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The provincial and federal governments are pooling their resources, jointly funding a project aimed at getting Saskatchewan's youth more active.

The goal of the new Building Future Champions program is to provide the province's youth with more opportunities to get involved in sports, with a special emphasis on increasing participation rates among Aboriginal youth.

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Winnipeg will be the site of a national conference being planned to address both intentional and unintentional injuries among Aboriginal people.

The National Aboriginal Injury Prevention Conference 2004: Towards Community Action on Aboriginal Injuries, is scheduled for June 9 to 12, 2004. The conference is being organized by the National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization (NICHRO) and Health Canada in collaboration with SMARTRISK.

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People all across Saskatchewan can access health advice any time of the day or night, thanks to HealthLine, a service launched by Saskatchewan Health earlier this fall.

Calls to HealthLine are fielded by a staff of registered nurses who can provide professional health advice or information, and help callers determine the most appropriate source of care to address their particular concerns.

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Within the first few minutes of meeting Ken Ward, one learns that he is a well-loved and respected individual. During the course of a half-hour interview, there were no fewer than seven interruptions by people wanting to exchange greetings, offer a handshake or share a story.

Ward takes it all in stride, and it is his love of the people that has brought him to Prince Albert to fight for a cause that many in the community would rather soon forget about.

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It was once the site of one of Saskatchewan's most notorious residential schools. Now it's a place where, its organizers hope, much of the damage done to Aboriginal people by the residential schools can be repaired.

The Wahpiimoostoosis Healing Centre took in its first patients at the beginning of November. The 24-bed in-patient facility hopes to help break the cycle of violence and despair created by the residential school system, said its program director, Cheryl Lafrance.

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Four young people have joined the distinguished ranks of artists who claim their heritage from the Mistawasis First Nation.

In the recent Peace Hills Trust 21st annual First Nations art contest, Leonard Bird won second in the aged nine-and-under category, while 13-year-old Kelsey Lorn Watson received an honourable mention in the 10-to-13 category. As well, Melissa Dreaver and Marina Della Rae Daniels were winners in the age 14 to 17 group.

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Aboriginal politicians, Elders and people with experience in the building trades all say that inadequate housing is at the root of many, perhaps even most, of the social, economic and health problems that plague First Nation communities.

But politics of all kinds have complicated the housing issue, even though most people would agree that it's too important a matter with which to play games.

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A new survey conducted by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC) shows that people in Saskatchewan lead the country in their opposition to Aboriginal treaty rights.

While the national figures show that 42 per cent of those surveyed believe it would be better to eliminate treaty rights than to settle outstanding land claims and self-government issues. That number rises to 54 per cent if the figures for just the Prairie provinces are taken into account, and rises again to 62 per cent for Saskatchewan alone.

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A total of $7.7 million has been committed to make improvements to infrastructures on Saskatchewan First Nations, being funded by 17 First Nation communities in partnership with the federal government.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Infrastructure Canada will be contributing $4.5 million to the project, with the remainder coming from the communitiesthat will benefit directly from the improvements.

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Saskatchewan businessman Marty Klyne has another entry to add to his list of accomplishments, after being appointed as chairman of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board on Nov. 22.

Klyne brings to the position more than a decade of experience in business and economic development.

Klyne is of Metis heritage and was born and raised in Regina.

He has been a member of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board since 1998. He is also a past president and chief operating officer of the Regina Regional Economic Development Authority.