Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Due to her hunger strike that garnered national headlines and inspired and influenced the actions of others, Theresa Spence is Wawatay’s Female Newsmaker of the Year.
As the calendar flipped to 2013, Spence was in the midst of her hunger strike on Victoria Island in Ottawa.
The Attawapiskat chief was calling on the prime minister and governor general to meet with her and all the other chiefs to discuss the treaty relationship and address the issues plaguing First Nations across the country.

A Moose Cree artist who received a preeminent national award geared towards emerging artists in the contemporary Canadian arts scene is Wawatay’s Arts Story of the Year.
Duane Linklater received the Sobey Art Award, which is awarded to a Canadian artist age 40 and under chosen “due to their extraordinary and rigorous practice” and who “demonstrates a distinct style and approach to film making, video, performance…where spectral and imaginative concepts are contrasted with tangible everyday environment.”

When the Reclaiming Our Steps Past, Present and Future walkers trek through the lowlands of the James Bay coast on their way to Ottawa, Danny Metatawabin said it is often in silence.
“When you walk, you reflect and you pray and you just continue walking,” the Fort Albany First Nation member said. “It’s mostly silence because we’re on a mission, we’re focused.”

A Mushkegowuk Elder and the oldest residential school survivor in the country celebrated her 110th birthday on Jan. 28.
Marguerite Wabano (nee Kioke) was a year old when Treaty 9 was first signed. She was 10 when the First World War broke out. When the Great Depression hit, she was in her 20s.
She was 35 years old when Germany invaded Poland to start the Second World War. Granny Wabano already lived 65 years when mankind first landed on the moon.

A First Nation owned airline based in Thunder Bay is trying to do its part in shipping food to northern communities.
Niigaani Air recently flew shipments of food donations to Webequie and Eabametoong First Nations and hopes to do more runs.
Arthur Esquega, president and owner of the charter plane service, said the idea came about after speaking with his mother, who put him in touch with a reverend in Webequie.