Calgary News Briefs - December 2014

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi receives his first Métis sash from Marlene Lanz, president of Métis Nation Region 3.

Métis Nation Region 3 celebrates Métis Week

Beginning Nov. 16 with Louis Riel Day, Métis Nation 3 held a full week of festivities. Following the flag raising ceremony at noon at City Hall on Nov. 17, the city hosted a gathering at the Region 3 offices with bannock, stew and entertainment. Métis Calgary Family Services held an open house in the afternoon on Nov. 19 as did the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary on Nov. 20. Proceeds from a Fruit and Bannock sale at Métis Calgary Family Services on Nov. 20, National Child Day, went to the Medicine Wheel Learning Centre for its children’s Christmas party. The business community came together at the Apeetogosan Métis Development Corp.sponsored event at the Coast Plaza Hotel and seniors gathered for the special Seniors Supper on Friday evening at the Ramada Plaza. The weeklong celebration of Métis culture culminated on Saturday with a family fun day of jigging, storytelling, moose calling, contests, prizes and face painting at Crossroads Community Hall, followed by a traditional Métis supper and dance with music by the Lizottes.

Washed-out bridge reopens on Siksika

During the 2013 floods in Southern Alberta, the Aapaistaan bridge, which crosses the Bow River on the Siksika Nation, was damaged and 60 metres of the embankment washed away. On Nov. 14 local residents joined First Nations and government leaders to officially re-open the Highway 547 bridge. The bridge, originally scheduled for completion in June, was delayed by spring flooding and unexpected underground drilling problems. Estimated cost for the bridge rebuilding is $4.5 million as part of the provincial government’s overall flood recovery plan. In 2013-14 the province invested $60.6 million to repair roads, bridges, water treatment and mitigation work and expects to spend an additional $62 million in the upcoming year.

Cost of flood recovery on Calgary-area reserves triples

Flood recovery on the Siksika and Stoney Nations will cost three times the amount initially budgeted and could take up to three more years. Last year, the provincial government committed $110 million for flood recovery. However, costs for repairs are now projected at $345 million. Of the 150 homes on the Eden Valley reserve, about two-thirds had flood damage. Repairs have been delayed with work beginning recently and interim trailer housing brought into the community this fall. Some residents have been living in overcrowded conditions and condemned houses with nowhere to go. Temporary housing has also been set up on the Stoney Nakoda Nation at Morley.

Talks on track for Energy East Pipeline

Following a speech at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, told reporters that he believes TransCanada Corp.’s approach to working with Aboriginal communities along the proposed Energy East pipeline is on track although they have not been without challenges. Fontaine has been working with TransCanada to reach out to the communities along the proposed route that would ship Alberta crude to eastern refineries and export terminals in Quebec and New Brunswick. TransCanada has met with 158 First Nations and Métis communities in the six provinces. Primary concerns of First Nations are that they share in the economic benefits and that their land is environmentally protected. With the rapidly growing First Nations population, half of which are under 25 years of age, Fontaine sees the pipeline as an opportunity to create a highly skilled mobile workforce.

Kerby Centre Christmas donation campaign underway

The Kerby Centre has launched its “Practically Christmas” campaign to encourage donations of practical gifts, cash and gift cards for older adults. For the many older adults the Kerby Centre supports, Christmas is a time of year when basic needs are most felt. The assistance Kerby Centre provides goes well beyond Christmas as gift card donations and money are used to replenish its crisis fund. The crisis fund helps those who have experienced a temporary setback. With the high demand this past year, the crisis fund is depleted.