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Students First!, the National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education has launched their website and is asking for ideas to improve the education of First Nation children who live on reserve.
Oskayak High School in Saskatoon has 30 students graduating this year, which is the largest class in the 30 year history of the school. Oskayak's focus on spirituality, culture, and language attracts young people who want to learn more about their history.
Perrin Beatty, former Brian Mulroney era cabinet minister and current President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber wrote a column extolling the benefits for the Aboriginal community from the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. The project group is proposing extensive Aboriginal partnerships including equity positions in the pipeline operation and in the terminal at Kitamat, B.C. Currently 99% of Canada's oil exports go to one country, the United States, and the Northern Gateway project would reduce that dependence.
Everyone is invited to watch live portions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission'sNorthern National Event taking place June 28th - Friday, July 1st in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Once again people will share stories about the Residential School Experience, continuing the process of revealing truths and finding reconciliation. The theme is "It's About Courage - A Journey of Survival, Strength and Resilience".
Event Poster
Program Highlights
Paul Favel, Q.C., originally from the Poundmaker Cree Nation near Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, has been appointed to serve on the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. Favel, a highly regarded lawyer with McKercher LLP, has worked extensively within the First Nations community. He is currently a board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Saskatoon and is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association. Paul was awarded a Queen's Counsel designation in 2010.
Premiers from the West met on June 20th-22nd, 2011 for the annual Western Premiers Conference which is being hosted by the Northwest Territories. Fiddlers, drummers and young Métis dancers will perform for the premiers, and youth leaders will have an opportunity to ask pointed questions about cultural support and civic engagement.
The sale of oil and gas tenures in northeast British Columbia by the provincial government for $260-million is being challenged in court by a native band. The Dene Tha, a first nation that straddles the B.C.-Alberta-Northwest Territories boundaries, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of B.C. The band alleges that the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines failed to adequately consult with the first nation, or to undertake studies on the environmental impact of gas drilling, before selling the leases in the Cordova Basin, near Fort Nelson.
The federal government must do more to help hundreds of Saskatchewan First Nation residents whose homes have been destroyed or are in danger from flooding, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild said Wednesday.
The main concern is Cumberland House, the community of 2,200 residents preparing for flooding as a deluge of rainwater flows into the North and South Saskatchewan rivers this week. Cumberland House, the oldest permanent settlement in Western Canada, sits on an island in the Saskatchewan River, 150 kilometres northeast of Nipawin.
The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), on June 21st, 2011 officially launched an engagement process to explore solutions that will improve First Nation elementary and secondary education on reserves. The National Panel will make recommendations to the Minister and National Chief on options to make concrete and positive changes for First Nation students, including possible legislation, to improve the governance framework and clarify accountability for First Nation elementary and secondary education. The Panel will submit a report by the end of the 2011 calendar year.
A law which took effect on Saturday June 18, 2011 will allow people living on aboriginal reserves to seek protection under the Canadian Human Rights Act if they feel they have faced discrimination by their band council. The changes were passed into law in 2008 but only take effect now after a grace period. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo called on the federal government Thursday to ensure enough funds are supplied to implement the shift.
Hundreds of people braved the rain in Saskatoon on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 to celebrate National Aboriginal Day. They ate free bannock and soup while drummers and singers performed at Friendship Park.
According to a new study from TD Economics total personal income for Aboriginals has grown by an average of 7.5% per year since 2001. The study also concludes that the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal incomes still persists which the authors feel could be corrected by improved education levels for Aboriginal people.
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, together with His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada paid tribute today to the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal Veterans during National Aboriginal Day. The Governor General and the Minister each placed a wreath at the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, which was dedicated ten years ago.
“On June 21st, Canadians will come together to join in National Aboriginal Day festivities and to experience the wealth of Aboriginal cultures and traditions that are found from coast to coast to coast....I encourage all Canadians to take part in this celebration..."
This year's edition of the Great Northern Arts Festival which takes place in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, will be held July 15-24, 2011. The focus of this year's festival will be "Jewellery" and may be executed in any medium or art form.
Aboriginal families at risk of homelessness will have better access to support services, announced Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy funding of over $35,000 will be used by the White Buffalo Aboriginal Health and Resource Society to provide support to 125 individuals who are at risk of homelessness. With this funding, the organization will develop a referral system in partnership with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders.
Anishnabeg Outreach is hosting a National Aboriginal Day Celebration on June 25 & 26, 2011 at Victoria Park Island, Kitchener, Ontario. The theme is, "Honouring Our Future Leaders".
The Aboriginal Coaches and Officials Program is holding a training and development opportunity for those individuals interested in becoming a softball coach or official. The program takes place July 16-17th, 2011, from 9:00 am - 4:00pm at the Flying Dust Sports Ground/Gym.
