Topic: NEWS

Harper, Trudeau, Mulcair to Face Off in 2015 Election

Posted by on . -- NEWS

Unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper decides otherwise, the upcoming federal election is going to be held on October 19th, 2015. For Canada’s Aboriginal peoples, a lot is at stake. Harper’s government has clearly set its own priorities by cutting Aboriginal funding across the board nearly 60% without consulting Aboriginal organizations. In addition to cutting funds for Aboriginal education, serious housing issues on reserves like Attawapiskat remain unresolved, and the Harper government withdrew from the historic Kelowna Accord set by his Liberal predecessor.

The Idle-No-More movement sparked Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s six week hunger strike two years ago. Her Northern Ontario First Nation sits along the Attawapiskat River near a diamond mine, and their suffering is reflected in the misery of many reserve communities across the country. Media brought it to national attention with shocking images of children living in unheated shacks and trailers during a northern Ontario winter. The Red Cross had to swoop in to provide necessary aid, embarrassing the Prime Minister and his government. Chief Spence paid a price for that embarrassment, though. She ended up facing the brunt of the Harper government’s attack blaming her and her band council for their own poverty. The Aboriginal Affairs Minister at the time, John Duncan, stripped the band council of its authority over finances and imposed a consultant to run Attawapiskat’s affairs, a move harshly criticized by the Federal Court as “unreasonable.” The Idle-No-More movement said it wanted to “stop the Harper government from passing more laws and legislation that will further erode treaty and indigenous rights and the rights of all Canadians.” Idle-No-More called on all people to join in a revolution which honours and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty.

Harper must also contend with the new AFN leadership under National Chief Perry Bellegarde. The new National Chief warned it will no longer be business as usual when it comes to development on First Nations land. In his victory speech, Bellegarde singled out pipelines and energy development as one of the frontlines in his battle to put First Nations on equal footing with the rest of Canada. “To the people across this great land, I say to you, that the values of fairness and tolerance which Canada exports to the world are a lie when it comes to our people,” Bellegarde said. “Canada will no longer develop pipelines, no longer develop transmission lines or any infrastructure on our lands as business as usual.” Bellegarde pledged opposition to any project that deprives First Nations a share of the profits. “We will no longer accept poverty and hopelessness while resource companies and governments grow fat off our lands and territories and resources. If our lands and resources are to be developed, it will be done only with our fair share of the royalties, with our ownership of the resources and jobs for our people. It will be done on our terms and our timeline.”

The Prime Minister has often touted Canada as an energy giant due to Alberta’s vast oil sands. His government wrote and legislated omnibus bills to remove environmental protections and laws requiring proper consultations with First Nations for resources and pipeline developments. Recently though, and to the Prime Minister’s surprise, oil prices have tanked. His lack of investment and interest in other industries is now obvious. His lack of preparedness for plummeting oil prices has caused his finance minister to delay the budget by months, figuring out how to keep their promise of a balanced budget in 2015. The Bank of Canada, forecasting turbulent economic times, has lowered interest rates, and executives at Canada’s Big Five banks are expecting another rate cut of .25% in the near future, apparently expecting little to no economic growth for the nation overall.

Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says a national inquiry into the missing and murdered Aboriginal women “isn’t really high on our radar, to be honest.”

Harper also faces significant backlash on the issue of murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls. According to an Angus Reid poll, 73% of Canadians want a national inquiry on this issue. The opposition parties, every Aboriginal leader and organization in the country, and all 13 Premiers (including the conservative ones) have called for national inquiry on this grave issue, but the Prime Minister heartlessly stated in an interview with CBC just before Christmas that a national inquiry “isn’t really high on our radar, to be honest.” Harper said the government can spend “hundreds of millions of dollars” and simply “get the same report for the 41st or 42nd time.” The missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls could become a hot election issue, and may hand the Conservatives a loss in the upcoming election. The Native Women’s Association of Canada president Michele Audet was very critical of Harper, saying he has a double standard for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. “It could be one woman or 1,000 Aboriginal women, he doesn’t care at all,” said Audet. “But when a young woman commits suicide because she was bullied through Facebook, he will go and visit the family and say he will do everything in his power to make sure his government puts in place legislation that will not tolerate any bullying on the internet.”

Mulcair

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, has been neither very vocal nor effective on the issues facing Aboriginal peoples.

The Leader of the Opposition, NDP’s Thomas Mulcair, has not been vocal or effective on issues facing Aboriginal peoples. His predecessor, the late Jack Layton, inspired a hope never seen before in Canadian politics, but since Mulcair has become leader, the NDP’s national support had fallen, and more than half of their previous support in Quebec has been handed to the Liberals under Justin Trudeau. If current trends continue, the NDP will again fall into third place in the House on election day.

The Liberal Party under Interim Leader Bob Rae and current Leader Justin Trudeau saw gains in national support. When in comes to Aboriginal issues, Trudeau hasn’t said much, but his personal recruitment of AFN Regional Chief for BC Jody Wilson-Raybould to run in the new Vancouver-Granville riding is promising. As of January 24th, the Liberals currently have eleven Aboriginal candidates, with several others running for the Liberals nomination in their respective ridings, including Native Women’s Association president Michele Audet.

