Author: Xavier Kataquapit

Posted on

:: Wawatay News :: Support First Nation Youth Movements Protecting The Land

Jeronimo Kataquapit (on the right) is pictured here with his father James Kataquapit (left) and his brother Jonathan Edwards (centre) in a freighter on the Attawapiskat River as they conduct one of their daily live streams. (submitted photo)

For almost three decades I have been writing a column and producing writing mostly involving First Nations. At the start I felt more like an activist as did many of our leaders. We had been through more than a hundred years of colonization, residential school atrocities, reservations and living in poverty with insufficient housing, poor health care and little support for education.

…. to read the full column, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/support-first-nation-youth-movements-protecting-land

Posted on

:: Wawatay News :: First Nation Youth Hold Protest Walk From Timmins to Queen’s Park

Still strong and dedicated is Elder Angela Ashishkeesh of Attawapiskat First Nation as she participates in a protest walk against Ontario's Bill 5 and Canada's Bill C5. She is pictured here with flag bearer Rick Cheechoo, Moose Cree FN.

First Nation youth are continuing the push to make themselves heard with the actions of Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseegostamok, a James Bay Cree phrase that means ‘Uniting the People to Stand Together’. The group has started a protest walk to travel from Timmins to Queen’s Park in the city of Toronto to bring awareness and attention to their dissatisfaction of Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5.

“This protest is a call to the provincial and federal government to repeal Bill 5 and Bill C-5 as it has destroyed indigenous and government relations and trust,” said Tristan Ashishkeesh, one of the lead founders of the movement.

…. to read the full story, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/breaking-news/first-nation-youth-hold-protest-walk-timmins-queen%E2%80%99s-park

Posted on

:: Timmins Press :: First Nation Youth taking protest to Queen’s Park — one step at a time

Still strong and dedicated, Elder Angela Ashishkeesh, of Attawapiskat First Nation, participates in a protest walk against Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C-5. She is pictured here with flag bearer Rick Cheechoo, of Moose Cree First Nation. XAVIER KATAQUAPLIT/FOR THE DAILY PRESS

First Nation youth continue to push to make themselves heard with the actions of Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseegostamok, a Cree phrase that translates to Uniting the People to Stand Together.

Article content

The group has started a protest walk to travel from Timmins to Queen’s Park in Toronto to bring awareness and attention to their dissatisfaction over Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5.

…. to read the full story, please click on the link below

https://www.timminspress.com/news/first-nation-youth-protest-queens-park

Posted on

:: Timmins Press :: First Nation youth protest national meeting regarding Bill C5

Ramon Kataquapit, Jeronimo Kataquapit and Danny Metatawabin were among those participating in the First Nation protest in Ottawa as Chiefs met with Prime Minister Mark Carney concerning Bill C5, on July 17. Photo by RAY HOOKIMAW /ATTAWAPISKAT FIRST NATION

Jeronimo Kataquapit led a group of 20 young First Nation protesters to the entrance of the meeting where they were turned away by security.

First Nation youth from Northern Ontario protested a major meeting between hundreds of Chiefs and Prime Minister Mark Carney, on July 17.

The federal government set up the meeting with the Chiefs in a tightly controlled event that was held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

…. to read the full story, please click on the link below

https://www.timminspress.com/news/first-nation-youth-protest-national-meeting-regarding-bill-c5

Posted on

:: Wawatay News :: First Nation Youth Protest Ottawa National Meeting Regarding Bill C5

photo by Ray Hookimaw, Attawapiskat FN First Nation protest leaders at the July 17 Chiefs meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney concerning Bill C5. From L-R: Ramon Kataquapit, Jeronimo Kataquapit and Danny Metatawabin.

First Nation youth from northern Ontario protested a major meeting between hundreds of Chiefs and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Thursday July 17. The federal government had set up the meeting with the Chiefs in a tightly controlled event that was held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. Jeronimo Kataquapit, an Attawapiskat First Nation youth leader led a group of 20 other young First Nation protesters to the entrance of the meeting and were turned away by security. Media had also been blocked from the event.

