Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation has signed an exploration memorandum of understanding with Manicouagan Minerals Inc. over the company’s exploration activities near Pickle Lake, Ont.
“This agreement is another significant step in our efforts to participate in the economy of our traditional lands,” said Chief Connie Gray-McKay. “By entering this agreement, Manicouagan has demonstrated the level of respect for our people and our lands that we expect from all resource companies operating on our traditional lands.”

Students in Eabametoong and Attawapiskat will soon have brand-new One-Laptop-Per-Child computers.
“I know they will benefit our students because the computers come fully loaded with an encyclopedia,” said Denise Fontaine, principal at John C. Yesno Education Centre in Eabametoong. “The student will be able to type what they are writing into the computer and the computer will speak back to them. It will help them with the oral component of what they are writing.”

Couchiching’s Edwin Bruyere is looking forward to opening a new pharmacy in his home community.
“I am excited about it – it’s been in the back of my mind for a long time ever since I got involved in pharmacies,” said the pharmacist who went back to school in 2001 to earn his four-year bachelor of science and pharmacy degree. “I don’t feel it’s going to be a huge transition for me. I don’t feel like I ever left.”

Shy-Anne Hovorka was surprised to win Aboriginal female entertainer of the Year at the 2010 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards.
“Unreal, literally unreal,” said the Aboriginal Thunder Bay-based singer/songwriter during a Nov. 8 interview. “I was just happy to be up in the top three but when they called my name, when I stood up, my legs went weak and I almost fell down out of shock.”
Hovorka didn’t have a speech prepared because she thought one of the two other nominees, Inez or Andrea Menard, would win the award during the Nov. 5 awards ceremony in Winnipeg.

For Kevin Rae, it felt like he went home for the weekend.
In reality, the Deer Lake band member, and Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School student was attending the Nov. 5-7 weekend gathering at the SCA International Eagle’s Cove Ministry Centre near Thunder Bay.
Rae met friends and played paintball during the recent KO Secondary School Services weekend gathering.
“I like playing paintball,” Rae said. “I wanted to get away from the city for a while.”
Rae said the gathering was like going camping with friends.