Windspeaker

Canada's Wilful Blindness in the Face of Flu Threat

Not that we're looking ahead to Autumn. In fact, we're kind of dreading it, as should most First Nations in Canada if they are lacking confidence in the pandemic planning of the federal government when it comes to Aboriginal communities. You see, while the H1N1 outbreak has been relatively mild leading up to the summer months, the cold weather promises to bring with it another outbreak and that could wallop our populations. "When I raised the need for an urgent federal response for disproport...

Page 5 Chatter

We all know that Aboriginal people represent the fastest growing population in Canada, but did you know that the number of urban Aboriginal people is the fastest growing. More than 70 per cent of Aboriginal people do not live on reserves. In 2007/08, friendship centres across Canada delivered more than 1,300 programs and services worth more than $93 million to over 1.3 million participants on a status blind basis. The entire Friendship Centre Movement, consisting of 118 friendship centres, de...

Constitutional Changes in the Mix for Candidate

"I don't think it's going to be an easy task, but just because it's not easy doesn't mean we can't tackle it, we can't work on it. Some of the more challenging communities, it may take them 25, 30 years to be part of the overall economy, but we've got to start somewhere," said [John Beaucage]. "Right now I don't think the AFN truly represents all of the First Nation members across the country, that we don't look after all our citizens and in particular the 60 per cent of our citizenship that ...

Go Beyond the Duty to Consult, Says Candidate

"Words are words. Where is the action? Words are empty unless there is action," said [Perry Bellegarde], who admits that he won't be satisfied with Harper's apology until he sees major changes. "Everybody is focusing on the duty to consult. My position is, let's go beyond duty to consult," said Bellegarde, who stressed that First Nations have the right to prior and informed consent from governments and interested industries when developments are proposed. "I have worked for and worked with Fi...

Finding the Balance, Finding the Unity

"I think the office of national chief is as a core advocate and a facilitator. I do not see the position as the head of First Nations government. I see the job of national chief to support those chiefs (all Canadian Nations) in their efforts." "This country will begin to realize its full potential when our people begin to implement our treaties, when we continue to practice our spirituality and our ceremonies, when we lead the way back to sustainable economies, an economy that considers the b...

Experience Will Serve Candidate Well If Elected

"I've known him for 45 years," said [Bill Wilson], who served as [Phil Fontaine]'s special political advisor on British Columbia's Aboriginal issues from 1997 through 2000. "I have no criticisms of the Assembly of First Nations," he said. "But the average Indian person sees no relevance in that group. I would like to change that." "I'm a very, very good speaker," he said. "If you can't get a message across, nobody will be listening and they won't remember it."

Candidate Seeks Foreign Investment to Liberate First Nations

"Well, I've got news for you. Seven trillion dollars came from the resource base and the availability of the resource base in the last 10 years....That's what I'll be telling the chiefs. Chiefs, do you want to continue going down the road of the last twenty, thirty forty years that you've been on, on government dependency? Or do you want to get off and sell your own resources and develop it yourselves?" [Terrance Nelson] started out late in the campaign. It wasn't until he heard from the othe...

It's Official: Aboriginal Languages of Nunavut, That Is

Senator Serge Joyal said the unanimous endorsement of acknowledging English, French and the Inuit languages as Nunavut's official languages will open discussions about Bill S- 237, the Aboriginal Languages Act of Canada. "We would be interested to know what is the Aboriginal composition in the North in order to be able to support and enhance the use of other Aboriginal languages," said Joyal, who stressed that the other languages should not be dropped from the radar. "I am very concerned that...

Hopefully They Won't Take My Status Card Away

There is a good chance that I will be going to the Aboriginal equivalent of Hell, for I have argued with an Elder. Quite forcefully too. And for that, if I have fully understood traditional teachings, the Creator will banish me to some mid-level civil service position with the department of Indian Affairs, probably ordering stationary and shredding the minister's speeches. I am truly dammed. It all happened in Edmonton. Hardly one's image of the portal to First Nations' damnation. I was at th...

Habitat Volunteers Prove Their Worth Under Midnight Sun

"The Midnight Sun Build marks the construction of the second Habitat for Humanity home in Iqaluit," said Glenn Cousins, chair of the Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit board of directors. "We believe that Habitat for Humanity is part of the solution to the housing crisis in Iqaluit." He said he was pleased to help another Iqaluit family in need. "Just as adequate housing is not a reality for more than half of the Nunavut population, four million Canadians across the nation do not have access to a d...

Nathanial Bosum - [ Windspeaker Confidential ]

[Nathaniel Bosum] also competes in snow-cross racing in the winter. In 2004, he registered in the Semi-Pro class in his first year of snow-cross. By the end of the season he was ranked second in the Open 800cc class and third in the Stock 440cc class. That year he won the "Rookie of the Year" award. Nathaniel has signed a contract with Ski-Doo, FXR Industries and Spy Optics. He was also promoted to the Pro class level for 2006. The 2006 season was a big step from Semi Pro to Pro level in the ...

Our Pick

We can take life by the roots at hand and embrace all that it is and learn from our faults and let downs or we can let it tear us apart and weaken us from the inside out. [Jodie Leslie] has grabbed all the emotions and experiences that come with life and love and has created a beautiful song.

