Moving Forward

As I leave Wawatay to start law school at Lakehead University this September, I want to say Chi Miigwetch to everyone who has made the past two years so special for me here at Wawatay.
To all the communities that welcomed me when I visited, and shared your thoughts and stories in person and on the phone – thank you. You have made my time at Wawatay memorable.
To all my colleagues at Wawatay – all of you have taught me much over the years, and for that I am grateful. Many of you have become close friends, and I’m hopeful that those friendships will continue throughout our lives. I wish you all the best as you continue working to make Wawatay the best it can be.
And to everyone who contributed to the newspaper or magazines throughout my time here, and everyone who called or wrote with comments and criticisms, thank you for helping us do our best to create interesting, informative and creative publications.
I have learned a lot about the people and communities of northern Ontario during my time at Wawatay. The experience has been challenging and rewarding. Throughout it all, it was the everyday interactions with all kinds of people that made my time here truly enjoyable.
Wawatay also helped to steer me towards my next career path as a lawyer. Working as a reporter in northern Ontario has shown me just how pressing the challenges are. And getting to know individuals from many different communities and ways of life in the north has shown me how much hope, talent and possibility exists here.
I believe there is a great future for the people of NAN, Treaty #3 and Anishinabek Nation.
And I hope that I can do my own small part in making that future come true.
I look forward to working with all of you in the future.
Shawn Bell