Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Jan. 3, 2016

Mother charged in beating death of infant

January 3, 2016. Florencine Leandra Potts, 28, was remanded in custody until January charged with the second-degree murder of her son. She made an initial court appearance in Wetaskiwin on Dec. 15. Wetaskiwin Emergency Medical Services responded to a report of a child in distress at a residence on the Samson Cree Nation on Dec. 5.  EMS determined that the 15-month-old boy was deceased at the scene. After an autopsy determining homicide and investigation by RCMP Major Crimes Unit, Potts was charged. The baby and his five siblings were apprehended by the province in August 2014 and placed in the care of three foster families. The children were returned over the objections of the foster parents Oct. 8, just days after their mother had a seventh child. Tim Chander, with the child and youth advocate office, says advocate Del Graff has requested additional file information and if Graff determines systemic issues were involved in the baby’s death, the OCYA will investigate and the results will be made public. The Wildrose Party is pushing Graff to investigate. In a statement issued by the NDP government, Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir said, “There is nothing more tragic and heartbreaking than the death of a child in our care.”

Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Society removes its artifacts from fort

January 3, 2016. The City of Lethbridge has made maintaining a close relationship with First Nations in the operation of Fort Whoop-Up a priority. In a statement released by the city, Director of Community Services Bary Beck said, “Recognizing the importance of maintaining a close connection between our First Nations and Fort Whoop-Up, it would be our expectation that the successful proponent demonstrate the ability to maintain strong relationships with the Aboriginal community. This link is vital to the future success and growth of Fort Whoop-Up.” The Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Society, the fort’s current operator, was invited to submit a proposal to continue its work. However, in light of the call for a new operator, the society, which has important artifacts in the fort, removed those artifacts. Beck said if the society is not successful in maintaining the contract to operate the fort, “they would be welcomed and encouraged to work with the new operator to ensure their artifacts remain displayed at Fort Whoop-Up.” The successful operator will be announced in early 2016.

Crowning of Mrs. Universe captures public attention

January 1, 2016. Among news stories of violence and death, the crowning of the first First Nations Mrs. Universe ranked in the top 10 of CBC Edmonton’s most viewed stories in 2015. Ashley Callingbull-Burnham, 25, from Enoch Cree Nation, was crowned Mrs. Universe in August. Her accomplishment ranked sixth among the news stories that CBC Edmonton says “had the biggest impact” in 2015. The number one story was the sudden and tragic death of PC MLA Manmeet Bhullar on Nov. 24. Other top 10 hits were the deaths of an RCMP officer and an Edmonton police officer in separate shooting incidences; deaths of the two Mac’s store clerks in robbery shootings; deaths of three sisters in a farming accident and two children due to pesticides; a family’s recounting of their son’s suicide; and two separate incidences of camera footage depicting violence during police arrests.

River Cree celebrates New Year in new entertainment facility

December 31, 2015. The River Cree Resort and Casino’s new entertainment centre opened in style New Year’s Eve when it hosted the Fab Four, the ultimate Beatles tribute band. River Cree Enterprises closed its temporary concert facility, The Venue, in March 2015 when an engineering study it commissioned determined that the structure had a building code deficiency. The Venue, a large white tent on the north end of the resort, had hosted concerts and events the previous eight years with no safety issues arising. Work began in June 2015 on the new, larger permanent concert facility. While the entertainment centre is open, work will continue into 2016 on enhancements such as the second level balcony and washrooms. Full and finished completion of all aspects of the facility is planned by the end of March 2016.