Charlie Mayo has been growing his hair long since the day he was born. “It’s important because our ancestors had long hair,” said Mayo, who is Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Kahnawake, south of Montreal. The 10-year-old boy is among three dozen in his community photographed for a campaign to celebrate boys with braids. “It was really … Read more
JAMES SMITH CREE NATION, Saskatchewan—On a recent day in this small community on the Canadian prairie, people gathered in the school gym listening to traditional indigenous drums and mournful music at back-to-back funerals. Outside, people huddled in groups, crying and smoking. It has been two weeks since this territory of 2,000 people became the scene … Read more
They were neighbors, friends and family, mothers, aunts and uncles, as old as 78 and as young as 23. Elders who had so much to share and young people just beginning their life’s journey. All but one are from the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, victims of one of the largest mass killings … Read more
GENEVA (8 January 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, urged the Government of Canada and Aboriginal leaders to undertake meaningful dialogue in light of First Nations protests and a month-long hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation. “I am encouraged by reports … Read more