Actions and Commitments:
Exploring Stakeholder: "Government of Alberta"
Updates on this page: 69
(Filtered by Indigenous Group "Inuit")
April 26, 2024
New draft social studies curriculum ready to pilot
NationTalk: Alberta’s government is continuing to modernize the education system and improve student success by developing a curriculum that will drive a passion for learning. Since August 2023, Alberta’s government has been engaging with parents, teachers, education partners and curriculum specialists to develop a new draft K-6 social studies curriculum that will focus on building...
March 14, 2024
Draft social studies curriculum: Join the conversation
NationTalk: Over the last seven months, Alberta Education has been engaging with education and community partners, along with curriculum development specialists, to develop a new social studies curriculum. More than 300 education partners, teachers, multicultural organizations, Indigenous and francophone communities have been engaged to gather valuable feedback to help inform the development of a comprehensive...
July 27, 2023
Calgary awarded 2027 North American Indigenous Games
“It’s exciting times for sure. We’re really excited about the return of the Games to Alberta after 37 years.” — Shannon Dunfield, the president of the NAIG Council The 2023 North American Indigenous Games wrapped up this past weekend in Nova Scotia. Calgary has been announced as the 2027 NAIG host. WindSpeaker.com: The North American...
July 19, 2023
Construction gets underway on the initial First Nation recovery community
“We really respect the whole notion about a recovery model because it aligns with who we are.” —Charles Weasel Head, vice chair with the Blood Tribe Department of Health Blood Tribe leaders and Alberta government ministers turn the sod July 19 for the Blood Tribe’s recovery community facility. Windspeaker.com: Shovels were dug into the ground...
July 18, 2023
Bringing Indigenous communities, schools together
NationTalk: Alberta’s government will provide more than $10 million to Indigenous partners through the new Bridging Classrooms to Communities pilot program. Alberta Education is committed to improving education outcomes and creating opportunities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. Creating welcoming environments, demonstrating cultural awareness and providing system supports through the Bridging Classrooms to Communities...
July 7, 2023
Ben & Jerry’s Land Back tweet on Canada Day gets praise from First Nations people
Others called for boycott of ice cream company after tweet says Canada is on stolen land CBC News: Ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s is being praised by many First Nations people in Canada for a tweet supporting the #LandBack movement on Canada Day. The tweet from the Canadian branch of the company read: “Another day...
June 26, 2023
UofA: Indigenous researchers lead process to create new guidelines for including Indigenous people in Canadian clinical trials
Community engagement is key to overcoming distrust due to historical injustices, says Inuk researcher. INUK HEALTH RESEARCHER WAYNE CLARK IS TAKING A LEAD ROLE IN A NEW NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ENSURE THAT FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL TRIALS — AND BENEFIT FROM THEM. (PHOTO: ATHABASCA...
April 11, 2023
3 First Nations sign agreement with Ottawa, Alberta to take over child welfare
Loon River First Nation, Lubicon First Nation and Peerless Trout First Nation celebrate new agreement CBC News: Canadian Press – Three northern Alberta First Nations have signed an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to be responsible for their own child welfare systems. The chiefs of Loon River First Nation, Lubicon First Nation and...
April 4, 2023
Pilot projects could pave way forward for Indigenous health care
Based on the principles of nationhood, individual Indigenous communities take the lead in determining how their communities will work with partners to address health care disparities. iPolitics: Four community-led pilot projects have seen significant improvements in health care for Indigenous communities across the country, supporters say, leading to a push for the government to address...
April 4, 2023
Cdn. Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Releases Health Human Resources Assessment Report
NationTalk: Ottawa – Today, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) released its report on health human resources (HHR) in Canada. The report, titled “Canada’s Health Workforce: Pathways Forward”, provides key findings designed to inform stakeholders (including governments). The report provides evidence-informed approaches to addressing the current challenges facing the Canadian health workforce. The three...
March 17, 2023
Province fronts cash for Indigenous seniors’ homes
Healthy elders are the future, says Chief Arcand NationTalk: St. Albert Gazette – New funds in this year’s provincial budget for continuing care homes could help more elders live longer in their home communities, says the chief of Alexander First Nation. Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping and Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson were at the...
February 11, 2023
As more high schools add Indigenous- focused compulsory courses, some warn against a siloed approach
‘Reconciliation will only exist … when we see it in every aspect of a student’s experience,’ says professor CBC News: As a Shakespeare fan who loves sharing his work with students, Windsor, Ont., English teacher Carolyn Howlett admits she felt a bit apprehensive when her board began work shifting its Grade 11 English course to focus...
