January 2011

On Monday, January 31, 2011 the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations will be hosting a First Nations Forum on the Repeal of Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, at the Saskatoon Inn beginning at 9 a.m.
During this one day session, representatives from the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations will provide information on the changes to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

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The Future is Yours Opportunity Fair is Saskatoon's largest fair targeted to Aboriginal youth and job seekers. The fair will take place Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 10:00am - 3:00pm, at Prairieland Exhibition Park, Hall A in Saskatoon, SK.

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The BC First Nations Community Economic Development Practitioners Forum is a by-invitation-only event targeting economic development practitioners in First Nations communities. The forum will be held in Vancouver, B.C., Feb 28 - Mar 02, 2011. The conference includes information for practitioners looking for best practices, funding and support for business and land development, and capacity building. One invited economic development practitioner from each community will have travel and accommodations covered in accordance with the event travel guidelines. The event will only accommodate one representative from each First Nation in British Columbia.

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Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots for Aboriginal Youth Program, a pilot project to introduce the global youth action program to Canada’s First Nations youth, goes National in 2011. Communities across the country have embraced the program as a way to empower Aboriginal youth to work for positive change in their communities, for people, animals and the environment, while also reconnecting with their traditions. Aboriginal communities from Yellowknife, NWT to Calgary, AB, Beecher Bay, BC and Sudbury, ON are already active in hands-on projects. The projects includes planting and nurturing of community gardens, assisting elders with daily tasks, community recycling programs and the creation of a “community narrative” video that addresses issues important to them.

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Are you an Aboriginal Canadian between the ages of 14-29 and up for the Canadian Aboriginal Writing and Arts Challenge?
For the Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge, create a short story that explores a moment or theme in Aboriginal history. It can date as far back as a traditional legend or as recently as yesterday!
For the Canadian Aboriginal Arts Challenge, the submissions must be two-dimensional in nature, but can be made up of a variety of medias, including painting, sketching, charcoal and photography.
The deadline for the Challenge is March 31, 2011.

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Joan Greyeyes, the special advisor on Aboriginal initiatives at the University of Saskatchewan , spoke at the IPORTAL Open House on January 25th, 2011. The iPORTAL celebrated 25,000 live electronic records, which according to Ken Ladd, the Associate Dean at the Library, "reflects the pride and strong commitment the university library has in supporting Aboriginal engagement: relationships, scholarship, and programs".

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Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, along with First Nation students from across the country, will be participating in an online “Virtual Summit” to discuss their post-secondary experiences and provide recommendations on how to enhance opportunities for student success. The summit will also explore issues and solutions relating to First Nation post-secondary education. The online discussion will be hosted by Vancouver Island University.
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011, time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Location: www.viu.ca/afn-psesummit/ .
There also is a list of discussion questions available for First Nations Students.
This virtual event, at the University of Saskatchewan, will take place January 27, 2011, from 11:00 to 1:00, in ARCH Room 132 (located in the Achaeology Building , which is located South of the College of Enginnering). All Aboriginal students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend.

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The Augustana Campus is pleased to be partnering with the University of Alberta’s Aboriginal Student Services Centre to co-host the University of Alberta’s Annual Round Dance, Saturday, January 29, 2011, at the Augustana Campus Gymnasium, in Camrose, Alberta. The Pipe Ceremony will start at 5:00 p.m., with the Feast, Round Dance and Honouring Ceremony to follow.

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You're Invited.. to the Official Launch of Aboriginal Storytelling Month in Estevan, at the Multi-Purpose Room (across from the Estevan Public Library), February 1, 2011 @ 1:00 p.m. Guests will include Jason Chamakese, award winning First Nations flutist and storyteller, and Rhonda Donas, children's storyteller & Oceanman member. Throughout February, First Nations & Metis storytelling events will be held in schools, libraries and community organizations across Saskatchewan.

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The Indigenous Studies (iPortal) at the University of Saskatchewan Library, is proud to announce that there are 25,000 live records to date. The iPortal is a unique learning and research tool, connecting faculty, students, staff, researchers, and members of the community with specialized Indigenous Studies materials.

The 25,000th record, titled "A Literature Review of Factors that Support Successful Transitions by Aboriginal People from K-12 to Postsecondary Education" was published by Statistics Canada in 2010.