It is important to note that the roots of National Aboriginal Day can be traced back almost three decades and that period includes countless years of lobbying and pursuing the issue with the Federal Government. Today National Aboriginal Day is part of the annual nationwide Celebrate Canada! festivities held from June 21st to July 1st.
The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards recognize Aboriginal professionals who demonstrate outstanding career achievement in diverse occupations, building self esteem and pride as well as providing valuable role models for Aboriginal youth. The deadline for nominations is Monday, June 27th, 2011.
The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development issued a statement on June 14th, 2011 recognizing the official opening of urban treaty payments at Winnipeg's The Forks National Historic Site of Canada. The Minister also acknowledged the work of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba and Parks Canada for their efforts in setting up Treaty payments.
The Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards Music Awards (APCMAs) recognize and celebrate the best in Aboriginal music. If an Aboriginal artist has released a single or album between June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2011, they are eligible to submit to the 2011 APCMAs. Deadline for artist submissions is June 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. CST.
The Provincial Literacy and Libraries Office is once again inviting proposals for the SaskSmart Innovations Fund. To assist communities in the process, pre-application workshops will be hosted by the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network and the Saskatchewan Literacy Network in Saskatoon on Monday June 20th, Regina on Wednesday June 22nd and on Thursday June 23rd in Prince Albert. For more information contact the Saskatchewan Literacy Network at saskliteracy@sasktel.net or toll-free 1-888-511-2111.
The Ode'min Giizis Festival is a multidisciplinary festival of arts that presents local, national and internationally recognized artists. Don't miss the Traditional Gathering / Pow Wow June 17th-18th in Peterborough, Ontario.
A new rental housing project is underway in Prince Albert, thanks to approximately $2 million in funding through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. The project is being undertaken by the Northern Spruce Housing Corporation to help meet significant housing need among First Nations families in the community. Northern Spruce provides low income and affordable housing to the membership of the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC). They own 126 houses while managing another 64 units within Prince Albert.
Assembly of First Nations national Chief Shawn Atleo and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan have agreed to a plan that seems to set the stage for an historic meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations chiefs. Duncan said the plan of action signified a “new phase” in the “enduring historic relationship” between Canada and First Nations that is “based on mutual respect, friendship and support.
As the assistant director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Greg Younging is playing a key role in the establishment of a national centre that will house documents and recordings of the stories gathered. He hopes the commission's findings will become part of the national consciousness after it finishes its work in 2014.
Ten years after its establishment, the University of the Arctic has a Nunavut graduate in its circumpolar studies program: Leanna Ellsworth, who now works with the Inuit Circumpolar Council in Ottawa. The University of the Arctic is a network of more than 100 universities and colleges (including the University of Saskatchewan) involved in higher education and research around the circumpolar world.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will gather in Moncton, New Brunswick on July 12-14 for it's 32nd Annual General Assembly under the theme of "The Spirit of Peace and Friendship". A variety of events will take place at the Moncton Coliseum and throughout the community, with more than 2,500 people expected to attend.
Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Carleton University June 7th at the university’s spring convocation ceremony in Ottawa. Simon’s other honours include being an Officer of the Order of Canada, the National Order of Quebec and the Gold Order of Greenland. She is also a recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Gold Medal of the Canadian Geographic Society and, recently, the Governor General’s Northern Medal. She has been named to the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame and is a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America. Simon is currently serving her second term as ITK president.
Ruth Cuthand, an artist with Plains Cree and Scottish ancestry, has an exhibit titled "Back Talk" set up at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The exhibit, which addresses frictions between cultures and talks about failures of representation and the political uses of anger, ends this Sunday, June 12th.
Alberta First Nations, located in the oilsands, are vowing to take the province to court if there is no meaningful consultation to fix what they say are serious flaws in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan. Petr Komers, University of Calgary wildlife ecology associate professor, said there was no ecological basis for the province setting aside the conservation areas it chose to in the land plan. Komers said the guiding principle appears to have been whether or not the area had oil in it. For the most part, he said, areas with oil were not designated for conservation.
The Canada-First Nation Joint Action Plan has been launched with the cooperation of the Conservative government and First Nation leaders. Several mandates have been identified including improving living conditions, educational programs and creating jobs on reserves across Canada. The success of this effort will also require governmental co-operation at the provincial level.
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the Honourable John Duncan, and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, announced a Joint Action Plan with the common goal of improving the lives of First Nation people across Canada. The plan pinpoints four joint commitments between the AANDC and the AFN and aims to strengthen the Crown-First Nation relationship at the national level.
For the first time, MADD Canada has partnered with Nova Scotia's First Nations to raise awareness for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. This was the first year representatives from Nova Scotia’s 13 First Nation communities took part in the annual Strides for Change event, which took place this year in Cambridge, Kings County, Nova Scotia.
