Category: column

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.

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

There has been some good news lately in honouring agreements and righting wrongs when it comes to Indigenous peoples on the James Bay coast. The big news recently was the announcement of 1.2 billion dollars for the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) in regards to their Hospital Redevelopment Project.

…. to read more, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/better-health-care-james-bay

We have proof that when governments work together good things can happen and that was demonstrated in Matachewan First Nation when the community announced recently the settlement of a Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) claim. The announcement was made on May 25, by Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse of Matachewan FN, along with Will Bouma, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford and also by the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations. This TLE was formed under Treaty #9, also known as the James Bay Treaty, which the community originally signed onto in 1906.

…. to read more, please click on the link below

https://wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/righting-wrongs-past

Recently I was involved in a discussion with my partner and some of his friends who came of age in the 1960s. Our discussion was all about how upside down the world is these days with wars going on in the Ukraine and Gaza killing many thousands of people and destroying cities. It is interesting to hear from people who grew up in the 1960s and 70s because they bring an historical background to what is happening now. Many people I know were part of the hippie and counter culture movement of the time.

…. to read more, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/times-they-are-changin-again

Every morning for a few weeks now I am waking up to the sound of Pee-Nay-Sheesh (small birds) singing outside my window. Mostly the singing is coming from the Tree Swallows flying frantically around in what seems like circles.

…. to read more, please click on the link below

https://wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/thank-goodness-birds-are-singing

It looks like the swallows are back and that is a sure sign of spring and warmer weather to come. A couple of weeks ago I heard the honking of Niska (Canada geese) as they paused to take a break on the field behind our house here in Kirkland Lake. They seemed to have moved on now and have arrived at their summer destinations on the shore of James Bay.

…. to read more, please click on the link below

https://www.wawataynews.ca/blogs-columns/spirit-traditional-hunt