Brian Towris started as an assistant coach under Val Schneider in 1980 before taking over the team as head coach in 1984. He spent four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Huskies from 1974-77 and was named a conference all-star in 1974. The Moose Jaw native has led Saskatchewan to three Vanier Cup titles, 11 Hardy Cup titles and nine Vanier Cup appearances. He is a seven-time Canada West coach of the year and one time CIS coach of the year. He retired as Head Coach in 2016.

J. Milton Bell was born on a farm at Islay, Alberta, 16 January 1922. He obtained his senior matriculation in 1939 at Scott, Saskatchewan and went on to graduate with a diploma from the two-year course in general agriculture at Vermilion, Alberta. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Alberta in 1943, a Master of Science in 1945 from McGill University, a Ph.D. in 1948 from Cornell University and a D.Sc. in 1986 from McGill University. Dr. Bell joined the Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Saskatchewan in 1948. He was head of the Department from 1954 to 1975 when he assumed the position of Associate Dean (Research) in the College of Agriculture for five years. He retired in 1989, continuing his research as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Bell has contributed much to the animal industry through his nutrition research at the University of Saskatchewan and has published over 160 papers in scientific journals including book chapters. He has served on numerous agricultural committees across Canada, including the first chairmanship of the Research Committee of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, later the Canola Council of Canada. He was President of the Groupe Consultafatif International de Recherche sur le Colza (GCIRC), headquartered in Paris 1990-1993, and chaired the Eighth International Rapeseed Congress held in Saskatoon in July 1991. Dr. Bell has received numerous awards and honours, including the Order of Canada in 1973 and membership in the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1989.

John Milton Bell (1922-1998) was born in islay, Alberta. He joined the faculty of the Department of Animal Husbandry at the University of Saskatchewan in 1948. He served as Department Head from 1954-1975, then as Associate Dean from 1975-1980, and finally as the Burford Hooke Research Chair until his retirement in 1990. He earned a BSc in Agriculture at the University of Alberta in 1943, an MSc from McGill University in 1945, and a PhD at Cornell University in 1948, specializing in nutrition. Bell was an active member of a small team of plant breeders, nutritionists and chemists that developed canola as a major crop for Canadian farmers. His work with rapeseed, begun in the early 1950s, involved basic nutritional research but also branched into toxicology and the mechanism of action of goitroigens and glucosinolates in swine and mice. Bell worked co-operatively with plant breeders and other animal nutritionists in defining the detrimental characteristics in rapeseed, which eventually gave rise to the development of canola and the effective utilization of canola meal in livestock rations.
Bell served as president of the Canadian Society of Animal Science in 1952, also serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Nutrition, the Canadian Journal of Animal Science, and the Journal of the European Association of Animal Production. In recognition of his many contributions, he received more than twenty major awards including Fellow of the Agriculture Institute of Canada (FAIC), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), Doctor of Science (McGill University), and Officer in the Order of Canada. He was invested into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. Bell’s dedication to the field of animal nutrition was demonstrated by his response to receiving the James McAnsh Award from the Canola Council of Canada. Bell, the first recipient of this award, chose not to accept the cash award, and directed that the money be used to establish the J.M. Bell Post Graduate Scholarship in Animal Nutrition at the U of S. Bell died in Saskatoon in 1998.

eo Kristjanson was born on February 28, 1932, the youngest of eight children. As a child, he worked at his parents’ general store in Gimli, Manitoba in addition to working on the family farm. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre had been established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. In 1965, Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) of the University from 1975 to 1980, and in 1980 he became president. Illness prevented him from completing his second term, and he retired in 1989. The atrium in the Agriculture building at the University of Saskatchewan is named in honour of his contribution to the University.

As president, Kristjanson sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbuster’s Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12,000,000 from private sources for the construction of the building. He was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernan Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. He was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, August Kenderdine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, the Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established.

Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to Farm Organizations, Co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. He was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973 to 1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. He also wrote extensively and has given many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. Leo Kristjanson was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1990. He died on August 21, 2005.

grandson of David Joseph Lafond

Nora (nee Arcand) Ledoux was born on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation on April 22, 1929 to Joseph and Adeline Arcand. Nora stayed at home on the reserve with her parents until September of 1936, when she was sent to the St. Michael's Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. She attended St Michael's school until she was discharged in the spring of 1945. She then returned to her home community, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. After returning home, Nora worked at a café called Winks in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. She also took jobs as a domestic for farmers in the area surrounding Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Nora married Vincent Ledoux on April 23, 1951. Nora had nine children (Geraldine Marie 1950, Myrtle Rosalie 1952-1986, Vivian Adeline 1954, Gilbert Charles 1955, Emily Mary 1957, Donna Blanche 1960, Joey Anthony 1962, Dennis Vincent 1964, and Brenda Lee 1967). Nora and Vincent farmed on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Although farming was hard work, Nora remembers how the whole community would help each other out: "it was an everyday occurrence to give a helping hand to other farmers. It was nice. No one would have to ask. They'd just show up and offer to help." In 1972, Nora was hired by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to work in the Marcelin School as a guidance councilor. Nora's position was eventually transferred from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to the Blaine Lake School Division and Nora held her position with Marcelin School until she retired in 1987. Nora's husband Vincent had passed away July 25, 1981 after 30 years of marriage. Nora lives on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation where she is retired, but is an active Elder in the community and an avid fan of all forms of sports.

