A new agreement will soon provide First Nations students attending schools on reserve in British Columbia with access to quality education programs on par with provincial schools. The Tripartite Educations Framework Agreement (signed in Ottawa on January 27th) promises consistent year-to-year funding for on-reserve schools, plus an additional $15 million annually to help the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) offer support services to the schools.

First Nations students often move back and forth between First Nations and provincial schools and are the most likely to drop out. Approximately 39% of youth living on-reserve complete high school. Under the agreement, the FNESC has committed to deliver quality education programs and services to on-reserve students meeting standards that will allow First Nations students to transfer to provincial public schools at similar levels of academic achievement without penalty. “Our mandate is to improve First Nations education,” said FNESC president Tyrone McNeil. “This agreement reaffirms our commitment to continue the working relationship based on mutual respect, recognition, collaboration, and clarity of roles and responsibilities for First Nations education.”

The FNESC reached the agreement after six years of negotiations with provincial and federal governments shaping the strategy to improve Aboriginal education in the province. At issue was the gap in per pupil funding, which is estimated to be 20 to 30% less for on-reserve students, and the FNESC’s unwillingness to cede control to provincial authorities in exchange for additional funding. The agreement commits the signing partners to work toward improving educational outcomes and graduation rates of First Nations students. The FNESC will administer education programs and second level (school district) services to First Nations-run schools.

First Nations Schools Association (FNSA) president Greg Louie said the agreement means wages for teachers in the province’s 131 First Nations-run schools will be commensurate with their provincial counterparts. There will be funding for language and culture programs, as well as transportation for remote schools in the province. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Louie. “There’s still more work to be done, but it’s a step in the right the direction.”

In a related development, a three-member panel on First Nations education has released its initial findings and recommendations. In the report titled “Nurturing the Spirit of First Nations,” the panel calls for the creation of a First Nations Education Act that recognizes the right to education, outlines the responsibilities of concerned parties, and ensures First Nations education systems are controlled by First Nations. “There is no First Nations education system that consistently supports and delivers positive outcomes for First Nations students in Canada,” said panel chair Scott Haldane. “Without that support, it’s very difficult for them to achieve the goals they have for young people and for young people to achieve their full potential.”

Right now, there is only a patchwork of programs and initiatives. The report recommends reliable statutory funding based on the needs of individual communities, not the average amount of money per child. The panel also recommends creating regional support networks similar to school boards, as well as establishing a special fund focused on education infrastructure, a full inventory of infrastructure needs, a ten-year capital plan, and the allocation of an emergency fund. The panel recommended that Ottawa increase funding for education on reserves by the same amount provincial governments are increasing funding to public schools for 2012-13 The panel wants an interim national commission to begin implementing the recommendations in three months. Minister Duncan would not commit to implementing any of the recommendations or providing any additional funds.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) denounced the report’s findings. “The recommendations from the panel are not news… The recommendations, as predicted by many of us who have been advocating change for our people for a long time, are a reiteration of what has been known amongst our grassroots people for years and written about extensively over the past three decades, most notably in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples,” said AMC grand chief Derek Nepinak. The AMC points out that the panel represents a poor investment in limited financial resources that would have been better spent on creating solutions and seeking tangible and real results for a better quality education for our young people in education. They argue that the real work is a process of repatriation of education back to First Nations control, which will lead First Nations driven processes in the development of education legislation. The role of government should play is to find the means to accommodate those grassroots efforts. The AMC said funding parity must be entrenched in law to build a culturally appropriate curriculum, as well as investment in adequate infrastructure such as new schools. “Investing millions in the much needed infrastructure today will save billions of dollars in social programs tomorrow,” said Nepinak.

Manitoba First Nations chiefs are outraged over a government union’s attempt to challenge an inquiry into the death of five year-old Phoenix Sinclair. On February 3rd, the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) filed a motion in the Manitoba Court of Appeal questioning the validity of the provincially appointed public inquiry into the tragic death of the child. At a February 6th press conference in Winnipeg, Grand Chief David Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) and Grand Chief Morris Swan of the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) voiced their dismay at the development. “We have watched as our children have become commodities of exchange in an industry that is more focused on funding arrangements and protecting jobs rather than the rights of and the protection of our children,” said Grand Chief Nepinak. “This latest maneuver by the Manitoba Government Employees Union makes it clear that the union is putting its own interests before the children of Manitoba. With respect to baby Phoenix, justice delayed is justice denied.”

