Xavier Kataquapit

Sixth Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow In Kirkland Lake

Create: 10/02/2026 - 00:15
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

The Sixth Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow brought together traditional people, Elders, youth and community members of every background for a day of commemoration and acknowledgement. The gathering was held at Civic Park in Kirkland Lake to commemorate ‘National Day for Truth and Reconciliation’ and ‘Orange Shirt Day’, two observances that acknowledge the history of the Residential School era in Canada.

Mattagami celebrates their 12th annual Powwow

Create: 08/18/2026 - 02:33
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

Mattagami First Nation hosted its 12th Annual Pow Wow on August 15 and 16, with a great turnout of family, friends and visitors.

In an opening address, Chief Jennifer Constant thanked the community for their support, the Pow Wow planning committee for their hard work, volunteers for joining in and all the performers, singers and dancers for being part of this year’s event.

The Ring Of Forest Fire

Create: 07/29/2026 - 21:57
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

Forest fires have always been a deep worry for those of us who live in the far north of Ontario. We are surrounded by endless forests and we know full well what it means when these trees start to burn in the peak heat of summer.

I remember a few hot summers in the 1980s, when I was growing up in my home community of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast, seeing large columns of smoke rising west of our community. It is a frightful thing to know that you are isolated from the world and that fire might reach your home.

First Nation Youth Are Making The World Listen

Create: 07/17/2026 - 01:09
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

First Nation youth representatives are letting the world know that Indigenous people are ready to stand up and protect the land. Keira Spence, Kohen Mattinas and Ryan Fleming are attending the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Switzerland. This special gathering is holding its 19th session from 13 to 17 July 2026 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Learning To Make Nah-Mesh-Tek

Create: 06/03/2026 - 21:56
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

I was happy to see my nieces and nephews in Attawapiskat taking the opportunity to learn about the traditional practice of making Nah-mesh-tek, the Cree word for preserving and smoking geese. This is a food preparation method that our people in the north have used for thousands of years and it is an essential way to gather and store large stocks of food for the long term.

Maachestan: The Annual Spring Ice Break Up

Create: 05/23/2026 - 02:15
Author: 
Xavier Kataquapit

Maachestan, the Cree word for the annual spring river ice breakup, is happening all along the James Bay coast. This is a very important time of year for remote communities along the coast.

Over the past few weeks, my family has been sharing regular reports of what is happening on the Attawapiskat River. I was happy to hear them all talk about this time of year, as it reminded me of hearing my parents, Marius and Susan Kataquapit, talking and discussing Maachestan with other community members many years ago.

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