A Canadian playwright with Indigenous roots wants to send a message while entertaining crowds with her new play The Unplugging.
 
Yvette Nolan’s latest work was inspired by another story with similar ideas, her mother and the treatment of Aboriginal women in general.
 
The basic idea is two women who are banished from their community after this unplugging and they have to dig down inside and remember what they know in order to go on.
She was struggling with how we do not treat our elders well, especially our women elders.
 

The Wood Buffalo Métis along with other organizations and businesses held a symposium last week, examining the rights of Metis and economic development.
 
Kyle Harrietha is the General Manager of the McMurray Métis and says the turnout was amazing and the topics were wide-ranging.
 

The Wood Buffalo Métis along with other organizations and businesses held a symposium last week, examining the rights of Metis and economic development.
 
Kyle Harrietha is the General Manager of the McMurray Métis and says the turnout was amazing and the topics were wide-ranging.
 

A First Nations community in the NWT have signed a new modern treaty, allowing for self-governance.
 
The Déline First Nation is the first Aboriginal group in the area with its own self-government agreement, bringing together authorities, services and programs into one solid unit.
 
The treaty will allow the Déline people more control over the issues that affect their community such as education, social services, elections and language.
 
Citizens voted 64.5 percent in agreement for self-governance, which is well above the 50 percent needed.

The Spirit Seekers Youth Conference in Grande Prairie was another success this year.

Premier Jim Prentice met with some Alberta Chiefs and the Minister of Education on Friday to discuss the importance of enhancing First Nations education in the province.
 
The number one goal reached from the meeting was to ensure that First Nations students are getting the same educational opportunities as any other student in Alberta.
 
Along with equal opportunity, Premier Prentice stressed the importance of enhancing their identities as Canadians, Albertans and Aboriginals.
 

People across Canada are rallying against an anti-terror bill that, if passed, may infringe on the rights of activists and protesters.
 
The purpose of bill C-51 is to protect Canadians from a growing terror threat but many feel the limitations go too far.
 
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation says the Harper government isn’t worried about international terrorists.
 

It’s been a few months since the Moosehide Campaign was launched in Alberta and people seem to be really behind the initiative.
 
The idea is to get Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men wearing a swatch of moosehide to show they value the women in their lives.
 
Merle White is the Executive Director of the Canadian Native Friendship Centre and President of the Alberta chapter and says it doesn’t matter what the campaign is, as long as it gets people with the same intentions talking.
 

Some students at the U of A are in for a very special treat tonight, in more ways than one.
 
For the evening, the Sawridge Inn will host a celebration of the gracious gifts contributed to support the Faculty of Native Studies at the university.
 
There will be a feast prepared by Top Chef and Aboriginal chef, Rich Francis.
 
Chef Francis is excited about the night and showing how delicious Indigenous food can be with a little twist.
 

A senseless and immature act has disrespected a well-known Aboriginal symbol at the University of Alberta.
 
Brendan Hokowhitu (Hoko-Fit-Too) is the Dean of the Faculty of Native Studies and says police are investigating after someone vandalised the Tipi.
 
Clip – “On Sunday one of our alumni was around our faculty and she saw the tipi had been vandalised with toilet paper wrapped around the poles, help up by vinyl tape. Then she contacted the university and took the toilet paper off the poles immediately. Following that, the U of A contacted the Edmonton Police.”