Cat Lake is facing a crisis after the power transmission line serving the community was burned July 10 by a forest fire about 50 kilometres to the southwest.
“We have fires surrounding us from all directions actually,” said Cat Lake Chief Matthew Keewaykapow during a July 15 interview. “There is a lot of smoke all over and most of the chronic phase one people have been evacuated.”
Two Pikangikum band members have died in a single motor vehicle accident on Nungesser Road about 60 kilometres north of Red Lake.
A pick up truck rolled several times July 14 while travelling northbound at about 1 p.m., according to police. A male and a female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.
The male driver and a second female passenger were transported to Red Lake Hospital for treatment.
Deer Lake evacuees are scheduled to begin returning home July 13 with all 548 expected to be home by July 15.
The Deer Lake residents most at risk were evacuated July 7 to Greenstone due to a forest fire located about three kilometres from the fly-in community.
Two fires in the Deer Lake area are not under control as of July 12, with Red Lake District Fire Number 26 at 121 hectares and Red Lake Fire 27 at 259 hectares. The fires were caused by lightning.
A 5,300-hectare forest fire has cut hydropower transmission to Cat Lake, Pickle Lake, Slate Falls, Mishkeegogamang and Musselwhite Mine due to a burned power line.
Located in the Margaret Lake area about 50 kilometres northeast of Ear Falls, Red Lake District Fire Number 84 was not under control as of July 11.
Five heavy water bombers and three fire crews were brought in to combat the fire, but high winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour caused extreme fire behaviour.
The 3rd Annual Walk for Good Life is scheduled for Aug. 1-8, beginning in Eagle Lake and completing a full circle through Couchiching, Rainy River First Nation, Onigaming and Northwest Angle #37.
“The First Nation communities welcome the walkers with gatherings and meals and it’s a great feeling for the participants to be honoured this way,” said Teresa Hazel, CEO of Oshki Aa-yaa’aag Mino Bimaadiziiwin (Good Life For Young People).
A 642-kilometre walk-a-thon began July 11 in memory of those who lost their lives in a Sept. 11, 2003 plane crash near Nibinamik First Nation.
“Nearly eight years after this tragedy, members of the community still look for closure to the accident that saw no survivors and took the lives of seven people from our community,” said Walter (Philip) Oskineegish, walk-a-thon organizer and the community’s band manager when the plane crash occurred.
The group of Nibinamik leaders and community members are walking from Pickle Lake to Thunder Bay, with a detour to Sioux Lookout.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Corinne Fox is pleased with the new Ontario Native Women’s Association location in Thunder Bay.
“It’s awesome,” Fox said during the July 8 grand opening at the former St. John Elementary School site. “It’s a fabulous site and they couldn’t have been more lucky for the women and children who will access services here.”
ONWA moved its head office to the 380 Ray Boulevard location effective March 14 with funding from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs after many years at the former 212 East Miles Street location.
Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
“It was midnight and the sun was still out.”
Fort William First Nation artist Christian Chapman was amazed at how long the sun stays up during a recent visit to Finland for an artist-in-residency program at the Arteles Creative Centre in Haukijarvi.
“While we were there we got to meet some of the Sami people,” Chapman said. “The Sami way of life totally revolves around the reindeer and reindeer herding, so a lot of their (traditional art) work directly comes from the reindeer.”
Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
Whitefish Bay’s Alexa Lesperance learned more about potential health careers during the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Summer Health Sciences Camp.
“I was already very set on being a naturopathic doctor, but this camp definitely broadened my horizons on what I would consider,” Lesperance said, explaining her father has taught her about traditional medicines he gathers from the land. “I’ve always been interested in how plants and remedies and natural ways can heal people.”
Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug welcomed the support of the Council of Canadians and two environmental groups for the KI Watershed Declaration.
John Cutfeet, KI spokesman and former band councillor, said the community is grateful for the recognition received by the social justice organization.
“It must also be recognized that these lands, waters and resources have sustained and continue to sustain societies and nations who have lived on these lands since time immemorial,” Cutfeet said.
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...