By Frank Larue

“My earliest recollection of music is of my grandfather singing traditional songs and telling stories,” says musician Art Napoleon. “Those stories were meaningful, and that is what I try to do with my music. Aboriginal music is definitely booming right now. I remember when it was hard to find an Aboriginal, and now there are tons.”

Art enjoys the respect of fans and peers alike, but he is unlike many of the artists who grew up in cities that offered not only opportunity for aspiring musicians but role models they could emulate. Art was raised by his grandparents from Moberly Lake in northern British Columbia. They spoke Cree and taught Art the basics of survival that had been handed down to Native children from generation to generation. Hunting and fishing kept his people alive for a thousand years, and Art was expected to excel in both. He may have gathered a following as a singer and songwriter, but he can still skin a moose with a pocketknife.
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Have you ever felt that someone in the darkness is watching you? Parents tell their children that there isn’t anything in the darkness – that isn’t there in the light of day. Well, I’m here to tell you that they are dead wrong. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean that they aren’t watching you … right now!

I too, once believed that there was no such thing as ghosts, ghouls and evil spirits – that is until I heard the words of a mysterious old man. Considering that they were his last words on this earth, he had nothing to gain by lying to me. And this is what he told me just before he passed into the eternal darkness.
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By Michelle Morning Star Doherty

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) held its eighth annual Vancouver Gala Dinner on September 16th. “This is an incredible time of opportunity in which we find ourselves,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. “Through relationship-building, education, mutual respect and the sharing of wealth in a sustainable, respectful manner, we can move forward to our return to independence.”
Chief Atleo articulated the sentiment of over 350 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business and political leaders at the gathering.

Clint Davis, President and CEO of the CCAB, embodies the spirit of the organization. An Inuk from Nunatsiavut, Clint was raised by his grandparents in Newfoundland and Labrador, and lived a fairly traditional life that included hunting, fishing, and trapping. They instilled in him strong cultural values and ethics that he carries in his work today by helping to create mutually beneficial and equitable opportunities for all.
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By Clint Buehler

Back to Batoche is the annual event at this historic site of the final battle of the 1885 Riel Resistance where events celebrate everything Metis.
This year, it began with the release of a new cd, including a new shorter version of “Proud to be Metis – The Metis Nation Anthem.” intended as a tribute on the 125th anniversary of the North West Resistance and the “Year of the Metis,” performed by Andrea Menard and Donny Parenteau.

The new “Tribute” lyrics were written by Menard, Parenteau, Karon Shmon and the lyricist for the original version, Clint Buehler. The new version retains the original music composed by Dennis Charney.

The original version was written and first recorded in 1991.
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By Cam Martin

The death of another First Nations child in foster care has many people questioning what is being done to protect our little ones. Earlier this month, Port Alberni RCMP responded to a call from a foster parent about a six-month-old First Nations boy. The boy was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. Police have yet to confirm the cause of death and determine whether actions will be taken against the foster caregiver.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip was appalled to hear about the incident. “I’m absolutely shocked and saddened,” he said. “It is troubling to hear of another death while the numbers of First Nations children in government care continue to rise.”
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By Lloyd Dolha

On Sunday, September 19, First Nations and concerned community members from the Peace River Valley will canoe to the Legislature in Victoria to deliver a message to the Premier to stop the Site C Dam.

The rally is being organized by four Treaty 8 First Nations – the Doig River, Halfway River, Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations – all of whose Treaty rights will be harmed by the project, as well as, the Wilderness Committee, the Peace Valley Environment Association and the Sierra Club of BC.
Featuring special guest speakers David Suzuki, First Nation Leaders and others is planned to take place on the lawn of the Legislative Buildings in Victoria, B.C., commencing at 10:00 AM. The rally is aimed at raising public awareness about the destructive impacts that the Site C project will have in northern BC, should the project be allowed to proceed. Popular local musical bands and First Nation drummers will accompany the event.

“Concerned British Columbians need to stand up now to make others, especially the BC Government, aware of how this so-called “green and clean” dam will impact on our Treaty 8 rights, as well as the interests of all British Columbians,” said Tribal Chief Liz Logan of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. “This is the third major dam project on the Peace River.” she said, “If it goes ahead, it will destroy valuable river and wetland ecosystems, both in the Peace River Valley and further downstream in the Athabasca and Mackenzie Deltas.”
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By Frank Larue

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip stated today “I am very deeply grateful that the Chiefs-in-Assembly at the 42nd Annual General Assembly have re-elected me to be the President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs for the next three years. I believe it represents a strong mandate and full endorsement of the inclusive approach that has guided me over my 30 years of political life.”

Last week, the Chiefs-in-Assembly met at the 42nd Annual General Assembly in Vancouver. The election for the position of President was held on September 16. With last week’s election, Grand Chief Phillip will begin his fifth consecutive three-year term as the President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

“The theme of our AGA was ‘United We Stand’ and I hereby commit to work collectively with the Chiefs of the UBCIC, the First Nations Summit and the BC Assembly of First Nations. We must work together to ensure the governments of Canada and British Columbia endorse and implement the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for our Nations and communities. We must work together to compel government to update the Comprehensive Claims Policy to reflect the many hard-fought court victories such as the Delgamuuk’w, Haida and William cases,” said Grand Chief Phillip. “To bring justice and healing, we must work together, side by side, with the many families and friends of the missing and murdered women throughout British Columbia in the upcoming public inquiry.” Continue reading…

By Lloyd Dolha

In light of escalating fears of possible violence to stop contamination of a pristine lake within their traditional territory, the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG) of the central BC Cariboo region sent a letter to members of the Mining Association of BC to ensure they understand the facts behind their opposition to the proposed Prosperity mine. “Proponents of this proposed mine, which would kill Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), have tried to portray us as extremists who are opposed to mining period, but this is totally false,” said Tl’etinqox-Tin Government Chief Joe Alphonse of the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
The September 14th letter to MABC members points out that despite recent media reports to the contrary, First Nations are not opposed to mining as such. The Tsilhqot’in say they are fully aware of a number of mining projects where First Nations and companies are working together, establishing trust in identifying culturally and environmentally sensitive projects. Progressive junior companies, backed by major industry players, recognize they must find new ways to establish meaningful partnerships in the absence of the resolution of longstanding First Nations’ claims to Aboriginal title and rights throughout the province. Such progress toward positive relationships with the mining industry is now threatened by the Prosperity mine, which informed observers have dubbed “the poster child for all that’s wrong with the [mining] system in BC and a textbook example of how not to proceed with a proposal.”
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