Anishinabek Nation Lake
Huron Grand Chief Isadore Day told Prospectors and Developers Association of
Canada conference-goers in early March that no mining venture will succeed
without First Nations participation at the earliest stages. “It is time for a
real relationship with First Nations with Ontario’s mining sector,” said Day in
a news release. “The approach of First Nation equity in the land and in the
treaty relationship must be a starting baseline in negotiations – this is where

The Alderville First Nation
will become the first First Nation in Canada to fully-own an alternative energy
project. The five-megawatt Alderville Solar Farm, which has received $1.25
million from the federal government, is expected to provide employment for 25
members during the construction phase and additional employment once
operational. The project could generate more than $56 million in revenue for
the First Nation over 20 years. “We are proud of our renewable energy project,

Via Rail was forced to
charter 100 buses to move 5,000 passengers when protestors blockaded the
railroad tracks on March 19 near the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve, at Marysville
between Belleville and Kingston. The Montreal-Toronto Via Rail line, which
impacted its trains on the Toronto-Montreal and Toronto-Ottawa routes, was
blocked for most of the day as a dozen protesters drew attention to missing and
murdered Aboriginal women. Police also shut down Highway 2 near the area for

Novelist
and short-story writer Joseph Boyden is one of five individuals who will
receive honorary degrees at Trent University’s 47th Convocation ceremonies to
be held in June.
Photo: Norman Wong

Opportunity
Fund helps inner-city students

The University of Saskatchewan signed a memorandum of understanding with Buffy Sainte-Marie, the founder of the Cradle Board Teaching Project, to support Aboriginal education in Saskatchewan.

The First Nations University of Canada’s Saskatoon Campus will be relocated to on-reserve space at English River First Nation facilities by July 2014 and an enrollment freeze will be put in place this year for the Saskatoon campus. “We are committed to having operations in Saskatoon and we recognize the historic and contemporary importance of the Saskatoon Campus… Our offerings will respond to local student demand in ways that will maximize FNUniv’s competitive advantage,” said FNUniv Board Chair David Sharpe in a news release.

Buffalo River Dene Nation Chief Lance Byhette is challenging a recent ruling by the Court of Queen’s Bench that allows two exploration permits for oilsands exploration on traditional territory.  The permits were issued last summer by the province to Scott Land and Lease. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Grant M. Currie ruled the issuing of exploration permits does not “engage the duty to consult.” The province says the permits grant the company exclusive rights for exploration, but do not permit access to land or excavation.

Concern is being raised about the number of First Nations children dying in fires on reserves. According to Opposition NDP Leader Cam Broten, fires on reserves have taken the lives of four children since September. Three children lost their lives in Pelican Narrows and one other died on Witchekan Lake First Nation. A study commissioned by the federal government suggested First Nations people are 10 times more likely to die in a fire than the rest of the population.

Thunderchild First Nation has joined Little Pine and Peepeekisis First Nations in refusing to sign the annual funding agreement with the federal government. For Thunderchild, the agreement is worth $8 million and funds the majority of social programs on reserve. First Nations have little say in the type or amount of funding and much of that funding has been capped. The decision not to sign the agreement is to protest funding cuts by the federal government. “We want the Crown to be accountable.