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Olympic athletes inspire youth
Almost 150 Aboriginal students, Grades 6 through 9 from Morley, Eden Valley, Bighorn, and Kikino M茅tis Settlement gathered at the Canmore Nordic Centre on March 11 to experience sports activities, cultural sharing and camaraderie. Led by Olympic medallist Beckie Scott, a team of Olympic heroes spent the day with the students, encouraging鈥
It may not be readily apparent what the Okotoks Erratic has in common with world heritage sites such as Chich脠n Itz路, the Titantic, the Parthenon and Machu Picchu, but it is one of two Canadian sites that has been selected by the CyArk 500 Challenge, an international project that is digitally preserving vulnerable, culturally significant historic sites around the world.
Located near the鈥
Speaking out for the voiceless has earned Aboriginal cleric Rev. Travis Enright an Interfaith Advocate Award from the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about the work of my ancestors,鈥 said Enright of the award. Much of his work deals with advocating for the homeless and presenting the complexities of being in residential schools to interfaith and Christian鈥
Verdict to be appealed
Alberta Crown will be appealing the not guilty verdict rendered in the case of Cindy Gladue, an Indigenous woman, mother, and sex-trade worker whose body was found in a bathtub in a motel in Edmonton four years ago. On March 18, a jury of nine men and two women acquitted long-haul truck driver Bradley Barton on a first-degree murder charge. Gladue鈥
By the time Edmonton claims the title of the Canadian city with the highest urban Aboriginal population, Mayor Don Iveson wants to have laid a foundation that creates caring, welcoming Edmontonians.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 worth celebrating 鈥hat we鈥檙e on track to have the largest Aboriginal urban population, but ensuring by the time we get there this is a more respectful place, that we have鈥
Over the next year, the Fort McKay First Nation will work with the province and industry stakeholders to develop a sub-regional plan that will protect traditional territory around Moose Lake.
Fort McKay First Nation Chief Jim Boucher signed a letter of intent with Premier Jim Prentice, who also serves as Aboriginal relations minister, and Environment and Sustainable Resource Development鈥
The province鈥檚 promise to help First Nations students to have the 鈥渟ame educational opportunities鈥 as their non-Aboriginal counterparts has taken a blow in Budget 2015.
The budget, which was brought down on March 26, included a $1.4 million slash in grants to school boards for Aboriginal students.
Not even two weeks earlier, Premier Jim Prentice, who along with Education Minister鈥
Harrietha kicks off campaign
Liberal candidate and general manager of the McMurray M茅tis Local kicked off his federal campaign in Cold Lake on March 21. Harrietha is campaigning for MP for Fort McMurray鈥擟old Lake. His by-election results in early 2014, when he ran as the Liberal candidate in the Fort McMurray-Athabasca riding, were the strongest showing鈥
Lethbridge lends voice to issue of murdered, missing Indigenous women
Lethbridge city council is putting the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women on the agenda for upcoming meetings of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The city has also joined a growing list of municipalities pushing for a national鈥
Jean new Wildrose leader
Brian Jean was chosen by party members March 28 as the new leader of the Wildrose party and incoming leader of the Official Opposition. The Wildrose party has begun to show some resurgence since the province brought down its budget March 26. Results of a poll taken March 31 have the Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose tied at 24 per cent鈥
Poor NSD school attendance focus of Auditor General
Low student attendance in the Northland School Division was singled out as an area of concern in the Report of the Auditor General of Alberta鈥擬arch 2015. Auditor General Merwan Saher has recommended that Alberta Education exercise oversight of NSD鈥檚 plans to improve student attendance. 鈥淚n our view, oversight鈥
Emergency management services agreement extended
The provincial and federal governments have agreed to a 10-year extension to a deal to provide emergency management services to Alberta鈥檚 First Nations. With Ottawa putting $14.6 million toward the agreement, the number of First Nations field officers in the program will double to four, plus a manager, and they will get鈥
Government accepts recommendations from Aboriginal women鈥檚 councils
The province has accepted all the recommendations put forward by the First Nations and M茅tis women鈥檚 councils on economic security to improve the lives of Aboriginal women in Alberta. In response to the recommendations, the province will review the accountability for Aboriginal education funding to鈥
2015 provincial budget includes Aboriginal funding
鈥淔amilies and communities are the heart of Alberta. This budget makes supporting working families and those in need a priority. It invests in communities and supports culture and recreation, and helps Aboriginal people and communities participate in Alberta鈥檚 economy,鈥 said Premier Jim Prentice, who also serves as鈥
Street drug forces state of emergency on Blood reserve
The Blood Tribe called a state of emergency in early March in response to at least 10 deaths on the First Nation over the last six months. Deaths have been linked to the street drug Oxy 80, or fake Oxycodone. The pill contains fentanyl 鈥 a potent opioid -based pain killer that has a high risk of鈥