The University of Lethbridge has received a $400,000 gift in support of First Nations’ initiatives. The money, given by TD Bank Group, will be used to enhance educational experiences for Blackfoot and other First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. The funding will support the already established First Nations’ Transition Program and the creation of a First Nations’ Gathering Centre on the U of L campus. President Mike Mahon says the university places tremendous emphasis on the success of Blackfoot and other FNMI students and an inclusive campus is critical in achieving that goal.

On May 22, the Alberta government unveiled the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency, which is responsible for monitoring provincial air and water quality and ambient monitoring of biodiversity, previously managed by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. It is also leading the province’s involvement in the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring project with the federal government.

The last First Nation band involved in the Canada-Alberta Joint Oil Sands Monitoring program has officially pulled out. Fort McMurray First Nation Chief Ron Kreutzer says it was a difficult decision, but that the First Nation felt excluded and frustrated. Past members include the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, the Fort McKay First Nation, and the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation. The monitoring program was originally composed of First Nations, environmental monitoring groups, industry, and the top two levels of government.

Thomas Lukaszuk and Ric McIver have joined Jim Prentice in seeking to become the next leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives. Both Lukaszuk and McIver held positions as cabinet ministers under former Premier Alison Redford. Lukaszuk was also Deputy Premier. Redford resigned her position as premier on March 23 amidst controversy of reckless spending. She remained as the MLA for Calgary-Elbow.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a food consumption advisory for gull and tern eggs for Lake Athabasca and Mamawi Lake. The advisory followed a human health risk assessment conducted by Alberta Health in November 2013. The assessment was as the result of research undertaken by the Joint Oil Sand Monitoring program in 2012, which expressed concern regarding mercury levels.

An investigative review released by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate in early May indicated that lack of information sharing led to the death of a 14-day old Aboriginal baby, who, at the time, was receiving services from the provincial government. “The circumstances around this infant’s death are both tragic and troubling,” said Advocate Del Graff, in a news release.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the keynote speaker at the As Long as the Rivers Flow: Coming Back to the Treaty Relationship in Our Time conference held in Fort McMurray, May 31-June 1. The event was sponsored by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the law firm of Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP. “We are proud to host a moral leader like Archbishop Tutu, who has done such important work for his people in his own country.

Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (third from right) with Fort McMurray-Athabasca candidate Kyle Harrietha (second from right) and members of the Sucker Creek First Nation.

In 2013, 40 people died on the streets of Edmonton. Their lives were commemorated in the ninth annual Edmonton Homeless Memorial held on May 23.

“We provide the people of the community with the opportunity to celebrate, grieve, and remember those people,” said John Acheson, a trustee with the Catholic School Board and MC of the event for a number of years. He is also chair of the organizing committee.