Daniol Coles, a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, will run in the newly formed riding of Edmonton-Griesbach. He is disappointed that the government spends more time fighting First Nations than working with them. Coles said the Liberals vowed in 2014 not to repeat “the mistakes of the past and strive for meaningful consultation when considering legislation and policy that impact the right of indigenous peoples.” That included a resolution formally rejecting Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s infamous 1969 white paper that proposed an end to the Indian Act and calling it “a serious mistake.”

According to Coles, who chaired the Liberal Party’s Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission for two years, the apology set the younger Trudeau apart from his father in the eyes of Aboriginal chiefs. In Alberta, where the memory of Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program still stings, saying sorry is not insignificant. “It was groundbreaking,” Coles said.

Justin Trudeau

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the Prime Minister is “on the wrong side of history” in his refusal to launch a public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

On the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, Trudeau said the Prime Minister is “on the wrong side of history” in his refusal to launch a public inquiry. In the aftermath of the murder of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, an Aboriginal girl from Winnipeg, Trudeau said, “My heart goes out to the families of not just Tina Fontaine but of all the missing and murdered over the years. The prime minister has shown himself not to be simply… just out of touch with Canadians on this issue, but also on the wrong side of history.”

As for economic development, Trudeau will be taking a page from Prime Minister Paul Martin’s playbook. Martin is the first Prime Minister in Canadian history to change the approach towards Aboriginal peoples in this country. Motivated to close the gaps in education, health care, housing, and economics between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, Prime Minister Martin encouraged Aboriginal leaders to present their own priorities to the government, including when it came to negotiating the now scrapped historic Kelowna Accord. Since leaving office, Prime Minister Martin has dedicated his life to bettering the lives of Aboriginal peoples through his Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, and his business initiative Capefund, a $50 million fund to help Aboriginal businesses and start-ups enter international markets. Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have signalled that a Government of Canada with Trudeau as Prime Minister will conduct a national inquiry for the missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. This election campaign and the results will surely affect Aboriginal peoples from coast to coast to coast.

 

COMING TO THE FIRE: 14th Annual Talking Stick Festival

Posted by on . -- ARTS, NEWS

Gather Round the Fire of Inspiration & Imagination

The fire is a primal symbol that ignites dreams, hopes, and wishes of a community. This symbol is an invitation for all to come to the fire, to gather and feast on the creative works and artistic wealth of Aboriginal arts and artists at the 14th annual Talking Stick Festival presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance. This year’s festival takes place in venues throughout the city from February 17 – March 1, 2015 with national and international artists.

Talking Stick Article pic

The festival provides an opportunity for Aboriginal people to share their stories and talents that encompass all areas of the performing arts from theatre, dance, drumming, and music to spoken word and multimedia performances. The artistic disciplines celebrate and honour the traditional Aboriginal culture and heritage and showcase the new evolving contemporary work of today’s artists.

“This years’ festival is not only an opportunity to gather and be together to experience the works of artists but also is a place to reflect on the past successes, discuss challenges, and to share hopes, dreams, and ideas to ensure the future is bright and burning with the energies of all our efforts,” stated Margo Kane, Artistic Managing Director.

On the music front, the festival is thrilled to have fearless and dynamic throat singer Tanya Tagaq performing at the York Theatre on Saturday February 28. Now Magazine deemed Tanya Tagaq’s concert at Toronto’s Great Hall the best concert of 2014, and CBC Music listed her hit album Animism at #2 among their 30 best Canadian albums of the year. Powerful and electrifying, don’t miss the opportunity to experience this incredible talent. Also performing the same evening is passionate singer/songwriter and soulful performer Leela Gilday. She has numerous awards, including a Juno, two Western Canadian Music Awards, and Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year, to name a few. Leela is from Yellowknife, NT with a voice that comes straight from the heart. Definitely a not-to-be-missed concert!

Generations will be another musical evening of emerging and contemporary musicians performing at the York Theatre on February 26, curated by Suzette Amaya. One of the featured artists is K.A.S.P., who is well known for his collaborations with DMC of the legendary RUN DMC, Moka Only, Chino XL and recently with Toronto’s Choclair. K.A.S.P’s focus has shifted his music to a whole new level, and he shares it with youth to motivate them to persevere no matter what happens in life. Originally from East Vancouver, his songs tell a story of his struggle and success in dedicating his life to his family, his community, and his people to show the youth that there is hope for a better today and brighter tomorrow.

The Roundhouse Community Centre will be the home for visual arts exhibition, the Contemporary Dance series and drama. For a theatrical experience, the festival is proud to present the hilarious and moving play Salt Baby, written by Falen Johnson and directed by Yvette Nolan. It is a comedy that explores what it means to look white but have Native ancestry, being invisibly ethnic raising questions about how we expect Aboriginal people to look.

To acknowledge a special friend to the Talking Stick Festival, there will be an evening of slam poetry dedicated to honouring spoken word poet Zaccheus Jackson, who died tragically last year. Jackson, a member of the Blackfoot nation, was born in Alberta and eventually ended up living in East Vancouver, where his drug addiction took hold and where he found a way to beat it. He performed at the festival a number of times and rose to prominence through spirited performances and incisive wordplay both personal and political, delivered with characteristic lighting quickness.

Again this year, the hugely successful and popular Workshops in Schools Series and the Professional Development Series will continue, nurturing future artists in the Aboriginal community.

Come to the Fire and experience a dynamic festival not to be missed: rich in all forms of the arts. For a full list of all performers and events visit Talking Stick Festival.

