Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Jan. 7, 2016

(From left) McMurray Metis executive Vice President Bill Louttit and President Gail Gaillups with new general manager Daniel Stuckless and outgoing GM Kyle Harrietha. (Photo: supplied)

McMurray Metis hires new GM

January 6, 2016. Daniel Stuckless is the new general manager for McMurray Metis. Stuckless has spent the past five years as the Fort McKay First Nation senior manager for environment and regulatory. Prior to that he served as a project manager with the Fort McKay Industry Relations Corporation and as a program manager with the Cumulative Environmental Management Association. "Daniel begins his tenure as General Manager at a time when we have new Governments elected at the provincial and national level along with advancement of important litigation related to Métis rights. It’s more important than ever that we have the administrative capacity and experienced leadership required to continue to move our organization forward in cooperation with our Wood Buffalo Métis partners and the Métis Nation of Alberta,” said Vice President Bill Louttit. Former GM Kyle Harrietha is moving on to Ottawa to serve as director of parliamentary affairs for environment and climate change minister Catherine McKenna.

Dorey to engage grassroots in Edmonton

January 6, 2016. Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Dwight Dorey will be in Edmonton on Jan. 14 as part of the National Grassroots Engagement Tour. The event is an opportunity for Indigenous peoples living off-reserve and in urban areas to share their views on matters most important to them. Dorey, newly elected to head CAP, hopes to encourage a local affiliate from Alberta to join CAP. In an earlier interview with Sweetgrass, Dorey said his first step to strengthening the organization’s profile would be to rebuild by adding more provincial and territorial affiliates. Dorey also said he would like to see provinces have more than a single representative in CAP.

Charges laid in stabbing incident in Rocky Mountain House

January 6, 2016. Keith Beaverbones, 23, and a 16-year-old youth, both of the O’Chiese First Nation, appeared in Rocky Mountain House court Wednesday in relation to a stabbing incident on Jan. 4 in Rocky Mountain House, in which three people were injured. Beaverbones has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault. The unnamed youth has been charged with one count of assault with a weapon and two breaches of a probation order. Two of the stabbing victims were been transported to local area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries and the other victim was released on scene.

Warrant issued in homicide investigation

January 7, 2016.  Edmonton RCMP Major Crime Unit and High Prairie RCMP detachment have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jesse Prestly Laboucan, 20, of Atikameg. Laboucan is charged in the July 29, 2015, murder of Ryan Ellefson, 20. Ellefson was found unconscious outside of the Esso gas station and convenience store in High Prairie. He was transported to hospital and died of his injuries. Laboucan is believed to be in the High Level area and police are presently searching for him. RCMP believe Laboucan is aware that he is wanted and is actively avoiding capture. Laboucan frequents the areas of High Level, Hay River, Peace River, Grande Prairie, High Prairie and Slave Lake.