Newfoundland and Labrador residential school survivors who were excluded from the initial Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) have been given the go-ahead by that province’s Court of Appeal to launch a lawsuit against the federal government.
The ruling was delivered Dec. 21, 2011.

Certification from the First Nation Financial Management Board will allow the Osoyoos Indian Band to undertake development at a faster pace than if it had to solely rely on government funding.

“We can get funding from the open market at interest rates below what banks can give us,” said Brian Titus, chief operating officer for the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corp.

DEAR AUNTIE
By J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth Cavanagh

Dear Auntie:
While Christmas is usually a very happy time in my family, this year we lost our father just weeks before. My sisters and I are trying to cope, but dad’s passing has Mom reeling. She actually looks scared and confused.
They had been together for 57 years. How do I help her when I’m still dealing with my own grief?

Signed,
A Heavy, Heavy Heart

DEAR AUNTIE
By J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth Cavanagh

THE URBANE INDIAN

One of the big stories of last year was the occupation of a number of urban parks and public spaces all across North America to protest the fact that the vast majority of wealth and power is limited to the top one per cent of society.

Thus all those chants of “We are the 99 per cent” we heard on the news.

Artist—Garry Oker
Song—Ride
Album—Ride (2011)
Label—Independent

Garry Oker is an artist who has gone beyond the single medium most artists get pigeon holed into. This cd shows he is still evolving. This album of music is Oker’s musical journey into his Aboriginal identity. As one can appreciate, spirituality is part and parcel with Aboriginal culture and Oker allows us to join him in his discovering and sharing of his renewed warrior spirit.

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Torry Eagle Speaker: Honesty. We all need at least one honest friend to rely on.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
T.E.S.: Negative people who try to bring me down. I’ve been told not to focus on it and to pray for those people, also to use reverse psychology, such as smiling or shaking hands with that person in a positive way.

W: When are you at your happiest?
T.E.S.: When I’m at a powwow with my family and friends.

By Sam Laskaris

Influential women
Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq and Olympic boxing medal hopeful Mary Spencer are among those selected to a prestigious group of women. The pair was among 20 names announced in mid-January as having made the list of Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity for 2011.

Kent Brown finds himself in a new fight.

Instead of duking it out with others, Brown, a former Canadian boxing champion, is helping others in their battle to lose weight.

He’s the fitness trainer on Fit First, a popular documentary series that follows four Aboriginal women in their quest to shed pounds and become healthy.
Fit First is in its second season and broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

Brown, a 40-year-old who is from the Fisher River Cree Nation located in Manitoba, is thrilled to be involved with the television program.

While many of us are making (and breaking) well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions, one First Nation leader is sticking to his goal to live better in 2012.

Grand Chief Doug Kelly said he plans to incorporate more physical activity into his life this year.

“It’s not so much a plan as a goal in increasing my physical activity,” said Kelly, who is the grand chief of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, as well as a leader within the First Nations Health Council.