Xavier Kataquapit – First Nation Writer / Columnist
The Cree word for autumn is Ta-kwa-gun. I don’t know what it is about Ta-kwa-gun but it seems as I get older every year at the start of fall I hear of people passing and many others getting sick. Recently I have been sad at hearing of some wonderful people I know that have passed and others dealing with sickness.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.timminspress.com/opinion/autumnal-reflections-on-life-and-death
Faye Naveau, an Indigenous actress, artist and performer from Mattagami First Nation has a vision that revolves around the creation of an Indigenous Theatre reality that features a venue, programming and a place where First Nation people can showcase their art in all forms. Currently she is taking part in a leading role as ‘Sybil’ in the upcoming play ‘Witches In The Woods’ during the inaugural Tamarack Festival in Timmins from September 13 to 15. Naveau hopes to inspire young Indigenous actors, performers, story tellers and writers into joining local theatre arts groups and encourage them to use the dramatic arts to share their stories and take part in a positive and creative outlet.
…. to read the full column, please click on the link below
There is this new duck on the lake here at my far north wilderness camp. I am sure that Shee-sheep, the Cree word for ‘duck’ is a mallard and so I decided to call her Daisy. She seems to be frantically searching the lake for something. I am guessing that she is looking for her partner and ducklings. She likes to sit on my freshly renovated dock. I sent her away the other day and now I regret it.
If you would like to hear my conversation with Daisy, you can view this link
https://youtu.be/7UWckGxQDdA
…. to read the full column, please click on the link below
Wabun Tribal Council recently hosted the 17th Annual Wabun Youth Gathering for senior Indigenous youth at Beaverhouse First Nation.
The gathering, held from Aug. 12-15, was the second half of this annual event which is meant for youth from the ages of 14 to 18. The first part of the event for junior aged youth was held in Mattagami First Nation July 15-17.
[this news story is appearing in the Northern News newspaper of Kirkland Lake in their August 22, 2024 printed issue. You can find the printed edition in Kirkland Lake or you can also view the online story with the link below]
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.northernnews.ca/news/annual-wabun-youth-gathering-held-at-wilderness-location
Wabun Tribal Council hosted the 17th Annual Wabun Youth Gathering for senior Indigenous youth in Beaverhouse First Nation. The gathering which was held from August 12 to 15, 2024 is the second half of this annual gathering which is meant for youth from the ages of 14 to 18. The first part of the event was held in Mattagami FN on July 15 to 17 for junior aged youth. These annual events are hosted and organized by the Wabun Tribal Council Health Department with the support of the tribal council’s member First Nations.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://wawataynews.ca/breaking-news/annual-wabun-youth-gathering-held-wilderness-location
I have been working in media as an Indigenous journalist, columnist and videographer for more than a quarter century at this point. This has been such an incredible experience and continues to be for so many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason I love this work is because I continually learn from every story I must research and all of the amazing Elders, Chiefs, council members, Indigenous and non Indigenous people that I interview.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/we-need-stick-together
My home community of Attawapiskat First Nation on the James Bay coast has been filled with excitement for the past few months in anticipation of Kattawapiskak Keekehwin Gathering 2024. A major week long event from August 4 to 10 will be filled with lots of fun entertainment, games for children, feasting, fund raising activities and major live musical performances. The event will be complimented by the 2nd Annual Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority (AFNEA) Wellness Initiative Pow Wow taking place on August 9 and 10.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/kattawapiskak-keekehwin-gathering-2024
My home community of Attawapiskat First Nation on the James Bay coast has been filled with excitement for the past few months in anticipation of Kattawapiskak Keekehwin Gathering 2024.
The major weeklong event from August 4 to 10 will be filled with lots of fun entertainment, games for children, feasting, fund raising activities and major live musical performances. The event will be complimented by the 2nd Annual Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority (AFNEA) Wellness Initiative Pow Wow taking place on August 9 and 10.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.timminspress.com/opinion/weeklong-gathering-to-feature-famous-canadian-rock-bands
I never quite realized how hard life was when I was growing up in my home community of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast. At the time in the 1980s, our Elders saw the community as becoming modernized and more comfortable compared to what they had known a few decades before.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/goodbye-honey-bucket
Every time I look out over a body of water, whether it is a lake, a river or even an ocean, I always think of Weeneebek, or what is known as James Bay in the English language. My father Marius Kataquapit was an expert boater who had travelled on this water on a freighter canoe all his life. He often took us out as children as a teaching on the water. Those trips were always fun but they were often difficult and sometimes even miserable as the Weeneebek was rarely calm and most often a rough sea of powerful cold waves and huge ocean swells that challenged us on every trip.
…. to read more, please click on the link below
https://www.timminspress.com/opinion/the-day-the-ocean-stood-still-2