Attawapiskat honours Mushkegowuk Grand Chief

After working tirelessly to advocate for Attawapiskat during its 2011 housing crisis and this past spring’s partial evacuations due to sewage backups and potential flooding, Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit was honoured by the community on July 16.
“The council decided that prior to our term coming to an end that we wanted to honour and recognize Grand Chief Louttit for his assistance and advocacy efforts during our term in office” Chief Theresa Spence said in a press release. “He was always there for us and we thought that the least we could do is to show our appreciation and to have a night in honor of Grand Chief Louttit.”
Louttit said he was “taken aback” when he found out the news.
“I didn’t know what to think,” he told Wawatay News. “I was truly, truly honoured by what
Attawapiskat did for me.”
Louttit was flown into the community and took part in a church service with the Elders, where they sang hymns in honour of him. Then a community feast followed by gift giving and gospel music.
Louttit said being honoured in such a way is uncommon and when it does happen, “it’s really special.”
“The community has gone through a lot, especially with the housing crisis,” Loutitt said.
“And I’m thinking to myself, if I helped in anyway or one shape or form, great. And they recognize that and see that I’m a great help.”
Louttit said he did not get into office to be recognized in such a way.
“When you go into politics, you don’t do it for these kinds of things, and in this case, it meant a lot,” Louttit said. “Especially since I grew up in Attawapiskat, so I have a lot of friends and family there.”