Photo: Dancing and drumming filled Wauzhushk Onigum during the fifth annual Healing Your Spirit Powwow in July, 2025.
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is proud to reflect on another year of growth, connection, and community-driven success. Throughout 2024, we have remained committed to supporting the wellbeing of our communities and our people.
We are honoured to share a recap of some of the most impactful stories and moments from the past year – highlights that celebrate our collective strength, resilience, and achievements.
Here are the top 12 stories from Ogimaawabiitong in 2024!
Ontario Supporting Kenora Youth Wellness Hub with $500,000 Renovation – January
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is sending a huge Miigwetch to the Ontario Government for a transformative investment into the Kenora Youth Wellness Hub, which will help enhance and expand access to social services and culturally appropriate care for youth in the community.
At the Youth Wellness Hub on January 11, Kenora-Rainy River MPP, Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Greg Rickford, announced the funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to support vital renovations at the hub.
Ogimaawabiitong also sends a Miigwetch to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario and the federal government’s Economic and Social Development Fund for further funding towards the renovations.
Minister Rickford was joined by Niisaachewan Chief and KCA Board Chair Lorraine Cobiness, Wauzhushk Onigum Chief Chris Skead, and KCA Executive Director Jennifer Dreaver to make the announcement – which included a tour of the facility at 120 Main Street South. The hub serves youth aged 12 to 25 and provides employment, education, primary care, mental health, and substance use supports in the Kenora area.
KCA Brings Together Service Providers to Educate on Autism – February
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) sends a heartfelt Miigwetch to everyone who helped to make our Honouring the Children, Honouring their Gifts ASD [Autism] Conference such a special three-day gathering, filled with stories of resilience, self-advocacy, and hope.
Hosted by KCA Niigaanning Bimaadiziwin Child & Youth Development Services (NBDS) and Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation on January 30, 31 and February 1, the conference shared experience, knowledge, and traditional teachings about children with autism from an Indigenous lens.
One of the first of its kind in northwestern Ontario, the gathering in Wauzhushk Onigum’s CDC building held over 100 service providers and frontline staff of KCA communities in Treaty #3, along with those following a livestream online.
Kenora Makwa Patrol Main Office Space has a New Location – February
The Kenora Makwa Patrol is excited and grateful to announce a brand-new office space for their program!
Since the Kenora Makwa Patrol’s inception in 2020, the patrollers and Makwa staff have been working out of the location (201 Main Street South) in the downtown core. This location was a great space for the program to grow and develop, however as the program has expanded over the last 3 years, the patrol has outgrown its current office space.
In partnership with the City of Kenora, Kenora Makwa Patrol will relocate their administrative office to the City’s Station 2 Firehall (1008 Ottawa Street, Keewatin).
In addition to working out of the Station 2 Firehall space, the City of Kenora has also recently added a new public washroom in the downtown core. There will be a small space within this building that patrollers can access as a place to distribute supplies to patrons.
KCA Supports Northwest Angle #33 with Food, Supplies in Emergency Situation – April
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is thankful for the support of our partners, staff, and volunteers for helping us deliver hundreds of pounds of food and supplies to those in need in one of our communities.
At this time of the year, the community and people of Northwest Angle #33 First Nation lose access to their ice road – their only connection to the mainland – due to the warm weather. This makes gathering necessary supplies, such as groceries and medications, extremely difficult for community members.
To help support community members in this time of need, Ogimaawabiitong organized and purchased a massive donation of food, supplies, medication, and more to give out to community members, with the support of Forest Helicopters Inc.
After loading up one of their crafts on April 16, Ogimaawabiitong and Forest Helicopter staff made multiple trips by helicopter to provide essential supplies to those in need in Northwest Angle #33 and distribute the supplies to community members.
KCA Receives New Funding to Strengthen Primary Care in Treaty #3 – April
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is sending a huge Miigwetch to Minister Greg Rickford, the Ministry of Health, and the Ontario Government for a $3.6 million investment to support our communities and our people in need of healthcare services.
First Nation communities face a huge gap in service when it comes to the delivery of health care especially on reserve, and the goal of Kenora Chiefs Advisory is to ensure patients are seeing a regular care provider.
To help close the gap for First Nations people not connected to primary care in the community, the province is supporting Kenora Chiefs Advisory with $3.6 million in funding that will support the interprofessional primary care team.
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) would like to again send a huge Miigwetch to the Ontario government for continuing to support vital access to primary care throughout northwestern Ontario, and to our frontline healthcare staff who continue to work tirelessly for our youth, families, and elders. We look forward to further collaborations with Ontario to continue strengthening our healthcare system.
Wiigwas, KCA Bring Partners Together to Recognize New Wiigwas Site – May
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is sending a Miigwetch to everyone who was able to join May 7’s ceremony in honour of the new location for the Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care building.
Representatives and leadership of KCA, Wiigwas, the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, and the City of Kenora joined together at the Discovery Centre to honour and recognize the property, which will be co-located with the All Nations Hospital.
“This is a big step forward for First Nations people in our area, as for the first time our area is going to see a Long-Term Care Home that truly puts culture at the center focus of all the work that is being done,” said Chief Chris Skead, on behalf of the Board of Directors for Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care.
KCA, Wauzhushk Onigum Join Together to Heal Spirits, Honour Survivors – July
It was an amazing weekend of healing and celebration in Wauzhushk Onigum, as the community hosted the fifth annual Healing Your Spirit Powwow in partnership with Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory).
