For one night only, once a year, the city of Edmonton takes the liberty of playing host to a prestigious gala that recognizes wonderful Aboriginal woman of Alberta.

The 15th Annual Esquao Awards, an initiative of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Woman, took place on May 1 at the Shaw Conference Centre.

This ceremony once again celebrated with over a thousand Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal dignitaries and leadership, as well as corporate representatives across Canada, to come together and honour unique accomplishments of women.  

Free services offered
Homeless Connect had 1,300 guests, 400 volunteers, and 50 service providers at the May 9 event at the Shaw Conference Centre. In total 80 services were offered. Last year, the event was held both in the spring and fall and drew 1,500 in May and 1,100 in October. A variety of services were offered and included health, personal care (haircuts and foot care were two of the most popular), career counseling, help with taxes and info on obtaining identification. Another session will be hosted in October.

A one month exhibit of Aboriginal artwork will highlight the Profiles Public Art Gallery in St. Albert this month.
The exhibit, entitled “Shifting Patterns,” is curated by Aaron Paquette. Paquette, whose father is of Cree and Cayuse descent and whose mother is Scandinavian, was approached by former gallery director of arts Heidi Alther after she heard about his work through Senator Theresa Chalifoux.

Miss Blackfoot Canada 2010, Simone Smith, is not just another pretty face. The 19-year-old Fort Macleod resident can’t wait to add more pageants to her resume with the hopes of being a role model of overcoming issues that are heavily affecting the First Nations population, including herself.

“I was directly affected by suicide through my father, so I think it is really important through carrying a title to be a spokesperson for that kind of stuff,” said Smith, who recalled suffering through a rough period in her youth, which she referred to as her “dark stage.”

The recent decision by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to decrease $60,000 in funding to three of Alberta’s six on-reserve women’s shelters has shelter directors concerned. While the Sucker Creek, Ermineskin, and Bigstone women’s shelters were initially told the cuts would come in April 2010, they now have until next year to figure out how they can alter their budgets.

The $180,000 salary given to Chief Harry Sharphead, of the Enoch Cree First Nation, is the high end of what Alberta First Nation chiefs earned in 2009.

According to figures provided by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the range of salaries for chiefs of 44 First Nations in Alberta went from $26,700 to Sharphead’s $180,000.

Montana Cree Nation is thinking outside the box when it comes to acquiring land and managing it in order to provide for their community. But their aspirations have been met with hostility, said Chief Carolyn Buffalo.

“We can’t do anything without land,” said Buffalo, who addressed an audience of industry professionals at the Circle for Aboriginal Relations’ annual conference on May 20 and 21.

Buffalo, who was keynote speaker at the conference which had a theme of integrating cultural values in planning for land use, stressed the importance of land ownership.

Cut Rock Walk to raise funds for cancer

“I was sick of poverty,” said Marshall Schuchert, an Ojibway /Odawa from Sault Ste Marie, Ont.
Schuchert was one of 100 recent college/university graduates attending Inclusion Works 10 held in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel April 27 to 29.

Schuchert was also one of the few older graduates attending the conference, organized by the Aboriginal Resource Council.

A pair of teams defended their titles at this year’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).
The Saskatchewan boys’ squad captured its third consecutive NAHC crown. Saskatchewan thumped Manitoba 8-1 in this year’s gold-medal contest held on May 8 in Ottawa.

The Manitoba girls’ side won its second straight national championship, edging Ontario North 2-1 in the final, also held on May 8.