Wawatay Online, August 21, 2008, Volume 35, No. 17

What does it take to convince a stubborn government to build a school? Sure, protests, signs, and banners, but in Attawapikat’s case, more is needed. A thirteen-year-old girl named Shannen Koostachin is the answer.

If Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant has his way, the relationship between Nishnawbe Aski Nation leadership and government will improve.

Sachigo Lake is Baseball Town, some locals – and even outsiders – say. A year ago, however, even the strongest believers in that title must have had some doubt.

Team Ontario's results from the North American Indigenous Games 2008.

This summer at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), hosted in Cowichan Valley, B.C., Mishkeegogamang’s Henry Baker and Lac Seul’s Rupert Bunting, earned a combined six medals at the games. Baker earned a gold, silver and two bronze, while Bunting earned two bronze in athletics events.

Migratory flocks of geese (Canadian geese, snow geese, and other waterfowl) have been an extremely important food source and there has long been an interrelationship and mutual respect between them and the Cree people.

Proposals to increase understanding of Ontario’s woodland caribou and their habitat needs have been approved by the province.

A pair of fires in Eabametoong remain under investigation by Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.

Sometimes confronting pain is the only way to find hope. This was the predominant lesson learned at the 16th annual ‘Survivors of Suicide’, aka “SOS” conference held in Wakapeka First Nation.

Oliver Small demonstrates the tradition of making tamarack geese during the Gathering of Our People in Moose Factory.

Wachyea! My name is Sarah Nastootaway from Constance Lake First Nation. I am daughter to the great warrior Edgar Sutherland Sr., the people’s person, the provider, the caregiver, the great advisor to his people within his community and other First Nation communities.

Henry Baker runs by other Team Ontario participants during the senior men’s 4x400 metre relay at NAIG 2008.

The stars are flung across the breadth of the heavens like seeds of light. They wink and glimmer in their bed of darkness and against the wobble of a loon call from the lake their distance is shrunken, brought closer, immediate and its almost like you can feel that ancient light fall upon your face.

It’s amazing what goes through your head when you’re driving. The most random thoughts popped into my brain as I made the long and boring drive from Thunder Bay to Hearst and back to cover the annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Keewaywin Conference.