Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Tina Sainnawap braved the coldest night of the year to deliver raisin bannock, juice and warm hats and gloves to people on the streets of downtown Thunder Bay.
“It was good, I really loved it,” said the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug band member after completing her deliveries Jan. 22 in -34 C conditions. “(There were) lots of people helping and the turnout was good. The weather doesn’t hinder us from doing what we’re supposed to do. We keep doing it because it was a commitment I made and my aunt (helps) whenever she can join me.”

Big Grassy’s Lauryn Horton travelled through -30 to -35 C conditions to reach the Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games Jan. 20-23 in Thunder Bay.
“It took us six hours to drive here,” said Horton’s mother, Rachel Copenance.
Although Horton’s family braved the elements to get to the Special Olympics, officials cancelled her event, the Unified Event, due to freezing conditions below the -25 cut off point for the games.
Horton was sad about not being able to compete, but the eight-year-old did meet Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke.
And shook his hand.

The New Democratic Party critic for health is seeking support for her private member’s bill: An Act Respecting a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
Introduced by Halifax MP Megan Leslie in November in the House of Commons, Bill C-593 directs the federal government to establish a national suicide prevention strategy, in consultation with the provincial, territorial and First Nations governments.

Twelve Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service officers have been appointed as special constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for a number of outlying islands in James Bay.
While the officers are not directly working for the RCMP, they will represent Canada’s national police force in investigations, when necessary.

Aboriginal youth aged 14-29 are invited to submit stories and artwork exploring a moment in Aboriginal history to the expanded Canadian Aboriginal Writing and Arts Challenge.
“Young indigenous voices from across Canada dazzled last year,” said Joseph Boyden, an Aboriginal playwright and author who won the 2008 Giller Prize for his book Through Black Spruce. “We believe that this important contest will continue to discover more and more talented Aboriginal youth.”