Nearly 100 people marched in Saskatoon June 20 to remember children who died in Saskatchewan foster care and group homes. According to Saskatchewan’s Children’s Advocate, 34 children died in 2010 and 43 others were critically injured while in foster care or group homes. “This is our new residential school. A lot of our Aboriginal children are in foster care and we need more programs. They are building a house in Hampton for mothers to get their children back.

Marcia Mirasty represents a growing number of Aboriginal people who are speaking out about being descendants of Indian residential school survivors.

In an unprecedented move, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission acknowledged a single volunteer for his hard work in making the TRC’s fourth national event a success.

“This is unusual for us and I don’t want you to think this is going to become a regular event but I want to single out an individual for recognition by the commissioners,” said TRC chair Justice Murray Sinclair on the last day of the event held in Saskatoon, June 21-24.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the BC Treaty Commission, a report has been issued urging Ottawa to forge a renewed commitment to the province’s treaty process.

Entitled A Commitment Worth Preserving: Reviving the British Columbia Treaty Process, the report provides recommendations that focus on collective involvement, fairness, cost-effectiveness and transparency within the system.

Despite loud opposition from some community members, a Sunshine Coast First Nation has signed on to a treaty agreement with the federal and provincial governments.
The treaty, approved July 10, gives the Sliammon First Nation 8,322 hectares of land and $30 million over 10 years, as well as self-government, economic development funding and resource revenue. There are about 1,000 members.

Only one thing is certain from the latest chapter in the Tsilhqot’in nation’s decades-old B.C. court struggle: the legal battle will continue.

On June 27, the B.C. Court of Appeal released its decision in the nation’s case, upholding long-established Indigenous hunting and trapping rights, but dismissing the tribe’s fight for title over the full breadth of its sizeable traditional territories in the province’s interior.

A 130-nation-strong declaration of Indigenous law–pledging a united front in the escalating fight against oil sands pipelines–grew two Indigenous communities stronger on July 7.

At a signing ceremony and feast attended by several hundred people—representing a number of First Nations, as well as Vancouver city councillors and opposition Members of Parliament—B.C.’s Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations joined the historic inter-tribal Save the Fraser Declaration.

“School should be a time for dreams,” envisioned 15-year-old Shannen Koostachin, before her death in a 2010 car accident. “Every kid deserves this.”

Shannen’s dream–to bring First Nation children’s unequal education up to Canadian standards–came one step closer to reality on her home reserve of Attawapiskat in northern Ontario on June 22 when the struggling community broke ground for the new school for which she had fought.

She rewarded good behaviour

Musqueam Elder Norma “Rose” Point, who passed away unexpectedly on July 2, recalls walking miles as a child over crusty snow to bring fruit and fresh-baked bread to a sick man confined to his bed.

Artist—Kalan Wi
Song—True Love ( The Berry Picking Song)
Album—Country Groove
Year—2011