For the first time ever, Saskatchewan First Nations leaders will sit down with provincial government leaders in a bear-pit session. Today, in Regina, chiefs from around the province will have two minutes each to ask the Premier Brad Wall and his cabinet ministers questions, and they will have three minutes to respond. The bear-pit session is modelled after those held by other local government organizations.
The All Nations Hope AIDS Network is showcasing its services this week, including a support program for residential school survivors. All Nations Hope AIDS Network provides support and harm-reduction services to aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS. This support includes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, which offers counseling to residential school survivors.
The Conservative government used the throne speech to promise concerted action to help aboriginal communities share in Canada’s social and economic opportunity. The pledges come as the Prime Minister’s Office and aboriginal leaders work behind the scenes to arrange a summit meeting that would put muscle and sinew on the skeleton of many of these plans.
In June, Canadians celebrate Aboriginal History Month, an opportunity to honour the heritage, contribution, and cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. All Canadians are encouraged to make the most of Aboriginal History Month every June.
The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), applauded the successful first public meeting between the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board and Northerners. The Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board was created to foster engagement with Northerners, to enhance the transparency of the program, and to provide information and advice to help the Department guide the management of Nutrition North Canada. The Board will continue to meet with stakeholders and listen to their feedback as they prepare advice for the Minister. The next public meeting is scheduled for Fall 2011.
The head of Canada's largest Aboriginal organization says the energy and mining industries have the potential to become the new fur trade for First Nations people across the country. Speaking at Congress 2011 of the Humanities and Social Sciences Conference in Fredericton recently, Chief Shawn Atleo's presentation was titled, "First Nations Education: Can We Afford to Miss Out?"
More than 90 per cent of young children living in some Canadian aboriginal communities have cavities in their baby teeth, say dentists who are calling for preventive solutions. In Manitoba alone, more than 2,300 children every year under the age of six undergo dental surgery under general anesthesia in hospitals at an average cost of $3,500 each.
As the Yale First Nation celebrates the final few steps in ratifying a modern treaty decades in the making, a much older dispute threatens to overshadow it with the potential for violence. A neighbouring First Nation; the Sto:lo Nation say the Yale land-claims deal gives Yale aboriginals exclusive domain over the sites, a claim which they say, "doesn't fly" according to Sto:lo Nation President Joe Hall.
The Government of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan have selected the 2011-12 recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Centennial Aboriginal Scholarship. Each scholarship of $20,000 is awarded annually on the basis of academic excellence to one student or split between outstanding candidates, who are pursuing graduate or post-graduate studies at any accredited university in Saskatchewan.
The Queen Elizabeth II Centennial Aboriginal Scholarship will be split between two outstanding students:
•Ms. Omeasoo Butt who is pursuing post-graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan and is tracing the history of housing in two indigenous communities, and showing that homes speak volumes about the way people think, express their values and live their lives.
•Cassandra Opikokew is pursuing graduate studies at the University of Regina to develop effective policies that close the education gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal post-secondary students in Saskatchewan, recognizing Canada's colonial legacy, including residential schools and treaty rights, while using Indigenous definitions of success that assert cultural identity.
The Quebec government signed a deal last Friday, May 27 with the province's 18,000 Cree that will give them a say in the development of resources in the vast northern Quebec territory that is on the verge of an economic boom.
Under the new deal, the Cree will take part in a new governance model for the James Bay territory that will see representatives of all nine Cree communities sit down with the mayors of four municipalities in order to make decisions together on the development of the region.
The Federal Government has aided in evacuating the last of 1,100 residents of Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake First Nation in northern Saskatchewan. The massive airlift began about 9:45 p.m. CST Wednesday, after three Hercules planes and four Griffon helicopters arrived in the area in the northern part of the province. The communities are about 800 kilometres north of Saskatoon and only accessible by air. RCMP reports first spotted the fire on Monday afternoon.
The Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans' Association (SFNVA) will be holding their 3rd Annual Texas Scramble on June 28, 2011 at the Dakota Dunes Golf Links in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. All proceeds go to the SFNVA.
The University of Saskatchewan has opened an Office of Aboriginal Initiatives at the English River First Nation urban reserve located south of Saskatoon on Highway 11 (Louis Riel Trail). The office will seek to advance Aboriginal initiatives of the university, said Candace Wasacase-Lafferty, director of Aboriginal engagement in the Human Resources Division. “This is a centre for prospective students, researchers, employees and other members of First Nation and Métis communities to learn about the university and its programming. It is intended for university members, First Nation and Métis people to engage and benefit from each other’s knowledge."
The Beyond the Border Working Group (BBWG) is currently seeking input from First Nation governments as well as industry and non-governmental organizations. The US-Canada Beyond the Border declaration is silent on Indigenous nations, the border crossing rights of First Nation citizens, and challenges faced by First Nation communities divided by the border. Please note that the deadline to submit your comments is June 3, 2011.
