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The Saskatchewan division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is holding their Annual Aboriginal Conference March 7 & 8, 2011 at the Delta Hotel, Regina, Saskatchewan. This event brings together First Nations and Métis members from all corners of the province to have open discussions and hear guest speakers on issues which affect Aboriginal CUPE members in their workplaces, their communities and their union.
Alberta Métis have filed an appeal on December 20, 2011 in regards to a recent ruling by a Medicine Hat judge who ruled Métis have no right to hunt out of season. A hearing date for the appeal has been set for March 1, 2011.
A recent article from the Winnipeg Free Press argues that a recent Canadian Taxpayers Federation campaign regarding the alleged high pay levels of some First Nation Chiefs is overshadowing the real issues that face Canada's Aboriginals. The average pay for chiefs in Manitoba is estimated to be $42,000.
The Eye See, I Learn pilot is just one element of a comprehensive program taken on by Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, in partnership with a number of community organizations working together to improve educational outcomes and remove barriers for First Nations and Métis students. It is projected that within five years aboriginal students are expected to make up 20% of students in Saskatoon's Catholic school system.
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on December 20, 2010, announced a three-year renewal of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative, as well as a new formula for First Nations languages that distributes funding according to the regional realities of languages across Canada.
The Government of Canada has provided a total of $334,569 in funding for these projects through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal Peoples' Program. The goal of ALI is to support the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages for future generations of Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians.
Going home for the holidays can be a terrifying, often violent reality for battered or emotionally abused women who choose to stay with or return to their abusive partners at Christmas. The professionals who work with victims of domestic violence say it's a disturbing trend. Sharon Morgan, executive director of aboriginal women's shelter Ikwe Widdjiitiwin in Winnipeg, said women return to abusive homes before Christmas because they feel compelled to keep the family together, despite the potential danger of more assaults.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) welcomes the Saskatchewan Child Welfare Review Panel because it confirms what First Nations have been recommending for many years. The FSIN urges the Provincial Government to act swiftly to implement the panel’s recommendations. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of Treaty, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.
A $3 million dollar loan program for First Nation businesses, that will create both investment and job opportunities, will be up and running in early 2011.
The First Nations Business Development Program is a three-year program that was announced in the March budget. Businesses that are 51 per cent owned by First Nations organizations will be able to apply for loans from $100,000 to $750,000, loans that can be repaid with future business profits.
With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training will help 15 Aboriginal youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training will receive over $180,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Mekanayzn project.
Beginning January 1, 2011 Lac La Ronge Indian Band Child and Family Services, Inc., through an agreement with the Ministry of Social Services, will provide after-hour and weekend emergency child protection services to off-reserve residents in the communities of La Ronge, Stanley Mission, Stony Rapids, Wollaston, Black Lake, Southend, Uranium City and Pinehouse Lake.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Child and Family Services has the same authority as the Ministry of Social Services under The Child and Family Services Act. The agency was incorporated in 1994, and in June 2010 was accredited by CARF Canada for a three-year term after demonstrating a high degree of excellence in their work in five child and family services categories. In addition to a central office, the Agency currently has five sub-offices and 37 full-time permanent staff.
Former prime minister Paul Martin says it is "unforgivable" that Ottawa is shortchanging the funding of aboriginal education. He was speaking in Winnipeg on December 14 at a luncheon co-sponsored by the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.
Martin said Canada is failing the youngest and fastest-growing segment of its population at a time when a huge wave of baby boomers is retiring and the country is faced with tough, new global competition from the likes of China, India and Brazil
The FSIN 2010 Directory is now available for sale. The directory is a useful tool for working with First Nations communities. Proceeds raised by the sale will support the families of missing and murdered Saskatchewan First Nations persons.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has responded to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) published salary figures for First Nations Chiefs and Councillors from across Canada. The CTF included travel expenses and per diems, not just actual salaries. According to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada the average salary for First Nation elected officials is $36,845 and the average salary of working Canadians is $46,345 - a discrepancy of almost $10,000.
On December 15, 2010 The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo renewed the mandate of a joint Task Group to further improve the effectiveness of First Nations health services.
The Task Group, which is expected to begin its 16-month work plan in January 2011, brings together Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the AFN.
Cultural Survival's board of directors has named Suzanne Benally, as the new executive director of the organization—the first Indigenous director Cultural Survival has had. She is Navajo and Santa Clara Tewa from New Mexico. Cultural Survival helps Indigenous Peoples around the world defend their lands, languages, and cultures.
On December 16, University of Saskatchewan history professor Jim Miller has been awarded the Gold Medal for Achievement in Research by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the federal research funding agency’s highest honour. Miller receives the award for his decades of study on the evolving relationships between Aboriginal Peoples and the peoples that later settled in Canada.
The video of Dr. Miller's acceptance speech is on view at this site.
