Shawn Bell - Wawatay News

The vice-principal of Attawapiskat’s elementary school says the community’s students are getting a “leg up” on their academic challenges, thanks to an international laptop program being piloted in First Nations across Canada.
Wayne Potts, vice principal at the J.R. Nakogee School, said the One Laptop per Child program, which provides a personal laptop computer for every grade one to eight student in Attawapiskat, has been a rousing success.

The issues and opportunities facing communities in northern Ontario should guide all Ontario First Nations over the coming years, says Ontario regional chief candidate Stan Beardy.
Beardy, the current Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) grand chief, says that his perspective being from the North gives him a good understanding of how First Nations across the province can use northern examples and initiatives as a way forward.

Inside Webequie’s band office, Chief Cornelius Wabasse tells reporters that his First Nation is open to development in the Ring of Fire.
Outside, a line of community members has a completely different view of the proposed developmewnt planned for an area less than 100 kms from Webequie.
The First Nation members outside the band office were angry that they were not being consulted on Webequie’s position on development. And they were adamant that the community will not stand for massive mines on their traditional lands.

Incineration of a massive fuel cache at an abandoned mine near Sachigo Lake has finished, but the community is cautioning that much work remains to bring the land back to the way it once was.
Work crews with Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines finished burning off nearly 840,000 litres of fuel left at an old mine site at Lingman Lake on May 20. The crews had been working at the site, 47 kms west of Sachigo Lake, since April 21.

Chris Kwandibens, a 16-year-old male from Thunder Bay who had been missing since June 4, has been found.
In a release issued June 15, Thunder Bay police say Kwandibens was found safe.
Police thanked the public for their support in finding Kwandibens.