The newest statistics for Aboriginal households places Edmonton second for the largest urban Aboriginal population and Alberta first for the largest Métis population.

According to the figures recently released by Statistics Canada through its new National Household Survey, Alberta has an Aboriginal population of 222,695. Only Ontario and British Columbia have higher Aboriginal populations.

Organizers of the second Alberta Indigenous Games are hoping this year’s version will be considerably larger than its inaugural event.

The 2011 games featured about 400 participants. That’s a far cry from the 2,000 athletes that organizers had originally hoped to attract.

But in their defence, those games were hastily assembled to fill a void for athletes who were denied a chance to compete in the 2011 North American Indigenous Games. That event, which was supposed to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was cancelled earlier that year.

Cameron Alexis, Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has slammed the provincial government for moving ahead on Bill 22, despite government claims that the bill is only enabling legislation.

“We should be absolutely consulted prior to a legislation becoming law. And we didn’t see that,” Alexis told a vocal crowd of about 150 on the steps of the Legislature on May 24.

The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government shares responsibility with the province when it comes to approving economic development on Beaver Lake Cree Nation traditional territory.

In a unanimous decision delivered April 30, the panel of three judges dismissed appeals by Canada and Alberta and said that BLCN had the right to voice their concerns in a court room setting.

“Water is not for sale.” “Water is sacred.” Those are the words that filled a rain-dampened rally that saw demonstrators make their way from Canada Place in downtown Edmonton to the Alberta Legislature on May 24.

“Our treaty says we have a right to water. We have to protect that,” said Shannon Houle, addressing about 150 people on the steps of the Legislature.

Experience Cape Breton

Monument of apology to Nutak and Hebron communities
Nutak, Labrador

Jardins de Métis National Historic Site of Canada
Grand-Métis, Québec

Tombstone Territorial Park
North of Dawson City, Yukon