Empowering at-risk youth through traditional teachings, music and sharing circles ensured the successful outcome of the ninth annual Aboriginal Youth Leadership Retreats, according to organizer, Raul Munoz of the Indigenous Peoples Program at the University of Saskatchewan.
"It was an opportunity for kids to come in there to listen," Munoz said. "It gave them basically a way of thinking about these issues that came from a non-academic, non-textbook way."
The two retreats were an initiative the Indigenous Peoples Program.

Successes and innovations in First Nations education across the province of Saskatchewan were recognized and celebrated during a conference organized by the Muskoday First Nation Community School in early February.
The "Celebrating Innovation in First Nations Education, New Paths ­ Best Practices Conference" was held Feb. 7 and 8 in Saskatoon. The sold-out conference was sponsored by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and attended by more than 200 guests connected to education.

The most at risk people in the world for developing rheumatoid arthritis are Aboriginal people, who are immediate family members of someone who already has the disease.
"Aboriginal people have a two to three times higher rate than anyone in the world," said Dr. David Robinson. "Rheumatoid arthritis is an ancient North American disease. It's been hanging out in North America for a long, long time."

Artist-Tracy Bone
Album-No Lies
Song-Reality
Label- Arbor Records
Producer-Phillippe Deschambault

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm: Compassion. Someone who embraces and enjoys life yet has compassion is gold.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
K.A-D.: A lack of reciprocity can really anger me because, at best, it's egocentric and thoughtless. At worst, it can be very disrespectful, exploitative, oppressive, and extremely destructive.

Artists cry the softest, for they create works of beauty out of pain. Whether in longing for the past, escaping from the present or sighing in hope for the future, it takes sensitivity to create the breadth of work Daphne Odjig has contributed to Canadian Fine Art.
She's ever quick to smile and brims with a readiness to laugh. Whether or not Odjig's art comes from the inner processing of soft pain, she has definitely created beauty. Characteristically with colour, form, versatility and creative vision.

The File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) questions the Saskatchewan Party's commitment to working with First Nations after funding cuts to the Oyate Transitional Care Home in Regina is forcing the centre to close down permanently.
"We feel we are being punished for not supporting the Saskatchewan Party's position on this issue when it became public in 2006," said FHQTC chair Edmund Bellegarde of the Regina-based six-bed facility for 12 to 15 year old at-risk females.

Bullying, marijuana use, assault, gangs, murder, break and enter, robbery and shoplifting are the topics explored by a Native theatre group in partnership with Legal Aid of Saskatchewan for high school students.
"Legal Aid started going directly to communities here and began asking them how can we make it known to your children and your community members what Legal Aid deals with," said Alanis King, artistic director, Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company.

In Calgary this February, a jury convicted Natalie Pasqua, 27 of second-degree murder in the death of Gage Provost, 17. The conviction carries an automatic life sentence.
The Court of Queen's Bench Justice John Rooke decided Pasqua would not be eligible for parole for 12 years.
Rooke cited Pasqua's criminal record and that in the eyes of the law she was an adult who killed a child.

The RCMP and the Commission for Public Complaints (CPC), want to improve the general Canadian view of the RCMP by making reforms to its processes.
An extensive review is underway by the CPC to find ways to improve the process for filing complaints and to raise public awareness of their program.
In a study conducted by the CPC, only 60 per cent of persons in Canadian communities policed by the RCMP feel comfortable making a complaint at the local detachment.