Who are ‘The Enbridge 18?’ A call to crowdsource Northern Gateway’s Aboriginal partners
This week, the Canadian oil and gas company Enbridge — operator of “the world’s longest, most sophisticated crude oil and liquids transportation system” — released a statement claiming that, with regard to Aboriginal support of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project, it has confirmed that Almost 60 percent of eligible Aboriginal communities along the [desired route],...
POLL: Is Johnny Depp’s ‘Tonto’ a salute or slight to native people?
Cast your vote on Depp's modern take on old Hollywood Indian sidekick
An Aboriginal Who’s Who of Canadian Politics: Provincial/Territorial Version
Your guide to Aboriginal politicians in provincial and territorial governments As I’ve pointed out in my previous ‘Who’s Who’ posts, a small but growing number of Aboriginal people have been running for and winning seats in the federal government. Now here’s a quick overview of how many Aboriginal people are already sitting in provincial and...
UPDATED: An Aboriginal Who’s Who of Canadian Politics
After a record number of Aboriginal candidates participated in the last federal election, just how browner is Canada’s parliament? As you can see in this updated ‘Who’s Who’ of Aboriginal politicians in Canada’s Parliament, the numbers have risen slightly, but the biggest gains have been within the Conservative ranks. Read on! The House of Commons...
Aboriginal language speakers: Canada’s spy agency wants you!
If you can speak any of this country’s 65 or so Aboriginal languages, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) may have a job for you. According to an ad on their website, Canada’s spy agency is seeking “Translators / Interpreters – Foreign and Aboriginal Languages” who among other things, “possess an excellent ability to work...
An Aboriginal Who’s Who of Canada’s 2011 Federal Election
It’s federal election time in Canada and across the country campaigns are in full swing. Whether you choose to vote or not, here’s a quick look at Aboriginal involvement in the 41st federal election, and information about some interesting ridings to watch. Keep in mind that, as per Elections Canada rules, the deadline for nominations...
Canada to oversee Métis identity process?
The Department of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) seems poised to oversee the process of verifying Métis identity, at least according to a contract award notice on the government’s tendering service website, MERX. A branch of INAC, the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians has tentatively awarded a contract of between $50,000 to 100,000...
Quebec First Nation bans ‘native spirituality’
aptn National News had a very interesting story on Friday (Jan 14/11) which you can now view on their website. After supposedly hearing a flood of complaints from its residents, the Cree community of Ouje-Bougoumou in northern Quebec has taken the rather unusual step of banning ‘native spirituality practices’ including sweatlodges, pow wows, rain dances,...
An Aboriginal Who’s Who of Canadian Politics (Twitter version)
With so many people getting news & info from social networks, we thought it prudent to see which Aboriginal politicians and groups are capitalizing on this trend and using Twitter to get their message out. Of the five Aboriginal elected Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, only three are on Twitter: Leona Aglukkaq...
