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Controversy arises from Fort Battleford re-enactment

One 1885 historic re-enactment this summer, stirred up some controversy as organizers of the ‘Siege of Fort Battleford’ re-enactment at North Battleford, faced some backlash from a local First Nations man over a term used to promote the event.

Poundmaker band member, Tyrone Tootoosis, told media outlets that he did not agree with the use of the word ‘siege’ in referring to the August 14 re-enactment.

MLTC conference brings together northern educators

Education was the topic at  Communities Learning Together’, a two-day conference for northern Cree and Dene communities, hosted by the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) on Aug. 23-24.

Approximately 260 teachers, principals, chiefs, Elders and leaders from the nine First Nations of Flying Dust, Makwa Sahgaiecan, Big Island Lake, Waterhen Lake, Canoe Lake, Clearwater, English River, Buffalo River, and Birch Narrows attended the first-time event held at the Flying Dust First Nation.

Bold Eagle graduates 21st group of Aboriginal youth

Aboriginal youth between the ages of 16-29 who are thinking about joining the Canadian military or the Canadian armed forces, might want to consider taking the Bold Eagle program.

‘Bold Eagle’ – based in Wainwright, Alberta – has a unique cultural component to the summer-long basic military training in which recruits go on a full-day culture camp and numerous other cultural activities including a sweat lodge.

As well, Elders are available throughout the program to provide guidance to the recruits.

Documentary features stories of residential school survivors

When Aboriginal artist Miles Anderson came forward with his grim story of sexual abuse at the Gordon Residential School, followed with his battle with the bottle, it didn’t take him long to understand that sharing his story was one of the best ways to heal himself and help others.

That’s why the television documentary Red Road Forward appealed to him in many ways — he was happy to tell his story again for producers because he knew how many other Aboriginal adults were children when they were molested at the now-infamous residential school system in Canada.

135th year of Piapot treaty signing

A celebration in early September brought together people of different backgrounds to commemorate the 135th anniversary of a treaty four signing between Chief Payepot (Piapot) and the Queen’s representative.
“The celebration provided an opportunity for non-Aboriginal society to learn about who we are and the treaties,” said Jeremy Fourhorns, current Chief of the Piapot First Nation. “I was very proud to do something like that for Chief Payepot and to honour him in that way.”

Saskatchewan News Briefs (September)

FSIN calls for share in Potash resources

The Province needs to establish a resource-revenue sharing agreement to ensure southern First Nations share in the benefits of Potash development, says Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild.

“First Nations never ceded their rights to minerals below the depth of a plough,” he stated in a release.