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Marge Hudson, a former 30 year veteran of the RCMP and Manitoba's first female aboriginal member, says she and other aboriginal members of the RCMP experienced discrimination. Hudson wants to discuss her concerns with the new RCMP Commissioner, Bob Paulson, in an attempt to find solutions and to create a more inclusive RCMP, for all members.
CBC News, Posted December 21st, 2011
Tom Flanagan, professor of political science at the University of Calgary and former adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has advocated a strategy that he says will change the cycle of poverty on First Nations. He says that individual property rights should be recognized along with property tax regimes and that those First Nations that adopt such a system score higher on Statistics Canada's Community Well-Being Index.
Tom Flanagan, The Globe and Mail, Friday, December 16th, 2011
Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament (MP) for Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, announced that aboriginal people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness will soon have a safe drop-in centre to meet people, receive food and shelter, and get housing or employment information. He revealed that the Indian Metis Friendship Centre of Prince Albert (IMFCPA) will receive up to $30,000 to renovate its facility, in order to double the number of people that can be served, increasing the number from 15 to 30.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced a new partnership with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ), located in Ontario, to construct a modular home. The unit will be constructed and designed by members of the CORCAN employment program which is a Special Operating Agency within the CSC that provides offenders with employment skills to ease the transition back into mainstream society.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is hosting the National Justice Forum, which will be held February 21st-23rd, 2012 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, British Columbia.
For more information please contact Marshall Ballard at: mballard@afn.ca or (613)-241-6789, ext. 255.
The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies is seeking a qualified individual for the position of, Dean of Adult Basic Education. The closing date for the position competition is December 30th, 2011.
On behalf of all of the staff at the Indigenous Studies Portal (iPortal), University of Saskatchewan, we hope that all our patrons have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. We look forward to continue serving you in 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI has approved the canonization of Canada's soon-to-be first aboriginal saint - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. She was known as "Lily of the Mohawks" and is entombed inside the St. Francis-Xavier Church in Kahnawake, a Mohawk community near Montreal, Quebec.
CBC News, Posted December 19th, 2011
Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Douglas White states, on the 157th anniversary of the treaty signed between the First Nation and James Douglas, governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, that the band is still fighting for basic rights guaranteed in the Treaty. Chief White hopes to arrange meetings with the federal and provincial governments to be able to access the few remaining Crown land parcels.
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist, December 20th, 2011
The latest Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) communique provides details on the upcoming First Nations-Crown Gathering in Ottawa on January 24th, 2012, reports on the FSIN 65th Anniversary Gala which was held on December 9th, 2011 and other Aboriginal news.
Ground access to Stanley Mission, Saskatchewan , a community of about 1500 people, located 80 kilometers north east of La Ronge, Saskatchewan or 310 kilometers north of Prince Albert was cut by a washed out section of road connecting the community with the rest of the province. A Saskatchewan Highways spokesperson said they hoped to have the road reopened as early as Wednesday, and it is.
Canada's Supreme Court has heard arguments from the Federal Government and the Manitoba Métis Federation over whether or not Ottawa backed out of its promise 141 years ago to set aside over 5,000 square kilometers of land for 7,000 children of the Red River Metis.
CBC News, December 13th, 2011
According to the report on northern transportation, Northern Assets: Transportation Infrastructure in Remote Communities transportation infrastructure in Canada's North is much more expensive to build and maintain. The Conference Board of Canada report also suggests that climate change is interfering with existing winter roads and rail links.
Nunatsiaq Online, December 16th, 2011
The Assembly of First Nations and RCMP have agreed to work together to solve cases of missing and murdered aboriginal people. The agreement will increase communication and encourage collaboration on crime prevention strategies across the country.
Kristy Kirkup, Toronto Sun, December 15th, 2011
A 150-year-old Tlingit "mosquito mask", made of wood, was sold in Paris, France for close to $400,000 dollars. The amount was far above the $40,000 it was expected to get. A European collector foiled the efforts of a rival Canadian bidder from repatriating the rare object. Although the global interest in historic aboriginal art bolsters the work of modern-day First Nations artists, for many Aboriginal people who live in poverty, there are no benefits.
Randy Boswell, PostMedia News/StarPhoenix, December 16th, 2011
An online discussion was held from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax on December 12, 2011. The discussion offered Indigenous high school students from across Canada the opportunity to discuss their impressions of postsecondary education and their educational goals.
The webinar can here viewed here.
The Native Women's Association of Canada and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action have lobbied with the United Nations to conduct an inquiry into the cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The UN is prepared to go ahead but requires the federal government of Canada's consent. Aboriginal women are reported to be 3.5 times more likely to be victims of violence than the rest of the population.
Bradley Bouzane, PostMedia News, Published in Saskatoon StarPhoenix December 14th, 2011.
Donald Worme had a connection with the legal system prior to becoming a lawyer. He was a witness to his mother and his sisters murders. Despite this horrific event, Worme is the eternal optimist , and uses his grandfathers teachings of Cree values to continue the fight for human rights.
Ned Powers, Saskatoon Express, December 12-19th, 2011.
The federal government wants the Ontario Community of Attawapiskat to accept a third party manager. Chief Theresa Spence, has no objection to the aid the federal government will be sending to the housing crisis in the Cree community, but has refused to accept a third party manager, stating it will cause yet another crisis in the community.
