“It was a tiny little room, and it went about 30 feet in. It was just in the corner where these old, old pipes were… They said that’s where the kids were abused.”

Owen Morris, a teacher from Frog Lake First Nation, described a room he saw on a recent tour of the Blue Quills College in St. Paul. Blue Quills, a functioning college today, operated as a residential school between 1931 and 1970, and Morris was given a hands-on educational experience about what life was like for First Nations’ children who were students there during that time.

In November, the RCMP made a recruitment stop on O’Chiese First Nation.  It was one of a number of community career presentations geared towards Aboriginal communities as part of the Alberta RCMP’s latest recruitment blitz.

 “The RCMP has deemed it a priority to recruit quality applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, to better reflect our Canadian population,” said spokesman Const. Mitch Simmons. “(We’re) implementing a number of initiatives to reach our goal of increasing the ratio of women, Aboriginal people and visible minority groups within the organization.”

Kikino Métis Settlement understands the importance of the Aboriginal Head Start program.

Between 1964 and 1970 when Kikino students were bussed to Lac La Biche, only two students graduated. In 1989, the community re-opened its school and a few years later, the Aboriginal Head Start program came to the community. 

“When we brought in Head Start, there were 15 students in the program. Thirteen of them graduated,” said Floyd Thompson, council chair of Kikino Métis Settlement. “We knew then that we were on the right track.”

Perhaps it was a longshot wish.

But for Mikki Adams, a coach of an Inuit girls hockey team from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, a request she initiated ended up with a considerably different outcome thanks in large part to arguably the best women’s hockey player in the world.

Earlier this year Adams sent an email to Hayley Wickenheiser asking the Canadian hockey star to come to Nunavut this November to run a hockey school for Adams’ team members.

Gary Moostoos, respected Elder and social worker with Boyle Street Community Services, says an apology needs action in order to be accepted.

“I have always been taught that in order to apologize to someone you have to make amends first. ‘I’m sorry’ is very, very easily said, but in my culture when someone does something wrong to someone else they need to regain the respect and trust from that person. I need to see things done before I could even look at the apology,” he said.

“I feel honoured and humbled,” said Kevin McNichol, former executive director of HomeFront Calgary, who was recently recognized for his many years of work in domestic violence. “I’m humbled because I’m aware that the award is not just for me.  There are a lot of people with big vision dealing with domestic violence in our community.”

Established in 2012 by the Alberta government, the Inspiration Awards highlight the innovative approach of Albertans working to support and protect those experiencing family violence. McNichol was presented with the Individual Inspiration Award.

Huu-ay-aht First Nation elected Chief Councillor Jeff Cook and Steelhead CEO Nigel Kuzemko spoke with Windspeaker to answer a range of questions arising from the proposed $30-billion (US) LNG terminal that received a nod from Huu-ay-aht citizens Nov. 29.

A core group of Huu-ay-aht First Nation members, with the support of their hereditary head chief, has vowed to fight a proposed multi-billion dollar liquid natural gas project in the Sarita River estuary.

Huu-ay-aht is one of 14 Nuu-chah-nulth nations on Vancouver Island. Their traditional territory is located on the south side of Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, and the Sarita River is considered a sacred site, according to Huu-ay-aht member Stella Peters.

Online exclusive:

A $1.2 million project known as the Aboriginal Pavilion will showcase the best in Indigenous arts and culture during the July 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. The Pavilion will occupy 1.2 acres at Toronto’s Fort York.

Online exclusive:

The son of ousted Shuswap Indian Band elected chief Paul Sam and councillor Alice Sam has responded to allegations that his family has benefited outrageously from band finances and band-owned businesses.

A recent audit shows that Paul and Alice Sam each earned annual salaries averaging $202,000.