WINDSOR, Ont. — Imagine being taken away from your family by strangers at four years old and being told you would never see them again. Imagine not being able to speak the only language you ever knew, but rather a new and unfamiliar one. Imagine being separated from your siblings and brought to a school where you would not only learn, but live. And imagine being brutally beaten when you tried to escape to return back home.
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Sagkeeng dancers inducted into Order of the Buffalo Hunt

Three dancers from Sagkeeng First Nation, fresh from winning TV’s Canada’s Got Talent competition, received a special honour from the province this afternoon.
Premier Greg Selinger officially inducted Dallas and Brandon Courchene and Vince O’Laney – Sagkeeng’s Finest – into Manitoba’s Order of the Buffalo Hunt.
The induction followed a performance by the three dancers and others on the south plaza of the Legislative Building grounds.
The Order of the Buffalo Hunt was founded in 1957 to recognize the outstanding and distinctive contributions of leaders in areas such as politics, business, sports and entertainment. The trio from Sagkeeng are believed to be the youngest members ever to be inducted into the order.
Food security not an issue for “Aboriginal people” because “they hunt every day,” says Aglukkaq

“The UN food rapporteur says he’s seen very desperate conditions and people who are in extremely dire straits, yet the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs refused to meet with him when he came to Ottawa. How can the minister continue to deny there is a problem?” said NDP Aboriginal affairs critic Jean Crowder.
Aboriginal access to food under scrutiny UN food expert hopes report will ‘launch a national conversation’
ALEXIS FIRST NATION — A few kilometres from the shimmering blue waters of Lac Ste. Anne, Chief Cameron Alexis speaks about troubles not far from the surface.
The Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations opened consultations on food security at the Alexis Nakota Sioux Community School by talking about the nearby body of water elders called “God’s Lake.”
Digital Drum at Vision Quest and E-Spirit Youth Gathering.
Digital Drum will be visiting the Vision Quest Conference & Trade Show. We’ll have two new Digital Media Interns who will be covering the event and sharing the Vision.
E-Spirit is also in Winnipeg and Digital Drum will be sharing the Spirit of the Youth Gathering.
Stay tuned next week for some new videos and blogs about these two great events…
Aboriginal reconciliation: An open letter to Stephen Harper

Dear Prime Minister:
When I heard your words in the House of Commons that were deemed an apology for the debacle of Canada’s residential school system, I was heartened. At that time, it was nothing short of amazing to hear a prime minister use the word “wrong” in reference to Canada’s treatment of aboriginal people. Now, nearly four years later, I look at the astoundingly hurtful cuts to organizations whose sole purposes are the re-empowerment and well-being of aboriginal people, and I am disheartened. Hell, Mr. Harper, I am downright angry.
First Nations child advocate applauds landmark decision on discrimination

Cindy Blackstock, a long-time advocate for aboriginal children in Canada, won a major victory on April 18 when the Federal Court ruledthat further scrutiny is needed to determine whether Ottawa is discriminating against First Nations children on reserves by underfunding child welfare services.
Taryn Simon: The Storie Behind the Bloodlines.

