Christian Quequish

As a Saulteaux man and a band member of Weagamow Lake First Nation, I used to grumble that topics pertaining to Aboriginal communities rarely made the headlines, especially when I was covering those issues. But with Idle No More popping up in the news recently, my grumbling has been replaced with frustration over all the hate speech that is freely accessible to the public online.

Charlotte Murray of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation graduated from Confederation College with a diploma in native and child family services June 10, following two years of personal turmoil and perseverance.
Her initial thoughts on the two-year program were reflections on her time in high school.
“Going to high school was different because I didn’t have a family of my own, no kids, no husband at home that needed my time,” said Murray. “So going back as a mature student, and having had two kids, being married, that in itself posed a challenge.”

As I move on to Lakehead University in the fall to study political science, I’ve noticed a huge shift in my attitude towards education.
It’s important.
No matter what you decide to do in your educational career, it’s important to do it with a positive attitude and a will to learn. I don’t mean to sound like one of those people who tout positivity as the be-all, end-all to every solution. Cynicism has its place, just not in the front seat.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will be surveying lakes in Ontario to monitor fish populations, check for invasive species and take water samples.
“Information gathered through these surveys will be used to help make decisions about managing fisheries, including setting fishing seasons and size limits for anglers,” read a June 28 press release from MNR – this operation is part of a five-year monitoring cycle designed to help manage fisheries.
Over the five-year cycle, 630 lakes will be targeted in Ontario.

A June 25 CBC news article featuring an Aboriginal boy in need of a stem cell transplant inspired Tania Cameron, a Dalles First Nation band member, to develop a stem cell drive designed specifically for Aboriginal people.
“This is more of a personal initiative,” said Cameron, who said she discovered that there are 15 other Aboriginal people in Canada who are in need of an Aboriginal stem cell donor. “I had no idea, and a lot of people were surprised to learn it.”