February 2010

According to median income data from Statistics Canada, New Brunswick communities that rank among the 10 poorest in Canada are all Aboriginal. The New Brunswick communities include: Kingsclear, Eel Ground, Tobique, Elsipogtog, Red Bank and Esgenoopetitj, also known as Burnt Church. The median income in those areas was below $14,000 in 2006, with Esgenoopetitj ranking as the poorest neighbourhood in Canada, with a median income of $9,200.

Posted at 01:01 PM | Permalink

Statistics Canada has recently posted the Aboriginal Population Profiles of metropolitan areas for the Prairie Provinces. The profiles are based on the 2006 Census and the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey.

Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) says it's unacceptable for Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Lawrence Cannon to exclude them and other indigenous groups from an upcoming Arctic summit. Cannon invited his counterparts from Norway, Russia, Denmark, and the United States while excluding Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The meeting is being held next month in Quebec to discuss coastal issues.

Posted at 07:35 AM | Permalink

Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians met yesterday with provincial and Aboriginal leaders to continue land claim negotiations. The parties renewed their commitment to reach a final agreement based on the 2004 Agreement-in-Principal. The next meeting is scheduled for Fall 2010.

Posted at 07:35 AM | Permalink

Federal funding for the Sisters in Spirit initiative of the Native Women's Association of Canada runs out March 31, 2010 and the federal government will not give the group any indication whether it will extend its mandate. Previously approved funding has enabled them to compile a database of more than 520 women who've disappeared or been killed in the last 40 years and develop tool kits to assist police and families of missing women.

Posted at 01:33 PM | Permalink

The 9th Annual New Sun Conference on Aboriginal Arts: "Something Else Again!" will be held at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday February 27, 2010. The theme for this year tries to position itself as being less formal than a conventional scholarly conference but more academic than a traditional cultural festival.

Posted at 01:35 PM | Permalink

From February 12-28, 2010 a partnership between the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. (AtBC), the Pan Pacific Hotel and Terasen Gas features a stunning 16 day showcase of Aboriginal art, performances and culture. This showcase is intended to promote Aboriginal tourism across British Columbia.

Posted at 08:57 AM | Permalink

Director Neil Diamond has created a film to address and dispel the stereotypes created by Hollywood westerns in his documentary Reel Injun. The film charts the history of First Nations people in film from some of the earliest examples of moving images through to the emergence of First Nations filmmakers in the 1990s, using dozens of film clips to address the evolution of the public’s perception of First Nations people over the last century.

Posted at 09:09 AM | Permalink

The Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Rob Norris met with the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Chuck Strahl on Monday to discuss ways of reviving the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC). Under discussion is a proposal to possibly have the University of Regina to assume certain administration and management roles at the institution. In addition, both the Federal and Saskatchewan governments could have voting power on the school's board of directors.

Posted at 01:24 PM | Permalink

Jameson Brant, coordinator of the Aborginal Training Program in Museum Practices is presenting an informational session offering First Nations, Metis, and Inuit participants professional and technical training in various museum practices.

A short presentation will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 9:00am-12:00pm in Regina, SK.

RSVP Jessica Leavens, Professional Development Coordinator at jessica.leavens@saskmuseums.org
by February 22nd to attend the session.

Posted at 11:15 AM | Permalink

While some other provinces observed February 15 as Family Day, Manitoba's 3rd annual Louis Riel Day provided a chance for people young and old to learn more about the holiday named in the Métis leader's honour.

Posted at 10:50 AM | Permalink

Thomas Parenteau, a Métis performer from Winnipeg who did some jigging at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver described the experience of being in front of a live crowd of upwards of 80,000 as "awesome".

Posted at 07:58 AM | Permalink

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Organizing Committee's goal is to achieve increased Aboriginal participation. This will be done by developing strong relationships with Aboriginal peoples – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – and the support of our Partners. The Four Host First Nations are: the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tseleil-Waututh.

Posted at 10:58 AM | Permalink

Caroline Calve, of Alymer, Quebec is making her Olympic debut snowboarding at Cypress Mountain. Calve proudly represents her aboriginal roots. Her paternal great-grandmother is of Algonquin heritage. Calve applauds the partnership between the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee and the Four Host First Nations. Several Olympic events are being staged on aboriginal lands, and the organizers solicited input from First Nations leaders.

Posted at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Lawyer Albert Angus is being is the subject of hearing committees appointed by the Law Society of Saskatchewan in regards to complaints of improper handling of clients' money. The client, Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man First Nation alleges Angus misappropriated funds "in relation to services for which he had already been paid." The hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Parktown Hotel in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at 10:00 AM.

Posted at 02:15 PM | Permalink

The Canadian Museum of Civilization presents, Profit and Ambition: The Canadian Fur Trade, 1779-1821 which is currently on display until September 12, 2010. Featuring about 250 historic artifacts, the exhibition looks at the explorers' accomplishments, the fur trade, and living and working conditions of partners and clerks, voyageurs, Aboriginal trappers and "country wives."

