91探花

Welcome to 91探花, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.

Alberta Sweetgrass

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, a Dene Indigenous activist and member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation; Crystal Lameman, a member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation and Sierra Club Climate and Energy Campaigner; and Melina Laboucan-Massimo, a member of the Lubicon Cree First Nation and a Climate and Energy campaigner with Greenpeace Canada; were in New York City on Sept. 21 for the largest鈥

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

Leaders of 11 First Nations from Alberta and Montana signed a treaty establishing an inter-tribal alliance to restore bison to areas of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains where millions of the animals once roamed. The ceremony was held on Montana鈥檚 Blackfeet Reservation. It marks the first treaty among the US tribes and Canada First Nations since a series of agreements governing hunting鈥

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

A federal court has upheld the move by the Piikani First Nation to remove Chief Gayle Strikes With A Gun from office. First Nation officials say the removal stems from a conflict of interest, which initially led to Strikes With A Gun鈥檚 suspension in 2012. She was stripped of her title late last year. Acting chief Clayton Small Legs will continue to assume leadership duties until the band鈥檚鈥

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

Police chiefs Lee Boyd, of the Blood Tribe, and Keith Blake, of Tsuu T鈥檌na First Nation, were among 10 police chiefs, and the only First Nations police chiefs, to be recognized by the province in September in Alberta鈥檚 first official commissioning of senior officers in municipal and First Nations police agencies. The official parchments, awarded by Lt. Gov. Donald S. Ethell, identify their new鈥

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

A 惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 investigation has determined that of 327 bands that filed salary information under the federal government鈥檚 new First Nations Financial Transparency Act, Fort McKay First Nation Chief Jim Boucher is second only to Ron Giesbrecht, Chief of the Kwikwetlem First Nation in BC. Giesbrecht brought in $914,261 as of March 31, 2014, while Boucher earned $644,441 in the same one鈥

  • Susan Solway Sweetgrass Writer SIKSIKA NATION

Ten years ago Siksika Nation faced the realty of frequent youth suicides. The community was so affected that Armond Duck Chief, Eddi Wolf Child, and Joni Big Old Man felt the need to change the way the youth perceived their reality.

In 2004 the three young adults established what was then known as the Siksika Nation Youth Movement, which involved weekly meetings with some of the Nation鈥欌

  • Julie MacIsaac KIKINO M脡TIS SETTLEMENT

Kikino M茅tis Settlement celebrated its 75 anniversary this summer and while infrastructure and industry are vital to the continued growth of the settlement, Kikino鈥檚 leaders say it is education and the community鈥檚 youth that hold the key to a successful future.

 鈥淚 really believe the future in our community is bright,鈥 said Kikino鈥檚 Chair Floyd Thompson. 鈥淎s leaders, we know the鈥

  • Sam Laskaris Sweetgrass Writer PHOENIX

Most National Hockey League players are counting down the days until they can begin another season. Kyle Chipchura, a 28-year-old M茅tis from Westlock, is no different. But he also has a couple of other reasons why he鈥檚 eager to start the 2014-15 campaign.

Chipchura, who is heading into his ninth season of pro hockey, is a member of the Arizona (formerly Phoenix) Coyotes.

In terms鈥

  • Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor EDMONTON

Maxine Courtoreille-Paul is hopeful that the time her nieces spent in kinship care with her will make a difference in their lives. She says it was the grounding she needed when she was a ward of the province. She was in her mid-20s when she finally discovered who she was. 

鈥淚t took me until I was 25 to find out who I was as a person. I knew I didn鈥檛 fit in with the white people,鈥

  • Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor EDMONTON

The message was clear: Indigenous children will remain in their communities.

鈥淭hey grow up with that loving, growing bond. That the family is involved, that the community is involved. That we don鈥檛 give Alberta Child Services not one more of our children,鈥 said Jo-Ann Saddleback.

Alberta apprehends more children than any other province, she said, and the majority of those鈥

  • Shari Narine Sweetgrass Contributing Editor EDMONTON

Alberta Chiefs want a national inquiry in to murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls but they won鈥檛 be getting support from the province鈥檚 new premier.

The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs passed the resolution to move forward with the national inquiry the day after Premier Jim Prentice said there was no need.

鈥淚鈥檓 not convinced that an inquiry is what we need to do at this鈥

  • Darlene Chrapko Sweetgrass Writer CALGARY

In the opening scene of Making Treaty 7, Michelle Thrush comes on stage rocking and talking to the imaginary baby she holds in her arms, taking the audience back to a key moment in history: Sept. 21, 1877. Addressing her child, Thrush says, 鈥淭oday we signed Treaty. We will smoke the pipe. Everything will change. We will no longer have emptiness in our bellies. The buffalo will be鈥

  • Paula E. Kirman Sweetgrass Writer EDMONTON

Matthew Wood has made a full time mission out of sharing his passion for Hip Hop music and dance with youth, and in doing so, being a mentor and positive influence.

Often referred to by his performing name 鈥淐reeasian,鈥 Wood is well known in Edmonton鈥檚 Hip Hop circles having performed at Inner City High, the International Street Performers Festival, the International Fringe Theatre鈥

  • Compiled by Darlene Chrapko

A little hoop magic

Tyrone Sitting Eagle, third generation hoop dancer, from Siksika, danced for large crowds at the Indian Village during the Calgary Stampede. 



The Walrus Talks examines philanthropy

On Sept. 16, at the Showcase Grand, Lorna Crowshoe of the Blackfoot Women鈥檚 Society, and Casey Eagle Speaker, of Hull Services鈥

  • Compiled by Shari Narine

Second annual Treaty 6 day marked

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Chief Tony Alexis, standing in for the Grand Chief, proclaimed Sept. 25 as Treaty 6 Recognition Day. The two were joined by other Treaty 6 Chiefs in a special ceremony held at City Hall. 鈥淓dmonton values are treaty values,鈥 said Iveson, 鈥渁nd all people are welcome here.鈥 The鈥