Initial plans in early January to cull stray dogs who were forming packs and becoming aggressive on the Lac La Ronge Indian Band were called off. Chief Tammy Cook-Searson issued a statement saying the band would work with the La Ronge-based group Northern Animal Rescue to bring the situation under control. A plan is being worked out where an animal control officer will pick up the dogs and turn them over to the rescue group.

The federal government is providing funding to support two new substance abuse treatment programs based out of the University of Saskatchewan. One program is an intervention workshop offered to communities free-of-charge focused on the healing journeys of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women as they were treated for drug abuse. The second program is a province-wide initiative for all Saskatchewan residents, with people invited to share how Aboriginal culture has helped them on their journey healing from addictions.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is concerned about the new Saskatchewan Environmental Code and the review process attached to it which was announced by the Minister of Environment on Jan. 11. “The new Environmental Code will give industry a free pass on assessing the environmental impacts of their own resource development projects. This makes no sense,” said FSIN Vice Chief Bobby Cameron in a news release. The old law required a natural resource developer to get a permit for every aspect of the development.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has begun hosting community hearings leading up to the fourth national event, to take place June 21-24 in Saskatoon. The first hearing was held in Regina at the First Nations University of Canada from Jan. 16-18. Other community hearings took place in Key First Nation (Jan. 20-22) and Prince Albert (Jan. 31-Feb. 2). Hearings will also be held in Pelican Narrows (February 13-14), Stony Rapids (Feb. 16-17), Onion Lake (April 3-5), Fort Qu’Appelle (May 14-15), Buffalo Narrows (May 17-18) and La Ronge (June 5-7).

Alex Maurice of Beauval is the first person to officially challenge incumbent Robert Doucette as head of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan. The two men are the only candidates vying for the position. Doucette took over at the helm of the MNS in 2007. Elections will take place May 30.

English River First Nation has moved on to Step 3 of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s Adaptive Phased Management project, which is the creation, development and construction of a Deep Geologic Repository for the long-term management of spent nuclear waste.

Students took advantage of a one day career fair held Jan. 25 in the atrium of the First Nations University of Canada. Companies and organizations that took part included the police, Canadian military, Shell Canada, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, and the provincial government.

Photo: Roy Pogorzelski

Money woes are looking as if the emergency shelter at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre in North Battleford will be closing soon. The CBC reported the shelter is working on a “shoestring budget of scraped-up cash and donations.” Most nights the multi-purpose room sleeps six or seven on mats. On some nights that number creeps up to 16. The Indian and Métis Friendship Centre has been running the temporary emergency shelter for the past two winters.

Muskowekwan Band membership will be returning to the polls on Feb. 25 to vote on Treaty Land Entitlement designation. If favourable, the action will designate mineral rights to the Crown which in turn would enable Canada to issue a mineral lease to Muskowekwan Resources Ltd.  Muskowekwan Resources, a wholly owned company of the First Nation, holds the mineral rights in trust. In 2010, a joint venture agreement was signed between Encanto Potash Corp.

The HIV rate in Saskatchewan is twice the national average. In 2010, Aboriginal people accounted for 73 per cent (125 cases) of all newly diagnosed HIV cases. There were172 HIV cases  reported.

Dr. Johnmark Opondo, deputy medical health officer for the Saskatoon region, said the social determinants of health greatly influence the high numbers of Aboriginal HIV cases plaguing the province. Factors such as inadequate housing, low-income, poor education, unemployment and no access to social support substantially impact the health of individuals and communities.