Edmonton Briefs - November

Amero includes city in tour

Singer/songwriter Don Amero stopped in Edmonton Oct. 29 on his Canadian tour, which is highlighting his third album The Long Way Home and its country-flavoured first single Right Where I Wanna Be. Amero is nominated for Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year, Best Pop CD, and Best Album Cover Design at this year’s Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards. Last year he won Male Artist of the Year at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in Toronto, and Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in Quebec. He was also nominated Entertainer of the Year and Folk/Acoustic Album of the Year at the APCMAs.

Boyle Street prepares for winter

In preparation for the cold, snowy weather, Boyle Street Community Services, which offers shelter and food to Edmonton’s homeless has changed its drop-in hours. It is now open 15 hours a day, seven days a week. The kitchen is expected to get even busier. Last year, 152,000 meals were served during the winter months. As well, outreach in the river valley and other parts of the city is increased. Training of winter drop-in staff began earlier this month.

Symposium looks at tackling poverty

Bissell Centre hosted a symposium Oct. 6 in which the issues surrounding poverty were examined. Headlining the affair were keynote speakers Liz Murray and Frank O’Dea. Panel speakers include Dana Robbins, Dr. Bob Westbury, Mark Anielski, and Dave Ward, and topics ranged from The Role of Media in Poverty Reduction to Corporate Altruism to Urban Aboriginals.

Asthma, allergies experiences shared

Asthma and allergies with First Nations and Métis people were the topics of discussion on Oct. 24 at a Creating Hope Society gathering. Those suffering from the two conditions were invited to attend at the Northgate Professional Building to share their experiences. University of Alberta medical student Nicole Cardinal also met with participants to talk about the culturally appropriate use of tobacco. The meeting was part of the U of A’s Social Support Research Program.

Highly acclaimed production comes to Edmonton

Almighty Voice and His Wife, produced by Native Earth Performing Arts, directed by Michael Greyeyes, written by Daniel David Moses, and starring Paula Jean Prudat and Derek Garza, ran in Edmonton Oct. 19 – Oct. 24 at La Cite Francophone. Prudat, a Métis, resided in Edmonton for eight years. The production tells the story of Almighty Voice, a young First Nations man, who was jailed by Mounties in Saskatchewan in 1895 for shooting a cow, possibly his own. He escaped, and the ensuing manhunt left four dead. The play is considered by many to be a seminal work of Canadian theatre for its bold theatricality and daring post-modern structure.

Oil and gas development forum

An Aboriginal oil and gas forum will be held Dec. 6-7 at the Fairmont MacDonald hotel chaired by lawyers Ron S. Maurice, senior partner of Maurice Law Barristers and Solicitors and JoAnn P. Jamieson of Twyman Jamieson LLP. The two-day conference will address ongoing issues related to Aboriginal participation in oil and gas developments. Through the use of case studies and panel discussions, Aboriginal leaders and industry operators will share best practices, lessons learned and creative solutions to pressing development issues.

Compiled by Shari Narine