The independent lawyer appointed to represent Aboriginal interests at the inquiry into the Robert Pickton police investigation of murdered and missing women backed out of the hearing last month and has now been replaced.

Art Vertlieb, Commission Council for the inquiry being conducted in Vancouver, announced March 21 that Commissioner Wally Oppal has appointed lawyers Suzette Narbonne and Elizabeth Hunt as Independent Co-Counsel to present issues related to Aboriginal interests.

An early 18th century pre-contact Nuu-chah-nulth artifact that once belonged to explorer Captain James Cook has returned home to the Northwest Coast, thanks to the generosity of a wealthy art collector.

The nearly 300-year-old artifact was purchased by Vancouver art philanthropist Michael Audain last December from a private New York collector. It’s estimated worth is $1.2 million.

Then on March 20th, Audain gave the artifact to the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver.

The Skidegate Saints of Haida Gwaii are this year’s 2012 BC Junior All Native Basketball champions, beating the Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella in a hard-fought 66-62 match on March 23 in Port Alberni.

Heiltsuk battled hard against the big Skidegate squad, but the Saints took an early lead and never looked back, though Heiltsuk did come within striking distance in the second half.

In girls’ play it was the Mystic Sunz from Ahousaht in the final match-up with Gingolx Storm. The Sunz came from behind to take the title at the buzzer with a score of 51 points to the Storm’s 47.

A nine-week training course pilot project, a partnership between Parkland College, Lakeland College, Keeseekoose First Nation, and Inroads to Agriculture funded through the provincial and federal governments, recently graduated more than two dozen First Nations students into entry level employment in the agriculture and agri-business sectors in the Yorkton-Kamsack area. Participants of the “Introduction to Agriculture” course spent two months learning the basics of agriculture with local farmers and agri-business operators as their instructors.

Results of a University of Saskatchewan telephone survey undertaken prior to the November 2011 provincial election are disturbing. Nearly 1,100 people surveyed were asked about their political and social beliefs, including five questions specific to Aboriginal attitudes and policies.

A national search has resulted in Juliano Tupone, member of the Sweetgrass First Nation, named as the new vice-president, finance and administration for the First Nations University. Tupone most recently served as the director of operations for the Star Blanket Cree Nation. His background includes working with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

The University of Regina is looking for someone to facilitate the development of a strategic plan for indigenizing the institution. The executive lead would take advice from the Aboriginal Advisory Circle and work closely with the Human Resources Aboriginal and Diversity Consultant and the Manager of the Aboriginal Student Support Centre while providing advice to the president. An Aboriginal candidate is preferred. Indigenizing the university is in keeping with U of R’s motto, “As One Who Serves.”

Renowned negotiator of First Nations legal issues and business-law expert W. Thomas Molloy is one of four new appointees at Miller Thomson, the nationally known business-law firm. Molloy will be based in the Saskatchewan office, where he will form part of its Aboriginal law team. Aboriginal law is a fast-growing field as potash and oil and gas development require meaningful consultation with First Nations. Among Molloy’s accomplishments are negotiated treaties with the Nisga’a of British Columbia as well as lead negotiator of the team that helped create Nunavut.

Muskowekwan First Nation voted on Feb. 25 to approve a proposal from Encanto Potash to expand designation of mineral rights. Eighty per cent of band members who voted cast their ballots in favour of the development. Just over half of eligible band members turned out.  “This vote is a clear mandate from our membership to continue with our work to develop Canada’s first potash mine on our First Nation lands,” said Muskowekwan Chief Reginald Bellerose in a news release. The result of this vote is the same as an earlier vote held.

Cowessess First Nation is the first band to receive accreditation status for providing quality health care to the community. The designation comes with acceptance of the Accreditation Primer Award in November 2011. Chief Grady Lerat said becoming accredited is about providing better services and being a guide for other First Nation communities. Accreditation is the nationally and internationally recognized process used to ensure quality in the planning, management and delivery of health services.