The rate of fatal drug overdose among First Nations people, especially women, in British Columbia is two to three times higher than that of the province’s non-Aboriginal population, according to a recent report released by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver.

The report, released in January and published in the journal Addiction, found that while Aboriginal people make up four per cent of B.C.’s population, they accounted for 12 per cent of the province’s illicit drug overdose deaths between 2001 and 2005.

Susan Sullivan, Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, and Patty Pottle, minister of Aboriginal Affairs, announced Feb. 23 that the provincial government is committing $115,248 towards the exploration of business opportunities focused on maximizing the economic potential of the Torngat Mountains National Park and the Torngâsok Cultural Centre in Nain.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL ANNOUNCED

Artist—Curt Young
Song—You're so Crazy
Album—Edge of Shadow
Label—Independent

Curt Young starts this CD by establishing his Aboriginal content very early on.  In fact, it appears Curt is not afraid to write songs about whatever is on his mind, even if it’s political.  But just being Aboriginal often qualifies you on some political issues automatically.  Listen to the words as Curt says what’s on his mind in “Native Man”.

Juno award nominated Aboriginal artists hope the Canadian music prize will lead to more exposure and perhaps mainstream airplay, but even with a Best Aboriginal Album win, the larger mainstream markets remain frustratingly out of reach.

The Aboriginal Album of the Year has been a category in the Juno Awards since 1994, thanks to blues producer Elaine Bomberry, who petitioned to have it become a category to bring exposure to Aboriginal artists.

Saskatchewan’s 74 band chiefs may eventually decide the fate of their head chief’s leadership position after his drunk driving charges became public last month.

A January court appearance saw Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild plead guilty to a Sept. 2, 2009 incident of driving under the influence (DUI), around a month before he was elected head chief of the organization.

It’s been said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Well, whoever said that has obviously not worked in Native theatre.  I say this because Native theatre is an odd mistress indeed. You work with interesting people with interesting talents. You find yourself doing and saying things you wouldn’t normally say or do.  And it all seems so … normal.  It’s in this unique vortex called Native theatre that art and culture are synthesized into a unique and often bizarre hybrid.  I often wonder if other theatre companies end up doing or even saying some of the things we do.

The push to obtain common experience payments and Independent Assessment Process payments for Aboriginal day scholars is rolling ahead.

“It’s a matter of initiating a campaign and then I think a lot of people will sign on. The campaign will gain momentum, it will gain a profile. It’s pretty much replicating what happened with the residential school initiative itself,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

A contract awarded by the federal government to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to develop a verification strategy for Métis identification systems has been pulled.

“With all the controversy and push back from all the five (provincial Métis associations) and the Métis National Council, the contract is no longer going to go through,” said Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA).

Former residential school students who are incarcerated or homeless are receiving extra attention as the deadline looms for compensation as set out by the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.

“We’re assuming the deadline is fixed. We have no influence on that,” said Dr. Akivah Starkman, executive director, Indian Residential School Adjudication.