Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Nov. 9, 2015

RCMP
investigate death of Peerless Lake woman

November
9, 2015. The RCMP is investigating the death of a
35-year-old woman, who died in an Edmonton hospital on Sunday. She was transported from Peerless Lake to Edmonton last Thursday for treatment of serious injuries. Her name has not been released. An autopsy is to be conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Edmonton, the results of which may aid police in determining the exact cause of her injuries. Anyone with information that could assist police in this investigation is asked to call the Red Earth Creek RCMP Detachment at 780-649-3992. Those wishing to remain anonymous are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com.  

November 9, 2015. The City of Calgary is developing a cultural plan and is looking for public input. The plan will examine cultural resources as they currently stand, identify gaps, and plan for future needs and opportunities. Throughout November, citizen input will be solicited in a variety of ways. That input will help the city identify perceptions of culture and its value, as well as to collect ideas and aspirations for Calgary’s cultural future. “As our city and its culture continue to grow and evolve, the development of a cultural plan gives us an opportunity to define what makes Calgary special and how we can improve the quality of life for our rapidly growing and diverse population which includes First Nations people as well as newcomers,” said Sarah Iley, manager of culture. A key issue being addressed by the cultural plan is how Calgary can build capacity to “plan culturally,” meaning how both the city and key partner agencies might better integrate cultural priorities, goals and opportunities across a wide range of planning activities enabling and encouraging considerations of culture to be at the centre of planning initiatives moving forward. The cultural plan for Calgary will support long-term planning, but will also provide specific recommendations and actions to be implemented over the next 10 years.

November 9, 2015. Edmonton Arts Council executive director Paul Moulton has announced his retirement. Moulton has held the position since April 2013, and has contributed extensively to the organization’s success in that time. Under Moulton’s direction, EAC saw in important shift within the organization towards improving equity and cultural diversity, including an emphasis on diverse representation on peer juries, the formation of a board-supported Aboriginal Initiatives Committee, and increased accessibility of EAC funding. The EAC also hosted a gathering for Indigenous artists from across the prairies and announced Alex Janvier as the signature artist for Rogers Place. The EAC supported the participation of 20 local arts organizations in New Pathways, a training and immersion program led by arts consulting agency EmcArts. Services at TIX on the Square, EAC’s not-for-profit box office and store, were expanded and improved. Moulton’s last day at the EAC will be Dec. 31. The EAC board will announce recruitment plans in the New Year. 

November 9, 2015. As the City of Edmonton begins its budget considerations RISE wants to ensure that reconciliation receives a long term financial commitment. In addition to verbal commitments to reconciliation from Mayor Don Iveson, there needs to be dedicated resources to making it happen, says the organization in an email. The three-year operating budget being considered by council includes $250,000 to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action that are directed at municipalities, but recommends that an additional request of $558,000 annually does not get funded. “Is piecemeal funding for reconciliation okay with you?” asks RISE. The organization is encouraging people to speak out in a joint effort to “share our message of reconciliation directly with city council” during a public hearing on the budget on Nov. 23. RISE, or Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton, is a group of citizens that are working toward educating, reconciling and making a change in Edmonton.

November 5, 2015. After five months of submissions, MNP Operation Blue Sky Challenge has selected three winning projects. The challenge was an Aboriginal health initiative and competition to inspire problem-solvers to generate cost-effective ideas to combat Aboriginal health care challenges. MNP funded three prizes based on the most innovative, creative ideas and implementable plans. First place and $25,000 went to Walk With Me Suicide Bereavement Workshop by the Centre for Suicide Prevention (in Calgary), a workshop that integrates a facilitated process to help communities understand their grief responses, gain strength to move forward and effectively integrate protective and preventative factors into their communities. Second place and $5,000 went to Jennifer Leason’s Teepee Teaching Prenatal Program, which incorporates Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Systems with contemporary prenatal health programming. The People's Choice prize of $5,000 was earned by Drawing Wisdom from the Well by Jada-Gabrielle Pape and Hello Cool World, a project idea promoting a culturally relevant approach to connecting communities across the country with a focus on wellness. There were 65 submissions in total. "Although Aboriginal health has improved in recent years, First Nations, Inuit and Métis people continue to experience considerably lower health outcomes than other Canadians. We're hoping that challenges like Operation Blue Sky will continue to promote ideas and dialogue," said Clayton Norris, vice president, Aboriginal services at MNP. MNP is one of the largest accounting and business consulting firms in Canada, providing client-focused accounting, taxation and consulting advice. Its headquarters are in Calgary.