novel, three boys, Rupert, Bryce and Flinch, break into a number of homes to steal valuables and drugs. When they are caught, they feel nothing but contempt for the people they victimized and the Elder they gravely injured.

Katzie First Nation is making its position clear: there will be no more development on the sacred genesis site of Sheridan Hill.

“We will put the province on notice that as members we are very committed to saving our history,” said Chief Susan Miller.

Miller and her chief negotiator were joined by Pitt Meadows Mayor John Becker and a city councillor in Victoria on April 20 to make a joint presentation to British Columbia’s Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett and Environment Minister Mary Polak.

Day scholars who are members of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and Shishalh Indian bands will have to wait until summer to learn if they can move forward on receiving compensation for the abuse they suffered when attending residential schools.

A new study shows that survivors of sexual abuse and children of residential school survivors are at a disproportionately higher risk of sexual assault. The study by The Cedar Project identified risk factors for sexual assault among young Aboriginal women who use drugs.

Assembly of First Nations regional chief for Quebec and Labrador, Ghislain Picard, joined 25,000 people in April at a march in Quebec City to call upon Canadian premiers to act on climate change. “That means no new tar sands pipelines,” said organizers for the Act on Climate March. Picard said almost half of all First Nations in Quebec will be impacted by the Energy East†pipeline which will carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Quebec City and Saint John, N.B. “There’s too much unknown, Picard said. 

Misipawistik First Nation will remove parents from homes, not the children, under its new child-welfare policy. It becomes the second First Nation in Manitoba to do the turn-about, joining the Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation in Nelson House which rolled out a similar policy in 2002. Misipawistik’s new policy took effect March 17 and procedures are being developed to put it into practice.

On April 16, First Nations whose lands and resources will be most affected by the proposed Ring of Fire development met to sign a protocol agreement. Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation entered into a “Negotiation Protocol Respecting Early Exploration in the Ring of Fire”. The protocol strengthens the commitment of both First Nations to work together to advance their common interests in a coordinated manner while respecting their mutual and unique interests over their respective lands and approvals to use the lands, reads a release.

On June 13, a 10 km run will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Billy Mills’ gold medal in the 10,000 meter run in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The overall male and female Native American runner of each 10K age division will be crowned “Native American 10K National Champion.”  The event is open to all ages, divided into a number of divisions. Billy Mills will be in attendance. The race registration can be accessed here: http://www.active.com

The Navajo Nation is imposing a two per cent sales tax on such foods as soda, chips, and energy drinks sold in retail centres on the reservation. It’s the only place in the United States to impose a two per cent sales tax on foods with little or no nutritional value. The Healthy Dine Nation Act strives to encourage healthier choices on food purchases and combat obesity and diabetes rates among the Navajo. It also eliminates a five per cent sales tax on such foods as fresh fruits and vegetables.