The Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery in Winnipeg is celebrating its 20th year in business.

In honor of the occasion, they’ll be holding a special exhibit beginning May 6 and ending June 30, which opens with a reception party, followed by a two-day symposium with artist-led discussion panels and a gala ceremony.

Daina Warren, the gallery director, tailored the exhibit to commemorate artists who have been involved with the gallery since its earliest days.

April 28, 2016.

Two days after Treaty 8 signed a protocol agreement with the province and Treaty 8 Deputy Grand Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom said, “Actions will speak louder than words,” the government has announced it will be withdrawing Bill 22.

Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan said Wednesday the government would withdraw the bill, which created a levy to fund, in part, the province's Aboriginal Consultation Office. The bill passed all three readings under the Conservative government but had not been enacted.

The Indigenous Affairs critic for the federal NDP says the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has put Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada under third party management with the new orders it delivered on child welfare April 26.

“They’ve made it very clear. They don’t trust the department of Indigenous Affairs to put children first. They’re effectively putting them under a form of third-party management,” said MP Charlie Angus.

Project North officials are once again anticipating huge success for their Arctic Tour.

For the second straight year, members of the organization will be among those bringing hockey equipment to Inuit children in some of Canada’s most remote northern communities.

But like last year it won’t just be some equipment making the trip to the far north. A pair of former National Hockey League stars, Lanny McDonald and Mark Napier, will also be heading North.

And so too will the Stanley Cup, one of, if not the most prestigious and recognizable trophies in all of sports.

April 27, 2016. Sandra Laronde, director of Indigenous Arts at The Banff Centre, will be curating a Sesquicentennial Signature Music Initiative for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's for Canada's 150th celebration in 2017. Currently, she also serves on the Sesquicentennial Advisory for the TSO. Programming for the project will explore current and past Canadian composers, Canada's Indigenous musical legacy and ongoing practice, Canadian songwriters, culturally diverse music practice, and film composers.

Indigenous artists headline new exhibit at AGA

The six Chiefs of the Tsilhquot’in Nations of the B.C. Interior are calling on government to help in dealing with a recent increase in the level of violence in Williams Lake and surrounding communities.

Three separate shooting incidents have rocked the community in the past five weeks, beginning with the fatal targeted shooting of a 20-year-old man on March 20.

On April 25, area schools were closed as a precaution after shots were fired at a home on Western Avenue.

Strong words from Bigstone Cree Nation Chief Gordon Auger calling the Calgary Herald out on its claim that First Nations need to be monitored for every dollar spent of the $8.4 billion allotted to them in the March federal budget.

Those words have earned the Alberta chief accolades from his band members.

On Wednesday April 27, Auger had his letter, titled by the Calgary Herald “Chief: If you think aboriginals have it so good, come and visit us,” published digitally.

“I got a lot of calls from my band members and they’re very pleased,” said Auger.

April 27, 2016.

“In my life I have thought about suicide,” said Elder Francis Whiskeyjack.

Whiskeyjack sat alongside Child and Youth Advocate Del Graff on Monday as they shared the disturbing report of seven Aboriginal youth, who killed themselves over an 18-month period beginning in June 2013.

Elder Francis Whiskeyjack (right) with Child and Youth Advocate Del Graff talk about the tragedy of Aboriginal youth suicide.
(Photo: Shari Narine)