Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - March 1, 2016

First graduating class of new environmental monitoring program

(Photo: Shari Narine)

February 29, 2016. Fifteen students from eight First Nation and Métis communities along with staff celebrated the completion of a five-week long course focused on safety, surface water quality monitoring and wildlife monitoring. The Environmental Monitoring Training Program for First Nations and Métis communities in northeastern Alberta is the result of a partnership between Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency, Aboriginal communities and companies, government and industry. The training program is among the first initiatives of a new network that is increasing Aboriginal participation in the environmental services industry in fields such as environmental monitoring, climate change, reclamation and forestry.

Indigenous youth gather for trades conference

March 1, 2016. Indigenous youth will be meeting Tuesday through to the Thursday at the Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall for Pathways 2016: Gathering our Nations’ Youth for Trades. The national conference exposes youth (ages 16-30) to information and resources about careers in the trades. It is an opportunity for youth to educate themselves on what constitutes a trade, what the educational paths are to learning a trade, and what types of businesses hire skilled tradespeople. Keynote speakers are Edmonton local professional boxer and MMA fighter, Ryan ‘The Real Deal’ Ford and Q-Mack, basketball entertainer from Brantford, Ont. They will deliver motivational, anti-bullying, and goal setting messages. Pathways will help Indigenous youth form new relationships, eliminate barriers between them and a career in the trades, and provide opportunities they previously weren’t aware of, said conference manager Karen McCarthy.

Community engagement workshop

March 1, 2016. Metis artist Destiny Swiderski will be leading a public art community workshop on Sunday. Participants will help create mosaic bird drawings for the Beaver Hills House Park wall, located in the Alley of Light, in Edmonton. A brief introduction of storytelling through Aboriginal textiles and patterns will help provide inspiration, and the final drawings will then be etched onto weathered steel to be permanently displayed as part of the public art in downtown Edmonton. Participants will be acknowledged on a plaque as part of the project. Swiderski’s most recent local public work is Milled Wood, located at the newly constructed Mill Woods Seniors Centre and Multicultural Facility in Edmonton. The mural captures the essence of what it feels like to be surrounded by nature.  Aspen and birch trees come to life with a path that leads the viewer into the forest. 

MNA begins registration drive

March 1, 2016. During March, the Metis Nation of Alberta registry department will be visiting communities across the province as part of a membership drive. Among the documentation prospective applicants must provide are a completed family tree (dating back to the mid-1800s) and birth certificates. The registry department will be stopping in Lloydminster (March 10), Vermilion (March 11), St. Paul (March 12), Calgary (March 12), Edson (March 17), Hinton (March 18), High Level (March 18), Grande Cache (March 19), and High Prairie (March 31).

Parties select candidates for Calgary-Greenway by-election

March 1, 2016. Candidates are in place for the March 22 Calgary-Greenway by-election. Contesting the seat are Thana Boonlert (Green), Prabhdeep Gill (PC), Khalil Karbani (Liberals), Roop Rai (NDP) and Devinder Toor (Wildrose). Wildrose leader Brian Jean is urging Premier Rachel Notley to maintain her election promise to not use government resources – including favourable announcements – to influence voters during the by-election. The seat was won by PC incumbent Manmeet Bhullar in the May 2015 general election. Bhullar, 35, was killed in a traffic accident in November. Advance polls run from March 16-19. There are 28,278 electors registered.