The Duncan First Nation is concerned about two oil spills on traditional land where members hunt. Signs of a spill from Keyera Resources pipeline were identified on Sept. 12 and Duncan First Nation notified on Sept. 21. As the reserve is 200 km from the spill in the Chinchaga watershed, Duncan was not on the first-notice list for the oil company. A pinhole leak was identified as the cause of the spill on two hectares of land while the leak on a one hectare site north has not yet been determined.

Indigenous peoples from across Treaty territories gathered at Onion Lake First Nation Oct. 28-30 as part of a two-day action strategy.  On the table was discussion about the imposition of various proposed federal legislation being pushed by the Harper government without consulting First Nations. From Bill C-428 to Bill C-45 and the highly controversial Omnibus Bill C-38, these new proposed laws will severely impact Indigenous peoples within their traditional territories resulting in further economic marginalization.

The 19-member council, part of Alberta Health Services, was created to help provide culturally appropriate health services to Aboriginal people throughout the province.

Council members, who were announced in late September, include doctors, nurses, traditional healers, Elders, business people and a former professional football player.

The council will hold its first official meeting on Nov. 27-28 in Morley. The order of business will include selecting a pair of council co-chairs.

First Nations will be recognized prominently in the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s newest exhibit.

The provincial archives has partnered with the Alberta Labour History Institute to recognize the achievements and sacrifices of the working men and women that assisted with the growth and prosperity of the province of Alberta.

Sound financial management and transparent government have opened the doors to new housing opportunities for a southern First Nation.

Siksika is the only First Nation in Alberta to qualify for housing dollars under the First Nation Market Housing Fund, which has agreements with over 70 other First Nations across the country.
Now, instead of having to depend solely on funding from the federal government, Siksika has access to $200 million to assist members in their housing needs.

“When you try to study other cultures,” said Hartmut Lutz, visiting Killam scholar in the department of Germanic, Slavic and East Asian studies at the University of Calgary, “essentially you learn about your own.”

And the Germans are intrigued by the Aboriginal culture – even if what they think they know about Aboriginal life has little to do with social reality.

“It is an idealized, romanticized version of the Wild West and Indians,” Lutz said.

The German people have a fascination with all things Indian and for this Lutz has coined the term “Indianthusiasm.”

Eight days after burying Amber Tuccaro in Fort Chipewyan, Vivian and Billy Joe Tuccaro thanked people for their prayers over two years and urged the federal government to allow other families to get closure.

The BRAID research initiative in partnership with the University of Alberta has been instrumental in providing a Mobile Diabetes Screening Initiative to Aboriginal people living off-reserve, in Métis communities and to remote communities throughout Alberta.

Jules Thomas has turned his life around.

Thomas, a Cree from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, had a troubled past, which included a pair of incarcerations. But the 30-year-old, who lives in Edmonton, now has a pair of thriving businesses.

For the past two years he’s owned Distrikt Media, a print and design company in Edmonton, which he began after working for another print and design company. He plans on expanding to open a second office in Calgary soon.

Guests at Métisfest at the Kerby Centre were entertained by Breanne Denby, who played fiddle.