Tickets and festival passes are available with ticket ranging from $12 – $40, as well as Pay What You Can performances.

SUNDANCER

Posted by on . -- ARTS, Danny Beaton, NEWS

In memory of Alicja Rozanska.

Robertjohn Knapp Speaks Out:

Our old elders tell us that our physical bodies are sacred tools or shells so that we can communicate with life around us and walk softly on Sacred Mother Earth, that our spirits are energy, and that our spirit energy never dies. The question is when did I start Sundancing; where did I start Sundancing; why is the Sundance good for me and Native people?

Sundancers Robertjohn Knapp and his son Michaelsun at ceremonies with Traditional Circle of Elders and Youth, Montana. Photo credit: Danny Beaton.

Sundancers Robertjohn Knapp and his son Michaelsun at ceremonies with Traditional Circle of Elders and Youth, Montana. Photo credit: Danny Beaton.

Years ago, I was on the Longest Walk—I think it was seventy-six or seventy-eight? Had my eldest son with me. We went all the way to Indianapolis. He was about six years old, and I turned around and came back to California to meet with Dennis Banks to tell him my experience, how the walk was going. After that there was a Sundance at DQ University in Northern California out of UC Davis, so I went there to dance. There were a couple of young boys with me, and my son and David Miller were with me. There were so many flies and fly crap everywhere that the whole camp was sick. The FBI had dug holes and threw all the watermelons in. The place was very dirty, so every one was sick including me; I could not hold anything down. After two days, I got in my truck and headed to Big Pine where Raymond Stone was.

I swore I’d never dance again, until I broke my neck. I broke my neck in 1982 and had to go through lots of stuff, in and out of hospitals, doctors, therapy, etc. Then I went to meet Raymond Stone, and he with several others began to work on me. It was in Yosemite Valley at Jay Johnson’s place. There we saw white deer, white coyote. There I got back into the sweat lodge; it was the first time that I could sit up again since I broke my neck—that’s what I remember back then. Back then Senator Goldwater in Arizona was going to use the national guard to take out the Navajo off the Big Mountain area. So the gift of being able to sit up in the sweat lodge again was me and David Miller driving over to Big Mountain Arizona, then we started to dance at the survival camp there.

Leonard Crow Dog, the medicine man for AIM, sponsored me to dance. When I got there, I asked Leonard if he needed another dancer and he said, “Yeah.” Leonard said, “What do you have” and I said “not much” so he asked one of his helpers to get me a skirt, then he asked me if I had a whistle, and I said “no” so he gave me an eagle whistle. He said, “Do you have a pipe?” and I said “yeah” so he said “okay.” I made my regalia parts, and I danced there until the end. I danced at the survival camp for a few years, and then went to Ana Mae’s, danced there until they tore it down, the Hopi and FBI and other police, county and state. Between them two places I danced over twenty years.

The question is why is the Sundance good for Native people? I have seen a lot of things over the years, and the Sundance is good for those who want to know themselves and the medicine that you’re praying for. I have danced for my mom; I have danced for my brothers, and they all died, but I danced for them to help them go on to the other side. I went there once. They told me I was supposed to die. Before the third day of dancing, I knew I was already better and cured. So its the same kind of question. It’s a good place; I seen good things and not good things; I seen people come there because they wanted notoriety or some other thing.

Left to right: Professor Francis Borella, Mount San Antonio University, California. Robertjohn Knapp. Professor Gina Lamb, Pitzer College, California. Photo by Danny Beaton.

Left to right: Professor Francis Borella, Mount San Antonio University, California. Robertjohn Knapp. Professor Gina Lamb, Pitzer College, California. Photo by Danny Beaton.

The Sundance is one of the most powerful complete ceremonies I’ve ever seen or been in. There’s two things they talk about sacrificing in the Sundance, and I don’t believe that’s true, I believe the Sundance is an offering, and the difference between a sacrifice and offering is: sacrifice is when I throw you into the fire, an offering is when I go into the fire. So its very specific. So sacrificing is for somebody else. If you make an offering, you go in; you do it. So those are the offerings, and if your offering is pure enough, good enough, then the spirit world will respond to you. If you play, they play—that’s the way I see it. So you go there, and its never been easy. Grandpa use to say there are only two roads, the easy road and the hard road, and the easy road is like jumping off a cliff, and you fall and fall for twenty years and its really easy until you hit bottom. The hard road is that road up the mountain, and that hard road never ever changes, never gets easy, stays hard. It is we who change and therefore it’s not easier—that’s not the right word—but more successful in what you do. More whole in the things you do. More whole in what you do. So during the Sundance, if you’re taught right or maybe if you have an instinct or something where you can find out who you are, where you are, why you’re here. If you can use your mind in a good way, use your mind to make everything whole within yourself.

Leon use to come to the Sundance with me. I loved it when he was there with me. I loved all them guys I used to dance with and the women, even though there were others there doing other things, it was not for me to judge anyone. I seen behaviour there that was not conducive to those who were dancing for love, dancing for all the things, dancing to be a part of the whole, dancing to really know what you’re suppose to be doing here on Mother Earth. I danced for many kinds of things, and those things guide your life. Its not easy; it takes all year to save up enough money just to come back home. So it becomes a whole way of life, so you don’t do things that go against the natural world or life! You don’t hurt people either. Leon said “killing is Gods work,” so in that way a Sundance is good for those who enter into that special world. I remember bringing Shorty there when he was told he was gonna die, and the elders really helped him; they worked with him. We were the same age, but he still passed away. He went to the other side, but I think he went there much stronger, standing on his feet, and I think he went there with love in his heart.

