Aboriginal culture highlighted at festival PAGES 12 and 13 Vol. 37 #15
Searching for fish in Bearskin Lake PAGE 17
Junior Rangers seek thrills at Camp Loon PAGES 10 and 11 9,300 copies distributed $1.50
July 22, 2010 www.wawataynews.ca
Concerns in James Bay over oil spill
Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
Nibinamik wilderness retreat
Debbie Mishibinijima Wawatay News
For several months of the year, geese provide sustenance for many families, but in a split second, with an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico several month ago, the hunters’ way of life could change. Chief Jonathan Solomon of Kashechewan First Nation has been hunting geese since he was a young boy in his community located along the James Bay Coast. “When you see birds covered in oil, you seriously have to ask, ‘Is that going to impact my hunting with the birds?’” Solomon wondered aloud during a recent Mushkegowuk Chiefs meeting. Solomon is gravely concerned next year’s spring goose hunt, which typically begins in early April and lasts until the end of May, could suffer disastrous consequences on account of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On April 20, an oil rig owned by Transocean Ltd. and contracted to oil giant BP exploded during routine exploratory drilling. The explosion occurred in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 kilometres off the coast of Louisiana. There were 11 fatalities in the explosion, as well as 17 injured workers, including four in critical condition. It is estimated between 337 million and 666 million litres of oil has poured into the Gulf of Mexico since April 20, according to United States government statistics. Each fall, thousands of Canadian snow geese migrate to marshes at the mouth of the Mississippi River where oil damage has hit hard. The migration pattern of the geese follow what is known as the Mississippi Flyway; which is one of four major North American flyways. Within the flyway zone, there is a lot of water and wetlands within the Mississippi delta. The Hinterland Who’s Who website described how oil spills kills birds in many ways. One impact is the breakdown of a birds’ waterproofing ability. The oil is known to cause the birds to suffer from hypothermia as it loses its ability to retain body temperature. Another consequence is that as a bird preens its feathers, it inhales and swallows toxic compounds from the oil. Damage occurs to its liver, lungs, kidneys, intestines and other internal organs. The food chain sources of the birds also suffer environmental impacts. Ted Cheskey is the manager of bird conservation with Nature Canada. Cheskey notes that the oil spill will cause long-term impacts. “A lot of food resources are going to be damaged because of the oil spill.” See GEESE page 22
Chris Kornacki/Wawatay News
Nibinamik First Nation (Summer Beaver) held its 12th annual summer Youth Wilderness Retreat program July 12-17. The retreat was held at the O-ma-dayna-moh-win-nik (Breathing Grounds), which is located about 5 kilometres by boat from the community. Activities for the youth included moose tracking, gun safety, traditional food preparation, fish netting and drum teachings. Jessie Sofea cuts up and prepares a fresh moose that was cooked for dinner at the camp. See stories on pages 3 and 14.
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Summer Seat Sale!
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Purchase your reservations until July 31, 2010 for travel before October 1, 2010.
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All reservations are non-refundable. NAV Canada, Insurance, and Fuel Surcharges are included. Sioux Lookout and Red Lake AIF and taxes are extra. Seating is limited at seat sale fares and reservations are subject to availability and the number of seats is restricted by flight number. This means that seats may not be available for seat sale fares although there are still seats offered on the aircraft. If there are no seats available on certain ights, guests may choose another date and time or ight to travel. Changes and cancellations are subject to fees and upgrades as applicable. Reservation is non-refundable in case of no-show. Cash and Credit Card only. Sorry, no account charges. Payment is required within 48 hours of making reservations, after payment the reservation is non-refundable and reservations will expire if payment is not received. Seat Sale reservations may be purchased until July 31, 2010 for travel before October 1, 2010. Seat Sale fares require return reservations and must be purchased at least 10 days in advance. Seat prices are subject to change.