'Double-Dipping' Allowed in Alberta with Court Decision

The appeal was heard on March 4. It was the result of a 2007 ruling by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta that upheld the claim of the Registrar of Métis Settlements that Barbara Cunningham, John Kenneth Cunningham, Lawrent Cunningham, Ralph Cunningham, Lynn Noskey, Gordon Cunningham, Roger Cunningham and Ray Stuart, who had all been removed from the Peavine Métis Settlement's membership roll in May 2001 under Sect. 90, could not be reinstated because of Sect. 75. The Cunningham family had...

Location Announced for the 2010 Aboriginal Achievement Awards

"For one magnificent evening, the awards focus a spotlight on Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis achievement," said Roberta Jamieson, the CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. "And that light glows and reverberates throughout the year." "A lot of times we fail to recognize those who have done something for our community and our people," he told the crowd. "Our challenge as Canadians is to allow all Canadians and youth to reach their full potential ... These awards not only celebrate...

Unique Accommodation a Stone's Throw From Quebec City

A hotel shaped like an Iroquois longhouse with four star amenities isn't your standard country hotel. But just 15 minutes from downtown Quebec City, the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, the latest success story of the Huron-Wendat Nation, has recently opened. Guests of the hotel, however, should not miss the accompanying museum. Designed to resemble a Huron smokehouse, it houses treasures hidden for generations in the villagers' cupboards and attics. They create an accurate history of the Huron...

Windspeaker News Briefs

The gift will be divided equally between two programs: The TD Bank Aboriginal Student Award will establish an endowment to create financial awards for Aboriginal students across UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan who are enrolled in business education or majoring in economics. The Ch'nook Business Education Initiative will provide funding for Aboriginal students who are enrolled in the Ch'nook Scholars and Advanced Management programs. It will also provide mentorship opportunities for TD employee...

Island Park Receives a Royal Name

"We are pleased to announce that today we have completed 15 years of protocol development with the province of British Columbia," said [Che]:k'tles7et'h' Tyee (head hereditary chief ) Francis Gillette. "Since the park was created, the hereditary leadership of the Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nation has been attempting to reconcile the honor of the Crown with the Che:k'tles7et'h' Peoples." "The Maa-nulth treaty between B.C., Canada and First Nations, including the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' Fir...

Summer Break Rejuvenates Passion for the Game

"I guess I'm a little surprised," he said. "You'd think over the course of a season you'd lose once or twice." "I haven't directly heard anything," he said, adding his agent has informed him Cubs' officials have been impressed with his '09 performances. "But I know they like my arm and I'm throwing the ball well." "I like the Blue Jays, always have," [Vince Perkins] said. "I wouldn't mind one day getting back and playing with them. I'd love to play with them some day. But at the same time the...

Social Issues Complicate Health Care Access

"If you have ever lived in a small First Nations community, it is your grandma or your aunty who works in the health centre. How do you tell your grandmother or your aunt that you need condoms or you want information about HIV?" said [Michelle George]. She explained that there are layers of challenges that must be dealt with in order for the spread of HIV and AIDS to slow down. "If I am a drug addict and I can't think of anything else than getting my next fix, why would I think about taking m...

Years of Collaboration Blossom Into Mou

Walpole Island is situated at the mouth of the river, downstream from Sarnia. The area around the city has been dubbed 'chemical valley' because of pollution released from 62 industrial facilities operating in the area. Just a few of those include Ontario Power Generation's Lambton Generating Station, Imperial Oil's Sarnia Refinery and Shell Canada's Sarnia Manufacturing Centre. Those facilities made it on the list of top 10 worst air polluters in Ontario in 2005. "It's important that researc...

Windspeaker Sports Briefs

[Ted Nolan] was not allowed to work for another pro hockey organization this past year. After serving two out of the three years of his head coaching contract, Nolan was fired by the NHL's New York Islanders in the summer of '08. But a clause in his contract prevented him from signing with another organization until July 1 of this year, the same day his deal with the Rochester franchise was announced. He spent the following two seasons with the Sabres and captured the Jack Adams Award, annual...

Nhl Shines the Spotlight On Next Nolan

"I just matured over the last couple of years," he said. "And I realized how serious I have to take hockey." "That might be part of the reason it's taken [Jordan Nolan] this long to establish himself," [Dave Torrie] said, adding having a former NHL player and coach for a father has possibly opened up some doors for the younger Nolan. "In some ways you're under a bit more scrutiny." "Time will tell," Torrie said. "That is certainly one of the options."

Food, Glorious (Aboriginal) Food

"My dream is that 10 years from now, nobody will need to ask what Aboriginal cuisine is," said Chef Ben Genaille, the instructor for the VCC Aboriginal culinary program. "They know foods of today like spaghetti, but they don't know Aboriginal food," said [Marlene Hale]. "I teach them and they are so happy they know what Aboriginal food is all about." Genaille agrees that there is a demand for Aboriginal components within the food industry in B.C. He is hopeful many of his students will go on ...

Tommy Prince Born and Bred for War

As one of his peers, known as "Anonymous Alf ", said of [Tommy], "it's as if he was born and bred for one great task (to fight in the war). He was a quiet, ordinary man who had greatness thrust upon him by the force of one of the greatest conflicts in the history of Western civilization. He was a true son of his people and a great warrior." Another of his anonymous peers commented "it wasn't his ability to 'jump' that made him a good paratrooper. Prince had a natural instinct for the 'ground....