Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

The federal government has agreed to maintain funding over the next five years for policing agreements with First Nation and Inuit communities under the First Nations Policing Program.
“Our government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe,” said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on March 4. “Today’s announcement provides stable multi-year funding for policing services in First Nation and Inuit communities. Our government will continue to support First Nation and Inuit policing as part of its ongoing commitment to keeping our streets and communities safe.”

The issue of First Nations representation on juries in Ontario transcends the discrete issue of juries and lies at the heart of the proper administration of justice.
That was the message delivered by former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci during his Feb. 26 presentation of the First Nations Representations on Ontario Juries report.

Fort William First Nation is looking to prepare community members for the upcoming mining boom by hosting a mining conference from March 25-26.
“We want to get our community members, as many as we can, involved with the mining sector,” said Michael Pelletier, Fort William’s director of economic development. “A lot of the jobs that come up in mining are specialized and you need training, so (with) a couple of years of school or the training required, hopefully we can have our folks ready when things are booming.”

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is planning an open house for April 19 to identify the economic impact NAN and its associated organizations have on Thunder Bay.
“Sioux Lookout would be a ghost town if it wasn’t for Aboriginal people,” said Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic. “And in the city of Thunder Bay, you would be surprised when you begin to analyze how many Native people are in the city that contribute to the economy of Thunder Bay.”

Changing climate conditions across Nishnawbe Aski Nation continue to affect the winter road system used to bring in fuel, building products and other supplies.