The chiefs say the motion is a delaying tactic by the union representing government social workers designed to prevent the truth surrounding the child’s tragic death from coming out. “As Southern First Nations people, we feel that this is simply a stalling tactic by the MGEU,” said Grand Chief Swan. “The family of Phoenix Sinclair, the First Nations of Manitoba, and the citizens of this province have been patiently waiting for answers as to why this little girl’s disappearance went unnoticed for nine months in a system that was supposed to provide care for her.” Chief Swan said the entire child welfare system is in dire need of review as it has repeatedly failed First Nations children in the province. In Manitoba today, about 80% of the children in care are of Aboriginal decent.

Filing the court motion will immediately suspend the work of the inquiry, which was scheduled to begin public hearings on May 23rd, 2012. Ordered by the province in 2006, the Sinclair inquiry was to examine how Manitoba’s Child and Family Services staff and officials failed to protect the five-year old child, who was killed by her stepfather in June 2005. The inquiry will also examine why her death went unnoticed for months before her body was discovered.

Phoenix Sinclair was five years old when she was murdered in 2005. She spent most of her short life in the care of Winnipeg Child and Family Services before her mother Samantha Rematch regained custody of her in 2004. Police records have shown that in the final weeks of her life on the Fisher River First Nation reserve, Phoenix was beaten with a broom stick, shot with a BB gun, locked in a pen, and denied food and water. On June 11th, 2005, Phoenix died on the cold cement floor of her home in Fisher River. Her body was wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave. It was not discovered until March 2006. Kematch and her common-law husband, Karl McKay, were both convicted of first-degree murder in 2008.

Garth Smorang, a Winnipeg lawyer representing the MGEU, said the union is not trying to sidestep its responsibility in the little girl’s death; it is just questioning whether the inquiry is valid to begin with. “The scope of the jurisdiction given to the commissioner may exceed what is allowed under the Manitoba Evidence Act,” said Smorang. Smorang said the first phase of the public inquiry, which was to discuss how Phoenix’s death went undiscovered for nine months, falls outside of the jurisdiction of the Manitoba Evidence Act, the legislation under which the inquiry was called. Smorang argued the scope of the inquiry is too broad, as it is properly covered by the Child Fatalities Act and the Child and Family Services Act.

The MGGEU has also sought a publication ban on the names and faces of nearly 40 child and family services workers who are expected to testify at the inquiry. The union argues that the ability of child welfare workers to do their jobs and earn the trust of families coping with abuse or neglect will be compromised if their names and photos are widely published or broadcast. Chief Nepinak said it seems the protection of the anonymity of workers has taken precedence over the care and protection of children. “If the MGEU is genuinely concerned that the province has drafted the terms of reference in such a way that the scope of the inquiry is outside of the commission’s jurisdiction, we’d be happy to meet with the province, and the union and any other parties to this inquiry to assist in redrafting the terms so this important work can continue,” said Nepinak.

Sinclair died during a period of devolution of in which Aboriginal child welfare agencies were taking over responsibility for Aboriginal children in care. The movement toward devolution began in the mid 1980’s with the Kimmelman report, which recommended the creation of Aboriginal child welfare agencies, and regained ground with the 1991 Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. In 2003, legislation was passed creating four child welfare authorities for northern and southern First Nations, Métis, and all other children. That process is still underway today. “We’re concerned that since this concept first began to be implemented in Manitoba, our communities have slowly lost control, direction, and jurisdiction over what’s happening to our children,” said Nepinak.

The chiefs have requested an urgent meeting, hoping to establish a dialogue with Family Services Minister Jennifer Walsh to conduct a systematic review of the child welfare system in the province and discuss complications with the ongoing process of devolution. “We are specifically asking for a meeting with the new Child and Family Services minister to bring these issues to the forefront with respect to the broader question of devolution and the systemic and fundamental problems that are arising very consistently with our [child welfare] authorities,” said Nepinak. “Our children are being commodified as items in exchange for jobs and funding. We need to address this issue.”

Skateboarding and photography drives 26-year-old Blaire Russell’s passion. He comes from the Kainai Nation and hopes to become a professional photographer and make a career doing exactly what he loves. His passion for photography inspired his own business: Blair Russell Photography, but he has had an interest in photography since childhood. “I began to see life through a lens,” he says. “I drew a lot of inspiration from different places, mainly my artistic family. I grew to love skateboard photography. My dream job is being a skateboard photographer for Transworld Skateboard magazine.”

