Long-time politician and former federal Liberal interim leader Bob Rae will negotiate on behalf of Matawa First Nations in developing the Ring of Fire mining belt in Ontario, ensuring an influential voice for full participation in economic activity in the region. Rae will tour nine Matawa Tribal Council communities to meet with community members. “There have been issues in the past about decisions that have been made without fully consulting with First Nations.

A defending champion managed to retain its title on home ice at this year’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).
For the second consecutive year the Quebec-based squad called Eastern Door and the North (EDN) captured the girls’ title at the nationals, which concluded on May 4 in Kahnawake, Que.

EDN edged Saskatchewan 4-3 in the gold-medal game.

The British Columbia boys’ club made a bit of history as it captured the gold medal in its division. B.C. defeated Ontario 5-3 in its championship match.

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…” Henry, a social activist from Prince Albert, is the coordinator for Homes for the Homeless, a project that helps assist families and individuals in Prince Albert to find a home.

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 Reserve lands in northern Saskatchewan.

The Advocate for Children and Youth 2012 annual report emphasizes the need for greater inclusion of First Nations in designing, implementing and monitoring the new child welfare system. “We share the concerns of the Advocate for Children and Youth as raised in their recent annual report; particularly, that we must collectively do better for First Nations children and youth in Saskatchewan as well as for all children and youth in this province,” said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice Chief Dutch Lerat in a news release.

The best in First Nations and Métis writing and publishing were celebrated at the Saskatchewan Book Awards ceremony in April. The Rasmussen and Charowsky Aboriginal Peoples’ Writing Award went to Regina’s Blair Stonechild for his biography, Buffy Saint-Marie: It’s My Way. Luther and University of Regina Arts Award for Scholarly Writing went to Reconciling Sovereignties: Aboriginal Nations and Canada by Felix Hoehn (Saskatoon), Native Law Centre. The province’s literary talent was celebrated at the 20th annual Saskatchewan Book Awards.

Blaine Favel, the president of One Earth Oil and Gas and a former chief of the Poundmaker Cree Nation, has been appointed chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. Favel is an alumnus who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the university last year. He is a lawyer and former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations who holds a masters of business administration from Harvard.

(Back row from left) Donna Desnomie (Director of Post Secondary and Higher Learning -Peepeekisis Cree Nation), Richard Ironquil (Headman - Peepeekisis Cree Nation), Ed Hourd (Business and Training Representative - Parkland College); (front row) Michael Cameron (Director of Training and Business Development - Parkland College), Mike Koochicum (Chief - Peepeekisis Cree Nation), Frank Dieter (Headman - Peepeekisis First Nation).