The northern Village of Pinehouse and Kineepik Metis Local Inc. have signed a collaboration agreement with Cameco, Areva Resources Canada Inc. to guide future co-operation and sharing of benefits from uranium mining operations. The agreement builds on 25 years of co-operation between the community of about 1,000 people and the uranium mining industry and sets out specific commitments by the mining companies with respect to workforce development, business development, community engagement, environmental stewardship and community investment.

READ Saskatoon is one of 12 organizations to recently receive funding from the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund. “Eighty per cent of the clients at READ Saskatoon are employed with most earning a low income,” said Sheryl Harrow, Executive Director, READ Saskatoon.

Both Chiefs helped to lay the ground work but when it came time to meet with the Prime Minister, only one went.

“I’ve always dared to be different from other Chiefs,” said Chief Marcel Head, of Shoal Lake Cree Nation. “I saw this as an opportunity … and we had a mandate from the people to seek ways to get the government to engage in a dialogue to start implementing treaties.”

Newly-released documents show that a Saskatchewan optometrist’s billings to the Non-Insured Health Benefits program raised concerns for Health Canada. The March 2012 report describes the apparent difficulties that Health Canada staff experienced when they tried to look deeper into allegations about the unidentified optometrist’s billings. The report makes recommendations for Health Canada’s regional staff who work on the NIHB program. Health Canada has come up with a plan to address the issue of apparent shortcomings among NIHB staff in the province although no details have been released.

The Saskatoon Police Service’s Professional Standards Division are investigating a complaint that on Jan. 21, Drayton Bull, 19, was picked up by police, dropped off on the outskirts of the city, and forced to walk in below -30 C. When he arrived at his father’s home, he was taken to hospital and treated for a concussion. In a news release, the SPS said that an initial investigation has shown that no SPS patrol units were outside the Saskatoon city limits within the time frame alleged. All police cars are equipped with GPS.

Calgary was recognized as the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2012, embracing its Aboriginal cultural along with the rest of its diversity. The Calgary Stampede which celebrated its centenary also embraced its First Nation involvement.

Aboriginal artwork to brighten up street

Court continues as important forum
Over the years, First Nations have been no strangers to the legal system and that familiarity continued in 2012. There were some victories but there were also some losses.

First time hosts, medal-winners among sporting highlights

Aboriginal athletes experienced a successful 2012. In the highlights, are two boxers on the extreme ends of their careers. Fifteen-year-old Dakota Belcourt began his career with a silver medal in his first-ever provincial competition, while Wayne Bourque, who experienced boxing success in the 1970s and ’80s, was recently inducted into the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Economic development undertaken
The 2012 Alberta Official Statistics indicate that the
gap in employment rates between non-Aboriginals and off-reserve Aboriginals has increased from a five percentage point difference in 2007 to a 9.8 percentage point difference in 2011.†A number of First Nations undertook development or
entered into agreements to help with employment on-reserve. However, the year began with a significant blow to economic independence for First Nations and continued throughout 2012 with severe budget cuts by the federal government.