December 2009

A recent judicial ruling, "certifying" a class action lawsuit is the first court ruling to address either the epidemic of mould on reserves across Canada, or the issue of who is responsible for providing adequate housing to First Nations, says the lawyer spearheading the case. It came despite a bid by Health Canada to exclude the opinions of one of its own scientists, who has said that some Long Lake First Nation homes were unfit for human habitation.

Posted at 11:50 AM | Permalink

In recognition of, "2010 Year of the Inuit" the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) presents, "A Taste of the Arctic: An Evening Celebrating Inuit Culture". There will be a presentation by Susan Aglukark, a performance by Taqralik Partridge and special guest, Peter Mansbridge. Proceeds benefit the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation.

Posted at 01:38 PM | Permalink

Chief Billy Williams of the Squamish Nation, one of the Four Host First Nations on whose territory the Olympics will take place, was among a group of native leaders who had an advance look at the $6 million Aboriginal Pavilion. It's located in downtown Vancouver, close by are the locations for hockey events and the opening ceremony venues.

Posted at 01:24 PM | Permalink

First Nations Perspectives: The Journal of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre is issuing a call for manuscripts for the 2010 issue of the journal. It is intended to create an interdisciplinary dialogue about First Nations education in Western Canada. The 2010 edition of the journal will be published in the month of May in print and online.

Posted at 11:48 AM | Permalink

The British Columbia Aboriginal Tourism Association is applauding the awarding of Approved Destination Status to Canada by the Government of China, calling the announcement “tremendous news for aboriginal tourism and the revitalization of aboriginal culture in British Columbia.” The change, announced during the recent visit to China by Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to have a major boost to Canada's tourism industry in general, which is adapting to the impact of a higher Canadian dollar, which in turn affects tourism volumes coming from the United States.

Posted at 09:07 AM | Permalink

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty called on the Federal Government Tuesday to reconsider its unwillingness to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Charter on Indigenous Rights in 2007, with only Canada, the US, New Zealand and Australia voting against it.
Australia has recently said it is reconsidering its position.

Posted at 09:24 AM | Permalink

On behalf of all the staff at Indigenous Studies Portal (iPortal), University of Saskatchewan, we hope that all our patrons have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. We look forward to serving you in 2010.

Posted at 08:44 AM | Permalink

Chuck Strahl, Minister for Indian and Northern Affairs has approved funding for a new elementary school for the remote community of Attawapiskat on the shores of James Bay. The school will replace portable classrooms that have been in use since 2000 when the previous school building finally closed due to health concerns stemming from a fuel oil spill in 1979.

Posted at 07:57 AM | Permalink

Members of the Batchewana and Garden River First Nation blocked traffic on the International Bridge in Sault Ste Marie Monday afternoon. The protest was in regards to the Ontario and Federal government Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) plans to eliminate "point of sale" exemptions.

Posted at 02:04 PM | Permalink

The Chief of the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, Glenn Hudson , defended his and the councillors' salaries stating his qualifications, such as possessing an engineering degree and securing the largest First Nations land settlement deal in Canada totalling $190 million. A high-ranking official with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called Hudson's compensation "outrageous." The official, who spoke to CBC News on condition of anonymity, said chiefs in other parts of the province typically make between $40,000 and $78,000 annually.

Posted at 06:29 AM | Permalink

The Saskatoon Catholic School Division will soon be combing its database to compile statistics on aboriginal students' graduation rates, movement between schools and progression from one grade to the next, says Gordon Martell, superintendent of learning services with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. It's a move Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas applauds. Recent statistics show that the dropout rate for Saskatchewan First Nations men (48%) is more than triple that of non-aboriginal men (14%).

Posted at 02:08 PM | Permalink

Shain Jackson, the First Nations owner of Spirit Works Ltd., has accused the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee of stealing the authentic aboriginal product brand and putting it on items made in China. Jackson, a 38-year-old former aboriginal rights lawyer, said he invested $500,000 in the two-year-old company after believing promises about 2010 native opportunities.

