The Rick Hansen Foundation and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) signed a protocol agreement on May 21 to officially recognize their commitment to work together to identify opportunities that will foster awareness and promote leadership and engagement in the areas of accessibility, inclusivity, health and wellness.
The signing took place in Vancouver near the end of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, in which Atleo took part.

Three First Nations communities in the Interior of BC were put on evacuation alert after a large forest fire was reported near Pavilion Lake, 25 kilometres northeast of Lillooet, BC last month. While the blaze was quickly contained, fire officials say they are bracing for higher than expected number of fires in the area this summer.

The Cowichan Tribes on Vancouver Island declared a State of Emergency last month due to the high number of suicides, suicide attempts and threats carried out by band members.

But while Ottawa and British Columbia have promised immediate support, the community says long-term resources and strategic planning are needed to stop the ongoing crisis.

Gathering Wisdom V for a Shared Journey brought together BC chiefs, health directors, and provincial and federal partners from across the province May 15 to 17 to discuss the future of health for First Nations in the province.

As part of the conference was a vote for the First Nations Health Council’s safety video competition, short films submitted by young people from BC First Nations. The messages concerned the theme Safer Nations—Injury Prevention, and dealt with preventing unnecessary deaths and injuries.

Rank Comix by Adam Martin

In response to reports that Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, is telling Canada that it needs “to drop its ‘self-righteous’ attitude’” and start dealing with the issue of food insecurity. De Schutter took 11 days to uncover Canada’s dirty little secret, journeying to the county’s poor urban areas and remote Aboriginal communities.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, is telling Canada that it needs “to drop its ‘self-righteous’ attitude’” and start dealing with the issue of food insecurity. De Schutter took 11 days to uncover Canada’s dirty little secret, journeying to the county’s poor urban areas and remote Aboriginal communities. He said people in the inner-city told him they can’t afford to feed their children, and Aboriginal people are living in “very desperate conditions” and “extremely dire straits.

The Globe and mail has been musing about the competition Shawn A-in-chut Atleo might face in the upcoming election contest being held by the Assembly of First Nations in July in Toronto. Atleo announced May 24 that he will be seeking re-election to the top post, but the paper concludes the national chief may not face any contenders. But that may not be the case.

The Toronto Star has obtained monthly intelligence reports from Aboriginal policing that show the RCMP has been monitoring individuals and groups, including the Yinka Dene Alliance, that have been critical of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project.

Ontario's Anishnabek Nation won’t wait for the federal government to improve education for its students. They are working on their own plan, which would include setting an education ministry with its own curriculum. The Anishinabek Nation represents 39 nations throughout the province. The plan would include setting up their own education ministry, with its own curriculum. “We have been preparing for this step for years and we cannot wait any longer,” Madahbee said.

Halfway River, Doig River, West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations, collectively known as Treaty 8 nations, have received confirmation that the proposed changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), and the Fisheries Act, which are scheduled to come into force this summer, would apply to the proposed Site C power project on the Peace River. On May 9, the nations expressed their concerns to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency about the new legislation and the proposed mega project.