November 9, 2022
National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence a significant step towards gender equality
Pictou County, Nova Scotia – Women and Gender Equality Canada Living a life free from violence is a fundamental human right, but gender‑based violence (GBV) continues to be a significant barrier to achieving gender equality in Canada. It is one of the most pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time. Federal,...
September 28, 2022
Alberta Provincial Court releases Indigenous Justice Strategy
The Indigenous Justice Strategy aims to ensure Alberta judges and staff have a clear understanding of Indigenous history, heritage and laws, as well as establishing Indigenous cultural practices in court. But as Morgan Black explains, some critics say it’s a band-aid solution to a systemic issue. Global News (Canadian Press): Alberta’s provincial court has announced...
September 9, 2022
Dene, Cree, Métis to form Fort Chipewyan education authority
Indigenous groups in Fort Chipewyan have signed an agreement with the province of Alberta that will establish a community-based education authority. NationTalk: CabinRadio: Kendrick Cardinal, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis local, said he expected establishment of the authority to take two years. Cardinal signed the agreement in June with Chief Allan Adam of the...
July 11, 2022
AFN Calls For First Ministers Meeting on UNDRIP at Council of The Federation
Assembly of First Nations: BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee issued the following statement after a meeting with provincial and territorial premiers today in advance of the Council of the Federation meeting taking place later today in Victoria, BC. “It is important for First Nations to meet with premiers on priorities and initiatives that impact our...
January 10, 2022
Refusal to sign Co-ordination Agreements with First Nations to implement Bill C-92
Government of Alberta has – so far – refused to sign coordination agreements with the Louis Bull First Nation in Alberta and the federal government as required by Bill C-92 “The Indigenous Child Welfare Act”. Agreements are supposed to be signed within one year of a First Nations applying to assume accountability for delivering their...
October 26, 2021
Heritage Preservation Partnership Program: IRS Support Funding
EverythingGP – Each of the nine has received $30,000 from the provincial government following a funding commitment earlier this year through the Heritage Preservation Partnership Program. Much of it is also being done in partnership with the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology (IPIA) at the University of Alberta, and led by Dr. Kisha Supernant. According...
October 18, 2021
Red Deer IRS
Ground-penetrating radar work begins as part of larger collaboration across Alberta agreed upon by nine First Nations groups....
August 26, 2021
Plans to build permanent memorial in Calgary
APTN – Plans are underway to create a permanent memorial for victims of Canada’s residential schools to replace a fire-damaged one that includes hundreds of children’s shoes on the steps of Calgary City Hall. The temporary memorial, which also has stuffed animals and a child’s bicycle, was blessed by Indigenous elders in a pipe ceremony Thursday. The...
August 17, 2021
Grouard Indian Residential School
Kapawe’no First Nation welcomed a team from the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology at the University of Alberta to assess the site of the Grouard Residential School Aug. 10 to 12. Located nearly 400 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, the school operated from 1894 to 1957. By 1949, Métis students accounted for half of the...
June 24, 2021
Criticism of new school curriculum’s “Eurocentric” syllabi
Assembly of First Nations – Nearly half of Albertans admit that they know very little about Canada’s residential school system in the face of growing criticism about the ‘whitewashing of history’ within the province’s newly proposed school curriculum, according to a recently-released national poll conducted by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), the Assembly of First...
June 23, 2021
Alberta Residential Schools Community Research Grant
Alberta’s government is providing $8 million to fund the Alberta Residential Schools Community Research Grant that is open to Indigenous communities and groups that will lead the research into undocumented deaths and burials in residential schools. Grant funding will be available to Indigenous communities and organizations for the following purposes: Community-driven research, including gathering oral...
June 21, 2021
Indigenous Human Rights Strategy
The Commission’s Indigenous Human Rights Strategy (Strategy) will guide the Commission’s practices and initiatives to reduce barriers Indigenous peoples face when seeking to enforce their human rights under the Alberta Human Rights Act. The overarching goals of this strategy are: To help address and reduce systemic racism against Indigenous peoples in health, education, child welfare, housing, justice (including...
May 25, 2021
Indigenous criticism of new K-6 curriculum
CBC – Some Alberta Indigenous leaders and an elder say the provincial government has used them or misrepresented their positions to gain endorsements for a new elementary school curriculum they do not support....
