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REGINA, Sask.—In April, The Royal Regina Rifles (RRR) unveiled a statue honoring troops who landed on the beaches at Normandy, France on D-Day-including the quarter of the regiment who were First Nations. Of the Indigenous soldiers in the RRR, most were from the Peepeekisis First Nation. "The contributions of Indigenous veterans have really been overlooked for a long time,"historian Kelsey Loney told APTN News. "We are so proud to include the Indigenous perspective on this s...
OTTAWA, Ont.-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Manon Jeannotte, as the new lieutenant-governor of Quebec. Jeannotte is from the Mi'kmaq First Nation of Gespeg. "Manon Jeannotte has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous peoples' well-being and making a real difference in the life of our communities," said Prime Minister Trudeau. "I am confident she will continue to make significant contributions and inspire people in Quebec and across Canada in her new role."...
Well, it's 2024, and many people have made New Year's resolutions and are trying to make this year better than 2023. Although some people do make changes around the New Year and do stick to their resolutions, life isn't always that easy to plan and navigate. In reality, life happens to all of us. Overdue bills, sickness, disease, death, and car accidents. Even for believers in Jesus, not all will go well. So, with this in mind, I will attempt to encourage you and myself. When...
As an Indigenous person who's also a follower of the Jesus Way, I have found people who always have reasons for not wanting this way of living for themselves. Some also have an interest to some degree but have had an experience of some kind that has hindered them from exploring this way of living further. And then some people have no interest at all in following Jesus. I reflect on my own life journey. I was raised in a non-Indigenous family going to church at least two days...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Keeleigh Sanders, 21, of Westville, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2023-2024 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Saturday. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassadors, all of whom will serve in their roles for the next year. As Miss Cherokee, Sanders will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the government, history, language and culture of the tribe. She also received a...
When I reflect on my life, as I'm about to turn 55 on July 01, 2023, my heart and my mind keep going to the topic of wisdom. As an Indigenous man who's also from the Sixties Scoop generation, and whose mother and uncles and aunts went to residential school, I realize we were all left with what is called intergenerational trauma. As a follower of the Jesus Way who's born again and set free from sin, I'm also told in the holy scriptures from the apostle Paul that our struggle wi...
Spring is here, and it's so nice to have this change in season, I'm comforted by some simple things. I'm comforted as I leave the window of my office open and hear the birds, squirrels, and wind. I find comfort and healing from these aspects of nature that surround me each day. Most of us already know that animals, no matter what kind, size, or where they inhabit their living space, communicate with each other all the time. They warn each other of danger. They fight with each...
WASHINGTON-Indigenous leaders called on Congress September 20 to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that expands states' ability to prosecute crimes on tribal land, a ruling they said threatens their sovereignty and their ability to protect their citizens. Witnesses told a House Natural Resources subcommittee that the Castro-Huerta ruling tramples on 200 years of legal precedent about tribal jurisdiction and has made it harder for them to pursue cases of domestic violence or missi...
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Oklahoma's five largest tribes split in late July on the terms of treaties signed more than 150 years ago regarding their treatment of descendants of their former slaves, and on what those treaties require. The hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee was the first to bring together federal officials, tribal representatives and descendants of the Freedmen, the former slaves of the five tribes who were offered varying levels of tribal rights after th...
BROOKINGS, S.D.-Tashina Red Hawk was just 7 years old when her parents bought her first horse. Her mentor, Kassandra Chauncey, a Todd County Junior Division 4-H member at the time, was training her how to ride when her own horse became injured the day before the Todd County 4-H Horse Show. "The day before the 4-H county horse show I received a phone call from Kassandra asking if she could use my horse, because her horse got hurt. She needed to show my horse in showmanship,...
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.-Vanguard University student body president Matthew J. Holgate is a visionary leader. While many students are just trying to navigate their way through classes, Holgate is taking a lead in fighting against human trafficking in Navajo Nation, working to make lasting change. While a senior in high school, Holgate attended a Native American youth leadership conference workshop about human trafficking among Native American tribes. Holgate, a Navajo from Flagstaff,...
I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. The kind of forgiveness that feels like, if I extend it, and choose to consider actually forgiving, that I am the one who is losing. You know the kind of forgiveness I'm talking about, right? The kind where you've been hurt so deeply, on such a core level, that you can't possibly consider forgiving the other person? The kind that causes a physical ache in your heart and is accompanied by anger when the ache subsides. The kind...
Washington, D.C.-Christian Native Americans are leading an effort of reconciliation and forgiveness over the U.S. Government's 230-year treatment of native peoples. "The Apology," as the movement is called, doesn't ask for the destruction of monuments or history to be rewritten. They only seek what the name implies . . . an apology. And they're willing to forgive and move on. The Christian movement has gained big allies including former United States Ambassador-at-Large for...