On Tuesday, December 13th, 2011, Supreme Court judges listened to hours of arguments discussing whether the governments of Canada and Manitoba had kept their end of the deal with regards to land promised to the Metis in 1870. The land in question is deemed to be possibly worth billions of dollars. The Supreme Court will proceed with the case but there is no timeline.
Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free Press, Published in Saskatoon StarPhoenix December 14th, 2011.
City and provincial officials have created a report outlining various changes to evacuation procedures during natural disasters such as fires or floods in northern communities. Some of the changes include increased notice of evacuation from 24 to 48 hours, keeping families together, and ensuring there is supervision for younger evacuees.
Jeremy Warren, The Starphoenix, December 13th, 2011.
Jordan Press, for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, reported on December 12th, 2011 that Attawapiskat will be receiving 22 modular homes from the Federal Government. The move came in response to the housing crisis suffered by the northern Ontario reserve. The community's healing lodge may also get a retrofit to enable it to become a temporary shelter.
The West Block, a Global News program with Tom Clark, has a video to discuss the issue with Charlie Angus (NDP) and Chris Warkentin (Conservative). The following questions are asked: Was federal funding mismanaged? If so, by which party? Is it time to blow up the Indian Act?
NationTalk posted on December 6th, 2011 that with almost half of the 60,000 Métis living in British Columbia being 24 years old and younger, a group of 15 Métis communities are preparing to launch a series of programs designed to address some of the issues faced by youth. Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) strives to enhance culturally-focused, locally-based activities to connect Aboriginal youth with their culture.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Aboriginal Student Services Center at the University of Alberta is hosting an exploratory process to gather information and identify critical issues for discussion relating to Indian registration, Band membership and Aboriginal citizenship. The session is designed to shed light and encourage further discussion on many complex issues such as the current system of Indian registration in the Indian Act and Métis citizenship and identity.
The session will be held on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at the U of A in the Lister Conference Center (Aurora Room), and will run from 9:45am - 3:00pm.
Nunatsiaq Online posts December 6th, 2011 that a new park, in the Ottawa region, has an Inuktitut name, Nimiq. The name is an Inuktitut word that describes a force that binds things together, and is also the name of a fleet of orbiting satellites owned by Telesat Canada.
Former Prime Minister, Paul Martin, in an interview with CBC News, stated that he believes the roots of the current situation in the First Nation community of Attawapiskat are because of the failure to implement the Kelowna Accord by the current government. The agreement, reached in November 2005 by Martin's minority Liberal government was followed by its defeat and subsequent election of Stephan Harper's Conservatives.
Jason Warick, a Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter, writes on December 8th, 2011 that a newly released report from Statistics Canada, projects over a 25 year period, a near doubling of the proportion of Aboriginals in Saskatchewan. The Statistics Canada report also states that among Canadian cities only Saskatoon and Regina, along with Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, are the only major cities expected to have aboriginal populations between 12 and 15 per cent by 2031.
Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, located south of Saskatoon, SK is one of nine people who were yesterday invested into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (SOM). The SOM is the province's highest order recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the overall improvement of the province and its people.
The Métis Nation of Alberta, who have partnered with Mount Royal University, announced that they have established a $500,000 endowment to assist Métis students studying at Mount Royal University. This initiative is part of the mandate from Alberta's Premier to increase the number of Métis at post-secondary levels of education.
The Government of Canada's website has posted an update from The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development who has issued a statement updating the situation at the community of Attawapiskat. Gloria Galloway, from the Globe and Mail, posted on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 that the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Shawn Atleo, also commented on Attawapiskat at an annual meeting of native leaders.
Heather Scoffield, of the Winnipeg Free Press, posts on November 29th, 2011 that more than a month after issuing a call for assistance, the First Nation community of Attawapiskat is starting to receive help from the Red Cross. According to the Assembly of First Nations estimates, 126 out of 630 native communities across Canada have drinking water advisories currently, some of those have been in place for over a year. On November 30th, 2011, Stephanie Levitz, from the Winnipeg Free Press, posts that Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in the House of Commons that the government has spent $90 million just on Attawapiskat since 2006.
The Métis Training to Employment Services, Rupertsland Institute is offering programs for those looking for a career in firefighting, policing or EMR. Program starts February 6th, 2012 and the application deadline is January 6th, 2012.
The Saskatoon Tribal Council is conducting a Call for Coaches for the 2012 First Nation Winter Games that will take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 9th -14th, 2012. The deadline for applications is December 16th, 2011.
The Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild is looking for a part-time Aboriginal Program Coordinator. ThIs person will be responsible for developing all aspects of programming for Aboriginal writers including: communication with writers and First Nation and Métis communities, establishing partnerships, organizing and implementing programs, and maintenance of an information database. The position is for 12 weeks, 20 hours per week, pays $14 per hour and begins January 3rd, 2012 at the Regina Guild office.
Please send your résumé to Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, SWG, Box 3986, Regina SK S4P 3R9; Email info@skwriter.com. The deadline for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12th, 2011.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) is hosting their 65th Anniversary Gala Dinner. The event takes place on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at the Prairieland Park, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and will honour FSIN Founding Fathers. Cocktails are at 5:00 pm & Dinner at 6:00 pm.
Contact FSIN for tickets at: (306) 665-1215.
A Statistics Canada paper released last week paints a troubling picture for Canada's Aboriginal people whose employment levels fell further and longer than non-Aboriginals through the economic downturn. Tavia Grant, from The Globe and Mail, Thursday, November 24th, 2011 reports that figures from last year show an Aboriginal unemployment rate of 12.3% versus 6.8% for non-Aboriginals.
