Windspeaker news briefs

THE CHIEFS OF ONTARIO
honoured Sam George at a gala and benefit concert held Nov. 19 during their Special Chiefs Assembly in Toronto. Sam George was lauded for his work in seeking justice for his brother Dudley George and the community of Kettle and Stony Point. Dudley was shot by a police officer while involved in a land protest at Ipperwash Park in 1995.
"Sam George has set the greatest example for us in the struggle to see justice," said Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. George pursued justice for Dudley by every means possible until government finally agreed to establish an inquiry to examine the shooting death. The result of the inquiry was a four-volume report that included 100 recommendations designed to bring positive change in Ontario. George was recently diagnosed with cancer and in an effort to support George and his family, the funds raised from the event will be used to offset medical costs. The gala event included a silent auction, appreciation dinner and benefit concert hosted by Carla Robinson.
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OSCAR LATHLIN, MANITOBA'S ABORIGINAL
and Northern Affairs minister, passed away in the early hours of Nov. 7 after being rushed to a hospital near his cottage at Clearwater Lake, north of The Pas. He was 61. He had been suffering from respiratory illness for a long time, but his condition had worsened over the last 18 months, colleagues in the legislative assembly reported. Lathlin was born and raised at Opaskwayak Cree Nation and worked a trapline from the age of 12 after his father passed away. He served for a time as chief of Opaskwayak, and was elected MLA of the area in 1990. He is survived by a son and daughter and his wife Leona.
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THE 42-MEMBER ANISHINABEK NATIONS
and Ontario's Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs have signed an agreement establishing a protocol roundtable that is designed to strengthen the Anishinabek relationship with the provincial government. The agreement was signed at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation on Nov. 12. Health and social issues, education, lands, resources and environment, government relations and communications are the broad subject areas that the table will tackle.
"As we work towards self-government, there will always be a need for First Nations to maintain good working relationships with Ontario. This roundtable process will allow us to formally track and implement our joint work plans," said Grand Chief John Beaucage. The Anishinabek Nation has similar agreements with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that led to the establishment of the Anishinabek-Ontario Resource Management Council and the Anishinabek-Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre.
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METIS WRITER JOSEPH BOYDEN,
author of the acclaimed novel Three Day Road, has won the Scotiabank Giller Prize for fiction for his novel Through Black Spruce, a story of a Cree woman and her search for her missing sister. The Canadian literary award comes with membership to an elite group of writers, including Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro and Mordecai Richler and a $50,000 payday. The award was announced at a gala event held in Toronto on Nov. 11.
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ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS
regional chief for British Columbia, Shawn Atleo, has said he is willing and ready to accept a nomination to run for the position of national chief when that race opens in May 2009. Atleo said that he has been approached by many chiefs and elders from across the country who told him they would support his candidacy. Atleo returned to his community of Ahousaht to seek their support before making the announcement. Atleo is in the final year of two terms as a regional chief and decided he would not run for the position again. The election will take place in Calgary in July at the AFN's annual general meeting.

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