March 8, 2016 — The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), Calgary’s 2016 JUNO Awards Host Committee and Grey Eagle Casino and Resorts, are joining forces to celebrate Indigenous artists on March 31 for the JUNOfest Indigenous Showcase.

Headlined by internationally acclaimed Indigenous artist Buffy Saint-Marie, the Showcase will bring together the talents of all five JUNO-nominated Aboriginal Album of the Year artists for this one-nightonly event.

March 8, 2016. The Faculties of Science and Native Studies at the University of Alberta are partnering to present Sharing Knowledge: Western and Indigenous Science, a two-day event to showcase, explore, reinforce, and expand intersections between western and Indigenous knowledge and science. “We need to find ways in which we can bring more Indigenous perspectives in to teaching and learning within our faculty,” said Glen Loppnow, associate dean of learning and innovation in the faculty of science and the driving force behind the Sharing Knowledge initiative.

Safety, education and equality needed for Indigenous women 

Updated March 8, 2016.

Management at Kingsway Mall have reviewed video and audio recording from the personal cameras worn by the security guards following an incident on Sunday that has garnered outrage from the Indigenous community.

Marlene Willier, a foster mother for 28 years and role model in the First Nations community, was apprehended by security for violating a 24-hour trespassing ban, fined $278 and banned from the mall for a further six months. The action was taken after Willier bought a man “who looked down and out” a meal at the food court.

 
The James Bay Cree Nation has commenced an action in the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario to obtain recognition of the Cree Nation's Aboriginal title and Aboriginal rights over its traditional territory in northern Ontario, Eeyou Istchee – Ontario, reads a press statement March.

The lawsuit seeks declarations of Aboriginal title (on a shared basis with other Aboriginal nations) and Aboriginal rights over approximately 48,000 sq. km of lands located south of James Bay and immediately west of the Ontario-Quebec boundary.

Lipinski won’t run
 
After more than two decades of holding political offices within the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), including two terms as president, Gary Lipinski announced March 5 that he will not be seeking re-election in the 2016 MNO elections scheduled for May 2016.

Nearly 500 Grade 4 to Grade 12 students will be in the Max Bell Centre on March 8 and March 9 as part of the 14th Annual Manitoba First Nations Science Fair, an event designed to provide extended opportunities for students of First Nations schools to become engaged, and to excel, in science. 

Students from 35 Manitoba First Nations-operated schools will be taking part, competing within Youth Science Canada standards for Gold, Silver and Bronze medallions of excellence in science.