The Lac La Ronge Indian Band will be sending a letter to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Saskatchewan in support of the new boundaries proposed for the northern riding of Desnethe’-Missinippi-Churchill River.

“Moving the boundary north makes more sense. This is good for the north. It’s not just First Nation and Metis. We have northerners who live in the north who are non- First Nation, non-Metis. We have similar issues. We have a community of interest as a northern community,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

April Fools is over. Sorry if you missed it or if you were fooled.

Yukon gov't programs embrace active living

Hockey talent sought

Officials with the television program Hit The Ice have put out a call for Aboriginal male teenage hockey players who wish to be part of the second season of the series.

Former National Hockey League star Theo Fleury has had his share of well documented challenges throughout his life, and now the 44-year-old, who has Métis heritage, is training and preparing for his next task.

Fleury is planning a nine-day walk, from Toronto to Ottawa (a total of 401 kilometres) in May to raise awareness of the issues surrounding childhood sexual abuse. The event, which will be staged May 14 to May 23, is called the Victor Walk.

Judy Desmoulin, Health and Social Director of Long Lake #58 First Nation located 330 km east of Thunder Bay, Ont., became aware of the prescription drug abuse problem in her community when she was a Grade 4 teacher. She spoke about Long Lake’s experience at the Chiefs of Ontario Health Forum in Toronto in February, and in a follow-up interview with Windspeaker.

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Roger Redman is the first chief selected for a Teddy Government Waste Award by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). 

His selection comes at the same time as the federal government is pushing a bill proposed to increase the accountability and transparency of First Nations.

There are some people who have been suckling at the teat of Corporate Canada for so long that they have forgotten who their real mother is; the milk so intoxicatingly potent that it blinds. We are seeing a lot of these Corporate guzzlers these days, so out of touch with Indigenous reality, so willing to dismiss the efforts and experience of their brothers and sisters for the taste of what their surrogates provide—money, prestige, the illusion of power, of belonging among Canada’s elite.

The procession of Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award recipients, together with David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, were welcomed by the traditional drums of the Chiila Elementary School Drum Group, 10 youth ranging in age from five to 12 years from the Tsuu T’ina Nation in Alberta.
Hosted by comedian, hip-hop artist and motivational speaker Wab Kinew, the inaugural Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards were held at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary at a black tie dinner on March 15.

Retired judge worked to bridge equality gap

Alfred Scow, the first Aboriginal judge ever appointed to B.C. court, had much to celebrate.

But he refused the “role model” moniker, taking more pleasure, it seemed, in the idea he may have played a part in reconciling the gap between Aboriginal and mainstream Canada.

A commitment for the next five years for funding police services on First Nations is an important step in acknowledging First Nations police services as essential, but that funding doesn’t address the entire picture.

“Ongoing negotiations need to continue because although there’s a five-year commitment, there are still funding shortfalls,” said Assembly of First Nations Justice Portfolio holder Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis.