Latest news with #Treaty8
Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
ACFN Condemns Attempt to Silence First Nations in Alberta Secession Case: "We Will Not Be Erased"
FORT CHIPEWYAN, AB, Aug. 6, 2025 /CNW/ - The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) is demanding a halt to efforts to undermine constitutional rights and silence Indigenous voices as Alberta navigates a reckless and unlawful push toward secession from Canada. The Chief Electoral Officer has asked the Court of King's Bench in Edmonton to rule on whether a proposal for Alberta to secede from Canada violates the constitution. This process – which was made law to ensure that citizen petitions do not propose to violate rights – is now under direct attack by the Alberta Prosperity Project and its leadership. Mitch Sylvestre – one of the APP's leaders and the person who brought the secession petition on its behalf – is asking for the Chief Electoral Officer's case to be thrown out. Mr. Sylvestre is seeking to strike the stated case and shut down the process before it begins. This would scrap the constitutional review entirely and block interveners – including ACFN – from participating altogether. This follows statements last week from the Alberta Minister of Justice and Premier Danielle Smith which publicly pressured the Chief Electoral Officer to withdraw the stated case and abandon the constitutional review. The Minister of Justice called the process "red tape". "This is a blatant attempt to silence Treaty First Nations and bulldoze through a radical secessionist proposal without scrutiny," said ACFN Chief Allan Adam. "Let us be absolutely clear – Treaty 8 was signed with the Crown in right of Canada, not with Alberta and certainly not with any separatist fringe group. We will not allow our Treaty to be trampled by political extremists." Despite the public pressure from the Premier and Alberta Justice, the Chief Electoral Officer has persisted in referring the matter to the courts. The parties are due to appear in court on Thursday, August 7, at which time the Chief Electoral Officer will be proposing the Court order a public notice plan and timetable to allow interested parties to apply to intervene, and for amicus curiae to be appointed, so that the Court can have a comprehensive hearing on this fundamental issue at a later date. In stark contrast, the lawyers appearing for Mr. Sylvestre and the APP will argue that the case should be struck then and there, without hearing from any other impacted parties. ACFN's legal team will be in court on Thursday to oppose Mr. Sylvestre's motion and support the implementation of a public notice plan and schedule that would allow First Nations and other concerned parties to formally intervene. "It is a matter of natural justice that the First Nations of Alberta – who have lived here from time immemorial – have an opportunity to be heard on this proposal to secede from Canada" says Kevin Hille, legal counsel for ACFN. "ACFN is going to be there to support the Chief Electoral Officer in creating a process that will give First Nations a genuine opportunity to participate." To ACFN and other First Nations, the secession petition represents a grave threat to the foundational relationship between Treaty Peoples and the Crown in right of Canada. Treaty 8 was signed in 1899 – before Alberta even existed as a province – and guarantees ACFN's rights to hunt, fish, trap and live according to their traditional ways. These rights are protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and cannot be erased by provincial whim or populist politics. Alberta was not a signatory to Treaty 8 and did not gain provincial status until 1905. Even then, Canada retained ownership of natural resources in the province until 1930. Alberta's authority over resources was only constitutionally entrenched in 1982. These facts underscore that ACFN's primary Treaty relationship is – and always has been – with the federal Crown. "This is not just a courtroom battle – it's a fight for our people, our lands, and our future," said Chief Adam. "If Alberta secedes, we would see artificial borders cut across our Nation, our kin divided, and our Treaty protections stripped away. We will not stand by while others try to erase our rights in secret." ACFN has consistently defended federal jurisdiction and the constitutional framework that upholds its rights – including at the Supreme Court of Canada. That fight now extends to this courtroom, and this case. "We are not going anywhere – and we are not backing down," said Chief Adam. "Canada must uphold its constitutional promises. We will fight this petition with everything we have." ACFN urges all Albertans, legal advocates, and Indigenous Nations to stand in solidarity against this dangerous and unlawful attempt to hijack democracy, suppress Indigenous voices, and dismantle Canada's constitutional order.
