The first aboriginal seniors residence in Winnipeg opens in December. The 32 unit assisted living facility, to be called KeKiNan- Cree for "our home", will offer elders, 55 years and older, traditional ceremonies as part of their programming.
Progressive Indian Band , of approximately 450 members, has created social and employment opportunities for their members, and others in the community, through the development of business opportunities in the South Okanagan Region. Some of the businesses include a golf course, winery and a four-star resort.
The Canadian Aboriginal Festival, November 27th-29th, 2009, held at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton Ontario, is North America's largest multi-disciplined Aboriginal arts event, and their is something for everyone including shopping, food, dancing, lacrosse, contemporary music and much more.
Funding provided through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) Innovation Fund will enable the Rocky Mountain Nakoda Centre for Language and Culture Preservation to digitize archives of interviews with Elders of the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
Nearly three years ago more than 5,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled and contaminated Welcome Bay, near Wollaston Lake. The Hatchet Lake Denesulin First Nation pleaded guilty to the charges and are expected to pay $50,000 in fines.
Health Canada has release a report on the number, duration and origin of drinking water advisories at First Nations communities during the 1995-2007 time period. Trends and seasonal variability are also examined.
On November 25, 2009 the President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, called for an end to violence against all women. November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and also the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an international campaign that runs until December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
Through the Government of Canada's Community Development Internship Project, the Athabasca Tribal Council will receive $1,480,898 to assist 40 Aboriginal youth in the Wood Buffalo region to gain skills needed to participate in the labour market.
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians has announced funding totalling $763,000 that will assist the Yukon Territory adapt to climate change. The four different projects will be done in partnership with the Council of Yukon First Nations, Yukon College, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and the Government of Yukon's departments of Environment, Energy Mines and Resources, and Highways and Public Works.
Muscowpetung First Nation, northeast of Regina prevailed as the community having the greatest seatbelt usage rate increase in SGI's (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) 2009 Seatbelt Challenge and will receive up to $50,000 for traffic safety improvements in its community. Muscowpetung increased its seatbelt use rate by 132%, more than double its previous usage rate.
Eleven years after being initially convicted of illegally digging clams, Jackie Vautour, who is now 80 years old, was back in a Moncton courtroom to argue that his constitutional rights, as a Métis, have been overlooked by the justice system. In a case that basically questions the existence of Métis in Atlantic Canada, Vautour claims that as a Métis he should be allowed to follow the traditional practice of living off the land.
The House of Commons Board of Internal Economy, which oversees administration of Parliament's operations has decided to add seal meat to the menu at the restaurant on Parliament Hill as a way of showing support for the commercial seal hunt. The meat should start to appear on the menu in early spring 2010.
The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), which represents Inuit in Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland has released a six-point "call to global leaders", less than three weeks before the Copenhagen climate change talks set for, December 7 to 19. Jimmy Stotts, president of the ICC, argues that there's no time to lose in dealing with the climate change issue.
A joint seminar will discuss the current ecological context, look at Maori and Cree perspectives on the ecology of "full community," and introduce the international Network for Indigenous and Intercultural Development and its potential relevance to ecological well-being. The seminar will draw from the personal journeys and community works of Lewis Williams and Rose Roberts.
When: November 27, 2009 - 10-11am
Where: SaskTel Lecture Theatre, Royal University Hospital
The Governments of Canada and Quebec, in partnership with Aboriginal and private sector partners, are providing employment training in the construction industry. Through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program, 510 Aboriginal people will receive experience and training, to enable them to more easily participate in the labour force.
The Aboriginal Community/Business Advisory Committee of the Long Range Economic Development Corporation organized an Aboriginal Business Gala on Saturday, November 14, to recognize the contributions of aboriginal businesses in the Port au Port, Bay St. George and Burgeo areas of western Newfoundland.
Saskatchewan Minister responsible for The Cemeteries Act, Don Morgan, has requested a former Register of Cemeteries, Al Dwyer, to convene a working group to seek ways to increase community involvement in the care and maintenance of local, non-commercial cemeteries. The working group is to report back with recommendations to the Minister sometime in 2010.
The Government of Canada, through its Canadian Studies Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, is supporting the creation of a documentary on the history and development of Indian Residential Schools. First Voice Multimedia has received $50,000 from the Canadian Studies Program which supports efforts to increase Canadians' knowledge about Canada.
The Government of Canada, through its Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund, is investing $320,749 with the North Island Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Aboriginal Management Society. The project will provide skills and training to 24 individuals in order to help them secure jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The N'Swakomok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury initiated the Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program, which aims to assist community members improve their overall health and enhance the leadership ability of youth.
The Supreme Court of Canada started hearing arguments Thursday between the Yukon Government and the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation. At issue is duty to consult in regards to granting a 65 hectare agricultural land lease to a prospective farmer in 2004. Yukon government lawyers are joined by the federal government and several provincial governments. The Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation is backed by a number of aboriginal groups across the country.
Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris, announced the members of a new addictions advisory committee to guide the creation of a new provincial addictions agency. Members of the committee include, Shauna Lafontaine, Executive Director, Métis Addiction Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) and Bev Whitehawk, Director of Primary Health Care, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).
A group of students, from different faculties at the University of Alberta, have received $137,000 over two years from Health Canada's Federal Tobacco Control Strategy to help prevent smoking in aboriginal youth. The group, all of whom have an aboriginal background, have worked out a program that fits with the First Nations culture.
A building site in the Victoria, British Columbia suburb of Saanich, where a new home is being built, has uncovered the remains of an 18 year old aboriginal person or persons. The Songhees First Nations will take possession of the bones.
On the occasion of Remembrance Day a presentation is offered from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) on the contributions of Aboriginal Canadians during wartime. Approximately 7,000 Aboriginal peoples served during the 20th century's World Wars and the Korean War.
Marie Fontaine of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba has won the second largest lottery prize ever awarded in Canada.
On Monday, November 9, Saskatchewan Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer announced a review of the child welfare system in the province. Approximately 70% of Saskatchewan children in the child welfare system are First Nations, therefore extensive consultations are being planned with First Nations and Métis organizations.
Canada Research Chair
In her report tabled yesterday in the House of Commons, the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, stated that Provincial and municipal regulations and zoning laws that protect communities off reserves do not apply on First Nation reserve lands.
Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Canadian national Inuit organization, spoke yesterday in Charlottetown delivering the 7th Symons Lecture on the State of Canadian Confederation. She stated that Arctic sovereignty means more than military investments. She stated that it also requires the creation of sustainable communities.
On October 28 Statistics Canada released the publication, Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada. Within this website are two articles:
The Hon. Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development issued a congratulatory statement to Guy Lonechild on his election as Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).
The Hon. Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, issued a condolence statement on the passing of Edward Head, who died October 27, 2009. Mr. Head was the founder of the Manitoba Métis Federation.
Research presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress showed that the rate of hypertension among the Inuit of Northern Quebec has doubled to 12% from 6%. Included in these findings is the fact that blood pressure rates are rising steadily almost to levels identical to that of other Canadians.
