Community News

National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day brings new Fitness Challenge from AFN to all First Nations

AFN press release

Assembly of First Nations launching fitness challenge

     OTTAWA, May 2 /CNW Telbec/ - On National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day, the Assembly of First Nations is announcing that it will launch a fitness challenge, this summer, as part of an initiative to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Grassy Narrows First Nation woman challenging EVERYONE to get involved in protecting the earth

Leave a message, share your story or learn how you can help the walkers on their new web site at

http://mother-earth-walk.knet.ca 

Press release ...  

KO and NAN share the importance of communication technologies for First Nations at United Nations

 KO Research Institute Director, Brian Walmark, on an invitation from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) joined Alvin Fiddler, NAN's Deputy Chief, on a panel discussing Indigenous People's Communication for Development during the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY Wednesday April 30, 2008.

NAN press release ... 

New Book - Where the Pavement Ends by Marie Wadden

Where the Pavement Ends; Canada's Aboriginal Recovery Movement and the Urgent Need for Reconciliation

by Marie Wadden

Prepared by Marlene Brant Castellano

Where the Pavement Ends records the author’s search for answers to the question: Does anyone know what to do about the soul-destroying realities of life in Aboriginal communities that briefly but repeatedly capture the attention of the media? Those realities include poverty, overcrowded and substandard housing, violence, substance abuse and, with devastating frequency, youth suicide.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak developing community-based cellular service

A one million dollar grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, along with $100,000 from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and network upgrade funding from Industry Canada's FedNor program is making it possible to develop two pilot cellular sites in the remote First Nations of Keewaywin and North Caribou Lake. Along with developing these two pilot sites, the Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak supported the development of cellular services in the four other Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations.

Harry LaForme to head residential school Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Assembly of First Nations press release ... 

AFN National Chief Congratulates Justice Harry Laforme Appointed as TRC Chair

     OTTAWA, April 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Phil Fontaine today offered congratulations to Justice Harry Laforme as the newly appointed Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

First Nations "duty to consult" process ignored as Ontario grants mining claims to Platinex

From THE CHRONICLE-JOURNAL

First Nations say the first they heard of new claims was through media

By Alana Toulin - April 26, 2008

A number of Northern First Nations have said they‘re disappointed about the way they found out about new exploration claims by Toronto-based Platinex Inc.

According to both Matawa First Nations and Gull Bay First Nation, the first either learned of the newly announced claims were through reading about them in the media.