National Aboriginal Day was established to celebrate Canada’s First Peoples and our important contributions to Canada.
This past winter and spring our Cree youth undertook a heroic march to emphasize the importance of unity among Aboriginal peoples. It is fitting that we honour the Nishiiyuu walkers for their accomplishments.
They have shown everyone in this country that the energy of our youth can be positive and inspiring. They have inspired Aboriginal people and many Canadians across this country.
This journey reminded us of the importance of protecting our lands for the future generations to come. The rights of aboriginal peoples across the country must be recognized and translated into benefits for all our peoples.
We encourage the youth to continue using their energies to achieve honourable visions for our people and for aboriginal peoples across the country.
Happy Aboriginal Day.
Grand Chief Dr. Matthew Coon Come
Deputy Grand Chief Ashley Iserhoff
HAPPY ABORIGINAL DAY TO ALL.
ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᒑ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᑳᓈᑖ
ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐅᒌᔑᑳᒥᐧᐋᐤ᙮
Recruiting campaign at SPVM
Equal Opportunity Program
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is seeking candidates to take part in the Equal Opportunity Program’s recruiting process.
In order to be eligible, you must:
- Be of Aboriginal origin or belong to a visible or ethnic minority.
- Meet the following education criteria: completion of a university degree, a technical training program leading to a Diploma of College Studies (3 years) or a pre-university college course (2 years) and 30 university credits.
The Program aims to promote a better representation of Montreal’s diverse population within the SPVM.
Learn more:
www.spvm.qc.ca (Careers)
514-280-3210
News
Students also affected by housing crisis
According to Émélie Rivard-Boudreau, a student-aid worker for First Nations students at the Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Val-d’Or’s current housing crisis might hinder some Cree students from setting foot in a classroom this fall.
“The housing crisis is not exclusive to the First Nations or Cree students here, it is a big problem that is happening in all of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. For institutions like the Cégep, this is a real problem,” said Rivard-Boudreau.
Rivard-Boudreau said she has been calling landlords and even pounding the pavement to look for signs advertising rooms or apartments for rent on behalf of the students her office is in charge of housing, but she hasn’t been having much luck.
While the Cégep may have a brand-new residence to house some of the students attending the Cégep and neighbouring Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, many Crees will not be able to use these student lodgings. Many of the Cree students relocating to Val-d’Or bring their families and the single-dwelling residence cannot accommodate them.
“Sometimes the students will actually have to cancel their registration because they don’t have a place to stay,” said Rivard-Boudreau.
Unfortunately this scenario is all too common for Rivard-Boudreau. She said it is not just First Nations students who have had to pull out of their registration because they can’t find some place to live, the problem is shared by all students attempting to move to Val-d’Or or nearby towns.
At the time of this interview, Rivard-Boudreau said there were seven Cree families staying in local hotels at the Cégep’s expense while the department scrambled to find them housing.
Because accommodations are so scarce within the city, Rivard-Boudreau wondered if there would be any interest within the Cree nation to build special student housing for Crees studying in Val-d’Or so that more Cree students would be able to attend the institutions.
