March 9, 2016.

Curator Michelle Lavalee is fond of saying 7: Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. exhibition is “retroactive” not retrospective.

The exhibition, which showcases the work of what became known as the “Indian Group of Seven,” opened on Saturday at the Art Gallery of Alberta, in Edmonton. It is the final stop on a six-venue tour, which began in 2013.

Next week, Whitecap Dakota First Nation chief and council will be meeting with youth to talk about self-government.

It’s just one of a number of information sessions that will lead to a motion to approve the agreement-in-principle that has been negotiated between Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and the band over the last four years, said Murray Long, director of self-government for Whitecap Dakota.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery has welcomed an exciting new collection into their midst. The Government of Nunavut has donated a huge number of archived materials to put on display at WAG, and staff at the gallery are busy unpacking and cataloguing the material, while trying to find where it all will go.

March 8, 2016. Charges have been laid in relation to a high speed car chase and a search involving RCMP members from Bonnyville, Cold Lake, St Paul, Traffic Services, Elk Point and Police Dog Services, and a helicopter on March 5. The incident occurred on Fishing Lake Metis Settlement and Frog Lake First Nation. Facing multiple charges are Austin Donald Crevier, 19, and Andy George Lacombe, 20, both of Fishing Lake, and Enilda Roxanne Lewis, 19, of Frog Lake.

March 9, 2016.  The 2016 ROOPH finalists will be recognized in an awards luncheon in Edmonton on Thursday. Among the 11 finalists are Inner City Health and Wellness Program, at Royal Alexandra Hospital; Hilda Francis, of Boyle Street Community Services; and the outreach housing team from Bissell Centre. ROOPH Awards are presented annually by Homeward Trust Edmonton to recognize outstanding organizations and people in the housing sector and community.

In a press release from the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association March 9, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde is being called out for insensitivity to the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women.

The family of activist “and one of Canada’s most prominent Murdered Aboriginal women, Annie Mae Pictou Aquash” is seeking an apology and retraction from Bellegarde for calling for the freedom of Leonard Peltier.

March 8, 2016.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are investigating allegations of vote buying on the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation.

The investigation got underway Monday, confirmed Cpl. Hal Turnbull from Alberta Strategic Communications Unit, and it is unclear how long it will take to complete.

On Thursday, band members are scheduled to go to the polls to vote for Chief and one councillor.

Three band members have accused Chief Vern Janvier and band administrator Kevin Coueslan of attempting to buy their votes. Janvier is seeking his fourth term as Chief.

On March 8 at the 2nd Annual Creative Leaders Symposium in Ottawa, National Chief Dwight Dorey announced that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples name will change to the Indigenous Peoples’ Assembly of Canada.

A Private Members Bill that received Second Reading in Ottawa on March 3 has raised a firestorm of criticism from opponents fearing it would interfere with their hunting and fishing activities.

Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, was brought forward by backbench Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches—East York, Ontario).

March 7, 2016. Status of Women Minister Stephanie McLean says her ministry will focus on increasing women’s economic security, increasing women’s leadership and democratic participation, and decreasing violence against women and girls. McLean laid out her ministry’s mandate on Monday, the day before International Women’s Day. “We are partnering with women and with ministries across government to increase economic resilience, promote women in leadership positions, and to help eliminate violence against women,” said McLean in a statement.