Xavier Kataquapit

There are many success stories across Canada when it comes to resource development agreements and partnerships between First Nations, companies and government. Most non-Native people don’t realize this. Even in my home community of Attawapiskat negotiations in general between my people and Debeers has benefited many. The process is obviously not perfect but at the very least, the company, First Nation leadership and governments have bargained in good faith to make a very large project happen in the middle of pristine wilderness.

A new First Nation music production has been launched by Midnight Shine, which features an old friend of mine, Attawapiskat resident Adrian Sutherland. A lot of great music has come from James Bay over the past few decades and Midnight Shine represents a new crop of Aboriginal performers to add to this tradition. Midnight Shine, which is also the album title, is the first release by this group of First Nation musicians.

I have been watching some good movies lately. One titled ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ was about a group of older English retirees who move to Jaipur, a city in India, to live in a hotel converted into a senior citizen’s home. A line from that movie “Things will work out in the end. If they do not then it is not the end” made me realize how important it is never to give up.

Recently a terrible helicopter accident near the airport in Moosonee took the lives of four dedicated heroes of health for the far north Ontario James Bay First Nations. All First Nations are very grateful for the hard work and dedication of flight and paramedic crews that service remote Native communities all across Canada. In particular we give thanks and we honour the memories of the Ornge Ontario air ambulance service staff who lost their lives recently including Capt.

I was in Istanbul, Turkey this past winter and I had the pleasure to walk in Taksim Square. I was impressed with the city in general as compared to major centres in Morocco and Egypt I have seen. The ancient city, once known as Constantinople for the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, was modern, clean, well organized and generally safe.