Since changing its mission four years ago, officials with Calgary’s Awo Taan Healing Lodge have discovered its services are required as much as ever.

The facility, which opened in 1993, used to serve as a shelter for Native women. But in 2007 it became a healing lodge providing services and programs for all cultures.

Though it is open to all, Josie Nepinak, who is Awo Taan’s executive director, said about 90 per cent of those who do seek services from the lodge are Aboriginal.
“Family violence is a very, very serious issue for Aboriginal communities,” Nepinak said.

A “big sky” idea from Blue Quills First Nations College in St.Paul will help address the housing shortage in rural Alberta.

Every project launched by the college begins with a “big sky” idea, says the college’s website and that certainly seems to be the case here. Brent Collins, one of the college instructors and a former log-home builder, realized he could be part of a project to teach people to build homes.

Dr. Nan Schuurmans recognized instantly that the crumbling house was an early work of esteemed Aboriginal architect Douglas Cardinal.

“I was looking for a bungalow to purchase and as soon as I saw the fireplace, I recognized Cardinal’s style of design because I’m a big admirer of his,” said Schuurmans. “The house was in rough shape and there had been talk of tearing it down, but it had such beautiful lines and it fit in so nicely with the landscape, and I just loved it right away.”    

Students with the File Hills Employment and Training Centre Active Measures “Way2Work” program have used their studies to remember a group of people who are often overlooked.

The 12 students worked with Mark Dieter, a produced playwright and director from the Peepeekisis First Nation, but perhaps best known for his portrayal of Corner Gas’s hotel bartender Paul Kinistino. Dieter developed the idea for a documentary on First Nations Korean War veterans in the community.

“We thought he (had) a terrific idea and we just went from there,” said instructor Sharon Geroux.

After a three year hiatus, the Ânskohk Aboriginal Writers’ Festival returned to Saskatoon.

The four-day festival was hosted by the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network  and featured improv, readings, workshops, and seminars. The last festival was in 2008, when it was hosted by the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company.

Dawn Dumont read from her first book, Nobody Cries at Bingo, which featured stories based loosely around her childhood.

Curtis Peeteetuce and Danny Knight are learning about various aspects of the theatre world thanks to a grant program through the city of Saskatoon.

The city put up the funds to have Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre operate an Aboriginal Artist Mentorship Residency program during its 2011-12 season, which began in September and continues until May.

The original plan was to hire one person to help out with various tasks at the theatre, but in the end, Peeteetuce and Knight came on in late August.

Joshua Bouvier from Turtleford has been selected as one of 10 Canadian recipients of RBC’s 2011 Aboriginal Student Awards.

“It definitely relieved some pressure that I don’t need for university,” said Bouvier, currently in his second year of the University of Saskatchewan’s civil engineering program. “I was happy to know that my hard work had paid off.”

After graduation, he hopes to gain experience under an engineering firm until he can eventually runs his own business. “I just don’t want to feel like my job is at a dead end. I want to push it as far as I can.”

More than a million dollars has been awarded to 23 researchers at the University of Saskatchewan who are studying various Aboriginal issues.

The $1.2 million from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada will go towards research on issues such as the impact of oil sands, coping with environmental change, establishing a sense of place, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and the legal duty to consult.

SSHRC is a federal agency that promotes and supports post secondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences.

There is no denying that Cory Generoux is ecstatic over what his most recent appointment will mean for him.
“This is a huge step for my career,” said Generoux, a 32-year-old Cree/Lakota who has been hired for a newly created position — the Saskatchewan producer for the National Film Board of Canada.

Though it is expected he will travel extensively throughout the province in his new role, Generoux, a band member of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, will be able to continue to live in Regina.

Generoux sounds equally as excited for what his new job will mean for others.

A new program by Sask Sport Inc. hopes to inspire young Aboriginal people to look to sports opportunities and promote healthy active lifestyles.

The Aboriginal Champions Program was launched Oct. 26. Six athletes were chosen to represent and encourage young Aboriginal people into sports.

One of those champions is paralympian Colette Bourgonje of Prince Albert.

The 49-year-old Métis woman has been competing in cross-country skiing (sit-ski) events since 1992 and has won 10 medals at nine Paralympic Games across the world.