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Grand Chief Stewart Phillip injured in traffic incident

The president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs is no stranger to making news on the political stage, but a frightening incident during his travels in mid-February saw him making news of a different kind. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip was travelling alone outside of Hope, B.C. when his vehicle slid on black ice and snow, left the highway and crashed into the rock face. The Chevrolet Tahoe was flipped onto its roof. Phillip was transported to Fraser Canyon Hospital where he was admitted with non-life threatening injuries.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip warns Ottawa on funding cuts

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip is warning Ottawa that funding cuts to Aboriginal Affairs’ specific claims research may create a similar environment to the one that sparked the Oka crisis. The cuts come as the federal government works to “identify efficiencies and streamline departmental operations” and has resulted in some First Nations claims research organizations seeing upwards of 60 per cent funding loss.

You are being invited to join the Blue Dot Movement on social media

If you've been seeing photos show up on social media sites with a blue dot on them, you are being invited to join the Blue Dot Movement. The blue dot is a symbol of protest against exclusion, and was inspired by a “historic” event held at Kainai in southern Alberta, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper and National Chief Shawn Atleo jointly announced a new agreement on education.

Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT apologize to First Nations people who attended residential schools

The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories have apologized to First Nations people who attended residential schools. “We also express our apology and regret for Catholic participation in government policies that resulted in children being separated from their families, and often suppressed Aboriginal culture and language at the residential schools,” reads the letter. The letter was read out at Ben Calf Robe School in Edmonton Feb. 24. Archbishop Richard Smith said “We’ve come here, in the presence of these children, so that they see that we take these words seriously.

After walking 1,700 km the Omushkegowuk walkers arrive at Parliament Hill Feb. 24

With 1,700 km and 49 days behind them, the Omushkegowuk walkers arrived at Parliament Hill Feb. 24 with a message for government: Take action on treaties. Danny Metatawabin led the group. He stood with Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence last year as she went on a hunger strike to bring attention to the concerns of First Nations peoples. “The time to reconcile Aboriginal issues is now,” Matatawabin said. “…from lack of infrastructure, housing, missing and murdered women and girls, the list goes on and on.

Indigenous women filmmakers celebrated with festival screenings

Two Indigenous filmmakers feature prominently in this month’s Vancouver International Women in Film Festival.

But despite their documentaries’ strikingly different topics – one a profile of Gemini-winning actor Michelle Thrush, the other about the history of a B.C. First Nation – both spoke to Windspeaker about the importance of honouring their subjects’ stories.

Federal inmates constructing homes for First Nation communities

For decades, housing problems have plagued First Nation communities across the country. In 2001, the Auditor General of Canada reported a shortage of 8,500 units on First Nation communities with about 44 per cent of existing units in need of repairs.

Since then, the Indigenous population has ballooned to 1.4 million, up 20 per cent since 2006, according to the 2011 National Household Survey.

But a unique partnership between Correctional Service Canada (CSC) and First Nation communities is helping to alleviate some of these housing shortages.

Discipline and balance the key to fighter’s success

And you thought you were busy. Well, it takes several breaths to list the various jobs and responsibilities of Darwin Douglas.
The 41-year-old, a member of the Sto:lo Nation who lives in Chilliwack, B.C., is probably somebody you don’t want to mess with. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is something he does professionally.

Douglas and his wife Francine also own the Four Directions Martial Arts Academy in Chilliwack. Besides owning and helping run the gym, Douglas also frequently visits various Aboriginal communities where he spearheads a MMA Youth Leadership Program.