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Ben Calf Robe school hosts Mi’gmaq from Quebec
Using the Royal Alberta Museum for his teachings, Elder Francis Alexis gave the students from Ben Calf Robe school and their Quebec counterparts a lesson in First Nations history in Alberta. The 15 students and three supervisors from the Mi’gmaq reserve in Listuguj, Quebec, were in Edmonton from May 9-16 through the Canadian Sports Exchange Program. Another highlight of their stay included a trip to Elk Island National Park. Fifteen students from Ben Calf Robe school made the return trip May 23-30.
Kanata gravel pit development denied by council
After two days of hearings, Edmonton city council narrowly defeated the proposed development of a gravel pit in a section of the River Valley. On May 17, council voted 7-6 against Kanata Métis Cultural Enterprises Ltd.’s proposal that would have provided employment opportunities to Métis and other Aboriginal people as well as spin-off opportunities for Aboriginal companies. Kanata, owned by the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, said that after mining the gravel, the area would be reclaimed and developed into a park and cultural centre.
New community safety programs
The Alberta government is providing $2.8 million in funding for four new community-based crime prevention initiatives in Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Service received $1.8 million for two programs: the Night Safety Centre and transition housing for high-risk offenders. The Night Safety Centre received $645,000 and will increase safety for vulnerable sexually-exploited individuals, through violence prevention and connection to community resources. The EPS received $435,500 to provide transitional housing and wrap-around support services to repeat violent or sexual offenders in order to maintain supervision and help them reintegrate into the community. The Edmonton John Howard Society received $300,000 to implement the Edmonton Drug Treatment Court Matrix model for outpatient drug treatment program to address crime and social disorder associated with substance abuse and addictions. Also receiving funding ($1.4 million) is Bamboo Shield, a program aimed at supporting at-risk Somali Canadian and immigrant youth in four junior high schools.
TRC in St. Albert
Truth and Reconciliation Commission members Wilton Littlechild and Marie Wilson were at the Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert for two days in early May to gather stories from Oblate priests and nuns who worked in residential schools. The TRC is mandated to research, gather information and educate Canadians about the history of the residential schools and its impact on Aboriginal children and their families. “We want your stories and testimonies so we can then inform Canada about the real history of residential schools,” Littlechild told the Oblates and the sisters as reported by the Western Catholic Reporter. Sister Dora Durand, a Grey Nun, who served at the Blood Reserve residential school starting in 1954, said her goal was to make the students into good Christians. Durand told of positive relationships she still has with former students. Her story underscores that while many students suffered in residential schools, there were positive experiences as well.
Focus of U of A future to include more Aboriginal students
The Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy tabled a report on the University of Alberta, recommending that Aboriginal education become a higher priority. The report says that by 2040, Aboriginal students in Alberta need to be performing as well as non-Natives. According to new statistics, of the 121,000 working-age Aboriginals living off-reserve in Alberta, only 7.4 per cent have a university degree, while more than 24 per cent failed to finish high school. Anne McLellan, former Liberal MP who sits on the panel, told the Edmonton Journal that the panel debated whether 2040 was an appropriate target date before finally settling on it.
Funds, awareness raised for high risk youth
Former mayoral candidate Daryl Bonar raised funds for and awareness of high risk youth in a five-day run that took him from Calgary to Edmonton arriving in the capital city to mark the Youth Emergency Shelter Society’s Homeless†for a Night event on May 27. Bonar’s route took him through Hobbema. “The Youth Emergency Shelter Society is so pleased to have the support of Daryl Bonar. His desire to alleviate†homelessness and bring awareness to the plight of at-risk youth is, of course, very near and dear to our hearts,” said Deb†Cautley, YESS executive director.
Friendship centre marks National Aboriginal Day
The downtown Arts Gallery of Alberta will be the location of a National Aboriginal Day event on June 22, hosted by the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association. Designing the Canvas of Our Lives’ event will include youth arts mentoring workshops with well known Aboriginal artists Aaron Paquette and Dianne Meilli. There will also be a drumocracy session, hosted by Tanya Schur, in the afternoon, arts/culture tradeshow, Rural Friendship Centre Marketplace, and bannock give-away over the noon hour. The event will focus on sharing and cultural expression between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Compiled by Shari Narine
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