Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Feathers of Hope Justice and Juries report released

Create: 04/01/2016 - 01:51
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling for increased funding for the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service after the Feathers of Hope Justice and Juries report was released on March 7.

“We all know that Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and Treaty Three Police are all underfunded,” says Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum. “And that is the main (reason) why they are unable to provide adequate services. They don’t have the budget to provide services in the way they should be.”

Oshki holds graduation at Musselwhite

Create: 03/19/2016 - 01:41
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Cat Lake’s Kyra Wesley plans to attend Confederation College’s Environmental Technician program after graduating from Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s Aboriginal Mining and Skilled Trades Entry Program (AMSTEP).

“My favourite subject (in high school) was science,” Wesley says. “I wanted to pick between chemistry and the environment, and I thought there was enough chemists in the world, so I (chose to) go for something in the environment.”
Kingfisher Lake’s Kevin Winter enjoyed the Pre-Trades portion of the program.

Matawa hosts education conference in Thunder Bay

Create: 03/15/2016 - 03:48
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Matawa First Nations and Keewaytinook Okimakanak partnered to present the Oshki Maajichiikewinan New Beginnings education conference on March 9-10 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.

“We’re focusing on student retention, student attendance, student learning, student engagement, parental engagement,” says Sharon Nate, Matawa’s education manager. “There is definitely a need for student retention, student attendance, increased measures for literacy, numeracy and performance measurements. This is a great opportunity for our schools to come together and work together.”

Self identification conference held in Thunder Bay

Create: 03/12/2016 - 02:25
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

First Nations ownership and control of information was one of the issues raised at Confederation College’s We Are Here: Indigenous Learners in Postsecondary Education conference.

“First Nation governments need to control their own information systems,” says Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, senior project manager of Guiding Directions Implementation and Elder at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
“They need to think about exerting jurisdiction over their data and consider a central data system that would serve their needs.”

Nishnawbe Aski Nation reinstates NAN Youth Gathering

Create: 03/08/2016 - 04:26
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Nishnawbe Aski Nation reinstated the NAN Youth Gathering with a variety of traditional and cultural teachings from March 3-7 at the Best Western Plus Norwester in Thunder Bay.

“It’s been so long, it’s been too long, but we’re back and together,” says Stan Wesley, emcee for NAN Youth Gathering 2016. “We can tell stories again. We can laugh again and we can talk about how incredible we are.”

Wesley encouraged the youth to party hard, noting he has partied hard throughout his life.

Webequie’s Norman Shewaybick completes 1000 km walk in memory of wife

Create: 03/03/2016 - 00:00
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Webequie’s Norman Shewaybick called for better First Nation health services after walking from Thunder Bay to Webequie in memory of his wife Laura, who died last October.

“My sons were there when that oxygen tank ran out (in) the nursing station,” Shewaybick says. “And I had to plead for my wife.”

Shewaybick’s wife died on Oct. 8 after being medevac’d in respiratory distress to Thunder Bay after the Webequie nursing station’ supply of oxygen ran out.

Aboriginal People’s Court is "long overdue"

Create: 03/02/2016 - 04:35
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

The development of an Aboriginal People’s Court was the focus of a recent forum hosted by Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation and Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre.

“It’s long overdue,” says Celina Reitberger, NALSC’s executive director. “We see from the room today that there is a will to have this done, and where there is a will, there is a way. I am pretty confident that we are going to move forward on this, and as I predicted, we are going to have a majority of Aboriginal courts in this area because we are the majority of the users.”

Junior Canadian Rangers train at Fort William Historical Park

Create: 03/02/2016 - 04:31
Author: 
Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

This winter’s four-day Junior Canadian Rangers training weekend at Fort William Historical Park was “awesome,” according to a number of the JCRs.

“It’s been pretty awesome,” says Kaitlyn Hunter, a JCR from Peawanuck. “I enjoyed my stay here.”

Hunter particularly enjoyed the Feb. 25 evening Star Walk at FWHP’s David Thompson Astronomical Observatory.

“It was interesting and I learned a lot about it,” says Hunter, who joined the JCRs about six years ago. “It was something new. It was pretty cool.”

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