From left to right: Sundancer Guero \ Al Sommers, Danny Beaton, and Robertjohn Knapp. Photo by Christine Knapp.

So what does this Sundance do? Is it for everybody? I think maybe they should be able to see it, but not in a very special way. I think they should see what real love is like and see those people who dance with their heart because they made that choice to do that, and they put their energy out there and shed their blood and suffered. The suffering is offered for everybody, for all people, for all things. They leave their flesh there; they leave their blood there. Then you see somebody negative and it makes you want to cry, makes you want to put your tears down where your blood is. At the same place—and those areas are sacred areas—they will never dig the coal from that ground. The Sundance was good for me because I learned who I was there, in relation to the whole and in relationship to Mother Earth and in relationship to all life. If I had any fear then, I don’t have any anymore. I am willing to do what it takes—to do whatever it takes, even when people hurt me, I try not to have hatred for them. In other words, I have been Sundancing every day of my life; it does not matter who the negative people are. They can’t hurt me any more than I put myself through, and I did it willingly and for my reasons. I learned pain is my friend and not to run away from it.

Well I seen things in the Sundance, all the rock paintings, all of that in the sun—I have seen everything in the sun. I could see what the old people saw, and it made me all the more stronger, all the more full of love for everything. I felt more complete when I danced with my son. When my son was there, what I felt for the first time dancing next to him trimming off the extra flesh is that I felt that I gave birth to my son. So one of the things was to know how a woman feels when giving birth, at least in that direction not by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the best I could do. So how do you do that? I don’t know… pray hard, talk to them. I seen them; I talked to them; I seen all kinds of stuff. So now there is nothing that can take me from what I do, where I am, or what I am doing—there is nothing they can do. I am who I am. I’m a Sundancer.

Aboriginal Organizations Hit With $60 Million In Cuts. Inuit Organizations Hit Hardest.

Posted by on . -- NEWS

In the past three years, Aboriginal organizations have faced $60 million worth of cuts from Stephen Harper’s government. Inuit groups were hit the hardest, according to an internal AFN analysis. The analysis, based on Aboriginal Affairs’ department figures as of January 7th, found Inuit organizations were hardest hit with 71% of funding cuts between 2012 and 2015. First Nations organizations saw their overall funding, including core and project based funding, drop from $69 million to $24 million, or 65.5 % cut. Metis organizations suffered 39% in cuts. Non-status Indian organizations were cut 14% and women’s organizations were cut 7%.

First Nation organizations in Ontario saw the biggest overall cuts to funding. In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, Ontario First Nation organizations received about $20 million in project and core funding. In the 2014-2015 year, the same funding was reduced to about $5 million,(76% cut). Two organizations in New Brunswick and PEI have been hit by 80% in cuts, while in Saskatchewan, the sole regional organization, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations faced 91% in cuts. In Manitoba, three regional First Nation organizations, Southern Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimankanak and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), were hit with 78% in cuts between 2012 and 2015. Aboriginal Affairs stated Aboriginal organizations would still receive proposal driven project funding as in past years, as long as they were within the firm February deadlines. Meeting the deadline this past February, the AMC submitted eight proposals totalling $2.621 million for the current fiscal year. As of November 2014, well into this fiscal year, Aboriginal Affairs responded with approval of $102,000, which is only half of one of the submitted proposals.

Derek Nepinak

Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Derek Nepinak: “I feel that we have been misled…”

Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Derek Nepinak stated in a press release, “I feel that we have been misled to think that the Government of Canada, under the Harper regime, would act in good faith and support policy development from local and community based initiatives. Instead we have been forced to jump through hoops, expending our limited resources in order to meet February deadlines for proposals that didn’t get final evaluation until November, which is the end of the 3rd quarter of the fiscal year.”

Three First Nations organizations in BC, the BC First Nation Summit, Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the BC AFN have faced 73% in cuts. The summit was hardest hit with an 82% reduction. Tribal Councils, which are different than regional organizations and represent smaller groups of First nation communities, have also seen their core funding drop 40% from about $49 million in 2011-2012 to $30 million in 2014-2015.

The cuts were initially announced by former Aboriginal Affairs minister John Duncan in 2012. At the time he said Ottawa would be changing the “funding model” for Aboriginal organizations and tribal councils, focusing on areas that matched the Harper Government’s “priorities,” a classic Conservative Party colonial move to dictate the priorities of Aboriginal peoples instead of allowing them to define their own priorities. The Harper government spent $15 million last year promoting “Canada’s Economic Action Plan,” a catchphrase promoting stimulus spending that ended two years ago, which is more than $5 million approved by the Treasury Board. They also spent $2.5 million to advertise a job grant that does not exist.

In an interview with First Nations Drum, NDP MP and Aboriginal Affairs critic Jean Crowder stated that the funding cuts were “really troubling,” because the Harper Government has not been transparent about the cuts. “The government has neither been open or transparent about the cuts, nor have they been open and transparent about the impacts these cuts will have on Aboriginal communities. They have never described how the money would be allocated differently,” said Crowder. “The government has stated that they are going to reallocate the funds towards education and economic development in the Aboriginal communities, but I have not seen any evidence of any funding towards those areas.”

