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A project that brings parents and students together to work on improving reading skills received a boost recently, with an announcement that it will receive $41,300 in federal funding.

The Herchmer community school Family Literacy Project will received the funds from the Urban Aboriginal component of the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, part of the federal government's National Homelessness Initiative.

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Warren Gervais doesn't think of himself as a hero, but that's what a lot of people are calling him these days.

On the morning of Jan. 9, Gervais was driving from his home on the Kawacatoose reserve to the Wascana campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) where he teaches Native studies, when he came across the scene of a collision involving a car and a backhoe.

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The Commission on First Nations and Metis Peoples and Justice Reform released a 62-page interim report on January 17, and Saskatchewan's First Nations leaders received its comments and conclusions with interest and cautious optimism. The focus of this, the second interim report the commission has issued since it was established in November 2001, was primarily on the experiences of Aboriginal youth.

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A project designed to preserve the Dene Suline language on the Cold Lake First Nation has been granted $400,000 over the next two years. This is to top-up the $200,000 the nation has received for the project in each of the past three years.

Approved by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Daghida Project, which translates into 'We are alive', is a joint effort between Cold Lake and the University of Alberta. Three years ago, the band was one of the first Canadian reserves to receive the annual support.

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Renowned architect Douglas Cardinal met with Aboriginal undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Alberta campus on Jan.16 and 17 to gather ideas for a proposed Indigenous centre.

Through the students' input and ideas, Cardinal will develop a foundation based on their vision of the kind of facility they need.

Using the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Regina as a model, the students sat in a circle and made suggestions on the need for a rock garden, quiet room, and the shape of the building.

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On March 14 to 16, the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth centre will host the fourth annual Spirit Seekers Conference at the Grande Prairie Inn.

The conference is expected to attract more than 250 youth from across western Canada. The three-day conference will focus on career, education, health, culture, crime prevention, and recreation. Aboriginal organizations, a career fair, information booths, an Aboriginal Youth Role Model Awards banquet and a Much Music Video Dance will also be a part of the youth conference.

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A five-year agreement with El Paso Oil is quickly coming to an end and sweet gas has yet to be found on the Piikani Nation.

The first 3D seismic drilling got under way on this southwestern First Nations community shortly before Christmas and has turned out to "be a duster."

Though no sweet gas was located, re-elected Piikani councillor Edwin Small Legs is not losing hope.

"It took our neighbors, the Blood Nation, 10 to 15 times before they struck it," he said.

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The first Indigenous People's Leadership Conference held on Jan. 27 to 29 allowed an opportunity for First Nations and Metis leaders to share information about the common goals of Aboriginal leaders while working to develop new ideas, new tools and new relationships to achieve those goals.

Hosted by the Saddle Lake First Nation, the conference included panel discussions on leadership and accountability, the sharing of success stories, and a number of tips on what to do with the information gathered at the conference once at home.

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Residents of the communities of Owl River and Big Bay in northern Alberta have joined forces in a restoration project for their local cemetery.

They've formed a committee and now the Owl River recreation association has undertaken the project and will plan, organize and fund-raise for the enhancement of the cemetery.

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Winning first place in the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in Phoenix, Arizona is not an easy feat. Just ask 28-year-old Lisa Odjig. But she did it.

She brought a trophy and $2,500 home after the first place win at the 13th annual contest held on Feb.1 and 2 organized by the Heard Museum. Odjig competed against 18 men in the adult category to win the coveted title.