CALGARY - Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, hereditary chief of Vancouver Island’s Ahousaht First Nation, has been declared the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

The election process took almost 24 hours and went through a record eight rounds of voting that didn’t finish until shortly before eight this morning. Read more…

CALGARY - The five candidates for the Assembly of First Nations’ top post delivered a final appeal for votes yesterday at Calgary’s packed Telus Convention Center.

The three youngest sounded like western politicians, more likely to jab their fingers in the air to emphasize a point than tease a buddy or reminisce on family. Read more…

CALGARY - The Assembly of First Nations said farewell to outgoing grand national chief Phil Fontaine yesterday in a heartfelt, if sometimes rambling, tribute at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary.

For a preview of the next chapter in aboriginal politics, one need look no further than the corporate logos on prominent display at this week’s Assembly. Read more…

CALGARY - The election of Phil Fontaine’s successor as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) begins today in Calgary. Regional chiefs have come from across Canada for three days of speechmaking and hobnobbing, after which they’ll vote for one of five candidates on Wednesday, July 22nd. Read more…

MUSQUEAM FIRST NATION - Federal stimulus spending got the credit for new on-reserve social housing in this First Nations community near Vancouver at a ground-breaking ceremony this morning, but local leaders warned that much more is needed to address their housing shortage. Read more…

PENTICTON- The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is opposing the NDP’s request for a province wide consultation on the proposed Recognition and Reconciliation legislation.

“It’s premature,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. “We don’t have a piece of draft legislation to serve as a base for discussion.” Read more…

A building boom is happening on highly visible Squamish Nation land east of the Lions Gate Bridge, but the Nation's executive operating officer, who is also a VANOC director, denies any connection to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

"This is an ongoing project, really nothing to do with 2010," said Chief Gibby Jacob. "We've been building homes for our membership since 1970." Read more…

VICTORIA - The B.C. New Democratic Party is asking the Liberal party to support a series of “broad public hearings” on the proposed Recognition and Reconciliation Act this fall.

In a letter to the Premier, NDP leader Carole James wrote: “Given that your government has stated that one of the key goals of the legislation is to achieve certainty, the uncertainty created amongst industry, citizens, and communities by the lack of public discussion of this proposed legislation is troubling.” Read more…

VANCOUVER - Aboriginal health has made significant gains in some areas but has declined in others, according to the second report on the health and well being of native people released yesterday.

"The gains are significant," said Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall. "Life expectancy has improved and the gap between aboriginal people and non-aboriginal people has closed somewhat." Read more…

VANCOUVER - The often forgotten history of the Downtown Eastside's black community was celebrated at two area venues this weekend with “East End Blues and All That Jazz,” a performance of music and stories commemorating Vancouver’s black history.

The goal was “to bring back the stories of people and communities who had disappeared,” said Savannah Walling, co-writer of the piece. Read more…

VANCOUVER - The House of Commons today passed legislation to ratify a final agreement with the Maa-Nulth First Nations of Vancouver Island.

Yesterday, all federal parties agreed to fast-track the bill, passing it without debate after a member of each party made a statement this morning. Read more…

MORICETOWN – Members from communities along the proposed Enbridge pipeline met this past weekend to voice their environmental concerns and strengthen opposition to the Northern Gateway project.

“We can only protect our lands and waters if we stand together,” said Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief Alphonse Gagnon. Read more…

VANCOUVER - Members of First Nations from across the province will be greeted today by the mayor of 100 Mile House and other supporters as they continue their walk from Vancouver to Prince Rupert to raise awareness about missing women and children throughout the country.

“We are demanding a public inquiry for the more than 3,000 unsolved cases of missing and murdered women and children in the last 10 years,” said campaign organizers in a press release. Read more…

VANCOUVER - First Nations citizens will still be able to use their current status cards as approved identification at the US border, despite today’s deadline requiring Canadians to present a passport or other approved identification. Read more…

PRINCE GEORGE - The structure of Indigenous governments under the Recognition and Reconcilation Act will be decided individually by each Nation, said Aboriginal leaders after yesterday’s regional session.

“There’s no cookie cutter approach to this, that’s one thing that really has to be understood,” said Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit. Read more…

VANCOUVER - Residents concerned about a proposed large open-pit mine in central B.C. will have an opportunity in early June to learn how to get involved in the federal environmental assessment for the project.

Public hearings -- where local First Nations and environmental groups are expected to speak against the proposal -- will be held later in the summer. Read more…

PRINCE GEORGE - Members of the Nadleh Whut’en Band First Nation interrupted discussion at today’s Recognition and Reconciliation Act regional session to protest the proposed legislation, which they say abandons First Nations' processes.

“We believe there should be some recognition and reconciliation of some sort, but not as it’s being presented," said Larry Nooski, Nadleh Whut’en Elected Chief. Read more…

PRINCE GEORGE – The first regional session of the Recognition and Reconciliation Act began today with Aboriginal leaders calling the process an important step in resolving a 150-year-old issue.

“We know that we exist, but for some stupid reason we have to prove we have the right to our own land," said Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit. Read more…

VANCOUVER - Conservation groups appear split over whether to oppose a First Nations group's plan to allow a limited hunt on sea otters.

Reports suggest the Tribal Council of the Nuu-chah-nulth, a First Nations group on Vancouver Island, plan to hunt about 20 sea otters per year. Read more…

A Global TV reporter said it “seems ridiculous” that a B.C. Liberal Party official accused him of misquoting Bill Bennett, the cabinet minister who won re-election last week in Kootenay East. Read more…