“The Federal Government has continued to deny program access for many Aboriginal organizations who represent legitimate constituents across the country,” said Keith Henry, President of the BC Metis Federation told First Nations Drum. “This is especially true for the Metis, where unless an individual belongs to a handful of Federal government recognized Metis societies such as the Metis National Council and their governing members including the Metis Nation British Columbia, there is no process to apply or be recognized to address the cultural and social well being for Metis people. This has far reaching consequences as these organizations only represent a small portion of the Metis population in Canada, and moreover they only define Metis in Ontario westward and part of BC historically which we know is inaccurate today.”

“These Federal Government cuts make no sense when Metis people and organizations are seeking their Section 35 right to self governance and yet the Federal Government, through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, refuses to engage with any one outside the Metis National Council and their governing members,” Henry stated.

“I cannot understand how these cuts to some of our must vulnerable people in Canada can be allowed to occur when Metis organizations such as ours in BC have been calling for new Metis cultural programs as our language and culture is being lost every day,” Henry continued. “We have been denied repeatedly for project and governance funding and it appears that there are very few Aboriginal leaders pressuring the Federal Government to justify such major reductions to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. It is clear the Government of Canada must respect and follow their own laws which includes the right to self govern. These cuts are irresponsible and Aboriginal leaders should be outraged. I do not see any of this changing and my fear is a passive attitude of acceptance will result in further negative social, economic, and cultural impacts to all Aboriginal peoples in Canada.”

Makayla Sault Dies Of Leukemia After Refusing Chemotherapy

Posted by on . -- NEWS

Makayla Sault was 11 years old. She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and started chemotherapy treatments at the McMaster’s Children Hospital in Hamilton. The doctors had given her a 75% chance of recovery based on the chemo treatments being successful. Unfortunately, Makayla had difficulty dealing with the painful treatments; her family stated that “chemotherapy did irreversible damage to her heart and major organs.”

Makayla Sault_pic1_Jan2015

Makayla Sault

Makayla told her family she had a dream that Jesus was in the hospital. She also wrote a letter to her doctors saying, “I am writing this letter to tell you that this chemo is killing my body.” Her parents then decided to stop the chemotherapy and consider traditional medicines, and as a result, the hospital called in Children’s Aid. Andrew Koster, director of the Brant Children’s Aid Society, sided with family and closed the investigation. “For us to take her away, to apprehend and place her in a home with strangers if there aren’t any relatives, when she’s very, very ill,” Koster told the CBC. “I can’t see how that would be helpful.”

Perhaps Koster was right, but then again, he was skeptical of the term traditional medicine and his skepticism would prove well founded. “I think people much more knowledgeable than ourselves need to be involved to look at what types of traditional medicines are being used; how does it [compare] to some of the chemo treatments.” The term “traditional medicine” should mean going back to Native cures. Echinacea is a traditional medicine that is found in every drug store today to prevent colds. Makayla’s parents didn’t seek out an Aboriginal healer; instead they brought their daughter to the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida. President Brian Clement is not a licensed doctor, nor does he have a degree in holistic medicine. Clement is currently being sued by his former staff for running a scam. And, yes he does prescribe raw vegetables, which at one time were part of an Aboriginal traditional diet, but that’s about as close as it gets with the Hippocrates Health Institute.

Makayla unfortunately is not the only Native child who went to the Hippocrates Health Institute. Another 11-year-old Native girl with leukemia is presently under care at the institute. She cannot be identified because of a publication ban, but she also stopped her chemo treatments. The hospital were willing to go to court in order to continue the child’s chemotherapy. “This child has a life threatening illness and without proper treatment will not survive,” a spokesman for the hospital said, but the judge agreed with the parents. The term “traditional medicine” was used without the court checking out what medicines they were using.

“It’s going to set a precedent on the rights of parents and also on the question of which piece of legislation governs: the Child and Family Services Act or legislation governing the Health Capacity and Consent Board,” Family law professor Nicholas Bala told the media.

The parents of Makayla are convinced the chemo treatments were responsible for the stroke that killed their daughter and Hippocrates Health Institute is not responsible. “Surrounded by the love and support of her family, her community, and her nation. Makayla completed her course. She is now safely in the hands of Jesus.”

The International Minerals Innovation Institute

Posted by on . -- BUSINESS, Education, NEWS

The mining industry in Saskatchewan is blossoming. The province’s uranium mines produce 30% of the world’s uranium, which has created a multitude of jobs for people seeking employment in the mining industry. The jobs are in the high income bracket and demand specialized training for employees. The International Mineral Innovation Institute (IMII) is a college with a difference; they specialize in training students to work in the mining industry. The Institute wants skilled people to support Saskatchewan’s mining industry and to provide leadership and capacity building in the development programs, technical certificate, and undergraduate and post graduate programs to prepare students for the minerals industry.

International Mineral Institute_Jan2015

International Minerals Institute. Photo courtesy of Northlands College.

The Institute’s goal is to deliver sustainable capacity expansion for skills development through innovative education and training programs that can adjust to cycles in the market and developing technologies. Innovation is enhanced through research and development and knowledge transfer. The Institute wants to serve as a catalyst to address industry wide education, research issues, and opportunities and to attract and retain skilled people who can strengthen Saskatchewan’s industrial capacity and enhance industry sustainability.

