Government Will Review Court Ruling of Metis and Non-Status Indians

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the government will review a federal court ruling in favor of more than 600-thousand off-reserve Metis and non-status Indians.

The court has ruled they are indeed "Indians" under the Constitution Act and they fall under federal jurisdiction.

Rickford says it's too early to comment on the ruling.

Rickford adds that Aboriginal Affairs will take time to carefully review.

Visitor Restrictions at Dryden Regional Health Centre

The Dryden Regional Health Centre continues to take precautions, following a high number of patients with respiratory illness.

Anyone who enters the hospital is required to wear a mask, and wash their hands frequently.

Spokesperson Darlene Furlong says a number of people have complained of respiratory or gastrointestinal illness.

Furlong says visitor restrictions will most likely remain for the rest of the week.

Con College Brings Women's Hockey to Kenora

The Confederation College women's hockey team will be making its
first ever appearance in Kenora.

The Thunderhawks will be playing a pair of games this weekend at the
Kenora Rec. Center against the Assinaboine College Cougars from
Brandon.

The first game will take place Saturday night at 7:00 at the Kenora Rec.
Center, and will be followed up with another game Sunday
afternoon at 1:00.

This is the inaugural season for the Con College women's hockey program.

Fate of Extra-Curricular Activities Still Up in the Air

Talks continue with the local school board and public schools regarding the continuation of extra-curricular activities.

Director of Education for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board Jack McMaster says that despite last weeks announcement by the education minister that contracts will be imposed on teachers, he hopes things can remain as close to normal.

McMaster says it's up to the unions if teachers will continue with voluntary activities.

McMaster says there will be another teleconference on Thursday to get a better idea of the situation.

Kenora Man Dies While Grooming Trail

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have identified the man who fell through the ice near Poplar Hill First Nation.

Police recovered the body of 52-year-old Thomas McDonald of Kenora and a post-mortem was conducted yesterday, which revealed that the cause of death was drowning.

The incident happened on Saturday, when a snow grooming machine had gone through the ice, with the operator missing.

Fort Hope Man Charged with Trafficking

A Fort Hope First Nation man is being charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking after Nishnawbe-Aski police seized a number of Oxycodone pills.

Police seized approximately almost 3-thousand dollars worth of 5 milligram Oxycodone prescription pills and six hundred dollars worth of alcohol.

The man is scheduled to appear in court on March 21st in Fort Hope.

New EI Changes Now In Effect

Changes to Employment Insurance are now in effect.

The Federal Government announced their plans in the spring budget.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is worried people will be forced to take minimum wage jobs and could be forced to travel outside of their communities for work.

Rafferty is also concerned fewer people will be able to access the fund.

The new E.I. changes went into effect this past Sunday.

Murder Trial Begins This Week in Kenora Court

After almost four years, a trial looking into the death of Ed Wilson is about to begin.

Wilson was found dead on the CP train tracks in Norman in March of 2009.

39 year old Kenneth Ivall and 23 year old Angela Duchesne are facing second degree murder changes.

Chris Watkins is representing Ivall and say the eight week trial could pose some challenges in the jury selection process.

Jury selection is due to begin tomorrow morning at 11:00.

More Snow on the Way

Get ready to break out your snow shovel.

The first full week of January will be much milder than
normal, but it will bring with it a lot of snow.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the first
big dump will start tomorrow.

Laidlaw says more heavy snow is also expected by the end of the
week.

Sioux Narrows Debating OPP Service

The Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls is still grappling with how it
plans to police the community in 2013.

The tiny community had initially told the OPP it wanted to cancel its contract
and just have a call for service agreement.

Mayor Bill Thompson says the OPP has since agreed to lower its cost
of servicing the municipality.

Thompson says they are now balking at signing the contract, following
comments by Ontario's Auditor General, who was critical of the increased cost
of OPP service, despite declining crime rates.

OPP Nab Sledders in Fort Frances area

Three Fort Frances men will be making a court appearance after attempting to avoid police on snowmachine.

