Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Nishnawbe-Aski Police is investigating the fire that close Sandy Lake’s Thomas Fiddler Memorial School.
Indications from the Ontario Fire Marshall’s investigation are that the fire was caused by arson.
The school has been closed since Feb. 21 due to extensive fire, smoke and water damage from the fire.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo believes overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the prison system will get worse under the federal government’s Bill C-10.
“First Nations have not been, we have not been, I have not been involved or engaged on this bill and I am very concerned about its implications,” Atleo said during the Assembly of First Nation’s National Justice Forum, held Feb. 21-23 in Vancouver. “The issue of justice really impacts all of us as First Nations, wherever you come from.”

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Chief Donny Morris’s worries about running out of fuel due to poor winter road conditions are over, for now.
“We should be getting fuel trucks later on today,” Morris said on Feb. 21, noting the community was down to a couple of inches of fuel. “They left last night.”
Although Morris is relieved at the moment, he is still concerned about whether his community will receive the 2.1 million litres of fuel required for the upcoming year before the winter roads shut down for the year.

“Honoured.”
That’s how Lac Seul artist Ahmoo Angeconeb feels about the 30-year retrospective of his artwork currently on exhibit at the A-frame Gallery in Sioux Lookout.
“Opening night was really great,” Angeconeb said. “There were over 60 people that attended the opening. That was the largest number the A-frame Gallery ever got to an opening. They were really impressed with the artwork.”

Parents are questioning whether their children will have to repeat elementary school classes next year after mould was discovered two months ago in Pikangikum’s teacherages.
While high school students in the community returned to school in January and Grade 8 students are back in class, elementary classes are still not running full time.