Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout were gathering places for people from many communities during Aboriginal Day festivities on June 21. From powwows to drumming to sports and games, some of the best parts of First Nations culture was celebrated and enjoyed.
Rachel Mishenene had goosebumps as she saw families, couples and individuals alike taking part in Pride in the Park, an event that celebrates the diversity of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people in Thunder Bay on June 16.
“When I look around, it’s unimaginable after talking with my son in the car about putting this together,” the Mishkeegogamang First Nation member said. “It’s about all families and community members coming out and sharing with us in that celebrating - just bringing people to enjoy those things in life that we all enjoy.”
Stephanie Wesley of Lac Seul First Nation was going through some rough times until she received some great news.
The 29-year-old’s basement apartment was flooded during the May 27 flood in Thunder Bay and she was staying at her mom’s.
“It was kind of a dark time for me,” said Wesley, a student in Native child and family services at Confederation College in Thunder Bay.
Then in mid-June she missed a phone call and called back. She was told she won first place in her age category in the Canadian Aboriginal Writing and Arts Challenge.
After spending 31 days canoeing on the Pipestone and Winisk Rivers, Sam Hunter reached Hudson Bay on June 25.
“I just wanted to see the ice and I went to go right to the edge of the saltwater,” the Weenusk First Nation member said.
Reaching the bay concluded the 1,500-kilometre journey Hunter began on May 23 when he first hit the water near Pickle Lake.
After spending two weeks celebrating his Stanley Cup victory with the Los Angeles Kings and making media appearances, Jordan Nolan returned to Garden River in late June to help prepare the community parade for when he brings the Cup on Aug. 20.
Jordan spoke with Wawatay News about his early hockey years, working hard to earn and then keep his spot in the Kings lineup and the feeling on the bench as the clock ticked down during the final minutes of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Wawatay: Who were your favourite NHL players growing up?
Jordan Nolan has been a busy man since last February.
After being called up to join the Los Angeles Kings, Nolan played every game until June 11, when the team won hockey’s greatest prize: the Stanley Cup. The win was followed by two weeks of celebrations in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Even as he returned to Garden River in late June, Nolan still found himself preoccupied.
“I’ve been pretty busy the past two days, just trying to get everything organized in our house,” the 22-year-old said. “Just to set up for the parade that we’re gonna have here.”
To aid in the battle against prescription drug and alcohol abuse, 14 health and social workers from Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) communities have graduated from an addictions training program to work on the frontlines.
The graduates received their certificates from the Canadian Council of Professional Certification in a ceremony in Winnipeg on July 6. Members of Keewaywin, Deer Lake, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake, and Fort Severn completed the eight-week training program.
Candidates running in the upcoming Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) election for the executive council were announced on July 17.
The seven candidates running for NAN Grand Chief are: Lawrence Martin of Moose Cree, David Neegan of Constance Lake, Doug Semple of Kasabonika, Harvey Yesno of Eabametoong, Terry Waboose of Eabametoong, Brian Davey of Moose Cree and Mike Metatawabin of Fort Albany.
Two sisters from Oakville, Ont., have been collecting books for more than a year.
After amassing more than 400 books bought out of their own pockets from secondhand stores and garage sales, Emma and Julia Mogus plan on sending the books up to communities in the NAN region.
“We fostered a love of learning and reading,” Emma said, noting that they grew up with cable TV. “We heard there are less fortunate families that don’t have the books like we do. We thought, let’s collect books and give it to a group that really needs those books.”
In 2003, hundreds of people gathered in Moose Factory to celebrate the inaugural Creefest event along with Moose Cree’s Gathering of Our People.
A decade later, the two cultural festivals will combine again to celebrate Mushkegowuk traditions in northeastern Ontario from July 25-28 in Moose Factory.
Since its inception, Creefest has taken place in each of the seven Muskegowuk communities, which includes Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Taykwa Tagamou, Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree and Moose Cree.
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