This has been an unusual time in the world of Aboriginal reconciliation. It’s no secret that there’s a lot out there in the First Nations community to be reconciled, and sometimes the process is fraught with sudden difficulties and unexpected surprises.

It’s been that way since 1492, or 1497, Newfoundland time. We’ve had recent examples of both the good and the bad.

A Vancouver Island man is supportive of a star-powered new partnership as it could affect the longevity of his newly-launched Aboriginal construction program.

Fred MacDonald, Dean of Trades and Applied Technology at the Vancouver Island University (VIU), said he was thrilled to hear that the Assembly of First Nations and celebrity contractor Mike Holmes were teaming up to help First Nations communities build new schools and homes using green technology.

“I am really excited about this initiative to roll-out,” said  MacDonald.

Despite working with a 15 per cent decrease in revenue from 2009, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) say they have worked hard to stretch their dollars and even managed to end their fiscal year with a surplus.

At the 2010 Assembly of First Nations General Assembly, National Chief Shawn Atleo announced his plans to achieve the ambitious goals of Canada’s First Nations.
Priorities include independence from the federal government and the empowerment of First Nations to become sovereign people, said Atleo in his opening address in July.

AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED AUG. 30
between Brokenhead Ojibway Nation’s chief and council and Manitoba’s minister of conservation to develop a co-management agreement on the petroform sites in Whiteshell Provincial Park without prejudice to Brokenhead’s existing Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) selections in Whiteshell. Petroforms are human-made shapes and patterns made by lining up large rocks on the open ground. At Whiteshell, rocks have been laid out on the bedrock in the shapes of snakes, fish, and turtles.

BILL CURRY OF THE GLOBE AND MAIL

A decision by the Alberta Provincial Court could give Métis the right to hunt and harvest across provincial borders.

“(The case) deals with the issue of: Can Métis move between different parts of the Métis nation and still have harvesting rights,” said Jason Madden, co-counsel for the Métis Nation of Alberta.

The Métis National Council (MNC) is seeking intervener status in an Alberta case that has been appealed by the Alberta government to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Cunningham v. Alberta is a sleeper case, said Jason Madden, counsel for MNC. “This issue has crept up; and while it’s specific to the Métis settlements, it has broader implications for the Métis nation as a whole,” he said.
The case was sparked when long-time members of the Peavine Métis Settlement in Alberta voluntarily obtained Indian status and were removed from the settlement’s membership list.

The goal to advance Métis citizenship took a blow at the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) annual general assembly Aug. 6 and 7.

A resolution to amend the existing MNA bylaws was defeated. The resolution would have allowed only MNA members holding Métis citizenship cards to be eligible to run for office in the association or to vote.
The resolution was defeated by 11 votes. A bylaw amendment needs 75 per cent approval to pass.

Members of the Iroquois Nationals senior men’s field lacrosse team suffered one of their most disappointing losses. But not on the field. The squad, comprised of players from both Canada and the United States, was considered a medal contender heading into the world field lacrosse tournament, which ran July 10 to July 24 in Manchester, England. But the Iroquois Nationals side never boarded their flights from New York City. As a result, they did not compete in the world tournament.