Windspeaker

Aboriginal people are claiming a larger share of the Canadian population. More than 1.4 million people told Statscan they had an Aboriginal identity. Instead of the traditional long form census of the past - a National Household Survey (NHS) was conducted from select homes to take a snapshot of Canada.

While the NHS data so far does not look deep into social conditions among Aboriginal peoples, we only get a glimpse...

• Aboriginal populations have increased by 20 per cent over the past five years compared to 5.2 per cent for the non-Aboriginal population.

• First Nations population grew by 22.0 per cent

• Métis population grew 16.3 per cent

• Inuit population grew by 18.1 per cent.

Not all of this growth was because of people having more babies. Rather, changes in legal definitions and survey methodology account for some of the difference.

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Breaking!

Aboriginal Affairs minister John Duncan has tendered his resignation today and Prime Minister Stephen Harper accepted it.

From a release issued by Stephen Harper after 4 p.m. Friday:

“Today, I have accepted the resignation of John Duncan as minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development,” said Harper.

Duncan will continue to serve as the member of parliament for Vancouver Island North in the House of Commons.

A short time later later John Duncan issued his own.

“In June of 2011 I wrote a character reference letter to the Tax Court of Canada on behalf of an individual to whom my constituency staff was providing casework assistance on a Canada Revenue Agency matter,” the first line in his statement said attributed to Duncan.

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It's all "GO" for 2013.  Our photographers Bert and Brad Crowfoot are planning to travel to many exciting events  throughout 2013 including potlatches, powwows sand festivals.

We'll be posting many of Bert's and Brad's photos in individual galleries from the various events they attend.

Check back often for the latest photo uploads and new galleries.

Gathering of Nations Powwow 2013

Photo Gallery 1:
Gathering of Nations 2013

Photo Gallery 2:
Gathering of Nations 2013

Photo Gallery 3:
Gathering of Nations 2013

More galleries will be uploaded soon!

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The Stephen Harper Conservative majority government has picked up a head of steam with the passage of its omnibus budget bill C-38, and the question now is: How do you stop a train?

That will be the big overarching question in the minds of voters when they mark their ballots at this month’s Assembly of First Nations election for national chief. It has to be, because the Harper government is content to run over Canadians’ best interests, so we have to know the interests of First Nations from coast to coast won’t carry much sway unless the chiefs choose wisely.

On July 18, 600-plus chiefs will have their chance to determine the relationship they will have with this government and Canadians for the next three years. Who is going to speak for them on the federal stage, and what will be the tone of that national conversation?

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Shawn Atleo faces a slate of seven others, including two Regional Chiefs, as he tries to retain his position as head of the Assembly of First Nations.

When the country’s 633 AFN-member First Nations Chiefs or their proxies cast their votes on July 18, the second day of the three-day Annual General Assembly in Toronto, Atleo’s name will be followed on the ballot by Bill Erasmus, chief of the Dene Nation and AFN Regional Chief of the Northwest Territories; Elaine Gabriel, former president of the Quebec Native Women’s Association; Manitoba lawyer Joan Jack; Diane M. Kelly, former Grand Chief of Treaty 3;  former Manitoba Chief Terrance Nelson; Ryerson professor Pamela Palmater; and Alberta AFN Regional Chief George Stanley. Nelson is the only candidate in the running to have challenged Atleo in 2009 when Atleo became National Chief.

Stanley holds that the large number of contenders – three more than the last election – has to do with general discontent.

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Online exclusive...

Shawn Atleo, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nation, kicked off his re-election campaign on May 24 in the style he has become known for, with family and culture, song and spirituality surrounding him.

The chief was escorted into the Chief Joe Mathias Centre in North Vancouver by Squamish drummers and singers, led by Squamish Chief Ian Campbell. He spoke in his traditional language, and then in English told Atleo that he commended the national chief for the change he was bringing to Canada’s policies and laws, things that have impeded First Nations authority.

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Navajo Nation Fair and Rodeo, Window Rock, Arizona, Sept. 5-11, 2011

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Taos Pueblo Powwow, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, July 8-10, 2011

The Taos Pueblo Powwow is one of the few outdoor powwows left. It is held north of Taos Pueblo in a natural arbour of buffalo grasslands. “It’s centrally located between the Plains and Southwest tribes,” said Debbie Lujan, co-coordinator of the powwow. This event marks the 26th year. The powwow was cancelled in 2003 because of a large fire just prior to the powwow’s dates.
Visit the Gallery

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Manitoulin Country Fest, Low Island Park in Little Current, Aug. 4-7

Country music star Crystal Shawanda will once again perform at this year’s Manitoulin Country Fest, which will be staged Aug. 4-7 at Low Island Park in Little Current. Shawanda, who lives in Nashville, will be a crowd favourite not only because of her musical talents but also because she’s from the neighbouring Wikwemikong First Nation. This marks the fifth year of the festival.

Shawanda performed at the 2009 event and was a guest at last year’s event, where she mingled amongst the attendees. “She’s our hometown girl,” said festival organizer K.C. Timmermans. “She’s very much into her fans. And it’s always a pleasure having her here.”

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A Winnipeg lawyer who overbilled 26 residential school survivors for his services could face disbarment.

“This is certainly a case which is serious and, yes, I would say there is a potential for (disbarment). I don’t know yet what the appropriate penalty would be and what the panel would decide but (disbarment) is certainly not off the table,” said Allan Fineblit, CEO with the Law Society of Manitoba.

The lawyer, who cannot be named because of a pending disciplinary hearing, has until May 30 to repay $388,477 into a trust account.

“So far all the (interim) payments have been made and the money is back in the trust account. We expect the last payment before the end of the month. He has paid more than half of it already, because he was required to,” said Fineblit.

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Freda Ahenakew: Inspiring Elder was an internationally respected scholar

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So Indian Affairs is no more in Ottawa. Instead, the Prime Minister’s Office, affectionately known in government circles as the PMO, blindsided bureaucrats by changing the name of the ministry without consultation or notice. There’s a shock.

On May 18, while introducing the Conservative majority government’s new Cabinet, MP John Duncan was named minister of Aboriginal Affairs. The employees of the department of Indian and Northern Affairs had to learn about the name change via television. Nice.

And “Indian” people too were hearing about the change for the first time that day, and believe us when we say it started a lot of speculation about the signal the Prime Minister was sending about the priority of First Nations issues in the country.

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