Lenny Carpenter — Wawatay News

Rising waters following the break up of the Attawapiskat River has led Attawapiskat First Nation to evacuate some of its residents while other James Bay communities go back to normal following another spring thaw.
The community of Attawapiskat evacuated more than 400 of its most vulnerable residents –mostly Elders, chronic care patients and those with small children – last weekend after water levels rose near the community.

An investigation is underway after a human skull was found by a group of hunters along the James Bay coast near Moosonee and Moose Factory.
The skull was found at a location known as East Point, located about 70 kilometres east of the James Bay communities at the north end of Hannah Bay.
Members of the Moosonee Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to the report on May 8.
Det. Sgt. Daniel Foy of OPP’s North East Region Crime Unit in Timmins said the department has determined the skull is human but it is too early to determine whether the skull is archeological.

The chief of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) has invited the judge and Ontario’s former Aboriginal Affairs minister involved in sentencing him to jail into his community in an effort to show that there are no hard feelings.
Chief Donny Morris has publicly invited Justice Patrick Smith and former Aboriginal Affairs minister Michael Bryant to KI and a feast when the community hosts 25 other Canadians from June 17-21.

As Julia Mogus stood in a residence that houses First Nations youth who attend Pelican Falls First Nations High School, she marvelled at the distance the students have to travel just to achieve their high school diploma.
“I don’t even want to stay in residence when I go to university,” the 15-year-old remarked.
Julia and her sister Emma visited the high school during a short stay in Sioux Lookout while on their way to Fort Severn First Nation.

A group of women concerned about the safety of community members in Lac La Croix First Nation are planning to hold a Take Back the Night event on June 19.
Karen Keesic said many residents do not feel safe in the community, which has a population of about 270 people.
“The women here get assaulted sexually,” said Keesic, who is a member of the women’s council. “We fear for our children’s future.”
Keesic said the women in the community are continuously “stepped on” and “just being used.”