TREATY 3 GRAND CHIEF DIANE KELLY

THE YALE FIRST NATION TREATY WAS

APTN NATIONAL NEWS REPORTS

GLEN BANNON, 57, THE FOUNDING CHIEF

A DRUG BUST INVOLVING THE MOHAWK

The federal government’s quiet move to change the name of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada certainly didn’t go without notice. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his new majority government Cabinet, John Duncan, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North, maintained the post he held pre-election, but with the swapped out word with Aboriginal replacing the word Indian.

The message was as clear and consistent as the ongoing traditional beating of the drums. The guest speakers, the ceremonies, and all who attended the week long International Indigenous Leadership Gathering 2011 near Lillooet, B.C. echoed the mantra of “Protecting the Sacred.”

The collective voice spoke of renewed reverence for Mother Earth, love and compassion among humankind, and respect for all living things that share our terrestrial home.

A unique partnership between the University of Alberta and the Métis Nation of Alberta will benefit Métis across the country.

“While (the research centre) is focused in Alberta, our history knows no boundaries so it’s obvious any research that’s done will be of the Métis nation itself,” said Clem Chartier, president of the Métis National Council.

Chartier was in Edmonton on May 31 when the MNA and university announced the creation of the Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research.

Inuit in Canada have a shorter life expectancy than other people in Canada. That from a report entitled ‘Life is Short’ from the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for the North.

The report indicates the average Inuit life expectancy is 66.7 years. The national average life expectancy is 81 years. Inuit life expectancy is also lower than the life expectancy of First Nations men and women.

According to a 2005 Health Canada study, the life expectancy for a First Nations man is 68.9 years, while a First Nations woman has a life expectancy average of 76.6 years.

It’s Nibi in Ojibway, Nipiy in Cree, Samqwan in Mi’kmaq, and other nations have their own word for it. We all know it by the English word, water.

We also know how important it is to life. We’ve heard about how pollution has caused changes to fish, and we can’t eat as much of the staple as we used to because of it.

Some First Nations member can’t even drink their water. As of April 30, Health Canada reported that 122 First Nations in the country were under various types of water advisories.