Alberta Sweetgrass Briefs - September

Upon accepting his certificate of completion from the Grande Prairie Regional College’s Aboriginal Student Job Shadow Program, graduate Shawn Randle shook hands with Joan Goldhawk of Alberta Employment and Immigration and Lorna Thiessen, education director with Western Cree Tribal Council.

GPRC shadow program gives much needed experience

Eleven students graduated from the Aboriginal Student Job Shadow Program offered at Grande Prairie Regional College. The special ceremony was held at GPRC’s courtyard on Aug. 19. The program is coordinated by the GPRC Continuing Education department and gives Aboriginal youth between the ages of 15-17 the opportunity to experience worksite conditions and be exposed to a variety of occupations by doing a seven-week job shadow. The program ran from July 3 to Aug. 19. The first three weeks consisted of learning employability skills in a classroom setting, with the remaining four weeks at a worksite of the student’s choice. Employers participating were Ainsworth, GPRC, City of Grande Prairie, Aquatera, Petrowest, Weyerhaeuser, Devon, and Alberta Health Services. The 2011 group marks the third year of this program. To participate, students must either be enrolled in high school or have just graduated from high school. “They come out for two weeks to the Fairview (GPRC) Campus, they learn about WHMIS, First Aid and CPR,” said co-coordinator Amber Havens. “They also learned about cultural awareness and physical activity, career trades and orientation, then they finally move on to the Grande Prairie campus where they start their jobs.”

Opposition to Keystone XL pipeline grows

Opposition to Trans-Canada’s Keystone XL pipeline rose a notch when members of the Assembly of First Nations and the US National Congress of American Indians were arrested in front of the White House on Sept.2. They were holding banners saying “Obama honor the Treaties” and “Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.” The two Indigenous bodies have come together in opposition to the proposed pipeline which would cross the Canada-U.S. border and wind through the U.S. to oil refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. The expansion of the pipeline would cross through northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The action was taken to influence American President Barack Obama’s decision which will be delivered later this fall regarding the pipeline. Representatives traveled to the capitol city wrapping up two weeks of the largest mass civil disobedience the United States has seen organized in decades.

Another shooting death on Samson First Nation

A 23-year-old woman was fatally shot on the Samson Cree First Nation in the early morning hours of Sept. 5. She lived next door to Ethan Yellowbird, the five-year-old who was shot to death two months earlier. Police were notified of shots fred in the areat 2:55 a.m. When they arrived at the home where a party was being held, they found the woman in the backyard with gunshot wounds to her face and upper body. She was taken to hospital in Wetaskiwin where she died. RCMP are not releasing the woman’s name. The RCMP responded to incidents at two other locations on Sept. 5. No suspects have been identified in the woman’s shooting, but police have taken some people into custody for questioning, reported the Edmonton Journal.

Siksika Chief recognized for accomplishments

Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier of the Siksika First Nation was one of four people recently inducted into Palliser’s Wall of Fame for Palliser Regional School District. The ceremony took place Aug. 26 in Vulcan. Rabbit Carrier, a former student of Milo, Arrowwood, Mossleigh and County Central High schools, was recognized for outstanding achievement in community leadership. Rabbit Carrier, who was elected as chief in November 2010, overcame a learning disability and continued on to post-secondary education. Before his election, he spent more than 25 years employed by Siksika Nation Administration, working his way up to tribal manager. His achievements include introducing Circuit Rider Training to Siksika and other Alberta First Nations. The program was developed to certify water and waste water plant operators to ensure quality water treatment services to First Nations communities.

RCMP services signed for 20 more years in Alberta

Where the RCMP patrol First Nations and Métis settlements, they will continue to provide services. The governments of Alberta and Canada agreed to a new 20-year contract that will see the RCMP continue as Alberta’s provincial police force to March 31, 2032. “This is wonderful news for the province and for Albertans. This agreement makes good financial sense for Alberta and strengthens a valuable relationship with a partner who continues to play a key role after more than a century keeping Alberta communities safe. I would like to thank everyone involved in ironing out this deal to keep the RCMP in Alberta, which has been a priority for our government,” said Premier Ed Stelmach in a news release. Under the agreement, the current cost sharing between Alberta, at 70 per cent, and Canada, at 30 per cent, remains. Forty-three municipalities with populations of more than 5,000 will contract directly with Canada for local policing. The RCMP also provides policing to all municipal districts and counties and Métis settlements regardless of population; to towns, villages and summer villages with populations under 5,000; and to First Nations communities where other policing arrangements have not been made.

Blue Quills marks 40 years of life after residential school

Blue Quills First Nations College, in St. Paul, will be educating fathers about parenting. Using the film With Dad: Strengthening the Circle of Care, the impact of residential schools on the younger generations and the lasting effects the system has on family structures will be explored. Blue Quills began as a residential school in 1930. In 1971 it became an Aboriginal-run learning institution. Part of the 40-year celebrations included an afternoon of healing circles for residential  school attendees. “Blue Quills is an innovative leader around Indigenous education It’s an internationally-recognized institute,” Margo Greenwood, academic leader of the National Collaboration Centre for Aboriginal Health told the Edmonton Journal. Said Greenwood about the DVD With Dad, “I think it will have a tremendous impact. This DVD is about healing our family.”

Bold Eagle program graduates over 70 recruits

 The Canadian Forces’ Bold Eagle program marked its 22nd anniversary with a colourful graduation ceremony on Aug. 18. Over 70 recruits from across western Canada successfully completed the program, graduating with the Basic Military Qualification.  Lt. Gov. of Alberta Donald S. Ethell was in attendance and serves as the Canadian Forces Reviewing Officer.  Lieutenant General Peter Devlin, Chief of the Land Staff, was also in attendance. The Aboriginal Reviewing Officer is Vice-Chief Edward “Dutch” Lerat of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Bold Eagle is a unique summer training employment program for Aboriginal youth that has been developed jointly by National Defence and Aboriginal organizations from across western Canada.  Participants undertake a six-week course that combines the Army’s Basic Military Qualification (Reserve), commonly referred to as “basic training,” alongside Aboriginal cultural elements and teachings at the Land Force Western Area Training Centre. The aim of the program is to develop self-discipline, teamwork, self-confidence, physical fitness in participants and facilitate their potential interest in continuing with a full-time or part-time career in the Canadian Forces afterwards.

New group Ghostkeeper leads in APCMA nominations

The nominations for the 6th annual Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards have been announced and the new group Ghostkeeper leads the way. Ghostkeeper, from High Level, is nominated in four categories: Best New Artist; Best Duo or Group (along with Asani from Edmonton); Best Producer/Engineer; and, Best Album Cover Design for their self-named album. Other Alberta nominees are Dallas Arcand of Calgary (Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year), Thundering Spirit from Enoch (Best Hand Drum CD for Hand Drum Harmony), Jason Burnstick  from Paul First Nation (Best Instrumental CD for Where The Blood Mixes), Shane Yellowbird of Hobbema (Best Music Video for Barefeet On The Blacktop), Blackstone of Duffield (Best Pow Wow CD – Traditional for Live in Alexis), Shawn Bernard of Edmonton (Best Rap/Hip Hop CD for Collabonation), and Will Belcourt  of Edmonton (Best Rock CD for Epoch). The awards will be held Nov. 4 as part of the Manito Ahbee Festival. Award winners are chosen by fans, who vote on line from Aug. 25 to Oct. 6. Check out the APCMA website.

Compiled by Shari Narine