Hamilton Spectator
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Author Jessica Johns: How storytelling shaped the way she walks in the world
(ANNews) – 'Storytelling was a big part of my life while growing up in Treaty 8,' author of Bad Cree, Jessica Johns shared. 'I was always surrounded by family telling stories and jokes.' And for Johns, a member of Sucker Creek First Nation, family is everything – especially when it comes to understanding what an auntie means. In nehiyawe, the Cree language, nikawiys (meaning auntie), literally translates as my mother's sister, my second mom, with the understanding of 'we take care of each other, always' – kinship. These memories tied to Johns' childhood were of her own aunties, how they were always together cooking, crafting, organizing – with storytelling being in the center of it all. Johns' family inspired her, where she thought a lot about stories leading her to want to learn how to write and find her voice within her writing. As her writing craft grew, she started to incorporate her craft into her everyday life, like with family, she built a relationship with the ways she walks with storytelling. Finding balance with her writing also became important, with a deep understanding of teachings from the medicine wheel. 'I made sure to take time for my health,' shared Johns. 'For me, writing is part of my mental and spiritual health and also knowing how to find balance when writing. Taking care of my physical health through movement was also something I learned along the way'. Over time, Johns came to know things differently and to understand that 'writing can't happen if you are not in the world experiencing it,' she said. So far, her journey has taught her that developing her craft has been a personal journey of building that relationship with storytelling, that everyone will experience writing and the way they go about writing, differently. 'Being involved in ceremony made my life so much better,' Johns emphasized on how it became an important practice in her life. 'It is a place where I can emotionally and spiritually connect with myself.' In turn, ceremony became an understanding of her relationship to Mother Earth, 'I started to build a deeper relationship with the land and water, and how significant it became for my writing.' All-in-all, for Johns, 'ceremony lead me in a good way, taught me to be more mindful, and had a positive impact on me.' Jessica Johns debut novel, Bad Cree , won the MacEwan Book of the Year award, along with the 2024 Alex Awards; the book was also on the 2024 CBC Canada Reads longlist. When Johns is not writing, she practices her skills as an auntie while working as the Indigenous Initiatives Lead for the FIRE (funding indigenous resurgence in Edmonton) at the Edmonton Heritage Council . Laura Mushumanski is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
25-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Indigenous leaders denounce Alberta's plans to alter water management
The Suncor Energy Inc. Fort Hills mine is seen in this aerial photograph taken above the Athabasca oil sands near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Former Tthebatthie Denesuline (Smith's Landing) chief Gerry Cheezie is not mincing words about plans between the Alberta government and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to change the legal framework governing the watersheds of Northern Alberta that feed into the Northwest Territories. 'When we signed Treaty 8 on July 17, 1899, there was no talk about Alberta,' he said. 'Alberta just happened to be created in 1905. Then in 1930, under the Natural Resources Transfer Act, some old white guys in Ottawa and some old white guys in Alberta signed an agreement that stole all our land and resources. 'They don't pay for any of this water usage — they use all this water for free. To produce one barrel of oil, they have to use 17 barrels of water and that water can't be returned to the system — it sits in tailings ponds. The quality of the water is going down. We're doing water samples and air samples and we're getting all sorts of disturbing readings.' Now co-chair of the Keepers of the Water, Cheezie is sounding the alarm over talks between CAPP and the Danielle Smith-led Alberta United Conservative Party government to modify the province's Water Act to allow oil companies to draw water from either the Athabasca River or the Peace River and transfer it up to 100 kilometres from either body of water. Under the current legal framework, oil extractors need to apply to draw water from a specific body and that water cannot be moved to a separate operation. 'CAPP has been engaging with the Alberta government to advance various approaches that could enhance water management, including low-risk, inter-basin water transfers,' said CAPP vice-president of regulatory operations Richard Wong. 'While the proposal to merge the Peace/Slave and Athabasca river basins for the purposes of identifying inter-basin transfers did not originate with CAPP, our members support it as a practical solution. 