TUCSON-"Getting lost is the best part of trail running," Marlinda Bedonie said with a chuckle as we shielded our eyes from the morning sun, searching for our cars. We spoke on a recent morning while trekking through Tucson Mountain Park on a mostly flat, single-track loop trail. Dipping in and out of washes and brushing against the creosote along the trail, the Tohono O'odham and Navajo mother and I chatted-out of breath-as we shared our running journeys and spoke about our...
OTTAWA-Inuk leader and former ambassador Mary Simon has been chosen as the next governor general. She is the first Indigenous person ever to be appointed to the role. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Queen has accepted his recommendation to appoint Simon-a past president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization-as the 30th governor general. Simon is an Inuk from Kuujjuaq, a village in northeastern Quebec. Her mother was Inuk and her father was a w...
PHOENIX-After winning the title of Miss Navajo Nation in September 2019, Shaandiin Parrish immediately got to work on the cultural preservation and advocacy efforts central to the role. At times, she attended five or more events in a single day, traveling across the 27,000-square-mile reservation to speak to elementary school students and attend conferences. "You really hit the ground running," Parrish recalled. "There's no event too small. There's no event too big." But in...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-The Cherokee Nation gave nearly half a million dollars to 136 rural Oklahoma fire departments in May during the tribe's annual Volunteer Firefighter Ceremony. Each year, rural fire departments rely on fundraisers, membership dues and the help of good Samaritans to maintain their operations. To honor them the firefighters, the Cherokee Nation provided each department with a check for $3,500, totaling $476,000, to help with equipment, fuel or other items needed...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Junior Miss Cherokee Kaitlyn Pinkerton recently presented at the 35th annual National Indian Health Board's Tribal Health Conference in September, where she shared her platform of mental health awareness. "It is important to present on mental health because people need to know that they are not alone when they have a mental health disorder," Pinkerton said. "I want people to know that they have support available to them, and where to find support." At 15 years...
Winner, National and International Boxing Titles Model, CoverGirl Cosmetics Community Activist Mary Spencer, an Ojibway athlete originally from the Cape Croker First Nation began her boxing career at age 17. Although she was born in Wiarton, Ontario and lived there for a time, she also lived in Big Trout Lake, Owen Sound and Detroit before settling in Windsor, Ontario. She attended Roseville Public School where she played volleyball and soccer and was also a track and field...
The eldest of five children, Alvina Begay was born on the Navajo Indian Reservation to Alvin and Wanda Begay in Ganado, Arizona. She learned responsibility early: while her mother worked full-time, Alvina cared for her younger siblings. She used what little "down time" she had running across dirt roads of the mesas and trails of Ganado. Her goal was to one day qualify for the Olympic trials. For a dream that grand, Alvina kept her mind, body and emotions in top condition....
LONDON, ENGLAND-The founder of the famous Complicite Theatre Company, an acclaimed theatrical actor, has been named Ambassador by Survival International, a charity that fights for the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. McBurney who has appeared in films including the "The Manchurian Candidate," "The Theory of Everything," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and the "Harry Potter" and "Mission Impossible" film series, becomes a key spokesman for this charity. Simon is a...
In the Cherokee society of her day, Nanyehi (One who goes about) was known in the English language as Nancy Ward. There are seven clans of the Cherokee: Wolf, Bird, Deer, Long Hair, Blue, Wild Potato, and Red Paint. Members are considered as brothers and sisters and may not marry within their clans. Because the society is matrilineal, clan membership is attained through the mother, and women are the traditional heads of households. According to the SmithDRays Nancy Ward page,...
WINNIPEG, MB-It's been a year since the Truth and Reconciliation Final Report was released and hundreds of people gathered in Winnipeg for a conference to explore a path to reconciliation. Called "Pathways to Reconciliation" the conference took place at the University of Winnipeg, June 15-18. Just over a year after the Truth and Reconciliation summary report was released, hundreds of people gathered in Winnipeg for a conference to explore a pathway to reconciliation. The...
ALBUQUERQUE, NM-Danielle Ta'Sheena Finn from Porcupine, North Dakota and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was crowned Miss Indian World 2016 at the 33rd Annual Gathering of Nations, the most prominent Native American powwow in the world. Finn received the honor out of 24 Native American women representing their different tribes and traditions who competed in the areas of tribal knowledge, dancing ability, public speaking, and personality assessment. She is currently att...
DK: You're a true role model! Please tell us about yourself. KM: Yá'át'ééh, my name is Kahlaya Rose Mckinney. I am born for the Owens Valley Paiute Tribe of Bishop, California. My father is Muskogee Creek from Tulsa, Oklahoma. My paternal grandfather is Red Running into Water Clan from Beclabito, New Mexico, and my paternal grandfather is Muskogee Creek, again from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am 19 years old and I'm majoring in Nursing at San Juan College. I am originally from Bec...
