“Narcisse, if you met him, he touched your life forever,” said Michelle Thrush at a memorial to honour the lives of Kainai Elder Narcisse Blood, and Michael Green, co-founder of Calgary’s One Yellow Rabbit Theatre.

Blood’s and Green’s lives were taken in a tragic multiple vehicle crash north of Regina on Feb. 10. Two well-known Saskatchewan artists, Michele Sereda and Lacy Morin-Desjarlais, were also killed in the accident, which happened on wintry roads as the group travelled to a school on Piapot First Nation. A fifth person, Morley Hartenberger, also died in the accident.

The sixth annual Rubaboo Festival took place in early February. This year’s event saw a number of changes, and more are on the horizon.

Annual event lights ravine

A teepee glows in the darkness of the Mill Creek Ravine during the Flying Canoe Adventure. The annual event took place on Feb. 6 and 7 and is a combination of French Canadian and First Nations legend, which was told by lost canoeists along a trail in the ravine. The area was illuminated by colourful lanterns and artwork and two teepees offered tea and bannock. There was also music, a snow slide, and children’s activities near by at La Cite Francophone. 

New fund at U of A for Aboriginal students

Funding from the provincial government and strong mutual aid agreements with neighbouring communities are two reasons why Chief Administrative Officer Darwin Eckstrom expects Horse Lake First Nation will be spared the tragedy that befell a family on a Saskatchewan reserve.

Premier Jim Prentice has expressed his disappointment at President Barack Obama’s decision to veto approval of Keystone XL pipeline. The US Congress approved the project on Feb. 11, but on Feb. 24 Obama vetoed the legislation. “The debate will continue and, just as I did during my recent visit to Washington, I will continue to communicate Alberta’s record as a safe, secure and reliable energy supplier, and our strong support for Keystone XL and for all infrastructure projects that advance North America’s energy interests,” said Prentice in a news release.

With the Progressive Conservatives ramping up for an early election, the Wildrose Party has moved its leadership selection to March 28. After receiving feedback from members, constituency associations, and candidates, the Wildrose Party executive council voted unanimously to accelerate the leadership process. “We’re a grassroots party and members have been clear they want a new leader in place before Premier Jim Prentice breaks his own fixed election law.

First Nations, along with representatives from all levels of government, industry, and emergency management agencies, participated in an exercise that simulated an ice storm sweeping across the province, bringing mass casualties, derailments, collapsing buildings and power outages. The emergency management exercise, aimed at testing the government’s response to potential disasters, is held annually but this year’s was the largest and most complex yet, said Municipal Affairs Minister Diana McQueen.

Siksika First Nation will receive $8.9 million from the federal government towards the completion of a new elementary school. The new building, which is set to replace the aged Crowfoot School, will be 3,319 square metres and able to accommodate up to 300 students from preschool to Grade 6. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2015 and completion is expected in 2017. The money was allocated by the federal government in the 2012 budget. The total cost of the new school is $21.3 million, with Siksika Nation providing the balance.

The latest numbers indicate that more than 10,000 university and college students identify themselves as Aboriginal, a figure 70 per cent higher than it was 10 years ago. The number of Aboriginal students enrolled in Alberta’s publicly-funded post-secondary institutions has increased from 6,236 in 2005 to 10,610 in 2013, according to Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education. However, that figure could be higher, said department spokesperson Kevin Donnan, as many students choose not to identify themselves with a particular ethnic group.

A request in person by Child and Youth Advocate Del Graff in February that the government restore $275,000 to his office’s budget was turned down. The money was cut as part of efforts by the province to deal with the drop in oil prices that has left a shortfall of $7 billion in the Alberta budget. At the same meeting, the committee voted to return $546,000 to the Auditor General, who audits government departments and agencies.