Father of two, Russell spends most of his time working not only in the photography business but also in the oil and gas/utility excavation industry. “I work most of the time,” he says. “Unfortunately, photography isn’t my day job.” His recent work includes portraits, which he says he has found “great joy” in creating, and he has aspirations of going back to school to enhance his skills in multimedia and fine arts. His other interests include playing and listening to music. When he is not taking photos, he is probably working or with his kids (one son and one daughter). He currently resides in Calgary.

What started out as a hobby has become a serious profession in digital photography over the past year. He is largely influenced by his family as well as pros like Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz, “I get my inspiration from other artists and photographers,” he says. “I have an artistic family full of painters, photographers, and musicians. Growing up, I always admired Ansel Adams’ black and white photography. I think that’s why I prefer to shoot in black and white. I get a lot of inspiration from Annie Leibovitz’ photos from past to present. With her work, creativity never expires.”

The last year has really put Russell in the spotlight with his work featuring Miss Canada Globe Finalist Carrissa Lowhorn and Savage Rose Designs. His style can be described as provocative, sexy, and random with lots of edge. Capturing a whole new way of how Aboriginal people are seen, Russell has done numerous photo shoots with youth in and around Alberta and told New Tribe Magazine that Calgary was one of his favourite places to take pictures.

Regarding his career, Russell says, “My biggest challenge is myself, I tend to put many unnecessary barriers in my life that get in the way of where I want to be. The one thing that really keeps me focused on my goals is the need to actively continue my traditional way of life. I am a proud member of the Blood Tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Being brought up in a rich heritage, I find it important to know where you come from because it helps you when you know where you want to go.”

Blaire Russell’s mentors have always have given him lots of advice and helped him define his photography as “the architecture of light.” Now he encourages aspiring photographers to think outside the box. When asked what sets him apart from the competition, he humbly answers, “Each photographer is different in their own way. Not one person is ultimately better than the other.”

Note: Throughout this article Jason uses the term “ndn.” He says, “Some people think its short for Indian, but for me, it means iNDigeNous.”

Jason Eagle Speaker is a self-made graphic novelist, nationally published author and entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “half buffalo ndn and half salmon ndn” (otherwise known as half Blackfoot and Duwamish) with family ties to the Kainai Nation and Muckleshoot Tribe. He created a business venture that includes www.eaglespeaker.com and a non-profit organization called The Connection. Front and center on his website is the quote, “We’re More Than Just Beads and Feathers,” so I asked what that means to him. “It is a life philosophy I learned when I was 10,” he replies. “It’s also kind of a long story, so I’ll try to break it down. After my grandpa passed away, I was back dancing in front of HUGE crowds at the Calgary Stampede grandstand, just like I had since I was a toddler. This time was different, though. I looked into the audience and wondered, ‘Why do they cheer wildly for me when I am wearing my [powwow] outfit and entertaining them, but ridicule and even laugh at me when I am wearing street clothes?’” He used the phrase as the title of a recently published graphic novella he helped create with McGraw Hill Ryerson, an international education publisher. The book itself is part of an anthology called iLit: Strength & Struggle: Perspectives of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit People.

Eagle Speaker is a natural born businessman, starting his first venture selling Christmas trees and frybread kits as a kid. He also made extra cash collecting bottles at the local powwows. “I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 7. I was the only kid on the rez running my own Christmas Tree lot every year… the only kid selling frybread kits in ziplock bags. I was also that one kid at the powwow who grabbed the pop can from your hands while you were still drinking it.”

The nature of his business is broad but he sums it up as “Inspiration by example. Our community is often TOLD what to do. Rarely are we SHOWN what to do.” He recently published UNeducation: A Residential School Graphic Novel, depicting a family’s experience in Canada’s residential school system. “It’s the chilling chronicles of a family’s government-sanctioned exploitation in residential schools. No statistics, no data, no numbers—just pure raw visceral emotion and experience. You can’t minimize genocide.” The book is an excellent fundraising tool. Jason says, “It’s a unique fundraiser for our Engage, Empower, Evolve healing initiatives. UNeducation sells internationally and to tons of groups like school districts, universities, corrections and treatment centres, etc.” UNeducation: Volume 1 is available in two versions: PG for more sensitive readers and UNcut for discerning readers. UNeducation: Volume 2 comes out May 2012. This highly sought after resource is also available to the public and will be featured soon on APTN (Aboriginal People’s Television Network). Check out www.eaglespeaker.com for orders and information.

