Wawatay News

Famed Canadian artist Gord Downie has announced Secret Path, a multimedia project that will include an album, graphic novel and animated film depicting the short life of 12-year-old Charlie “Chanie” Wenjack, who died in 1966 while trying to return home to Ogoki Post after fleeing Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in northwestern Ontario.

Downie visited Marten Falls First Nation to launch the project, accompanied by representatives from NAN, MKO and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

After completing their final show on August 20, which was watched on CBC by over 11-million Canadians, Gord Downie and members of the Tragically Hip have decided to take a fishing trip along the James Bay Coast.

The Hip are traveling with Canadian novelist and friend of the band, Joseph Boyden.

Downie stopped to pose and take photos with fans along the way, which they have taken to social media sites to share.

Catherine Cheechoo tweeted out a picture of her and Downie, and said:

With more than 11-million people tuning in to watch The Tragically Hip's emotional final concert in Kingston, Ontario on August 20, terminally ill lead singer Gord Downie spoke up on behalf of First Nations.

Downie addressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying what he expects the PM to do for Canada's First Nations people.

Chiefs and proxies from Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s (NAN) 49 First Nation communities have elected Jason Smallboy, of Moose Cree First Nation, as Deputy Grand Chief on August 10 during the XXXV Keewaywin Conference.

Smallboy was elected in a by-election to fill one vacant Deputy Grand Chief position on the NAN Executive Council, and was sworn into office immediately.

He joins Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox and Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, who were all elected in August 2015 to three-year terms.

On August 2, 2016, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a lone officer posted at the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) Fort Severn Detachment reported shots fired in the vicinity of the Fort Severn Hotel, where the officer resides.

A combined response of NAPS and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) North West Region Emergency Response have been deployed and are at the scene, the local officer was assisted to safety. The NAPS North West Crime Unit is also at the scene.