IMII is working to close gaps between skills development and state of the art technologies through advanced education and training and innovative research and development. A strong emphasis on leadership from all participants is a catalyst for continuous improvement in safety, minimizing environmental impact, social responsibility, and financial prudence. IMII opened its doors in 2012. On the board of directors were Cameco, the University of Saskatchewan, and Innovation Saskatchewan, a rare partnership of corporation, university, and government. IMII’s long term goal is to position Saskatchewan to be the world’s most innovative and efficient minerals jurisdiction through excellent education and training and research development partnerships. These are lofty goals, but so far they have implemented all their promises, which means we can be optimistic about their future.

Athabasca Basin Development And Uranium Mining In Saskatchewan

Posted by on . -- BUSINESS, NEWS

Saskatchewan supplies 20% of the world’s uranium, as well as potash, making Saskatchewan one of the few provinces with a healthy mining industry. The Athabasca Basin is the centrepiece of uranium mining in Saskatchewan, host to the world’s richest high-grade uranium deposits. The Northern area covers almost a quarter of Saskatchewan and a small portion of Alberta. Athabasca Basin Development (ABD) is an investment company committed to building and investing in successful businesses, explains Kristy Jackson, director of marketing and communications at ABD. The company is owned by the seven communities in northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

Athabasca Basin_pic4_Jan2015
Formed in 2002, Athabasca Basin Development was established to maximize local community participation in the opportunities in the mining industry. ABD has grown to include complete or partial ownership in eleven companies providing a wide range of services. The company represents a unique partnership of First Nations and non-First Nations communities working together. This community unity was key to the company’s success.

“Because the Athabasca Basin area hosts the world’s richest high-grade uranium deposits, there are many mining and exploration activities happening in the region. Our company, owned by the seven Athabasca communities, was formed to maximize local community participation in the opportunities in the mining industry, and today we have ownership in numerous companies that provide services to the mining and exploration industry. As well, we are always open to exploring new ideas and opportunities,” says Kristy. “Whether it’s an established business, a partnership, project, or a potential start-up idea, we encourage people to contact us. Cameco has several operations in the area and employs many people from the region at their mine sites. Cameco has also been a client of many of our investments and was a strong supporter of ours in the early days and today.”

The company is attentive to its business strategy, taking into account current trends and planning ahead. “Because of the current market conditions, we expect a decrease in consolidated revenues over the next year. This market slowdown is a normal part of the mining and resource industry and something to be expected—it’s something we’ve experienced before,” explains Kristy. “Last year, we made the decision to diversify our portfolio and begin investing in industries that are different than what we have currently done. Arctic Beverages, a Pepsi franchise company servicing northern Manitoba, was the first of these investments, and we expect more to come over the following year.”

ABD relies on successful investments to build revenue and generate growth within the company and participating communities. “Our mandate is to build wealth for our shareholder communities by investing in and growing sustainable businesses. We are very strongly focused on long-term results,” Kristy says. “By keeping the focus on building wealth for the future, and reinvesting the majority of profits, ABD has grown to be able to make an impact on the Athabasca communities through distributions.” ABD currently pays out a stable distribution to each community. “Our strategy is to keep these distributions down to a level where we know we can continue to pay them so that they can be relied upon, as well as ensuring that we keep the majority of our profits in the company for reinvestment. The sum goes directly to the unit holder and its use is not dictated by us, however, it is generally used for reinvestment locally and for community improvements such as playgrounds and needed equipment like garbage trucks.”

Athabasca Basin Development’s value has grown tremendously since its inception in 2002, and three of its investments have appeared on SaskBusiness Magazine’s Top 100 list. ABD itself was within the top 50 in 2012. ABD and its investments collectively employ over 1000 people, many of whom are Aboriginal. “One of the things we look for in a potential investment is a commitment to Aboriginal engagement,” Kristy notes. The number of Aboriginal employees does vary among locations; for example, some sites have over 90% Aboriginal employees while other sites have none. ABD itself has only six employees, of which three are Aboriginal people.“All of our investments are committed to hiring Athabasca residents and Aboriginal people wherever possible, and many have invested in training programs that provide transferable skills to help employees obtain meaningful employment beyond our companies,” says Kristy. “Through the years, our investments have been transitional employers for many. For example, in the last three years, clients have hired over 100 Athabasca employees working at Points Athabasca for long term positions.”

“We are proud to support our communities, and the cornerstone of our donations strategy is to focus on initiatives that benefit the Athabasca communities. For example, last year, we were able to make our largest ever donation – $249,000 to help bring cellular towers to the North. We are also involved in local development corporation boards, tours taking various representatives to the region, and involvement in the Northern Business Task Force through the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.”

Gwendolyn Point To Be Next UFV Chancellor

Posted by on . -- Education, NEWS

Dr. Gwendolyn Point will be the new chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley. Point will take over from Dr. Brian Minter, who was UFV’s first chancellor and served two terms stretching from 2008 to 2014. She will be installed as chancellor at a ceremony in the coming months. The new chancellor-elect has a connection to the Fraser Valley that stretches back decades. She started her engagement with what was then Fraser Valley College in the early 1980s when she and her husband Steven (former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and now a B.C. provincial court judge) took university-level courses there.

Newly appointed Chancellor of University of the Fraser Valley, Gwendolyn Point.

Newly appointed Chancellor of University of the Fraser Valley, Gwendolyn Point.

