After discussing strategy for the protection of woodland caribou with Environment Canada Minister Peter Kent at the First Nations - Crown gathering in Ottawa, Chief Allan Adam returned to Alberta to find out that the minister had decided not to issue an emergency order to protect the woodland caribou.

That decision was made Jan. 13, more than 10 days before Adam, chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, met with Kent.

Alberta Chiefs say the First Nations-Crown gathering in Ottawa at the end of January was, at the most, an opportunity for First Nations to collectively express their concerns.

At the least, it was a good public relations ploy for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“It was just a photo opportunity,” said Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. He added that the message Harper delivered in Ottawa had the same highlights as the message he delivered in Europe the same week.

At the end of January, Lethbridge College unveiled a mural commissioned by Delia Cross Child depicting the rich heritage of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit culture. Cross Child, an art teacher at Kainai High School on the Blood Reserve, attended Lethbridge College for general studies before going on to earn her education degree at the University of Lethbridge. Her work has been showcased at the Glenbow Museum, Walter Phillips Gallery, and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

Distrust of the process – especially after Prime Minister Stephen Harper voiced his support of the Northern Gateway project – permeated the five days of hearings held in Edmonton.

“In spite of knowing that the Prime Minister of this country is supporting this project, we still have to have hope because it’s not about us that’s sitting here, it’s about the future, our grandchildren and those children yet unborn,” said Driftpile Chief Rose Laboucan, who made her statements on the final day of the hearings hosted by the Joint Review Panel for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.

Yesterday via facebook we asked a question to those that are Blackfoot and are culturally aware... if one needs the rights to paint on buffalo skulls and robes/hides.

I received the following answer from James Dempsey, son of Hugh and Pauline Dempsey, who wrote a thesis on painted buffalo robes. James is from the Kainai.

Dear B Crowfoot

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First Nations and environmental groups opposed to coalbed methane gas exploration in the Sacred Headwaters of northern British Columbia are demanding that the existing moratorium on drilling in the region be extended indefinitely.

“Four years ago, the B.C. government listened to northwestern communities and pushed pause on drilling in the Sacred Headwaters. Now it’s up to Premier [Christy] Clark to follow that path to its logical conclusion,” said Shannon McPhail, executive director of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition.

Team BC is seeking top Aboriginal hockey players and coaching staff for the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council have announced details of the Player Selection Camp and the members of the Coaching Staff for Team BC’s participation in the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships to be held May 6 to 12 in Saskatoon. Following Team BC’s promising results at the 2011 championship, the Partners Council’s Provincial Hockey Committee has re-appointed members of the 2011 Team BC Coaching staff for 2012.

Promises made in the Yukon 140 years ago cannot be enforced by the court. The Yukon Supreme Court decided there is no legal obligation to negotiate unsettled land claims in the territory, despite an edict that would have compensated First Nations for lands lost. The Ross River Dena have been in court for 10 years trying to get Ottawa to live up to that edict from 1870 in which the Yukon and parts of the Northwest Territories were made a part of Canada. The edict included orders to compensate First Nations for the lands they were losing.

The Tsawwassen First Nation has voted in favour of the construction of two malls in Delta. “(The malls) are a major part of our economic development plans,” said Chief Kim Baird. “We’ve done comprehensive land use planning around to try and create economic opportunities that through revenues, taxes and employment opportunities will contribute toward sustainability for our community.” One mall will be a 600,000 square foot outdoor facility and the other will be a 1.2 million square foot fashion centre.