Saskatchewan Sage

The new University of Regina Press released its first book in June, Clearing the Plains. The book, by James Daschuk, examines Canadian history and the policy of starvation implemented by Prime Minister John A. MacDonald to clear the Plains in order to push the railroad through. Aboriginal people were denied food or given diseased animals and rotten meat. Thousands died. In the end the railway…

The Pink Lake Representative Area Ecological Reserve, located north of La Ronge, is now official. Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff made the announcement on July 3. It is the largest eco-reserve of its kind in the province. Compared to all protected lands, only Prince Albert National Park is larger at 3,874 square kilometres. No commercial or industrial developments, such as forestry and…

Pasqua First Nation members will soon get the opportunity to vote on a proposed $20 million settlement agreement. The one-time payout of $20,622,278.00 is compensation for past, present and future damages caused by the unauthorized flooding of the reserve lands and a structure to provide for water management levels in the future. It also provides for an addition to reserve component to…

Irene Oakes and family with Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde at a ground breaking ceremony for construction of the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre.

Construction began June 24 on the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre on the University of Saskatchewan campus. The centre, designed by world-renowned architect Douglas Cardinal, will be an inclusive…

A white Beefalo has been added to the Bison Exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo. The announcement was made by Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette, Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison, White Buffalo Youth Lodge Executive Director Heidi Gravelle, and Office of the Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan Commissioner George E.…

The University of Regina’s President’s Medal was awarded to Jenel Markwart at the spring convocation. Markwart graduated with a Bachelor of Education – Elementary through the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program with Great Distinction. Markwart also received an overall evaluation of outstanding on her elementary education internship placement. The SUNTEP program…

The Lloyd Barber Summit on Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education was held for two days in May at the University of Regina and looked at best practices. “This conference is important because it will help educators and leaders explore ways to narrow the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal educational attainment,” said U of R President Vianne Timmons in a news release. Topics…

Cameco Corp. and Areva Resources Canada Inc. have reached a $600-million deal with English River First Nation that supports their mining operations and drops a lawsuit over land near the proposed Millennium project. Most of the money is to flow to the First Nation over 10 years through contracts with band-owned businesses and wages to band members, who are expected to work at the…

Lac la Ronge First Nation is concerned over the creation of Great Blue Heron Park, a new provincial park. The park is in the Anglin and Emma lake area and is  expected to begin operating this summer. Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says her people are concerned about potential losses to traditional land and access to ceremonial sites, such as burial grounds. She says they were initially told…

First Potash Ventures, a partnership between Encanto Potash and Muskowekwan Resources, is working toward developing the mine on the Muskowekan First Nation’s reserve. Encanto said its latest round of three-dimensional seismic exploration had resulted in an overall resource comprising of proven, probable, measured and indicated categories that would support a  potential life-of-mine of…

On June 5 during the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations assembly, chiefs and other delegates voted 42-2 to reject the ruling of an appeals body that declared last year’s election of Vice-Chief Kimberly Jonathan was flawed. The independent appeals tribunal found, in an April 16 decision, that Chief Electoral Officer Loretta Pete Lambert breached her duties and was in a conflict…

Members from Sakimay First Nation and the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council were among those to tour Parkland College’s new and improved Emergency Services Training Site in May. “We wanted to showcase what level of training we offer, and I think we opened some eyes,” said Shelley Cherney, Parkland College’s Coordinator of Emergency Services, in a news release. “This is the only full-time…

Though the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women’s Circle Corporation was part of the seven years of talks that went into Bill S-2, the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, the group isn’t sure the new law will accomplish what it sets out to do. That’s because their input didn’t much make it into the Bill, said Judy Hughes, president of the SAWCC. The act provides rules…

Filles de Madeleine Association Inc. (Métis Women of Saskatchewan) have elected Janice Henry as the new president. Having a new executive brings a renewed sense of purpose to our organization,” said May Henderson, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Provincial Secretary, in a news release. “We look forward to moving ahead with issues of importance to Saskatchewan’s Métis women under a new executive…”…

Black Lake First Nation and Saskatchewan Power Corporation are proposing the construction and operation of a 42 to 50 megawatt water diversion-type electrical generating station at Elizabeth Falls. The proposed project, formerly known as the Elizabeth Falls Hydroelectric Project, would be located adjacent to the Fond du Lac River between Black Lake and Middle Lake, on Black Lake First Nation…