Georgina (nee Lafond) Venne was born on July 3, 1930, at home on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. Georgina is one of twelve children born to August and Rose (nee Moreau) Lafond. Georgina spent her early years at home with her parents. In 1938, she was sent to St. Michael's Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. Georgina's mother was a Métis woman and the family was fluent in the language of michif and while at the residential school the nuns would not speak French in front of the Lafond children. Georgina stayed at St. Michael's Residential School until 1946. After leaving residential school, Georgina returned to Muskeg Lake to help her mother at home. In April of 1948 Georgina moved to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta to work as a domestic. Georgina returned to Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in September of the same year. Georgina married Emile Venne (a veteran of the Second World War) on October 4, 1948. Georgina and Emile had ten children (Annabelle Jean 1950, Marvin Bernard 1951, Emil Rodney 1953, Albert 1955, Kerry Dale 1958, Perry 1962-1969, Darcy Wayne 1963, Colleen Rose 1966, Shane Lee 1970 and Debra Marie in 1976). Emile and Georgina ran a small family farm on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in the early years of their marriage. Emile was elected Chief of Muskeg Lake in 1956 and served until 1958. In 1961, Emile accepted a job as a farm instructor for The Department of Indian Affairs. Due to the nature of his job, Emile and his family resided in various Saskatchewan communities including: Fishing Lake First Nation, Big River First Nation and Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation. The Vennes settled in Saskatoon in 1970. Emile retired from Indian Affairs in 1983. Georgina was widowed January 8, 1999 after 50 years of marriage.

Flora Jeanne Greyeyes was born on July 13, 1914 at home on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. She is one of 18 children of Cecile (nee White) and James Greyeyes. Flora was sent to St Michael's Indian Residential School in Duck Lake in 1922 where she stayed until contracting tuberculosis in 1925 or 1926, she was then sent to the Fort Qu'Appelle Sanatorium. After her release from the Sanatorium, Flora returned home to Muskeg Lake Cree Nation to help out with home life and working on the small family farm. On October 19, 1942, Flora enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force making her one of the first First Nations women to join the Royal Canadian Air-Force (RCAF). She stayed with the RCAF until September 15, 1945 with the rank of Leading Aircraft-woman upon retirement; Flora also received the Canadian Volunteer Service and War Medal 1939-45. Flora married David Greyeyes-Steele a fellow veteran and together they had eight children (James Ronald 1946, Barbara Ann 1948, Beverly Ann 1949, Debra Ann 1951, twins Diana Lynn and Deanna Jeanne 1952, David Winston 1954 and Sarah Sandra in 1958). David took a job with Indian Affairs in 1959 becoming Director of the Maritime, Alberta and then Saskatchewan regions, due to David's job the family lived in many places across Canada including Saskatchewan, Alberta, The North West Territories, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Flora and David settled in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan after David's retirement and resided there until his passing on July 20, 1996. After Flora was widowed she moved back to her home community of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation with her daughter Deanna.
She passed away March 3, 2008.

David Joseph Lafond was born on April 6, 1928, at home at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. The second of twelve children born to August and Rose (nee Moreau) Lafond, Dave spent his first ten years living with his parents on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. In 1937, he was sent to St. Michael's Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan where he attended until 1944. After returning home, David lived with his grandparents Andrew and Madeline (nee Greyeyes) Lafond, where he helped with his grandfather's small farm; a farm that David likened to 'a large garden nowadays.' To earn extra money, Dave would work as a farm hand during harvest season. David left the reserve in the spring of 1948 to work in Squamish, British Columbia, where he installed footings for power lines. Following that, he moved to Ontario where he worked in the Red Lake gold mine. David began his lengthy career in farming after his return from Ontario in 1949. He started out with four horses, two cows, and a plow, and cleared the land by hand with a hired helper. David purchased land on and around Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, where he farmed to create a very successful career for himself. David married Eva Venne on October 25, 1950. Their first home was a 'log shack' that David built with five hundred dollars. In 1951, David was able to purchase his first tractor, which made things a little easier, enabling him to work more land. David and Eva lived in their cabin until 1961. Six of their seven children were born while they lived there. (Lester David 1951, Joyce Marilyn 1953, Kirk Patrick 1955, Elvis Brennon 1957-2001, Janet Lucille 1959, Melody Rose 1961) In 1961, David was able to build a larger home for his family near their original homestead. Their seventh child Lois Louise was born in 1964 while they were living in the new three-bedroom home. David was actively involved with the Crown Hill 4-H club for thirty-five years. In 2003, he was honored by the Angus Cattle Association at the Regina Agribition for his contribution to the 4-H Club. David was also very involved with sports. He played hockey for the Aldina Prolites until he broke his arm in 1957. Though unable to play any longer, he remained an avid sports enthusiast. David served as a councilor for Muskeg Lake Cree Nation for thirty years beginning in 1966 until 1996. He also served as Acting Chief 1989 to 1990. On April 21, 1998, David's wife, Eva, of 47 years passed away. David Joseph Lafond resides at his home on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, where he farms with his grandson Stacy Sutherland, continuing the tradition of his family.

Antoinette (Greyeyes) Moreau was born in 1927 at home on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. She is the sixth of eleven children born to Louis Nathan and Clemence (nee Ledoux) Greyeyes. Antoinette married Edmond Moreau in 1946. Antoinette had fourteen children (Gordon, Ruth, Gary, Rhonda, Karen, Louis, Kenneth, Sharon, Wayne, Dennis, Dean, Derrick, Deborah and Denise). Antoinette attended school at the St. Michael's Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. She raised her family in the town of Marcelin located south of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.