Rick Garrick

Wahgoshig’s 13-year-old proxy Aaron Chokomolin was the youngest representative at the Chiefs of Ontario’s 42nd Annual All-Ontario Chiefs Conference (AOCC), held June 28-30 in Thunder Bay.

“I’m very honoured to be recognized by chiefs from everywhere in Ontario,” Chokomolin says. “And I’ve discovered that there’s new generations to come. Chiefs can see stuff in you that you cannot see yourself.”

Chokomolin was chosen by his community’s youth council to attend the AOCC. He encourages other youth to “keep on pushing” for their objectives.

A visitor from Iran enjoyed participating in the bannock making contest at Fort William Historical Park’s Anishnawbe Keeshigun Aboriginal Festival.

“It’s excellent and I love it,” says Masim Gahavidel, a visitor from Tehran, Iran. “I hope these competitions will happen more in this city. The traditional foods from here are more interesting for me.”

Chuck Meshake won the bannock making contest after creating two loads of fry bread in a cast iron frying pan over the open fire.