News From Around the Nation

Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Manitobe, Canada

The 6th annual Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards were handed out at MTS Centre in Winnipeg tonight. Lorne Cardinal and Kyle Nobess hosted the spectacular show, which was televised live on APTN. Errol Ranville was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The audience of just over 4000 enjoyed performances by Derek Miller, Ghost Keeper, Elisapie Isaac, Kelly Daniels, Don Amero, Samian with Florent Vollant, Pacific Curls, and C-Weed Band with Ali Fontaine.

Alaska, United States

With a huge storm battering Alaska’s northwest coast, officials are concerned for the wellbeing of residents of Nome and in particular the Native Alaskans living in 18 nearby villages. The storm is expected to be the worst since one in 1974, when the sea surged 13 feet above the high-tide mark. In the 2011 sequel, estimates of potential surge range from 7 to 10 feet—a problem for many small coastal villages that are less than 10 feet above sea level. A report released mid-day on Wednesday said that 89-mph winds had been recorded at Wales, at the western tip of the Seward Peninsula, and that 61-mph winds had been recorded in Nome. Kivalina, a village, has become increasingly damage-prone from storm surges due to decline in sea ice. According to census data, Point Hope is 87% Native American, and Kivalina is 96%. The population of Nome itself is more than half Native.

Quebec Native Women, Quebec, Canada

The ADQ Deputy in Shefford, François Bonnardel, has made racist and derogatory remarks in chamber and at a press briefing last Wednesday (November 2, 2011) depicting

Aboriginal peoples and especially members of the Innu community of Ekuanitshit (Mingan) as alcoholics and drug addicts. Bonnardel was disputing the distribution of checks by Hydro-Quebec to the Innu Community of Mingan in 2009 whereas $ 2.4 million, of a total agreement of $ 40 million, was shared between members of the

community. This sum has been paid in compensation for the La Romaine hydroelectric project. According to the ADQ deputy, to distribute checks to individuals is “immoral” and “irresponsible” because “if we pay the money directly to Aboriginal individuals, they will take it to get a drink and take drugs.” Quebec Native Women (QNW) denounces the prejudices and antagonism conveyed by such words especially coming from an elected representative at the National Assembly of Quebec. While it is true that many social

problems exist in our communities, important nuances must be made prior to affirming that we cannot pay moneys directly to communities.

Oklahoma, United States

Residents of Indian country were rattled over the weekend by at least 10 earthquakes in Oklahoma, including the largest in the state’s history, a temblor early Sunday that measured 5.6 on the Richter Scale. On the weekend that time changed from daylight savings to standard, the earth moved too, first to the tune of 4.7 on the Richter Scale at 2:12 a.m. Saturday, November 5, a quake felt from Texas to Missouri. But that turned out to be merely the prologue, as the 5.6 temblor shook residents early Sunday, November 6. Both epicenters were about 50 miles outside Oklahoma City. The stronger one was centered in Sparks, 44 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and was felt as far away as Tennessee and Wisconsin

Manitoba, Canada

University of Manitoba and First Nations join forces on research to expedite improvements to drinking water and sanitation. More than two dozen University of Manitoba researchers from nine faculties are trying to make a difference on Manitoba’s First Nations, where clean running water and safe sewage control are not something residents can take for granted. The university’s new Centre for Human Rights Research, led by Karen Busby of the Faculty of Law, is spearheading a series of research projects aimed at speeding up improvements to water and sanitation services. About 1,400 Manitoba First Nation homes don’t have taps and flush toilets. A total of 27 Manitoba First Nations have a water or wastewater treatment system at high risk of creating health, safety or environmental problems.

Little Red River Cree Nation, Alberta, Canada

The Little Red River Cree Nation held a grand opening of the Highway 58 Garden River access road in northern Alberta. To meet provincial highway standards, the project upgraded 57.8 kilometers of existing summer/winter road to all-season access by: removing existing infrastructure and building new ones, including bridges and culverts; constructing 7 kilometers of the new all-season access road; and reclaiming approximately 28.85 hectares of existing summer/winter road corridors. This project was cost-shared with contributions of $23 million from the Government of Alberta, $19.3 million from the Government of Canada and $400,000 from Little Red River Cree Nation.