'Current restrictions under the Water Act create unnecessary inefficiencies for oil and gas projects that span major basin boundaries. Allowing water transfers between the Peace/Slave and Athabasca river basins, which naturally converge within Alberta, would eliminate the need for redundant water infrastructure, allow companies to access the most suitable water sources based on availability and reduce environmental impact,' Wong stated. Wong told NNSL Media there are roughly 122 oil and gas operations on the watershed. He said changing the management system would mean less water would have to be moved by truck in the area. A spokesperson for the Alberta government confirmed talks were underway. 'Right now, we are looking at ways to strengthen and modernize Alberta's water management system,' said Kevin Lee, spokesperson for the Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs. 'Over the past year, we've been engaging with Albertans on proposed Water Act amendments that would help improve the province's water management system. 'One of the proposed changes that we are seeking feedback on is on the definition of major river basins and includes a proposed merging of the Peace and Athabasca river basins, which would only apply to inter-basin transfers. All applications submitted under the Water Act undergo a full review to assess potential impacts to other water users and the environment before a decision is made. This process would still be in place for all applications. 'Merging these basins under the Water Act would be comparable to how Alberta is already managing the Red Deer, Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan sub-basins as one major river basin for the purpose of inter-basin transfers,' Lee added. 'Nothing normal about it' An arrangement similar to the inter-basin transfer system in southern Alberta is exactly what Keepers of the Water executive director Jesse Cardinal is fighting to stop. She noted that since those changes were implemented — in spite of warnings from hydrologists — water scarcity in southern Alberta has been an ongoing problem. 'We've been in a drought consistently for several years,' she said, adding the Keepers of the Water only found out about the plan from listening to public meetings. 'Last year was extreme drought and Alberta was saying that if there wasn't enough precipitation by spring, they were going to restrict water use. So we were paying close attention because the oil and gas industry and big agriculture are the biggest consumers of water in Alberta. 'It was around the fall last year these suggestions were being made, so we attended a couple of their online sessions. They just casually threw it in these sessions conversationally, really trying to normalize inter-basin transfers — there is nothing normal about it. It's a huge decision with massive impacts. 'The only reason why it was allowed to happen in the south is that is where the mismanagement of water began. That's where the First in Time, First in Right licensing system began, where massive amounts of water were licensed out for big-scale farming — not thinking ahead towards population growth, economic development and all the other impacts to water. There's been municipalities that can't even allow more people in because they don't have the water to sustain growth.' Water management in the province has always been flawed, added Cardinal, because water is seen as a renewable resource. But climate change is proving that may not always the case, with the glaciers that feed the watershed now melting twice as fast as they were a decade ago and entire summers with next to no rain. Cardinal said the Keepers of the Water held a gathering in K'atl'odeeche First Nation last year and heard concerns of low water preventing hunting and transportation from chiefs across the Northwest Territories. Noting the Alberta government has not properly consulted First Nation governments in the area and other stakeholders, Cardinal her organization is prepared to take the province to court to protect the watersheds. The Alberta government did not respond to questions from NNSL Media about if and how it consulted First Nation governments on the proposed changes. 'What choice do we have?' Highlighting other health concerns that have arisen from oil and gas development in the region, such as the contamination of country foods in Fort Chipewyan, Cardinal said there is little confidence in the oil and gas industry or the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in managing people's drinking water. 'It's a corrupt system. There's an entire book written about it,' she said. 'Chief Alan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has asked for the AER to be dismantled because they're taken over by industry. There's no environmental consideration. 'Water levels are already impacting people's lives. Last year, we had no blueberries, and the evergreen muskeg died. When we were in Hay River last year, you could walk across the river.' She also pointed out if Alberta was to go forward with Premier Smith's stated goal of doubling oil sands production, that would mean its water requirements would also double, which would mean less water for everyone else. Low water levels in the Northwest Territories in the past few years has resulted in skyrocketing prices for fuel and food in remote communities such as Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope, which rely on summer barges for resupply. The Town of Norman Wells declared a state of emergency last winter when Imperial Oil did not respond to notification of barge cancellations in time to ensure the town has enough fuel for the winter. Non-Indigenous-governed communities in Northern Alberta are also struggling with the ongoing drought — the counties of Grand Prairie and Greenview and the Municipal District of Bonnyville have declared agricultural emergencies this summer, citing concerns the cattle ranching industry could be crippled by drought conditions. Cardinal said Keepers of the Water is demanding a pause on water transfer discussions and open transparency through the entire process, but also noted the people of treaties 6, 7 and 8 never conceded rights to water to the Canadian government. 