October 2011

Nova Scotia MP, Scott Armstrong, announced on October 28th, 2011, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, support for 100 Aboriginal people to get job training and skills development. There will be $2,625,349 provided by the Skills and Partnership Fund to assist the Native Council of Nova Scotia's Building Aboriginal Skills to Employment (BASE) and Driving Towards Industry Service Standards projects, projects which are intended to increase Aboriginal participation in the labour market.

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On October 27th, 2011 the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced that the legacy of Indian Residential Schools will be commemorated through a permanent installation of stained glass artwork in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

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Rory Maclean, as reported in the October 27th, 2011 issue of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, took to the streets to talk to "real" people to ask what they would like to see discussed during the election campaign with the Saskatchewan Party's Brad Wall and the NDP's Dwain Lingenfelter. Erica Lee, a 21 year old First Nations student, asked the two leaders to address economic inequalities among First Nation people in the province.

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Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health presents, as part of their Culture as Treatment Series: "Health From An Aboriginal Perspective". The event will be held from October 31st to November 2nd, 2011 at the Richelieu Vanier Community Centre, in Ottawa, ON. For more information contact Meaghan Hamilton at 613-850-6349 or at: registration@wabano.com

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Elder-in-residence, Randall Tetlichi, will be in attendance at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, until mid November 2011, giving talks about the north, living off of the land and offering people the chance to learn about parts of Canada, other than where they come from.

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Gloria Galloway, of The Globe and Mail, reported October 21st, 2011 that Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), and a group of aboriginal and business leaders have traveled to China to engage with individuals and organizations regarding economic development partnership opportunities. One of the events the group will be attending, will be the raising of a totem pole, which will be presented by Ed John, the Grand Chief of the First Nations Summit in British Columbia, on behalf of First Nations across Canada.

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Gabrielle Giroday reports in the Winnipeg Free Press on October 25th, 2011 how Winnipeg social service groups held a news conference last week to discuss the omnibus crime bill C-10 which they feel unfairly targets aboriginal people and women. Five speakers spoke at the event, all opposing the bill.

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The Pacific Business & Law Institute is hosting, National Aboriginal Policing Forum on October 27th and October 28th, 2011, at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa, ON. The forum will focus on the core issues arising across Canada.

Conference Brochure

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The Canadian Institute is offering the course, The Fundamentals of Aboriginal Law on Monday, October 24th and Tuesday, October 25th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary, AB. The course is aimed at lawyers and non-lawyers in industry, government and aboriginal communities to minimize legal risks.

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The Pacific Business & Law Institute is offering, on October 19th, 2011; "First Nation Taxation: Implications of the Bastien and Dubé Cases". The one day conference is being held at the Renaissance Harbourside Hotel, in Vancouver, BC.

Conference catalog

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Bill Cleverley, of the Time Colonist, reports October 13th, 2011 that the Scia'new First Nation, located on Vancouver Island, B.C., is proposing a $25 million demonstration project that would transform garbage into gas and then electricity. The plant would be designed to process about 30 tonnes of garbage, would occupy only half an acre of land and the building would be double sealed to contain waste odour.

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Jeanette Stewart, of The StarPhoenix, reported October 18th, 2011 that a notable lineup is headlining the relaunch of the Anskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival. Tomson Highway, Maria Campbell and Louise Halfe are among the writers appearing at the Festival which starts Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The events are open to everyone.
For more information visit the Anskohk website.
To access the schedule.
Or call 934-2632.

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Dr. Manu Meyer, the John Ranton McIntosh Visiting Scholar, will be presenting a lecture on Thursday, October 20th, from 1:30 - 3:50 PM, in Room 271 Thorvaldson Building (Airplane Room), at the University of Saskatchewan. Everyone is welcome.

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Mary Eberts will present the Ariel Sallows Chair Lecture, " Settler Reflections: Knowing and Refusing to Know About Canada's Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women", on Monday October 24th, 2011, at 12:00 Noon, in the MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP Lecture Theatre, Room 150, in the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan campus.

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MBC Network Radio Online reports that Saskatchewan NDP leader, Dwain Lingenfelter, while campaigning for the November 7th, 2011 provincial election, recently made an election promise to begin talks to share resource revenue with First Nations people. The announcement was made on October 13th at the Red Pheasant First Nation.

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Kerry Benjoe, of the Regina Leader-Post, reported October 15th, 2011, that after more than 10 years, the City of Regina is permanently flying the Treaty 4 flag along with the Canadian, Saskatchewan and Regina flags. Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Shawn Atleo said no other municipal building in Canada permanently flies a First Nations flag.

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The National Forum on First Nation Citizenship will take place at the Enoch Cree River Resort & Casino in Enoch, AB on November 15th & 16th, 2011. Workshops, expert panels and plenary sessions will allow participants to share experiences and develop recommendations for future action.

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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is hosting a National Health Forum titled Taking Action to Move Forward on November 7-9, 2011 at the Ottawa Convention Centre, in Ottawa, ON. The Forum aims to improve plans for sustainable delivery of First Nation health services.

Poster
Agenda
Schedule

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On October 8th, 2011 Dana Dignard of the Vancouver Sun reports on the challenges facing Canadians regarding Aboriginal education. With over 60% of First Nations youth not possessing a high school diploma and only 7% having a university degree, statistics clearly point to the need for corrective action.

