Carter Yellowbird has a lengthy list of accomplishments in various fields, and later this year he’ll add another prestigious accolade. The 46-year-old from Alberta’s Samson Cree First Nation in Hobbema will be recognized in the Lifetime Achievement category at the Dreamcatcher Foundation’s awards night.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 11 in Hamilton, Ont.

Yellowbird, the president of the Canadian Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (CIRCA), is being honoured for his extensive work in the sport.

NHLers on move

A pair of Aboriginal players who are National Hockey League veterans found themselves with new teams on Canada Day. Both Sheldon Souray, who is Metis, and Jordin Tootoo, who is Inuit, signed contracts with new clubs on July 1, the first day free agents could ink new contracts.

Souray, a defenceman, agreed to a three-year deal worth $11 million with the Anaheim Ducks. And Tootoo, a forward, joined the Detroit Red Wings, also on a three-year contract, worth $5.7 million.

The Harper government announced June 29 that it will invest $1.5 million to support programs to battle the prescription drug epidemic in Ontario First Nation communities where it is estimated that 80 per cent of the population on some reserves abuse prescription drugs.

“Addressing prescription drug abuse is important for Health Canada,” said federal spokesperson Gary Holub. “Prescription drug abuse is an area of increasing concern, not just for First Nations, but for the Canadian population generally,” he added.

Bossy Ducharme lost a whopping 80 lbs when he decided to eat a diet made up of primarily traditional fare.
Ducharme feasted daily on berries, wild rice and fish.
One of the surprising things is that the 41-year old didn’t exercise while he was on the diet for more than a year.
Bossy decided to do something about his health after his doctor told him he was obese and headed for a heart attack. That was four years ago. Two years ago, he decided to go to film school, plus planned on documenting his diet.

Nunavut’s Department of Health is advising women of child-bearing age, or who are pregnant or may become pregnant, to avoid ringed seal liver due to its high mercury content.

Representatives from Nunavut’s government, the University of Ottawa, and Nunavut Tunngavik released report results June 28.

The report warns that unborn children can be altered by too much mercury, especially their neurological development.

Former Prime Minister Joe Clark has committed to tell the story of what he has heard at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s regional event in Saskatoon as part of his duties as an honorary witness. And he’s promising that he has access to some of the country’s most influential people, who he intends to speak with about the harm that was inflicted on Indian children within the residential school system.

The Saskatoon Police Service has made changes to their policies that will allow investigations to start more quickly on missing person’s cases, and it may be the first such move from a police service in Canada.

The Police services has also created a waiver form that allows the police to share information with the chief of the First Nation from which the person is missing, said Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill. That way, Weighill says, the chief is aware of the work undertaken by the police force and can reassure family members that an investigation is ongoing.

Online exclusive

Toronto is commemorating the significant contributions of First Nations during the War of 1812 by dedicating Lower Jarvis Street as Warrior’s Way.

City Councillor Pam McConnell unveiled the new sign on Lower Jarvis after addressing a procession of Ontario First Nations, who walked five km to Fort York to remember those warriors who drove the invading Americans back across the border, securing Canada a future.