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Indigenous land rights film to debut at Human Rights Watch Canada Film Festival
By Adam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
May 9—A new film titled Klabona Keepers, which documents a decades-long matriarch-led resistance of industrial activities in northwest British Columbia, is set to premiere in Toronto later this month.
The film showcases one community’s efforts to protect remote headwaters located in the Klappan highland, a traditional Tahltan hunting area known as the Klabona.
Scotiabank to provide funding for mini-soccer pitches in Indigenous communities
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
MAY 9—Scotiabank is bringing a youth soccer program to Canada. Indigenous communities in British Columbia will be the first to benefit from the program titled Scotiabank Futbol Club (Scotiabank FC). A pitch is already being constructed on Stz’uminus First Nation, located near Ladysmith, B.C. Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose) First Nation will also get a field, with four more to be announced.
Chief ‘really happy’ to be at the table with Alberta on carbon capture projects
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 9—The First Nation Capital Investment Partnership has received the nod to further develop two separate carbon capture project proposals in Alberta. The province announced six potential projects had been selected in the first round of submissions. FNCIP is involved in the Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub and the Wolf Midstream project.
Chartrand, MMF defend against “scorched earth” claims of MNC lawsuit
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 10—The Manitoba Métis Federation and its president David Chartrand are accusing the new leadership of the Métis National Council of using litigation to “secure power and influence amongst Métis People in Canada and to erode and ultimately usurp the MMF’s position as the representative body of the Red River Métis.”
Indigenous tourism association sponsors two JUNO Awards
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
MAY 10—Officials with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) are getting into the music business—sort of. ITAC is sponsoring a pair of categories at this year’s JUNO Awards. A weeklong celebration of the Canadian music scene, JUNO Week, began on May 9 and continues until Sunday, May 15 in Toronto with the main awards ceremony.
Ocean rescue ‘heroes’ the subject of new television series
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
MAY 10—Four communities along the western shores of British Columbia that are members of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary will be showcased in an upcoming television series called Ocean Warriors – Mission Ready. These are people that put their lives at risk every day. First Nation people from small communities who go rushing out in the most atrocious weather.
https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/ocean-rescue-heroes-subject-new-television-series
Give voice to the marginalized, Archibald says in addresses to NAN chiefs
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 10—It’s a new time, National Chief RoseAnne Archibald of the Assembly of First Nations told Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs gathered this morning. There is much work to be done as leaders, she said. They owed it to our future generations to express “our sacred gifts, to be active in decision-making, and for all of us to push back against the colonial system.”
Kikino Metis Settlement finds ways to combat inflation
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 10—With fuel prices continuing to rise across the province of Alberta, getting around in a vehicle is becoming more costly. It’s impacting Indigenous communities and the farming community, said the chair of the Kikino Metis Settlement Chad Cardinal, who shared some of the initiatives his community offers members to help beat inflation.
Kikino Metis Settlement finds ways to combat inflation - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
Local funding campaign restores annual retreat for Indigenous women's support group
By Elliott Knopp, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 11—A non-profit organization supporting Indigenous women who’ve survived cancer or the residential school system announced the return of its keystone event.
The Wahkotowin Society is known for its annual Voice of Hope Retreat, which key volunteer Hazel McKennitt said creates a culturally safe and supportive experience to facilitate healing.
Alberta musician Joel Wood is looking to inspire cultural pride at 2022 JUNOs
By Elliott Knopp, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 11—An emerging local artist is looking forward to the weekend with hopes of representing Canada's Indigenous community on the big stage.
Joel Wood is a Plains Cree artist from Maskwacis, Alberta and one of five nominees for Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year at the 2022 Juno Awards.
Alberta musician Joel Wood looking to inspire cultural pride at 2022 JUNOs - CFWE (cfweradio.ca)
Indigenous writing program seeks participants to work alongside mentors
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
MAY 12—Emerging Indigenous writers have until the end of this month to apply for a mentorship writing program that earned rave reviews for its launch in 2021. A total of 21 individuals will be accepted into the second year of the Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle. First Nations, Métis and Inuit writers have until May 31 to apply for the six-month program.
Kuper Island podcast tells the story of four children in a notorious residential school
By Rebecca Medel, Windspeaker.com
MAY 12—An Island residential school in the Salish Sea, so horrible that children would cling to logs to try to escape, is the focus of a new eight-part CBC podcast hosted by journalist Duncan McCue. Called Kuper Island, episodes will be released beginning May 17. The podcast is about four children: three who survived and one who didn’t. “I hope that the courage of the survivors shines through for listeners.”
Governor General scheduled to be among supporters at Moose Hide Campaign event
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
MAY 12—It was back in 2011 that Paul Lacerte, a member of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in British Columbia, started the Moose Hide Campaign with his teenage daughter Raven. The father-daughter duo launched the non-profit organization in an effort to raise awareness and hopefully decrease violence against Indigenous women and children.
Struggle against “violent erasure” of Indigenous languages continues today
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 12—Federal funding for NEȾOLṈEW̱, an Indigenous-led language revitalization research project, would not be needed if it weren’t for the devastating impacts of colonialism. The field of Indigenous linguistics only exists “because of the history of this country, of the intentional historical violent erasure of Indigenous languages.”
Three Indigenous boxers from Lac La Biche take home medals from Golden Gloves event
MAY 12—By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
Lac La Biche Boxing Club athletes were able to head home with one gold and two silver medals wrapped around their necks after big wins at a Golden Gloves event at the end of April. The event attracted 130 athletes from across the country to compete in two days of exhibition matches on April 23 and April 24.
Music lifts the people, says matriarch of JUNO nominated group
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
MAY 13—The Manitou Mkwa Singers have been nominated for the JUNO Award 2022 in the Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year category for their album Manitou Mkwa Singers Volume 2. “We already won. In our mind, we’ve already won,” said Valarie King, who along with three of her daughters, Mya, Jai, and Miranda, make up the group.
https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/music-lifts-people-says-matriarch-juno-nominated-group
Edmonton hosts first ever Moose Hide Campaign
By Elliott Knopp, Ravenradio.ca
MAY 13—A large gathering assembled outside City Hall Thursday afternoon to participate in a nationwide initiative against violence. The City of Edmonton, in collaboration with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta (ISCA), hosted its first ever Moose Hide Campaign, a nation-wide event encouraging men and boys to stand up against violence toward women and children.
Edmonton hosts first-ever Moose Hide Campaign gathering - 89.3 the Raven Edmonton (ravenradio.ca)
Kids Help Phone’s ‘Finding Hope’ supports Indigenous youth’s mental health nationwide
By Daniel Barker-Tremblay, CFWEradio.ca
MAY 13—Kids Help Phone and Sobeys have partnered on a plan called "Finding Hope", which supports Indigenous youth across the county. This year the goal is to increase Indigenous counseling and crisis response by 20 per cent, and maximize Indigenous access to counselling by connecting youth to virtual programs one million times by 2025.
No need to wait for government regulations to have Indigenous midwifery in communities
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
MAY 13—The incoming co-chair of the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives would like to see First Nations exercise their inherent rights and stop waiting for federal government funding or provincial and territorial changes in legislation and regulations before they fully embrace midwifery in their communities.
OPINION
Going to Akamiski
By Xavier Kataquapit, Under The Northern Sky, Windspeaker.com
MAY 11—Akamiski Island is an important historic place as my people have hunted and trapped there for generations. We identify this island as part of our traditional lands, but Canadian, provincial and territorial governments see it differently.
https://windspeaker.com/under-northern-sky-xavier-kataquapit/going-akamiski