Posted at 07:27 AM | Permalink

Manitoba Judge Murray SInclair, Chair of the Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission sits down with Joe Friesen from the "Globe and Mail" for a brief question and answer session. He discusses the Commission's mandate and future events.

Posted at 02:17 PM | Permalink

Kimberly Apetegon, the Norway House First Nation's payroll administer and her husband Stephen were arrested last week charged with theft and fraud over $1 million after a year-long investigation by the RCMP. Chief Marcel Balfour said, "there were no signs, there were no fancy cars...". The missing money was first discovered by a Royal Bank official in Toronto, who alerted the band, Balfour said, adding that the RCMP were brought in almost immediately.

Posted at 10:19 AM | Permalink

Churchill MP Niki Ashton, Sagkeeng First Nation Chief Donovan Fontaine and Black River First Nation Chief Sheldon Kent held a press conference Wednesday to call on Ottawa to extend the programming funded through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, whose programs are set to wind down at the end of March after a decade in operation. A spokesperson for Minister Strahl stated he understands the organization's importance supporting community-based healing initiatives and a decision whether or not to extend funding is forthcoming.

Posted at 10:39 AM | Permalink

Fifteen community partnerships from across Saskatchewan are receiving $535,000 from the SaskSmart Innovations Fund to address local literacy needs. The recipients include, Ocean Man First Nation and the city of Estevan, Black Lake First Nation and Whitecap First Nation.

Posted at 01:16 PM | Permalink

Nova Scotia's Minister of Justice, Ross Landry will meet the Wagmatcook band council in January to discuss their concerns regarding the shooting death of John Andrew Simon by the RCMP on December 2, 2008. Family members, who said the victim was suicidal and drunk at the time, have voiced concerns that the RCMP should not be investigating itself and the band has said it will file a complaint with the Commission for Public Complaints.

Posted at 09:09 AM | Permalink

Statistics Canada has posted a study describing mortality patterns among Métis and Registered Indian adults, compared with the non-Aboriginal population. The study is a follow-up to the 1991-2001 Canadian census, and concludes that Métis adults had higher mortality rates compared with the non-Aboriginal members of the cohort, but lower rates than did Registered Indians.

Posted at 08:10 AM | Permalink

The New Brunswick government and Tobique First Nation signed a five-year, $2.5-million deal on Monday, ending years of frustration and protest over the impact two hydro dams have had on the western community. New Brunswick Aboriginal Affairs Minister Rick Brewer stated that the Tobique First Nation is one of the more financially distressed out of the 15 First Nations in New Brunswick. Under the deal the provincial government will repair erosion damage incurred and analyze and remediate dump site contamination plus provide mentoring and training for band members to enable them to obtain employment maintaining the dams.

Posted at 01:52 PM | Permalink

Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba is reaping the benefits of a massive lottery jackpot won by local residents, Kirby and Marie Fontaine. The Fontaines' philanthropy includes moving new houses to the reserve, employing local residents, and taking over the costs of hot lunch and breakfast programs for three local schools.

Posted at 10:29 AM | Permalink

STREETZ 104.7 FM started broadcasting its 3,000 watts across Winnipeg, pumping out sounds for those seeking a fresh kind of urban sound. Population projections have that within five years Winnipeg could have as many as 140,000 Aboriginal people.

Posted at 01:55 PM | Permalink

The Saskatchewan provincial government confirmed Monday that a training program pilot project for peacekeepers will launch in 2010. Further official information is not available at this time but an order-in-council shows that funds have been allocated with the federal government providing a matching amount.

Posted at 08:56 AM | Permalink

Shawn Atleo, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations stated that Canada's First Nations are no longer willing to continue to be unequal partners in Confederation. Atleo, former chancellor at Vancouver Island University, has aimed for the bull's-eye in naming unequal funding for education -- about $1 billion less for Canadian native children than non-native children -- as a significant inequality that must be addressed.

