Volume 10, Issue 13

Chisasibi Airport Gets Needed Funds

Guy St. Julien, MP for Abitibi, announced on May 6th, 2003 on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette the release of federal funding up to a maximum of $ 1,537,000 for two projects to improve safety at Chisasibi Airport under the federal government’s Airports Capital Assistance Program. The projects are part ... read more ››

Cree and Inuit Sign Historic Agreement

Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corporation, and Grand Chief Ted Moses of the Grand Council of the Crees (GCC) signed an historic agreement on April 30th, 2003. The signing of the agreement, entitled the “Offshore Overlap Agreement”, took place at the Cree youth centre of Whapmagoostui. Representatives of the Cree and ... read more ››

Deh Cho Ink Deal

An initial agreement between the Deh Cho First Nations and the Government of Canada that could have blocked the development of the $4 billion (Cdn.) Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline project was signed April 17. A key piece of the Deh Cho Process Interim Resource Development Agreement is the removal of ... read more ››

Gwich’in and Inuvialuit Move Toward Self-government

An agreement-in-principle (AIP) was reached earlier in April that clears the way for the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit to obtain self-government. On April 16, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the Inuvialuit, and Canada signed the AIP that will recognize new legislative and administrative powers in the Beaufort-Delta region, including authority over culture, language, ... read more ››

Indians Converge on Ottawa

Opposition to the First Nations Governance Act, also known as Bill C-7, remained high amongst many First Nations and their supporters as they prepared to march on Ottawa to protest the legislation. The Western Canada contingent left Vancouver April 22 led by Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British ... read more ››

Liberals Name Pelletier New Aboriginal Affairs Minister

Newly-elected Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, has named the new minister of Aboriginal affairs. His name is Benoit Pelletier, and he says he is very enthusiastic to have the portfolio. “It’s very good news, because it’s a very interesting file, a very interesting subject.” Pelletier was born in Quebec City 43 years ... read more ››

Manitoba Hydro, Province, Sign Compensation Deal

The northern Manitoba communities of Cross Lake and Norway House have signed agreements in principle with the province and Manitoba Hydro to compensate for the impacts of past hydroelectric developments. Energy Minister Tim Sale announced the million dollar deals Wednesday. Approximately $9 million will be provided to Norway House, while Cross Lake ... read more ››

Natives Reject Fed Proposal on Consent Forms

There is little argument that drug abuse has become an issue amongst First Nations, but a move by Health Canada to track prescription drug abuse in Canada is drawing harsh criticism by First Nations leaders in Alberta. Spokesman Herman Wierenga of the First Nation and Inuit Health Branch told the CBC ... read more ››

Natives Stage Vigil in Parliament: Groups Protest Proposed First Nations Governance Act

It was no ordinary scene in the staid halls of Parliament. About 50 Native people from across Canada ordered pizza, sipped Tim Horton’s coffee and frequently shouted from the public gallery as the Commons committee on aboriginal issues met until 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. “This land is our land. Why aren’t we at ... read more ››

NFCM

I stopped by the Native Friendship Center of Montreal today, as I like to visit my old stomping grounds now and then. There have been many changes since I left four years ago, many faces have gone, but some new faces have come on the scene. New in a way, ... read more ››

Open Letter to: Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault

The Honourable Robert Nault, RC. M.P. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development House Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Dear Minister Nault: The front-runner in the Liberal leadership race, the Hon. Paul Martin, declared publicly on May 3, 2003, that if elected Prime Minister, he would not implement Bill C-7, the First Nations ... read more ››

Police Net $800,000 Worth of Drugs and Booze

A joint police operation led by the Kativik Regional Police Force and including the Sûreté du Québec provincial police force, the RCMP, other native police forces, Canada Customs and Canada Post has resulted in the opening of more than 50 files in Nunavik and Nunavut and the seizure of 15 ... read more ››

Province Wants Delay in Release of Costs

The Ontario government plans to go to court to block the release of its legal bills in the wrongful death lawsuit brought by family members of native activist Anthony (Dudley) George. The government is seeking to block the release of its legal fees in the seven-year lawsuit brought by George’s ... read more ››

The Strangers in Red

It was about 1946. It was a bright sunny summer morning when I rushed out of the house to begin a new day of adventures and exciting things that children do. I had heard the drone of a plane or, I thought maybe two, earlier when I was still in bed, ... read more ››

Waiting For the Ice to Clear

It is a bright spring day in May of 1985. The whole community of Attawapiskat, or most of us anyway, have come out to stand on the river bank to watch the annual break up or what we call in Cree: Maachestan. There is a lot of anxiety in the ... read more ››