Lyle Daniels wasn't surprised by Team Saskatchewan's first place finish at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) held in Denver, Colorado in July. That's because Saskatchewan athletes have a history of dominating the games, placing on top of the standings at every NAIG competition ever held with the exception of the games hosted by Winnipeg in 2002 when they placed second behind Team Manitoba.

This summer, the hearts and minds of people from across Saskatchewan were focused on the many young girls and women who have gone missing or have been murdered. A number of events were held across the province to remember them and to remind the public of the role they can play in helping families find out the fate of their loved ones.
On July 5, a barbecue was held in Core Community Park in Regina in remembrance of Tamra Keepness. The event coincided with the two-year anniversary of the young girl's disappearance from her Regina home when she was just five years old.

Flags across the province flew at half-mast on July 21, the day that RCMP Constable Robin Cameron was laid to rest in her home community of Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation.
The 29-year-old police officer died on July 15, succumbing to injuries received on July 7 when she and her partner, Constable Marc Bourdages, were both shot in the head following a high-speed chase near Spiritwood. Bourdages, 26, died on July 16. Forty-one-year-old Curt Dagenais has been arrested in connection with the shootings and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Family, friends and community leaders joined the University of Saskatchewan in recognizing Aboriginal graduates at a special convocation banquet on May 20.

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The event, which has grown from the first Aboriginal gradudation ceremony held by the College of Commerce in 2000, was held at the Saskatoon Inn. The guest speaker was Gary Merasty, Member of Parliament for Desnethe-Missinipi-Churchill River and a U of S grad, who spoke of the importance of education for Aboriginal youth.

Visitors to Grasslands National Park this summer will have a chance to see something no one has seen in the area for more than a century -a herd of Plains bison roaming through a portion of the park.

With summer just around the corner, staff at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, located five kilometres north of Saskatoon, are gearing up for their busy season. A popular destination for residents and tourists alike, the world-renowned park boasts daily entertainment throughout the summer months that brings the history and culture of the northern and plains first peoples to life.

The park was designated a provincial heritage property in 1984, the only such site in Saskatchewan featuring prehistoric artifacts. It was named a national historic site in 1986.

The Saskatchewan boys' team was unbeatable at this year's National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC), winning the gold medal in the national tournament held April 30 to May 6 in Kahnawake, Que. The Saskatchewan team defeated the Ontario South club 4-2 in the championship final.

As for the Saskatchewan girls' squad, it placed fifth in its nine-team division. The boys' category also featured nine entrants.

This marked the fifth year the NAHC has been held. Saskatchewan last won the boys' title in 2003.

A collection of Metis, Cree, Blackfoot, Nakota and Iroquois artifacts will soon have a new home at the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) after spending a century-and-a half in a Scottish castle.
James Carnegie, the ninth Earl of Southesk, collected the historical artifacts during a visit to western Canada in the mid-1800s. The items were stored away in a trunk in the attic of Kinnaird Castle, the earl's home, for close to 150 years. The collection was put up for auction at Sotheby's in New York City on May 8.

Since 1975, 17 members of Little Pine First Nation have taken their own lives. That's a high number for a community of only 1,400, says Little Pine's suicide prevention activist Susie Starr. All of those who have committed suicide have been women. A number of other community members have attempted suicide recently, all of them women as well.

People of all ages and from across northern Saskatchewan had a chance to get together and discuss justice issues affecting their communities during the fifth annual Northern Justice Symposium held May 10 to 12 in Prince Albert.