Come and meet our Community Navigators who assist in setting up paid training opportunities! No experience necessary!

Contact

• Dennis Major
  Cell: 807.407.5790
  Email: dmajor@niiwinwendaanimok.com
  
• Couradge Wapioke
  Cell: 807.373.0094
  Email: cwapioke@niiwinwendaanimok.com

Scheduled in Kenora for April 2023, the delivery will be in class and on worksite.  Please reach out to your Community Navigators for more info!

• Couradge Wapioke (Shoal Lake #40) – (413) 373-0094
• Dennis Bush (Wauzhusk Onigum/Urban) – (807) 407-5970
• Stewart Sinclair (Whitefish Bay) – (807) 407-2896
• Andrew Jameson (Niisaachewan) – (807) 407-3557

2022 will bring the start of the Highway 17 construction. With it will be the implementation of the Anishinaabe Guardians Program. During the Anishinaabe Aki Kakendamowin (AAK) knowledge gathering process, the Elders noted the importance of making sure the lands, skies, soils, and water were being protected and the promises being made were kept. The Anishinaabe Guardians Program was proposed to monitor how the project is impacting the environment as well as the overall health of the lands, skies, soils, and waters.

The four Nations will play an active role in the Twinning of the Highway through Guardianship and construction work. Community Navigators have been brought on for each of the communities to help connect interested workers with employment and training on the Twinning Project. There will be…

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• Niiwin Wendaanimok Newsletter - January 2022 (1496 downloads)

As this project rolls out we will be seeing the preliminary stages taking place in the months to come before the dates for Phase 1 of “Road Construction” are announced.

One of the four Project Leads for this project, Niisaachewan Councillor Fabian Blackhawk, says “Our technical team has been extremely dedicated in moving this high level project forward. As we are approaching yet another set of milestones within our projects we look forward to showcasing what working together can truly accomplish, and to making sure the commitments meet the needs of our people at every opportunity“.

If you are interested in any training or career opportunities with this project, please check out the careers section on the Niiwin Wendaanimok website or email Four Winds Community Navigator Andrew Jameson – ajameson@niiwinwendaanimok.com.

2020 saw the completion of Phase 1 of the Anishinaabe Aki Kakendamowin (AAK), the documentation of the knowledge and practices associated with the care and protection for the lands, skies, soils, and waters. This knowledge has been used to identify and assess potential impacts of Phase 1 of the Project through the Harmonized Impact Assessment (HIA). The HIA is now publicly available at https://niiwinwendaanimok.com/#hia.

The Partnership is currently beginning to plan for the creation of an Anishinaabe Guardians Program. This will provide opportunities for community members to be responsible for protecting their traditional lands and waters by enforcing the Manito Aki Inakonigaawin and ensuring all mitigation measures in the HIA are being followed when construction begins. See page 2 to learn more.

The Partnership’s mandate has been focused on the twinning of Highway 17, which is proposed to be constructed over 3 Phases between the Manitoba / Ontario border and Kenora (“the Project”). The Partnership has been working hard to understand and mitigate the impacts of the Project and to secure economic opportunities for the four Nations.

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• Niiwin Wendaanimok Newsletter - May 2021 (1452 downloads)

Rooted in the Manito Aki Inakonigaawin (Great Earth Law), the Harmonized Impact Assessment is based on a ground-breaking model developed by the Niiwin Wendaanimok Partnership that continues to receive national recognition for its innovation in bringing together Anishinaabe understandings and processes with western science to assess impacts and mitigation. “This document tells the story of the Anishinaabeg, the history of our relationship to the land, the skies, the soils, and the waters, but most importantly it was done through ceremony”, said Elder and Protocol Advisor George Kakeway. “Under our laws, our ceremonies, we do things right, we are never afraid, we take our time, and we always listen, and that is what we did. It is our consideration of the proposed project, done in our way and according to our laws. This document is the result.”

Given the COVID 19 stay-at-home order and strict restrictions on gatherings, the representatives of the respective governments participated in the ceremony virtually.

Over the last several months, the Niiwin Wendaanimok and representatives of the Ministry of Transportation Ontario have been in discussions focused on rebuilding a broken relationship they are confident will be sustainable. “The past relationship was very destructive. It did not work for anyone. It has left generations of damage. But we have now followed our laws, and done things our way, with our principles”, said Chief Marilyn Sinclair, Washagamis First Nation. “When we conduct ourselves with respect, honour, love, courage, humility, wisdom, and truth, we know we can have good outcomes”.

While significant work is yet to be done, this commitment in ceremony marks a critical step in cementing the trust to carry us forward through the commitments. “Our process, where, as partners we all share responsibility, has produced several innovative, creative ways of working together in a continuing relationship. We’ve conducted a ground-breaking, award-winning harmonized process for understanding environmental impacts and mitigation measures.  We’re establishing an Anishinaabe Guardians Program and contracts and opportunities that set the foundation for the economies of the Anishinaabeg”, said Chief Vernon Redsky, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. “We have revived a process that we know works, an Anishinaabe approach we have always known can work for the benefit of all.”

Phase 1 will see twinning of the TransCanada Highway from Manitoba/Ontario border to Highway 673 and is anticipated to start fall of 2021. “By entering into ceremony with us today, MTO is demonstrating that it is possible for us to work together. While we still have a very long way to go, we know we can make the journey together”, said Chief Chris Skead, Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation “Our Elders have given MTO moccasins to remind them of this journey we must stay on together.” Phases 2 and 3 are planned to extend from the Highway 673 to Kenora, but consent from the Anishinaabeg for Phases 2 and 3 is still pending.

