HFH gets award for innovative way of putting homes on reserve
June 9, 2016. Habitat for Humanity on the Border Lloydminster Society is the recipient of one of five awards in the Social Innovator category of Canada’s Volunteer Awards. The Flying Dust First Nation partnered with Habitat for Humanity organizations in Lloydminister, Edmonton and Meadow Lake along with businesses to break ground in May 2015 for the first on-reserve build of a 10-unit Elders Lodge. At the community level, the partnership ensured open lines of communication and mutual understanding. The logistics required coordination between partners as well. Elders provided input on the design of the lodge, and the Flying Dust First Nation community came together to contribute the required 5 000 hours of volunteer labour. With their Adopt a Home Program, HFH Lloydminster is now assisting other reserves to participate in HFH projects. Through innovation and dedication, HFH Lloydminster is a champion for safe, affordable housing for all, Aboriginal communities included. The recipients of Canada’s Volunteer Awards were honoured Thursday at a special ceremony in Ottawa, recognized by Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of families, children and social development
Medal reflects value of engaging in Indigenous laws, says recipient
June 8, 2016. Dr. Hadley Friedland was presented with the Governor General’s Gold Medal Wednesday at the University of Alberta’s Spring Convocation. The medal recognizes the UAlberta doctoral graduate with the highest academic standing. She successfully defended her dissertation in January. Friedland is currently the research director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria, and an O’Brien Fellow at McGill University’s Faculty of Law teaching an intensive seminar on Indigenous laws. She will be joining the UAlberta Faculty of Law on July 1 as a visiting assistant professor for a two-year term. “I am humbled and honoured to have my graduate work receive such an award,” said Friedland. “This honour also reflects the value and possibilities in legal scholarship respectfully and seriously engaging with Indigenous (Cree) laws.”
Exploring literature and Aboriginal people
June 9, 2016. Native Counselling Services of Alberta Director Dr. Patti LaBoucane-Benson and publisher and president of House of Anansi Press and Groundwoods Books Sarah MacLachlan will explore the opportunity for a common ground between writers, publishers and Indigenous Peoples to be leaders in reconciliation. Laboucane-Benson’s novel The Outside Circle, published by Anansi Press, was the award recipient of The Pierre Elliot Trudeau Scholarship and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship as well as on the Globe and Mail’s Top Ten Canadian books in May 2015. The discussion will take place on Saturday at the Stanley Milner Library in downtown Edmonton.
Enoch RCMP detachment officially opens Friday
June 9, 2016. Friday will mark the grand opening of the new Enoch RCMP Detachment. Enoch Elders, Chief Billy Morin and council, and RCMP members will take part in the celebration, which will include a pipe ceremony and flag raising. The building cost approximately $1.4 million, cost-shared between Enoch Cree Nation and the RCMP, with the RCMP covering 91 per cent of the cost. The detachment is to house 18 staff including five full-time officers and eight Enoch enhanced policing members. There will also be two Enoch tribal police, one person for victim services and two support staff. The new building is located at the intersection of Highway 60 and Township 523 on the Enoch First Nation.
Phillips appoints advisory panel for energy efficiency
June 9, 2016. The newly created Energy Efficiency Advisory Panel will spend the coming months speaking to Albertans, Indigenous organizations, and stakeholders to determine the types of energy savings programs that Energy Efficiency Alberta can deliver in the short and medium-term. The panel, chaired by Dr. David Wheeler and comprising individuals with expertise and experience, was appointed by Shannon Phillips, minister of environment and parks and minister responsible for the Climate Change office. The panel will provide its recommendations to government about initial programs and opportunities, which will be put in place early in 2017.