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Heather Polischuk reports in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix on a protest in Treaty 4 territory (near Regina) on HIghway 1 regarding the Waschuk Pipeline construction compound.
"The pipeline is being expanded throughout this territory, throughout our territories, and we feel that we're banding together with the Treaty 6 First Nations and northwest Saskatchewan and we're taking the days of action here."
The Copenhagen Post reports that the founder of Greenland's Social Democrats has died. Mr. Moses Olsen was instrumental in pushing for a more independent Greenland.
"In 1977 he founded the social democratic party Siumut with Lars Emil Johansen and Jonathan Motzfeldt. Two years later Greenland was granted home rule in the Kingdom of Denmark."
CBC news reports that Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams announced an agreement with Labrador's Innu over a proposed hydroelectric megaproject.
Mary Moszynski of Times & Transcript Staff reports that education ministers are vowing to close the gap between Aboriginal students and non-Aboriginal students.
CBC reports that Charlie Evalik of Cambridge Bay is again president of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
SaskEnergy announces a new $350,00 sponsorship to assist Aboriginal students at the University of Saskatchewan. This is in addition to a five-year $525,000 scholarship commitment divided between the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, the Gabriel Dumont Institute and Dumont Institute, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST).
Saskatchewan Education Minister Ken Krawetz announced $17 million in government funding for a $22 million significant addition and renovation to the Churchill Community High School in La Ronge. The project will see the replacement of the school first constructed in 1964 plus a 1750 square meter addition. The project is expected to break ground in 2009.
Elise Stolte of the Edmonton Journal reports that Métis leaders and Aboriginal Relations Minister Zwozdesky have signed an $18 million dollar funding agreement.
The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC), Saskatchewan Ministry of Education and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (FSIN) signed an agreement to extend teaching treaties from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The agreement was signed on the 134th anniversary of Treaty 4 being signed on September 15, 1874.
At the Snuneymuxw First Nation the Qwam Qwum Stalicut School is squeezed for space and teachers are not being paid as well as their counterparts in the provincial system. Because reviews are done every five years rather than annually, many needs builds up over time and without the support of funds by the First Nation the school may not have survived. The First Nations feels there is at present no meaningful way of adequately funding education for schools.
Nipissing First Nation's 20th Anniversary traditional Powwow was themed "Return to the Language" and was held at the Jocko Point Traditional Grounds. The Powwow has become the largest cultural event in the area and this year drew more than 3,000 people. The community felt it was important to acknowledge the language carriers and so with the support of Elders and language programs in Nipissing Muriel Sawyer was honoured for her attempts to revitalize Anishinaabemowin --the Ojibwa language.
There is a court case about the duty to consult where there was an appeal; arguing that the Yukon government failed to comply with this duty, and the appeal was allowed.
The court case is: Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation v. Yukon (Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, [2008] Yukon Judgments No. 55.
This court case is also mentioned in The Lawyers Weekly Vol. 28, No. 18 September 12, 2008 at page 19.
Some Muskeg Lake Cree Band members set up a protest Tuesday to demand answers from their leaders. Although a vote was made on three items : a Tim Horton's franchise, refinancing of a storage facility the band owns, and a proposal to take out a $10-million loan for a new health care centre, members are being asked to vote again. Protestors are asking for more transparency and are inquiring about the financial stability of the Band.
Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd.'s president Kim Tyler recieves an award commemorating its business relationship with Treaty No. 3 First Nation in regards to the devlopment of a nickel-copper mine in Northwesting Ontario.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Lawrence Joseph is asking that a public inquiry be held into the use of force by police in the province. Chief Lawrence Joseph cited eight cases in which aboriginal people were shoot or injured by police in the past ten months, with five of those being fatal. In the latest occurrence at Clearwater River Dene First Nation, leaders and members are watching the investigation being conducted and may then consider further action, be it public inquest or legal action.
Indian and Northern Affairs has announced funding of $50,000 for Aboriginal House, at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, to provide support and services to Aboriginal students enrolled in undergraduate studies.
See also Unversity of Manitoba's Funding for Aboriginal House.
The Lawyers Weekly* reported on the Yellowbird v. Samson Cree Nation case which upheld the decision that members of the first nation were entitled to per capital distributions from the date that their names were added to the membership list.
*The Lawyers Weekly August 29, 2008 "Digest" at page 16 under Aboriginal Law.