Recent statistics show that Nunavut's Tuberculosis (TB) rate is now 62 times the national average, adding to the territories standing as one of the worst places for respiratory health.The resurgence comes with grim historical echoes. By 1956, the federal government had snatched one in every seven Inuit from their homes and placed them in southern sanitoriums, where it was thought a combination of rest, good nutrition and good hygiene would cure the illness. Many never returned. Their families rarely found out how they died.
The Ontario Hospital Association is presenting, Aboriginal Health and Intergenerational Relationships on January 17, 2011 at the Holiday Inn, in Sudbury, Ontario. This conference will highlight current community-oriented programs and services working in partnerships with Aboriginal peoples.
Fourth-year U of S Aboriginal students are encouraged to attend a presentation by Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council. He will be promoting Inclusion Works '11, which is Canada's only national Aboriginal recruitment fair.
The presentation will be held January 13, 2011 at Edwards School of Business, Rm. 243 from 4pm-5pm.
The application deadline for students is January 15, 2011.
"Indigenous Business Education Network 2011" ( I-BIZ-ED-NET 2011) will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal business students from across BC to meet, exchange ideas, and develop a professional network of friends and associates. The agenda for this gathering will focus on Aboriginal business and career success.
The gathering will take place on January 14, 2011 at the Jim Pattison Centre at the Saunder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
A Demographic and Socio-Economic Portrait of Aboriginal Populations in Canada, contains 2006 Census results as well as information on social issues such as education, housing and employment, comparing aboriginal to non-aboriginal households.
With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, the White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society and Resource Centre will help 16 Aboriginal youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.The White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society and Resource Centre will receive over $203,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its youth employment project.
A unique agreement was signed on December 10, 2010 by Environment Minister Dustin Duncan and the Chiefs of the James Smith Cree Nation, the Peter Chapman Band and the Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree outlining how the parties will work together on understanding the impacts of a proposed diamond mine on the communities and their treaty and Aboriginal rights. The consultation agreement regarding the environmental assessment of Shore Gold's Star-Orion South Diamond project was initiated by the three First Nations closest to the proposed mine site in the Fort à la Corne Provincial Forest, northeast of Prince Albert.
The Métis National Council, the national governing body of the Métis people, re-elected Clement Chartier as president during the organization's general assembly held in Saskatoon during the weekend
Chartier promised to focus more on land rights in his next term, and to work harder to unify the group, which has traditionally had power diffused among the five provincial bodies in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
The National Aboriginal Health Organization has launched: getimmunized.ca to encourage higher immunization rates among First Nations people. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada says on-reserve First Nations have immunization rates 20% lower than the general population and suffer from higher rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.
On December 13, 2010 from 8:30AM - 4:30PM (EST?) there will be a live webcast of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. Presentations by Court Monitor, Updates CEP, IAP, Health Canada and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
On December 6, 2010 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, and AFN Women’s Council Chair, Kathleen McHugh, expressed the continued need for the Government of Canada to work with Indigenous and women’s organizations to end violence against women. “There are now almost 600 unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country,” said AFN Women’s Council Chair Kathleen McHugh. “We will be persistent in our work to examine the root causes that put too many Indigenous women in vulnerable situations and to ensure government support for the initiatives and programs focused on public awareness and prevention.”
With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, the Aboriginal Agricultural Education Society of British Columbia will help 10 Aboriginal youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. The Aboriginal Agricultural Education Society of British Columbia will receive over $77,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Growing Jobs project.
Statistics Canada is recruiting for enumerators to staff positions in remote and northern areas of the country. The 2011 census will take place between February and April 2011.
Diversity programs are encouraging women and aboriginals to take on leadership roles. Roxanne Hodgson, is chair of Shell Canada's Aboriginal Network or AbNet. which acts as a large support group.
Shell's AbNet is a way for aboriginal people in the company to create a community and discuss career challenges, opportunities and other diversity issues related to their heritage.
On December 2, 2010 The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister for Status of Women, and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, announced that young Aboriginal women, from the local community, will get job preparation training through the Government of Canada.
With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women will help 12 young Aboriginal women develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. With this announcement the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women will receive over $142,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Esquao Independence Program.
Recent statistics released by Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration revealed that employment growth in Saskatchewan has increased for the 10th consective month. Employment for First Nations and Metis peoples in Saskatchewan has contined its upward trend with a year-over-year increase of 1,700.
The Ontario government used the Air Canada Centre, the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, to launch a hockey phase of a sport and life-skills program. Bobby Orr was there to lend his support to the new program, a program that targets aboriginal youth from troubled First Nations communities that are located in Northern Ontario.
Promoting Life-skills for Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) is the Canadian program of Right To Play, an international aboriginal humanitarian and development organization that runs programs in 20 countries worldwide.
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, said on December 1st, 2010 that he welcomes draft legislation, Bill C-599, introduced by the Bloc Québécois aimed at strengthening First Nations education and he called on Parliament and Canada to work with First Nations to take action on education.
