Vanessa Omeasoo got a bit more than she bargained for when meeting recently with officials from her bank.

Omeasoo had earlier participated in a TD Bank survey asking how people could improve their communities. Omeasoo, who has Cree and Blackfeet ancestry, and works as the Neyaskweyahk Restorative Justise co-ordinator, had plenty of ideas. As it turned out, those TD officials seeking ideas were also looking for winners for their 24 Hours To Make Today Matter Contest.

A new book documents first-hand experiences of Indian residential schools to youth and adult readers through both words and photographs.

Staff and volunteers from The Mustard Seed were thrilled with the donations of hams and turkeys from Calgarians during its annual Turkey Ham Jam, held at four Calgary Co-op stores. 

Turkeys, hams and chickens collected for Mustard Seed hampers

Tamisan Bencz-Knight, resource development assistant with the Edmonton Food Bank, and successful food and fundraiser Can Man Dan Johnstone. 

Food, money raised to feed those in need

The only woman Chief in the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations is now wearing the headdress of Grand Chief.

“I was shocked to learn I was the first woman Grand Chief (for Treaty 6 Confederacy). I guess I made history,” said Bernice Martial, who also serves as Cold Lake First Nation Chief.

Competing against men and winning is not new for Martial. When she won the election as Chief for Cold Lake First Nation she was the only woman seeking that position.

While the loss of culture has had a devastating effect on Canada’s First Nations people in a variety of ways, a new study shows culture may play a role in the prevention of chronic disease.

Richard Oster, and his team of researchers from the University of Alberta, found that a community that is more connected to its traditional and cultural ways suffers lower rates of diabetes.

University of Alberta professor Catherine Bell does not believe that the Daniels case – which is now on the Supreme Court of Canada’s schedule – will have an impact on the province’s Métis settlements.

The Driftpile First Nation is the location of a new land reclamation project funded by Shell Canada.

A one acre abandoned well site will be converted into a garden-like environment, with shrubs, trees, and other plants traditionally considered valuable in their community.

“We wanted to look at reclaiming land in a way the community would like versus the way the industry would like,” said Brad Hestbak, a representative for Northern Lakes College, one of Shell’s partner organizations on the project.

Three Alberta First Nations are staying the course and refusing to file their full audited financial statements with the federal government.

As of Jan. 8, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Sawridge First Nation, and Onion Lake Cree Nation had posted neither their audited financial statements nor their Chiefs and councils remuneration and expenses in accordance to the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. As of Dec. 31, there were 34 non-complying First Nations. The federal government had extended the deadline for compliance by three months to Nov. 29.

Confederation College’s Centre for Policy in Aboriginal Learning recently facilitated the signing of a national Indigenous Education Protocol by President Jim Madder. College partner, Leona Scanlon, chair of the Negahneewin Council, also signed in support of the college’s ongoing commitment to Aboriginal education.