WFB Predators Jan 18 to 20 Shoal Lake Tournament (Photo Credit: Rod Crow)
By: Rodney Crow
Our Whitefish Bay Predators won the Men’s Hockey Tournament in Shoal Lake from January 18 to 20. It was hosted by Stewart Redsky. We played our first game at 10am Saturday against Pikangikum and we beat them 9 – 2. Our next game that evening, we beat Long Plains 6 – 0. Our third game we won a close one 3 – 2 against Shoal Lake Flyers. Then we met up with Long Plains again in the championship game where we beat them 5 – 4. We were exhausted playing all weekend but somehow managed to win. The last time we were in Shoal Lake was 5 years ago and we won that tournament too with 7 players.
Our team is: Goalie: Everett Cowley, Defencemen: Mario Gauthier, Jamie Mandamin & Dave Crow. Forwards: Rhyse Mandamin, Eli Paul, Maverick Blackhawk, Damien Paypompee & Rodney Crow. (This was NOT an oldtimers tournament!)
(Left to right) Everett Cowley, Clement Gustafson, Mary-Anne Mooring, Glen White (Photo Credit: Damon Hunter)
Fellow workers make efforts towards a better future for youth
By: Damon Hunter
Thursday, November 15th was the official opening of the 2018-2019 season of skating at Naotkamegwanning’s Chi Key Wis Arena. It brought smiles, not just to skaters, but also to the people that made it possible.
Local skaters participate in an open-skate held at the arena (Photo Credit: Damon Hunter)
Since the major reconstruction of the Chi Key Wis Arena four years ago, Mary-Anne Mooring has been the woman behind the scenes helping to make it happen.
Mooring is a longtime Power Engineer, with three decades of experience, including Chief Engineer at the old Winnipeg Arena which housed the Jets and Winnipeg Moose, and Assistant Chief Engineer at the University of Manitoba. She was also responsible for overhauling Kenora Recreational Centre and making their ice.
Mechanical work was what she specialized in for the most part. “I took care of all the physical plans,” she stated.
She expressed gratitude for her fellow workers Glen White, Everett Cowley, and CJ Gustafson. Without the band and council’s financial and motivational support, no such progress would be made, she explained.
Mooring says she is grateful for her partner Denise Lysak who writes some of the grants for Naotkamegwanning projects alongside her.
Everett Cowley is one of the first arena workers, employed there since day one, ‘from where it was just a few light bulbs working and natural ice’.
Prior to his current position,he had already been working at the arena before major changes took place, including removal of mold. His current job, maintaining the Zamboni and ice, is a critical one. Cowley commented that so far there haven’t been many problems and with everyone’s work contributions, things have been running very smoothly.
He related that his main motivation is the kids. He remarked that his grandson is an influence as well, stating that he provides a major incentive to do what Cowley does day by day.
(Left to right) Everett Cowley, Clement Gustafson, Mary-Anne Mooring, Glen White (Left to right) Everett Cowley, Clement Gustafson, Mary-Anne Mooring, Glen White
(Photo Credit: Damon Hunter)
Together as a group, the workers have been largely responsible for most of the grander changes around Whitefish Bay. Locations such as the new beach, the baseball diamond, and the basketball court are some of the their accomplishments and there will soon be a new skate park along with a conjoined bicycle track.
The goal, Mooring says, is to give the youth a chance at finding what they enjoy and to have something fun to do in their free time.
“We’re about making things better, not just taking care of ourselves,” she says. “It’s about the community.”
Many more projects are aspired for, the biggest being a whole new training facility for young athletes. Wrestling, hockey, and lacrosse are the prime targets as of now. Beach volleyball and a new fitness centre are also very much wanted.
“I know there’ve been some great athletes that could’ve come out of Whitefish Bay and they never had the courage to be able to do what they should’ve done,” Mooring said. “To become those athletes, they need a network for support.”
The following article was also published in the Kenora Daily Miner – The Enterprise in print and online. Available here.
Betty Tom: Faces of Naotkamegwanning Elders-in-Residence (Photo Credit: Ozaawaa Paypompee)
By: Ozaawaa Paypompee
Betty Tom has been living at the Naotkamegwanning Elders-in-Residence for over 5 years she said.
While she was working on an eagle puzzle, she remembered her grandson in Eagle Lake does photography. She was enjoying the nice beautiful Friday sunny day. She hoped the snow would melt for Halloween and kids should be able to trick or treat in larger spaces rather than be alone far away.
She says she hasn’t always lived in Naotkamegwanning, originally she is from Big Island First Nation. She opened up saying she was the same age as George Kakeway, who is now a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and who spoke at the round house on Orange Shirt Day. She says they both attended St.Mary’s Residential School in Kenora. She says she finds it very hard rethink of those experiences.
Naotkamegwanning News 