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“There’s a lot of trees down in our community and in other communities. And the power is out.”
— Regional Chief Paul Prosper
First Nations in eastern Canada dealing with Fiona’s aftermath
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 26— The storm has passed, but work has only just begun for Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Paul Prosper, who represents 17 First Nations in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. He spent a good chunk of his weekend trying to get some preliminary reports on how much damage the storm Fiona inflicted on First Nation territories on the East Coast.
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Looking for a New Job Opportunity? We Have Some to Share….
LJI Journalist, Windspeaker Media
Recruitment Officer, Brandon University
Financial Analyst, First Nations Information Governance Centre
Indigenous Student Success Officer, Brandon University
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“We saw a lot of things that you couldn’t believe you were seeing at the time.”
— Robert Jakesta
Documentary recounts Elders’ sustained fight to protect the sacred headwaters of Klabona
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
SEPT 26—For 15 years, Elders and members of the Tahltan Nation near Iskut fought industrial development from coming to the headwaters of the Stikine, Nass and Skeena Rivers. The Klabona Keepers was a matriarch-led group comprised of Elders and supporters who held blockades and protests in an effort to stop development that would endanger the territory. And they won.
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“You just keep investigating everything that you possibly have.”
— Cpl. Deanna Fontaine
Disappearance of Angela Alexis now in the hands of RCMP Major Crimes Unit
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 26—The RCMP have moved its investigation into the disappearance of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation member Angela Morningstar Alexis to its Major Crimes Unit. “They’re investigating and following up on all available leads. However, at this time it is unknown if Angela’s disappearance is criminal in nature,” said Cpl. Deanna Fontaine with the RCMP’s K-Division.
“At this point in time, (the investigation) is not pointing in one direction or another,” she said.
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“We are not taking scraps anymore and we are not going to be sidelined.”
— Chief Mary Duckworth
Equity partnership with transmission provider reflects what treaty stands for, says chief
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 26—The “gold standard” has been set with industry through an equal partnership model between First Nations in Ontario and Hydro One. Hydro One, Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider, announced last week that, moving forward, First Nations in that province will have the opportunity to enter into 50/50 equity partnership agreements in any transmission line project with a value exceeding $100 million.
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More from the Job Board:
Coordinator: Indigenous Student Engagement, Concordia University Montreal
Marketing Promotions Coordinator, Windspeaker Media
Civil Carpenter, Willowridge Construction
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Bonus Brief: The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Royal Canadian Mint have unveiled a keepsake that acknowledges the truths behind the residential school experience on First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families. It invites reflection and conversation about the impacts of those schools, the conditions that created them, and how people living in Canada can turn reflection into acts of reconciliation. Keepsakes can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the web site at www.mint.ca and are available at participating Canada Post locations.
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“…in no way, shape or form is racism necessary and it will no longer be tolerated by our people and by our leaders.”
— Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Lavasseur
Northern Manitoba Nations to battle anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare system
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 26—The Declaration to Eliminate All Forms of Indigenous-Specific Racism has been signed on behalf of Indigenous peoples in northern Manitoba to “address the harms (of Indigenous-specific racism) … by changing the systems, organizational structures, policies, practises and attitudes.”
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OPINION: Under The Northern Sky
by Xavier Kataquapit
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day or Orange Shirt Day Sept. 30 is not just a commemoration of what happened in the past. It serves as a reminder and a warning to society that we all must work together to make sure that this never happens again. If we do not want to see this type of intolerance and hatred again, we have to do something about it now.
