Wawatay Online, January 8, 2009, Volume 36, No. 1

Wawatay chooses 2008's stories of the year.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid is planning further visits to northern Ontario after visiting Lac Seul, North Caribou Lake, Cat Lake and Sioux Lookout the week before Christmas.

ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ ᐧᐊᓴ ᓂᑲᐣ ᐅᑭᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᓇᐧᐊ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐱᒥ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐃᑯᐧᐊᐨ ᐊᐱ ᑲᑭᐊᑕᐧᐁᐧᐊᐨ ᐸᑭ ᒋᑎᐯᑕᒧᐧᐊᐨ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲ ᓂᒥᑭᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᐱᒥᐸᓂᒋᑫᐧᐃᑲᒥᑯᓂ.

Filmmakers and film enthusiasts will soon journey to the remote island community of Moose Factory, Ont., for the Weeneebeg Aboriginal Film and Video Festival.

Wabigoon Lake First Nation and Eagle Lake First Nation are working with the city of Dryden to bring the Olympic Games torch to their area.

A Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug man has been charged with second degree murder in the Jan. 1 death of 23-year-old Lyle Ostaman.

Lac Seul First Nation was thinking about long-term benefits when it purchased a 25 per cent stake in the Lac Seul Generating Station.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Brad Duguid, left, was presented with a Don Ningewance painting during his Dec. 17 visit to Lac Seul.

Bearskin Lake band member Marshall Fox (2) was called up for a four-game stint with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League over the winter holidays.

Lac Seul Chief Clifford Bull and OPG executive vice president John Murphy sign an agreement that gives Lac Seul a 25 per cent in the new Lac Seul Generating Station Dec. 19.

The Residential School Apology offered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on behalf of the Canadian Government is Wawatay’s News Story of the Year.

Chief Donny Morris  Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug is Wawatay’s man of the year for 2008.

Donny Morris is seen addressing a crowd in 2005.

Wawatay’s woman of the year for 2008 is Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s Head Coun. Cecilia Begg, the lone woman jailed for standing up against mineral development in her community’s traditional territory.

Cecilia Begg is escorted from the Thunder Bay courthouse to serve time at a women’s correctional centre.

Another great story for 2008 was 12-year-old Skyler Lentz’s run in his very first dog sled race, Wawatay’s fifth sport story of the year.

Skyler Lentz’s

Young Raven Wheesk shows off his reserve flag during tournament.

At age 10, Raven Wheesk is a world champion and Wawatay’s fourth sports story of 2008.

Sandy Lake dethrones Mavs

Nearly 600 athletes, coaches and chaperones represented Team Ontario at this summer’s North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Cowichan Valley, B.C., Wawatay’s second sports story of the year.

Henry Baker races by the final turn of the track on a hot sunny day during the 2008 North American Indigenous Games in Cowichan, BC.

The top sports story for 2008 was the selection of 16-year old twins, Mitchell and Marshall Fox, in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft.

Mitchell Fox skates during a tournament in Thunder Bay last month. Mitchell and his twin Marshall were both drafted to the Ontario Hockey League last spring.

Labron Nate’s successful battle with cancer is Wawatay’s number two youth story of the year.

The modelling experience five Pelican Falls First Nation High School students had at the 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Festival is Wawatay’s number five youth story of the year.

Deanne Morrison’s passion for fashion is Wawatay’s number four youth story of the year.

The recognition of the personal achievements of four Aboriginal youth is Wawatay’s number three youth story of the year.

Awards night emcee Dakota House, left, congratulates recipient Brent Achneepineskum.

Wawatay News art director Roxy Shapwaykeesic won the Employment in a chosen career path during the ceremony.

Labron Nate is surrounded by family during his recovery.

Shannen Koostachin’s confrontation with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl and her nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize is Wawatay’s youth story of the year.

Ogichidaakwe Diane Kelly’s selection as the first female grand chief in northern Ontario makes her Wawatay’s number five newsmaker of the year.

Justice Harry LaForme’s appointment and resignation from the Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes him Wawatay’s number four newsmaker of the year.

Abraham Miles Jr.’s courage and perseverance in questioning his mistreatment by Thunder Bay Police Service officers makes him Wawatay’s number three newsmaker of the year.

Shannen Koostachin’s unwavering efforts to bring national attention to her community’s lack of a proper elementary school makes her Wawatay’s number two newsmaker of the year.

Fearless stance while facing jail, protecting traditional values garners annual nod

The call for an inquest into the 2007 death of 15-year-old Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School student Reggie Bushie is the number five news story of the year.

Dive teams comb the McIntyre River in Thunder Bay looking for the body of Reggie Bushie.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service’s negotiations to raise its standards of policing in 39 NAN communities is Wawatay’s number four news story of the year.

Attawapiskat’s fight for a new elementary school is Wawatay’s number three news story of the year.

The six-month jail sentence handed out to the KI 6 and their eventual release from jail is Wawatay’s number two news story of the year.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Chief Donny Morris, left, and Coun. Sam McKay outside an Ontario appeal court shortly after being released from jail.

I sat down to play cribbage with a friend of mine the other night. I haven’t played this game in a long time and it took me a few turns before it came back to me.

You walk this old timber road as if you were dreaming. Ahead of you the dog splatters footprints in the fresh snow and the curves and undulations of the land are skewed by the hard slant of its fall. Everything is muffled now and only the soft crunch of footfalls links you to reality.