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To mark June 21, National Aboriginal Day, the Canadian Forces Leadership Institute and the Canadian Defence Academy are co-ordinating a two-day conference on Aboriginal contributions to the Canadian military.

Aboriginals and the Canadian Military: past, present, future will take place at the Royal Military College in Kingston on June 21 and 22.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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For the second year in a row, the Peacekeepers Pedaling for Aboriginal People with Diabetes tour was on the road, cycling through Saskatchewan First Nations communities in an attempt to increase awareness of type 2 diabetes.

Along the way, Saskatoon Police Service constables Keith Salzl and Tony Nadon and civilian cyclist Michael Linklater hoped to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). Linklater and the two officers left on May 10 from Saskatoon and made their way through many communities. The 15-day bike trip wrapped up on May 24 in Saskatoon.

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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.

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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.

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The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company (SNTC) has big plans for the future and has launched a fundraising campaign designed to turn those plans into a reality.

On May 23, the SNTC announced the start of the campaign, entitled Oski-Pimacihowin-A New Life, Setting the stage in the lives of youth, performing artists and communities. Through the campaign, the Saskatoon-based company hopes to raise $5.3 million by the end of 2007.