The three-day gathering, held July 26, 27 and 28, is a way for us all to come together and honour survivors of residential schools and the thousands of children who never made it home, as well as to celebrate our military veterans and our youth.
Dancers and drummers from Treaty #3, Manitoba, and all throughout Turtle Island gathered in Wauzhushk Onigum’s Powwow Arbour on Powwow Island as Staff Carriers led the weekend’s Grand Entry and celebrations, which kicked off with Treaty #3’s traditional healing songs.
An annual tradition of the gathering, a special celebration was held on Saturday afternoon in honour of residential school and 60’s scoop survivors, as well as our Indigenous veterans. This special moment of honour was done in partnership with Bimose Tribal Council and Grand Council Treaty 3.
Binesi Waziswon Celebrates Licensing, Fall Feast – September
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is sending a congratulations and Miigwetch to the staff of our Binesi Waziswon Youth Mental Health Service, which received licensing from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services on September 19th – making it a crucial healing program in northern Ontario.
While gathering for a Fall Feast celebration at Binesi, located at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp, Operations Manager Mercedes Van Dam made the announcement that Binesi had ‘passed with flying colours’ after a recent inspection and was officially a licensed youth healing service.
“This program is such an important piece to help youth who are struggling; it’s a place where youth can rest, connect, and heal,” says Chief Operating Officer, Gillian Lunny. “Today I’m sending gratitude to all the staff who work out here. Everything that this program has accomplished is because of this close team and the extraordinary dedication and passion that they bring every day.”
After beginning operations roughly 9 months ago as a voluntary youth treatment program, Binesi Waziswon has been operating on a temporary license from the MCCSS with 8 beds for youth from the Kenora and Thunder Bay region. Now, Binesi will be able to serve youth throughout northern Ontario.
Hundreds Gather to Honour Lost Children in Kenora – September
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is so honoured and thankful to be able to take part in Kenora’s celebrations for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, alongside hundreds of community members, leaders, organizations, and more.
In partnership with Grand Council Treaty #3 and WNHAC, KCA was able to help support the day’s two September 30th celebrations, beginning with an opening ceremony and prayer at the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School Memorial Site.
Led by Ronnie P. McDonald and a number of local elders, hundreds of community members and students wearing orange shirts joined in the special morning, followed by a walk around Round Lake to offer tobacco at the Treaty Three Police Service headquarters.
Then under the Whitecap Pavilion, a roaring Drum Social featuring the Lake of the Woods Drummers, Battle Nation Jr’s, and Binesi Drummers was hosted by Rich Green and Jyles Copenace. All three groups offered their own renderings before joining together for honour, giveaway, and travelling songs.
3 Days of Culture and Celebration at Fall Harvest – October
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) would like to send a huge Miigwetch to everyone who supported and participated in our fourth annual Dagwaagin Gabeshiwin – Fall Harvest this week at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp!
Hundreds of students from local and community schools from across Treaty #3 came together each day on October 8, 9, and 10 to gather, participate in ceremonies, take part in cultural practices, and learn more about the practices of our Anishinaabemowin ancestors – as we celebrate the changing of the season.
The three-day celebration was hosted by KCA’s Grandmother Drum, Shawanoong Banaise’seek, and Emcee Ron Kanutski, with support from our Elders Allan White, Andy White, George Land, Luanne Kavanaugh, Agnes Paul, and our drummers. Opening songs, prayers, and blessings took place each morning to honour the land, our youth, and the gathering, allowing us to heal with one another.
Treaty #3 Comes Together at KCA Youth Healing Gathering – October
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is honoured to have hosted the KCA Youth Council’s first Youth Healing Gathering to unite, connect, and build relationships across Treaty #3, while working towards ending the ongoing Mental Health crisis in the region.
The gathering of 30 to 40 youth aged 12 to 29 from KCA member communities took place at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp on October 19th and 20th, organized and supported by KCA Youth Council Members.
The gathering began with a Sunrise Ceremony and Opening Ceremony, with KCA’s Grandmother Drum Shawanoong Banaise’seek and our drummers. Elders Allan White, Andy White, Luanne Kavanaugh, Agnes Paul, and George Land provided opening prayers and blessings.
Youth were then able to take part in several Anishinaabe teachings, including ribbon skirt making with Danielle Kakeway, painting with local artist Alicia Kejick, beading with Serena Kenny, a sweatlodge ceremony with Billy Boucher, Powwow dance teachings with Wesley Nelson, yoga with Madelaine Arseneault, a scavenger hunt, and empowerment activities and prizes from Grand Council Treaty #3.
KCA Supports First Nation Communities Ahead of the Holidays – December
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is sending a huge Miigwetch to our amazing partners and staff for helping us deliver over 26,000 pounds of food to our communities this holiday season!
To support our communities during this time of year, KCA organized and purchased fresh and frozen food for community members, which was then delivered by staff and by Forest Helicopters Inc. and distributed within each of our 8 partner communities on December 10.
Donations were also made to the Kenora Fellowship Centre, to help support those in need in the Kenora area over the holidays.
Ogimaawabiitong would like to extend a heartfelt Miigwetch to everyone who has walked alongside us on our journey to support our communities throughout 2024. Your dedication, collaboration, and resilience have made this year truly memorable. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to advocate for and support our people in 2025 and beyond.
Other impactful work from 2024:
