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Windspeaker Publication

Windspeaker Publication

Established in 1983 to serve the needs of northern Alberta, Windspeaker became a national newspaper on its 10th anniversary in 1993.

  • January 25, 2016
  • Shari Narine Windspeaker Contributor GITGA’AT FIRST NATION, B.C.

Art Sterritt expects Gitga’at First Nation’s recent legal victory to impact more than the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project.

The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Jan. 13 that the province had failed in its duty to properly consult and accommodate Gitga’at First Nation on Northern Gateway. An equivalency agreement signed by B.C. allowed the National Energy Board (NEB) to drive the…

  • January 21, 2016
  • Shayne Morrow Windspeaker Contributor

The president of the Three Voices of Healing Society has gone public to refute allegations of questionable spending at its 12-bed residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment centre in Invermere, B.C.

The centre, which operated under the umbrella of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, earned a high profile for its success working with First Nations clients.

But…

  • January 19, 2016
  • Shayne Morrow Windspeaker Contributor

Seven activists led by We Wai Kai Hereditary Chief Geh-Soh-Giliach (Dan Wallace) have been taken into custody after occupying an offshore geotechnical barge moored near the Westridge Marine Terminal on Burrard Inlet in Tsleil-Waututh Nation traditional territory.

The barge, working under contract to Kinder Morgan, was conducting drilling operations in preparation for the proposed…

  • January 7, 2016
  • Shari Narine Windspeaker Writer ONION LAKE CREE NATION

January
7, 2016

Onion
Lake Cree Nation may have gotten an early Christmas present from the Liberal
government but it wasn’t timely enough.

“They
didn’t act quickly. The decision was in October. They waited almost 90 days,”
said Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox referring to a federal court
decision in which the judge ruled that the…

  • December 18, 2015
  • Compiled by Shari Narine

New legislation gives Indigenous people more say

Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross has proposed legislation under the Child and Family Services Act that would benefit Indigenous children in need of protection while maintaining cultural ties with their home community. The proposed legislation calls for an increased focus on prevention and supporting families to prevent children…

  • December 17, 2015
  • Windspeaker Staff

Talk about a lead balloon. A government review of child welfare in British Columbia dropped out of the sky, landing with a thud when it attacked the one person in the province that works steadfastly to stand tall and talk truth to power about the systemic problems in the Ministry of Child and Family Development—the Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.

If…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Windspeaker Staff

UBC nursing researcher John Oliffe has been studying men’s health for more than 20 years, focusing on the mental and physical challenges experienced by men in modern society.

His most recent study focused on murder-suicides in North America and how these cases are linked to traditional masculine ideals and identities.

What got you interested in this topic?

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

The National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund launched a call for applications Dec. 10 to support education programs aimed at healing and reconciliation. Applications will be accepted from First Nation and Metis individuals, governments and organizations with preference for former students of Indian residential schools.

“Funds through the National Indian Brotherhood Trust are being made…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

It's the beginnings of change for the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, said outgoing chief Bryan LaForme, with more women elected to council than men. Chief R. Stacey LaForme will now lead the nation. It was the highest turnout on record, with 518 votes cast. “This new council will re-energize the Mississaugas of the New Credit. We will work in unity with administration and our…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Debora Steel

Annual General Meeting held on Dec. 1, Donna Day of Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island) was recognized with a Community Service Award. Day works for Enodmaagejig (Place of Helpers) Social Services on Walpole Island as the Central Intake Worker. Her other roles include Justice Team Leader and the

Naaknigewnan Restorative Justice Co-ordinator, assisting Walpole Island’s satellite…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Windspeaker Staff

The Art Gallery of Alberta will be presenting the exhibition 7: Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. from March 5 to July 3, 2016.

The show brings together more than 80 paintings and drawings from the 1970s from the group, whose members included Jackson Beardy (1944-1984), Eddy Cobiness (1933-1996), Alex Janvier (b. 1935), Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007), Daphne Odjig (b. 1919…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Suzanne Keeptwo Windspeaker Contributor

Twelve-year-old traditional singer, Theland Kicknosawy (Odawa/Potawatomi), led the procession into the room where the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission awaited to present their final report in Ottawa yesterday.

Chairman Justice Murray Sinclair (Ojibway), opened the event encouraging the young First Nation boy to walk tall and continue to sing his Honor Song.

  • December 16, 2015
  • Windspeaker Staff

The mental health and residential schools healing programs of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council hosted the Feed the People Christmas Lunch on Dec. 10 at Trinity Church in Port Alberni. It was the fifth year a lunch for inner city and urban Native people was held in honour of late Ray Seitcher, hereditary chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht people, who dedicated his life to helping people. Servers had…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Windspeaker Staff

Windspeaker Staff

The newly-released internal evaluation of British Columbia’s child welfare system has been solidly panned by First Nations leadership, who called it a wasted opportunity and an attack on the child advocate’s office.

In an open letter to BC Premier Christy Clark, the First Nations Leadership Council, made up of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the BC Assembly of…

  • December 16, 2015
  • Compiled by Dianne Meilie

Filmmaker wanted nothing less than the truth

“Today, it’s important to look Indian, to be Métis.”

With these words, Gil Cardinal narrates how he feels about meeting a blood relative for the first time in his autobiographical documentary Foster Child.

The 1987 internationally-acclaimed self-portrait records his heartrending journey to find his Aboriginal…