Posted at 08:41 AM | Permalink

Grade four and five students at Pleasant Hill School in Saskatoon are learning about biology, chemistry, computer science and much more thanks to a partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Public School Board and funding from the Aboriginal Students' Centre. Kamskénow, which means 'to find to learn', was named by the students with guidance from an elder. Due to this exciting mentorship program, some students are already thinking of a university education.

Posted at 03:25 PM | Permalink

February is Saskatchewan Aboriginal Storytelling Month. The Indigenous Studies Portal at the UofS Library, in collaboration with Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP) Committee, are organizing two storytelling events performed by Metis poet, writer and educator Rita Bouvier on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. This year's storytelling theme is based on the Saskatchewan government's declaration of 2010 as "Year of the Metis".

The storytelling will take place in the Neatby-Timlin Theatre (or Arts 241) at the UofS from:

1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. (children)
2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. (adults)

Posted at 06:46 AM | Permalink

The Drawings and Paintings of Daphne Odjib: A Retrospecitve Exhibition, is on display from Febrary 6 to May 2, 2010 at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. Born in 1919 in Wikwemikong, on Manitoulin Island, Daphne Odjig was instrumental, along with a handful of Anishnabe artists in the 1960's, in bringing to public prominence the pictorial style now known as the Woodland School. A member of the Order of Canada, Odjig has achieved national and international recognition and holds Honourary Doctorate degrees from the University of Toronto and Laurentian University in addition to an Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Posted at 02:21 PM | Permalink

Keith Pelley, president of the broadcast consortium in charge of coverage said multilingual commentators and analysts will be drawn from a consortium of media outlets that include the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), Asian Television Network and OMNI Television. Olympic coverage by APTN will feature a mix of English, French and eight aboriginal languages. They include Cree, Dene, Inuktitut, Mechif, Mi'Kmaq, Mohawk, Ojibway and Oji-Cree.

Posted at 06:33 AM | Permalink

Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development announced Monday that the Federal Government will not continue to fund the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC), starting in the new fiscal year April 1. The cut is being made because FNUC has failed to make progress on "long-standing, systemic problems related to governance and financial management," Strahl said in a news release.

Posted at 01:22 PM | Permalink

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the Central Intertribal Alliance on Health present, 2010 Youth Healing, Health and Wellness Gathering and Youth Legislative Assembly. This year's theme is, "Healing, Embracing and Empowering Our Youth". It's being held on February 16, 17, & 18 at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon, SK.

Posted at 07:45 AM | Permalink

The Aboriginal Bursaries Web site is a searchable list of bursaries, scholarships and incentives across Canada, offered by governments, universities and colleges, private and public companies, individual Canadians, organizations and others.
The majority of awards on this list are targeted directly at Aboriginal students but could vary by group such as First Nation, Métis or Inuit. Some awards are specific to a region, place of residence, a school or a field of study.

Posted at 11:31 AM | Permalink

"Voices of the North" Cabaret will be held February 18, 19 & 20, 2010 at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

Posted at 01:04 PM | Permalink

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) is the subject of an editorial in the Edmonton Journal which advocates drastic changes to the institution. Meanwhile on Thursday, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) voted 46-0, with 8 abstainers, in favour of dissolving the FNUC Board of Governors. Shortly before the resolution was debated FSIN Chief, Guy Lonechild, made the first move and stepped down from the FNUC Board.

Posted at 11:33 AM | Permalink

Statistics Canada is offering a free half-day instruction session on data that is available for First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The session will be offered at both Saskatoon and Prince Albert campuses of the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) on Friday, February 12, 2010 from 9:00AM-12:00PM.

Posted at 06:29 AM | Permalink

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Brendan Sheppard, President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), on Monday announced an accelerated process for updating the membership list for the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band to be established in early 2010 for the Mi'kmaq of Newfoundland. As of November 30, 2009, nearly 26,000 applications had been received and approximately 11,000 had been approved for the initial members list by the Enrolment Committee, chaired by Mr. Tom Rideout.

Posted at 01:13 PM | Permalink

The Saskatchewan provincial government is cutting funding to the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) citing the problems there are, "deep and structural" which puts the future of the institution in doubt. Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris says that no new funding will be extended after April 1, 2010 and that all provincial funding will wrap up by August of this year, thus allowing current students to finish their current academic term.

Posted at 08:33 AM | Permalink

Kingston and the Islands MPP, John Gerretsen, announced, on behalf of the Ontario provincial government, the funding to Queen's University. The Four Directions Aboriginal Centre will receive just under $700,000, with the Aboriginal Teachers Education Program and bursaries receiving the remainder.

Posted at 06:31 AM | Permalink

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) report there is a trend of major Aboriginal gangs moving into remote rural communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The gangs ease their way in relying on cultural connections to enlist new members, branch out their territory and get away from the enforcement of city police. The RCMP are working diligently to battle the problem.

Posted at 12:47 PM | Permalink