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The University of Saskatchewan Library is celebrating the 25,000th live record on the Indigenous Studies Portal (iPortal) January 25th, 2011. The celebration will open at 9:30 a.m. in the Library Learning Commons area, located on the ground floor of the Murray Library.

The opening will begin with a prayer, hand drummers, and an announcement by Dean Vicki Williamson, and other speakers will follow. Cultural teachings will begin at 10:00, with Elders Walter & Maria Linklater. At 11:45 a.m. in the Link Gallery, located on the first floor, there will be drummers and dancers, followed at noon by a lunch. In the afternoon, in Room 161, there will be demonstrations by Deborah Lee, the iPortal Librarian, on the iPortal database.

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One-in-three patients suffers from some form of diabetes at Ottawa's only medical clinic for First Nations people, making the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health the epicentre of a regional epidemic. Because of historic underfunding of health services for off-reserve Aboriginals, many of these patients have virtually no access to the type of lifestyle counselling and medical care that might prevent them from developing diabetes.

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The Seventh Generation: Past, Present, Future is the theme for the 33rd Annual Toronto Storytelling Festival, that will be a 10-day celebration of storytelling, March 25 to April 3, 2011. There will be performances, workshops, forums, and you will be able to explore the connections to oral tradition and civic, national and international history.

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First Nations Performance presents the 10th Annual Talking Stick Festival, February 1–6, at the Roundhouse before moving into the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver until February 13th. The festival will feature diverse programming, highlighting the talents of local, national and international artists in a fusion of cabaret, music, dance, theatre and storytelling.

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An application to open a huge diamond mine near the Bushman community of Gope, in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, has been approved by the Botswana’s government. The move was made in the middle of the Kalahari Bushmen’s appeal against the Botswana authorities’ refusal to allow the locals access to water there.

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Two NAHO research presentations will be held Monday, January 31, 2011; Session 1: 9 - 11a.m. & Session 2: 12 - 2 p.m. Room 161 of the Murray Library, 3 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan.

The 1st presentation will provide an explanation of the Principles of Ethical Métis Research that resulted from collaboration with Métis in Academia. The 2nd presentation is a workshop tutorial on how to access, navigate and use, the Métis Health Literature Database and the Métis Statististical Database, and includes an interpretation of statistical tables and graphs. Sessions will include both presentations.

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Carleton University Equity Services' Centre for Aboriginal Culture and Education will be hosting its 5th Annual Aboriginal Awareness Week around campus January 18th to 22nd, 2011. Highlights include First Nation, Inuit and Métis cultural performances; workshops, discussions, and keynote speakers; film Reel Injun; comedian Don Kelly; and a Roundance.

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Wapiti Regional Library is hosting the 4th Provincial Round Dance to honour the relationship between public libraries and Aboriginal communities. The Round Dance will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre, which is located in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Pipe Ceremony & Feast will start at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Round Dance.

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The Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Aboriginal Writers Retreat will be held at the Spring Valley Guest Ranch near Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, February 25, 2011.

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The Cowichan International Aboriginal Festival of Film and Art is an annual intercultural event that is organized by the Cowichan Intercultural Festival of Film & Art Society and co-hosted by Film Cowichan and the Cowichan Theatre in Duncan, BC. The Coast Salish Gala Reception kicks off the festival each year. Artists support the festival, with a displays of carving, paintings, jewelery, knitting, and more. The festival welcome films of all genres and all performances and workshops are open to the public. The dates of the festival are April 13-17, 2011.

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The Awâsis 2011 Aboriginal Education Conference aims to improve Aboriginal knowledge and spirituality for all people. The Conference presenters will be Chief Perry Bellegarde and Patrick S. Trujillo, and keynote speaker on Friday May 13th, 2011 will be Patrick S. Trujillo. Entertainment will be provided by the Awâsis Dinner Theatre. Dates for the Conference, which will take place at the Saskatoon Inn, are May 11th, 12th, and 13th in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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Dr. Danièle Behn Smith will be presenting, "Lessons from my Elders: How Traditional Healers Shape my Practice" on Monday, January 31, 2011. The presentation will be held in the SaskTel Theatre at the Royal University Hospital from 7pm - 8pm.

Danièle will be sharing how her approach to Western medicine has transformed because of the lessons she received from traditional healers.

