Calgary Briefs - November

Calgary university recruits students

Katie Hope, Aboriginal and Multicultural admissions officer for the University of Calgary offers advice to students during the Blueprint For The Future career fair held on Oct. 26 in Edmonton. The event, hosted by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, is Canada’s largest Aboriginal career fair. It takes place twice a year and travels to different cities across Canada.

Thanksgiving at the Mustard Seed

Thanksgiving Day saw over 500 meals served to hungry, thankful guests at the Seed’s Shelter in southeast Calgary. Volunteers from Calgary Girl Guides Trefoils and the “Y Knots” are staying connected by participating in a nationwide project aiming to eradicate hunger and poverty.  Expressing gratitude, kindness and thoughtfulness go a long way to inspiring hope in the less fortunate, said organizers. Inn from the Cold, also a local homeless shelter, fed more than 80 men and women at a dinner provide and served by Cenovus Energy employees on Saturday. Volunteers who spend the day of a holiday lending a hand are greatly valued by organizations that provide support for those less fortunate and in dire need.

Protesters from Eden Valley reserve want election

On Oct. 28, members of the Eden Valley reserve, west of Longview, set up a road block in protest of not being able to vote for a chief and council this December. According to CTV, the Bearspaw First Nation issued a release on Oct. 22 stating, “On Oct. 14 a quorum of council signed a Band Council Resolution to set the next election of Chief and Council for December 2012 for a duration of four years. The two year extension takes into consideration Stoney customs and traditions and other factors.” Former councillor Bruce Dixon said, “It’s never been done before. It has to be done through the people. The people are the ones to vote for a leader, not the chief and council saying let’s give ourselves another two years.” Although the protesters have called on Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to intervene, a spokesperson said that the Bearspaw band operates under custom election codes and the issue is outside of INAC’s jurisdiction. Eden Valley Reserve spokesman Norm Brennan said the trend is to increase the term to three and sometimes four years.

AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo delivered keynote address

On Oct. 20, Assembly of First Nation National Chief Shawn Atleo delivered a keynote address on First Nation education at the Conference of Americas on International  Education. Titled “New Hope and Opportunities for Strengthening Indigenous Education,” Atleo’s address laid out the innovative approach to education put forth in two papers of the AFN, Call to Action on Education and First Nation Control of First Nation Education. His address focussed on First Nation education as beneficial to all Canadians, highlighting opportunities for building relationships and collaborating internationally. Atleo spoke to the international audience of educators, professionals, experts and leaders from north, south and central Americas and the Caribbean on the importance of Canada’s commitment to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the ways in which the ceclaration’s principles will guide and underpin the path forward.

“Walking the Talk: Sustainable Reporting”

On Oct. 13, the Young Environmental Professionals of Calgary invited Dale Friesen, vice president Aboriginal Relations, Health and Safety and Environment at ATCO Group Utilities, to speak. The key awareness underpinning Friesen’s address was that “sustainability is no longer a qualitative concept. Today companies must quantitatively prove their commitment to the environment.” YEP is a national volunteer organization of Young Environmental Professionals with chapters in the Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. It promotes opportunities for young and emerging environmental and sustainability professionals. Launched in 2001, YEP Calgary is a thriving network of sustainability practitioners, students and engaged citizens who care about the environment. They meet the second Wednesday of each month.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko