Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Cheechoo wins Aboriginal Idol

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:28
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Moose Cree’s Nathan Cheechoo almost did not enter the Aboriginal Idol contest in Sudbury, which took place on Aboriginal Day.
A nine-hour journey and two songs later, the 26-year-old emerged as the victor in the performance contest, beating out nine other contestants.
Cheechoo, who has five children and step-children, said he was worried about being out of practice after years of not performing live and finding the time to rehearse. He also never entered a music competition.

Reconnecting to people and culture

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:28
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Wes-kutch (long time ago), the Elders say, families along the James Bay coast would emerge from their winter traplines and spring goose hunting camps to gather in traditional areas in the summer to reunite with families and friends.
In their reunion, the Mushkegowuk people take part in traditional and square dancing, powwows, feasts, storytelling, and games. The festivities would last a month, when the families had to prepare for the upcoming goose and moose hunts in the fall.

Moose has arm ‘like a cannon’

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:28
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

When 14-year-old Colby Moose of Poplar Hill First Nation made his first toss in a softball throwing competition in Lac Seul, Scott Haines could not believe it.
“Holy smokes,” said Haines, a track and field coach who coached Team Ontario at the last two North American Indigenous Games.
“When it left his hand, it just launched.”
The competition was part of an event organized by Haines to qualify the local youth to compete in the Hershey Track and Field Games (HTFG), a North American youth sports competition in Hershey, Pennsylvania where 480 athletes compete.

Kashechewan elects new chief

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Kashechewan First Nation has elected Derek Stephen as their new chief on Aug. 2.
Stephen beat out incumbent Jonathan Solomon to be the new leader of the community of about 1,700 members.
Since 1996, Stephen has worked on various small community projects. He has also served as deputy chief of the community for two terms and was CEO of Five Nations Energy Inc. for a year.
Stephen said he had been approached by community members on running for chief.

Country star Shawanda rocks Creefest

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

For country star Crystal Shawanda, it was her first time visiting the community of Moose Factory.
“I’m excited to be here,” she said. “The boat ride was beautiful. Overall, I had a terrific time and the community was so awesome.”
While Muskegowuk’s 10th Annual Creefest and Moose Cree’s 2012 Gathering of Our People featured numerous talented performers and entertainers throughout the four-day cultural festival, it was Shawanda’s headlining July 28 performance that was the most highly anticipated.

Celebrating ‘Cree-ness’ and uniting communities

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Ten years ago, the idea of reviving an old tradition took flight in Moose Factory when the first Creefest was hosted alongside Moose Cree’s Gathering of Our People (GOOP).
“We started in 2003 here in Moose Factory, and for some amazing reason we ended up back here to celebrate our 10th event,” said Creefest coordinator Greg Spence.
For the 10th anniversary of the annual Creefest, held July 25-28, hundreds gathered in Moose Factory to celebrate.
Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit said the gathering is about getting together as families and communities.

Kash man sentenced for leaving blind woman in fire

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

A Kashechewan First Nation member who left a blind woman to die in a fire has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Simon Wesley, 42, pled guilty to failing to provide the necessities of life after his blind common-law partner, 58-year-old Dorothy Noah, died in a basement apartment fire on Aug. 3, 2011 in Timmins.

Fort Severn school coming

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Elementary students in Fort Severn First Nation will study in a new school once construction is completed in a few years.
The federal government announced on Aug. 9 that it has committed funding to construct a new school for the northernmost community in Ontario, replacing the Washaho elementary school, which is located in a series of portables.

Beauty of Moose Cree

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

The beauty of Moose Cree was featured in a fashion show during the Creefest and Gathering of Our People (GOOP) festivals.
On July 26, 14 models consisting mostly of Moose Cree ladies walked down the runway during Unity Through Fashion, a fashion show that displayed the work of First Nation designers Tracey Toulouse of Swirling Wind Designs and Bruno Henry.
Thalissa Linklater said she heard about the fashion show through her aunt and uncle, who knew Toulouse and Henry.

Ontario Ranger youth take in Creefest-GOOP

Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:27
Author: 
Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

About eight members of the Ontario Ranger Program arrived in Moose Factory to help set up for the Creefest and Gather of Our People (GOOP) festivities from July 25-28.
Consisting of youth from across Ontario, the Rangers (formerly Junior Rangers) assisted in an array of activities, from setting up the tipis, tents, and shaptwon and cutting firewood, to helping prepare traditional foods.
Yassine Boutaya of Hamilton said he decided to come to northern Ontario when a signup sheet appeared at his school.

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