Posted at 06:32 AM | Permalink

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), an Indigenous organization founded in 1977, which represents approximately 160,000 Inuit from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia have issued a document containing a series of action points in relation to climate change. This document is intended to be the basis of a plan to contain the impacts of climate change in regards to the current United Nations climate change conference underway in Copenhagen.

Posted at 10:18 AM | Permalink

Indian Affairs Minister, Chuck Strahl, on Thursday faced an ultimatum from First Nations chiefs who warned Canada would face a prolonged campaign of economic disruption in the coming year unless the federal government immediately moved to resolve long-standing grievances.

Posted at 08:14 AM | Permalink

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today introduced the First Nations Certainty of Land Title Act that will enable First Nations across Canada to develop commercial real estate on reserve land. The Squamish First Nation in British Columbia requested this legislation in order to facilitate a proposed commercial condominium development on the reserve in West Vancouver. The First Nations Certainty of Land Title Act would permit the registration of on-reserve commercial real estate developments in a system that replicates the provincial land titles or registry system. This would help make the value of on-reserve properties, including housing, stores, offices, and other buildings, comparable to equivalent properties off reserve land.

Posted at 01:50 PM | Permalink

Jimmy Stotts, Chairman of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) commented at the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen that Northerners should be exempt from greenhouse-gas cutbacks. He went on to state that Inuit people still have needs similar to developing countries when it comes to making their economies grow via mining and oil and gas exploration.

Posted at 01:28 PM | Permalink

According to Nativehockey.com there are currently 11 hockey players in the National Hockey League (NHL) whom have acknowledged their Native heritage whether full-blooded status Indians, Métis or Inuit. These players are usually active in Native communities across North America. A recent example of this is Jonathan Cheechoo of the Ottawa Senators, a winner of the Rocket Richard trophy as the league's top scorer who donated an autographed Senators jersey to add to silent and live auctions in support of the First Nation school breakfast program, children in care and Heroes of Our Time scholarships.

Posted at 02:39 PM | Permalink

Highlights of a report, "The State of Aboriginal Learning in Canada: A Holistic Approach to Measuring Success" states that First Nations, Inuit and Métis people display higher rates of volunteerism, informal learning and community involvement than non-Aboriginal Canadians. The report by the Ottawa-based Canadian Council on Learning recognizes that aboriginal learning is lifelong, goes beyond the classroom and is about more than just school dropout rates.

Posted at 07:46 AM | Permalink

The next generation of Aboriginal leaders are more focused on how to move their people from government dependency to economic self-sufficiency. There is a rich, talented and growing pool of Aboriginal labour participants available with an average age of 26 compared with 40 for the rest of Canada, which will partially offset the huge numbers of baby boomers who will be retiring from the labour force.

Posted at 02:37 PM | Permalink

After four years of discussions, Winnipeg's first urban reserve could be completed by the end of this year. Long Point First Nation Chief David Meeches said a service agreement with the City of Winnipeg is the last legal hurdle to the Federal Government turning the land near Polo Park into a reserve and allowing the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to build a $100 million legislature and government administration building there.

Posted at 08:06 AM | Permalink

An animal-hide shirt made for a Mohawk man in early 19th century Canada is to be autioned on December 14 at Bonham's San Francisco auction house. In May 2007, a Toronto art dealer paid $550,000 for a 200 year old Cree Indian outfit at a New York auction.

Posted at 01:28 PM | Permalink

The annual staff Christmas party of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) will be used as a fundraiser for all Saskatchewan Food Banks.

Posted at 07:58 AM | Permalink

On Monday December 7, Sakewew High School signed an Aboriginal Employment Partnership with various partners including, the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Government of Saskatchewan, Battlefords Tribal Council and the City of North Battleford. All partners to this agreement will work to identify and address barriers to training, hiring and retaining First Nations and Métis people.