From Fraser Valley College student to member of the University College of the Fraser Valley board of governors to UFV assistant professor, Point’s career and educational journey has paralleled the development of UFV from college to university. Her experience as Chatelaine of the Province of British Columbia (the title given to the spouse of the Lieutenant Governor) will serve her well as the ceremonial head of the university. Dr. Point will serve as a member of the Board of Governors and the Senate, as well as presiding over convocation conferring UFV degrees, diplomas, and certificates and serving as an ambassador for UFV at major events. “Ceremony plays a very important role in our community. It is a way of acknowledging and honouring both the person and everyone they are connected to. If you stand up to receive an honour it also lifts up your family and community.”

The chancellor is appointed by the UFV Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the Alumni Association and consultation with the UFV Senate. “The UFV Board of Governors is delighted to welcome Dr. Gwen Point as UFV’s next Chancellor,” said UFV Board Chair Barry Delaney. “Dr. Point has been part of UFV since our early days as Fraser Valley College. She knows us well and epitomizes our commitment to quality education, student success and regional development. We are extremely fortunate to have Gwen serve as UFV’s next Chancellor.”

“I am very pleased to be working with Dr. Point,” said UFV President and Vice-Chancellor Mark Evered. “She brings a unique balance of community and university experience, leadership, and understanding. She has served our university as a teacher, a scholar, an administrator, and a board member, has held a number of offices in government, including the senior office of Chatelaine, and is a passionate leader, mentor, and role model in our community. She will be an outstanding addition to UFV.”

Currently, Point is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at UFV and teaches First Nations Studies courses, including Stó:lō Nation Development and Stó:lō Communications and World View. She will be resigning her position as a faculty member at UFV in order to take on the voluntary chancellor role. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC, a post-baccalaureate diploma from SFU, and a Master of Education degree from the University of Portland and is near completion of a doctorate in education from SFU. She also holds an honorary Doctor of Education degree from the University of Victoria.

Point brings extensive teaching and educational leadership experience, from elementary to postsecondary, to her new role, as well as extensive government experience from her work with provincial ministries and her service as Chatelaine of BC. She is a respected Stó:lō leader, mentor, and cultural advisor. She has contributed her cultural knowledge and experience to numerous books, conferences, workshops, and communities, often as an invited keynote contributor. She has also received numerous prestigious awards over the course of her career.

“It is a real honour to be asked and a privilege to take on this role,” said Point, a member of the Skowkale First Nation who lives in Chilliwack. “I started my post-secondary education here, and I was very grateful for the access it provided at the time. It was wonderful to not have to leave home to get an education. It was a very special experience when I returned here to teach full time in 2005. Now becoming chancellor and playing a leadership role at UFV sends a message that dreams do come true and good things do happen.”

She said that she will miss teaching and the opportunity it provided to pass on knowledge about Stó:lō culture and history to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. “My grandmother told me that what you know has no value. It’s like sand in your hand unless you pass it on to others. I know that teaching the community about the Stó:lō people has made a difference, and I really believe that it is an act of reconciliation. It is helping to create a better understanding of recent history. Every class, I would see a shift and transformation in the students.” Point added that becoming Chancellor will allow her to continue to provide leadership and mentorship to young people. “My elders said that your greatest teaching method is one of example. You can’t do anything directly about others’ choices, but you can help by setting an example. I feel blessed to have the opportunity.”

Outgoing Chancellor Brian Minter also has a strong connection to the University of the Fraser Valley. He was named UFV’s first Chancellor when UFV received university status in 2008. He also taught night school courses in horticulture in the 1980s and was chair of the Board of Governors when Fraser Valley College was transformed into a degree-granting university college in 1991. He is a donor to UFV and hands-on supporter of the UFV agriculture program. Minter was granted an honorary Doctor of Technology degree from UFV (then UCFV) in 2001.

“The UFV Board of Governors offers heartfelt thanks to our outgoing chancellor, Dr. Brian Minter,” said board chair Barry Delaney. “His decades of service to the university as teacher, board member, donor, advocate, and Chancellor have in no small way shaped UFV into the outstanding university it is today.” UFV president Mark Evered said, “It was an honour to work with Chancellor Minter. His passion and dedication to UFV has created an outstanding legacy of excellence and community connection. I have learned a great deal from Brian, and I am forever grateful for his mentorship, guidance, and friendship throughout my tenure as UFV president.”

Outgoing chancellor Minter called working with staff and students at UFV “an absolute privilege” and welcomed Dr. Point to the new position. “The values and culture of UFV, as well as its mission to become one of the best undergraduate universities in Canada, make UFV a very special place and one with an amazing future. This university has touched many lives and provided opportunities for so many people in the Fraser Valley, and indeed around the world. The education they have received at our university has added incredible value not only to their future prospects but also to our communities and our country. The success of our students will be UFV’s ongoing legacy, and I’m so appreciative of having played a small part in this unique journey. I will always be a strong supporter of UFV in any way I can. The appointment of Gwen Point as our new chancellor is brilliant, and we will all benefit greatly from this new relationship. I wish her and everyone at UFV continued success.”

Prime Minister Says Missing And Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls Are Not A Priority

Posted by on . -- NEWS

In an interview with CBC News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper exposed his complete lack of sympathy towards the families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls across Canada. “It isn’t really high on our radar, to be honest,” Harper told CBC’s Peter Mansbridge. “We have an awful lot of studies and information on the phenomenon and an awful good indication of what the record is in terms of investigation and prevention of these sorts of things.”

