Calgary Briefs - July

First Nations representation at Calgary Stampede
Sahvanne Weasel Traveller, 23, crowned 2010 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess, by the outgoing princess last September, will serve as ambassador for the Indian Village during the stampede July 9-18. Weasel Traveller is a member of the Piikani First Nation. At the stampede, she represents the Treaty 7 First Nations of Siksika, T’suu Tina, Nakoda (Stoney), Piikani (Peigan) and Kainai (Blood). The Indian Village highlights the culture of the Treaty 7 Nations  and includes 27 tipis for viewing, tipi raising contests, Native dancing and pow wows, arts and crafts booth, cultural exhibits, cooking and meat cutting demonstrations and a bannock booth.  The Indian Village has been a major part of the Calgary Stampede since the inception in 1912.

Enbridge application for Northern Gateway now under review
Enbridge Inc., headquartered in Calgary, has gone ahead with its application to build the Northern Gateway pipeline. The $5.5 billion project would move up to 525,000 barrels a day of oil from Alberta to the port of Kitimat, British Columbia, giving Asia direct access to Canada’s oil sands via tankers. The line would also be used to import condensate. Enbridge wants to have the Northern Gateway line operational by 2016. The application to federal regulatory authorities was made at the end of May. Opposition to the pipeline, which would cross key watersheds that are home to the salmon stocks on which the local communities rely, has been voiced by the Coastal First Nations, with support from a handful of First Nations in Alberta. Environmental groups have also been vocal in their opposition. The Enbridge application for Northern Gateway will be reviewed by a panel under both the National Energy Board Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Disputed gas project gets go ahead
Last month Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board approved Suncor’s application to drill 11 wells, build a 55-kilometre pipeline and construct a facility to hydrate and compress gas in the Sullivan Creek area. The ruling comes after hearings which began in 2008. Opposition to the project to develop sour gas resources near Longview came from First Nations, landowners, and conservation groups. The Calgary Herald reports the ERCB outlined 15 conditions that Suncor needs to follow to go forward with the project as well as fulfill more than 300 commitments Suncor made during the hearings. Conditions include such issues as upgraded emergency planning for the nearby Stoney Nakoda First Nations Eden Valley reserve, environmental measures, and water monitoring.

Calgary Catholic recognizes students’ hard work
A special ceremony for all First Nations, Métis and Inuit students graduating from high schools across the Calgary Catholic School District was held on June 2 at Bishop Grandin high school. The theme for the ceremony was Celebration of Resilience. Special awards were handed out to recognize academic and athletic achievements, contributions to the community as well as outstanding vocational achievements. The Calgary Catholic School District is the largest Catholic school district in Alberta, serving over 45,000 students in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and the Municipal District of Rocky View.

Legacy Totem Pole arrives in Calgary
In a special ceremony, representatives from the Four Host First Nations transfered the 2010 Legacy Totem Pole to representatives of Treaty Seven First Nations in Alberta on June 23 at the Suncor Energy Centre, the pole’s new permanent location. To commemorate Suncor’s sponsorship of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games through its Petro-Canada brand, the company commissioned Squamish Nation carver Klatle-Bhi to create a companion piece to the 1988 Olympic Torch Relay Statue. The 2010 Legacy Totem Pole was originally showcased at the Aboriginal Pavilion located in downtown Vancouver during the Games.

Compiled by Shari Narine