Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs rejected the federal government’s Bill C-33, First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, during a May 6-7 gathering in Thunder Bay.
“Our First Nations have our own vision,” said Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic. “We believe that the future of education in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory is based on the vision we have on jurisdiction of education in our communities.”
Kakegamic said NAN has been holding discussions with the federal government over education for the past 10 years.

The Chiefs of Ontario Indigenous Education Summit delegates have rejected the federal government’s proposed Bill C-33, First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act.

Developing the Ring of Fire was a hot topic just before the leadership debate on northern Ontario issues began on May 26.
While the NDP and Liberal party leaders have both promised to invest more than $1 billion to develop infrastructure in the Ring of Fire, New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath announced Ring of Fire revenue sharing negotiation plans just prior to the leadership debate.

Lac Seul artist Ahmoo Angeconeb and two other First Nation Lakehead University alumni were among the five honoured at the 2014 Lakehead University Alumni Awards Dinner.
“I was quite surprised at first but I’m really honoured,” said Angeconeb, who picked up an Alumni Honour Award at the May 28 symposium in Thunder Bay. “It’s really overwhelming getting this award. I didn’t suspect I would get such an award.”

Two Northern Ontario School of Medicine researchers were recently feasted by Lac Seul for their research into a vaccine for a bacterial pathogen that affects First Nations people.
“Northwestern Ontario has the second largest number of cases of Haemophilus influenzae type A, after the Canadian Arctic,” said Marina Ulanova, an associate professor at NOSM. “In addition, we have discovered that Haemophilus influenzae type A occurs at a much higher rate among First Nations peoples compared to the rest of the population in northwestern Ontario.”