Wawatay News, July 21, 2011, Volume 38, No. 15

On a cold afternoon in February 2009, I logged on to the Ontario College Application Services website to apply for college.

It is never easy to walk away But that’s exactly what I’m preparing to do.

As increasing numbers of Nishnawbe Aski Nation members are evacuated from their communities due to forest fires, Grand Chief Stan Beardy called for a state of emergency.

Fort William First Nation artist Christian Chapman was amazed at how long the sun stays up during a recent visit to Finland for an artist-in-residency program at the Arteles Creative Centre in Haukijarvi.

The line in the sand is drawn and enough is enough as chiefs from the Matawa First Nations signed a Unity Declaration July 14 to protect natural resources in their traditional territories.

Kasabonika’s Chris T. Anderson is planning a 15-kilometre swim from his community on Kasabonika Lake to the old settlement July 30.

The lack of power was a minor issue to members of Cat Lake and Slate Falls, who July 11 showed up fully charged to support and watch the official signing of the community-based land-use plan (CLUP).

Jonathan Cheechoo has inked a deal which could see him return to the National Hockey League.

Philip Oskineegish was walking around Summer Beaver with community member and cousin Paul Oskineegish one day when he mentioned he wanted to do a walk-a-thon from Pickle Lake to Thunder Bay.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Corinne Fox is pleased with the new Ontario Native Women’s Association location in Thunder Bay.

In Honorary Indian: A Daily Inspirational Guide to help you find your own Inner Strength and Power with Tradition of the Majestic Warrior Anishnabequek Sandi Boucher challenges us to think, to laugh, to enjoy life, to not mollycoddle our children and not enable them to slough their responsibilities.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug welcomed the support of the Council of Canadians and two environmental groups for the KI Watershed Declaration.

At least for the time being, water continues to serve its purpose to provide life-giving water to Mother Earth as it flows freely, creating paths to hydrate all forms of existence on this elaborately created planet.

Stefanie Armstrong, Summer Company coordinator at the Northwest Business Centre – Dryden location, is happy with how the youth are progressing.

Whitefish Bay’s Alexa Lesperance learned more about potential health careers during the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Summer Health Sciences Camp.

Natalie Beaver found peace in the skies of Thunder Bay. Beaver, 13, from Summer Beaver was one of the two dozen youth participating in Pimesaywii Apitamahkaywin 2011, the fourth annual Wasaya Airways Aviation Camp July 4-8.

If full application of the Canadian Human Rights Act were used in First Nations, the communities would go into chaos, says Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy. He said conditions of First Nations compared to the rest of Canada are deplorable.