The Office of the Treaty Commissioner will collaborate with the Aboriginal Students Centre and other interested groups, such as the Department of Native Studies, at the University of Saskatchewan to make a plan to provide education outside the classroom on treaties and the responsibilities that come with them for all people in the province.

Aboriginal students pursuing undergraduate and graduate business degrees at the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business can now access increased scholarship, bursary and award funding thanks to a contribution from Scotiabank. The $200,000 donation is the second major gift that Scotiabank has given to Aboriginal students at the U of S and is provided through Scotiabank’s Bright Future global philanthropic program.

Brian Ben, 51, of Loon Lake First Nation, has been named a dangerous offender by Meadow Lake provincial court judge Lorna Dyck. Ben is presently serving a three-year prison term after assaulting an RCMP officer in 2010. The prison term will be followed up by six years of community supervision. Until the Criminal Code was amended in 2008, a dangerous offender designation carried a mandatory indeterminate sentence, meaning the offender could be kept behind bars indefinitely for the sake of public safety.

Poundmaker First Nation Chief Duane Antoine pleaded guilty to one count of theft under $5,000 in a North Battleford courtroom on April 16. Antoine was among nine band members facing a total of 47 charges of theft, fraud and breach of trust relating to the misspending of Treaty Land Entitlement funds back in 2004. Three people also pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $5,000. All are due back in court for sentencing in September. Another of the accused, Victoria McMillan, pleaded not guilty to several charges including theft, fraud and criminal breach of trust.

After making it to the final five to be named CBC’s Kraft Hockeyville, Beardy’s and Okemasis Willow Cree First Nation was the first to be eliminated. “Our community came together in a way that I don’t think they expected. I don’t think they understood the magnitude of what Kraft Hockeyville really was and what it could mean for us,” committee member Kevin Seesequasis told the Star Phoenix. The Duck Lake entry was vying for a chance to win $100,000 in arena upgrades and to host an NHL preseason game in September.

Artist—David St. Germain
Song—Come Home
Album—My Country Song
Label—Independent

Two youths, ages 12 and 15, have been charged with arson, break and enter to commit arson and mischief over $5,000, in the November fire that caused damage to the building that holds the Montreal Lake Cree Nation band office and the Montreal Lake RCMP Community detachment. Damage was limited to three of the band’s administrative offices on the second floor. Before the Waskesiu and Weyakain fire departments arrived, RCMP members used fire extinguishers to try and control the fire. As the fire continued to increase, the heat and smoke forced the members out of the area.

Raymond Sanderson has been elected the new Grand Chief of the Saskatchewan First Nation Veterans Association. “I am honoured to have been elected by my fellow peers,” said Sanderson. “I am committed to working hard for my fellow veterans and widows. In these short few months we will focus our initial efforts on the Grave Marker program and a fund raising initiative for our members.” Born on the James Smith Cree Nation, Sanderson entered residential school at the age of seven, where he spent the next 11 years.

Inez J. Cardinal, Q.C. has been appointed a judge of the Provincial Court in Melfort. Cardinal will work temporarily in Meadow Lake until November 2012 and will then be based permanently in Melfort.