Sorted by date Results 701 - 725 of 1057
LAKE WINNIPEG, MB-Over twelve years ago, the plan to create a national park including lowlands along the northwest shores of Lake Winnipeg were squashed by then Indigenous leader Ovide Mercredi. Now it is back having been resurrected from the grave but again it is creating a lot of debate and controversy. The Canadian government included funding for it in this year's budget by indicating financial support for the 4,400-square-kilometre proposed park. Supporters of the park...
WINNIPEG, MB-Manitoba could become the first Canadian province to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) by setting aside an official day. Bill 221 or "The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Honoring and Awareness Day Act" passed in the Manitoba Legislature on May 25. It came into effect at the end of the legislative session on June 1. The bill was introduced by Winnipeg's NDP St. Johns representative Nahanni Fontaine and states that every year...
WINNIPEG, MB-Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre along with the Canadian Mental Health Association have launched a major program to train Indigenous support workers to better aid and support people going through mental health crises. They are expecting as many as 2,000 people will be able to take this training. The plan is set to begin training workers providing them what they need to deal with mental health crisis situations. The program is called safeTALK and is a two-year program...
Dear Indian Life Readers, Since 1968 Indian Life has been privileged to carry thousands of articles highlighting the work of God in the lives of Indigenous people in North America. Our primary mandate has been to advance the Christian faith among First Nations, Aboriginal, and Indian communities by reporting on significant events happening on Turtle Island as well as sharing stories of hope, healing and restoration within the Native community. Over the last number of years we...
EDMONTON, AB-My People International invites fellow travelers to take another step in the journey toward right relationships. They held the first in Victoria, British Columbia, April 28-29. The second event will be in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 13. Both these events are a follow-through on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action to churches. Come and participate in Indigenous-led sessions that seek to catalyze action and understanding around the United Nations...
Five students graduated from the Master of Arts in International Studies from George Fox University under the NAIITS program. Congratulations to Jim Sequeira, Linda Rae Coon, Joshua Grace, Shawn Hostler Jones and Donnie Begay (absent from the photo). "On behalf of the rest of the NAIITS faculty and students, 'Well done!'" stated Dr. Terry LeBlanc, NAIITS Director. Maarten Gerritsen graduated with a Masters in Biblical Languages from Providence Theological Seminary, in Otterbur...
Here are eight amazing ways in which tribal peoples are the best conservationists and guardians of the natural world: 1. The Baka "Pygmies" have over 15 words for elephant The Baka people know so much about elephants, they have different words for them according to their sex, age and even temperament. Studies have shown how the Baka in many areas live alongside high densities of endangered species. One Baka man told Survival International: "We know when and where the poachers...
WINNIPEG, MB-Member of the Legislature (MLA) Wab Kinew has thrown his hat in the ring to become the leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party (NDP). Joined by family, friends, and supporters at the Manitoba Legislature, Kinew announced he's a candidate for the NDP leadership. Kinew said he's running "for people whose voices aren't often heard" and he gave the example of an inmate at the Manitoba Youth Centre. "I want to say directly to that young person, 'I am you, and you...
WASHINGTON, DC-The United States Department of the Interior has hit a crucial milestone. It has transferred a total of $60 million to the Cobell Scholarship Fund, which was established by the historic Cobell settlement. The figure is significant because it's the maximum that can be placed in the fund under the terms of settlement. The amount also points to the success of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, another component of the settlement. A portion of every land...
OTTAWA, ON-The Canadian government announced it is increasing its spending on post-secondary education, community infrastructure and the health of Indigenous people in the most recent federal budget. Observers say this is a clear attempt to slow criticism over its handling of crises that plague First Nations and Inuit communities. The 2017 budget adds $3.4 billion additional over five years for areas of "critical need," in addition to the $8.4 billion already committed in...
Five students graduated from the Master of Arts in International Studies from George Fox University under the NAIITS program. Congratulations to Jim Sequeira, Linda Rae Coon, Joshua Grace, Shawn Hostler Jones and Donnie Begay (absent from the photo). "On behalf of the rest of the NAIITS faculty and students, 'Well done!'" stated Dr. Terry LeBlanc, NAIITS Director. See story on page 14....
WINNIPEG, MB-The second annual First Nations Christian Writers' Conference will be held in Winnipeg on March 30, 2017 at Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre. Keynote speaker for the conference will be Mr. Bill Jackson, a Cree pastor, author, and teacher. Jackson is author of eight books including As Long as the Rivers Run, God and the First Nations, Suicide and Then, First Foundations for Families, Baptism and Communion, We Sailed to America before Columbus, and A More...
