Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Randy Thomas feels like he is in another world when he paints.
“I feel a lot closer to my dad when I paint,” said the son of Woodland artist Roy Thomas. “All his teachings and sayings come back to me when I paint.”
After his father passed away in 2004, Thomas spent time dealing with his feelings but as soon as he began painting he could hear his father’s voice.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 397 has been busy over the past year signing up First Nation workers for high-paying union jobs across the north.
“I did an eight-month term in Detour Lake and I’m back there again with a different company,” said Jeordi Pierre, a Fort William band member who signed on with the union about a year ago.
“I came in green with no prior experience. There were three Aboriginal workers that went up, myself included, and it was a very good experience.”

Lakehead University held an Elders memorial forest ceremony on July 13 for Elders Josias Fiddler, Curtis Hopkins, Richard Lyons, Joe Morrison and Greta Moskataywenene.
“I think of her with much love and a lot of respect because she was like a warrior in terms of traditional knowledge and traditional ways,” said Tina Armstrong, Moskataywenene’s niece and director of Aboriginal affairs at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM).
Armstrong said her aunt continued to follow her traditions, including snaring rabbits and gathering firewood, after her husband passed away.

Charles Fox and Meladina Hardy-Fox plan to open a group home for eight to 12-year-old Aboriginal children in a Thunder Bay heritage building this coming August.
“Dilico (Anishinabek Family Care) has already confirmed that they are going to send some kids here,” Fox said.
The group home will feature the development of relationship building skills and land-based skills for up to eight children.

Wabigoon Lake received an official apology on Aug. 25 from Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne for past flooding of reserve land.
“The settlement has been a long time coming and we the community appreciate the due diligence by those parties/individuals who were involved throughout the negotiation process,” said Wabigoon Lake Chief Ruben Cantin Sr. “This settlement will give Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation the opportunity to plan for the future and to make an investment in our youth for a better future.”