Eleven years of serving the tiny northwestern Saskatchewan community of Birch Narrows First Nation has resulted in unexpected recognition for a nurse practitioner.

Tracy Daigneault was shocked to learn the community had nominated her for the Award of Excellence from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of the federal government. And that she had won.

The announcement has finally come that the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre will be built on University of Saskatchewan campus.

 “This idea has been discussed for many years, so it is exciting for Aboriginal students that this will become a reality,” said Ryan Moccasin, president of the Indigenous Student Council.

The student centre was designed by Douglas Cardinal, who has also created the designs for the First Nations University of Canada, Leighton Artists’ Colony at the Banff Centre, and the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau among others.

Hundreds of people gathered in Regina on Oct. 14 to witness history in the making. A first in Canada, the Treaty 4 flag now flies permanently alongside the municipal, provincial and national flags in front of Regina‘s City Hall.

Mayor Pat Fiacco said the raising of the Treaty 4 flag signifies the continuance of the relationship that was established between First Nations and non-Aboriginal people 137 years ago when Treaty 4 was signed at Fort Qu’Appelle.

The search continues for a Muskowekwan teen who has been missing for more than six months.

Seventeen-year-old Cody Wolfe was last seen April 29. Text messages seem to place him on a road north of Lestock that has since washed out. It appears he made it around and was headed to a rural home on the Muskowekwan First Nation, said his aunt, Myrna LaPlante.

However, “there still has been no solid evidence as to where he is,” she said.

Two violent incidences on First Nations less than a week apart involving the RCMP have raised concerns about the underlying issues of need that face many First Nations.
“We realize that the incidents of Oct. 4 are really a symptom of a much bigger problem.  We have to come to terms on how we come together as a community to address the issues behind the symptoms,” said Chief Ian McKay, of Red Earth First Nation.

Two new, youthful faces have joined the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

At the fall Legislative Assembly, Simon Bird from the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation was elected Fourth Vice-Chief with 553 votes, defeating Orrin Greyeyes who had 155 and Guy Lariviere with 135.

Bird became emotional after winning, pausing as he acknowledged his wife of 11 years, Naomi.

A record number of Aboriginal candidates have resulted in only a handful of Aboriginal MLAs in the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Premier Brad Wall and the  Saskatchewan Party were returned to power in the Nov. 7 election in a convincing win, taking 49 of 58 seats. Among the newcomers to fill those Sask Party seats are Aboriginal MLAs Roger Parent (Saskatoon Meewasin), Greg Lawrence (Moose Jaw Wakamow) and Jennifer Campeau (Saskatoon Fairview).  Lawrence and Campeau won their seats in tight races. The Sask Party ran five Aboriginal candidates.

Miss Manito Ahbee selected. 17 year old Torry EagleSpeaker, from the Blood Indian Reserve in southern Alberta, was crowned Miss Manito Ahbee Travelling Princess on Saturday, November 5, at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Yellow Horn leads Americans

Colton Yellow Horn is once again expected to be one of the top offensive threats for the Texas-based Allen Americans. Yellow Horn, who is Blackfoot, is from Brocket, Alta. The 24-year-old is now in his fourth season of professional hockey. He joined the Americans, who compete in the Central Hockey League, early on during the 2009-10 season.