Women’s shelters receive additional dollars

Premier Christy Clark announced $2 million to encourage more Aboriginal students to pursue masters and doctoral level degrees at public universities in British Columbia. “Aboriginal people are a vital part of British Columbia’s future and contribute to our diverse, growing and strong economy,” said Premier Clark, who made the announcement during closing remarks at the B.C. Cabinet-First Nations Leaders Gathering in Vancouver.

An assistant professor at the University of Manitoba’s law school has been appointed director of research for the new National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The establishment of the new centre, Craft explains, flows from the settlement agreement arrived at from the residential school class actions. “Our work here will be centered around policy changes resulting from the TRC, said the new director Aimée Craft, research into the legacy impact on residential school survivors and their families, and larger societal relations in terms of reconciliation.

Aboriginal women pursuing business studies at UBC’s Sauder School of Business will benefit from a $1-million gift from the family of Warren and Maureen Spitz. The Spitz Fellows Program was created in collaboration with the family and accepted its first student this month. “Our hope is that the Spitz Fellows Program will create opportunities for women to empower themselves and succeed in their educational, career and life goals,” said Warren Spitz, president and CEO, UCS Forest Group.

An engineering professor at the University of Saskatchewan is using concepts from kayaks, tipis and the longhouse in his courses this year. “It’s long overdue, I think, that we bring in some excellent examples of First Nations history into engineering,” he told the CBC. Sean Maw said there’s a lot from First Nations design that engineers could learn from. “The design of watercraft across Canada by Canada’s Indigenous peoples is a wonderful example of design.

Imagine having to get a note from your tribal council grand chief so your son can wear a simple Mohawk haircut to school. Ridiculous, right?

National Geographic’s explorer-in-residence Wade Davis said First Nations taking part in the tourism industry could revolutionize the sector by promoting a more substantial appreciation of cultural diversity. Davis gave the keynote address at the second annual Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism and Trade Conference mid-September, which brings together groups of the Pacific Ocean to strategize on promoting the industry. He said efforts in the sector have to be about more than just increasing the numbers of First Nations in the industry.

An archeologist who has studied the Coast Salish village site at Dionisio Point on Galiano Island has dispelled the belief that First Nation people travelled great distances for the volcanic rock they used for tools. The study instead says the people just used the rock that washed up on their shores. Colin Grier, associate professor at Washington State University, said his team picked up some dark rock on the beach at Dionisio Point and began questioning the theory of travelling for the rock.

Lax Kw’alaams is claiming Aboriginal title of Lelu Island and Flora Bank, the sites of a planned $11.4 billion terminal to export liquefied natural gas. Lax Kw’alaams believes Aboriginal title, if proven in court, will save the territory, providing them a veto over development. Flora Bank is habitat for juvenile salmon in the Skeena River estuary. “We want to protect crucial salmon habitat, protect our food security and ensure that governments and industry are obligated to seek our consent,” said a spokesperson for the Lax Kw’alaams.

The Supreme Court of  British Columbia has rejected Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations attempt to quash the environmental certificate issued for the $8.8-billion Site C project on the Peace River. “I am satisfied that the petitioners were provided a meaningful opportunity to participate in the environmental assessment process,” Justice Robert Sewell wrote in his decision. Sewell ruled against a claim by the Peace Valley Landowners Association in July, with very much the same reasoning. That claim also hoped to halt the project.