The sounds of drummers and singers rang throughout the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon from Oct. 27 to 29 as more than 20,000 participants enjoyed the 2006 edition of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Powwow.
The powwow, the last of the season and one of the largest in Canada, included a celebration of the FSIN's 60th anniversary and celebration the Year of the First Nations Child.

A brief exchange in the House of Commons in early November suggests that negotiations aimed at securing an apology from the government of Canada for the damages done by the residential school system have come up dry.
During question period on Nov. 7, Saskatchewan member of Parliament Gary Merasty, the associate Liberal Party critic for Indian Affairs, asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to apologize to residential school survivors for the treatment they suffered in the residential school system.

After serving as a vice-chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) for almost a decade, Lawrence Joseph has been elected as the organization's chief.
Joseph was first elected as the FSIN's fourth vice-chief in 1997. His election as chief took place during the fall election assembly held in Saskatoon on Oct. 24 and 25.

Representatives from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) gathered at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon on Oct. 19 for the launch of a First Nations-specific Make Poverty History campaign.

Following a three-year absence, Bryan Trottier is once again a member of the National Hockey League fraternity.

But Trottier, who won the Stanley Cup seven times (six as a player and once as a coach), finds himself in a new position with the organization he is most associated with.

Children and their cheerful chatter combined with the gentle messages of Elders during a family dinner held Oct. 4 to celebrate National Family Week.

Connie Shingoose, Yorkton First Steps Aboriginal Headstart executive director, and Josie Crane, Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services Inc. resource development manger, got together to host the dinner in the building that was the first site of the Yorkton Friendship Centre. Shingoose said the two groups are natural partners.

According to information from the Saskatchewan Department of Community Resources, more foster parents are needed in the province, and there is an even greater need for Aboriginal families to become foster families because they can help Aboriginal children in care to preserve their cultural identity.

From Nov. 10 to 22, people from across the globe involved in preventing and dealing with child abuse and neglect will gather in Vancouver to take part in worldforum 2006. Among the sessions planned for the international conference will be a number dealing specifically with programs designed to assist Aboriginal children, families and communities.

One of the sessions scheduled as part of the conference will focus on the work being done in Saskatchewan to improve the delivery and quality of child and family services in the province.

November will be a big month for Aboriginal music in Canada, as two separate award shows celebrate and promote the best the country has to offer.

First up will be the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, the new kid on the block in the world of music award shows.

In early October, Dennis Jackson found out he was one of just seven honourees selected to receive a 2006 Gemini Special Award. Now, he's up for another award, this time not as a film-maker, but as an author.

At the end of October, Jackson will receive the Canada Award, which recognizes television programming that reflects Canada's racial and cultural diversity. The award will be presented during a special Gemini ceremony in Toronto, recognizing Jackson's work on Wapos Bay-There's No "I" in Hockey.