The federal government will enforce a new strategy to deal with contraband tobacco ­ the 2008 RCMP Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy ­ with a focus on what government officials claim to be tobacco illegally manufactured and sold on First Nations land.

Residential school survivors are expecting to finally hear a heartfelt apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the past abuses of residential schools and all the detriments the schools have caused in their lives and those of their children.
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl announced in May from Toronto that the apology is expected to be very meaningful and very respectful.

This is the 21st century and hard to believe that atrocities hapening in our Northern schools. I thought we were past the residential school era only to find that the schools are nothing more than modern day residential schools. Shocking incidents such as the school in an isolated Northern Alberta community that opened the school for 23 school days out of a year.

In today's society we as Aboriginal people are looked down upon as the cause for crime, violence, gangs and drug users. In the media when a crime is committed by an Aboriginal person the article is to be sure that the people know that an aboriginal person is the one who is the cause of the crime. If a Caucasian person has committed a crime that is worse than the crime committed by an Aboriginal it is looked at and forgotten.
There are many people who are into drugs and alcohol, especially the youth who see that as the way of life because they do not have anyone to learn from.

A historic Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) was signed by government officials on May 21 to develop a comprehensive approach for improving housing for BC's First Nations communities, individuals and families both on and off reserve.

Final results for the Métis Nation of Ontario's (MNO) three province-wide governing institutions are in.
MNO Chief Electoral Officer Lawrence Gladue announced the results for the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO), the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth (MNOY), and the Métis Nation of Ontario Veteran's Council (MNOVC).
The elections were held May 12 and revealed the following:
MNO executive is Sharon McBride as vice-chair. Provisional Councillors of the MÈtis Nation of Ontario are: Region 1, Theresa Stenlund and Region 7, Pauline Saulnier as the inclumbent.

More youth living in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan can now gain the skills, knowledge, and experience to better equip them for the job market with a recent funding boost of $96,017 from the Government of Canada to the local Métis Women's Association Skills Link program.
The May announcement was made by Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, Brian Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.

In front of the St. Francis Cathedral just east of the historic plaza in the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, stands a beguiling statue. It's of a beautiful, full-figured Aboriginal woman, wearing white Navajo boots, turquoise jewellery, and a pleated, broomstick skirt. Clutched to her bosom are four black and white eagle feathers.

The traditional knowledge of Aboriginal Elders will lend a hand to classroom teaching if three students from the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) have their way with shaping education curriculum.
As fourth-year students of the program - Morris Elderkin, Sheldon Landry, and Devin Bernatchez - began a class project in January that focused on using traditional ecological knowledge to teach science lessons.

When Michelle Monkman was growing up in the Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, she knew one thing for sure: she is a nurturer.
Lucky for her, when she reached adulthood the post-secondary education possibilities open to her at the time were mostly geared to careers that involved nurturing.
In 1999, Monkman enrolled in the Health Education Access Program (HEAP) at Keewatin Community College, a program that depends on sponsorship from the band.