Teachers in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are learning how to deliver a new course for their Grade 10 students, the mandatory classes on residential schools. And they are preparing for some fallout from the information that will be delivered, with counsellors ready to respond. “There’s things where we can’t predict where this is going to go,” said the author of the curriculum John Stewart in an interview with the Canadian Press.

Bob Rae, the leader of the federal Liberal party, has set out in a private member’s motion an appeal to replace the Indian Act, with nation to nation consultation between government and First Nations. “First Nations have been very clear. We must shed the colonial institutions and frameworks that have characterized the Crown-First Nations relationship to date if we want to work together towards a new process,” said Rae.

SUN News reports the federal government has approved a $71-million settlement to compensate Curve Lake, Hiawatha and Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations for lands flooded during the construction of the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario. The claim was filed in 1988 for compensation for the flooding of 12,000 acres of island lands in 1837, 1856 and 1880. The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-km canal route through central Ontario lakes and rivers that connects Lakes Huron and Ontario.

Indspire (Formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) announced the 2013 recipients of the Indspire Awards (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards). Making the list in the Education category is the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. There are 10 career achievement award recipients and three youth award winners, one each from the Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities. There is also one lifetime achievement award recipient.

Kateri Tekakwitha,  a Mohawk/Algonquin, who died at age 24 in 1680 near Montreal, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 21 before an estimated 80,000 pilgrims who gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. “Saint Kateri, Protectress of Canada and the first Native American saint, we entrust to you the renewal of the faith in the First Nations and in North America,” the Pope said. “May God bless the First Nations.” Kateri is credited with a miracle only six years ago, reports the Globe and Mail newspaper.

John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, joined Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and community members at a ceremony Oct. 17 to commemorate the final settlement of a specific claim dating back to the 1820s. The negotiated settlement includes about $5 million in financial compensation. The Kawehnoke specific claim related to lands leased on Kawehnoke (Cornwall Island) between 1820 and 1934.

A rally at the federal Aboriginal Affairs building at 25 St. Clair Avenue East in Toronto on Oct. 11 marked the third protest in two weeks by Six Nations citizens and supporters.

Six weeks into the school year, textbooks, curriculum materials and other supplies that were ordered in May had yet to be delivered by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC).  The Six Nations group was joined by members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Union and the First Nations Solidarity Working Group of CUPE Local 3903.

A Manitoba-based Junior A hockey team is proving it will be a force to be reckoned with this season. And the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard is enjoying its share of success so far this year by icing a roster comprised predominantly of Aboriginal players.

Besides being an early favourite to capture the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) crown, the Blizzard has also been ranked nationally, in a list of teams believed to be the cream of the crop from Canada’s 10 Junior A leagues.

Simon still playing
Chris Simon didn’t have to wait for National Hockey League officials to sort out their labour situation in order to begin his current season. That’s because for the fifth straight year, an Ojibwe from Wawa, Ont., finds himself playing in the primarily Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

The Langley school district will continue to expand its Aboriginal-focused education program in 2012-13.

The program, which dates back to a 2010 Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement, teaches students about Aboriginal traditions, spirituality and culture.

“The program is very tied to Aboriginal spirituality,” said Sandy Wakeling, Langley school district’s communications manager, adding that the program has four main focuses–mental, spiritual, physical and emotional–which stem from the teachings of the Cree Medicine Wheel.