It happened while OPP were conducting snowmobile patrols on New Year's Eve on Rainy Lake in the area of Northwest Bay.

Police were attempting to stop a group of seven snowmobilers when three bolted.

Officers were able to identify the operators and later charge them with failing to stop for police.

More Suppport for Attawapiskat Chief

The support is pouring in for Attiwapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who is continuing with her hunger strike.

About 50 people from the Shibogma First Nation Council communities near Sioux Lookout are in Ottawa to stand behind Spence.

They left on Friday, and a majority of them plan on staying until Tuesday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan will meet with a delegation of First Nation leaders this Friday, where they will discuss aboriginal and treaty issues and economic development.

Con College President looking forward to 2013

Jim Madder predicts 2013 will bring growth for Confederation College.  

In a new year's interview the college president says we should expect to see the college expand learning opportunies for students.

While Madder doesn't foresee expanding any satellite campuses he hopes to expand technology to the current sites.

Madder has been president of the college for about a year and a half says he's still on a learning curve

Alzheimer Awareness Month

A new year also means the start of Alzheimer's Awareness month.

It's aimed at raising awareness and helping people understand the signs of the disease.

Lynn Moffatt of the Alzheimer's Society for Kenora-Rainy River says over one thousand people in our region are now effected.

A new national campaign is also being launched in connection to Alzheimer Awareness Month.

Angeconeb in line for Order of Canada

A well-known man from Northwestern Ontario has been appointed an Order of Canada.

Garnet Angeconeb from Sioux Lookout is recognized for his contributions to his community, building relationships between First Nations and non-First Nations people and promoting the Anishanabek culture.

Angeconeb is one of the 91 appointtees who will be honored at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

Local Girls Hockey Teams Win Weekend Medals

A big weekend for local girls hockey teams.

The Lake of the Woods Canuck Peewee squad was in Fargo, North Dakota for
an Under 12 tournament and took home the top honors.

The Canucks were a perfect 4-0 over the weekend, and skated to a 7-3 win over the Bismark Chill from North Dakota in the final.

Jamie Ricklefs and Katie Marcine each recorded a hat trick in that game.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Krush Midget girls advance to the final of their tournament
at the Kenora Rec. Center, but had to settle for a silver medal, after dropping
a 5-1 decision to Stonewall in the A-side Final.

In the bantam girls tournament, out of town teams dominated, with the Dryden Drillers blanking
the Fort Frances Wild  2-0 to win Gold.

In the Bronze game, Fort Frances M&M defeated the Kenora Dynomite 1-0 to win Bronze.

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team heads home this morning after a very successful
road trip to New Mexico.

The Saints played a total of seven games over the past four days and won every match.

Yesterday, the Saints skated to a 5-1 win over an all-star team from New Mexico.

They wrapped up the weekend with a inter-squad game with the host team from Taos.

The Saints will be given a police escort this morning as they leave for the long bus ride home.

Thistles Win Two Against Norman

The Kenora Triple A Midget Thistles started off the new year with a pair of wins.

The Thistles were in Thompson, Manitoba for two games against the Norman North Stars.

Saturday, the Thistles needed overtime to secure a 5-4 win over the North Stars.

Nick Prouty had a pair of goals including the game winner in OT.

Friday night, the Thistles doubled up Norman 6-3.

Dave Ross had the hot hand for the Thistles scoring four goals in that contest.

Thistles Open the New Year in Thompson

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles open the new year with a pair
of games in northern Manitoba.

The Thistles are on a long bus ride to Thompson to face the Norman North Stars.

The Kenora Midgets will play the North Stars tonight at 8:00 and again tomorrow night.

Norman sits 18 points back of the Thistles in the Eastern Division Standings.

ELA Scientist Wins Award

A scientist who worked in the Experimental Lakes Area is the recipient of an award.

Dr. Ray Hesslein is 8th person from the ELA to receieve the Frank H. Rigler Award.

The Frank Rigler Award is the highest honor given by the Society of Canadian Limnologists.

In accepting the award, Hesslein stressed the importance the research facility has not only on this country, but all of North America.