Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

North Spirit Lake is scheduled to receive GPS instrument approach procedures by April 2012.
“NAV Canada has been taking steps to increase the number of airports with instrument approaches,” said Ron Singer, a NAV Canada spokesman, in an e-mail reply. “Instrument approach procedures are scheduled to be published for two additional northern Ontario airports this April. A GPS instrument approach for Keewaywin and North Spirit Lake will be in place this April.”
NAV Canada is a private company that operates Canadian airport navigation systems.

Aboriginal youth now have another way to get involved in the mining industry — Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute’s L2M: Learning 2 Mine project.
“We are trying to get NAN youth ready for the Ring of Fire,” said Gordon Kakegamic, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s e-learning coordinator. “There are so many different development activities happening out there, the Musselwhite Mine, the Victor Mine, the Northgate Minerals Mine, and so many opportunities for Aboriginal youth.”

First Nations downriver from four proposed Northland Power Inc.-Constance Lake hydro projects on a tributary of the Albany River are raising concerns about potential impacts on water quantity and fish and wildlife.
Chiefs from Fort Albany and Kashechewan say their communities have not been consulted or involved in the ongoing plans to build new dams on their river system, despite the effects they will eventually see downstream.

A former participant at Nishnawbe Aski Nation youth gatherings is now leading the way for other youth with Rez Nation Photography.
“Photography has been our means of finding inner healing, inner peace for ourselves,” said Weagamow’s James Benson during the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering, held Feb. 7-9 in Thunder Bay. “We do a lot of (photography) for our own healing.”

A group of eight Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities are working together to pursue affordable electricity for community members.
“This is a huge step forward we are taking as a collective to resolve the systemic problem of underfunding and fuel shortages that plague our communities every year,” said Wawakapewin Chief Joshua Frogg during a Feb. 8 press conference at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay. “We are thankful for the opportunity to show our First Nations are committed to working together to resolve these issues.”