News from around the Nations

Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation, Ontario, Canada

The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, together with the Honourable Chris Bentley, Ontario Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, congratulate Chief Paul Gladu and the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation on the creation of their new reserve. This announcement recognizes several years of collaboration, which began in 1996, and will advance to the next phase as the First Nation develops its new community base. The Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation has a membership of 197, most of whom live in northwestern Ontario.

Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Officers in Hooper Bay are seizing yeast and sugar from people in the dry and predominantly Yup’ik village in Alaska to prevent citizens from brewing their own alcohol. Alaskan villages can elect to ban booze as a means of combating an epidemic of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. A man recently arrested for possession of high quantities of yeast and sugar claimed he was going to bake bread—a common defense.

Haisla First Nation, British Columbia, Canada

ATCO Structures & Logistics today announced that it has entered into a joint-venture agreement with the Haisla First Nation near Kitimat, B.C. The agreement will directly benefit the Haisla people. In March, ATCO Structures & Logistics announced that it is working with the Haisla First Nation to build a 1,500-person workforce housing project for Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. This joint-venture agreement will lead to other significant projects in the Haisla traditional territory.

Winnebago Tribe, Nebraska, United States

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa closed June 10 due to rising waters from the Missouri River that shut down the county road. Now the tribe plans to reopen its casino on July 27 by purchasing three duck boats to ferry people to and from the gaming house across the two-feet-deep waters.

Selkirk First Nation, Yukon, Canada

The Yukon government and Selkirk First Nation unveiled a plaque today commemorating the designation of Fort Selkirk as a Yukon Historic Site under Yukon’s Historic Resources Act. Fort Selkirk is located near the mouth of the Pelly River in the heart of the Selkirk First Nation Traditional Territory. From the mid-1800s until the 1950s, the site was a thriving cross-cultural community featuring trading posts, Christian missions and a North West Mounted Police post.

Turningstone Casino – Oneida, New York, United States

Four time PGA tour winner Notah Begay III announced the new tournament date and final player field for the fourth annual Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation Challenge. On August 31 a top flight group of world-class golfers will tee off at Turning Stone Resort’s Atunyote Golf Club on Oneida Indian Nation lands near Verona, N.Y. Giants of the game like Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan will join Begay and top LPGA golfers Annika Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen and Natalie Gulbis

Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Ontario, Canada

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy called on the governments of Canada and Ontario to commit all available emergency resources to assist First Nation communities under immediate threat by forest fires raging across Northwestern Ontario on Wednesday. More than 115 forest fires are currently raging across Northwestern Ontario, placing thousands of residents of NAN communities in immediate danger from growing fires and dense smoke. The threat is expected to reach critical levels over the next few days.