THE URBANE INDIAN

To quote the musical group REM, “It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine).”  And I actually do feel fine.

As I am sure you’ve heard, according to doomsday enthusiasts, the end of it all was Dec. 21 (after press deadline). This was when civilization, reality, the world, mortgage payments, Christmas specials, were all to come to an end due to some apocalyptic sneeze that nobody seems to know much about.

Rank Comix for January 2013

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By Adam Martin

Just days after Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan dismissed the #idlenomore movement as just a social media event, followers of Pope Benedict XVI enjoyed the pontiffs first ever tweet. Irony can be a scoundrel. |

If you are in charge Prime Minister Stephen Harper, step up. You can no longer stand behind an ineffectual minister of Aboriginal Affairs while you, the great and powerful Oz, hide behind the curtain making all the slick decisions that have got us to this place. It’s time to look out and see what you have done.

The 2012 Northwest Coastal Jewelry Arts class from Native Education College (NEC) recently graduated and held an exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery.

The exhibition took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, and featured jewelry made by nine students throughout the seven-month course taught by Nisga’a carver Robert Tait, Norman Tait’s younger brother.

Oil and Gas development, logging,mines, large dams and other industrial infrastructure are having an alarming impact on natural areas and wildlife habitat in the Peace Region of northeastern British Columbia, reads a new study released by the David Suzuki Foundation and Global Forest Watch Canada.

First Nations in British Columbia oppose the national First Nations education legislation as proposed by Canada in the “Developing a First Nations Education Act: Discussion Guide”. The document, which they say is intended to guide intensive consultations toward the development of a proposed First Nations Education Act, was developed without First Nation input. BC nations believe the guide indicates that Canada has already set out several mandatory components of the new legislation.

At 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 18th a Flash Mob Round Dance broke out at West Edmonton Mall's water feature surrounding the replica of Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria.

The event was part of the Idle No More movement to help draw attention to the issues facing Canada's Indigenous people in a peaceful and positive manner.

Chiefs from the Assembly of First Nations have voted unanimously to “put the government of Canada on notice.”

The words may have been borrowed from a resolution passed by the Chiefs of Ontario, but the sentiment is shared.

After receiving direction from chiefs gathered at the Special Chiefs Assembly, Dec. 4 to 6, talks were chaired by AFN Regional Chiefs Stan Beardy and Roger Augustine.

An Alberta lawyer and an Ontario economics professor are saying First Nations have more control over revenue resource sharing than they may be aware of.

A winning legal streak, an impressive national chief in Shawn Atleo, and resources wanted by Canada, all add up to power, said lawyer and strategist Bill Gallagher at the Special Chiefs Assembly on Dec. 4.