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Niigani
Niigani, the NWMO Aboriginal Working Group, is made up of 12 members chosen from within the membership of the Elders Forum and meets 4 times a year.
The NWMO Elders Forum and Niigani have provided us with ongoing advice as our plans have developed and continue to assist us in understanding Aboriginal culture and protocols and the unique rights of Aboriginal peoples.
Niigani was formed in early 2007 as the Working Group of the Elders Forum. All Niigani members are selected from the Elders Forum. They work with the NWMO between meetings of the Elders' Forum to foster a greater understanding of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples in the spirit of building healthy, respectful relationships
The word Niigani means "leading the way" and represents all people working together. It is the wish of Niigani to work collaboratively with the NWMO, incorporating both Aboriginal and western world views in the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The Niigani logo depicts geese in flight and was given to Niigani in a ceremony during which both Niigani’s name and the logo representing Niigani’s work were given to one of the Niigani Elders. Artwork to represent this logo was commissioned through Kevin Belmore, an Ojibwe artist from Thunder Bay, Ontario. The logo of geese flying in formation behind a lead goose represents all people working together to find solutions.
Mission Statement
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Protect and preserve all creation: air, land, fire, water, plants, medicines, animals and human kind - guided by the seven universal teachings of love, trust, sharing, honesty, humility, respect and wisdom.
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Niigani Members
Elders
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Chair: Gordon Williams
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Orleans, ON
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Donna Augustine
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Rexton, NB
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Thomas Mattinas, Sr.
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Thunder Bay, ON
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Micheal McGuire
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Thunder Bay, ON
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Jim Sinclair
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Regina Beach, SK
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Youth
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Tanisha Augustine
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Rexton, NB
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Tasha Kaye
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Winnipeg, MB
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Mary Magiskan
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Thunder Bay, ON
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Krista Peterson
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Fredericton, NB
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Secretary/Facilitator: Chris Lafontaine
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Niigani members provide cultural training sessions for NWMO members and have actively participated with the NWMO when we are requested to provide briefings with Aboriginal organizations and communities.
Niigani and Elders Forum members have also been instrumental in the design of the two summer projects conducted with Aboriginal students to build understanding in the development of culturally-appropriate communication materials
Niigani Newsletters
Together with the NWMO, Niigani publishes a newsletter to keep Elders Forum members aware of the progress of NWMO's work and the initiatives in which Niigani assists the NWMO on an ongoing basis.
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