October 8, 2015. Two adult males were arrested following an investigation by the Blood Tribe Police Service which netted over $60,000 in street value of Oxy 80s and crack cocaine along with close to $12,000 in cash. A late model vehicle was stopped in Standoff and the occupants were arrested for possession of property obtained by crime based on items in their possession in the vehicle.

October 7, 2015.  Primco Dene Group of Companies, wholly own by Cold Lake First Nations, is expanding again. Primco Commercial LP purchased its second Jiffylube franchise, which is located in Bonnyville.

October 7, 2015. Premier Rachel Notley and the Chiefs of Treaty Six met to discuss working together in a new spirit of respect and reconciliation. The meeting was held on a

With less than two weeks before the federal election, the push is on to get the Indigenous vote out.

Carrie Currie Hall, originally from Maskwacis and now living in the United States, is hopeful her expertise can have a positive impact.

“Rock the Indigenous vote is a movement of the people by the people to get out the vote for the federal election and to really make a difference and be the swing vote,” said Currie Hall.

October 7, 2015

First Nations members want more than words from Thomas Mulcair that an NDP government under his leadership will deliver the billions of dollars’ worth of promises he outlined this morning during an open forum hosted by the Assembly of First Nations.

“Words are a dime a dozen. People have come and told us they’re going to do this, they’re going to do that. But how serious is the New Democrats in changing the unjust society First Nations have lived in on their own land?” asked Rose Laboucan, former Chief of the Driftpile First Nation.

Assembly of First Nations British Columbia Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson signs the banner Rock the Indigenous Vote as First Nations representatives gathered at the River Cree on Enoch Cree Nation this morning to strategize about getting out the Indigenous vote. An AFN report indicates there are 51 ridings across the country that Indigenous voters can make a difference in. “This is about mobilizing the people to vote,” said Gottfriedson, who is organizing the movement.

October 6, 2015. The annual Vital Signs report, conducted by Edmonton’s Community Foundation and Social Planning council, shows significant changes within the Aboriginal community. The report identifies a number of new strengths. The graduation rate from high school saw an increase of 27 per cent in 2013 from 22 per cent 2009 in Edmonton Public schools and 50 per cent from 26 per cent in Edmonton Catholic schools, and 10.7 per cent more Aboriginal people achieved a bachelor degree or higher in 2011.

October 6, 2015. Four Winds Tobacco Products Inc., a company registered on Kahnawake, a Mohawk reserve in Quebec, appeared before Newell County council last month to discuss setting up a cigarette manufacturing plant in Brooks. Tom O'Connell, a company consultant, said Four Winds wants to produce cigarettes for export and for three wholesalers in Ontario. The company is looking at Alberta because Quebec has put a moratorium on new tobacco manufacturing, Most tobacco is grown in Ontario but the company would encourage Alberta farmers to grow tobacco.

 October 7, 2015. Leader Thomas Mulcair is expected to release the NDP’s Indigenous policy this morning at the Assembly of First Nations open forum. Mulcair is the only party leader to accept an invitation from the AFN to attend the day-long forum at the Enoch Cree Nation. Mulcair has committed to calling a national public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women within the first 100 days of forming government.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper remains an unconfirmed invited guest for the Assembly of First Nations open forum scheduled Oct. 7 in Enoch Cree Nation.

The full day event has got the commitment of NDP
leader Thomas Mulcair, however. Mulcair’s attendance is in keeping with what local NDP Indigenous candidates have been saying about both the party and the leader.