Students at the Saskatchewan Institute of Indian Technologies(SIIT) are happy to be settling into their new building in Regina.

“I don’t know how we managed in that small space,” said business administration student Maureen Jory, referring to the previous building their campus was housed in.
With growing enrollment, the Regina campus of the adult education institute moved from its much smaller downtown location to a larger building on north Albert St.

“It feels more like a campus now,” said Kayla Aisaican who is also in her second year of business administration.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced ten new Aboriginal student scholarship awards for 2010 with recipients hailing from locations all across the country, including one from Saskatchewan.

“Training and education helps lay the groundwork for the future success of Aboriginal youth in the Canadian workforce,” said Phil Fontaine, Special Advisor to RBC. “The Aboriginal Student Awards program and Stay-in-School program is a testament to RBC’s commitment and deep understanding of the needs of today’s Aboriginal youth and the communities in which they live.”

Sasipenita held their annual fundraising luncheon October 1 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Saskatoon, with major sponsor being the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and additional support coming from the Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Community Youth Art Program, Eagle Feather News, and Ernie Scoles Fine Art and Framing.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish is strongly opposed to the federal long gun registry which barely survived a vote in the House of Commons this past week.

He stated in an FSIN release that the registry would impose  “unjust criminal code violations against First Nations hunters.”

Along with other FSIN leaders, Whitefish calls on the federal government to exempt First Nations people from the registry.

The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS) has partnered with the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) to develop a research survey about Métis health and well-being.
“The research was community based using the oral aspect of Métis culture to develop the research,” said Dr. Vivian Ramsden, associate professor in the research department at the U of S, adding that Métis communities were also consulted about the results in a very user-friendly manner.

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples is travelling across the country to study how First Nations schools can improve educational outcomes so students achieve greater success rates.

Métis regions target economic development
The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan announced on Oct. 1, they signed an agreement with Cameco and Areva to create a working group focussed on workforce and community development, community engagement and investment, and regulatory and government relations.
Specific areas included in the agreement are the Northern Regions I, II, and III, and the Eastern Region I, located within the boundaries of the Northern Administrative District.

First Nations leaders are outraged by a recent move of a Saskatchewan MP to demand First Nations chiefs and councillors make their salaries public.

Rosetown-Biggar Conservative MP Kelly Block said Aboriginals should be treated the same as all those voted into a public office, and that the public deserves to know how taxpayers’ money is spent.

Despite cool and windy weather conditions in Regina on September 18, a benefit concert held at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) appeared to warm the hearts of Kawacatoose First Nation community members, concert goers, performers and organizers alike.

Earl Magnusson from the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council came to Regina to enjoy a portion of the concert.
“I wasn’t there for the whole eleven hours,” he said. “But many of the community members came out it seemed. I thought it was an awesome event.”

On Oct. 4, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) held vigils for missing and murdered Aboriginal women across the country, including one in Saskatoon. The purpose—to honor these Aboriginal women, show support for their families, put on a united front, and pressure all levels of government to act.

“We call for a national action plan for Aboriginal women and girls,” said Amnesty International representative Helen Smith-McIntyre as she read out a joint statement that was delivered nationwide as part of the movement of Sisters in Spirit(SIS) vigils.