Matawa First Nations congratulate Eric Shewaybick on DAREarts 2017 Leadership Award

Matawa First Nations congratulate Eric Shewaybick on DAREarts 2017 Leadership Award

THUNDER BAY, ON (May 5, 2017): Webequie First Nation Chief Cornelius Wabasse, joined by Matawa First Nations Management CEO David Paul Achneepineskum, congratulates Eric Shewaybick from Webequie First Nation in receiving a DAREarts award at a gala in Toronto yesterday evening.

Canada’s DAREarts is a national charity that empowers at-risk children with the confidence and courage to be leaders, using all the arts. They answer invitations from Indigenous communities to deliver arts programming that aligns with their culture, exposing the Indigenous children to creative learning opportunities and hope for the future. They have been in a number of Matawa communities including Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations on a “Spirit Bear” project which will be featured this summer at the Statford Festival’s Indigenous production of The Breathing Hole.

For receiving a DAREarts young 2017 Leadership Award, Shewaybick is celebrated as a young person who has used the power of the arts to ignite change in the lives of Canadian at-risk children—namely, those from his own community. He is one of six youths to be awarded a medallion and financial support. Jack Linklater Jr. from Attawapiskat First Nation was another Indigenous youth recognized amongst the six. DAREarts also honoured Canadian artist Gord Downie with a Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award.

QUOTES:

“As a leader, I support young people in their journey and who become role models for their community and families. I encourage them to continue to pursue their dreams and ambitions. Congratulations to Eric Shewaybick and all 2017 DAREarts awards recipients.”

— Chief Cornelius Wabasse – Webequie First Nation

“We are always happy to see young people being an inspiration to themselves and others in their community. On behalf of the First Nations in Matawa, I extend my congratulations to Eric Shewaybick and all 2017 DAREarts awards recipients. We have certainly appreciated DAREarts in our Matawa communities.”

— David Paul Achneepineskum – CEO, Matawa First Nations Management

Matawa First Nations Management is a Tribal Council providing a variety of advisory services and programs to 8 Ojibway and Cree First Nations in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and 1 First Nation in the Robinson-Superior Treaty area. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter @MatawaFNM. For more information, please contact Carol Audet, Communications Manager – Matawa First Nations at (807) 632-9663 or by email at caudet@matawa.on.ca.

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