Rocky Thompson’s work will once again be closely monitored during the upcoming hockey season.

A year ago people were wondering how Thompson, a former professional hockey player, would fare in his first season as a head coach.

Thompson, a 39-year-old Cree, had spent the previous eight years working as an assistant coach in the junior and pro ranks, including the 2014-15 season when he was with the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers.

A new film based in Nunavut is teaching people about gender norms in the north. The film, called “Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things,” focuses in on a Pride Day event in Iqaluit, celebrating the LGBTQ2 community there—lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer and two-spirited.

Directors Mark Woods and Mike Yerxa heard about it and flew up to the area to catch the action, finding an opportunity to educate the audience—and themselves—in the process.

Carol Powder, lead singer of the all-women’s drum group Chubby Cree, has made her own pow wow drum as well as hand drums. (Photo: Chubby Cree United/Facebook)

August 18, 2016.

In teaching her children their culture, Carol Powder has been able to make a difference in their lives – and a difference in the lives of others.

“We heal people and have some sort of impact and remind them of who they used to be or what they were and maybe help them,” said Powder of her all-women’s drum group Chubby Cree.

August 22, 2016.

The Metis Nation of Alberta is taking the provincial government to task over what it considers an “ongoing delay (that) is deeply concerning” over changes to the Metis Harvesting Policy.

Aimee Craft’s years of hard work are being acknowledged this month. Craft is an Indigenous lawyer (Anishinaabe and Metis) and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba. She is being recognized by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of its “Top 25 Most Influential.”

The magazine received 135 nominations; then polled readers for its final results. There are five categories in total, with five honorees in each. Craft was voted into the “Young Influencers” category.

“In any type of a revolution, we always say, it’s the poets and the musicians and the gifted that take the lead and frame the new thinking in advance of everyone else,” said Stephen Kakfwi, president and CEO of Canadians for a New Partnership.

August 16, 2016.

The Metis Nation of Alberta has adopted a statement of principles that it hopes will guide discussion with the province when negotiations on consultation and accommodation take place.

The Statement of Principles on Crown Consultation and Accommodation with the Metis in Alberta was passed unanimously at the MNA’s annual general meeting Aug. 4-7 at the Métis Crossing historic site.

August 15, 2016.

Mid-August and Geraldine Potts, director of operations with Nechi Institute: Centre of Indigenous Learning, has 98 applications in her hands for students who want to get culturally-aware addictions counselling training, but can’t afford to.

The shooting death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie has rocked the province of Saskatchewan. Claims of racism are widespread, and paint the RCMP, a farmer charged with second-degree murder, and the people of Saskatchewan all with that same racist brush.

Boushie and four others drove into farmer Gerald Stanley’s rural property near Biggar to ask for help with a flat tire on their truck, according to an account by one of Boushie’s companions on Aug. 9.

August 8, 2016.

It has taken 20 years for township road 734  to get the go-ahead to be paved but Horse Lake First Nation Chief Eugene Horseman sees the approved funding as heralding in a new age of cooperation and acceptance.

“I never ever thought I’d see the day that this project would ever be accomplished, but I’ve noticed the change in this new government – the federal and the provincial. There’s been a willingness to actually work with First Nations,” said Horseman.