May 3, 2021
AHRC: Systemic Indigenous racism is a major issue throughout Alberta
Alberta Human Rights Commission – Research, data, and information collected from consultations with key stakeholders indicate that systemic racism—in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems—is a major issue facing Indigenous Peoples in Alberta. The Alberta Human Rights Commission is launching an Indigenous Human Rights Strategy to guide the Commission’s...
May 3, 2021
Systemic Racism throughout Alberta Services
Research, data, and information collected from consultations with key stakeholders indicate that systemic racism—in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems—is a major issue facing Indigenous Peoples in Alberta. The Alberta Human Rights Commission is launching an Indigenous Human Rights Strategy to guide the Commission’s practices and initiatives with...
March 31, 2021
Métis criticism of K-6 curriculum
The Métis Nation of Alberta is calling on the Government of Alberta to redraft its proposed K-6 curriculum, citing monumental concerns about the Euro-American colonial undertones In a letter to Alberta’s Minister of Education, MNA expressed deep concerns about the lack of transparency by the government of Alberta leading up to the release of the...
October 21, 2020
Curriculum advisors promote Eurocentric focus on K-4 curriculum
Curriculum advisers hand-picked by the Alberta government are recommending changes to the kindergarten-to-Grade 4 curriculum for fine arts and social studies that would eliminate all references to residential schools and “equity.” The advisers also recommend that seven- and eight-year-olds learn about feudalism, Chinese dynasties and Homer’s Odyssey in social studies classes. Curriculum experts familiar with the...
July 27, 2020
UCalgary researcher developing strategy to digitally archive residential school sites
Other News A UCalgary researcher is working with a number of partners across Canada to develop a strategy for digitally archiving the physical structures of the few remaining residential schools in Alberta. Two former provincial residential schools — Old Sun Community College and University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills — will be digitally captured by Blackfoot and...
June 8, 2020
Modernize the Police Act
CTV News (Calgary) – Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer we will expedite the government’s current work to modernize the Police Act. This will ensure we have the governance framework and policies in place so Albertans are confident that our police are accountable to the communities they protect. Policing only works when citizens feel assured...
March 4, 2020
Joint working group to inform MMIWG Action Plan
The Alberta government has appointed three Indigenous community members and three members of the legislative assembly to inform a government action plan that responds to the calls for justice of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The joint working group will support the government’s actions by: Advising on options to...
January 16, 2020
Delay to Bill C-92
Globe and Mail – Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services initially wanted a delay to the Jan. 1, 2020 implementation of Bill C-92. “I’m hopeful for where we are going to go moving forward but we really do need answers specifically around funding, liability, oversight, and we need some improved consultations moving forward if this...
October 13, 2019
Red Deer Indian Industrial School
Founded in 1892, considered one of the most atrocious examples of the suffering, abuse and neglect rampant in the Canada’s residential school system, the school operated until 1918. The school was plagued by widespread disease, a defective sanitation system that led to further contamination and illness, overcrowding and one of the highest mortality rates of...
January 23, 2019
Indigenous Languages Resource Centre
The Alberta government is investing $1 million into Calgary’s first ever Indigenous Languages Resource Centre at the Calgary Central Library. The funding will support the acquisition of language resources, as well as programming that preserves Indigenous culture and heritage....
January 18, 2019
Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada given to Alberta schools
The province is providing every Alberta junior high and high school with a copy of the Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. The initiative is to help bring First Nations, Métis and Inuit history and contributions to life in classrooms across the province....
December 14, 2018
New K-12 Curriculum approved for field testing
Alberta Education and the Alberta Teachers’ Association have approved the kindergarten to Grade 4 curriculum for field-testing within classrooms. This curriculum rewrite is the first of its kind in Alberta. It focuses on rewriting all core subject areas at once so that all subjects complement each other, allowing students to develop literacy, numeracy and competencies...
November 15, 2018
The Indigenous Languages in Education grant program
The Indigenous Languages in Education grant program invests $6 million to increase Indigenous language teacher capacity and expand resource development for early childhood education, as well as kindergarten to Grade 12 Indigenous languages. The grant program will provide funding through two streams. The instructor development stream will provide $4 million in funding over two years...
October 31, 2018
Bill 22 – “The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act”
Bill 22 – “The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act” overhauled with 26 recommendations including formal notification of an Indigenous child’s band following an application for private guardianship, mandatory home inspections and cultural connection plans, strict new public reporting requirements around deaths and injuries, and funding for supports being tied to a child, rather than...