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On October 13th, 2011, Jason Warick of the StarPhoenix reported that former Prime Minister Paul Martin was in Saskatoon on Wednesday, October 12th, to announce a $75,000 donation towards a new aboriginal youth entrepreneurship program. The announcement was made at the Oskayak High School on Broadway Avenue. Martin praised the efforts of staff and students and announced the donation that was made by the RBC Foundation through the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative.

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Steven Chase of the Globe and Mail reported Thursday, October 13th , after receiving records through an access to information request, that the Canadian military is conducting surveillance on aboriginal groups. The Canadian Forces' National Counter-Intelligence Unit's mandate is to protect the Forces from espionage, terrorists and saboteurs.

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The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is hosting the 2011 Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow, October 24-25, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario. Among the themes to be discussed at this event is mentorship and skill development. This event is supported by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

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Charles Hamilton, in the October 6th issue of The StarPhoenix, reported that several hundred people have organized, on a Facebook page, in order to get the name of Saskatoon's Bedford Road Collegiate sports teams changed from Redman. Fifteen years ago the issue was raised but students voted to keep the name.

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The 12th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will take place October 19-23, 2011 at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., Toronto, ON.

imagineNATIVE is the world's largest Indigenous media arts festival.

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CBC News reports September 29th, 2011 that the provincial government in Alberta has consented to conducting a health study of Aboriginal people living in the downstream area from the oilsands developments. The Fort McKay Métis Community and the Fort McKay First Nation have agreed to participate in the community driven initiative.

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The Anskohk Aboriginal Writers Festival will be held between October 19th and 22nd, 2011 in a number of venues around Saskatoon. A performance by Tomson Highway and Krystle Pederson will be one noteworthy highlight of the festival to be held at the Roxy Theatre on Friday, October 21st. Readings and "open mikes" will also be held in Regina, Prince Albert and North Battleford during the weekend festival.

Complete list of events and registration form.

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Ancestral Teachings: Contemporary Perspectives, is an exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal Art that will be taking place at the Gladstone Gallery (Hotel) in Toronto, Ontario from November 15th to 30th, 2011. Submissions by all Aboriginal artists is welcome and should be sent to curator Vanessa Dion Fletcher by October 14th, 2011.

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Statistics Canada is offering, through their Aboriginal Statistical Training Program, a course titled Data Analysis: Turning Data into Stories in Saskatoon, SK., on October 25-27, 2011. During the three-day course participants will learn about the fundamentals of data analysis. Registration if free and is on a first come, first served basis.

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Jason Warick, of The StarPhoenix, reported October 3rd, 2011 that Saskatchewan's acting chief electoral officer has altered the rules regarding acceptable forms of identification in order to vote in the upcoming provincial election. The change will allow a Chief or their designate to vouch by a Letter of Attestation, which will now be acceptable as proof of residence.

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Chief Darcy M. Bear, of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, is among nine 2011 recipients announced today to be invested into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Established in 1985, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a prestigious recognition of excellence, achievement and contributions to the social, cultural and economic well being of the province and its residents. The Order recognizes individuals who have made their mark in such areas as the arts, agriculture, business and industry, community leadership, the occupations or professions, public service, research, and volunteer service. It takes precedence over all other provincial honours and awards.

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Hannah Spray, of The StarPhoenix reported October 5th, 2011, that Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 was the unveiling day of the design of the new building to house the University of Saskatchewan's aboriginal student centre. The Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre will be located south of the Arts Building. The project is scheduled to go out for tender this fall with construction starting as early as spring of 2012.

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The Assembly of First Nations will host a national forum on Youth Mental Wellness in Winnipeg, MB, Oct. 4-6th, 2011. The forum is being held to discuss strategies for youth suicide prevention. National Chief Atleo has also called upon governments to help implement the recommendations contained in the Ontario Chief Coroner's report on suicides in the Pikangikuym First Nation.

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Mark Hume, of the Globe and Mail, reported October 2nd, 2011 that the Doig River Band, with a population of 249, has announced that they are creating a 90,000 hectare "tribal park" on both sides of the British Columbia-Alberta border in the northern areas of the provinces. Legally, a tribal park may not exist but there are precedents. In 1984, for example, the Tla-o-qui-aht established an area to protect Meares Island, B.C. from logging, which it has done, a move that has had benefits for local tourism.

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Please join President MacKinnon and guests Tuesday, October 4th, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. in Place Riel for a special announcement on the development of Aboriginal initiatives at the University of Saskatchewan.

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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has just released a report titled "Virtual Summit: AFN Survey of First Nation Post-Secondary Students 2011". Two Virtual Summits were held, one on January 27th and one on March 10th, 2011. Students were able to share their views, by audio, regarding key issues surrounding post-secondary education. An on-line survey was also available, for a two week period, to get more in depth answers to ten questions posted.
The report reveals the questions, the responses, and includes a short conclusion.

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Police officials from Greenland, Alaska and Canada's North met recently in Iqaluit, Nunavut to discuss common concerns and possible solutions. Officials discovered "remarkably similar" social situations, with alcohol being the common denominator.

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