Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - February 11, 2016

Bennett in Enoch Cree Nation on MMIW pre-inquiry

February 11, 2016. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Carolyn Bennett is in Enoch Cree Nation on Thursday meeting with families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in closed sessions. The pre-inquiry meetings are aimed at establishing parameters for a national inquiry, which is expected to begin this summer. On Friday, Bennett will be joined by Status of Women Minister Patricia Hajdu in Calgary for further meetings with impacted families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. 

Strong Indigenous women focus of The Bleeding Art Space exhibit

February 11, 2016. Lana Whiskeyjack’s visual works kâ-katawasisicik iskwêwak (Cree for “beautiful women”) will be on display at The Bleeding Art Space in Edmonton until March 5. Whiskeyjack’s work showcases images of strong Indigenous women and is in conjunction with Lori Calkins’ outdoor exhibit Ni Wapataenan (Michif for “we see”). Ni Wapataenan consists of about 40 red dresses hung from branches and circling a bare, uncovered teepee in Edmonton's Alberta Avenue neighbourhood. Whiskeyjack, from Saddle Lake Cree Nation, now resides in Edmonton. The Bleeding Art Space, which is part of the revitalization effort of Alberta Avenue, will also be hosting talks and workshops as well.

Mount Royal University presents peace prize to TRC

February 10, 2016. Mount Royal University will be presenting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with its 2016 Calgary Peace Prize. “Not only is MRU on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot people and Treaty 7 nations, but the campus benefits from having Indigenous knowledge, practises and culture embedded into the community,” said Mark Ayyash, assistant professor of sociology. Commission members, Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chief Wilton Littlechild and Dr. Marie Wilson, are being recognized for promoting peace and justice while advancing discussions on healing society.

Millions of dollars sitting unused in Alberta’s Victims of Crime fund

February 10, 2016. The auditor general has identified $56 million sitting untouched in Alberta’s Victims of Crime fund. In his report released Wednesday, Auditor General Merwan Saher said, “Opportunities to improve the lives of Albertans are missing if cash continues to accumulate, earning low returns, with no strategic direction on how to proceed.” A portion of the compensation for the Alberta Child Welfare Class Action Settlement – which compensates individuals abused while in government care prior to 2008 – is to come from the VOC fund. Those victims, who fall outside of the VOC compensation timeline, are to be addressed through $7.5 million the province was directed by the court to set aside. However, that settlement does not include funding for holistic services for healing for the abused individuals. Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley says her department is working on a plan to identify service gaps and goals and how the VOC surplus can be best used.

Trudeau, premiers to meet with Indigenous leaders over climate change

February 10, 2016. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he and the premiers will meet with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis leaders on March 2 in Vancouver. The meeting is part of the follow up to the commitments made on climate change last year in Paris. The discussion will focus on the opportunity for Canada to become a leader in the global clean growth economy, and to responsibly deliver on climate commitments while benefiting Canadians. “Canada’s Indigenous peoples have a sacred relationship with the Earth. Their unique perspective will help guide us in developing policies that ensure our land, air and water are protected for future generations,” said Trudeau in a statement. Building off the discussions with Indigenous leaders, the First Ministers’ Meeting on March 3 will focus on developing a pan-Canadian framework to grow the economy while also reducing emissions.