October 15, 2018
IndigeSTEAM, a youth outreach program
IndigeSTEAM is a youth outreach program that was established to bring more diverse perspectives and seeks to eliminate barriers Indigenous youth face in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). As of September 30, 2018, the Association for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta reports that of it’s total membership base of 76,400 members only 323...
October 10, 2018
Draft Curriculum Review
This past spring, Alberta Education shared draft curriculum with Albertans to gather feedback on what students will learn in Kindergarten to Grade 4. The latest draft curriculum includes the feedback received to date. Targeted timelines for approval: Grades K-4: December 2018 Grades 5-9: December 2019 Grades 10-12: December 2020 to 2022...
October 2, 2018
Indigenous Health Transformation Roadmap: 2018-2020
Release of “Indigenous Health Transformation Roadmap: 2018-2020” through the Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network of Alberta Health Services. Specific projects identified are: Recognize the value of Indigenous healing practices, establish policies to guide the implementation and administration of practices within AHS Expand access to Indigenous healing practices in the treatment protocols with...
October 2, 2018
Indigenous Health Transformational Roadmap 2018-2020
Release of “Indigenous Health Transformational Roadmap 2018-2020”. The Introduction states: “Any action in Indigenous health begins with knowing: the historical impact of legislation and policies on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada, the current state of Indigenous health, and the health care rights of Indigenous peoples as laid out in international law, constitutional...
October 2, 2018
Indigenous Health Transformation Roadmap 2018-2020
Indigenous Health Transformation Roadmap 2018-2020 released by The Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network through Alberta Health Services states in its Executive Summary: The transformational roadmap is the first step on a long road forward for our Strategic Clinical NetworkTM. Now our work and journey together truly begins. The Indigenous Health Transformational Roadmap (TRM) marks...
July 18, 2018
Restorative justice programs
$360K in grants have been awarded to 16 organizations across Alberta to support voluntary restorative justice programs. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community. These programs are an alternative or supplement to any sentence and can be initiated at any time during the criminal justice process....
June 18, 2018
Mandatory in-person, one-day course over the next three years
All current Alberta Public Service employees will participate in an in-person, one-day course over the next three years. The session will involve experiential learning with Elders through sharing circles, and participants will learn about Indigenous histories, residential schools, treaties and contemporary issues, and how they can apply what they learn to their work. Moving forward,...
June 14, 2018
Indigenous-focused programming at ECE Centres
$14.5 annually for three years. Alberta children are learning about traditional language and culture, with five new $25-a-day children care centres offering Indigenous-focused programming. Six Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) centres across Alberta are implementing Indigenous-focused programming, including traditional drumming, storytelling and lessons in Michif, Blackfoot and Cree. Calgary: Little Sundance (Métis Calgary Family...
April 27, 2018
Aboriginal Languages Initiative
Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) has distributed approximately $1.5M to Southern Alberta to support various initiatives. This includes: Almost $200,000 for the Tsuut’ina Nation’s Tsuut’ina Gunaha School Language Incorporation Strategy approximately $141,000 for Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society’s Blackfoot Language Keepers, $358,000 for Peigan Board of Education Society’s Piikani Language Revitalization Project, $80,000 for the Aboriginal Friendship...
March 26, 2018
Affordable Housing Agreement
$6.15M Support the construction and renovation of off-reserve shelters and transitional housing for families fleeing family violence. Includes $1.9M for Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter to increase capacity Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls The Alberta government has appointed three Indigenous community members and three members of the legislative assembly to...
February 20, 2018
Nations of Treaty 8 Urban Child and Family Services
Official grand opening of the Nations of Treaty 8 Urban Child and Family Services Office in Edmonton. The Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta designed the concept of an urban office as an approach to provide prevention and early intervention services to children and families on reserve. The Urban Office will provide services to children...
February 7, 2018
New Educational Quality Standards
New educational standards will support student mental health, ensure educators have the tools they need to teach about Indigenous culture and boost student success. The new quality standards specify what competencies teachers, principals, school leaders, and superintendents must demonstrate to teach and lead in Alberta’s education system. In addition to renewing the focus on establishing...
November 20, 2017
“Speaking Out” a Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young people in the Child Welfare and Justice Systems”
Issued “Speaking Out a Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young people in the Child Welfare and Justice Systems” that emphasizes that they still experience higher levels of homelessness, suicide, mental illness, addictions, and violence. Encourages the Province to build new ways of supporting Indigenous communities to ensure sustainable and culturally responsive services that can grow and...
