Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling for a commission of inquiry into the deaths of seven NAN youth in Thunder Bay after the Reggie Bushie Inquest was recently suspended.
“A commission of inquiry is the only way to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and to find ways to prevent similar tragedies from happening again,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose Sept. 12. “Last week’s ruling confirms what we have suspected for years – that First Nations have been systematically excluded from the justice system.” 

Three Matawa First Nations communities have agreed to work together on common interests in their shared traditional territories about 350 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
“Currently companies and industry are approaching our First Nations individually and we don’t have the resources,” said Long Lake #58 Chief Veronica Waboose. “Working together as three First Nations, we can assist each other and guarantee we are all in the know about projects happening within our traditional territories.”

Former Constance Lake chief Arthur Moore is now district manager, First Nations relations with Cliffs Natural Resources, one of the mining companies in the Ring of Fire mineral exploration area.
“With my experience and knowledge, I think I can provide good input,” Moore said of his new job. “So far it’s been good. It’s a good environment at the office.”

Lac Seul’s Ashley Southwind and his mother Roylene Ogemah were shocked when they first saw a tornado Aug. 16 near their community.
“My mother was the first one that saw it and she panicked,” said Southwind, a financial clerk with Lac Seul. “I was shocked at first and then I finally realized what was going on. I didn’t worry about it too much when I noticed it was going that (other) way.”
Southwind posted 10 photos to a social networking website of the tornado as it passed southeast of Kejick Bay.

Michael Fox will engage mineral resource companies in the Ring of Fire as Webequie’s Ring of Fire senior director.