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The residents of Red Earth First Nation who were forced to flee the rising waters of the Carrot River last month are back home, working to clean up the damage done to their community.

Close to 1,000 people were evacuated from Red Earth in mid-April after efforts to keep the river from flooding the community failed.

Residents began returning at the end of the month as flood waters subsided.

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It must be deja vu all over again for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

On April 29, FSIN First Vice-chief Morley Watson issued a media release stating that Ralph Morin, president of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC), has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an administrative and policy review of the organization's operations. Watson chairs the SICC board of governors.

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Saskatoon-Wanuskewin Member of Parliament Maurice Vellacott has been chosen to chair the Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, despite the concerns of many in the Aboriginal community who believe he is the wrong man for the job.

Vellacott was elected chair during the committee's meeting on May 1, but the news came as no surprise, thanks to an April 18 announcement by Vellacott that Prime Minister Stephen Harper planned to nominate him to head up the standing committee.

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There have been calls for Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MNS) President Dwayne Roth to resign ever since he first took office almost two years ago, but even more pressure has been brought to bear as of late, as Metis organizations in Alberta and B.C., and even Saskatchewan's Metis Elections Commission, demand that he step down.

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Hopes raised. Hopes dashed. That's the story of the Kelowna Accord as of federal budget day May 2.

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Winners of the fourth annual Prince Charles Elementary School Aboriginal History Quiz were honored during awards ceremonies on April 7.

All of the quiz participants from grades three to six received books that had at their core Aboriginal content. They also received certificates of participation. Twenty-four with the top overall scores were presented medals and teddy bears by Gene Zwozdesky, Alberta minister of Education.

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Becky King, a Grade 5 student at Brightview elementary school in Edmonton, is thrilled to be learning about her culture.

"I've learned a lot of new things," she said. "The animals are our brothers and sisters."

Becky is among 14 Grade 4 to 6 students at the west end school taking part in the Coyote Pride Mentorship Program.

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Author Tyler Trafford released his new novel, Alexander's Way, at a book launch ceremony that included a Native art exhibition and demonstrations of powwow dances.

Stacy Da Silva performed a fancy shawl dance at the Fort Calgary celebration on April 25. Stacy is of Cree and Portuguese ancestry and won the Best Actress award at the 2005 American Indian Film Festival for her role in the film Hank Williams First Nation.

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In an attempt to combine First Nation healing traditions with the latest in medical science, the Calgary Health Region on April 28 opened the doors to its first clinic geared entirely to the needs of the city's Aboriginal population.

The 4,300-sq.-ft. Elbow River Healing Lodge will provide health care for the region's Native population through a holistic approach that will deal with the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the patients.

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The Friends of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Society is launching a rotating art exhibit in the lower level of the Jubilee Auditorium. The first exhibit will be the work of Aaron Paquette, a descendant of the Cree and Cherokee.

The exhibit, located in the Kaasa Lobby, will be available for viewing by patrons visiting the Jubilee for performances, functions and special events. The artwork featured in each exhibit will also be incorporated into the Jubilee's education programs with youth and seniors.