By Alina Perrault Roselena Lafert takes four grandchildren with her when she makes her twice-weekly trips to the Regina Food Bank. Sometimes she finds a ride; sometimes she walks. “Something has to be done because the one’s who (are) suffering are the children. The children are always suffering, one way or another just like residential schools, convents, boarding school whatever you what to call them. The children suffered then and the children are still suffering to this day.” Lafert joined the Aboriginal Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren Support Network in 2004 to share support from other grandmothers and to help her learn about programs that might be available to her. Aboriginal Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren is a group that began in Regina as a research project. The networks holds monthly meetings where grandmothers contribute in talking circles led by Elders, including Elder Betty McKenna, and talk about challenges they face caring

By Aaron B. Tootoosis Chelsa Reil is a young Aboriginal woman from the Nekaneet First Nation who is active in the fight to end violence against women. She has organized The Vagina Monologues for the past three years in Regina by hiring all the cast and crew for the popular show. Having an all-Aboriginal cast in this production is important to her because women in the Aboriginal community are three times more likely to experience violence than women in non-Aboriginal communities. “It creates awareness that it can happen to anybody, wherever and whoever you are,” Reil said. She said that The Vagina Monologues draws more women to speak out and gain the self-esteem and courage to come out of abusive relationships. The production took place April 29, 2011 at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum theatre. The performance starred a panel of successful Aboriginal women. The most notable stars at this year’s

By Cindy Burns   Corporal James Pratt is a retired police officer who served 25 years with the Regina city police. Pratt is now working with the Aboriginal Police Preparation (APP) program because he wants to transfer his knowledge and experience to others who want to serve their community as police officers. The APP program is offered through Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) Wascana campus. The program provides role models and an orientation to the challenges and opportunities that police face every day. Pratt is a role model and recruiter for the program.  “Role models are important and I try to be a role model for the class and presentations,” says Pratt. Pratt is a 55-year-old member of the Muscowpetung First Nation. He was the first Aboriginal person to join the Regina Police Service in 1983. He also served two years as an RCMP officer when he