Posted at 02:14 PM | Permalink

The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company (SNTC) presents, "A Rez Christmas Carol" by Curtis Peeteeuce December 8 to December 18, 2009 at the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium located at 919-20th St. W. in Saskatoon. Tickets are on sale now at the SNTC box office located at 220-20th St. W.

Posted at 11:23 AM | Permalink

The West Hill Collegiate Institute's sports teams are moving to drop the aboriginal head, with red war paint and feathers. The Scarborough school's 30 year old logo has been recommended to be changed by the school's equity committee, but the name, "Warriors" will be retained.

Posted at 07:51 AM | Permalink

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) vice-chief Delbert Wapass says they will immediately begin consulting with the Saskatchewan government in an attempt to have the province's first urban First Nations school operating within a year. Saskatchewan Education Minister Ken Krawetz said Friday it was the first time he'd heard the idea, but he's open to discussing the proposal with the FSIN.

Posted at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Pamela Anne Hakongak Gross, a 24 year old student from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut made a kayak video showcasing the effects of climate change. The 15 minute video, "Building A Qataq To The Future" is being presented at the climate change conference in Copenhagen this month.

Posted at 12:41 PM | Permalink

Former Calgary Flame Theoren Fluery, who is Cree and Métis, spoke on the occasion of National Addictions Awareness Week at the Piikanni Nation. Fluery, who spoke at the Community Centre in Brocket, Alberta about his journey of the past six years and how First Nations spirituality played a key role in his attempted comeback with the Flames earlier this year at age 41.

Posted at 11:33 AM | Permalink

2010 Year of the Inuit is an educational campaign spearheaded by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national organization representing Canadian Inuit. Its goal is to increase awareness among the general Canadian population about issues facing the Inuit of Canada and celebrate Inuit accomplishments and achievements.

Posted at 07:54 AM | Permalink

Armand Ruffo, an Ojibway poet and professor of Aboriginal Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, wrote and produced the award-winning play, "A Windigo Tale". Feeling the need to reach a larger audience he assembled financing, cast aboriginal actors and directed a film version of his story which had its debut at a private screening in Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Posted at 02:34 PM | Permalink

Edmonton-Strathcona Member of Parliament, Linda Duncan, who is an environmental lawyer, has co-authored a book with University of Saskatchewan law professor Marie-Ann Bowden on the legal status of drinking water regulations on Canada's First Nations. Their book, "A Legal Guide to Aboriginal Drinking Water: A Prairie Perspective" states that First Nations communities don't have the same legal protections for safe drinking water that non-First Nations communities enjoy.

Posted at 06:53 AM | Permalink

In an unprecedented move, the four British Columbia First Nations on whose traditional territory the 2010 Winter Olympic Games will take place on, will have their Chiefs granted status equivalent to head of state for the first time. It is believed to be a first anywhere for indigenous representatives for such a high-profile international event.

Posted at 12:20 PM | Permalink

On November 23, at First Canadian Place in Toronto, freelance photographer Liam Sharp's exhibit, "Caring Across Boundaries", opened. The exhibit featured photographs of children from First Nation's communities holding signs depicting their dreams for the future.

Posted at 06:42 AM | Permalink

The Canadian Institute is presenting, "Aboriginal-Industry Business Partnerships Conference" on Monday December 7, and Tuesday December 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. Topics to be discussed include: identifying successful partnership characteristics and understanding the strategic advantages of Aboriginal businesses.

Posted at 11:53 AM | Permalink

The Government of Canada is cutting the $2 million budget of an established First Nations dental school in Prince Albert, SK saying it doesn't fit its mandate. A meeting is scheduled for sometime this month between federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, school officials, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Assembly of First Nations to dicuss the future of the School of Dental Therapy.

Posted at 06:00 AM | Permalink