In the face of concerning studies predicting an impending water crisis in the Athabasca River Basin, the Natural Resources Defense Council is calling for the Alberta government to re-evaluate the water use licenses granted to the tar sands industry. As the government examines how best to do this, several initial steps are necessary, say NRDC staff Joshua Axelrod and

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair highlighted the Assembly of First Nation’s open forum held at the River Cree on Enoch Cree Nation on Oct. 7. The NDP unveiled its billions of dollars’ worth of promises for its Aboriginal agenda, which included removing the two per cent funding cap; increase in funding and committed annual funding for education; funding to revitalize Indigenous languages; and funding to improve health care. Liberal Aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett also spoke as did Brenda Sayers, Indigenous candidate in the riding of North Island-Powell River for the Green Party.

Alberta education minister David Eggen says it is not acceptable that Northland School Division has been operating under a government-appointed trustee for five years. “The result has been very disappointing,” Eggen said, speaking at a First Nations, Metis and Inuit education symposium in Edmonton. “It is my intention to work hard that our government will put in place and have proper elections for real trustees to put Northland School Division back on its feet where it belongs.” Eggen didn’t offer details on how this would be accomplished.

Premier Rachel Notley has met with the Chiefs of Treaty 6 and 7 to discuss working together in a new spirit of respect and reconciliation. She met with Treaty 7 Chiefs on Oct. 16 and Treaty 6 Chiefs on Oct. 7 The meetings were held on a “government-to-government basis,” stated Notley in a news release. She said, “We are committed to establishing a more respectful and constructive relationship between Alberta First Nations and the province.” She also stated that implementing the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was a priority.

Advancing reconciliation in the sphere of post-secondary education will take more than a faculty of Native studies, a tipi on university property, and an Aboriginal students’ centre.

It will also take more than a poster recruiting Aboriginal students, says Cindy Blackstock, an associate professor at the University of Alberta. She says it starts in the classroom on reserves, where First Nations children receive one-third less funding for education than their off-reserve counterparts. Universities need to take a stand against this.

The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company is now known as the Gordon Tootoosis N+kn+win Theatre. The name change was made to honour the late actor, who co-founded the theatre company along with fellow actors Tantoo Cardinal and Kennetch Charlette, in 1999. N+kn+win is a Plains Cree expression for “leadership.” The theatre company says Tootoosis was the driving force behind the creation of its “Circle of Voices” program, where youth are mentored in theatre and cultural teachings. The mentorship program is now in its 13th year and more than 100 youth have been trained.

Idle No More co-founder Sylvia McAdam has taken on the “One House, Many Nations” Indiegogo campaign. She launched the campaign Oct. 7 after seeing the state of housing while running for chief in Big River First Nation. The target is US$15,000 to build a single log cabin with a wood stove, garden, solar panels and a composting toilet. Once that home is built, it will seek a further $15,000 to build or repair another home. Then another. And another. “We are hoping to build or repair one house at a time,” the Indiegogo site says.

Metis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette and Vice President Gerald Morin met with federal officials in late September to talk about funding for the organization. In October 2014, the federal government stopped funding the organization due to infighting that made it impossible for the MN-S to meet its constitutional obligations to hold two assemblies each year. Even numerous court proceedings have not resolved the issues. Doucette and Morin are key players in the two disputing factions. Doucette is hoping to get at least enough funding to keep the office open.

A standardized test administered to Grade 10 students will be changed after a student complained to his parents about two questions that gave multiple choice answers which negatively stereotyped Aboriginal people. The exam is a Level 19 test book of the Canadian Achievement Tests, fourth edition, which was published in 2008 and was field tested in Canadian classrooms. The test has been used by Saskatoon Public School since 2012.

Red Earth Cree Nation has banned drugs and alcohol in an effort to prevent substance-related deaths in the community. The decision was made Sept. 21 after a general assembly at Mamawe Community Hall. “The law came to be because people love their children. They love their community and they want it safe,” said Charlene Head, a Red Earth Cree Nation councillor. However, not all members are in favour of the ban. Council is still working on enforcing the law. At a recent Justice Council, members discussed options of creating peace keepers, constables, and healing circles.