Saskatchewan Sage

George Lafond has been named the new Commissioner of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for Saskatchewan. “I am delighted that Mr. Lafond has agreed to lead the Commission’s important work to increase public awareness of historic treaties,” said Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan. Lafond recently served on the National Panel for First Nations Primary and…

Truth – telling the truth and learning the truth – is what the upcoming national event for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is about.

“Reconciliation component is the participation from the rest of the community, the non-Aboriginal community, churches, educational institutions, police service, to recognize and acknowledge what occurred and make efforts of reconciliation,” said…

Architect Douglas Cardinal’s design plans for the long-anticipated Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre were recently unveiled by the University of Saskatchewan. Cardinal, who is of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, is a forerunner of philosophies of sustainability, green buildings and ecological design in community planning. His architecture springs from his observations of nature and his…

The Aboriginal Affairs Coalition of Saskatchewan is collecting anecdotal information on racial profiling by both city police forces and the RCMP.

Kim Beaudin, president of AACS, said the decision to collect the data was spurred on by friends and acquaintances constantly telling stories of getting pulled over while driving, including his daughter who was driving his van with some of her…

Shoal Lake Cree Nation is among five Saskatchewan communities to receive grant dollars from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Shoal Lake will use the funding from My Healthy Community grant program for its Foods from the Creator project. “We had an overwhelming response, with over 140 applications for grants,” said Lorie Langenfurth, HSF CEO in a news release. ”Many Saskatchewan communities…

Funding from the federal government will allow the Whitecap Dakota First Nation to research and plan for commemorative activities related to the War of 1812 that will recognize the important part played by the Dakota and other Aboriginal communities. “The War of 1812 was a defining moment in Canada’s history,” said Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota Nation in a news release. “It is often…

Results from a new technical report for potash mining on the Muskowekwan First Nation home reserve and the MFN Treaty Land Entitlement lands are favourable. “We look forward to progressing this project into the first potash mine on First Nations’ land. Clearly this is another significant milestone achievement for Encanto,” said James Walchuck, president and CEO of Encanto in a news release.…

The Regina Board of Police Commissioners has voted to extend the $25,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Tamra Jewel Keepness. Keepness, five years old at the time, was last seen in her home on the 1800 block of Ottawa Street on July 5, 2004. The next day, she was reported missing to police. The reward was first offered a week later on July 13, and has been extended on an…

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner will collaborate with the Aboriginal Students Centre and other interested groups, such as the Department of Native Studies, at the University of Saskatchewan to make a plan to provide education outside the classroom on treaties and the responsibilities that come with them for all people in the province. An agreement signed in March includes measures such…

Aboriginal students pursuing undergraduate and graduate business degrees at the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business can now access increased scholarship, bursary and award funding thanks to a contribution from Scotiabank. The $200,000 donation is the second major gift that Scotiabank has given to Aboriginal students at the U of S and is provided through Scotiabank’s Bright…

Brian Ben, 51, of Loon Lake First Nation, has been named a dangerous offender by Meadow Lake provincial court judge Lorna Dyck. Ben is presently serving a three-year prison term after assaulting an RCMP officer in 2010. The prison term will be followed up by six years of community supervision. Until the Criminal Code was amended in 2008, a dangerous offender designation carried a mandatory…

Poundmaker First Nation Chief Duane Antoine pleaded guilty to one count of theft under $5,000 in a North Battleford courtroom on April 16. Antoine was among nine band members facing a total of 47 charges of theft, fraud and breach of trust relating to the misspending of Treaty Land Entitlement funds back in 2004. Three people also pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $5,000. All are due…

After making it to the final five to be named CBC’s Kraft Hockeyville, Beardy’s and Okemasis Willow Cree First Nation was the first to be eliminated. “Our community came together in a way that I don’t think they expected. I don’t think they understood the magnitude of what Kraft Hockeyville really was and what it could mean for us,” committee member Kevin Seesequasis told the Star Phoenix. The…

Two youths, ages 12 and 15, have been charged with arson, break and enter to commit arson and mischief over $5,000, in the November fire that caused damage to the building that holds the Montreal Lake Cree Nation band office and the Montreal Lake RCMP Community detachment. Damage was limited to three of the band’s administrative offices on the second floor. Before the Waskesiu and Weyakain…

Raymond Sanderson has been elected the new Grand Chief of the Saskatchewan First Nation Veterans Association. “I am honoured to have been elected by my fellow peers,” said Sanderson. “I am committed to working hard for my fellow veterans and widows. In these short few months we will focus our initial efforts on the Grave Marker program and a fund raising initiative for our members.” Born on…