Welcome to AMMSA.COM, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.

imagineNATIVE smashes attendance and impact records

Figures are in for the 14th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and attendance was up by 20 per cent over 2012. Areas of significant growth included the festival’s exhibition attendance, with more than 8,000 visitors at four different shows, capped by the success of the festival’s first official art crawl of contemporary Indigenous new media art. imagineNATIVE also saw an exponential increase in international attendance, with more than 10 per cent of attendees coming from outside of Canada, a nine per cent increase from 2012.

Big Bear Creek settlement concluded

Through the Specific Claims Policy, the government of Canada and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation concluded the Big Bear Creek settlement, which resolves a land dispute tied to events that took place nearly 200 years ago. A special ceremony was held to mark the conclusion of the outstanding specific land claim on Dec. 9. The First Nation approved the agreement in a vote on March 23, 2013, which also included the approval of the First Nation's plans to manage its settlement funds.

Rallies to oppose First Nations Education legislation

The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians hosted a rally in Toronto on Dec. 4 at the Aboriginal and Northern Development Canada offices in opposition to federal legislation for First Nation Education. AIAI joined other First Nation organizations across Ontario in opposition to the legislation. “Canada continues to insist on ramming policies and laws down our throats, this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Grand Chief Gordon Peters in a news release.

NAN to seek status in landmark case

Nishnawbe Aski Nation will seek intervener status in R. v. Kokopenace, a landmark case the Supreme Court of Canada will hear regarding the underrepresentation of First Nation people on jury rolls. “The Supreme Court will now be able to address the crisis that the Government of Ontario has put the province in with respect to the alienation of First Nations from the justice system,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler in a news release. In its June 14, 2013 decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of R. v.

Neil Young to perform benefit concerts to raise funds for FN legal defense fund

Neil Young will perform four benefit concerts in Canada
to raise funds for a legal defense fund supporting the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in “challenges against oil companies and government that are obstructing their traditional lands and rights,” reads a press release. The “Honor the Treaties” shows will be staged in January. Young will be joined by fellow Canadian artist Diana Krall as special guest. The concerts will take place Jan. 12 in Toronto, Jan. 16 in Winnipeg, Jan. 17 in Regina and Jan. 19 in Calgary.