“From time immemorial, our Elders have relied on the Manito Aki Inakonigaawin – our Great Earth Law to guide decisions in our territory. When we follow the laws of the Earth, the laws of the Creator, when we make decisions through ceremony, we know these are good decisions”, said Chief Lorraine Cobiness, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation. “Its time to do things right, its time to rebuild our economies”.

Media Contact(s):

Somia Sadiq – Somia.sadiq@narrativesinc.com
Cell: 204-807-0339

Cuyler Cotton – dovetailresources@gmail.com
Cell: 807-468-5393

The leadership of Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, and Washagamis Bay First Nation, collectively known as the NIIWIN WENDAANIMOK PARTNERSHIP, are pleased to announce they are prepared to give Ontario conditional consent to enter their territory under their guidance to undertake construction of Phase 1 of the TransCanada Highway 17 Twinning Project. Should Ontario agree, Cabinet Ministers have been invited to participate in a sacred ceremony in late April, under the sacred law and guidance of the Manito Aki Inaakonigaawin. This consent is given on the condition that Ontario honour the legally binding commitments it has made to the Niiwin Wendaanimok Partnership.

Over the last several months, the Niiwin Wendaanimok and representatives of the Ministry of Transportation Ontario have been in constructive discussions regarding this project. The goal of these discussions has been on building a good, ongoing relationship. “The past relationship has been genocidal for the Anishinaabeg. More recently it hasn’t worked for anyone. But now these discussions have been guided by Manito Aki Inaakonigaawin, the sacred law of the Earth. We have been guided by the principles of Weweni (Take our time), Bebeka (doing it right), Biiziindun (listen), and Kegotachken (do not be afraid)”, said Chief Chris Skead, Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation. “We have conducted ourselves with respect, honour, love, courage, humility, wisdom, and truth.”

While the collective work and commitments to future generations under the sacred law of the Manito Aki Inaakonigaawin will never be completed, the Anishinaabeg are taking important first steps to ensure and implement commitments. “This process has seen several creative solutions to working together in a continuing relationship. We’ve conducted a ground-breaking harmonized process for understanding environmental impacts and mitigation measures. We’re establishing an Anishinaabe Guardians Program and contracts and opportunities that set the foundation for the economies of the Anishinaabeg”, said Chief Vernon Redsky, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. “We have revived a process that we know works, an Anishinaabe approach we have always known can work for the benefit of all.”

Phase 1 will see twinning of the TransCanada Highway from Manitoba/Ontario border to Highway 673 and is anticipated to start fall of 2021. By respecting our sacred law and protocols, MTO is demonstrating that it is possible for us to work together. While we have a long way to go, and together we know that we can, if we take our time and do things right” said Chief Marilyn Sinclair, Washagamis Bay First Nation. Phases 2 and 3 are planned to extend from the Highway 673 to Kenora, but consent from the Anishinaabeg for Phases 2 and 3 is still pending.

In compliance with the sacred law of the Manito Aki Inaakonigaawin and to mark this important commitment to each other, Ontario will be required to participate in a ceremony to be held in late April to confirm the parties’ understandings of this sacred relationship, and for Ontario to receive the Harmonized Impact Assessment so it may proceed with filing its environmental study. “From time immemorial, our Elders have relied on the Manito Aki Inaakonigaawin – our Great Earth Law to guide decisions in our territory. When we follow the laws of the Earth, the laws of the Creator, when we make decisions through ceremony, we know these are good decisions”, said Chief Lorraine Cobiness, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation. “Its time to do things right, its time to rebuild our economies”.

Media Contact(s):
Somia Sadiq
Somia.sadiq@narrativesinc.com
Cell: 204-807-0339

Cuyler Cotton
dovetailresources@gmail.com
Cell: 807-468-5393

Download Project Background PDF

• Niiwin Wendaanimok Highway Twinning Background Information (1479 downloads)

This is the twelfth newsletter produced since the formation of the Partnership. Stay tuned for future issues where we will provide regular updates as the Project progresses.

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• Niiwin Wendaanimok Newsletter - March 2021 (1496 downloads)

On February 5th, 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Partnership and the Government of Ontario to guide the engagement process in the sprit of collaboration and cooperation.

Since May 2019, the Niiwin Wendaanimok has undertaken the Anishinaabe Aki Kakendamowin (AAK), referring to the documentation of the knowledge and practices associated with the care and protection for the land, sky, soil, and water. This knowledge has been used to identify and assess potential impacts of the Project through a new process being termed a Harmonized Impact Assessment (HIA). The HIA document was brought into ceremony for endorsement in each of the four communities between July 21-24, 2020. See Page 2 to learn more!

Since March 2020, the Partnership has been developing an online mechanism for virtual engagement to safely continue the AAK in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. AAK interviews are proceeding in new ways with a web map survey and virtual interviews, in addition to continuing to meet in-person when we can safely. See page 3 for details on how to get involved.

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• Niiwin Wendaanimok Newsletter - August 2020 (1545 downloads)

We sat down with the Board Members and asked them a few questions.  Hear what Fabian Blackhawk (Niisaachewan), Erwin Redsky (Shoal Lake #40), Brenda Chartrand (Washagamis Bay), and George Kakeway (Wauzhushk Onigum) had to say about our tasks ahead, and get a quick look at key updates and see a timeline of activies and meetings since October.

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• Niiwin Wendaanimok Newsletter - January 2020 (1392 downloads)