Indigenous

Alberta Appoints Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate The Alberta Government has appointed Tony Cardinal, a member of Goodfish Lake Cree Nation, as the province’s first Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate. The new role aims to address inequities in healthcare delivery and improve outcomes for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit patients. Cardinal brings over […]

Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development Board Appointments Solidified Fort McMurray, AB –– After a tumultuous year, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) Council has appointed a new Board of Directors for the Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism (WBEDC). The new board was officially installed on December 10th and will oversee the work […]

Santa Claus Parade and Starry Night Celebration Set for Saturday FORT MCMURRAY — The holiday season kicks off this weekend with the annual Santa Claus Parade and Starry Night celebration hosted by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). Festivities begin Saturday, December 7, at 5 p.m. with Council’s Starry Night party at kiyām Community […]

Construction on McMurray Métis Cultural Centre to Resume in 2025 FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Construction on the long-awaited McMurray Métis Cultural Centre at MacDonald Island is set to resume in spring 2025, with completion targeted for 2027. The $75-million project, which aims to preserve, showcase, and celebrate Métis culture, was paused in 2022 after a […]

Conklin Indigenous Housing Initiative Completes Phase 1 CONKLIN, Alberta — The first phase of the Conklin Indigenous Housing Initiative has wrapped up. The initiative aims to provide new affordable housing units for Métis families in the hamlet of Conklin. The Alberta Government has invested $4.4 million in the project, which includes the construction of 15 […]

Imperial Oil Fined Over $1 Million for Sarnia Spill Impacting Aamjiwnaang First Nation Imperial Oil has been fined over $1 million after pleading guilty to a charge under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act. The case relates to a 2021 release of approximately 1,150 litres of slop oil at its Sarnia refinery. According to documents published by […]

Athabasca Tribal Council Cultural Festival Draws 14,000 Attendees in Fort McMurray FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta— The Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC) has released the numbers from its 2024 Cultural Festival. From September 12th to 15th, the celebration drew over 14,000 attendees to Snye Point Park making it one of the largest annual cultural gatherings in Fort McMurray […]

Inuktut Language Debuts in Google Translate In a significant step toward Indigenous reconciliation, Google has added Inuktut, a Canadian Indigenous language, to its Google Translate service. This marks the first time a language from Canada’s Indigenous communities has been included in the popular translation app. Inuktut, spoken by approximately 40,000 people across Canada, is a […]

Wood Buffalo Community Foundation Grants Support Mental Health and Addictions Recovery The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation (WBCF) is handing out $294,000 in grants to five local charities. This year WBCF focused on mental health and addictions recovery in Fort McMurray. The recipients include the Pastew Detox Centre, who will invest in its pre-treatment program, and […]

Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre Appoints New Board Following AGM Vote Fort McMurray, AB— The Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre has appointed a new board of directors following a membership vote at the 2024 Annual General Meeting held on September 23. Katalin Loutitt is the new President, with Kayla Aikins serving as Vice President, Joelle Erskine as […]