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By taking a progressive tack toward real self-government, First Nations could ultimately inject billions into the Canadian economy, says the head of the Assembly of First Nations.

"Simply put, our future is Canada's future," National Chief Phil Fontaine told students, community members and First Nations leaders in Sault Ste. Marie last month.

Fontaine made his remarks on Jan. 20 at the site of the former Shingwauk residential school as a guest of Algoma University College's Shingwauk Aboriginal Students Association.

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Brent Hill would prefer to see his club winning a few more games.

Other than that, the 20-year-old forward who hails from Slave Lake, Alta. is certainly enjoying his final year of junior eligibility.

Hill, whose father is Metis, is the leading scorer for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

This is Hill's first full season in the WHL. He joined the Pats in January of 2004 after leaving Minnesota's St. Cloud University where he was on a full athletic scholarship.

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Councillor Clarence Nokahoot of White Bear First Nation wants to clear the air around the Tobacco Control Act controversy.

Amid the complaints that it is unfair that the White Bear First Nation can allow smoking in its casino, Nokahoot said that people are missing the point.

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It's long been known that First Nation people are under-represented in healthcare-related positions in Saskatchewan and across Canada. The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is trying to reverse that trend.

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Do you have a funny story to tell based on your own experience? Is there a humourous family legend that you want to share?

To celebrate the provincial centennial, the Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated is collecting stories for a book to be titled Duck Soup for the Metis Soul.

The federation's vice-president, Shirley Isbister, wants all Saskatchewan Metis to submit their stories and participate in creating this Metis legacy.

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A new book by Muskeg Lake band member Judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, brings a First Nation's perspective to Saskatchewan history.

Maskeko-Sakahikanihk, 100 Years for a Saskatchewan First Nation is a great introduction to a vast topic. It tells some of the stories of Muskeg Lake families, going back 100 years and beyond to the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876.

Turpel-Lafond wrote the book to tell the story of First Nations people in Saskatchewan.

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The old, brick building is at the south end of Saskatoon's Avenue B. It used to be an electrical building for the city. Some of its windows are boarded up, but it works just fine as home of the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op (CNYC).

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On Jan. 19, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ordered a new trial for Jeffery Kindrat and Jeffery Brown who in 2003 were found not guilty for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old Cree girl.

Dean Edmonson, tried separately for the same crime, was found guilty and given a conditional sentence. At the same hearing Edmonson appealed the conviction and the Crown appealed his sentence. The Court of Appeal is still considering Edmonson's case.

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The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company (SNTC), located on 20th St. in Saskatoon, is beginning a new venture with its first attempt at children's theatre.

The need for drama developed specifically for a younger audience is huge. And the potential for impact is far reaching, explained SNTC artistic director Kennetch Charlette.

"There is very little if any children's theatre going on in the different Aboriginal communities in Saskatchewan," he said.

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Louise Halfe is a wife, mother and grandmother. She has a bachelor of social work from the University of Regina and has completed addictions training at the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute. She is a respected writer with two books of poetry to her credit. Now she is adding another credit to her list of accomplishments, being named Saskatchewan's new poet laureate.