A former National Hockey League player is hoping to establish a facility in Alberta where students can further both their hockey and academic careers.

Brantt Myhres, who had stints with six different NHL teams, is the CEO and president of the Greater Strides Hockey Academy.

Myhres’ Calgary-based academy currently offers on-ice training programs to various groups. But he’s hoping the academy expands and that by 2013 it also offers a student/athlete academy to Aboriginal youth from across Canada.

The Regulated Nursing Workforce in Canada (2005) report estimates that of the 251,675 registered nurses in Canada, approximately 1,200 are Aboriginal.

A new program launched in the community of Enoch is reaching out to young mothers.

Operating under the belief that education is the key to success, the Second Chance for Young Moms program is helping young mothers finish high school, further their education, and become better parents.

Youth do indeed have a voice.

This was once again proven during the fifth annual forum run by the Métis Settlements Youth Network Society.
 The three-day forum was held in early November at Camp Goldeye, near Nordegg, with about 115 youth and 35 adult mentors attending.

Joy Ohashi, one of the adult mentors, said the youth themselves are the ones that decide what topics will be discussed at each year’s forum.

Not too many people can brag they are the best in the country at what they do.

But Cree actress Michelle Thrush is now one of these people.

The Calgary resident won a Gemini Award on Sept. 8 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role category.

Thrush was honoured for her portrayal of Gail Stoney, on the highly acclaimed series Blackstone, which is shown nationally in Canada on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

A Calgary law firm which represents residential school survivors in the Independent Assessment Process is under investigation for breach of settlement agreement.
However, while the investigation, entailing an audit of claims, is carried out by the court monitor, Blott & Company can continue to represent their clients as they seek settlements for sexual and physical abuse through the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.

A justice for the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench has upheld the conviction of Métis harvester Garry Hirsekorn stating that he is not prepared to rewrite the Powley test in order to make site specific mean a broader region.
In his 52-page decision, Chief Justice Neil Wittmann wrote, “It is ironic that the fact that Europeans assisted in the exercise of the right in this case has the effect of denying the right….it would be inappropriate to modify the Powley test at this level of court in light of the weight of Supreme Court of Canada authority.”

April Papequash jumped at the opportunity to talk to the National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education when the three members were in Edmonton last month.

Papequash, a grade 12 student at Ross Sheppard high school in Edmonton, has a cousin who attends school in Hobbema.

An independent report on gaming in Alberta is recommending a dramatic decrease in the dollars that come from slot machines on First Nations and are handed over to the Alberta Lottery Fund.

“The most uncontentious adjustment would be to redirect the 30 per cent of First Nations slot machine revenue that currently goes to the Alberta Lottery Fund back into the First Nations Development Fund for the use of First Nations communities that do not currently host casinos,” is one of six recommendations presented in Gambling in Alberta: History, Current Status, and Socioeconomic Impacts.

A recent announcement from the provincial government that it was moving ahead with another tripartite agreement – this one involving Aboriginal children in care – has taken First Nations Grand Chiefs by surprise.

“The Education MOU hasn’t proven it works yet,” said Richard Kappo, Grand Chief of Treaty 8.

The Education memorandum of understanding was signed in late 2010 by the three Grand Chiefs and the provincial and federal governments.