Wawatay News

Ontario is putting its new Climate Change Strategy into action by investing $13 million in two initiatives to help Indigenous communities address climate change and support economic growth.

The province is providing $5 million from the Green Investment Fund to the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources, in partnership with the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation. This investment will help provide Indigenous communities with training, tools and infrastructure to address climate change by:

Developing climate change adaptation plans.

The remains of 16-year-old Delaine Copenace, who has been missing since February 28, 2016, were discovered in Kenora, Ontario.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, on behalf of the Executive Council, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Delaine Copenace, whose remains were identified by police March 22, 2016:

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day along with other First Nation leaders are calling for the public’s assistance in locating missing student Delaine Copenace of Onigaming First Nation, located near Kenora, Ontario.

“We are asking the public for help in finding this missing 16-year-old girl whose family is missing her terribly and is worried beyond belief. We need to protect our children and bring this young woman home safe,” said Ontario Regional Chief Day.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler welcomes today’s landmark ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that the Government of Canada’s failure to provide equitable child welfare funding for vulnerable First Nations children is discriminatory.

Magnetawan First Nation Chief William Diabo says today’s train derailment within their traditional territory does not pose any health or environmental threat.

“We are fortunate that there is no risk and this is not a major disaster as it could’ve been,” said Chief Diabo. “Speaking with the CP Rail, there will be an investigation and a report issued to our community as soon as they are done with it.”

According to reports a train derailment this morning closed Highway 529, a road that branches off Highway 69 in the Pointe au Baril and Byng Inlet areas.