Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Renee Tookenay’s battle against addictions, both her own and others as well, led to her award at the First Nations Women’s Day 3rd Annual Recognition Dinner.
“For the last 10 years I’ve been trying to help others as well as trying to help myself,” said the Fort William band member during the Oct. 5 award dinner. “Sharing and giving through my experience helps others at the same time as it helps me. We journey together.”

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s garden education project is expanding knowledge of vegetables and other foods in the community.
“I finally know what squash looks like and what it tastes like,” said KI Chief Donny Morris during an Oct. 7 phone interview. “This first year is just a learning process, so hopefully next year other things will come into play, other parties will feel they would like to contribute to the process of us as a community growing our own food and processing it for the community use. That is the whole intent.”

Kingfisher Lake Chief James Mamakwa is looking forward to employment and training opportunities from his community’s new partnership: Synterra Security Solutions LP.
“We hope to train our people and get employment for our community members,” Mamakwa said during the Oct. 19 announcement of the security company. “We already have one contract with the Musselwhite Mine … so it’s already started.”

First Nation students moving to Thunder Bay for their education now have another tool to help them with their transition — the recently-launched Welcome Path video.
“We need more resources like this for our youth coming from First Nation communities,” said Julaine Trudeau, one of the actors in the video who originally moved from Muskrat Dam to attend high school in Thunder Bay. “I know how difficult it is and how much more support needs to be out there for youth who are making that transition.”

Pic River’s Michelle Morriseau-Moses brought her newborn baby daughter to her Oct. 14 graduation ceremony at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute in Thunder Bay.
The Native Early Child Education valedictorian gave birth shortly after completing the five-semester program, which provides students with the knowledge and skills to organize and maintain a safe, stimulating learning environment for young children.