October 24, 2017
Education commitment to Indigenous history and contributions to life
Alberta Education is providing teachers with lesson plans to help bring First Nations, Métis and Inuit history and contributions to life in classrooms across the province. All students will learn about the history and legacy of residential schools and the history of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada as part of the Government of...
September 28, 2017
Mandatory training scheduled for 2018
The Alberta government is planning to roll out mandatory training for public servants next year, focusing on Indigenous history, treaties and the legacy of residential schools. This is a follow-up to Premier Rachel Notley’s commitment in July 2015 to implement the goals of UNDRIP....
September 12, 2017
Revision of Alberta K-12 curriculum
Ministry of Education will work in collaboration with Nunavut and the NWT on the revitalization of the Alberta K- 12 curriculum. Included in the redesign will be the history, perspectives and contributions of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and francophone people and will be focused on six subject areas: arts, language arts, math, social studies, science,...
July 18, 2017
Funding for restorative justice initiatives
$360K support for restorative justice initiatives in communities across the province focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community....
July 12, 2017
Exploratory committee established
A city “exploratory committee” received $200,000 in municipal funding to start the process in 2014, Funds were allocated before the commission released its final report. The committee still needs to discuss details such as site location, artistic form, budget and timeline. (Edmonton Journal)...
July 12, 2017
Announcement that public memorial will be built in Edmonton
City officials announced that a public memorial will be built in Edmonton (Edmonton Journal)...
May 31, 2017
Indigenous Wisdom Advisory Panel
The Indigenous Wisdom Advisory Panel will advise Alberta’s Chief Scientist about how to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge into environmental monitoring. Based on a commitment to UNDRIP (CBC)...
May 18, 2017
Métis Nation of Alberta release three health reports
Métis Nation of Alberta released three health reports on Cancer, Injuries, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The reports mark MNA’s continued ground breaking attempts to gather significant health information specific to Métis citizens of Alberta....
September 8, 2016
Order in Council granting Commissioners the authority to examine areas of provincial jurisdiction
The Government passed an Order in Council granting the same Commissioners with the authority to examine areas of provincial jurisdiction, such as child welfare, justice, and health. Alberta also established a Family Information Liaison Unit. The unit is intended to be a single point of contact where experienced front-line staff can provide families with information...
August 3, 2016
Support for MMIWG Inquiry
Ensure provincial powers are available to the commission to support their critical work in Alberta....
June 22, 2016
Joint Commitment to Action for Indigenous Training for Teachers
Alberta Education, The Alberta Teachers’ Association, The Alberta Association of Deans of Education, The Alberta School Boards Association, The Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia, The College of Alberta School Superintendents and The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation signed a Joint Commitment to Action which will ensure all K-12 teachers receive additional training related to First Nations,...
June 1, 2016
Joint Commitment to Action
Alberta Education, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and four other education stakeholder organizations in Alberta signed the Joint Commitment to Action to ensure that all students learn about the histories, cultures and world views of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. The Alberta Teachers’ Association has begun to fulfill...
March 1, 2016
Cabinet approves mandatory training
Cabinet approved widespread, mandatory training for all civil servants.....
December 15, 2015
Action Plans to implement UNDRIP after Ministry reviews
Each ministry concluded its DRIP review in December, 2015 and are now formulating action plans to implement the principles and objectives of the UN Declaration so that First Nations, Métis and Inuit people are able to participate as equals in all aspects of Alberta’s society while maintaining their cultures and unique identities...
July 7, 2015
Premier’s open letter to each Ministry to conduct UNDRIP review
In an open letter to provincial cabinet members, Premier Notley asked each Minister to conduct a review of their policies, programs, and legislation that might require changes based on the principles of the UN Declaration....
March 27, 2014
Commitment to Indigenous history and residential schools
The Government of Alberta commits that all Alberta K-12 students will learn about the history and legacy of residential schools, along with the history of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada. The curriculum will include enhanced mandatory content for all Alberta students on the significance of residential schools and treaties. Curriculum must include...
January 1, 1970
10-year FASD Strategic Plan
9 provincial government ministries – including Justice – and other agencies developed a 10-year FASD Strategic Plan to design, administer and develop prevention programs, assessment and diagnosis services, and support for those affected by the disorder coordinated through 12 FASD Service Networks in Alberta. http://fasd.alberta.ca/documents/FASD-10-year-plan.pdf...