Jason also produced the 5 Minute Frybread Kit, inspired by his youthful endeavors, which is now sold online and in stores. It is a secret family recipe belonging to his na’ah (grandma). “It’s the great Leona Eagle Speaker’s secret recipe. They began years ago as a unique promo item for Elders. Instead of just handing them a boring (and often forgotten) business card, I would hand out frybread kits with all our info on them. Now they’re sold online, at gift shops, trading posts, and fundraisers.”

Jason is influenced by his need to make connections that support his survival and lead to opportunities. “One thing I do take pride in is my ability to make grassroots and community connections. There have been times in my life where I was homeless, and my ability to connect helped me realize that possibilities are everywhere. Many ndn people feel surrounded. I say we are… we’re surrounded by opportunity.” He attributes his success to hard work, talent and connections. “Elders have had it right all along,” he says. “Sincere traditional values can fulfill all your dreams. Respect, Humility, Love, Truth, Wisdom, Honesty and Bravery are all traditional values. There are three keys to success: #1 Hard Work (which we can all do); #2 Talent (which we all have); and the most overlooked but most important, #3 Meeting the Right People and Not Pissing Them Off. When you have sincere traditional values, The Right People will want to know and support you and your work.” He also adds that “being an asshole is never a wise investment.”

Jason believes education is an great way to improve traditional values and social skills in the face of everyday challenges, and offers this advice: “School is an excellent training ground to test, perfect, and hone your traditional values and how you conduct yourself towards others. Whether we admit it or not, racism, bigotry, cultural ignorance, sexism, and discrimination all exist there, just like in the real world, but all in one convenient place. Use your time in school wisely, and you will be more than prepared for anything the world throws at you. Formal education can make you a living; self-education can make you a fortune—master both!”

Jason Eagle Speaker sees great opportunity in new media markets for talented artists. “In ndn graphic novels, there really isn’t enough representation. I can count on one hand the few I know of, which is kind of sad. That should change soon enough, as the untapped talent out there is awesome. I also work with some fantastic ndn artists, authors, storytellers from all over Canada. There is no shortage of ndn talent.” Jason considers his competition more as a compliment to his own business and maintains relationships with them. “I want them all to thrive and evolve too,” he says. “I thrive on collaboration, cooperation, communication and coordination.”

Eagle Speaker likes having creative control over his work, choosing his own path. He is familiar with business challenges and says the hardest part is to “believe in yourself when no one else does. If you can do that, you have it made.” He says he is inspired by previous generations, “those that suffered through atrocities so that I may have opportunity” as well as his own generation “for overcoming disparity and taking real action towards our future” and also his children’s generation “for accepting the gifts and carrying the burdens of parents and realizing their own limitless worldly goals.” Eagle Speaker’s hobbies include wreaking havoc in videogames, anything to do with hotrods (including his own ‘72 Chevy Nova), and Hostess Suzy Q’s. He used pursue daredevil sports but finally realized that “just being ndn is high risk enough, why push it?”

From one Blackfoot to another, I had to ask: What do you love most about Blackfoot country? “Used to be the snagging,” he replied. “Today it’s the dry meat, berry soup, ndn tacos, and of course, distribution.” And for all the ndn leg wrestling fans out there, who do you think would win an Indian leg wrestle: Buffy St. Marie or Martha Stewart? Jason says, “Gotta go with the one with the ndn leg, of course.”

First Nations from across the province voiced their outrage at the Harper government’s open advocacy for the proposed Enbridge Gateway pipeline on the eve of the public federal environmental hearings on the matter—a move First Nations say undermines the integrity of the process by essentially creating a predetermined outcome. “Federal politicians advocating for and promoting the proposed Enbridge project before the environmental review commences puts the entire review process in jeopardy,” said Grand Chief Ed John, a leading member of the First Nations Summit political executive. “We question how the three National Energy Board panelists, who were appointed by the federal government, can fairly review this proposal when the prime minister and minister of natural resources openly promote what they perceive as the necessary outcome?” He added, “In the end, it will be the federal government which decides on the panel’s report, a decision that has apparently already been made.”

