Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Oct. 2

Government ministers to address Aboriginal education symposium

October 2, 2015. David Eggen, minister of education, and Kathleen Ganley, minister of Aboriginal relations, will be delivering brief statements on Oct. 8 at the first annual First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Symposium. The FNMI education division of Alberta Education is being joined by the College of Alberta School Superintendents in hosting the symposium, to be held in Edmonton, Oct. 7-9. Participants on the symposium planning committee included representatives from First Nation Education Authorities from each of the three treaty areas and Rupertsland Institute: Métis Centre of Excellence. Dr. Marie Wilson, of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is the keynote speaker on Oct. 8.

Lepine raises concerns water, housing conditions in debate

October 2, 2015. In a candidates’ debate at Holy Trinity High School in Fort McMurray, NDP candidate Melody Lepine spoke about a number of issues, including “ fight(ing) with the government to have running water and housing conditions that can withstand minus-45 weather” on First Nations. Roelof Janssen, of the Christian Heritage Party, responded by saying he was not aware of those issues and that “the Native community should take their own
responsibility very serious. We should not baby them.” Kyle Harrietha, the Liberal candidate, reiterated his party’s commitment to invest $515 million in Aboriginal education. Green Party’s Brian Deheer rounded out the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake candidates in attendance. Once more, Conservative incumbent David Yurdiga missed the debate. On Sept. 30, Yurdiga said his wife was facing a serious medical emergency, and it would impact the number of events he could attend. However, his opponents noted that Yurdiga skipped debates during the 2014 by-election.

October 1, 2015. The National Energy Board will hear oral traditional evidence from Aboriginal intervenors for the Energy East Project in Calgary on Nov. 12 and 13. There are six sessions (as well as remote participation sessions) currently scheduled to gather Aboriginal oral traditional evidence between Nov. 9 and Dec. 15. Aboriginal intervenors, who are not currently scheduled, will have an opportunity in 2016 to provide their oral traditional evidence. The NEB will hear oral traditional evidence from 30 Aboriginal intervenors in 2015 across four provinces and six locations in
addition to those participating remotely. Energy East is a proposal for a 4,600-kilometre pipeline that will carry 1.1-million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada. The NEB is an independent federal regulator with its purpose to regulate pipelines, energy
development and trade in the Canadian public interest and the protection of the environment.