Shawn Bell - Wawatay News

The Ontario Geologic Survey (OGS) claimed its aerial surveying of one of Ontario’s last pristine wildernesses was done with the best of intentions. The OGS wanted to update geologic records that were decades old, it said, and help First Nations in the area create land use plans based on geologic information.
And if the aerial surveying around Weenusk First Nation along the Hudson Bay coast resulted in a big increase of mineral exploration in the area, well, no one would be surprised.

It is still much too early to judge Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Harvey Yesno’s performance in the top job.
But the former Eabametoong chief earned his spot on the Wawatay honourable mention list by not only winning the grand chief election, but for immediately implementing his own tone to the work that NAN is doing.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) members joined Attawapiskat Chief Teresa Spence on Victoria Island after walking from Toronto in protest of ongoing treaty violations.
The KI walkers, led by Mark T. Anderson, said their journey was a show of solidarity for Spence’s call for renewal of implementation of the treaty commitments made by the federal government.

A legal appeal with national implications on Aboriginal treaty rights now rests in the hands of the judges after arguments in Grassy Narrows versus Ontario closed last week.
The legal battle between Ontario and Grassy Narrows First Nation over clear-cut logging on Grassy Narrows’ traditional territory has been ongoing for over a decade. In 2011 an Ontario judge ruled in favour of the First Nation, essentially saying that Ontario did have not the authority to authorize logging that violated treaty rights.

Kathleen Wynne was named Ontario’s new premier after winning the Liberal leadership race to replace Dalton McGuinty.
Wynne served as Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs before stepping down to run for leader.
Over the course of her campaign Wynne addressed a number of issues pertaining to First Nations people, including the treaty relationship, impoverished living conditions on reserves and resource revenue sharing.