The First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC)

Environmental, labour and democracy activists have thrown their weight behind a lawsuit by Hupacasath First Nation, which hopes to halt a major Canada-China trade pact through the courts.

According to band councillor Brenda Sayers, the B.C. lawsuit “reached a milestone” on Feb. 13 with affidavits of support submitted by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Chiefs of Ontario, and several other bands.

Resilient singer was passionate about healing

Juno award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Mishi Donovan searched for family all her life and, ironically, was laid to rest on Feb. 18, Family Day in Alberta.

Artist—Donny Parenteau
Song—Honey It's Broke
Album—Bring It On
Year—2012

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Lisa Jackson.: Being down to earth. There is humility to that. You want to feel you can be yourself and you can with these people.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
L.J.: Smugness

W: When are you at your happiest?
L.J.: When I’m with my family

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
L.J.: Whiney

W: What one person do you most admire and why?
L.J.: My aunt; She’s the strongest person I know. Totally honest and extremely hardworking.

First Nation businesswoman Hiawatha Osawamick grew up surrounded by enterprising and entrepreneurial women who were strong in their cultural traditions.

Her grandmother, mother and aunts–the legendary Osawamicks from Wikwemikong First Nation in Ontario–travelled the powwow circuit dishing out Indian tacos and scone dogs to huge line-ups of people at their portable café.

Little wonder that Hiawatha herself embarked on not just one, but two, business ventures to do with food and retaining cultural traditions.

It is a “work in progress,” said Assembly of First Nations Saskatchewan Regional Chief Perry Bellegarde of what has been accomplished since the Jan. 11 meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

While there is nothing on paper, talks have continued and Bellegarde is hopeful that those talks will lead to a presentation to the chiefs at a National Treaty Forum at Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan March 26 and March 27.

Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell was part of the plenary discussion on First Nations accountability at the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association Conference (AFOA) held in Toronto Feb. 12 to Feb. 14.

Joining him were Chief Tammy Cook Searson of the Lac La Ronge Band in Saskatchewan, Terry Goodtrack, president and CEO of AFOA, and former prime minister Paul Martin. About 800 delegates attended the plenary.

John Duncan has resigned his position as Canada’s Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development minister, but it is not because of a near-riot in Saskatoon at the hotel hosting Duncan at his second First Nation Education Act consultation meeting on Feb. 8.
And it is not because of a charge of lack of consultation with First Nations on Bill C-27, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which is being discussed presently by the Senate Committee for Aboriginal Peoples.

Knock, knock, Mr. Harper.

Long-time women’s advocate Gladys Radek wasn’t surprised when the Prime Minister didn’t answer the door of his Parliament Hill office on Valentine’s Day when missing women’s family members called hoping for a meeting. It was in the wake of a blistering Human Rights Watch report, which alleged police were themselves among the perpetrators of violence against women.