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Delegates from as far away as Ontario and South America came to the Echo Valley Conference Centre in early May for a major gathering on Aboriginal literacy.

The event, which saw as many as 200 attend workshops and seminar, was designed to lay a new foundation for Aboriginal education, said one of the conference's co-chairs, Lisa Wilson.

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A new program being launched by the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) this fall is designed to prepare students to meet the growing demand for qualified employees in resource management and enforcement.

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A new position has been created at the University of Saskatchewan to help improve academic and cultural initiatives for Aboriginal students.

The main role of the special advisor to the president on Aboriginal initiatives will be to support the president, senior staff and deans in their work with the Aboriginal community. The advisor will also take an active role in the developing new Aboriginal programs, and expanding supports offered to Aboriginal students.

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The North Battleford Comprehensive high school (NBCHS) recently hosted its fourth annual Inter-school Competition Powwow. A total of 13 schools took part in the event, including the host school, John Paul II Collegiate, Cut Knife high school, Cut Knife elementary, Cando school, Clifford Wuttunee school, Mosquito school, Connaught school, Sweetgrass school, Chief Little Pine school, Saulteaux Heritage school, Chief Poundmaker school, and Ecole McKitrick.

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After two years and three showings, Out of the Mist-Huupukwanum Tupaat: Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs, has been closed and artifacts are being sent back to the families, collectors and museums they were borrowed from.

According to Grant Hughes, director of cultural services, and the tribal council executive director, the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) has been searching for museums nationally and internationally to borrow the exhibit and show it to their local audiences.

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And the Leo goes to . . .

Well, this year the award for Best Documentary didn't go to Ravens and Eagles: Haida Art, which was written, produced and directed by Jeff Bear and Marianne Jones of Urban Rez Productions. But there's always next year, and the year after.

Held at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina on May 11, the fourth annual Leo Gala Awards ceremony celebrated excellence in British Columbia film and television. The Leo awards, which have become the largest regional awards program in Canada, was attended by approximately 700 people.

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Crucial elements are falling into place for Aboriginal communities to develop their land, according to delegates at the Aboriginal Real Estate and Resort Development conference, which took place on May 16 and 17 in Vancouver.

Although separate tourism and real estate conferences have been held for years, this year marks the first time the two aspects were combined in a comprehensive series of talks-complete with case studies-on the enormous potential for property development on First Nations land.

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The Pacific Peoples Partnership (PPP) is a Pan-Pacific organization promoting awareness and advocacy about environmental, human rights, community development, and social justice issues affecting Indigenous peoples of Canada and the Pacific region. In May and June, PPP was responsible for bringing together Indigenous youth in British Columbia and beyond. Raven's Eye met with a tour group on June 1 to discuss the purpose of their travels.

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Voices of the Women, the title for the Business Leaders for Women conference that took place May 30 and 31, was a powerful one. As you looked through the agenda and saw the names of the speakers, you had the hope that this could provide all of the almost 100 who attended with something new that would help them on their path to personal, professional and community successes.

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The room was silent as 175 people, some wiping tears from their eyes, sat quietly and watched the video called Understanding Women's Substance Misuse prepared by Creative Solutions: Women Preventing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

A 1999 report by the Correctional Services of Canada says Aboriginal peoples have 10 times the national average of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome effects (FAS and FAS/E).