Kevin Chief, the former Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly (MLA) with the New Democratic Party (NDP), has a new job. He is now serving as Vice President of the Business Council of Manitoba. Chief left the legislature where he represented the riding of Point Douglas in Winnipeg since 2011. "I will have the opportunity to continue to work with young people," Chief told the Winnipeg Free Press. "Many of the members (of the BCM) who I met with said they were very committe...
LONDON, ENGLAND-The founder of the famous Complicite Theatre Company, an acclaimed theatrical actor, has been named Ambassador by Survival International, a charity that fights for the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. McBurney who has appeared in films including the "The Manchurian Candidate," "The Theory of Everything," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and the "Harry Potter" and "Mission Impossible" film series, becomes a key spokesman for this charity. Simon is a...
TORONTO, ON-Flying Dust First Nation and Habitat for Humanity Canada hosted a special "All Chiefs Build" at Flying Dust, located 300 km northwest of Saskatoon in 2015. This milestone build marked the start of a successful partnership between Chief Richard Gladue, the Flying Dust Council and Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster. In recognition of National Aboriginal Day, Flying Dust First Nation welcomed chiefs and dignitaries from across Canada as part of the inaugural...
OTTAWA, ON-Almost eight months after the federal government promised to help the families of missing or murdered Indigenous women find their way through the tangle of Canada's justice system, the program has not gotten off the ground, with the exception of the province of Ontario. Bernadette Smith knows the frustration. She lost her sister, Claudette Osborne, nine years ago, and she and her family are still waiting for help. "It's quite concerning for families," Bernadette tol...
LA LOCHE, SK-It's been just over a year since this northern Saskatchewan school was hit by a deadly shooting in which a teacher and teacher's aide were killed and seven people were wounded. The shooter also killed two brothers before going on a shooting spree at the school. Since that tragic day, the principal says that staff and students feel like they've been abandoned. According to Principal Greg Hatch, the school received some help at the time of the shooting but after...
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB-Jerry Daniels is the new grand chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO), voted in to replace longtime leader Terry Nelson. Daniels is the son of a veteran Manitoba leader, Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches and he has an ambitious agenda. Though Daniels has been involved in politics for a few years he also has a degree in economics from the University of Manitoba. "I think Canadians understand we are a partnership in nation-building,"...
OTTAWA, ON-Canada's government remains committed to making legal and policy reforms happen for Indigenous peoples, stated the Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould as she addressed the First Nations "Expanding the Circle" conference in Ottawa on February 15, 2017. "Let me say this: our commitment is as strong as ever," Wilson-Raybould told the assembly. "Our prime minister has made it very clear that we need an all-of-government approach based on recognition of Indigenous...
COLEMAN, FL-Family and supporters of Leonard Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison, were devastated when former U.S. President Barack Obama chose not to pardon or commute his sentence. They had placed their hope in the fact that of all the American presidents who have served since Peltier has been incarcerated, President Obama would be the most likely one to set him free. But this would not be the case. Among this prisoner's most prominent supporters was Pope...
WASHINGTON, DC-Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) invited former Tulalip Tribal Board Member Deborah Parker from Washington State to join her in the House of Representatives to listen to U.S. President Donald Trump's first speech to a joint session of Congress. Parker joined her "to help stress our shared moral imperative to safeguard our nation's most vulnerable." Rep. Moore was very disappointed that this administration while making a commitment to national security, failed...
TORONTO, ON-After a long eight-year wait, a landmark decision has finally been reached that will have a profound effect on thousands of children who were taken from their homes and placed in non-Indigenous homes, a government action that became known as "the Sixties Scoop". An Ontario judge ruled on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2017, that Canada's government failed First Nations children during the 1960s by placing them with non-Native families which in most cases caused...
CANNONBALL, ND-When the announcement was made in early December to block the Dakota Access pipeline, it was like an early Christmas gift from the United States government. Celebrations went on for quite some time by those at the protest sites. These included 2,000 U.S. military veterans who had joined the protests on December 2 to protect them from the authorities. Prior to this there had been confrontations, some of them violent, between tribal protectors and their...
OTTAWA, ON-There is a plan in the works that is going to transform the way the Canadian government deals with Indigenous peoples. If things go according to hopes and planning, it will mean big changes to the way Ottawa transfers funds to the country's 634 First Nations. According to reports, there's a small committee of federal politicians and Indigenous leaders who have been quietly working on this transfer plan. If it's successful it will be the "single most significant...
OTTAWA, ON-Canada is investing up to $500 million to bring high-speed internet access to 300 remote communities by 2021. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains stated that the "Connect to Innovate" program is the modern equivalent of building roads or railway spurs to remote locations, providing Internet access to schools, hospitals and First Nation band offices. "Our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians, businesses and institutions have access to the...
