Aboriginal pilots join Wasaya Airways in northern Ontario

Wasaya Airways is welcoming three new pilots from the First Nations communities it serves.

ChrisWinnepetongaofWunnuminLake First Nation, Darren Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation and Thomas Nodin from WhitesandFirst Nation areall graduates of the Aviation-Flight Management program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Their success will showother young First Nations people thatit's possible to achieve their dreams,Wasaya board chair Bart Meekis said in a written statement.

"If you work and do not give in,you can succeed. The sky is the limit," he said.

The three apprentice pilots will work out of the Wasaya airbase at Pickle Lake, Ont.

Being able to fly for Wasaya is a dream come true,Winnepetonga said.

"The fact that Ihave the opportunity to be a member of aFirst Nation in the spotlight is a wonderful thing, and Ifeel very lucky to do that and for Wasaya to help me," he said.

'This is what I want to do for the rest of my life'

One memorable moment of Winnepetonga's career so far was landing for the first time in his home community ofWunnumin Lake, he said.

"The whole community knew that I was coming. ...It was a nice landing. It wasn't great but it was nice," he added, laughing.

"My family was there. My friends. And that's when I knewyes, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."

Winnepetongafirst got interested in flying as a child, he said, when he and his father charteredplanes to travel to their trap-line.

He would like to stay close to home and continue to work in remote communities in northern Ontario, he added.

Nishnawbe Askigrand chief Harvey Yesnoissued a statement congratulating the three new pilots, saying NAN is especially proud that theywill be flying for a First Nations airline that brings vital air service to remote communities.

"We admire their determination for pursuing their dreams," he added, "and their success is proof that, with the right education, First Nation youth can achieve their goals and succeed in anything they set their minds to."