The University Library recently completed a project in which they digitized 631 issues of the Kainai News (1968-1991) newspaper, now available from the U of L Library's Southern Alberta Newspapers digital collection (www.uleth.ca/lib/digitized_Collections/sanews.asp).

The Kainai News was one of Canada's first aboriginal newspapers, and it was instrumental in the establishment of aboriginal journalism in Canada. Originally published in Standoff, Alta. from 1968-1991 by the Blood Indian Tribe, it was later published by Indian News Media.

Content of the Kainai News focused on a range of local issues within the reserve, as well as national issues such as the Indian Act, the Whitepaper and Bill C-31 . Prior to the digitization of Kainai News, access to its content was restricted to microfilmed copies held at the University of Lethbridge Library and the Lethbridge Public Library.

The digitized version of the Kainai News provides free access to this valuable local resource to anyone with an Internet connection. Content can be browsed by date, searched by keyword, printed or saved.

Through these initiatives, the U of L library is helping to both preserve and improve access to southern Alberta's aboriginal history, as well as strengthening our relationship with the Blackfoot people.