WOLF SONGS & FIRE CHATS

Oshie cracks U.S. team

While Carey Price will be doing his best to prevent goals for the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, another Native player will be trying to score as many goals as possible for his side.

T.J. Oshie, who is part Ojibwe, will suit up for the American team in Sochi. Oshie is a 27-year-old forward with the St. Louis Blues. He’s in his sixth NHL campaign and is having a stellar season.

Nunavut to hold inquest into suicides

The $3 million recently allocated by the provincial government to meet First Nations and Metis education goals, established by a joint task force on Aboriginal education, will be equalled in 2014-2015.

“In the new fiscal year there will be a new $3 million in place … certainly recognizing that the joint task force talked about an ongoing response and that will absolutely be part of the discussions moving forward,” said Greg Miller, assistant deputy minister with Saskatchewan Education.

Veteran comedian explored racial divide

Fans of comedian Charlie Hill wished him a good journey into the spirit world and imagined the impact of his razor-wit on ‘the other side’.

“Nelson Mandela has a front row seat at Charlie’s first stand-up show in heaven” posted one Facebook supporter, while another claimed “God is slapping his knee at Charlie’s jokes as we speak.”
Here on earth, signage in front of the famous Laugh Factory in Los Angeles where the comic often performed read “Charlie Hill, Rest in Peace, Make God Laugh”.

Figures released by the provincial government in early December indicate that almost $175 million in preliminary disaster assistance has been provided to southern Alberta municipalities and First Nations to begin rebuilding after the June flood. There are still over 1,000 people living in temporary accommodations, including 326 in relief shelters on the Siksika First Nation. Almost $70 million was distributed in immediate support as preloaded debit cards or cheques to more than 56,000 Albertans forced from their homes.

The Joint Review Panel for Site C for BC Hydro's proposed dam was in Peace River Jan. 9 and 10. The panel began its hearings in Fort St. John, in BC, on Dec. 9, 2013, and will conclude in Fort St. John on Jan. 23. Peace River was the only Alberta stop. Concerns have been raised by First Nations both in BC and Alberta as the project would create hydro-electric power for the BC, but would also flood First Nations land and hunting grounds.

The Maskwacis Conflict Resolution Program, run by the Samson Cree Nation, has received $2.9 million from the federal government to address gang violence in Samson Cree Nation, Ermineskin First Nation, Louis Bull First Nation and Montana First Nation. The program will help youth make smart choices and avoid involvement in criminal activity by promoting community involvement, education and employment skills, and counselling programs, said Wetaskiwin MP Blaine Calkins. Jan. 1 marked the official change of name for Hobbema to Maskwacis.

The Métis Nation of Alberta Association has launched a $3-billion lawsuit against B.C. Hydro and the federal government for damage to the Lake Athabasca delta created by two dams on British Columbia stretches of the Peace River. The suit, launched by the Fort Chipewyan chapter of the association, claims that the Bennett and Peace Canyon Dams have had disastrous effects on the Lake Athabasca delta created by the meeting of the Peace and Athabasca Rivers in northeastern Alberta.