Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Respected Elder Tobasonakwut Kinew (Peter Kelly) was a champion of educating Canadians about the Anishinabe people, rights and teachings.

Lac Seul’s Garnet Angeconeb has been appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his years of voluntary service.
“It’s a real honour — it came as a total surprise,” said Angeconeb, who was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada on Dec. 30, 2012. “It’s been a life-long process for me to work with people and it’s become a real passion, even more so after becoming a grandfather. I have to ask myself what’s in it for the grandchildren, what kind of future do we leave for them.”

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee has declined the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal over the Governor General’s refusal to discuss the broken treaty relationship with First Nation leaders.
“Trinkets are no substitute for treaty rights,” Madahbee said, stressing that being chosen to speak on behalf of the 39 member communities of the Anishinabek Nation was the highest honour he has received.

Children in Fort Severn will soon be reading about polar bear cubs from their own community’s perspective.
“It’s silly, it’s fun,” said Armanda Cimon, a Cree writer from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, about the children’s book she is creating for Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute in Thunder Bay.
The book is called Wabusk of Wasaho: A Part of History and Everyday Life.
“Because it is about cubs, they are playful and they are fun,” Cimon said. “It is part of their own community’s history, so it is very relevant to specifically Fort Severn.”

Ontario has invested $3.1 million in skills training and community governance and capacity building in six Ring of Fire communities.