At issue is an open letter sent out by the federal minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver, touting Canada’s “commitment to diversify our energy markets.” In the letter, Oliver cites the need for Canada to diversify our natural resource products away from our traditional U.S. trading partner to the booming Asia-Pacific market economies in order to create employment and economic growth and ensure increased financial security for western Canadian families. “Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade…” writes Minister Oliver. “These groups threaten to hijack our regulatory system to achieve their radical ideological agenda. They seek to exploit any loophole they can find, stacking public hearings with bodies to ensure that delays kill good projects. They use funding from foreign special interest groups to undermine Canada’s national interest.” The slant appears to be a direct reference to the $16 million in funding received by BC Aboriginal groups from the Coast Opportunity Funds, a group connected to foreign foundations that fund anti-oil sands projects and their perceived influence on the federal environmental hearings on the proposed pipeline.

In response to Minister Oliver’s assertions, the Dene Nation of Yellowknife charged that the panel hearings on the proposed Enbridge pipeline are being hijacked by foreign-funded radicals are misinformed and “constitute an attempt at inappropriate influence over the regulatory process.” “The minister’s allegations about radicals using foreign money to achieve an ideological agenda were sweeping, and we assume he was referring to the Dene Nation and other First Nations and aboriginal organizations participating in the review process,” said Dene national chief Bill Erasmus. “Our mandate is to preserve and protect our communities, our land, and our culture, and it is our democratic right to participate in hearings that will impact us.” Dene chiefs will present oral evidence at the hearing in Edmonton later this month. Prime Minister Stephen Harper further invoked the ire of First Nations in a CBC interview. “I don’t object to foreigners expressing their opinion,” Harper said. “But I don’t want them to be able to hijack the process so that we don’t make a decision that’s timely or in the interests of Canadians.”

The Yinka Dene Alliance, a group of five First Nations who are leading opponents of the pipeline project, also expressed their outrage at the comments made by the prime minister and the minister of natural resources attacking foreign “radicals” fighting against the national interest. The Yinka Dene accused Minister Oliver of disrespecting the federal government’s own laws and the rights of First Nations in his attack on opposition to the pipeline. “The fix is in with this government. How can any Canadian trust that the Enbridge review process will be conducted fairly and independently with Harper breathing down the review panel’s neck?” asked Chief Larry Nooski of the Yinka Dene Alliance. “We have had deep concerns about this Enbridge review process from the very beginning because it doesn’t respect First Nations rights.” “It’s ludicrous for the federal minister to parrot tar sands lobbyists by directly attacking our communities that have decided the Enbridge project is too dangerous and against our laws,” added Chief Nooski. “We’re not foreign. These are our lands. To imply that our decision against Enbridge has been manipulated is deeply disrespectful of First Nations people and our many neighbours who have joined our cause and support our decision to refuse this pipeline.”

The Joint Review Panel is the independent body mandated by the federal environment ministry and the National Energy Board. The three-member panel includes Sheila Leggett, a vice-chair of the National Energy Board, Kenneth Bateman, an energy lawyer and former executive of the energy sector and Hans Matthews, a geologist with a background in mining, minerals, and resource management. Their recommendations and environmental assessment of the project will inform the federal government’s final decision on the pipeline based on whether or not it is in the public’s best interest. The hearings are scheduled to last up to 18 months in BC and Alberta, and more than 4,000 people and groups have applied to give oral evidence before the panel.

The immense scope of the highly controversial project has BC First Nations seeking a higher standard of consultation of “informed consent” on the matter because of the risks inherent to First Nations. “The federal government has a clear legal to consult with First Nations,” added John. “Given the long list of Supreme Court decisions on the range of consultation options and given the magnitude of potential impacts of Enbridge’s proposal, the necessary consultation standard must be to seek the informed consent of First Nations whose Aboriginal title and rights will be impacted by this proposed project.”

“We’re are in a war for our very survival, based on under funding, based on legislative policies of assimilation and legislative policies of the past. We are in a conflict, so clearing the pathways for peace is the proper terminology,” says Gregory Peters, chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indian

On January 23, First Nations Chiefs from across Canada will convene with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a landmark summit meeting. The Assembly of First Nations has prepared a 71-page document that lists its grievances and demands. “First Nations seek to ‘smash the status quo’ conditions that disadvantage, disempower, and harm First Nations,” states the document. “Moving forward, a shared commitment to full implementation, equity, mutual accountability, and effective joint monitoring and oversight are needed.”