'We still have the right to govern water,' she said. 'Our treaties give us the right to hunt, fish and trap. You can't do that without water. Our ecosystems depend on clean water.' Officials with the GNWT said they are aware of the proposed changes and are seeking more information, noting they have heard the concerns of First Nations downstream of the oilsands. They noted communication between the Northwest Territories and Alberta governments has improved since the 2023 Imperial Oil Kearl River incident, where 5.3 million litres of tailings-contaminated wastewater leaked into the watershed, which was only shared with the GNWT after the fact. Cheezie said if the oil industry wants to control Indigenous waterways, they are in for a fight. 'In our treaty, it says our way of life would not be impaired,' he said. 'Now they're messing around with the water. We're going to use whatever means we have to stop this blatant misuse of water resources. 'We can't allow them to run roughshod over people's rights and our treaty rights. These people don't want any court challenges because every day their project isn't happening, they lose money, and as soon as they lose money, they get worried. So we'll use that to delay everything, even if we lose, because what choice do we have?' By Eric Bowling, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWT News/North
Hamilton Spectator
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Indigenous leaders denounce Alberta's plans to alter water management
Former Tthebatthie Denesuline (Smith's Landing) chief Gerry Cheezie is not mincing words about plans between the Alberta government and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to change the legal framework governing the watersheds of Northern Alberta that feed into the Northwest Territories. 'When we signed Treaty 8 on July 17, 1899, there was no talk about Alberta,' he said. 'Alberta just happened to be created in 1905. Then in 1930, under the Natural Resources Transfer Act, some old white guys in Ottawa and some old white guys in Alberta signed an agreement that stole all our land and resources. 'They don't pay for any of this water usage — they use all this water for free. To produce one barrel of oil, they have to use 17 barrels of water and that water can't be returned to the system — it sits in tailings ponds. The quality of the water is going down. We're doing water samples and air samples and we're getting all sorts of disturbing readings.' Now co-chair of the Keepers of the Water, Cheezie is sounding the alarm over talks between CAPP and the Danielle Smith-led Alberta United Conservative Party government to modify the province's Water Act to allow oil companies to draw water from either the Athabasca River or the Peace River and transfer it up to 100 kilometres from either body of water. Under the current legal framework, oil extractors need to apply to draw water from a specific body and that water cannot be moved to a separate operation. 'CAPP has been engaging with the Alberta government to advance various approaches that could enhance water management, including low-risk, inter-basin water transfers,' said CAPP vice-president of regulatory operations Richard Wong. 'While the proposal to merge the Peace/Slave and Athabasca river basins for the purposes of identifying inter-basin transfers did not originate with CAPP, our members support it as a practical solution. 'Current restrictions under the Water Act create unnecessary inefficiencies for oil and gas projects that span major basin boundaries. Allowing water transfers between the Peace/Slave and Athabasca river basins, which naturally converge within Alberta, would eliminate the need for redundant water infrastructure, allow companies to access the most suitable water sources based on availability and reduce environmental impact,' Wong stated. Wong told NNSL Media there are roughly 122 oil and gas operations on the watershed. He said changing the management system would mean less water would have to be moved by truck in the area. A spokesperson for the Alberta government confirmed talks were underway. 'Right now, we are looking at ways to strengthen and modernize Alberta's water management system,' said Kevin Lee, spokesperson for the Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs. 'Over the past year, we've been engaging with Albertans on proposed Water Act amendments that would help improve the province's water management system. 'One of the proposed changes that we are seeking feedback on is on the definition of major river basins and includes a proposed merging of the Peace and Athabasca river basins, which would only apply to inter-basin transfers. All applications submitted under the Water Act undergo a full review to assess potential impacts to other water users and the environment before a decision is made. This process would still be in place for all applications. 