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Post-secondary institutions are helping strengthen the educational experience of Aboriginal K-12 students in significant ways, including an Aboriginal focus in many teacher-education programs and youth outreach initiatives. There is a feeling that more improvements to the accessibility and relevancy of post-secondary education, such as developing curriculum relevant to Aboriginal students' life experiences, are needed.

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The University of Saskatchewan, College of Education is accepting applications for a joint, tenure track appointment, at the Assistant Professor level, across the Departments of Educational Administration and Education Foundations. The position will commence July 1, 2011.

For more information, click here.

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Sasipenita Educational Exhibit Inc. invites First Nation and Métis artists from Saskatchewan to submit new and recent works of art that present an Indigenous perspective on the strength and endurance of First Nation and Métis women. The new deadline for submission is January 14, 2011, with the exhibit to open in March 2011.

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The 2011-2012 Urban Aboriginal Grant Program is a program to assist registered non profit groups to provide programs to assist in the development of sport, culture and recreation programs, and leadership opportunities for Aboriginal residents of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Application deadline is January 17, 2011.

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A Red Sky performance titled, The Great Mountain, follows the journey of Nuna, a curious young girl who sets out to discover the source of Mother Earth's mysterious cries. The story educates children and their families about the future of the planet, and the importance of environmental care.

There will be performances starting on January 25, 2011 in Medicine Hat Alberta, Coquitlam, B.C., Brandtford, Ontario, Oakville, Ontario, and Stouffville, Ontario. Click here for more ticket information.

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"Hookers. a documentary" by filmmaker Marcel Petit, presents stories of five Aboriginal women who worked the sex trade in Saskatoon. The film can be viewed on January 11, 2011 at 7pm in ARTS 241 at the University of Saskatchewan.

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The Battlefords Indian Metis Friendship Centre wants to set up a shelter for homeless people in the Battlefords. The Centre has identified about 20 people who have no place to live.

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Protesters who barricaded the doors of a Yukon First Nation's office on Tuesday say their leaders are not looking after members' interests, but those leaders say the protesters are standing in the way of much-needed social reforms.
The Carcross-Tagish First Nation's executive council is expected to talk later this week about what they should do next, if they cannot resolve the situation with the protesters.

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Some members of a Saskatchewan First Nation, The Muskowekwan First Nation, say there are more questions than answers about the development of a potash mine on reserve land. The band members say they’ve been told that they’ll get a chance to vote on the agreement with Vancouver-based Encanto Potash Corp., but no date has been set. They also say Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will give them 45 days notice.

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According to the 2010 Saskatchewan Education Indicators Report more Aboriginal students are graduating from high school than ever before, or staying in school longer.

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The year 2010 was officially proclaimed, by the province, as the Year of the Métis to commemorate the unique history of Métis people and their contributions to Saskatchewan - past, present and future. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the vital role Métis women have played in the economic, social, cultural and political fabric of the province.Contemporary Métis women continue to seek a compromise between traditional cultural roles in the community and other roles in today's ever-changing society. They continue to demonstrate the leadership qualities passed down by their ancestors through career choices such as administrators, lawyers, teachers and business owners. Over the last 20 years, their participation in post-secondary education has dramatically increased, signifying a new era of moving forward together and contributing to all aspects of Canadian society.

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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has awarded $20,000 to the Prince Albert Grand Council to support its participation in the federal environmental assessment of the proposed Highway 905 - All Weather Roadway – Stony Rapids to Lake Athabasca, near Fond-du-Lac Project in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure is proposing to construct an all-weather road from Stony Rapids to the south shore of Lake Athabasca near Fond-du-Lac. The purpose of the project is to enable more efficient transportation of goods and services to Fond-du-Lac.

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Under the terms of a partnership and contribution agreements signed earlier with Parks Canada, the Mi'kmaq Nation of Gespeg will conduct a market and feasibility study in the creation of a Mi'kmaq cultural interpretation site at Penouille, in Forillion Nation Park in the Gaspe Peninsula area of Quebec. In March 2009, as part of the Action on the Ground program, Forillon National Park received $4.6 million in funding to protect, maintain and showcase the biological and historical diversity of the Penouille sector. Some $417,500 of the total amount was set aside to showcase Mi’kmaq culture, and $52,500 of this was allocated to the Gespeg Mi’kmaq Nation. This partnership with the Gespeg community will help showcase Mi’kmaq traditions and values in Forillon National Park and will offer an enriching experience to its many visitors.

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