Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions will provide a grant of $1.7-million over seven years to University of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences researcher Dr. Cheryl Currie to aid in her research to gain a better understanding of the health needs of rural and urban Aboriginal populations. Currie, an assistant professor of public health, has been selected as the AIHS Translational Health Chair in Aboriginal Health and Wellness.

The Assembly of First Nations National Executive Committee is supporting legal action undertaken by Sucker Creek First Nation, Ermineskin Cree Nation, Kainai Nation and the Tsuu T’ina Nation against the federal government on unsafe drinking water. “Potable water is a serious issue in Alberta as we cannot even drink water from pumps or natural springs. This situation is unacceptable and must be dealt with quickly,” said AFN Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis, in a news release.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has pulled out of the regulatory hearing into the proposed $3 billion TransCanada Corp.’s Grand Rapids crude pipeline. In a news release, Chief Allan Adam cited the “impossible position” the First Nation was put in by the Alberta Energy Regulator, which is holding its first hearing since replacing the Energy Resources Conservation Board. Adam said the AER is flawed and had “seriously undermined our efforts to address any concerns about First Nations impacts,” referring to a lack of assessments and studies undertaken.

The Stoney Nakoda Nation has signed a joint venture agreement with Hong Kong-based Huatong Petrochemical Holdings Ltd. to explore and develop oil and gas deposits on about 49,000 hectares of Stoney Nation lands. Huatong will provide all necessary funding and Nakoda Oil & Gas Inc. will act as the primary operator for the joint venture. “The magnitude of this new agreement between Huatong and the Stoney Nations will hopefully bring us one step closer to self-sufficiency for our nation and people,” said Bruce Labelle, Chief of the Chiniki Nation, in a CBC report.

With the proclamation of Bill 11 on July 24, Human Services Minister Manmeet S. Bhullar has delivered on his promise to lift the publication ban on children who have died while in government care. Lifting the ban was discussed as part of a limited-topic two-day workshop hosted by Bhullar in January. “I believe it is a basic right of each and every one of us to express grief publicly. This decision is not one for the government to make; it is one for those closest to the child to make,” said Bhullar, in a statement.

The investigation into the death of a six-week old baby in care has led to Provincial Child and Youth Advocate Del Graff’s recommendation that a policy be developed directing infants in care to not share beds. In 2013, six-week-old Dawn (not her real name) was found unresponsive in her foster parents’ bed. She was transported to hospital and pronounced dead. Cause of death was undetermined. Dawn was one of nine children in the foster home, which was licensed for four foster children.