There is a strong feeling on both sides to resolve some of the problems that have plagued government and Native negotiations for several decades. In a round table discussion, the Premier will spend ten minutes with each First Nation representative. There will be several cabinet ministers attending the conference. Harper’s spokesman Andrew MacDougall described their presence as an “unprecedented show of political force behind improving Aboriginal-Crown relations. The prime minister is a firm believer that you don’t fix everything in one day.” Chief Gregory Peters has also stated that Harper is committed in finding solutions for Native people. “I think Prime Minister Harper and his government knows how to get things done, that they are not so interested in satisfying parliament as they are in results,” Chief Peters stated. “I view his government as a results-oriented government and with a commitment from him there is a great opportunity to start a new era in our relationship.”

One of the items on the agenda is education. Harper is willing to introduce legislation that would give First Nations the right to set up their own school boards, which would allow Native teachers to implement more Native-friendly courses, which has been suggested by First Nations teachers for several years. Harper’s legislation would also restructure financing to make sure there is consistency in the funding,

Although there seems to be a sense of optimism on both sides, there remain the lingering seeds of skepticism from some of the older chiefs. Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation has stated that before you clean the slate, it would be wise to look back for a moment. “I’m hoping the government will make a firm commitment to reset the treaty relationship which we already agreed to 100 years ago.” Beardy’s main concern is a bigger share of the income that comes out of traditional Native land. Charlie Angus, National Democratic Party MP who has criticized Harper for not doing something about the sad state of Native housing, hopes that the summit meeting doesn’t turn into a Conservative Party photo opportunity. “Canadians are expecting a new deal between Canada and our First Nations. We have major issues.”

A Saskatchewan First Nation has launched a $10 billion suit against the Saskatchewan and federal governments claiming it was “cheated out of” billions of dollars of area potash and oil developments. “As a people, we are sick and tired of being cheated out of the wealth that rightly belongs to us under our treaty and Canadian and international law,” said Chief Glen Pratt of the George Gordon First Nation.

The suit alleges that Canada and Saskatchewan denied the First Nation access to billions of dollars worth of potash and oil and gas lands due to government misconduct throughout the First Nation’s lands acquisitions process agreement under Saskatchewan’s Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement program signed in 2008. The First Nation says that it is still owed land under its treaty obligations before valuable resource lands were disposed to third parties. The lawsuit also brings up the issue of recent development at BHP Billiton Diamond’s underground Jansen mine, located within the George Gordon First Nation’s traditional territory. The Jansen mine project won government approval last year. Both the federal and Saskatchewan governments declined to comment on the case.

The George Gordon First Nation is supported by the business-savvy Onion Lake Cree First Nation. Chief Wallace Fox said government must consult, accommodate, and compensate First Nations when the Crown allows developers to explore and extract resources from First Nations traditional territories. “Our inherent and treaty rights are internationally recognized and constitutionally protected,” said Onion Lake Chief Wallace Fox. “There’s an obligation on both Canadian and Saskatchewan governments to find out from First Nations their interests in acquiring those lands first and in this case with the George Gordon First Nation, they were not consulted.” The resource-rich Nation is the largest oil-producing First Nation in Canada. Under its First Nation Treaty Land acquisitions, Onion Lake was able to establish the first band-owned and operated natural gas utility.

Onion Lake Energy has been in operation since 2003 and has over 400 oil producing mines and holds oil and gas permits on approximately 160,000 hectares of reserve land. Last year, the Onion Lake Cree Nation entered into an agreement with Fogo Energy allowing the nation not only to receive royalties, but also 50% of earnings made on every barrel of oil. “Calls for resource-revenue sharing will not stop as sub-surface rights were never ceded nor surrendered under treaty,” added Chief Fox. “We see resources from our traditional territories being extracted with very little or nothing coming back to First Nations, many of whom live in poverty.”

The George Gordon First Nation is not alone in its claims against the Jansen mine project. Saskatchewan’s Kawacatoose First Nation is demanding consultation from the province over environmental impacts of the Jansen mine located just 55 kilometres away. In a related development, the Kawacatoose First Nation has formed a joint venture with the U.S. Native American Resource Partners (NARP) to develop the First Nation’s potash resources. The First Nation sits on a rich deposit of potash, and Chief Darin Poorman said 14 different companies as far away as China and India have approached the community with development proposals in the last couple years. NARP and the newly created company Kawacatoose Energy Inc. will pursue the development of resource projects on lands secured through the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement program. NARP is a private equity firm with more than $5.7 billion in assets with offices in Calgary, Saskatoon and Salt Lake City.

