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The 2002 Onion Lake powwow committee made history this year with an innovative approach to the problem of people crowding the drums during powwows.

In previous years, many spectators, including children and Elders, could neither see nor hear many of the drums and singers who were literally buried under a wall of avid fans loaded with tape recorders and video equipment.

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Students attending the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) and the Northern Professional Access College (NORPAC) will soon have access to affordable housing, thanks to a project to renovate the McKay-Irving apartment buildings into subsidized student housing.

The northern college will spend $1.3 million-provided by the provincial government and a generous anonymous donor-to renovate the buildings, which had developed a nasty reputation for poor living conditions and careless tenants.

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The new Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) campus building being built in Regina will include eight science labs, thanks in part to funding from the provincial and federal governments.

The campus, scheduled to have its official opening next June, will include three wet science labs, two dry science labs, and three computational science labs, which will help support the college's existing science programs.

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Keep 'em talking.

That, to put it simply, was the goal of the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute, a three-week intensive summer school that recently wrapped up in La Ronge.

Page 10

A recent study done by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan suggests promoting better nutrition and increased physical activity among pregnant Aboriginal women could help both the women and their babies avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

Page 9

John Boucher, a highly respected Elder and distinguished senator of Saskatchewan's Metis Nation has received word that he has been accepted as a member of the Order of Canada for voluntary service to his community.

Following a long-time family interest in politics, Boucher has been working to have Metis rights recognized for 40 years, and has represented his people at both the national and provincial levels of Metis Nation governments.

Page 9

Well-known and highly respected Elder Wilna "Willy" Hodgson was notified recently that she has received an appointment to the Order of Canada. The Saskatchewan woman is one of 65 Canadians to be recognized as a member of the Order of Canada for her volunteer work and for a long career dedicated to the advancement of the Aboriginal peoples of Saskatchewan.

Page 8

From the opening ceremonies of the North American Indigenous Games in Winnipeg July 28, to the closing ceremonies on August 4, thousands of athletes, volunteers, and spectators shared in the excitement, exuberance and team spirit that was evident throughout the 11 day sporting event. At any given time of day, hundreds of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit youth could be spotted on Winnipeg streets and at sporting events, visible by the colorful tracksuits they wore which represented their territories, cultures and sport.

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A warm welcome was given to Elders, veterans, dancers, drums, singers and visitors the evening of Sunday, July 21 during the spectacular grand entry of the 2002 Onion Lake International Powwow, with special prayers and thanks given for a whole day and night of perfect weather.

It was a fairy tale ending for thousands who had braved three days of rain, lightning and a violent Saturday evening thunderstorm that blew down the huge parachute covering the arbor.

Page 5

Metis National Council (MNC) President Gerald Morin marked the opening of this year's Back to Batoche celebrations with an announcement that the federal government is ready to begin exploratory discussions with the Metis Nation to determine if there is any basis for future negotiations regarding recognition of Metis rights.

Morin was joined by Ralph Goodale, Minister for Public Works and Government Services and the Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians in making the announcement.