On May 2, 2014 Shawn Atleo announces his resignation as national chief of the Assembly of First
Nations.

Many chiefs from across the country have opposed his support for the
federal Conservative government’s efforts to revamp education for Firsdt Nations with the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act (FNCFNEA).

"This work is too important. I am not prepared to be obstacle to it or lightening rod distracting from kids & their potential," stated Atleo.

More on this story as it happens...

In the winter of 2012-2013, round dances erupted in malls, universities, airports, major intersections in cities and First Nations communities. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of Indigenous people and non-Indigenous allies joined hands to dance. That was part of the phenomenon that was called Idle No More (INM).

On April 4, a book that documents and celebrates the INM movement in writing, poetry, photographs, paintings and posters, was launched at Toronto’s Ryerson University. About 40 people attended the Canadian launch of the book entitled The Winter We Danced.

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invites reaction to Harper’s claim

A 41 per cent growth in the number of self-declared Aboriginal students is one highlight of the University of Regina’s five-year strategic plan, which ends this year. Now the university has launched the planning and consultation process for its next five-year strategic plan, to be released in fall 2014. “I am proud of what we have accomplished in the last five years toward fulfilling the objectives we set out together in our existing strategic plan,” said University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons, in a news release.

The Crown Investments Corp. (CIC) of Saskatchewan is extending funding for its Aboriginal Bursary Program to help post-secondary Aboriginal students achieve higher education. The provincial government renewed the program for another five years, starting this upcoming fall. CIC estimates the cost of the renewal will be $2.2 million. Donna Harpauer, Saskatchewan’s CIC minister, says financial demands are one of the top three reasons that students leave their studies. Up to 85 bursaries worth $5,000 each can be granted annually.

Cuts to salaries of Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vice chiefs and tapping into gaming revenues and a treaty rights protection fund has allowed most of FSIN’s workers to keep their jobs. Chiefs voted nearly unanimously to cut the salaries of the four vice-chiefs from $100,000 per year to $75,000. The $135,000 salary of FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde remains unaffected, as it is funded by the Assembly of First Nations. In January, 66 employees were told that because of federal government funding cuts of $2 million they might not have a job as of April 1.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority says casinos the Little Pine First Nation plans to build in Estevan and Lloydminster would violate an agreement between the province and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Any change to the agreement, which gives sole control and authority over Aboriginal casinos to the gaming authority, would have to be negotiated between the province and the FSIN. Delegates to a recent chiefs meeting did not support Little Pine First Nation’s casinos proposals. Little Pine has already purchased land in Lloydminster for a casino and hotel.

The province’s first Education Sector Strategic Plan identifies reading and First Nations and Metis subjects as the focus. “We want to meet our targets by 2020 of increasing our graduation rate and closing the gap on First Nations students,” Education Minister Don Morgan said at a news conference. For 2014-15, school divisions will jointly focus on developing reading evaluations and improving learning initiatives for First Nations and Métis students.

Aboriginal health access centres, which deliver culturally-appropriate health promotion and chronic disease prevention initiatives in schools and community organizations, will be included in the shift the province will be making in health care within the next three years. Ontario will more than double its annual investment in community health infrastructure to help shift care from hospital to community settings, including community health centres, Aboriginal health access centres and community-based mental health and addictions agencies.