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Church service focuses on “Creating Sacred Spaces”
Jim Graves leads a song with children during a service at Garneau United Church on May 18. The service was entitled “Creating Sacred Space” and touched upon issues such as the effects of pipelines and the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Edmonton. Juno-award winner Bill Bourne performed an Honour Song and bannock was served at the end. Graves is a lay person with the United Church and the executive director of the Banff Men’s Conference.
Proceeds from crime to help heavy users of service
Aboriginal-focused organizations are part of a new effort by the Edmonton Police Service to help vulnerable people be more independent, less likely to be victimized, and require fewer police, medical, and social interventions. The EPS-led Heavy Users of Services project will see the police use proceeds of crime funding from the province to work with community partners to identify gaps and duplications in services, as well as help target the causes of repeat minor crimes that result from substance and alcohol abuse. Benefits of using community supports more efficiently include freeing up agencies like the EPS for other calls for assistance. The Heavy Users of Services project is a partnership with more than 16 groups, including health and social service providers, first responders, justice services and government representatives. The goal is to work with up to 50 individuals identified as the city’s most frequent users of social, medical, criminal and justice services. So far nine people have agreed to participate.
Blackstock honoured for community committed
University of Alberta associate professor Cindy Blackstock was honoured last month as a Community Scholar, part of the university’s Community Connections Awards. The awards recognize individuals or teams of community members, faculty, staff, students or post-doctoral fellows who embody the spirit of the University of Alberta’s promise, “Uplifting the Whole People.” The awards honour the positive impact of nominees on communities near and far, as well as their impact on the university. Award winners may be distinguished through such community service activities as public speaking, volunteer work, school visits and/or other substantial community service work. Blackstock is also executive director of the First Nations and Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, which is challenging the federal government to fund children on First Nations reserves at the same rate the government funds children off-reserve.
Crystal Kids raises funds
Crystal Kids held its 15th annual Show and Shine, Street Dance, BBQ, and Silent Auction at the Sherbrooke Community League grounds on June 7. Proceeds from the event were matched by the Frank Flaman Foundation. Crystal Kids is an inner-city youth centre, operated by a not-for-profit society and formed in 1992. The centre uses strength-based principles combined with a harm-reduction model and a focus on relationships and capacity building to mentor youth. The goal is to cultivate resiliency and bolster the competencies of children so they can defeat and conquer exclusion and suffering. These children suffer from neglect, abuse and other nurturing deficits putting them at severe risk. Crystal Kids gives children a chance at an opportunity to end the cycle of poverty.
Maina highlights Dreamspeakers
The annual Dreamspeakers Film Festival, which took place May 28-31, showcased the work of Indigenous filmmakers at Metro Cinema. Dreamspeakers Festival Society supports and educates the public about Aboriginal culture, art and heritage and at the same time acts as resource for Aboriginal filmmakers, directors, scriptwriters, actors, musicians, artists and others in the field. Highlighting this year’s offering was Maina, starring Roseanne Supernault, Graham Greene, Ipellie Ootoova, Natar Ungalaaq and Tantoo Cardinal, shown during the festival’s opening night. Among this year’s work were Mohawk Midnight Runners, Craters of the Moon, Hi-Ho Mistahey, Drunktown’s Finist and Shouting Secrets.
Ground breaking for NorQuest expansion
The ground breaking of NorQuest College’s new Centre for Learning took place May 20.
The centre, which has received funding from the province, will include enhanced Aboriginal ceremonial facilities and resources. The four-storey centre will be built directly north of NorQuest’s primary campus. The new building is scheduled to be completed by 2018. The province is providing $170 million for the $190 million project, which includes the new building and renovations to the South Learning Centre. NorQuest is making a concerted effort to increase its Aboriginal student attendance. Last year, nine per cent of the student population was Aboriginal, down from 2009 figures of 15 per cent. NorQuest also plans to access more dollars to for a two-year $2.8-million pilot project where NorQuest will work with partners to help Aboriginal students get safety training, upgrade their driver’s licences, and learn essential work skills so they can be matched with construction jobs.
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