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“It’s wild, it’s filthy and it’s rough.”
Letterkenny spinoff Shoresy gets gritty with hockey in a northern town
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
MAY 30—In most small communities across Canada, the hockey rink is a gathering space for families and friends. A church of sorts, where people come together to laugh, share stories and to cheer on their hometown team. A new slapstick comedy series called Shoresy, from the creator of the Canadian favourite Letterkenny, captures that hockey lifestyle through the players, families, fans and management.
“It was a heavy year.”
Country music artist Nelson Little emerges from pandemic stress and struggle with new single
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
MAY 30—“Hold my head up, so I don’t fall”, a line from Nelson Little’s newest single “High Road”, captures how most of society felt during the past two years while living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Little, a Métis country music artist, had originally written the lyrics based on his experiences with his 10-year-old son, who was struggling during that time and looked to his dad for guidance.
“To tell us consistently and constantly we're overplaying it, we're reading it wrong, we don't understand. Come on, people… We have data telling us that we are not wrong.”
Quebec’s “meanness and narrow-mindedness” over language law will lead to “questionable future”— Picard
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 30—The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is “strategizing” now that the French language Bill 96 is about to become law in Quebec. “Our noses are to the grindstone and work continues. We will continue to push,” said Michael Delisle, Jr., former grand chief for MCK. First Nations in Quebec want an exemption to the law.
“We decided this year was going to be the biggest and best.”
McMurray Métis Fest returns after two-year absence
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 31—The McMurray Métis Fest was back in action in Fort McMurray over the weekend. Celebrated annually, the event was put on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic restrictions. President of McMurray Métis Peter Hanson says that this is the biggest one they have had yet.
McMurray Métis Fest returns after two year absence - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
“We’ve got a lot of grandmothers, aunties and uncles that can take care of these children when they’re apprehended on the reserve. Instead, they’re going to a crisis unit in Edmonton.”
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation breaks ground at site of future youth group home
By Elliott Knopp, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 31—Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is taking action to reduce the number of local children being displaced from their community. On Monday, the First Nation hosted a ground-breaking ceremony to kick off construction of a new youth group home. During the announcement, Chief Tony Alexis claimed nearly 6,700 Indigenous children are currently under the care of Alberta Children’s Services.
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation breaks ground at site of future youth group home - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
New are the films Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy
and Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again.
NFB streams films for free in celebration of National Indigenous History Month
MAY 31—This June, nfb.ca will stream free of charge more films than ever as the National Film Board of Canada celebrates National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month and World Oceans Day.
Available indefinitely, new works will join more than 5,500 already online.
“If we want to revisit episodes of unfortunate behaviour by other officers we could be here
until the cows come home.”
Report on racism in Thunder Bay Police Service to be considered a ‘thought’ piece not fact in hearing of TBPS officers
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 31—The Broken Trust: Indigenous People and the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) report will not be considered as a statement of fact in the disciplinary hearing of two TBPS officers charged with neglect of duty and discreditable conduct in the five-month long investigation into Stacey DeBungee’s death. DeBungee, 41, was found dead in the McIntyre River in Thunder Bay on Oct. 19, 2015.
“… this is how racism looks at a larger structural level.”
Desperate Manitoba Nations declare state of emergency on health services, leveling charges of racism
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
JUNE 1—The Keewatinohk Inniniw Okimowin Council (KIOC) has declared a state of emergency on health services for its 23 member Nations in Manitoba’s north. Dr. Barry Lavallee says the action was brought to a head with a nursing shortage that impacted the 21 nursing stations staffed by Indigenous Services Canada, which he stresses is fueled by racism and discrimination.
“It has a very entrepreneurial culture. I mean look at what was done here.”
Enoch Cree Nation, AHS working to reduce surgical wait times
By Elliott Knopp, CFWEradio.ca
JUNE 1—Enoch Cree Nation and Surgical Centres Inc. are in discussions with Alberta Health Services to provide more immediate care to orthopedic surgery patients currently on the wait-list. On Wednesday, the Government of Alberta announced the construction of a new surgical facility being built in Enoch Cree Nation and the intent to accommodate those waiting for surgery.
Enoch Cree Nation, AHS working to reduce surgical wait times - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
“It’s nice and refreshing now that we’ve been invited. And we’ve been accepted and embraced.”
K-Days returns, announces new Indigenous Experience installation
By Elliott Knopp, CFWEradio.ca
JUNE 1—K-Days is the latest festival to mark its highly-anticipated return to Alberta’s capital city during the summer. At a media availability on Wednesday, organizers and event leadership gathered at the Edmonton Expo Centre to announce the family-friendly event’s comeback and reveal new programming to be featured prominently throughout the event.
K-Days returns, announces new Indigenous Experience installation - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
“It feels incredible.”
International Children's Festival returns to St. Albert
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
JUNE 2—Celebrating 41 years, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts has returned as an in-person event after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic. The festival will run from June 2 to June 5. There’s lots in store for this year’s festival, said Andrea Gammon, festival coordinator, including performances by the Ivan Flett Memorial dancers.
The International Children’s Festival of the Arts is back in St. Albert - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
“It’s going to be a world-class piece.”
McMurray Métis Cultural Center is taking shape on MacDonald Island
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 1—With the first cement poured back in June 2021, construction at the new McMurray Métis Cultural Center is well underway. President Peter Hanson says the building is more than 45 per cent complete, with the project slated to be finished by December 2023.
The McMurray Métis Cultural Center is taking shape on Mcdonald island - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
“This is a long-term vision for us. This is not just one surgical centre and we’re done.”
Surgical facility on Enoch Cree Nation could be first of its kind in Canada
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
JUNE 2—The Enoch Cree Nation is negotiating a contract with the Alberta government that will result in a surgical facility opening its doors in about 14 months on its territory just west of Edmonton. It is only fitting, said Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin, pointing out that the traditional name for his First Nation is Maskêkosihk, land of medicines.
“Discriminatory polices and underfunding means remote communities
have not had the same opportunities.”
Nations demand funding that meets unique needs of northern, remote communities
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
JUNE 3—Speaking with a single voice is the only way long-term reforms to funding programs and services will become a priority with the federal government, say leaders of First Nations in Canada’s north. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations co-hosted the inaugural meeting of the National Assembly of Remote Communities held May 31 to June 2 in Saskatoon.
“This piece is a beautiful moment to talk about Indigenous science. The science of land-based learning, the science of the stars… the water and the plants we use for medicines…”
Ceremonial smudging and prayer held for the new mural inside TELUS World of Science
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
JUNE 3—A ceremony was organized inside the TELUS World of Science lobby on June 2 to commemorate the new mural created by Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal. Amiskwacîwâskahikan, “Beaver Hills House” in Cree, is the name of the new mural. Cardinal says it took a week to create it and he hopes it will bring children in to learn about Indigenous science.
Ceremonial smudging and prayer held for new mural at TELUS World of Science - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)