We’ve heard so much about gang activity in First Nations communities over many years, but this latest tragedy, which happened in Hobbema in July, should be a wake-up call for all of us.

Beloved actor leaves us prematurely

With international appeal almost equalling that of the late Chief Dan George, it seemed Gordon Tootoosis’s star could only rise higher, but the talented and elegant actor succumbed to pneumonia on July 5. He was only 69.

Tootoosis was best known for his roles as the enigmatic One Stab in the movie Legends of the Fall and wicked Albert Golo in the television series North of 60.

Shayla Tootoosis is the recipient of the first ever youth award handed out by the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network.

 “Sometimes young people are kind of missing out either from their own life situations or from expectations that they feel they can’t meet at the time in their life in the education system,” said Carol Vandale, executive director of SALN. SALN held its gala and awards at the Dakota Dunes Casino recently, honouring leaders in the world of literacy.

Saskatchewan artists and performers showcased their talent at the Prairiescene arts festival held in Ottawa this spring.

The multi-disciplinary arts festival was the fifth in a series of festivals that began in 2003 and this year it showcased over 500 visual artists, musicians, performers, writers, and dancers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The First Nations University of Canada celebrated its 35 anniversary as a federated college of the University of Regina on May 27. After a turbulent half decade, staff, students and guests agreed that the university is entering a new era.

“Admissions are up, we now have a national board of governance, and we have selected a new president,” said Dr. Blair Stonechild of the university’s Indigenous Studies Department. “My sense is we are going through a renewal; it’s like the phoenix rising from the ashes.”

Cadmus Delorme, an aspiring professional golfer, is hoping some rather lucrative paydays are in his future.
But for now, a total of $950 makes him rather happy.

It’s a good thing Regina officials did not give up after failing to land both the 2008 and 2011 North American Indigenous Games.

After submitting yet another bid, Regina successfully landed the 2014 NAIG. The games will last for two weeks that summer but exact dates have yet to be announced.
The NAIG council awarded the Saskatchewan city the multi-sports competition after final bid presentations in Moncton in mid-May were evaluated.

The two other cities that were vying to host the 2014 NAIG were Halifax and London, Ont.

Another Aboriginal child has died while in the care of the Alberta government.

The death of the four-month-old baby girl brought a handful of people to the steps of the Legislature in Edmonton on June 6. Noticeably absent from the gathering were government officials. The baby died April 11 in hospital in Edmonton, six days after she was apprehended from her mother’s home. However, the child’s fate was only recently made public when Larry McConnell, the baby’s mother’s lawyer, spoke out. Neither the child nor her mother can be named in accordance to provincial privacy legislation.

The Aboriginal Housing Society in Lethbridge has secured a new partnership that will better accommodate the needs for affordable housing.

In response to two applications put forward by AHS, Lethbridge City Council recently approved $1.14 million in grant funding which will create the comfort of home for many urban Aboriginal as well as non-Aboriginal tenants.
About 300 Aboriginal people are interested in applying for these new homes, said AHS general manager Boyd Thomas.

At least one Alberta First Nation will be applying for intervener status as the Northern Gateway Project joint review process moves forward.   

The Alexander First Nation will be making that application. The proposed pipeline runs through 1,900 acres of land the band is due under the 1998 Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement. The land is located near Fox Creek and in Sturgeon County.