A partnership between six Alberta First Nations, Alberta Health Services and Health Canada is focused on sharing information to improving access to health services in those communities.

Tribal Chief Ventures Inc., a collective of six First Nations, launched the unique initiative in 2009 with the objective of building partnerships, addressing jurisdictional issues and improving access to health services.

A book by an Alberta judge chronicling his time behind the bench and his experience with First Nations people has been met with criticism by the current administration of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.

In Bad Medicine: A Judge’s Struggle for Justice in a First Nation’s Community, Judge John Reilly claims that mismanagement of funds by the Stoney Nakoda First Nation chief and council and lack of services on the reserve resulted in extreme poverty and an inability for many band members to lead productive lives.

Protecting the woodland caribou in the northeastern part of the province is going to take longer than anticipated by both First Nations and environmental groups who have launched court action.

The federal government has already been granted a 15-day extension through the mutual consent of all parties involved.

“The case is in federal case management,” said Susan Smitten, director of communications with Woodward and Company, the law firm which represents the First Nations involved. “It will move forward as the judge dictates.”

NAAF winner at Portage College

Métis Nation of Alberta president Audrey Poitras is “very disappointed” with Justice Ted Fisher’s findings in a Métis harvesting case that had the potential to bring about sweeping changes.

Instead, in a verdict that took over an hour to read in a packed Medicine Hat Provincial Court on Dec. 1, Fisher’s 11-point decision found almost entirely against the argument put forth by Métis lawyers Jean Teillet and Jason Madden.

The Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards were held in Winnipeg on November 5th, 2010. The event showcased the incredible variety of talent in Aboriginal music from across Canada. The Awards are part of the Manito Ahbee Festival. Check out all the photos of the performers and award recipients...

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“Just a Native cowboy living his dream” is how Shane Yellowbird sees himself as he continues to ride the wave of accomplishment in the country music industry.

Yellowbird, who is a member of the Samson Cree Nation in Hobbema, recently received four nominations for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, presented in Winnipeg on Nov. 5. He took home the hot ticket award in the Male Entertainer of the Year category, as well as Country Album of the Year  for “It’s About Time” and Best Single of the Year for “Barefeet On The Blacktop.”

Well, at least now we know that figure skating will not be a part of Theo Fleury’s future.

The former National Hockey League star was one of the competitors on the second season of the hit Canadian television show Battle of the Blades.

Fleury, who is Métis, skated alongside Jamie Sale, a former world champion and the 2002 Olympic gold medallist. Battle of the Blades pairs up former NHL players with professional female figure skaters. Eight teams participated in this year’s series.

Lacrosse Summit
A three-day lacrosse summit will be held this coming January in Six Nations, Ont. The official name of the event is the 2011 Native American Lacrosse Summit: Youth Lacrosse Revival and Amateur Lacrosse Skills Competition. The event will be staged at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena from Jan. 28, 2011 to Jan. 30, 2011.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada had a new honor to bestow at the National Awards for Tourism Excellence gala held Nov. 2. It was the National Cultural Tourism Award and it went to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, B.C.

The awards—14 in all—recognize the people, places, organizations and events that offer a superior tourism experience to travelers in Canada.