Sweetgrass and CFWE news - April 5, 2016

Sainte-Marie wins big at the Junos

April 3, 2016. Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Power In the Blood earned her Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Aboriginal Album of the Year at the Juno Awards held in Calgary on Sunday. Sainte-Marie kicked off the televised broadcast from the Scotiabank Saddledome with a powerful spoken-word poetry version of her song Carry It On from her winning album. Armond Duck Chief, from the Siksika Nation, was also nominated for Aboriginal Album of the Year for The One. In presenting the nominations for the final Juno Award of the night, the Album of the Year, which went to The Weeknd, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi welcomed everyone to Treaty 7 territory.

Edmonton’s Food Bank partners to bring job search workshop

April 4, 2016. In response to increased numbers of people accessing the food bank and Edmonton residents not being eligible for extended Employment Insurance benefits, Edmonton’s Food Bank has partnered with BGS Career & Corporate Development to host a free resume and job search tips workshop on Thursday. Pre-registration is required. Edmonton’s Food Bank provides food to over 230 agencies, churches and food depots. Each month since December 2015, the food bank has provided hampers to over 19,000 people, representing an increase of almost 60 per cent over December 2014. The April 7 workshop is one of many initiatives and partnerships the food bank will be undertaking over the next few months in an attempt to reduce the number of people needing its services.

Norquest students receive province’s inaugural Indigenous Careers Awards

April 1, 2016. Nine students at NorQuest College, in Edmonton, were recognized for their hard work over the school year with an Indigenous Careers Award, which includes financial assistance of $2,000 per semester at a post-secondary institution. The funds for the award are provided by the Alberta government. "I think the government was listening to us here at NorQuest," said Joan Hertz, vice president of external affairs and corporate council. "We have had great success with our Indigenous students and some would benefit from a financial award and I think the government responded to that request."

Mountain Cree to develop cultural heritage site

April 1, 2016. The Mountain Cree is part of a consortium that has begun the planning process for a $10 million development of the Cultural Heritage Temple Mounds site in central Alberta.

This would preserve, protect and develop the 1,000-year old site, and allow access by the public to visit, according to the most recent Mountain News published by the Mountain Cree. The site is an old First Nations ceremonial and farming village. It has burial mounds, temples and temple mounds, a village with a main street, ponds and farmsteads.

Census begins in First Nations

April 1, 2016. Statistics Canada will begin collection for the 2016 Census in April for residents in First Nations communities. Census representatives will visit households in First Nations communities to complete census questionnaires with local residents. The census questions have been translated into 11 Aboriginal languages, including Cree and Denesuline, allowing respondents to read them in their own language. Census information is vital for planning services such as housing, employment, education, health care and other initiatives related to the well-being of residents in First Nations communities, said Statistics Canada. The 2016 census will begin in May for most of the rest of the country.