Category: 2009 02 13

Are newspapers old news?

I still have a flimsy, yellowed, eight-page newspaper that I wrote out in pencil – with crooked columns, headlines and hand-drawn pictures – when I was eight years old. Later, in high school, a friend and I worked on homemade versions of Hit Parader magazine, replete with fawning profiles of ... read more ››

Dear President Obama

We, the students, staff, teachers and administration of Ecole Wabannutao Eeyou School in the Cree Nation of Eastmain, Quebec, Canada, are delighted to be able to take this opportunity to congratulate you today. We would like you to know that your new administration with its focus on “Hope” and “Change”, as ... read more ››

Aboriginal Actors Get a Shot at the Twilight Sequel

The young-adult vampire romance series, starring breakout actor Robert Pattinson, will be holding three open casting calls within the Vancouver area. Posted on the classified-ad website, Craig’s List, the ad calls for “First Nations/Aboriginal actors and actresses between the ages of 15 and 25. According to the ad, the movie is ... read more ››

Chief John Beaucage Bids for Chief of the AFN

Alongside youth, chiefs and grassroots supporters, Beaucage made the announcement at a press conference in Ottawa on February 3. Anishinabek Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, from Ontario, has tossed his hat into the ring to be the next leader of the Assembly of First Nations. “Today, we’re here to take the ... read more ››

Mike Holmes to Talk Construction with the Crees

Home renovation superstar and host of HGTV’s Holmes on Homes, Mike Holmes has been announced as the motivational speaker at the upcoming Cree Construction Conference, Build With Vision. The conference will take place March 11-12 at the Hotel Forestel in Val-d’Or and will feature several workshops related to the construction industry. The ... read more ››

Speeding up the Rupert River Project for Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama is the reason behind Quebec Energy Minister Claude Béchard direct order to Hydro-Québec to speed up the construction of two hydro-dam projects. With the U.S. expressing more interest in renewable energy, Béchard has given Hydro-Québec six months to update its strategic plan in order to address ... read more ››

Canada’s Flawed Human Rights Record Highlighted

Many governments noted that Canada’s human rights record is flawed as participants of a United Nations’ Human Rights Council review of Canada’s record in Geneva that wrapped up on February 5. Under the council’s new Universal Periodic Review process, 68 governments from around the globe went on the record with ... read more ››

Oh what a night!

The Niskamoon Corporation honoured its newest graduating class July 15 with a golf tournament and a gala graduation ceremony for the 15 grads of two vocational programs, Automated Systems Electro-Mechanics, and Industrial Construction and Maintenance Mechanics. With diplomas in hand, these grads are set to begin new careers as skilled workers ... read more ››

Fighting the flu

I am finally almost over a nasty flu that has made my life miserable for two weeks. I am guessing I picked this bug up at the tail end of the holidays while I spent time in southern Ontario. By the time I got back home from the holiday, I ... read more ››

Doing the right thing

Professional speaker Rick Osborne There is no doubt that in recent years in the Cree communities, gang and youth violence have been on the minds of many. Between general assemblies that have focussed entirely on wayward youth conduct and a rise in gang activity, there was no better time for the ... read more ››

Money for Nothin’

The sum of $1.4 billion is no doubt a hefty chunk of change. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance website, Canada already “invests’ over $10 billion annually on Aboriginal priorities in addition to the new funding announced in the 2009 budget. With the entire world in financial turmoil following the ... read more ››

Mr. Yes Man

“I don’t see any discrimination certainly in this budget,” said Patrick Brazeau, former Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal People and newly appointed senator. If his name sounds familiar it is because it has been splashed across the many national newspapers and television lately as the media have been quick ... read more ››

Out in the Cold

Canada’s Native Friendship Centres have found themselves left out in the cold once again with no new funding from this year’s federal budget. It would not however be such a big deal had they received any new money since 1998 or if their salaries were not based on a 1976 ... read more ››

Show me the love

Valentine’s Day is upon us. I can already hear some guys and no doubt a few girls saying, “Damn, what to do, what to do?” The crass commercialization of Valentine’s Day means you are expected to get a card, flowers, chocolates or something for the sweet tooth and follow it ... read more ››