The University of Saskatchewan has partnered with a Saskatoon-based Aboriginal organization to seek solutions and draw a link to child welfare and gang violence in the province.

U of S Native Studies Métis researcher Dr. Caroline Tait has joined forces with Str8 Up, an innovative program run through the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, which helps people leave the gang life.

When the grade four and five students at Muskowekwan Elementary School participated in the Wiseman mathematics contest last year, they had no idea that one of their own would win first place. Deja Roper, now in grade six at the 170-student school, placed at the top amongst 869 students from 30 learning institutions across Canada. The Saulteaux Muskowekwan First Nation is located near Melfort, a one and a half hour drive from Regina.

The New Democratic Party still stands behind its policy of resource revenue sharing with First Nations.

Any indication otherwise, said Trent Wotherspoon, NDP finance critic, was a “miscommunication” on his part.
“Some of the confusion arose …from an interview in which I intended to speak on the shift of focus we, as an opposition, bring moving out of an electoral cycle and focusing back on the solutions and challenges that exist in our province,” said Wotherspoon.

In large part because of his musical success, Donny Parenteau is now seriously thinking of doing some home renovations.

Parenteau, a 45-year-old Metis from Prince Albert, captured a record-tying five Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards this year.

The awards show was staged Nov. 18 in Toronto in conjunction with the Canadian Aboriginal Festival.
Parenteau won his trophies in the categories of best male artist, best songwriter, best video, best producer/engineer and the best country album (CD) of the year.

The first potash development on a First Nation will be delayed at least three months. But the next time members of the Muskowekwan First Nation vote only a simple majority will be required.

The call for a First Nations political party in Saskatchewan continues after last month’s provincial election.

During the campaign, Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox announced it was time to consider building a First Nations party to look at issues such as resource revenue sharing.

The Saskatchewan Party won 49 seats in the election, dropping the opposition New Democratic Party to nine seats.

It is disheartening for Lisa Wilson to admit that economics may take precedence over social justice when it comes to government investment in education for Aboriginal people. But she will use whatever information she needs to in order to see positive changes occur.

“As a person who really strongly believes in equity and social justice and we’re coming from that background, of course that is how I personally would prefer to look at the situation, but I think … it’s time we have to make this other argument,” said Wilson, director with the Gabriel Dumont Institute.

New legislation introduced in the Legislature is aimed at establishing a Child and Youth Advocate as an independent officer of the Legislature. Bill 25, the Child and Youth Advocate Act, will also expand the advocate’s mandate to ensure those in the youth criminal justice system will have advocacy supports. Currently the advocate reports to the Minister of Human Services. Also proposed is the establishment of the Child and Family Services Council for Quality Assurance to help increase public understanding and confidence in the child intervention system.

The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters received $150,000 from Alberta’s Civil Forfeiture Office to develop and implement a new innovative program.  Taking a Stand is a grassroots program to engage men and boys in the prevention of family violence. Taking a Stand will bring together a variety of community-based organizations to increase knowledge of gender-based discrimination and violence, and will work to break down the attitudes that contribute to violence against women.

On Nov. 18, high school students at Kihew Asiniy Education Centre in Saddle Lake hosted a youth rally. Youth came together to address concerns of the past, present, and future; issues such as the history of Indigenous education, the current funding gaps in education, culturally relevant education, health care, environment, as well as misconceptions and stereotypes regarding the First Nation education systems were addressed. Speakers were primarily youth but included Gitz Crazyboy and Amber Dion, who are active in Indigenous issues.