Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Shibogama and Windigo are supporting Wasaya’s airport scanner initiative.
“We are trying to support these new initiatives such as the one that Wasaya had started to put scanners at each airport,” said Shibogama First Nations Council executive director Margaret Kenequanash. “Shibogama has contributed $16,000 to try and see if we can get infrastructure up and happening quickly. The next step is to see if the other tribal councils will support Wasaya in the work they are trying to do.”

Assembly of First Nation chiefs voted Dec. 14 to lead by example by committing to transparent and accountable decision-making structures in their communities.
“I applaud the chiefs who demonstrated that, despite unfounded and alarmist attacks by our critics, First Nations fully believe in accountability and transparency and are dealing with this issue head-on,” said AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo during the

The federal government and the Assembly of First Nations are creating a panel of experts to look at improving on-reserve education.
“This is a positive development that responds directly to what First Nations leaders, citizens and students have been calling for,” said National Chief Shawn Atleo. “We do not need or want a lengthy study. We need action now and, by working together as partners, we can ensure success for our learners, the youngest and fastest growing segment of the population.”

Moosonee’s Dorothy Wynne has contributed more than her share of the more than 800 million hours Ontario residents volunteer annually.
For those efforts, she was a recent recipient of the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship.
“I got the award for all the volunteering work I did with the Ontario Native Women’s Association at the community level,” said the voluntary board member of the Ontario Native Women’s Association. “I have been on their board since 1980, so it’s been 30 years.”

Lakehead University’s new president is aiming to double the number of Aboriginal students within the next 10 years.
“Right now we have more than 1,000 Aboriginal students — I’d like to double that amount of students at least,” said Brian Stevenson, the newly installed president and vice-chancellor at Lakehead University. “One of the challenges we have in bringing more Aboriginal students to university is the high school dropout rate among Aboriginal students, which is very high.”