Saskatchewan Sage

An old light green truck drives along a dirt road on the Saskatchewan prairies, as a narrator – a young Native girl – describes her conflicted relationship with her mother.

This was the opening scene of ‘Run’, a film telling the story of a young Native teen called Ashley Littletent, who spends the summer with her grandparents while her lawyer mother takes a trip to Chicago.

The…

A man from Pinehouse Lake is hoping to break the cycle of pain that has come from his father’s time in residential schools by learning to forgive. It’s a long journey, but one he is determined to complete one step at a time.

Dale Smith, 42, began walking from Pinehouse Lake in northern Saskatchewan on March 23 in order to begin what he referred to as his personal journey to forgiveness…

A bit of history was made early on at this year’s Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games.
This year’s Games ran March 5-10 in Saskatoon, attracting approximately 3,500 athletes from across the province.                                                 
                                                                                                                          Mark…

On a fairly cold and windy evening in Saskatoon on May 3, a few people took the time to gather in a soccer field for a worthy cause: to remember Aboriginal women who have gone missing and murdered and to talk about ways to stop the senseless violence that perpetuates such acts.

“Violence against women is unacceptable… It’s unaccept-able, it destroys families,” said Sue Martin of Ontario…

A giant wall mural painted by nine young artists from Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming (SCYAP) Inc. was unveiled on the north inside wall of the Saskatoon Food Bank on April 30.

The mural, 22 feet high x 39 feet wide, features a scene of an urban wall and windows dissolving into a beautiful outdoor scene.  Conceived in partnership with the Food Bank, the artwork is a community…

More funds for resource and energy program

First Nations and Métis communities in the province can expect to be more ‘business ready’ in the next three years as the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is expanding resource and energy program with a $3.7 million boost in funds.

Minister of INAC, Chuck Strahl, stated in an April press release that the…

It’s official, the Saskatoon campus of the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) will close its doors at the end of August this year and issue faculty and staff layoffs at all three campuses.

FNUC President Shauneen Pete made the announcement on May 3 to a roomful of students, staff, and faculty gathered at the Saskatoon campus and others listening via videoconference from the…

It has been nine years since he first stepped onto the ice and discovered this would be his passion.

Fourteen-year-old Wynter Cyr of the Pasqua First Nation will travel to Prague in the Czech Republic during the month of April 2010. He will play hockey for Team Western Canada Selects for the second year in a row.
In 2009, Cyr played for the same team, bringing home the gold medal…

Michael Linklater had his share of homes on both sides of the border during his collegiate basketball days.
The 27-year-old Cree guard, however, managed to conclude his career on a rather upbeat note, winning a national championship.

Linklater helped the University of Saskatchewan Huskies win the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’sbasketball title. The Huskies defeated the…

Sylvia McAdam was surprised but pleased to be using her law degree to write a book for the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) on protocol and tradition.

“We shouldn’t be surprised but it’s selling very well – over 1,000 copies have been sold since its release,” said McAdam in an interview with Sage, adding that they’ve run out of the first press run and had to re-order more…

The memory of one of Saskatchewan’s most well known visual artists is being kept alive through an online exhibition.

The hope is that his talent will be shared with younger generations.

‘Bob Boyer: His Life’s Work’ is a virtual museum that was launched on March 5 by the MacKenzie Art Gallery and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

“He is a very influential artist,” said…

As Alanis Morissette would say: Isn’t it ironic!

On March 26th, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation rolled out the red carpet for 14 outstanding individuals less than a mile down the road from the First Nations University of Canada in Regina, where the academic institution is in danger of having the rug pulled out from underneath it by the federal government.
The topic…

Darcie Arkinson wanted to make sure he was at the powwow with his family, especially since it’s not every day he does what other members of his family do and celebrate Aboriginal culture.

Arkinson took turns with cousins from across the province dancing with other First Nations people at the Brandt Centre during the recent First Nations University of Canada’s Powwow.

“Being a…

There is a clear importance in knowing and understanding one’s family history.

Just ask Lawrence Arnault, author of ‘Cyprien Morin and his Descendants’.

“Understanding Aboriginal family history is important for retaining the culture and knowing where you came from,” said Arnault, who is extremely passionate about his family history and about Métis genealogy in general.

In…

One Saskatchewan mother of two is learning that First Nations’ right to an education is valid, but not very flexible for making exceptions.

Miranda Moore of Kinistin Saulteaux Nation has been fighting to admit her two children into elementary and secondary school off her reserve, but with every step she takes her request is denied.

Moore made the decision to move back to her home…