A wealth of diverse business opportunities in a number of different economic sectors is providing revenue and training for Treaty 7 members.

Economic development officers and business administrators from the Piikani, Siksika, Kainai, and Stoney Nakoda Nations (Wesley, Bearspaw and Chiniki), profiled their business ventures at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15. The event was the implementation phase of the Chamber’s Aboriginal Workforce Initiative, a three-part research and action plan begun in 2008 to strengthen business connections with Aboriginal people.

Janvier presented with provincial Order of Excellence

Jean Lafrance, former Children’s Advocate for Alberta’s Children’s Services, had strong words for the provincial government: put the resources where they’re needed.
The government’s response to the year-long review carried out by an expert panel looking at Alberta’s child intervention system “as far as (the government’s recommendations) go are probably okay, but I don’t think they go far enough,” said Lafrance. “The response of the minister (Yvonne Fritz) frightens me. We don’t need a measured response. We need a powerful response.”

Veterans were honored in the grand entry of Saskatchewan’s largest cultural event, the ‘Spirit of our Nations’ powwow on Oct. 29-31, which is organized by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations(FSIN) and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. This year, the FSIN held two special dance competitions to honor three fallen heroes–RCMP Constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdage, and Sgt. Darby Morin who died in Afghanistan. FSIN also held a youth symposium on Oct.

Various people gathered at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation community school to witness the creation of an education bundle and the signing of an agreement that was the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.

Hundreds of Aboriginal students, families and dignitaries converged on the campus of the First Nations University of Canada(FNUC) to lobby the federal government to preserve funding for First Nations post-secondary education.

As part of similar protests held across Canada in Sept.—including one on Parliament Hill in Ottawa—the Regina event was held in hopes of staving off more cuts to education and to urge Ottawa to restore full funding that First Nations students have seen decreased over the years.

Team Saskatchewan was amongst the provincial teams from across Canada travelling to Winnipeg for the 30th Annual International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Canadian National Championships from Oct. 8-10.

There was a good representation of Aboriginal and Métis athletes on Team Sask. and a few walked away with medals. On the first day of competition, Saskatchewan’s mixed youth team came away with the gold medal in Team Kata, Kata being a series of formed movements.

Cadmus Delorme knows that he eventually wants to become a pro golfer.

But the 28-year-old from Saskatchewan’s Cowessess First Nation is not exactly sure which path he will take to get there.

Delorme made a name for himself this past summer, faring rather well in numerous amateur  events throughout Saskatchewan. He also represented the province at a pair of national tournaments staged in Ontario in August.

Wapawekka is a story about how culture changes throughout the generations—what is lost, but also what continues.

The film was screened at the 11th annual imagineNATIVE film festival in Toronto from Oct. 20-24.

“This is an important story to tell,” said film director Danis Goulet of La Ronge. “In the span of one generation there is a huge amount of cultural change.”

Registered dietician and Healthy Eating Coordinator at
the North West Company(NWC) main office in Winnipeg, Suzanne Hajto, said an idea of providing a healthy eating program is a way NWC actively supports health and nutrition within northern communities to promote a healthier environment.

By establishing initiatives in the store, the customers are at a benefit, she added.

“Myself, as a dietician, coming on and creating the healthy eating program is to... motivate our customers to make healthier choices,” Hajto said.