Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias has informed the provincial government that his community will use every lawful means to oppose the Cliffs Natural Resources chromite mine project in the Ring of Fire.
“We are going to police the (Attawapiskat) river system,” Moonias said. “They are going to have to cross the Attawapiskat River, but they’re not crossing — that’s what we’re saying.
We’ll use every means, if we have any legal rights in the legal system that I can use, I will do that, at the First Nations cost.”

Providing more options for dying at home is part of a Lakehead University Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) project.
“It’s not about the quantity of life, but it’s improving the quality of what you have and respecting the people’s end of life care wishes,” said Holly Prince, project manager for the five-year, $1.825 million palliative care research project. “If their wish is to go home, how can we all work together as a community to make that happen — even if it’s not right up until the end.”

The Bending Lake Iron Group’s mine has been named after Josephine Cone, grandmother of CEO Henry Wetelainen Jr. and an investor in the company.
“She and my grandfather basically spent their life prospecting out there,” Wetelainen said.
“And had me out there when I was very young prospecting with them.”
Both of Wetelainen’s grandparents were prospectors, but his grandfather passed away from silicosis of the lungs when he was 37.

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the death of a 33-year-old Cat Lake man who was found May 19 in the CN rail yard in Sioux Lookout.
A post mortem examination was conducted that afternoon on Edward Sakakeesic, whose body was discovered at about 5:45 a.m. Results are pending.
OPP do not suspect foul play.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to call the Sioux Lookout OPP detachment at 807-737-2020 or the OPP Communications Centre at 1-888-310-1122.

Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation was crowded on May 18 as $5,000 flood claim payments were handed out to band members 18 years and older.
“You couldn’t even get in the parking lot,” said Council, Bill Parenteau. “You had people lined up here at a quarter to eight in the morning and we don’t even open until 9 a.m.”
The Treaty #3 community of about 592 band members is paying out about $3 million in flood claim payments, including the recent payments made to all members 18 and older and the payments being held in trust for members under 18 years old until they turn 18.