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THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services was named a member of the Order of Canada on Nov. 17. “Joan Glode is a proud member of the Mi’kmaq First Nation community of Acadia,” said Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. “She has dedicated her life in helping Aboriginal families and children.” He said Gloade has helped many people in Nova Scotia and the organization is viewed as one of the best in the country. “Joan is a leader in applying culture, traditional knowledge and traditional healing methods to social services in communities.
On behalf of the Assembly of First Nations, we congratulate her and salute her courage and resolve in protecting and advocating for our families and children.” Gloade is also vice-president of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. She has also provided her experience to the Halifax Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Center and the Native Mental Health Association of Canada. She was the first Mi’kmaq woman in Nova Scotia to receive a Master of Social Work degree. In 2009, she received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.
NATIONAL CHIEF SHAWN A-IN-CHUT ATLEO
and Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) President Jeanette Corbiere Lavell have stated their continued support for the Sisters in Spirit campaign and the need for a national action plan to end violence against Indigenous women in Canada. Atleo and Corbiere Lavell met Nov. 19 to discuss issues of mutual priority, including action on missing and murdered women and the future of the Sisters in Spirit campaign. “I have stood with NWAC at vigils and in meetings with the premiers and territorial leaders to call for action, as have members of the AFN Women’s Council,” said Atleo. “Any initiatives on this important matter must be done in collaboration with Aboriginal and women’s groups, and include the voices of families and communities across Canada – something the Sisters in Spirit campaign was successful in doing.” Funding for the campaign was not included in the 2010 federal budget.
“This message is not simply about funding, but about engaging the people impacted by violence against Aboriginal women and more specifically, creating the opportunity for families who lost loved ones to have their voices heard,” said Corbiere Lavell. “The leaders, experts, and champions of change for Sisters in Spirit, are the many women, men, and children who have lost a loved one. Regardless of whether their sister, their mother, their daughter, or their friend has gone missing or was found murdered, they are left with too many questions, many of which will never be answered.”
ON NOV. 17, CHILDREN, FIRST NATION
leaders, educators and human rights activists gathered in Ottawa to honor the memory of Shannen Koostachin from Attawapiskat First Nation, Ont. who was just 15 years old when she died in a car accident this spring. Koostachin was known for her persistence and courage in her fight to have a school built in her community and a quality education provided to her and the children of Attawapiskat. Shannen was only 13 years old when she led a group of students from her isolated James Bay community to Ottawa to ask the federal government why they had broken its promise to build the children a proper school. In doing so she put the issue of the systemic underfunding of First Nation schools and education on the national agenda. As a legacy to the memory of the young woman, the Shannen’s Dream campaign was launched. The campaign calls on the federal government to close the gap in funding for on reserve schools and education so First Nations children have the same opportunity to learn as non-Aboriginal children in off reserve schools.
Member of Parliament Charlie Angus said “This young woman had moxy and determination.” Shannen invited thousands of non-Aboriginal children to write letters to the federal government to demand proper schools and equitable education for all First Nations children, and thousands of non-Aboriginal children answered the call. Shannen helped to inspire one of the largest child-driven, child’s rights movement in Canadian history.
“She made other children believe that if they stood up they too could make a difference,” Angus said.
Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, added “All she wanted is the same opportunity to learn as other children. That is not too much to ask.”
Visit http://www.fncfcs.com/shannensdream for details about the campaign.
THE CALGARY HERALD
is reporting that the Stoney Nakoda Nation in Alberta has lodged a complaint with the judicial council against Judge John Reilly saying he is interfering with band issues. Problems stem from the judge’s recently published book, Bad Medicine, which, according to the complaint, brings “Stoney Nakoda leadership and processes into disrepute.”
Three bands make up the Stoney Nakoda Nation. At Bearspaw, the leadership is in a dispute with some of its members over a two-year postponement in its election, and Stoney lawyer Douglas Rae says the governance issues raised in Bad Medicine come at a time when an election is scheduled for the Wesley band. The band went so far as to ask the judicial council to block the publication of the book. “Judge Reilly, without cause or jurisdiction, has used his position to interfere with this democratic process,” the complaint reads. Reilly retired in 2008, but fills in on occasion. He doesn’t believe the judicial council has any jurisdiction over him in regard to the statements in the book.
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