If truth be told, we were a little perturbed when we heard that a group had made its way to Ottawa on June 11 for the second anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s public apology for the Indian residential school system in order to “release forgiveness” upon the government.

The Western Indian Rodeo & Exhibition Association was host to the Richest Indian Rodeo. It kicked off on May 21 in Merritt, BC and ran throughout the long weekend.

The rodeo attracted contestants from as far away as New Mexico, Washington, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Part of the attraction was the wild card spot offered from the International Indian Finals Rodeo (IIFR) in Farmington, New Mexico to be held in October.

Cowboys lucky enough to compete in the richest Indian rodeo saw an unmatched $277,000 payout in prize money.

Inaugural bull riding event
At least 3,000 people are expected to come out and see some of the world’s top bull riders in an inaugural event at Alberta’s Tsuu T’ina Nation. The Professional Bull Riding event, part of the Canada Touring Pro series, is scheduled for June 21 near Calgary.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever ‘called in sick’ for work, and to be perfectly honest, you just didn’t want to work that day?  In truth, we are all human and it’s natural to do so, after all we aren’t robots right?

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Louis-Karl P. Sioui: Loyalty. Honesty. Dedication. That would be three. Okay.  Loyalty, then.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
L.P.S.: Oh, I got a long list of things that make me quite mad. Actually, I add one or two items on that very list each week. But my top three never change much. Those would be injustice, stupidity, and self-nurtured ignorance.

“We want to be involved in all phases of our new home … and we’re willing to play bingo ‘til there are no more dabbers.”

Quotes like this one, by Bertha Allen speaking on behalf of the Elders’ Society at a 1999 Inuvik public forum on health and social services, capture the unrelenting passion and humor of this much-respected leader.

After years of social activism in the north, Allen lost her fight with cancer and passed away on May 7 at the age of 76.

Note: This is the first part of a two part series.
Canadian Aboriginal cultures are many, diverse, unique and mysterious. Aboriginal Nations have for thousands of years sustained vibrant and rich cultural identities in Canada.

It is hoped that Aboriginal women and children will no longer have to abandon their homes and communities due to relationship breakdowns on-reserve once new legislation comes into effect, perhaps as soon as the fall of 2010.

The 2008 death of Raymond Silverfox of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, Yukon is motivating members of the federal parliament to call for the end of a protocol that allows the RCMP to investigate themselves when a civilian fatality or serious injury occurs in custody.

Chiefs support request for public inquiry