'Merging these basins under the Water Act would be comparable to how Alberta is already managing the Red Deer, Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan sub-basins as one major river basin for the purpose of inter-basin transfers,' Lee added. 'Nothing normal about it' An arrangement similar to the inter-basin transfer system in southern Alberta is exactly what Keepers of the Water executive director Jesse Cardinal is fighting to stop. She noted that since those changes were implemented — in spite of warnings from hydrologists — water scarcity in southern Alberta has been an ongoing problem. 'We've been in a drought consistently for several years,' she said, adding the Keepers of the Water only found out about the plan from listening to public meetings. 'Last year was extreme drought and Alberta was saying that if there wasn't enough precipitation by spring, they were going to restrict water use. So we were paying close attention because the oil and gas industry and big agriculture are the biggest consumers of water in Alberta. 'It was around the fall last year these suggestions were being made, so we attended a couple of their online sessions. They just casually threw it in these sessions conversationally, really trying to normalize inter-basin transfers — there is nothing normal about it. It's a huge decision with massive impacts. 'The only reason why it was allowed to happen in the south is that is where the mismanagement of water began. That's where the First in Time, First in Right licensing system began, where massive amounts of water were licensed out for big-scale farming — not thinking ahead towards population growth, economic development and all the other impacts to water. There's been municipalities that can't even allow more people in because they don't have the water to sustain growth.' Water management in the province has always been flawed, added Cardinal, because water is seen as a renewable resource. But climate change is proving that may not always the case, with the glaciers that feed the watershed now melting twice as fast as they were a decade ago and entire summers with next to no rain. Cardinal said the Keepers of the Water held a gathering in K'atl'odeeche First Nation last year and heard concerns of low water preventing hunting and transportation from chiefs across the NWT. Noting the Alberta government has not properly consulted First Nation governments in the area and other stakeholders, Cardinal her organization is prepared to take the province to court to protect the watersheds. The Alberta government did not respond to questions from NNSL Media about if and how it consulted First Nation governments on the proposed changes. 'What choice do we have?' Highlighting other health concerns that have arisen from oil and gas development in the region, such as the contamination of country foods in Fort Chipewyan, Cardinal said there is little confidence in the oil and gas industry or the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in managing people's drinking water. 'It's a corrupt system. There's an entire book written about it,' she said. 'Chief Alan Adam of Athabasca Chippewyan First Nation has asked for the AER to be dismantled because they're taken over by industry. There's no environmental consideration. 'Water levels are already impacting people's lives. Last year, we had no blueberries, and the evergreen muskeg died. When we were in Hay River last year, you could walk across the river.' She also pointed out if Alberta was to go forward with Premier Smith's stated goal of doubling oil sands production, that would mean its water requirements would also double, which would mean less water for everyone else. Low water levels in the NWT in the past few years has resulted in skyrocketing prices for fuel and food in remote communities such as Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope, which rely on summer barges for resupply. The Town of Norman Wells declared a state of emergency last winter when Imperial Oil did not respond to notification of barge cancellations in time to ensure the town has enough fuel for the winter. Non-Indigenous-governed communities in Northern Alberta are also struggling with the ongoing drought — the counties of Grand Prairie and Greenview and the Municipal District of Bonnyville have declared agricultural emergencies this summer, citing concerns the cattle ranching industry could be crippled by drought conditions. Cardinal said Keepers of the Water is demanding a pause on water transfer discussions and open transparency through the entire process, but also noted the people of treaties 6, 7 and 8 never conceded rights to water to the Canadian government. 'We still have the right to govern water,' she said. 'Our treaties give us the right to hunt, fish and trap. You can't do that without water. Our ecosystems depend on clean water.' Officials with the GNWT said they are aware of the proposed changes and are seeking more information, noting they have heard the concerns of First Nations downstream of the oilsands. They noted communication between the NWT and Alberta governments has improved since the 2023 Imperial Oil Kearl River incident, where 5.3 million litres of tailings-contaminated wastewater leaked into the watershed, which was only shared with the GNWT after the fact. Cheezie said if the oil industry wants to control Indigenous waterways, they are in for a fight. 'In our treaty, it says our way of life would not be impaired,' he said. 'Now they're messing around with the water. We're going to use whatever means we have to stop this blatant misuse of water resources. 'We can't allow them to run roughshod over people's rights and our treaty rights. These people don't want any court challenges because every day their project isn't happening, they lose money, and as soon as they lose money, they get worried. So we'll use that to delay everything, even if we lose, because what choice do we have?' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Wîhkwêntôwin Unveils Mural Celebrating Indigenous Roots and Community Unity in Edmonton