Kawacatoose was instrumental in helping NARP create a structure that will benefit all Saskatchewan First Nations with a Treaty Land Entitlement allocation. NARP personnel are currently working with select First Nations in Saskatchewan to create similar partnerships with other First Nations. “First Nations in the province have long been resource rich but limited with respect to development capital,” said Chief Poorman. “We are excited to have a direct link to a capital provider like NARP.”

Northern Manitoba First Nations leaders declared a state of emergency on January 11th over delays in the opening of winter roads. The northern chiefs say weeks of unseasonably warm temperatures in early January due to climate change have threatened crucial ice roads used to deliver much-needed supplies such as groceries, fuel, and construction materials. “We declared a state of emergency so that the government of Canada and the province of Manitoba immediately start working with First Nations to develop a contingency plan,” said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) Grand Chief David Harper. “The governments have to start planning with us today to make sure that housing packages and water and waste-water treatment equipment and other critical supplies are brought into our communities by the spring of 2012.”

The opportunity to build and use ice roads to connect about two dozen fly-in only Aboriginal communities to the south has been gradually shrinking. Ice roads that cross frozen ground, lakes, rivers, and muskeg typically open for almost two months are now sometimes only usable for 20 days. The construction of annual winter roads is vital to about 30,000 people in northern communities. The province estimates that about 2,500 shipments of staple goods are transported by trucks over 2,200 kilometres of ice roads each year instead of being flown in at greater expense. Aboriginal leaders say they need delivery of 77 tractor-trailer loads of goods immediately and hundreds of truckloads of goods are waiting to be moved out. This year, the roads are crucial for shipping $5.5 million in supplies to improve access to running water for thousands of residents in the four Island Lake communities.

In November, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan pledged funding when he agreed to support a Liberal motion to start making progress in bringing running water to northern communities by the spring. More than half of the homes in Island Lake have no running water, leaving residents to rely on water from community water pipes. A 2006 study by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources found the shortened ice season has had a cumulative effect. The study said that weak ice on lakes makes it harder to trap and fish. Scarce supplies of healthy groceries when fewer trucks make the trip up north can lead to chronic health problems such as diabetes. The shortened winter hauling season further exacerbates housing shortages in northern communities since many construction materials can only be transported over land.

Officials with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation said crews are working to prepare the roads as recent cooler temperatures make conditions more favourable. Roads north of Island Lake could be open as early as January 17th, while the rest will depend on upcoming weather. “We’ve have this cold snap of weather which is going to be good, and looks like it will maintain for the next few weeks and build the ice up to get them open,” said Larry Halayko from Manitoba Infrastructure. Halayko said he anticipates the first roads won’t be open until late January and many won’t be ready until early February.

The northern chiefs are also becoming increasingly frustrated over “continued political inaction” in constructing an all-weather road along the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Last year, some chiefs declared a state of emergency when warm weather turned their winter roads to muddy quagmires, stranding some truckers, causing fuel shortages. Harper said he and other chiefs plan to raise the issue at a national meeting with the prime minister later this month. “All-weather roads into the northern region have to be taken seriously from now on,” said Harper. “Saskatchewan did it. Quebec did it. We’ve got to speed up the process.” Government officials said discussions between the federal and provincial governments are ongoing.

The Regina Police Service has been called in to investigate a shooting incident involving an RCMP officer in northern Manitoba. A man identified as 28-year-old Craig Peters was shot by police during a disturbance involving multiple assaults at the Long Plain First Nation near Portage la Prairie early Saturday morning on November 19th. Residents say the officer fired twice and hit the man once in the stomach.

Peters is recovering in a Winnipeg hospital in stable condition. Police said the discharge of a weapon by an RCMP officer automatically triggers a review. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson said that officers from Regina will lead the investigation and no further details about the shooting or injuries suffered by those involved will be released until the Regina officers have begun their work.

Residents say the RCMP officer shot Peters, who was armed with a baseball bat, around 9 AM Saturday morning after an all-night drinking party had gone bad. Four other Long Plain residents, including two women, are being treated for injuries reported as a series of beatings from the baseball bat that led up to the shooting. The injuries to one woman were so severe, she had to be airlifted to Winnipeg.

Long Plains Chief David Meeches identified Craig Peters as the man shot by RCMP. RCMP said their officers are trained to shoot only when they feel their lives or the lives of others are in danger. “It is difficult to comment whether deadly force was needed,” said Meeches in an interview with the Brandon Sun. “The incident was very chaotic. In the coming days, it will become clear what happened.”

