; Metis News and Stuff

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Dizaines For Batoche Development Ltd. Gets $ 464,000

Almost half a million dollars has been provided to a co-operative to preserve the Batoche historical site and promote Métis culture and history.The Dizaines for Batoche Development Co-operative Ltd., a coalition of Métis and community organizations, will lead the Batoche and Area Future Development Project.
A federal government press release said the objectives of the Dizaines include ensuring that Batoche remains an icon of Métis culture and history, promoting increased tourism and creating job opportunities for aboriginal people.The project received funding of more than $391,000 from the government of Canada, $40,000 from the government of Saskatchewan and additional funds from Tourism Saskatoon and Sagehill Community Futures Development corporation.
The funding totaled almost $464,000.
Batoche was declared a National Historic Site in 1923. It is about 70 kilometres south of Prince Albert.

posted by Derryl at 1:22 AM 0 Comments

Elizabeth Metis Settlement Partners In Oil

We lost 45,000 jobs here in Alberta.......EI applicants here in Alberta have increased by a whopping 116 % and even the beloved Calgary Stampede has Tourism insiders bracing for Stampede slump as reservations for travel groups is way down. This news will not only benefit the Elizabeth residents, but the local economy will also feel the extra dollars in all of the offshoot business.
Which would prove a point....investing in the Metis is a good thing !!!

Twelve kilometres from the northern Alberta town of Cold Lake, a small Métis community is opening its land to industrial oil processing, in hopes the novel partnership will help fund construction of more homes and sewers.
The 1,005-member Elizabeth Métis Settlement has partnered with a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Sonic Technologies Solutions Inc. to build a heavy oil upgrader on its land.
The upgrader is tiny and unproven commercially, and the community does not yet have access to a raw supply, or even know whether it will make money off the deal.
But among Alberta's Métis, there is hope that this experiment will provide a new template for using industry to finance a broad slate of infrastructure needs..........Métis pin big hopes on tiny Alberta upgrader

posted by Derryl at 1:13 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, June 06, 2009

MMF Wins Round Two Against Cybersmokesignals; Belhumuer Buckles, Pieuk Next ?

The ongoing saga of the now defunct Cybersmokesignals.com and the very costly Cybersmokesignals vs The Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. lawsuit has taken an expected turn. Former website owner Terry Belhumeur, has issued a full and complete apology to the MMF, thereby acknowledging that what his website published was no more than a lot of imagination and a bunch of hogwash. Belhumeur, who was once one of the most vocal opponents of the current MMF leader David Chartrand, even took a parting stab at http://www.cybersmokeblog.blogspot.com/ and its' webmaster Care Pieuk, saying his website was hurtful to all Metis people. Pieuk and Belhumeur were to a certain extent, partners with www.cybersmokesignals.com .
The trial which has cost the Metis countless and as of yet unpublished, thousands of dollars, has been finally scheduled for spring of 2010.
Here is the apology in its' entirety ;
March 17, 2009

Manitoba Metis Federation
150 Henry Ave.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 0J7

Attention David Chartrand, President

Dear President Chartrand ;
Re ; Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. et al vs Terry Belhumeur et al, Queens bench file no ; C1 05-01-41955

I write to you and the board of directors of the MMF in regards to this lawsuit. At all times since its' inception, I have had ownership and control of the website cybersmokesignals.com. Although I did not produce or post the funding petition, I did have the power to erase the post as soon as I seen it. I should have deleted the petition and erased the password to prevent Mr Pieuk from causing you and the board of the MMF any more harm. Furthermore I should have immediately returned all materials I received regardless of the manner of which I received them to their rightful owner which was and is the MMF.
I wish to state that I have no knowledge of any facts nor do I have any evidence that would support the allegations contained in the election funding petition. Without limiting the generality of the previous sentence, I specifically have no knowledge of nor evidence of the following ;
(a) The board illegally authorized campaign spending by you or unlawfully spending public monies.
(b) of large sums of monies intended for appropriate purposes being spent by you on campaigning.
(c) of MMF needlessly spending vast amounts of money for inappropriate travel and accommodation for you and some board members, and,
(d) of unnecessary board travel being authorized for public relations purposes to support you as a candidate.
I retract all allegations contained in the election funding petition. I have also had no contact with Mr Pieuk in the last couple of years other than our meetings in court, nor have had any input into his website which I feel is hurtful to all Metis people.
I wish to apologize to you and the members of the board of directors and the Metis people for any embarrassment, hurt and inconvenience the publication of the election funding petition has caused you.
yours truly,

