The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is undertaking a special report that will focus on youth, ages 17-21 years, who are leaving care or ending any child intervention involvement. During this transition period to independence, youth often seek the help of an advocate and the OCYA wants to hear what young people have to say and also hear from those who support them.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has filed a constitutional challenge in the joint review process against Shell Oil Canada’s application for expansion of the Jackpine Mine tar sands project. A constitutional challenge based on Treaty 8 rights has never been fully argued in front of an Alberta joint review panel and the First Nation hopes to set new precedents that may mean changes to the regulatory process.

On September 28, the Canadian government informed the Federal Court that release of the mandatory final boreal woodland caribou recovery strategy will be delayed once again. “Government failing to act means more caribou death in the woods. Everyone knows what must be done to save the vanishing caribou—it’s time to get on with the job of protecting Alberta’s boreal and foothills forests,” Cliff Wallis, vice-president of Alberta Wilderness Association, said in a news release. Prodded by a Federal Court direction in July 2012, the federal government set Sept.

Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo have been home to many outstanding First Nations athletes.

But is there a No. 1? Who are the contenders?

The sport of boxing brought Wayne Bourque and Danny Lindstrom (Stonewalker).

Bourque, a Metis, with the nickname “The Flurry from Fort McMurray,” established himself as one of the premiere amateur boxers in Canada during the 1970s and early 1980s, winning three North American Native Boxing titles and four provincial and Golden Glove championships.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Lethbridge Mayor Rajko Dodik  is “deeply honoured” to receive the Blackfoot name of “Night Rider.”

The non-Aboriginal mayor was recognized in a special naming ceremony led by Blackfoot Elder Francis First Charger as part of the official opening ceremonies for the Lethbridge Aboriginal Week festivities, held at the GALT Museum and Archives on June 18, 2012.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

At least two Alberta teenagers will be appearing in a new hockey television series.

Isaih Cardinal and Silas Makokis will be among the 20 Aboriginal players featured in Hit the Ice, a series that will primarily be featured this summer in Ottawa and in nearby Gatineau, Que.
The series, which will consists of  13 half-hour episodes, will be broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network starting in January of 2013.

For the fifth straight season a pair of Aboriginal brothers finds themselves playing for the same professional hockey club.
But chances are not too many hockey fans know the whereabouts of Greg and Brad Leeb as they are not playing in the National Hockey League - or even North America.

Instead the brothers, who are Cree, are in England this season suiting up for the Coventry Blaze, members of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Greg, 35, and Brad, 33, were also teammates the past four years with Germany’s Nuremberg Ice Tigers.