The Treaty 6 flag from Onion Lake First Nation Chief Wallace Fox was accepted by University of Saskatchewan President Ilene Busch-Vishniac at a formal ceremony held March 12.

The Tseshaht Forst Nation has demanded that the Province of B.C. conduct more testing for high levels of arsenic, cobalt and selenium in the Barkley Sound area. The Toquaht Bay Marina, boat launch and campground were closed March 21 by the province due to high levels of these contaminants. Provincial health officials also advised people not to consume shellfish from the campground’s foreshore.

A billion-dollar mine in the province's northwest has been given the go-ahead despite the objections of the Nisga’a Nation where the mine site is located. Avanti Mining Inc. will revive a molybdenum mine located 140 km north of Prince Rupert. The Kitsault Mine was given the green-light after a review concluded the mine would not result in any significant adverse effects. While the review was provided to the province March 1 and had 45 days to make its consideration, the approval was fast-tracked, say the Nisga’a Nation, because of the upcoming May election.

A solar panel feasibility study will be conducted by the West Moberly First Nation. The study will be focused on the installation of solar panels in the community. Through the provincial government’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, the First Nation will be getting $25,780 towards its Solar 1 PV Solar installation project’s feasibility study. The community has set a goal of supplying 10 per cent of its own energy through clean-based energy projects by 2020, and the province argues that this will greatly help them in achieving that status.

Artist—Cheryl Bear
Song—My Father
Album—A'BA
Year—2012

Job-training money in the new federal budget is going to First Nations that force young people on social assistance to take part in skills development programs. Critics of the government initiative are calling it a workfare program. The budget provides $109 million over five years for “personalized skills development.” And there is an additional $132 million over five years for First Nations to “ensure compliance” and job counselling.

Eight First Nations have formally begun the process to remove 34 land-related sections of the Indian Act to gain greater control over reserve lands and resources by signing onto the First Nations Land Management (FNLM) regime.