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says murdered and missing women issue “isn’t really high on our radar.”

Harper said the government can spend “hundreds of millions of dollars,” as it has on other royal commissions or inquiries, and simply “get the same report for the 41st or 42nd time.” He stands firm on his refusal for a national public inquiry. An Angus Reid survey earlier this fall that showed 73% of Canadians favour a public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen on December 18th, newly elected AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he was “very disappointed” by Harper’s comments. Bellegarde was also critical of comments made by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt on the same issue. Valcourt said Aboriginal men have a “lack of respect” for women on reserves and that First Nations should do more themselves to fix the problem of violence against Aboriginal women.

“I always say if you have to change minds around, you need to engage in a dialogue,” said Chief Bellegarde, indicating that he will continue to pressure the Prime Minister. “I want to engage in that sooner than later to change his mind and heart on this very important issue. We need to shed some light on the need to address the root causes. Dealing with housing, the poverty, and looking at the need for more safe shelters and daycares. But basically, to look at prevention so that this phenomenon doesn’t happen anymore.”

“I welcome the prime minister’s participation in trying to resolve the issue,” continued Bellegarde. “But I also realize that with statements like that, we have a lot of work to do to get him properly educated about the issue, to fully understand the issue and not blame victims or the communities.”

Native Women’s Association of Canada president Michele Audet said Harper has a double standard for indigenous and non-indigenous people. “It could be one woman or 1,000 Aboriginal women, he doesn’t care at all,” said Audet. “But when a young woman commits suicide because she was bullied through Facebook, he will go and visit the family and say he will do everything in his power to make sure his government puts in place legislation that will not tolerate any bullying on the internet.”

Splatsin First Nation, Sorgent.e Hydro Canada, And Fosthall Creek Power Reach Hydro Project Agreement

Posted by on . -- NEWS

The Splatsin First Nation, Sorgent.e Hydro Canada, and Fosthall Creek Power have signed an Impact Benefit Agreement that will bring economic and social benefits to the First Nation. “In order to move away from government funding and bring prosperity to our people, our vision is building long term partnerships such as the one we are signing today, ” said Chief Wayne Christian.

From left to right: Darcy Fear (VP Fosthall Creek Power Ltd.), Chief Wayne M. Christian of Splatsin First Nation, and Lucas De Haro (CEO Sorgent.e Hydro Canada) signing the agreement.

From left to right: Darcy Fear (VP Fosthall Creek Power Ltd.), Chief Wayne M. Christian of Splatsin First Nation, and Lucas De Haro (CEO Sorgent.e Hydro Canada) signing the agreement.

In 2001, Darcy Fear from nearby Crescent Valley, BC saw potential for a small hydroelectric project at Fosthall Creek, a farming town that was never built. He met with Harold Kalke, a visionary businessman with experience in energy and real estate industries, and together they created Fosthall Creek Power Ltd. In 2013, Fosthall Creek Power partnered with Sorgent.e Hydro Canada to complete the development of a clean energy hydro project: a proposed 15 megawatts run-of-river project near Nakusp, BC. “Harold and I have spent 13 years of our lives in this development, and with this agreement we are taking big steps towards the main goal, that is, the construction of the power plant,” said Darcy Fear, now Vice President of Fosthall Creek Power Ltd.

After years of conversations and consultation, the Splatsin First Nation, Sorgent.e and Fosthall have signed an agreement for the development, construction, and operation of the power plant, which could generate enough power to supply 5 times the households in the entire Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation for more than 40 years. Fosthall Creek Power is completing the last stage of development before construction and plans to deliver long-term clean energy to BC Hydro’s grid. Located on the shore of Upper Arrow Lake, the project has a friendly environmental footprint that will include a spawning channel and a pen-stock that runs on an old log flume pathway.

From left to right: Councillor Lawrence Williams, Councillor Daniel Joe, Darcy Fear from Fosthall Creek Power Ltd., Councillor Jean M. Brown, Chief Wayne Christian, Councillor George William, Lucas de Haro from Sorgent.e Hydro Canada, and Councillor Reno Lee during the gifts exchange after signing the agreement.

From left to right: Councillor Lawrence Williams, Councillor Daniel Joe, Darcy Fear from Fosthall Creek Power Ltd., Councillor Jean M. Brown, Chief Wayne Christian, Councillor George William, Lucas de Haro from Sorgent.e Hydro Canada, and Councillor Reno Lee during the gifts exchange after signing the agreement.

The Splatsin First Nation community believes the project will help develop their community while respecting the environment and their cultural heritage. The project will also foster the business diversification that Splatsin First Nation has been actively working on for the last few years, bringing social benefits and good job opportunities to the area. They expect to create about 400 short term and long term jobs. Sorgent.e employs over 200 people and runs 1,000 megawatts of projects, applying innovative solutions and working with local communities in 25 countries. Sorgent.e owns and operates approximately 100 megawatts of hydro, wind, and solar plants in Italy and Chile worth over $140 million, along with several projects in Canada and South/Central America. “We are an international group that likes to become local where it works. We are happy to be welcomed in your territory, where we want to stay with you for decades to come,” said Lucas De Haro, CEO Sorgent.e Hydro Canada. Construction of the Fosthall Creek project is expected to begin in the summer of 2015.