5 feel-good stories that helped bring communities together this year

Here's five stories from CBC Indigenous this year about people and communities connecting with culture, following their dreams and finding joy.

On Jan. 31, the Fort Peck community in Montana gifted Mosquito Grizzly Bear Head Lean Man First Nation in Saskatchewan, 700 kilometres away, with a family group of 11 Yellowstone bison. 

Not only was this a celebration of the bison being given across the border for the first time but it also rebuilding the relationship of the two Nakota communities.

Eight emerging Mi'kmaw artists from Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick were taught the skills of traditional mask carving by a local instructor in March.

This story shares how these teachings of traditional mask carving were a part of their healing journey, as each participant had struggled with addiction. 

In April, Sage Ballantyne made his nephew Chase Meechance, a member of Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, a ribbon shirt made out of reusable Walmart shopping bags to fulfil a dream Meechance had. 

Ballantyne went on to craft pants for powwow regalia out of No Frills bags.

In July, Connor Hanska, a nine-year-old golfer from Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, was getting ready to tee off against the world's best junior golfers in a tournament in Northern Ireland.

Hanska took on 250 of the top junior golfers from more than 40 countries at the 2025 Champion of Champions World Championship tournament. He went on to score 10th in his age category.

In 2023, sisters Shennaya and Josie Saddleback videoed the CPKC Holiday Train speeding through Maskwacis, Alta., with a reaction video of one of them laughing so hard she was gasping for air.

Thanks to those videos and advocacy from a local band councillor, this year was different.