Residents said one man was severely beaten during the party. The injured man went to get help from his family, and when they returned to the home, they found two or three others, including the two women, severely beaten. Witnesses said the brawl spilled out onto the road when the lone RCMP officer arrived on the scene. One nearby resident said Peters used the bat to smash out the rear window of the officer’s SUV before the officer fired. Sgt. Line Karpish, in charge of Manitoba RCMP “D” Division’s media relations said the officer involved will have his status reviewed in light of the shooting.

The success story of the Lax Kw’alaam Band in BC demonstrates the vision of certain Native entrepreneurs. The band opened an office in Bejing a few years ago, so they could negotiate directly with the Chinese. It seemed a bold move at the time, but this year, the band raked in $40 million in lumber sales. Yuen Paul Woo in charge of public relations for the Asia Pacific Foundation told the Globe and Mail, “There is a lot of ignorance about the role First Nations play in resource development projects. I think we are talking about billions of dollars.”

Finding new markets has always been the goal of Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos First Nations. “The Band does not owe its membership dependency; it owes them opportunity. Our goal is to provide a real-world class at business development within Native communities that is balanced with sound business principles.” Alternative energy such as Run of the River is an area where Native business is at the forefront, resulting in partnerships between First Nation Bands and hydro companies. The Tahtlan First Nations recently signed a deal with AltaGas. The partnership created income for the band that will continue for years to come without any environmental concerns. There is also wind energy now being developed, and solar energy is what powers the Sooke Band. They are the only First Nations Band in Canada to endorse solar energy.

Native education was also given a helping hand in 2011 with the construction of several native schools across Canada. “It is critically important that we work together, all Canadians, to eliminate the gaps that exist between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in health, education, housing, economic development, indeed across the board. Clearly this is a moral issue, but it is also an economic issue,” said Paul Martin on receiving the first ever Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations.

The good news for 2011 included advances in business and a sense of optimism that now exists in the business sector. Paul Martin speaks of the gap that exists between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. The gap may be closing on a business level, but in health and housing the gap remains and seems to be widening, evidenced by alarming news from the Attawapiskat community in James Bay where 27 people are living in one home, while 90 are living in a trailer and several families call a tent home. The Attawapiskat are living in substandard conditions, with no clean running water and no electricity. Liberal leader Bob Rae visited the northern Ontario community and described it as “our third world.” The living conditions are appalling, and now with winter approaching, the situation has become life threatening.

Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson aware of the emergence of the situation told the Toronto Star, “There is an imminent health and safety and safety risk, for the children and adults living in these appalling conditions, and the provincial government needs to step in with the help and expertise required.” Chief Theresa Spence had suggested evacuation for the whole community after declaring a state of emergency in October. Unfortunately, neither the Ontario provincial government nor Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have provided the government assistance that is so badly needed in Attawapiskat. In the meantime, the residents are facing a cold winter with little hope of relief.

A dark cloud is floating over the environmental skyline, and the cloud has a name: Enbridge. The company has a $5.5 billion dollar pipeline that would transport oil from Alberta to Kitimat. They have been opposed by Native bands from the beginning, and National Geographic published a rather critical article in their August issue. “Giant tankers—some nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall—loaded with condensate or up to 2.15 million barrels of crude, would thread between a jigsaw of islands to and from Kitimat.” The article seemed one-sided and Enbridge felt they had not really given both sides of the story. “They didn’t use any of the information we gave them on the safety measures we have in place, particularly marine safety measures that we have been proposing,” said Paul Stanway, a spokesman from Enbridge. “It would mitigate to a large extent some of the concerns they expressed in the article. We’d have very strict conditions on the type of vessel that would be allowed to use the terminal at Kitimat.”

When the dust settled, neither side was any closer to an agreement, and then in November, Enbridge went public with the news that Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Elmer Derrick had agreed to the Enbridge proposal. It took only a few weeks for the signing to unravel as the other bands involved wanted Chief Derrick removed from his position as negotiator. “I’m still perplexed that Enbridge didn’t do their homework,” said Chief Councilor Majorie McRae from the Gitanmaax First Nations. “You can’t tell me they didn’t know that there were four bands out of five who disapproved of the GTS process, model and structure.” Christmas won’t change anything, both sides are back to ground zero. What will the new year bring? Stay tuned. We can only hope they come to some agreement as we hope Harper will send help to the Attawaspikat.