A bit of hockey history was made in Saskatoon at an Aboriginal Hockey Showcase held at the TCU Place just a week before Christmas.
The six-day event was part of the BHP Billiton Family Hockey Fest, which was staged to promote the world junior hockey championships, which ran Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Saskatoon and Regina.

An acclaimed Saskatchewan artist known for his contemporary sculptures is garnering a lot of attention for incorporating one of the most renowned items, a Coca-Cola bottle, into one of his newest pieces.
Lionel Peyachew has been named the winner of the Coca-Cola Aboriginal Art Bottle Program that aims to showcase the art of Canada's First People during the 2010 Winter Olympics taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Cree Land Mini-Mart operating on Regina's urban reserve land and owned by Piapot First Nation has opened its doors to a new SaskTel store kiosk.
The SaskTel kiosk store is now operating in the Cree Land Mini-Mart location as part of a three month trial, which is scheduled to end January 31st, 2010.
"It is difficult to know exact numbers of First Nations people that have accessed mobile services at the new kiosk," said Tracey Lang, Manager of Consumer Sales.

Every week one family in Canada suffers the loss of a loved one. Sometimes it is an infant who has touched their lives only briefly and who is suddenly taken in a way that cannot be explained nor prevented. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death happens when an apparently healthy infant dies without warning in his or her sleep, affecting all family members
deeply.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild says it is time to get serious about forcing the federal government to recognize the treaty rights of Canada's First Nations people.
Lonechild spoke to one of the main
discussion topics of treaty rights at the 2009 Assembly First Nations (AFN)
Special Chiefs Assembly at Ottawa's Westin Hotel in December.

When a First Nations person files a claim through the Independent Assessment
Process (IAP) for abuse incurred at an Indian residential school, there is much
at stake for the person both mentally and emotionally.
First the person must recall every memory of pain inflicted upon him or her, while filling out a form.
After it is complete, the person has divulged all the horrid details of early childhood in residential school.
The person must then wait until he or she

First Nations people are falling through the cracks in the healthcare system and being denied proper care, and according to FSIN Vice Chief Dutch Lerat, a Health Advocacy Office will ensure better treatment.
The death of a 5-month-old baby boy in a Saskatchewan hospital in April 2009 brings about the concerns of FSIN Chiefs. However, it was after the coroner's report was released in December that Chief Lerat responded to what he sees are the inadequacies of the healthcare system.

Approximately $1 million dollars is expected to help build the economies of four organizations in northern Saskatchewan, with the funds coming from the Community Development Trust Fund.
The four recipients of the funds are the Peter Ballentyne First Nation, Flying Dust First Nation, Sakitawak Development
Coorporation, and the town of Nipawin.
"We're offering support to these communities so that they can diversify their economies and create jobs and economic growth," said Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff. "Saskatchewan

The Olympic 2010 flame arrived at a Saskatoon celebration on January 11 in the hands of an Aboriginal athlete, fire burning strong on its slim white torch as
it was brought to briefly rest atop a cauldron-pedestal.
Métis athlete, Jacqueline Lavallee, carried the flame to the Saskatoon stage amidst the cheers of a crowd. Pride was evident on her face as she transferred the flame from the torch to the cauldron and wiped away a tear. It was a proud moment obviously for her, as it was for the people watching.
"Our community is amazing with all

A pair of Aboriginal teenagers who attended the same high school in Saskatchewan have been selected as torchbearers for the ongoing Olympic torch
relay.
Cresida Mason and Edward Cook, both Cree, are among the 12,000 Canadians who will be helping to carry the flame across the country in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The torch relay will cover about 45,000 kilometres and will travel to more than 1,000 communities from coast-to-coast.