Putting aside differences and working together were the messages delivered by the interim Chief, outgoing Chief and new Chief for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
Before voting on Oct. 25, Bobby Cameron, who serves as Second Vice Chief but took over as Interim Chief during the election period, was adamant about coming together.

The attitude of Saskatchewan residents has changed little in the past decade toward Aboriginal issues.

“When it comes to Aboriginal issues, I would suggest that views and opinions have not changed much….It’s not shocking but certainly a bit disheartening,” said Jason Disano, director with Social Sciences Research Laboratories with the University of Saskatchewan.

Jim Sinclair made significant contributions to the Métis cause.

On Nov. 1, after five years, Steven Point ended his posting as B.C.’s 28th lieutenant-governor. Point is a former Skowkale First Nations chief, provincial court judge and chief treaty commissioner. He was the first Aboriginal person appointed to represent the Queen in the province. “He brought dignity, humility and no small measure of humour to this prestigious appointment,” said Premier Christy Clark. Said Point “I feel like Dorothy at the end of the Wizard of Oz.

The Government of British Columbia has publically expressed its regret to the family of a Hesquiaht man who was hanged on a Vancouver Island beach in front of his relatives 150 years ago. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ida Chong joined the Hesquiaht Nation in a reconciliation feast on Nov. 17 after offering the words of regret, and band members forgave the government for its actions in 1869. John Anietsachist and a man named Katkinna were accused of murdering two people who had been shipwrecked on the island. The men were hanged after faulty translations of testimony.

The JUMBO Ski Project has been given the thumbs up

In Skidegate on Nov. 15, the Government of Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation via the Archipelago Management Board unveiled designs for the first monumental pole to be raised in the remote protected area of Gwaii Haanas in over 130 years. The pole will be carved by Jaalen Edenshaw and his apprentice Tyler York at the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate throughout the year.

Successful First Nation entrepreneurs and corporate leaders were publically recognized for their steadfast achievements in the world of business and celebrated at the Fourth Annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards in Vancouver Nov. 26.

The Tk’lemlups Indian Band in Kamloops vows to continue the fight for a pedestrian walkway alongside a railway bridge on their land, despite rejection of the proposal by owners Canadian National Railway.

For the last decade, said Tk’lemlup band Chief Shane Gottfriedson, his community has been pleading with CN Rail to build the walkway on the rail bridge that crosses the Thompson River and connects his community to the adjacent Riverside Park.
“It’s always been the number one item on our [band] agenda,” Gottfriedson said.

The Kaska Nation says it will shut down all mining exploration in their traditional territories, with a planned blockade of the North Canol road to mining activity. It says the move is the direct response to proposed amendments to the Oil and Gas Act that would erase the Kaska’s veto rights over developments in southeast Yukon. The Ross River Dena Council and the Liard First Nation said they are also considering blocking mining activity on their traditional territory.