Elder Betty McKenna, from the Anishnabae Nation, Shoal River Band, is the recipient of the 2012 Saskatchewan Health Excellence Award in the “Health of a Population” category. She was nominated by Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre researchers Dr. Carrie Bourassa and Dr. Mary Hampton for her involvement in numerous health projects and her commitment to promoting health, wellness and culture in the Aboriginal community. “Elder Betty is one of the most amazing individuals in our community,” said Bourassa, in a news release.

It’s with a good feeling that the Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games wrapped up on April 13.

“Even if we do it again next year, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to surpass our standards. We’re really satisfied with what we left. If someone else can meet that level and pass it, do whatever they need. I believe we’re really happy with what we left as a legacy,” said Neil Sasakamoose, executive director with Battlefords Agency Tribal Council.

Low membership numbers and no on-reserve businesses have made it possible for the Nekaneet First Nation to collect GST on business conducted on its land.

In the next month, chief and council will pass the necessary bylaw and by July or August, GST remitted to Ottawa will be back in the hands of the First Nation.
“It’s more income for the band … and it will allow us to reinvest in our economic development opportunities,” said Chief Jordi Fourhorns.

It all begins with “one good idea.”

CBC Saskatchewan producer Merelda Fiddler is referring to the Boom Box, but she could just as easily be talking about the three winning entries for CBC’s inaugural competition for Aboriginal entrepreneurs.

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Rank Comix by Adam Martin
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Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan will introduce its own Goods and Services Tax where the collected revenues will go back to the band instead of Ottawa. The initiative falls under the First Nations Goods and Services Act. Three years ago, Whitecap Dakota First Nation was the first to introduce such a tax in Saskatchewan. Nekaneet hopes to make up to $20,000 a month from the tax which it will use towards economic development.

The Yinka Dene Alliance, a group of British Columbia First Nations that has used its laws to ban the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines and tankers in their territories, announced April 24 that it will embark on a “Freedom Train” journey beginning April 30. The goal is to protect their rights and their freedom from the threat of oil spills. The journey starts at Jasper in Alberta and ends May 9 in Toronto where Enbridge’s corporate leaders will be attending an annual shareholders meeting.

The Assembly of First Nations was compelled to layoff staff when Health Canada reduced funding to the organization by 40 per cent. The layoffs, said the AFN, will impact “its supportive and facilitative role in informing the development of health policies and programs for First Nations.” Health Canada was asked to make $200.6 million in cuts over three years as part of the federal budget’s review of departmental spending.

The UBC Graduate School of Journalism project provides an in-depth look at efforts by Aboriginal communities to address such major health and social issues as suicide, sexual abuse, diabetes and the survival of traditional languages. The series of original news stories can be seen at www.indigenousreporting.com and was created by students in UBC’s inaugural Reporting in Indigenous Communities class.

Wayne Pamajewon is unhappy right now with his community’s custom election and Elders tribunal processes.