Terry Belhumeur
more....
Cybersmokesignals.com Litigation
Apology issued to the MMF

posted by Derryl at 2:33 AM 7 Comments

Square Dance Lessons In Calgary


posted by Derryl at 2:06 AM 0 Comments

Metis Vets To Be Honoured In Normandy

A monument to Métis Nation citizens who fought during the two World Wars will be erected at
Canada's Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. The Métis National Council's Minister for Veterans Affairs, David Chartrand, made the announcement today while attending commemoration ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the June 6, 1944 liberation of Europe by Allied Forces during World War II.
"Thousands of Métis Nation citizens bravely and selflessly answered the
call to serve during the World Wars," said Chartrand.
The monument will consist of an exhibit highlighting the history of the
Métis Nation in Canada and a Red River Cart, a widely recognized symbol of the
Métis Nation currently being constructed in the Métis Nation homeland. The Red River Cart will be accompanied by Métis Nation veterans and youth to Juno
Beach in November, where they will take part in its unveiling with a
dedication ceremony during 2009 Remembrance Day events.

posted by Derryl at 1:49 AM 5 Comments

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

New City, New Job, Less Blogging

Well, today is the day MN&S readers.....I'm off to a new life in Calgary.
My last day of work is today. After one-plus challenging years at CanadInns, adios. (more on CanadInns later)
The challenge of learning all about Calgary and Alberta is a very exciting prospect. Then there's the Metis Nation Of Alberta and its' fine above board organization. I have been networking on Metis politics and issues with Alberta members for a couple of years now , so I hope to meet some of you. The Flames are in the playoffs, I have a few gigs and a CD project lined up (thank you Deano) and work looks very good.
On my way out I just want to say thank you and so long to a lot of people who I have met through the blog, Metis politics and music ;
Thank you and see you soon to ;
Russ and Patrick Mousseau, Roddy Chartrand, all of the 60 or so musicians I have hired over the past ten years, most notably Tom and Clint Dutiaume, Casey Donaldson and Arnie (Noopy)Nolin...not only good musicians, but fine people, dust my broom and darcey, see ya soon, many workers at CanadInns Transcona, Lino, Carol, Pat, Cara, Scott and the fine staff at Aaltos and Tavern United, some Chances R fans, Roddy again, Corrine, Lee, Tammy and hundreds at my favorite club, The Westbrook Inn, Robin and Greg Hewitt, The MMF, PRI and Jay White, Yvon Dumont an the Metis Club, my wifes square dancing group.
Last but definately not the least, to all Manitobans who have helped make MN&S the number one web site for Metis News search on google.
There's so many more but I have to do some last minute cramming for the move.
MN & S is on hiatus for a bit.

posted by Derryl at 10:09 AM 1 Comments

Friday, April 10, 2009

New Metis Party In The Province

Looks like a winner of a music festival is being planned for August 28 - 29 - 30 2009 at the beautiful International Peace Garden . Canadian Co-organizer Mr Dan Goodon and American Co-organizer: Mr Gene (chick) LaFromboise have teamed up to create the inaugural METISFEST a festival that will be focused on Metis music and culture. Performers include KRISTA REY , Ryan Keplin , Taylor Dayne Falcon the Winnipeg Metis Infinity Steppers and many others.
Here's a bunch of links to the fest site ;
HOME PAGE
FIND A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER
MESSAGE BOARD , SPONSORS , CONTACT US , PHOTOS & VIDEOS , PERFORMERS , METISFEST SCHEDULE
Great lineup, quality organization and awesome location.

posted by Derryl at 2:28 PM 1 Comments

The New Race......Metipino

The wife and I found out last week that we are going to be grandparents !! My son Kevin and his lady Fatima will bless us with an addition to the Sanderson clan in November. Fatima is of Filipino descent so I am telling all my friends and family that my grandchild will be a Metipino, lol
We're all pretty pumped.

posted by Derryl at 2:03 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Metis Vets Get A Website

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians, and the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced a partnership with the Metis National Council to launch a web site that will allow the Canadian public to gain deeper awareness of the role played by Metis veterans during the First and Second World Wars.
"I am delighted that Metis veterans will finally have a venue through which they can tell their stories of heroism and sacrifice," said Minister Strahl. "This is an important step forward, not just for the veterans and their families, but for all Canadians. These are stories that we all need to hear."
"This project will pay tribute to the dedication and bravery of Metis Veterans who have served our country during wartimes," said Minister Thompson. "Their courage, sacrifices and accomplishments are a source of pride to their families, communities and all Canadians."The web site will provide a virtual library through which Metis veterans will be able to share their photographs, stories, remembrances and the lessons they learned through their war experiences. It will also give Metis veterans information on program and services supports.The Government of Canada is providing approximately $39,000 that will be used to create a content management system that will enable the Metis National Council (MNC) to store and disseminate data and research in real time, and to transmit knowledge to others using electronic data, graphic models, audio and video streaming mediums.
The system will provide the MNC with a compelling and user-friendly tool to advance the interests of Metis Veterans.
This release is also available on the Internet at www.inac.gc.ca
After all these years the Tories pony up with a new flashy website.
Well at least the toothless MNC has 39,000 to work with.

posted by Derryl at 6:51 AM 3 Comments