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The Four Host First Nations (FHFN) and organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver are organizing a gathering that will bring together selected First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth from across Canada to participate and perform in Games and cultural activities.
See the application form for more information.
FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph announced that aboriginal leaders want responsibility for gaming on reserves, and hopes to work with the province in lobbying Ottawa to recognize First Nation jurisdiction over gaming.
Statistics Canada has released the Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2006: Public Use Microdata File (Children and Youth).
The file provides data on the socio-economic conditions of First Nations children and youth living off reserve, Metis and Inuit. The main focuses were on issues regarding health, language, employment, income, schooling, housing, and mobility for children and youth (6 to 14 years old).
Please note that this is free for educational institutions who are part of the data liberation initiative.
The Sudbury Star newspaper is reporting that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Education.
The article states that the final agreement will aid the capacity of the Nation and all Métis in the province because it will acknowledge the distinct identity and culture of the Métis people.
See also: MNO-Ontario Framework Agreement Takes Another Step Forward.
A cause for canonization has been submitted to the Vatican for Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic patron of the environment and ecology. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be proclaimed as Blessed. Read more about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha at the following sites:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=154
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12356
http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Kateri:Tekakwitha.html
HIV-positive woman, Lana Bear, shares her life and her illness hoping to make others understand HIV, learn from her mistakes, and perhaps gain more respect from within her community.
The deadline for the Multicultural Initiatives Fund - Projects (including First Nations and Métis initiatives and activities) provided by Sask Culture is Sept. 15. Please see the link at: http://www.saskculture.sk.ca/funding/MIF.htm
David Akin of Canwest News Services reports on the Prime Minister's announcement regarding funding for Northern Economic Development.
Four competitors have joined the election for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations chief. Housing, clean drinking water, duty to consult, economy, education, and health services are just some of the issues the candidates will be facing.
Now that Métis Nation-Saskatchewan has cleared up their 1.8 million dollar debt, they have a clear path towards dealing with unfilled promises of a land base for the Métis Nation.
Over ten years ago, agreements were made during the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) meetings that set out more equal educational opportunities for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth. The policy has shown to have had limited to mixed to no success.
Gary McLean and others have filed a $15 billion lawsuit in Manitoba pressing for compensation from the federal government. The approximately 70,000 aboriginal day school students across Canada were excluded from the formal apology and compensation package from the federal government last year because they went home at night.
Donald Marshall, the 55 year old native activist who was at the centre of one the most significant legal cases involving native hunting, fishing and gathering has died. A 1999 Supreme Court of Canada ruling upheld a centuries-old treaty governing those rights. He also spent 11 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder in a case where the conviction was overturned, a royal commission into the case found that Marshall was a victim of racism and incompetence.
National Aboriginal leaders and Canada's premiers will sit down in Regina to discuss pandemic planning. One issue to be raised is jurisdictional issues which has seen aboriginals fall through the cracks and not receive sufficient care.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Lawrence Joseph announced Tuesday that he will be seeking re-election this fall.
Shawn Atleo, the new head of the Assembly of First Nations needs help to implement change according to Doug Cuthand, columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. He can't create legislation, collect or hand out money. He needs support from the Chiefs to effect change.
Yesterday, the Federal Government announced support for a bio-energy project with the Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB) and the City of Merritt, British Columbia. The study funding will determine the best method for establishing a bio-energy and/or commercial pellet plant in the Nicola Valley. "A pellet mill would use vast quantities of trees that have been killed by the pine beetle and turn them into a new fuel source..."
