Former Prime Minister Paul Martin speaks to students about Aboriginal history, culture and traditions at Free the Children’s We Stand Together launch at Monarch Park Collegiate. The campaign is a partnership with Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative.

Howard Cameron Sr., of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation, passed away on Feb. 12, 2013. Cameron began his career in justice with the RCMP in the 1970s, an unrelenting advocate for justice. At a FSIN Justice Commission meeting where he served as an Elder he once said, “One of the easiest things to do is turn your back and say we’ll let the police handle that, we’ll let the courts handle that.

On Feb. 15, the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission hosted “Eradicate the Ignorance,” an Indigenous issues roundtable. The discussion was hosted by APC’s vice president-communications Kevin Seesequasis of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation, and explored issues ranging from treaties, the Indian Act, the Kelowna Accord, First Nations child welfare, murdered and missing Indigenous women, Bill C-45 and the #IdleNoMore movement. MP for St. Paul’s and Aboriginal Affairs Critic Carolyn Bennett was special guest.

Pre-treaty agreements are bringing benefits to T’Sou-ke Nation, the Malahat Nation and the Songhees Nation, all on lower Vancouver Island in British Columbia. T’Sou-ke Nation will receive two 60-hectare land parcels at Broom Hill. These lands will be transferred in fee simple in two stages, one at the signing of the Interim Treaty Agreement (ITA) and the second parcel at the signing of the agreement in principle. The Malahat Nation will receive two land parcels in the south Shawnigan Lake area.

Aboriginal students at Capilano University have a beautiful new space in which to learn and embrace their heritage with the official opening of the university’s Aboriginal Student Centre. Kéxwusm-·yákn (A Place to Meet), the Squamish Nation name given to the Aboriginal Student Centre, provides a welcoming multi-purpose space for students to meet, study, share meals, collaborate and learn from each other and First Nations elders.

Youth members of the Tla'amin Nation