Sorting out the issues
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
When I was a boy growing up in my home community of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast, I was deathly afraid of looking at the full moon.
Rick Garrick — Wawatay News
Drug testing started in Neskantaga
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Neskantaga First Nation has implemented a drug testing policy for all band staff members in response to the prescription drug abuse issue.
“This was done through a First Nation initiative,” said Neskantaga Chief Roy Moonias. “There was a high demand from the community that they wanted a safe and healthy workplace environment.”
The drug testing policy was officially established Nov. 18 and the community has since brought in a drug compliance officer from another First Nation community to conduct the drug testing.
Fort William to get solar park
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Fort William First Nation has signed an agreement with SkyPower Limited, Canada’s leading developer of solar energy, for development of a 10-megawatt solar park on its lands.
The solar park will include 45,000 solar panels spread over about 100 acres of land. Construction will be completed by the summer.
Once the solar park is fully operational, it will produce enough clean energy over 20 years to supply 17,000 average homes with energy for one year.
Winter songs
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Canada Post honours Daphne Odjig
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Wikwemikong artist Daphne Odjig’s art is being featured on three new Canada Post stamps.
“Daphne Odjig’s colourful palette evokes strength and power,” said Jim Philips, Canada Post’s director of stamp services. “Canada Post is proud to add the work of this respected Canadian artist to our Art Canada series.”
The three new stamps, which feature three of Odjig’s original acrylic pieces — Spiritual Renewal (1984), Pow-wow Dancer (1978), and Pow-wow (1969) — will be unveiled Feb. 26 in Kelowna B.C.
National chief calls for language revitalization
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is calling for support from Canada and all Canadians to revitalize Canada’s Indigenous languages.
“As the original languages of this land, Indigenous languages require significant investment and it should be comparable to that provided for the two official languages in Canada,” Atleo said Feb. 21 on the annual International Mother Language Day.
International Mother Language Day is held every Feb. 21 around the world to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Fresh fruits, veggies coming to 12 communities
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Nishnawbe Aski Nation has partnered with Quality Market, True North Community Cooperative and Wasaya Airways to bring fresh food to 12 NAN communities.
“Access to affordable, nutritious foods for families living on fixed incomes has been lost over the years and has resulted in high rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease among First Nations in northern Ontario, including youth,” said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy.
Universal vote decision coming this summer
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
A final decision on a 2012 universal vote for Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s grand chief and three deputy grand chiefs is scheduled for this year’s Keewaywin Conference.
“Every time we presented (on a universal vote concept) for the last six years, we get a new ongoing mandate to continue to flush out some of the questions the communities/chiefs have,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “The chiefs have said come the next Keewaywin (Conference) they will make a final decision.”
Koper Lake protest on
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Media representatives from Thunder Bay have been invited March 3 to the Marten Falls Ring of Fire protest at Koper Lake in the James Bay lowlands.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Matawa First Nations Ring of Fire coordinator Raymond Ferris are scheduled to attend the protest, which will include statements by Marten Falls Chief Eli Moonias, Marten Falls councillors and Beardy.
Diabetic condition shuts down eye of LU professor
Create: 12/01/2015 - 19:37
Lakehead University professor Dolores Wawia is recovering from a rare diabetic complication of the eye – third nerve palsy.
“At the end of October I woke up on a Saturday morning and my eyelid was drooping,” said the longtime Faculty of Education member. “I couldn’t see very well so I looked in the mirror and my eye was closing shut.”
Wawia went the local emergency department and was given a CAT scan and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in case she had suffered a stroke, but everything was normal.
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When I was a boy growing up in my home community of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast, I was deathly afraid of looking at the full moon.
I grew up...
I’m happy to see the ongoing support and assistance in our northern remote communities to help our people cope with so many lifelong and generational issues...