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Statistics Canada data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) revealed higher proportions of young Aboriginal children are growing up in large families raised by young parents compared with non-Aboriginal children.
This and other relevant information was released today by Statistics Canada which developed the survey with Aboriginal advisors from across the country.
Darren Bernhardt report in The StarPhoenix that hundreds gathered on Monday evening for the showing of a film about Saskatoon's notorious 'Starlight Tours' about allegations some members of the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) dropped Aboriginal men on the city's outskirts in the middle of winter.
"In 2000, Darrell Night said officers left him on the southwest fringe of town to walk back in -25 C conditions.He filed his complaint when he heard two other aboriginal men, Lawrence Wegner and Rodney Naistus, were found frozen to death in the same area.
That prompted an investigation of the 1990 death of Neil Stonechild, 17, whose body was found on the city's northern edge. Two police constables were fired when a 2003 - 04 commission of inquiry into Stonechild's death found they had the aboriginal teen in custody on Nov. 24, 1990, the night he was last seen alive..."
Information package on the film Out in the Cold which had a special screening on October 27, 2008 at the Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon.
The Whitecap Dakota First Nation becomes the 92nd Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) partner in order to secure the they need for their current and future economic development. The AED program is geared toward including the largely untapped First Nations and Métis workforce into Saskatchewan's growing economy.
Bill Curry reports in The Globe and Mail that the Federal government is mapping burial sites at former residential schools as researchers try to find out how many thousands of Aboriginal children who went missing from the schools are buried in unmarked graves.
See also: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials: Research Recommendations
Premier Brad Wall announced the appointment of Ron Crowe to Deputy Minister at the Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations. Mr. Crowe's past positions include service with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the File Hills Qu'Applle Tribal Council.
The Ecumenical Working Group on Residential Schools has issued the following statement:
"The Anglican, Presbyterian, and United churches, and 51 Roman Catholic entities, who are all parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, today expressed regret over the resignation of Justice Harry LaForme while affirming their confidence in Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners Claudette Dumont-Smith and Jane Brewin Morley."
Donalee Moulton reports in The Lawyers Weekly* that an Aboriginal claim for class action certification will not proceed in the the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal. The claimants were seeking creation of bands with reserves and there is a fundamental premise "that the discretion to establish new bands lies with the Governor in Council, not with the courts".
See Davis v. Canada (Attorney General), [2008] Newfoundland Judgments No. 280
* Vol. 24, No. 24, October 24, 2008 at page 3; "Aboriginal class action request loses at Nfld. appeal court".
Lieutenant Governor Gordon Barnhart announced the names of eight recipients of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Among the individuals chosen is Elder Antoine (Tony) Cote, an active leader in the Saskatchewan First Nations community and a role model for First Nations youth.
Ali Symons reports on archivist Ted Wickson's research into residential school research in general synod archives of the Anglican Church of Canada.
It was hoped that some of the material Mr. Wickson worked on could be used in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Ken Krawetz announced funding of over $2 million for 13 communities under the SaskSmart Innovations Fund. Three of these grants focus on Aboriginal literacy initiatives. All of the applications selected include a component to support meeting the needs of First Nations and Métis community members.
CBC news reports that one of the Indian Residential School Commissioners, Claudette Dumont-Smith, says that the Commission was not to be hierarchal in nature.
Marites N. Sison reports that various groups including the Anglican Church of Canada have expressed concern that the resignation on Oct. 20 of Justice Harry LaForme as chair of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Indigenous Diplomacy and The Rights of Peoples: Achieving UN Recognition written by James (Sa’ke’j) Youngblood Henderson has just been released by Purich Publishing Co. of Saskatoon. The book is based on personal experience and discusses what must be done to give the "Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" full force for Indigenous peoples around the world and what it means to Canada.
CBC reports that the former Ontario Appeal Court Judge and Chairman of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission has resigned due to major differences between himself and the two commissioners.
Saskatchewan First Nations and Mé Relations Minister June Draude announces Canada Safeway as the newest Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) partner. The company, with 1,644 full and part time employees at 15 stores in Saskatchewan estimates it will need an additional 600 new employees to fill positions in the next three years.
Dr. Alan Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced that Dr. Malcolm King, a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation is the incoming Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Aboriginal People's Health (CIHR-IAPH) effective January 1, 2009.
The Saskatchewan Minister of Health, Don McMorris announced a $50,000 capital grant to pay for a new office for the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) in Saskatoon. The CUMFI offers health, wellness nutrition, and addictions counselling. The new office is located at 315 Avenue M South.
Leanne M. Bellegarde reports on Aboriginal initiatives in the Bachelor of Commerce four year degree program at the U of S.
Prince Albert Mayor Jim Scarrow and First Nations and Métis Relations Minister June Draude signed an Aboriginal Employment Development agreement commits the city and province to work together to reduce barriers and open the workplace for increased First Nations and Mé participation.
Marites N. Sison of the Anglican Journal reports that a Toronto Aboriginal group has launched it own community based truth commission.
"Saying that the activation of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been slow and a lot of former students are dying, a Toronto-based aboriginal group has launched its own community-based version of the commission..."
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=cf9d9f7e-6384-4e90-9422-456265c29b13Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris announced additional one-time provincial funding to assist the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) with collective agreement ratification costs plus an additional $400,000 to conduct a strategic and operational review that will support FNUC long-term sustainability and accountability.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations welcomed seven Saskatchewan Regional Colleges into the Aboriginal Employment http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=edeec93c-b13f-40fa-a4d8-d23b7cf7034b Development (AED) partnership. The initiative is aimed on bringing under-trained and largely untapped First Nations and Métis workforce into play to support Saskatchewan's growing economy.
The case Wii'litswx v. British Columbia argues that the province failed to consult and accommodate this First Nation in the course of replacing forest licences.
This case is also mentioned in The Lawyers Weekly September 19, 2008 at page 16.