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HOT TIP: Tune in to the Spirit Bear paw’d-cast! Informative episodes that feature guest appearances from experts and activists who speak on a variety of matters affecting First Nations children, youth, and families. First episode with Dr. Pam Palmater who speaks on colonial politics Spirit Bear Podcast | a podcast by First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (podbean.com)
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“Sometimes we don’t all think the same things, but we all need to understand
each other as best as we can…”
—actress Krystle Pederson
Play about a promise made and a promise broken teaches children about reconciliation
By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker.com
Sept. 27—Carousel Theatre for Young People in Vancouver is getting set to stage FROZEN RIVER NÎKWATIN SÎPIY, an award-winning play scheduled to run Sept. 28 to Oct. 16 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. It’s a Manitoba Theatre For Young People Production written by Carrie Costello, Michaela Washburn and Joelle Peters. The play focuses on the issues of reconciliation, environmentalism, and interconnectedness in a way that children five years of age and up will understand.
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Gary Farmer to receive the Augie at imagineNATIVE
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has announced that actor and musician Gary Farmer will receive the 2022 August Schellenberg Award of Excellence. The “Augie” is an annual prize that recognizes significant professional and personal achievement by an Indigenous actor of any gender from Turtle Island. Farmer will receive his award at the imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation on Oct. 22, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto.
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“Our communities have evolved where we have built business expertise, business capacity, so we understand and embrace business.”
— Indigenous Resource Network executive director Robert Merasty
Indigenous organizations, youth honoured for forest industry work
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 27—The Indigenous Resource Network (IRN) is a recipient of the Forest Products Association of Canada’s (FPAC) Partnership Award. “What it means to the IRN is recognition (that) we’re on the right track and we’re doing the good work that we set out to do,” said Robert Merasty, who was appointed as executive director of IRN last February. “It solidifies our mandate and really just encourages us to do more…It encourages us to do more important work in sector development.”
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Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are damaging to First Nations, says Merasty
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 28— The head of an Indigenous organization that advocates for sustainable and responsible resource development is pushing for “meaningful talks” to happen with Indigenous communities on how to move forward on a 42 per cent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target set by the federal government for 2030.
Robert Merasty, executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network, calls that target a “political statement.”
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New four-stamp issue features work of First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists
Canada Post has unveiled four new stamps that encourage awareness and reflection on the legacy of Indian residential schools and the need for healing and reconciliation. The stamps were released Sept. 29 in connection with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. They are the first in an annual series showcasing the visions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists for the future of truth and reconciliation.
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“It’s been an evolution of a relationship between Indigenous communities, industry, government and, too, society..."
— Justin Bourque, president of Athabasca Indigenous Investments
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 29—Athabasca Indigenous Investments would like to see the equity partnership struck with Enbridge Inc. on seven existing pipelines in northern Alberta set the benchmark with other industry partners. The 23 First Nation and Métis communities in the Athabasca region announced Wednesday they had formed a company that now has an 11.6 per cent equity ownership worth $1.12 billion in the Enbridge pipelines that traverse their region.
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“I asked him at that time why no one had ever updated the book... And his answer to that was, ‘nobody’s ever asked.’ So I asked.”
—author Gary Wyatt
New books celebrate West Coast Indigenous art
By Rebecca Medel, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 29—New art books are being released this fall that showcase the works of legendary Northwest Coast First Nations artists. Echoes of the Supernatural: The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson takes us on a tour of Davidson’s half-century of print works. Glory and Exile: Haida History Robes of Jut-ke-Nay Hazel Wilson features a series of 51 large story robes created by Wilson, which tell the story of Haida life since contact with Europeans. And The Transforming Image: Painted Arts of Northwest Coast First Nations is an art book first published in 2000 and now being released in its second edition.
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Indigenous people need to use Sept. 30 as community space
SEPT. 29— With the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation almost upon us, Ginger Gosnell-Myers says too much of this Call to Action falls upon the shoulders of Indigenous peoples. The same people who need to use this day for healing. “On Sept. 30 there are Indigenous peoples leading workshops (and) a lot of Canadians who are taking workshops led by community members…But this is just more of our people leading this knowledge exchange instead of healing and that is not sustainable or equitable,” said Gosnell-Myers.
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OPINION:
There’s more to do to uncover the truth, before reconciliation can happen, says Adamek
Wear orange today to remember children sent to residential schools, those who did not return home
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