Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Rowena Moonias is aiming to take flight with Wasaya Airways.
“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot since I was 17,” said the Marten Falls band member.
Moonias just completed the Taking Flight: Northern Aboriginal Aviation Careers program offered by Wasaya and the Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board.
“My dad had a plane and he used to always take me flying. I loved it.”

Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation recently honoured its Talking Together program Elders for the help they provide during child welfare dispute resolution circles.
“They are the important and essential part of the circle – they are there to guide us and help us and we appreciate their teachings within the circle,” said Talking Together program manager Arlene Dodge during the April 7 gathering at the Fort William First Nation Community Centre.

The late William Winter was remembered as a very spiritual man who lived out his teachings.
“The principles that he instilled in other people he led by life example,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “He was a very compassionate, considerate caring individual and that’s how he molded his life.”
Beardy recalled an incident after he was first elected as his community’s chief that speaks to Winter’s compassionate nature.

Fort William Chief Peter Collins is looking develop more economic opportunities, regional partnerships and energy projects after being re-elected April 7.
“We’re hoping to build a day care and an Elders centre,” Collins said after being elected to his seventh term as chief with about 200 of the 676 votes cast for chief. “All these things have to go to our council first.”

Sara Kanutski has talent.
Despite being a youth, the Lake Helen band member recently won the adult-age So You Think You’ve Got Talent competition at the Intercity Shopping Centre in Thunder Bay.
“I felt kind of out-of-place but it also felt kind of cool that I could actually go into the adult (category),” said the 11-year-old Ogden Community School student. “It was kind of nerve wracking to think that I was going against people who had been singing for quite a while.”