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Design by Cando student selected in logo contest

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Grade 12 student Purcell Moosomin was the guest of honour during a celebration at Cando community school on Dec. 16, held to unveil his logo design for the Living Sky School Division.

According to Shelly Janostin, communications co-ordinator for the Living Sky School Division, a competition was held to find a logo for the division, newly created through amalgamation of three existing school divisions-The Lands West School Division, the Battlefords School Division and portions of the Biggar School Division.

Brothers band together to work on music careers

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The Whitecalf brothers really know how to rock.

Michael, 19, plays guitar. Ben, 17, plays drums. And Frank, 16, plays guitar and provides lead vocals. Together the three boys from Sweetgrass First Nation are Arrowhead, a heavy metal band the trio formed last year.

"We were jamming with each other for a long time, but it was official last winter," said Frank.

"We're pretty much self-taught," Michael added. "My older brother taught me this one riff and it just went from there."

Michael was in another band, Highway 40, before Arrowhead was formed.

Metal band makes some noise

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In the rapidly growing metal underground in Prince Albert, one band is making strides in a huge way.

Formed in 2003, Cessate is a five piece wrecking ball of energy. The chemistry and talent of this group is only surpassed by what each individual member brings to the band. Guitarists Justin Bender and Chad Mahberg deliver their ear-splitting and distorted chords with such power that the listener can feel it in their chest. The bottom end supplied by Pete Dabrowicz's BC Rich bass turns each song into a tribal rite of passage.

Centre moving forward on plans for keeping house

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It's been years in the making, but it looks like the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) may soon have its keeping house.

The centre is in negotiations to purchase the building that currently houses the Unitarian church at 912 Idylwyld Drive North. If the purchase goes through, the centre will relocate from the leased space it currently occupies and begin renovations and expansion to accommodate the planned keeping house and museum.

Missing and murdered women remembered

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The people who gathered together at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon on Dec. 10 likely didn't need a reminder of why they were there, but one was provided anyway. At the front of the room stood 12 empty chairs draped in blankets, representing absent mothers, sisters and daughters.

The theme of the afternoon gathering was E-kiskisiyak Iskwewuk-Remembering the Women. Several of those in attendance were family members of women who are missing or have been murdered, and a number of them shared their experiences and emotions with the audience.

Diabetes conference planned

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Over two million Canadians suffer from diabetes. It is the most common cause of kidney disease and adult blindness, and the strongest risk factor predicting the development of heart disease and stroke. Diabetes in Aboriginal communities is now up to five times the national average. This epidemic can be prevented.

The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA) is hosting the second Alberta Conference on Diabetes and Aboriginal Peoples on March 2 to 3 at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre in Edmonton.

Online health tool for Aboriginal peoples expanded

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Saint Elizabeth Health Care announced it will spend $2 million over the next three years to support the national rollout of a Web-based program known as @YourSide Colleague to First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada.

The program offers 'round-the-clock access to a virtual network of experts, colleagues and peers, as well as self-directed distance education and learning tools in areas such as diabetes, wound care and palliative care. All that is needed is a computer, access to the Internet, and a username and password.