Delaney Ross ended up with a medal haul from her appearances at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).

Ross, an 18-year-old forward from the Canoe Lake First Nation, participated in the last six national tournaments, including the 2016 event, which concluded this May 7 in Mississauga, Ont.

Ross was the captain of the Saskatchewan girls’ team, which edged the host Ontario squad 1-0 in this year’s gold-medal contest.

Gitga’at First Nation and a team of researchers from UBC and Michigan State University have completed a groundbreaking acoustic study of Douglas Channel and its adjacent waters in Gitga’at marine territory on the B.C. Central Coast.

The channel has been proposed as a tanker route to ship diluted bitumen flowing from Alberta through the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline.

The goal was to create a comprehensive picture of the existing marine soundscape prior to future industrial development, according to Gitga’at Science Director Chris Picard.

May 11, 2016.

Residents who were forced to evacuate the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will start receiving individual compensation Wednesday afternoon.

“This one-time emergency payment will help evacuees to meet their immediate short-term needs associated with the evacuation such as temporary housing and essential day-to-day expenses,” said Premier Rachel Notley.

However, Notley is asking those who do not need immediate relief to wait.

May 11, 2016.

Donations are trickling in and those sorting through the generous gifts say even more are needed.

Photo: Jackie Alook (left) and Debra Loyie supervise donations that are coming into to Treaty 8 for Wood Buffalo evacuees.
(Photo: Shari Narine)

“I’m impressed with how much we’ve gotten, but it’s still not enough,” said Debra Loyie, with the Treaty 8 sub-office in Edmonton.

In the last few days, van-loads of donations have come from Siksika First Nation and Samson Cree Nation.

CCAB provides funds to Red Cross for Fort McMurray rebuild

May 11, 2016.

Mikisew Cree Nation Chief Steve Courtoreille wants to see immediate dollars pledged by the province given to all members of his First Nation, not just the ones who fled the fire-ravaged area of Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

May 10, 2016.

People are being generous in their support of First Nations people, who have been displaced by the wild fires burning in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

“We’re getting in lots (of donations) and the nice thing about it is we’re getting them out of the door too, they’re getting to the people who need them,” said Joe Jobin, chief operating officer for Treaty 8.

The Treaty 8 sub-office has become the hub of activity since late last week when a list of supplies needed for evacuees went up on the Facebook page.

Community foundations start fund to rebuild Fort McMurray

 
A young member of Sachigo Lake First Nation has set out on a 2,000-kilometre trek from his home in Northern Ontario to raise money for people impacted by the devastating wildfire in Fort McMurray.

Stanley Barkman, 26, set out from Sioux Lookout on May 9, and hopes to reach the Alberta oilpatch capital in six weeks.

Stanley’s father, Robert, is driving the support vehicle. Windspeaker spoke with him shortly after Stanley passed his first 10 kilometre-mark, under sunny skies.

Change an unethical practise in bail hearing proceedings in criminal courts in the province, says the Aboriginal Affairs Coalition of Saskatchewan.

Kim Beaudin, president of the AACS, says the organization is petitioning the courts to do away with a practice that allows police officers to take the place of Crown Prosecutors in “after hours” trials.
Judges who normally appear during weekday and daytime hours are replaced by Justices of the Peace during evenings and weekends. Police officers then often assume the responsibility of the Crown during that time.