Cree Métis artist and author Dianne Meili was one of 20 recipients of the 2013 Alberta Book Publishing Awards and the Alberta Literary Awards recently handed out. Meili’s Those Who Know: Profiles of Alberta’s Aboriginal Elders, published by NeWest Press (Edmonton), took the Trade-Nonfiction Book Award. As well, Richard Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib Tribe from Fort Smith and former writer-in-residence at the University of Alberta ,won the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction (sponsored by The Banff Centre) for Godless But Loyal to Heaven (Enfield & Wizenty).

Aline Auger (right), teacher assistant at Mistassiniy School in Wabasca-Desmarais, was recognized for 35 years of service by principal Dafydd Thomas and Northland School Division Superintendent Donna Barrett. The school board recently gave out special achievement awards and long service awards to a wide range of employees, including bus drivers, teachers, administration and support staff.

The Piitoyais Family School opened in 2002 following the closure of the Plains Indian Cultural Survival High School, is the first urban school in Canada run by and for Indigenous people.

Edmonton has become the first city in Alberta to officially join forces with the province to commit to improving the quality of life and opportunities for urban Aboriginals.

“I think that the most important thing that (this memorandum) does is that it recognizes the urban aspect of the Aboriginal community. I think for those living in Edmonton, or those living in other major urban centres, that’s something long overdue,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel.