Soon after the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations(FSIN) chief elections in November, Chief Guy Lonechild announced the new portfolio assignments of the
Executive Chiefs.
"I believe we have a team that will make significant strides towards implementing Treaty and Inherent Rights that will ultimately lead to a brighter future for First Nations," stated Chief Lonechild.
"The Executive will focus on providing a voice for these groups ushering in a new era of leadership and unity... We want to improve the lives of our First Nation people by working together as a team."

A November press release from the Native Women's Association of Canada(NWAC)
says the organization is concerned with the persistent and unacceptable response
of the state and justice system when it comes to Aboriginal peoples, especially
Aboriginal women.
It pointed to an independent report recently released by the Office of the Correctional Investigator. The report confirms the unacceptable situation of Aboriginal offenders under federal sentence in Canada and details the significant gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders on nearly every indicator.

Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, has accepted an offer to join the Board of Directors for One Earth Farms Corp., the organization with plans to become the largest farm in Canada through partnerships with First Nations.
"I am excited to be part of a unique and
transformative company," Fontaine stated in a press release. "(To) help move
First Nations directly into the farming industry and create new training,
employment and business opportunities."
One Earth Farms is a wholly-owned

Onion Lake Energy has made the short list as one of the companies that Chinese Petroleum Corp. is considering for oil and gas work to be done on First Nations' land in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
"I don't think any other First Nation has ever been able to (connect with) that high a level of senior government officials in Taiwan," said Onion Lake Chief Wallace Fox.
Fox and three other band officials left Canada on November 15 to make the six-day trip to Taiwan. The meeting and presentation to the Chinese crown corporation was a

Premier Alison Redford is pleased that TransCanada will be reapplying for a Presidential Permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and will begin work on the pipeline’s southern leg, known as the Gulf Coast Project. “Our government recognizes that the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline is a U.S. decision. I remain optimistic that this project will be evaluated on its merits and that the discussions surrounding it will be guided by science and fact,” said Redford in a prepared statement.

Steve Hrudey, the lead author of a Royal Society of Canada report about oilsands development in Alberta, has agreed to review the study following criticism it was plagued with errors and overlooked environmental and health impacts of the industry’s operations. The study was released in December 2010 and has been used by industry and government officials to refute health and cancer concerns noted by First Nations communities living downstream of oilsands development.

Negotiations have moved ahead with Brewster Travel Canada’s proposal for a Glacier Discovery Walk project on the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. “The Glacier Discovery Walk represents an innovative and accessible way for visitors of all ages and abilities to have a state-of the-art experience, ‘a view from the edge’ of the landscape,” said Environment Minister Peter Kent, in a news release.

Marion Brass-Yellowfly, CAFM, Chief Financial Officer, Siksika First Nation is one of two recipients of the 2012 Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada/Xerox Excellence in Aboriginal Leadership Awards. Brass-Yellowfly received the award in the community/regional category for her years of dedication and leadership in finance.

Regulatory approvals received for oil work on Alexander First Nation Sundance Energy Corporation and Canadian Quantum Energy Corporation have received all regulatory approvals for both the drilling of the Sundance Alexander 16-11-56-27 W4M test well and for the shooting of a 3D seismic survey over a portion of the corporations’ Alexander First Nations permit. The 16-11 Well will evaluate the hydrocarbon potential in the Ellerslie, Detrital and Wabamun formations. Drilling operations are anticipated to take approximately one week to complete.

A report released in January shows favourable results for the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division. Dropout rates are low and there is a high number of Aboriginal students graduating from high school within the standard three years from Grades 10 to 12. Among First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, 51 percent graduated from high school within three years, which is more than 10 percent higher than the provincial average.