Bullfrog Power®, Canada’s leading green energy provider, and First Nations Power Authority, recently launched two projects that showcase solar technology specifically designed for Canada’s climate. The two latest projects are designed to offset power consumption for schools in the communities of Fond du Lac and Hatchet Lake. These power generation projects are FNPA’s second and third Strategic Off Grid and Renewables projects. The SOAR project was initiated by FNPA to develop small-scale power projects to research emerging technologies—including solar photovoltaic.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Bobby Cameron is calling for a meeting with premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the right to hunt moose. Cameron said there is a need to discuss treaty territories and rights. On Dec. 15, Saskatchewan officers seized moose meat from two homes on Pine Creek First Nation in Manitoba. The moose was hunted on Pine Creek’s traditional territory, which crosses the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border. Pine Creek First Nation is covered by Treaty 4, which gives Indigenous people the right to hunt, trap and fish in their traditional territory.

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan may soon get its funding back. The MN-S provincial Métis council has agreed to a third-party funding proposal by the federal government. The new agreement comes one month after Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said the Liberal government would reinstate the funding. Under the terms of the agreement, the third party, which has yet to be named, would be responsible for the administration and finances of the organization until the next election. Funding was initially cut off in 2014 by the federal Conservative government due to in-fighting in the MN-S.

Three Métis men from Meadow Lake were in court mid-January, charged with hunting or fishing without a licence. They were separately charged in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as they were harvesting animals and fish at least 30 kilometres away from their home community. Defence lawyer Kathy Hodgson-Smith argued that all Métis in the province belong to one traditional homeland. More than 45 community witnesses spoke during seven days of the trial. Hodgson-Smith anticipates the Crown will argue that Métis hunting rights are site-specific.

Dakota Dunes Casino is responsible for creating two more millionaires in Saskatchewan. The “Smoke Signals Jackpot” was won twice in three weeks at the Dakota Dunes Casino on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation. The most recent winner, Don Farber, from Porcupine Plains, arrived at the casino just 20 minutes before winning $1,048,973 by playing a progressive slot machine. Farber was presented with a cheque on Jan. 16. During the Christmas holidays, Ben Vuong, of Saskatoon, walked away with $1,166,462. Vuong collected his winnings on Dec. 30.

Chiefs are “cautiously optimistic” that recent strategizing to implement their treaty rights will get somewhere with the new federal government. 

“We are cautiously optimistic with the promises of the newly elected federal government…,” said Cold Lake First Nations Chief Bernice Martial.

January 26, 2016

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ruled that First Nations children and families living on reserve and in the Yukon are denied child and family services equal to what other Canadians receive.

In a 182-page ruling released Tuesday morning, the CHRT said, “As race and/or national or ethnic origin is a factor in those adverse impacts, the Panel concluded First Nations children and families living on reserve and in the Yukon are discriminated against in the provision of child and family services by (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada).”

A recent study that indicates First Nations fisheries’ catch could decline as much as 50 per cent by 2050 due to climate change is just one more factor that will impact food and economic security for British Columbia’s coastal First Nations.

The findings of the study, conducted by scientists with the Nereus Program, an international research team led by scientists at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, do not come as a shock to Ken Malloway, chair of the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C.

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is hoping it can capitalize on an acceptance speech delivered by Leonardo DiCaprio at the recent Golden Globes and bring its unique style of TV to the United States.

Mason Mantla is no stranger to the camera. It is part of the work he does with kids in his job with the Tlicho Community Action Research Team.

So when the opportunity arose to get behind the camera for the “home-grown grassroots” Dead North Film Festival, he couldn’t pass it up.

“And I just wanted to make a horror film!” he said.

The Dead North Film Festival runs from Feb. 26 to Feb. 28. It is into its fourth year. This year will mark Mantla’s third in producing a short film for the horror-science fiction-fantasy genre festival.