Blaine Favel was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan at the Spring Convocation Ceremony. “We are proud of our former leader who continues to work for the betterment of First Nations people,” said interim Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Vice Chief Morley Watson in a news release. “Anytime one of our First Nation citizens receives a distinction of this kind, it is a celebration for all of our people.” Favel graduated with a law degree from Queens University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

The graduation ceremony for 32 new graduates of the RCMP’s 2012 Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Training Program took place on June 1 at RCMP Academy (Depot) Regina. The APTP offers Canadian Aboriginals aged 19 – 29 the opportunity to experience daily police work with the RCMP. Training includes collaborative problem-solving skills, law enforcement techniques, public speaking and cultural diversity. After successful completion of the course, candidates are posted to an RCMP detachment in or near their home community where they work with police officers for 14 weeks.

A group of members of the Poundmaker Cree First Nation are considering their next steps in having their chief removed and the latest election declared invalid.

In the May 18 election, two of the three men who pleaded guilty to charges of fraud were re-elected to their current positions. Chief Duane Antoine defeated three other candidates, his closest opponent by 74 votes, while Colin Favel retained his seat on the four-member council. A third man, Councillor Bryan Tootoosis was defeated. Twenty-four people sought positions as councillors.

The Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations have filed a statement of claim accusing the provincial and federal governments of not honouring a policing agreement.
“This is an action of breach of contract,” said FSIN Vice Chief Bobby Cameron, in charge of the justice portfolio for FSIN. Cameron said all the numbered treaties in Saskatchewan refer to policing and the Crown is obligated to undertake its duty.

By Dec. 1, Lac La Ronge’s Indian Child and Family Services will be assuming responsibility for welfare services for First Nation families living off-reserve in the surrounding area.

“This is probably one of the most historically significant developments in child welfare in Saskatchewan,” said Dexter Kinequon, executive director with ICFS.

Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation (right) with the United Nation’s Dr. Noureddine Amir, vice chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, at the Treaty No. 6 Summit. Over 500 people were in attendance to take part in the historic Treaty No.6 embassy sod turning at Onion Lake.

A MASSIVE ROCK COVERED IN ABORIGINAL CARVINGS has been repatriated to BC’s interior after it was removed from the area in the early 1900s to Stanley Park. The petroglyphs on the rock are said to predate the arrival of Europeans in B.C. Most recently the rock has resided at the Museum of Vancouver. The five-ton boulder is now home near Crow’s Bar on the shores of the Fraser River, thanks to a collaboration between the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (formerly Canoe Creek Indian Band), the museum and a team of UBC anthropologists.

DOIG RIVER FIRST NATION,

THE TLA’AMIN (SLIAMMON) NATION’S