August 2008

On June 25, 2008 Chiefs of the 42 member communities of the Anishinabek Nation, during the annual Grand Council Assembly, endorsed a resolution that labelled the words as "another means of assimilation through the displacement of our First Nation-specific inherent and treaty rights." The Chiefs argue they are First Nations citizens, with different issues than their Metis and Inuit brothers and sisters.
In background news, in May 2008, when the Ontario Government announced an investment described as a New Relationship Fund to support First Nations and Metis communities, Chief Toulouse objected to the fund being set up as an aboriginal fund.

Posted at 08:18 AM | Permalink

Jim Bronskill of The Canadian Press reports that in a discussion paper RCMP are suggesting mentoring and youth training on a massive scale, on the scale on the Marshall Plan that rebuilt postwar Europe.

Posted at 08:55 AM | Permalink

Set up to support the development of effective solutions for the challenges facing First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners, the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre has a multi-dimensional holistic lifelong learning approach. Holistic education here encompasses spiritual, physical, social, emotional and cognitive development aspects. Web site includes themes, conferences,reports and much more.

Posted at 08:13 AM | Permalink

Anne Kyle of the Leader-Post reports that there is a tripartite memorandum of understanding on First Nations health signed by Tony Clement, Don McMorris and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

Posted at 08:13 AM | Permalink

Purich Publishing and select contributors to the Conference have provided copyright permissions for their papers from the out-of-print proceedings entitled "Continuing Poundmaker and Riel's Quest" to be digitized and are now available in digital format on the iPortal. Some examples include Social Costs of Justice by Con Hnatiuk and On Being a Northern Judge by Claude Fafard.

If there are other publishers with out-of-print books, related to Indigenous Studies, interested in becoming involved in a similar partnership please contact the iPortal Librarian, Deborah Lee, at deborah.lee@usask.ca

Posted at 07:29 AM | Permalink

Doug Cuthand, of The StarPhoenix, comments on the sad, and tragic, case of Dahleen Bosse Muskego; and why there need to be a change in the attitudes towards Aboriginal women.

Posted at 02:20 PM | Permalink

Jennie Punter of The Globe and Mail does an interview about Shane Belcourt and his new film Tkaronto.

Posted at 07:36 PM | Permalink

The Globe and Mail reports that the Gitxsan Band, of British Columbia, has taken out a series of TV ads during the Beijing Olympics to let the world know their side of the Treaty negotiations and why settlement has not been reached.

Posted at 08:35 AM | Permalink

We are sorry to announce the passing of Jacob (Jake) Howard Tootoosis, a well known lawyer, on August 9, 2008.

The StarPhoenix reports that a funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. from the Canoe Lake Gymnasium. The StarPhoenix also reported that Jake Tootoosis did innovative work on Treaty and residential school issues.

Our sympathy to the family at this time of sorrow.

Posted at 12:32 PM | Permalink

The Sakatoon police have charged Douglas Hales, 30, of White Fox, Sask. in the murder of Daleen Kay Bosse. Bosse, an Aboriginal woman, from the Onion Lake First Nation, was 25 when she went missing in 2004, her remains were discovered in a wooded area near Warman, Sask.

Posted at 08:13 AM | Permalink

Doug Cuthand, reports in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, that it is time to move on from the Indian Act. (This was orginally published on Friday, August 8, 2008).

Posted at 10:06 AM | Permalink

Mary Janvier is saddened by the loss of her brother Brian David Martell and heartbroken that her Saulteaux First Nation, located near the Battlefords, has denied her request for a full funeral service on reserve, as her brother had wished for. Chief Sarah Gopher stated that Brian was an affiliate band member and did not qualify for funeral benefits.

Posted at 08:37 AM | Permalink