Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Shy-Anne Hovorka: Honesty. If you can’t be honest, how do I know the friendship or relationship is real?

W: What is it that really makes you mad?

S.H.: People who interrupt and don’t let you finish a sentence. Oh, and also being patted on the head. (I’m short, lol.)

W: When are you at your happiest?

What is it with white people and book burning? I realize that’s quite an inflammatory (pun intended) statement, but it deserves some exploration regarding recent events down in Florida where it seems lighter fluid, fundamentalism, and sun tan lotion go hand in hand.

The Assembly of First Nations has thrown its weight and influence behind the 61 First Nations opposed to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project. But some see a disconnect between what the AFN says and what it does.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo applauded the chiefs at the special assembly held in Gatineau for unanimously passing a resolution that pushes for accountability and calls for “itemizing and publicly disclosing salaries, honoraria and expenses associated with the operations of chief and council.”

A letter stating the commitment of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his office and the top levels of the federal government to tackle issues facing First Nations “is significant,” said Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo.

The correspondence from Harper came on the last day of the AFN’s Special Chiefs Assembly held in Gatineau, Dec. 14 to 16. The theme of the assembly was moving from endorsement to action. Canada had endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenouse People on Nov. 12. Implementation is the next step forward on that front.

The chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission warned that if day school scholars aren’t brought into the equation soon, the work accomplished by the TRC could be for naught.

An anticipated surplus in money set aside to pay claims made through the residential school settlement Common Experience Payment (CEP) will result in personal credits for successful claimants and educational funding for First Nations and Inuit.

Aideen Nabigon, director general of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), said terms and conditions for the educational use of the surplus funding are under development.

TWO MEN IN NEW BRUNSWICK

The Nuxalk Nation has signed on to the Coastal Reconciliation Protocol, though the decision is a controversial one in the community, said elected Chief Spencer Siwallace.

Any agreement with the province would be viewed suspiciously, he explained, given Nuxalk’s long history of fighting BC over jurisdiction and control of the territory.
Nuxalk becomes the sixth Indigenous nation to sign onto the protocol, joining the Gitga’at First Nation, the Heiltsuk Nation, Kitasoo Indian Band, Metlakatla First Nation and Wuikinuxv Nation, which all signed the document in December 2009.

The organizers of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival have found themselves in a troublesome financial situation.
They are not only unable to pay out prize money to the dancers and drummers that took part in their three-day powwow held in Hamilton, the cheques they presented to the winners in a variety of categories began to bounce as soon as the lights dimmed on the event, held Nov. 26 to 28 at Copps Coliseum.