Edmonton News Briefs - August 2013

Marchers, led by Chevi Rabbit (centre, without sign), many wearing red to represent anti-hate, marched from the University area over the High Level bridge to the Alberta legislature for a rally entitled “From Hate to Hope.”

Hate to Hope rally

Aug. 2 marked the second Hate to Hope rally held in Edmonton. In 2012, Montana First Nation member Chevi Rabbit was the target of a hate crime, which spurred the first “From Hate to Hope” rally in the city and attracted over 300 people. Rabbit, who at the time was attending the University of Alberta for Native Studies, was attacked in the Strathcona area during the day, robbed and assaulted verbally as he was wearing make-up.  “After the incident I was embarrassed and did not plan on sharing my story but I’m glad I did. Since then I have been able to turn this traumatic and negative experience into a positive message of hope,” said Rabbit, in a news release.

RAM goes virtual

Users from around the world can now have a virtual tour of the Royal Alberta Museum, which includes the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture as well as the Wild Alberta Gallery, Natural History Gallery, theatre, lobbies, gift shop and café. The Google Maps virtual tour is one of the first in Alberta. The Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, at the heart of which is an immense tipi, is one of the largest explorations of First Peoples’ history on the continent, with stories spanning 11,000 years and 500 generations. It has more than 3,000 artifacts, recorded voices, film, dynamic lighting, interactive computer technology and Aboriginal interpreters.

MAP reaches homeless people in crisis situation

A new program launched in June by Bissell Centre and supported by Homeward Trust Edmonton and REACH Edmonton provides immediate services to homeless people in a crisis situation. The Mobile Assistance Program is a 24/7 service with two outreach workers, who provide an approach that is more effective in addressing the needs of individuals and relieve the costs that come with emergency medical, police and judicial services. The most important element of the plan is to help find housing, with funding to provide 80 housing placements annually being available.

NorQuest wins national branding award

NorQuest College recently won a silver medal in the Best Institutional Branding category of the annual Prix D’Excellence Awards, which are presented by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education for excellence in university advancement. “NorQuest College has entered a fresh era where student success, inclusiveness and a focus on relevant and necessary programming has taken a defining role in telling our story and future direction,” said President an CEO Dr. Jodi L. Abbott, in a news release. The new brand identity – launched in the fall of 2012 – recognizes NorQuest College’s diverse student population as one of its core strengths, and includes nine per cent of students, who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Judges commented that “this was an impressive and thorough branding exercise… The brand is colourful and friendly, and adaptable for multiplatform use. It embraces the strengths of the college.”

Program teaches leadership to Aboriginal girls

For the fifth summer, Aboriginal girls ages 12-16 years have had the opportunity to participate in the University of Alberta’s the Alliance Pipeline Young Women’s Circle of Leadership. The annual summer school celebrates traditional Indigenous language and knowledge through interactive lessons designed to nurture leadership skills in the young women. “This program is rare indeed and provides voice and presence at the U of A. These girls are here to learn their language; however, they have much to teach us about ourselves,” said coordinator Shelby LaFramboise–Helgeson, in a news release. The program is a three-faculty initiative (Arts, Education, and Native Studies) known as the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute. CILLDI strives to be multicultural, cross-linguistic, interdisciplinary, inter-regional, inter-generational, and responsive to different sociolinguistic situations in language communities under threat.

Compiled by Shari Narine