(ANNews) – The Wîhkwêntôwin Community League unveiled a mural painted by a local Indigenous artist on July 12, reflecting the inclusivity behind Edmonton's largest neighbourhood's new Cree name. Kayla Bellerose painted the mural, which is displayed in the tunnel that's shared by a bike path and the High Level Bridge Streetcar tracks, located just north of Constable Ezio Faraone Park. Since the mural sits along two transport networks, an event celebrating the unveiling was held at the park, with live music, vendors, games, and free bannock, tea and ice cream. Volunteers took attendees who wanted to see the mural on a tour every half hour. Bellerose, who is First Nations from Treaty 8 on her mother's side, said her mural was inspired by the river valley. 'The neighbourhood is so close to the river, so I often go on walks to spend time with nature,' she explained to volunteers and dignitaries during the first tour of the day. Bellerose highlighted the pollinators on the mural, including the bumblebee and swallowtail butterfly. 'I don't know about you, but when I go on walks in the river valley, I'm often eating Saskatoons. They're super ripe right now, so I wanted to include plants that I often would see on my walks,' she added. The mural also includes people Bellerose sees on her regular walks, including elderly people on a stroll, a mother walking her baby in a stroller, a couple on a date and a person in a wheelchair wearing an Oilers jersey. She also was sure to include an image of her dog, Willow. There are seven flowers representing seven generations into the future. The words, Together, we are stronger, are written across the mural, a phrase Bellerose said she saw written down during an engagement session at last year's community league BBQ. 'That really stood out to me when I was coming up with the concept of that idea that we are stronger together as a collective. Because right now in society, there's so much division and separation from one another,' the artist said. 'It's not productive. It's not helpful. 'All of us are connected. All of us are related. We're all human beings, living here, sharing this land as Treaty people. Let's respect each other, let's be kind to each other, let's live together as a community.' In January 2024, the community league announced that the neighbourhood formerly known as Oliver would henceforth be known as Wîhkwêntôwin , which translates to 'circle of friends' in Cree. The community's previous namesake—Frank Oliver—was a notorious racist, who advocated for the forced removal of First Nations communities, including the Papaschase band, as a Liberal MP and publisher of the Edmonton Bulletin. The process of renaming the neighbourhood, which sits just west of downtown, began in 2020 with the #UncoverOliver campaign, representing the first instance of a community-led process to rename a neighbourhood that was named after a problematic figure. In attendance at the mural unveiling were Edmonton-Centre MLA David Shepherd and his local NDP caucus colleague Janis Irwin, Ward O-day'min city councillor Anne Stevenson and Edmonton Public School Board trustee Julie Kusiek. 'The man that this community used to be named for, was someone who had a very small vision of what it meant to be Albertan, of who belonged in this community and who belonged in our province, who deserved to have a voice and hold power,' said Shepherd. He praised the 'diligent work' of the community league, which involved 'some great community conversation' with Indigenous, Black and other community leaders, 'to find a new name that truly represented who we are as Albertans now and what this community is.' 'The new name—Wîhkwêntôwin—I think, embraces a much bigger vision of who we are,' Shepherd said, calling Bellerose's mural a 'beautiful representation' of this vision. Coun. Stevenson called the mural a 'lasting gift that Kayla has given to the community.' 'Wîhkwêntôwin is the perfect name for this neighborhood—it is truly a circle of friends,' she said. 'But I also think of the circle of keepers, and those are the volunteers at the community league who make the intentional effort to create spaces for us to come together in community.' Kusiek, whose Ward D includes the newly named Wîhkwêntôwin School, noted that Bellerose's mural 'celebrates every single person in this community.' She said that the process the community league went through in renaming the community 'was so well done' that it made it easy for the public school board to rename the former Oliver School. 'This is the name that best fits this school and school community, and when I look at that mural, we are stronger together,' said Kusiek. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
