A former reporter for the United Nations will be part of a live streamed discussion March 12, 2015, hosted by the University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies.
 
Dr. James Anaya was a Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and will open the chat titled “Exploring the Relationship of the Oil Economy with Indigenous Peoples and Their Rights and Responsibilities.”
 

The River Cree Casino is facing a minor setback as they shut down their temporary concert venue.
 
The structure, called “The Venue”, is a big white tent at the north end of the property and has been closed because of a building code deficiency.
 
The River Cree was not ordered to shut down the building, but did voluntarily when they found out there might be a problem.
 
The Venue has been used for many events and concert over the past 8 years and there has never been a problem with safety leading up to this discovery.
 

A report from Alberta’s Auditor General has some troubling numbers when it comes to school attendance in the Northland School Division.

Merwan Saher findings show that 1 in 3 kids are chronically absent from school and points the finger at the Ministry of Education for not failing to take action.

The Northland School Division is made up of 24 schools in northern Alberta and has 2,700 students… 95 percent are Aboriginal.

The Blood Tribe in southern Alberta has declared a state of emergency regarding a drug that has taken the lives of too many people in a short period of time in their community.
 
Staff Sergeant Joseph Many Fingers says prescription drug overdose has definitely taken its toll.
 
Clip – “We’ve had a lot of deaths recently within the past 5 to 6 months, approximately 10 deaths related to prescription drug overdose. There’s a fake Oxy pill here and fake Oxy is a pill that’s mostly made out of Fentanyl which is a highly potent narcotic.”
 

A member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation is this year’s recipient of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Mel Benson has been recognized for having made a significant contribution to the economic growth and development of Aboriginal people.

Julia Soucie is hoping to take advantage of an Aboriginal component that will soon be added to the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association’s HIGH FIVE program.

ARPA has been running HIGH FIVE since 2007. The training program focuses on how coaches, leaders and instructors can enhance the quality of sport and recreation programs in their communities. But until now, very few of those trained have been Aboriginal.

Blended learning – a combination of on-line and videoconferencing – and straight on-line learning provide a much needed opportunity for adult students in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to improve their lives.

“It’s learning anytime, anywhere,” said Catherine Koch, vice-president academic, at Keyano College, “and then people have access to things they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

It also allows students, many of whom have other commitments such as children and jobs, to remain in their home community.

Alexandra Lazarowich has been on both sides of the camera and that experience has told her that the non-traditional woman’s role of creating the story suits her better than telling the story.

But her years as an actress have helped prepare her for life on the other side of the lens.

 “Part of what makes me a good producer was being a not so successful actor,” Lazarowich, who acted from the time she was 10 until she was 21, said with a chuckle. “… That’s when I realized I had to make roles for myself.”

Indspire Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Elsie Yanik epitomizes a life of giving and kindness. At age 97, altruism is at the core of her being. “I love people,” she said. “I never look at their colour; I look at their heart.”

Tsuu T’ina beauty to compete in Miss Universe Canada pageant