“When people come into your home, you don’t stand by and watch them do whatever they want. You protect it,” said Kataquapit speaking to reporters outside the meeting.

…. to read the full column, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/breaking-news/first-nation-youth-protest-ottawa-national-meeting-regarding-bill-c5

Posted on

CBC Radio :: Ottawa Morning :: First Nations families protest Ontario & federal development laws

Jeronimo Kataquapit and his father on the Attawpaiskat River with the CBC Ottawa Radio logo

July 17, 2025

Jeronimo Kataquapit and his family are planting flags and teepee poles every half-kilometre along the Attawapiskat River to show their continued use of the land and opposition to Ontario’s Bill 5 and the federal government’s Bill C-5. He’s hoping to tell the Prime Minister all about it in Ottawa today.

…. to listen to the radio interview, please click on the link below

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-100-ottawa-morning/clip/16158396-first-nations-families-protest-ontario-and-federal-development

Posted on

:: Wawatay News :: Jeronimo’s Fight Is For All Of Us

Jeronimo Kataquapit has made us all proud for his ability to live up to the title of his grass roots movement ‘Here We Stand – Call To Action’.

Jeronimo Kataquapit has made us all proud for his ability to live up to the title of his grass roots movement ‘Here We Stand – Call To Action’. In a Monday morning meeting with Mushkegowuk Council Chiefs leading up to the Thursday July 17 meeting with the federal government, Jeronimo took the opportunity to state to the leadership that we need to take a stand and that we all need to take action in order to protect our communities, First Nation rights and the lands and waterways we all live on.

…. to read the full column, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/jeronimo%E2%80%99s-fight-all-us

Posted on

:: Timmins Press :: Chiefs throw support behind youth-led protest against controversial resource legislation

Chiefs show their support for a youth-led protest against Bill 5 and Bill C-5 on the banks of the Attawapiskat River on July 1. From left are: Chief Elizabeth Kataquapit of Fort Albany FN, Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin of Attawapiskat FN, Jeronimo Kataquapit, Chief Gary Quisses of Neskantaga, Grand Chief Leo Friday of Mushkegowuk Council and Chief Hosea Wesley of Kashechewan FN. Jeronimo Kataquapit/Supplied photo

Northern First Nation chiefs and leaders came together on the Attawapiskat River on July 1 to show their support for a youth-led protest against Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5.
Article content

They came to meet with Jeronimo Kataquapit, a First Nation youth from Attawapiskat First Nation who is leading a protest to occupy the land and water way that the people of the Attawapiskat River call home.

…. to read the full story, please click on the link below

https://www.timminspress.com/opinion/chiefs-throw-support-behind-youth-led-protest-against-controversial-resource-legislation

Posted on

:: Wawatay News :: Here We Stand – A Call To Action

photo provided by Jeronimo Kataquapit 'Here We Stand - Call to Action' on the banks of the Attawapiskat River on July 1 were Jeronimo Kataquapit and First Nation Chiefs and Grand Chief who came together in a show of solidarity. From L-R are: Chief Elizabeth Kataquapit of Fort Albany FN, Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin of Attawapiskat FN, Jeronimo Kataquapit, Chief Gary Quisses of Neskantaga, Grand Chief Leo Friday of Mushkegowuk Council and Chief Hosea Wesley of Kashechewan FN.

Northern First Nation Chiefs and leaders came together on the Attawapiskat River on July 1 to show their support for a youth led protest against Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5. They came to meet with Jeronimo Kataquapit, a First Nation youth from Attawapiskat First Nation who is leading a protest to occupy the land and water way that the people of the Attawapiskat River call home. Kataquapit and the Chiefs held a gathering that included leaders and community members and youth from Neskantaga First Nation to discuss their concerns and show to government that their people still use and live on the river.

…. to read the full story, please click on the link below

https://wawataynews.ca/breaking-news/here-we-stand-%E2%80%93-call-action