CBC Radio: No excuses for boil water orders on First Nations reserves – Michael’s essay

[…] For decades, through various governments and various political parties making various promises to do something, Aboriginal families have had to pay special attention to their water before drinking it, bathing in it or cooking with it.

Think about that. […]

This News Article is about the water. The Boil Water Advisory. Its been happening for quite a looong time. Across many First Nation communities, including ours.

Click this link to read more about it>>Source: CBC.ca/radio/thesundayedition/

Feb 27, 2017 News Bulletin

Evelyn (left) Vicky, Margaret (middle) Elise (right)

• Four Elders Take a Walk. Four Elders started a fundraiser walk Saturday afternoon, our Elders are aged between 50-70 years old, Elsie Sagutcheway and Evelyn Waboose, Vikki Ooshag, and Margaret Sagutch. By beginning a 9-10 mile walk. The time the walk took for them was over 5 hours from the Pioneer grave-site, back into town ending at the Communications Building.
   
  Drivers/vehicles passing by slowed down for them, so they wouldn’t have to breath in too much dust, some even stopped with offers of encouragement or beverages.The goal was to fundraise money to help buy a headstone for the late Vivian Sagutcheway, they successfully fundraised $720.00 to help with cost.

  

  Evelyn Waboose, Elsie Sagutcheway, Vicky Ooshag, Margaret Sagutch

Mr. Green and his son Oliver.

• Opening of the Library. JCY school teachers, opened up the school library to the public, allowing students the chance to have time to catch up on homework, or start a reading group. Parents/guardians and everyone else are also welcome to join in. one teacher says “it’s has been a slow start getting it off the ground, but I’m confident people will start to catch on and begin showing up.”So for now it’ll be open Saturdays 1 pm – 3 pm.

  

• Youth Athletes Compete. Four of our youth athletes and their coach returned yesterday from a tough competition in Thunder Bay at the indoor track field of Lake head University for the All Comer Track Meet. They took part in the qualifying tryouts for The North American Indigenous Games coming up in July 2017 in Toronto.Garrick Waswa 15 and Clifford Sagutch 13 are first timers. Clifford says “it was good, but it was hard.” Jacob Meeseetawageesic 19 and Ursula Holcroft 15 are returning athletes. Ursula commented “I feel good, I feel proud of myself because this is my second track meet and I did pretty good.” Returning athletes also competed in Brant ford, Ontario summer games and took part of the Fort Hope summer games.Coach Paul Holcroft commented “they did very well. It can be a very intimidating atmosphere down there because you’re running with highly competitive track athletes. […] So hopefully we’re going to move forward and get more training and more racing between now and July.”

  The track coach for Team Ontario got a chance to see our youth compete with 25 other youth athletes from around the region.

Northern Ontario Business: Province provides $203,206 for Indigenous business initiatives

The Aboriginal Economic Development Fund is granting money to Eabametoong First Nation, Missanabie Cree First Nation and Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek

Eabametoong First Nation will receive $36,952 to train and build capacity for entrepreneurs in the cultural tourism sector. […]

Paul Holcroft, employment community co-ordinator at Eabametoong First Nation, in a release.

“The goal is to bring money into the community to help the local economy by attracting tourists to the Eabametoong First Nation Territory. The training is the first step of many in the cultural tourism industry.”

Source: Northern Ontario Business

CBC: “Such courage” How One First Nation is Fighting Opioid Addiction

Addiction and suboxone in Eabametoong are discussed in this CBC news story.

 

CBC News: Counselling, not canoe sheds needed for First Nations youth, mental health worker says

Valerie Ooshag makes speech to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation winter chiefs assembly.

“Our people are hurting,” Ooshag told the chiefs. “We need to come together and have our youth involved, to let them tell you what they want, what they need to take care of themselves.

Source: Counselling, not canoe sheds needed for First Nations youth, mental health worker says

YorkRegion.com: Markham signs partnership accord with Eabametoong First Nation

“The City of Markham says it is breaking new ground and forging a path to “reconciliation” with a cultural collaboration agreement with Eabametoong First Nation.”

Markham is a city with a population over 300.000, within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario.

Source: Markham signs partnership accord with Eabametoong First Nation