MINISTER ABBOTT CELEBRATES NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY WITH OLYMPIC MASCOTS
June 21, 2009 – Minister Abbott with master carver Carey Newman, members of the Spirit Pole team and Olympic Mascots Quatchi, Sumi and Miga around the Cowichan Spirit Pole in Duncan to celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
News
YES VOTE RIGHTS HISTORIC WRONG FOR FIRST NATION
VICTORIA – Tsay Keh Dene First Nation in northern B.C. has voted yes to a final agreement with the Province and BC Hydro over the development of the Williston Reservoir and W.A.C. Bennett Dam, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister George Abbott announced.

MAA-NULTH TREATY RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT
On June 18, the federal government gave royal assent to the Maa-nulth First Nations treaty. This was the last step in what has been a long journey towards a final agreement for the five First Nations negotiating as part of the Maa-nulth treaty: the Uchucklesaht Tribe, Ucluelet First Nation, Ka:'yu:'k't'h'-Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nations, Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the Toquaht Nation.

HISTORIC AGREEMENT HELPS ABORIGINAL STUDENTS SUCCEED
VANCOUVER – Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, the Vancouver Board of Education and local Aboriginal communities signed B.C.’s 45th Aboriginal education enhancement agreement, agreeing to improve student success and provide Aboriginal students in Vancouver with more Aboriginal culture and history in the classroom.

PHO REPORTS ON HEALTH & WELL-BEING OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, released his report on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people in British Columbia.

NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY:
National Aboriginal Day, June 21, is an important opportunity for all Canadians to take stock of not only how far we have come as a country, but also to think about how B.C.'s New Relationship with First Nations will be viewed by the rest of the world.








