A look back at the year that was 2011

A residency bylaw recently passed by Samson Cree membership gives chief and council a say on who moves on to the First Nation as well as who can remain as residents.

On Jan. 4, 479 people voted in favour of the By-Law Governing the Residency of Members and Other Persons on the Samson Cree Nation Reserve, while 370 cast ballots against the bylaw. Approximately 2,500 people were eligible to vote.

Hubert Cory Acoose, 38, of Cowessess First Nation, was charged after a close to seven-hour standoff with RCMP. Broadview RCMP deployed an Emergency Response Team and secured a perimeter around a residence on Cowessess First Nation on Nov. 27 after receiving information in the early morning hours that an armed man was holed up. That call followed an incident involving Acoose who had crashed his truck near the local golf course and was reported to be distraught and carrying a firearm.

Dominic Chase Ahenakew, 19, Carl Anthony Albert, 21, and Kimmy Randall Bear, 24, all from Ahtahkakoop First Nation, were arrested in the deaths of William Ahenakew and Trez Sparvier. All were charged with two counts of second degree murder and Albert and Bear were also charged with the attempted murder of a four-year-old girl who was pulled from the fire by a witness. On Nov. 21, Shellbrook RCMP responded to a complaint of two injured males in a residence on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation. The residence was engulfed in flames when the RCMP arrived.

Fishing Lake First Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, the Key First Nation and Yellowquill First Nation have joined with Saturn Minerals Inc. to form Inowending Exploration & Development Corp. Inowending is a private company based in Saskatoon and will pursue the economic development of various natural resource exploration and development projects that display commercial promise. Saturn has agreed to provide initial financial and management support to foster and incubate Inowending for up to two years in exchange for a strategic ownership stake in the new company.

A new company has been formed to provide a solution to clients seeking the participation of the First Nations population. Points Athabasca FHQ was formed through the partnership of  File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council LP, Graham Business Trust and Points Athabasca Contracting LP. Points Athabasca FHQ will provide a sustainable role for First Nations in business development, gradually replacing the aging workforce and promoting community growth.