Calgary News Briefs - September 2013

Boy raises money for children in need

Brooklin Jacobs, a 13-year-old resident of the Tsuu T’ina First Nation, recently gave $1,500 to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada and Make a Wish Foundation. The youngster raised the money by performing his Michael Jackson dance moves in front of an eager crowd at Sarcee Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. Brooklin and his family chose Christian Children’s Fund of Canada as a recipient organization because of its worldwide reach.

Stoney Nakoda First Nations recovering from flood

Following June’s flood, Stoney Nakoda First Nation is slowly recovering. Chiefs and band administrators have been working with the Alberta government to ensure the basic needs of all residents are met. Two emergency relief shelters have been providing services to an estimated 80 families. A central relief shelter is under development in the town site to provide more space while work continues on restoring homes. Residents are encouraged to contact the Flood Recovery Operations Centre if they need additional help. More than 300 homes on the reserve were damaged by flood waters. Debris has been removed from over 80 per cent of the damaged homes and remediation work has begun. Some displaced band members have been living with relatives in overcrowded homes. Tribal administrators said there is room in the two emergency relief centres while temporary housing is built.

The Flood of 2013: A Summer of Angry Rivers in Southern Alberta remembered

When flooding in Southern Alberta began on June 20, the Calgary Herald began covering the disaster that left billions of dollars in damage in its wake, with more than 100,000 people evacuated from their homes. Journalists and photographers of the Herald are authoring a book which will be published in late September. More than 80 Herald journalists were involved in narrating the story. Through their words and photographs the book will capture both the destruction and the heroics. “The response of southern Albertans to the devastation of June’s floods has been unbelievable,” commented Rob Sanders, publisher of Greystone Books. This book is important because it demonstrates how human tenacity can indeed rival nature’s wrath.” Proceeds will go to The Calgary Foundation’s Flood Rebuilding Fund.

Leadership Forum presents Alberta Aboriginal Women

The Calgary Chapter of the Women in Leadership Foundation is hosting the inaugural Alberta Aboriginal Women in Leadership Forum in Calgary in conjunction with Treaty 7 Management Corporation and HSBC on Sept. 19. Focusing on economic change and Indigenous world views, the forum will recognize contributions of community leaders. Over 250 participants are expected to attend the event that will feature a panel presentation, lunch, scholarship/award presentation and a breakout dialogue. “This is an exciting time to be an Indigenous woman. We are business owners and understand the ever changing business landscape in today’s corporate world,” said Nicole Robertson in a news release. Robertson, president, Muskwa Productions & Consulting is one of two guest speakers on a panel for the convention. The panel also includes Dr.  Marie Delorme, CEO, The Imagination Group of Companies, and Marcela Mandeville, COO, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.

Southern becomes Honourary Member of Tsuu T’ina Nation

Calgary businessman Ron Southern was crowned with a feathered headdress when he was given the name “Chief Sorrel Horse,” at a ceremony on July 27 at which he became an honourary member of the Tsuu T’ina Nation. Southern said he was honoured to be recognized in this way, recalling how the people of Tsuu T’ina helped with planting trees at Spruce Meadows, the international show jumping centre Southern founded in 1976. “The planting of these trees has grown roots over all the years between my family and your families in what I like to think of as ‘the family of the horse,’” he told the powwow crowd gathered at Tsuu T’ina’s rodeo grounds. Southern told band elder Bruce Starlight that sorrel was a favourite horse colour. Co-founder of the ATCO Group, Southern, a recipient of numerous awards and honours, and his wife Marg have been recognized for their philanthropy. Spruce Meadows hosted a First Nations Village during a visit from the Queen. The Southerns have also supported Aboriginal education for Tsuu T’ina youth. “You share in the values and beliefs of our people,” said Tsuu T’ina Chief RoyWhitney-Onespot. “Those values, the prayers that you’ve received here today, the feather hat, represent a new beginning for you – a new part of your life.”

LoneStar Geophysical Canada signs exclusivity with Petro North Corp.

LoneStar Geophysical Canada, a leading North American provider of onshore seismic data acquisition services, announced an exclusivity agreement between LoneStar Geophysical Canada and Petro North Corp. that includes solidifying a strategic coalition with Canadian First Nations and MÈtis communities. Headquartered in Calgary, Lonestar Geophysical Canada will be aligning a large scale seismic data acquisition team and vertical seismic profiling acquisition protocols to serve the Indigenous surface Chief Directors and their company affiliates. This joint development gives Aboriginal communities a new level of participation within the E & P industry. “Petro North is extremely pleased that LoneStar Geophysical  Canada chose the unique opportunity and realized the immediate impact that would demonstrate a united front for the Aboriginal community and engage them in all areas of operations, as we all look forward to growth and prosperity in the following years,” said Wilfred Lalonde, CEO and president of Petro North Corp., in a news release.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko

Fleury assumes role of business development manager for UIC First Nations
Theoren Fleury, former Calgary Flames player, has assumed the role of business development manager for UIC First Nations, which forges partnerships with Aboriginal communities across the country to build schools, water treatment projects, housing and other community projects on reserves. While on speaking tours for his 2009 memoir, Playing with Fire, Fleury visited nearly 70 reserves and observed firsthand many incomplete community housing project and schools, he believes to be the result of construction deals gone wrong. “We’ve seen a lot of projects that have been incomplete because the construction company that came and promised, promised, promised later says we ran out of money,” Fleury said. He discussed his concern with general manager Patrick McCallion of UIC First Nations about finding an established company that could help Aboriginal people learn skills to find jobs and become self-sufficient. Alaska-based UIC Construction Services agreed to open a Calgary subsidiary. Fleury will seek out deals with Aboriginal communities to ensure successful completion of projects.