Following eight-months of construction, Carleton University unveiled its new Aboriginal centre in October. The centre, which is called Ojigkwanong meaning morning star in Algonquin, was designed by renowned architect Douglas Cardinal. The new 1,850-square-foot space is significantly larger than the existing Aboriginal lounge. The centre is circular in design, a common theme among Aboriginal communities. The largest circle, called the Elders’ circle, will be used for gatherings and ceremonial events.

The Oct. 13 traffic death of Jessie Roach, 22, of Garden River First Nation, and the subsequent laying of a charge under the Highway Traffic Act, have left the community distraught. Terry Mosher, 73, of St. Joseph Island, has been charged with obstructing a peace officer and failing to report an accident. Roach was found dead on a straight stretch of Highway 17B about 500 metres west of Bell’s Point Road. Mosher claims he did not strike Roach but found him lying on the highway.

The report, Buried Voices: Media Coverage of Aboriginal Issues in Ontario, which monitored 171 publications using quantitative analysis of media coverage examining trends, news spikes, and tone of media focused on Aboriginal people,  has offered three conclusions regarding coverage of Aboriginal people in Ontario media: the Aboriginal population is widely underrepresented in mainstream media; when Aboriginal people choose to protest or ‘make more noise’ the number of stories focused on the community increased; and as coverage related to the protests and talks between Aboriginals and governm

Tilly, A Story of Hope and Resilience
Author: Monique Gray Smith
Published by Sono Nis Press
Review by Shari Narine

It’s hard not to pull for Tilly. After all, who doesn’t want someone who becomes attached to alcohol when she’s in Grade 7 to conquer her demons?  But while Tilly, A Story of Hope and Resilience, does a remarkable job of entwining cultural teachings with Tilly’s passage from alcohol-dependency to alcohol-freedom, it does little to help the reader understand Tilly.

The Manager
Author: Caroline Stellings
Published by Cape Breton University Press
Review by Shari Narine

The Manager by Caroline Stellings is a quick, easy, no-surprise read. Or, as the boxing world would say, an easily telegraphed shot from family conflict to family resolution with a bit of razzle-dazzle thrown in.

Nolan returns to Sabres

Ted Nolan agreed to take on some additional coaching responsibilities for an NHL club with which he previously had considerable success. Nolan, an Ojibwe from northern Ontario’s Garden River First Nation, was named the interim head coach of the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 13.

Nolan was brought in as part of the Sabres’ major shakeup in response to the club’s start this season. Buffalo only managed to win four out of its first 20 regular season contests. As a result, the Sabres were dead last in the standings of the 30-team league.

More HIV infection being treated

Gifts From the Elders, a 60-minute film, documents a project that focused on the transfer of traditional knowledge from Elders to youth.

Five young people between the ages of 20 and 30 spent their summer vacation in 2011 interviewing Elders in their home communities, Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Ojibways of Pic River First Nation in the Thunder Bay District.

Métis statesman Eugene (Gene) Rheaume grew up on the edge of European and First Nation communities – unable to live in either – and spent a distinguished life trying to level the playing field for Aboriginal people.

When Rheaume’s father moved the family of nine children from Alberta to God’s Lake, Man., where gold was discovered, they were prohibited from living on the mining company’s site because his mother was Métis-Ojibwa.

Neither could they live on the Indian Reserve that bordered the mine because his father was French Canadian.

Disinherited Generations: Our Struggle to Reclaim Treaty Rights for First Nations Women and their Descendants
Authors: Nellie Carlson and Kathleen Steinhauer as told to Linda Goyette
Published by The University of Alberta Press
Review by Shari Narine