"The legislation tabled by Bloc Québécois Members of Parliament Marc Lemay and Yvon Lévesque demonstrates leadership in setting forward a clear commitment and timeframe for real and lasting change. We applaud this initiative from the Bloc Québécois and ask all Parliamentarians to support First Nation education."
Sask Gaming has committed $10,000 to a Regina-based chapter of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) charity to raise awareness about diabetes and its related risks.
According to the CDA, Aboriginal people are three to four times more likely than non-Aboriginal people to experience type 2 diabetes. Complications from the disease can include blindness, heart disease, kidney problems and nerve damage. With a workforce that is 42 per cent Aboriginal, Sask Gaming Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said that Sask Gaming's involvement is an important way to raise awareness amongst employees about this significant health concern.
The Government of Saskatchewan shared an historic moment on November 20, 2010 with Métis leadership and hundreds of community members from across Saskatchewan at a ceremony to place a Métis symbol in the Saskatchewan Legislature. A specially-designed Métis sash was presented to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Don Toth, by Métis Elder Nora Cummings and President Doucette.
Gord Wall and Leader of the Opposition, Dwain Lingenfelter, together placed the sash on the table in the Legislative Chamber alongside the First Nations beaded mace runner and beaver pelt pillow, that the mace rests on, each time the House sits.
Both symbols will serve as physical reminders of the Métis and First Nations ancestry that has played a significant role in the birth of our province.
A grand ceremony was held on Monday November 29th, 2010 for Saskatoon's first dedicated gathering place for First Nations and Métis elders.
The elders' lodge will be located inside the former Sion Middle School on Seventh Street East, near Preston Avenue. The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) is leasing the building from the Saskatoon Catholic School Division. The lodge will be run with a contribution of $100,000 per year from the Office of the Federal Interlocutor, the government department responsible for Métis people and non-status Indians.
On November 29th, 2010, The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, announced support for a project to end violence against Aboriginal women in Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Government of Canada.
The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network will receive $262,386 for the 24-month project, Empowering Aboriginal Women; Influencing Community Wellness. Through more than 80 community workshops, 500 women will develop their capacities to engage in their communities and increase their leadership.
The Globe and Mail has covered the passing of Patricia Monture, 'The One Who Starts Things With Words'. The former University of Saskatchewan sociology professor died on November 17, 2010 at the age of 52, after a three year battle with breast cancer.
The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company presents, Luff Actually: A Rez Christmas Story, written and directed by Curtis Peeteetuce. It is a story of friendship, family and romance.
A Preview for the movie will be held Friday, December 3rd, 8pm, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium which is located at 919 20th Street West, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Opening night is Saturday, December 4th, 8pm, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium and it will run until December 14th.
Ticket Prices : Matinees $10
Evenings $15
School Group Rate $5
Canada's community colleges are taking outreach programming, for aboriginal learners, to new heights according to a new report by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). One survey states that 150 mainstream colleges are increasingly "structuring themselves to meet the needs of aboriginal learners".
The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick have partnered to invest $875,000 to fund upgrades to the Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre. The facility will be renovated to current building codes and will also be expanded to include four change rooms with washroom facilities, public washrooms and storage rooms. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.1 million dollars.
The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) is inviting proposals for presentations at its 31st Annual International Conference until January 17th, 2011. The STLHE 2011 Annual Conference will take place from June 15th to 18th, 2011 in Saskatoon, SK. The conference is being hosted by the University of Saskatchewan. This year's theme is, From Here to the Horizon: Diversity and Inclusive Practice in Higher Education.
For further informatin please refer to:
Background - Plans For Sessions
Program Outline
Call of Abstracts
The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, issued the following statement today:
“I want to take this opportunity to recognize the 5th anniversary of the coming into force of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement. All Canadians can take pride in the progress made to date to implement the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.”
The iPortal blog is becoming interactive! Due to suggestions from users participating in the iPortal online survey last spring, you will now have the opportunity to make comments on iPortal blogs. If you are interested in using this feature, you will need to register to post comments. We encourage you to take part in discussion of the news and events posted on this blog.
The University of Regina Aboriginal Student Centre presents its December 2010 Newsletter. Included in this months issue is news on a successful first semester, a description of a Cultural and Traditional Awareness Program and noteworthy upcoming events to be held in December 2010.
Tamara's House is offering Harmony Song Programs that include:
Traditional Story Telling - Monday evenings from 6:00p.m. - 7:30p.m., starting December 6th, at Tamara's House, located at 1605 Victoria Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This program is open to the general public.
Women's Circle Ceremony - Thursday evenings starting at 7:00p.m. also offered at Tamara's House in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This program is for women only.
From December 1st to 5th, the Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week aims to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and related issues, as well as encourage greater commitment to the cause. On Wednesday December 1st, 2010, the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) will be hosting a special presentation luncheon to share the knowledge, expertise and work in regards to addressing Aboriginal HIV/AIDS issues in Canada. The Luncheon will take place at the Regina Inn, located at 1975 Broad Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, from 11:00am -3:00pm.
