Dene Nation Chief Bill Erasmus attended an Embassy event, at a large tourism expo in Berlin, Germany, to draw attention to the issue of Canadian oil sands development. Tourism officials from Alberta and other parts of Canada were promoting the natural beauty of Alberta and BC.

The Musée Héritage Museum, in St. Albert, is presenting Arctic Life: Lomen Brothers Photography, an exhibition from the Glenbow Museum from until June 16. Drawn to the north by tales of the gold rush and the untouched riches of Alaska, the Lomen family moved from Minnesota to Nome in 1903. Always looking for an opportunity, they purchased a photographic studio in 1908 and a drugstore in 1909. In 1913 they started a successful reindeer business, shipping meat to the lower states. In 1934, the studio, operated by brothers Carl, Harry, Alfred, and Ralph, burned to the ground.

A judge conducting an inquiry into the death of a man being held in the Blood headquarters in Standoff is in agreement with recommendations put forth by the Blood Tribe Police Service and Blood Tribe Emergency Medical Services. Judge Paul G. Pharo said that if video surveillance of Curtis Justice Mills’ fall in a jail cell had been viewed immediately, as recommended by the band’s police services and EMS following the incident, Mills may have received more appropriate treatment.

A report released by the Keepers of the Athabasca indicates that many Canadian groups do not support oil sands development. “We did online research for statements in opposition to oil sands development and found it surprising how many statements of opposition were out there, not just from environmental groups, but also from First Nations … (but) from prominent Canadians such as former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 2006,” said Keepers’ spokesperson Helene Walsh, in a news release. The research found 35 groups have indicated opposition to new tarsands development since 2006.

Statement from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

A handful of northern Alberta First Nations have registered their concerns with the B.C. government about B.C. Hydro’s plans to build another dam on the Peace River. “It’s a very, very narrow approach to environmental assessment and we have so much concern,” said Melody Lepine, spokeswoman for the Mikisew Cree. B.C. Hydro is currently accepting public comments on the environmental assessment of its proposed Site C Dam, which would be located south of Fort St. John.

The Alberta Business Awards of Distinction were handed out by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce in March. The awards included two categories recognizing Aboriginal excellence in the business sector. Niwihcihaw Acceptance Ltd.

The recently-named top men’s volleyball player in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association believes he is capable of playing professional volleyball in Europe.

But Alwyn Piche, the 26-year-old Dene, is not sure if that is a path he wishes to pursue. Instead, he is leaning towards staying in Canada, finishing off his education and having perhaps a more stable job as a teacher.

As a child, Carrie Langevin spent many hours at her grandmother’s side gathering plants and berries and learning the ancient Aboriginal secrets of healing and nutrition. Out of those lessons came a deep understanding and appreciation for the natural benefits of many native plants.

That experience evolved into a vision for her future, and today, Langevin is living the dream. Along with her husband and fellow-educator, Darrell Langevin, Carrie parlayed her grandmother’s teachings into a successful business called Mother Earth Essentials.