Wasaya Airways - Achievements - Wasaya Airways LP News

2011 & 2012 Fort Severn First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation join Wasaya Group

2008 Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year (Service) Award

2007 Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce Community Spirit Award

2005 Northern Ontario Gold Key Award for Winning Website

Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce Service Excellence Award 2005
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2004 Ontario Aboriginal Business Partnerships Award

2003 Northern Routes Acquisition Ceremony - purchasing the northern assets of Bearskin Airlines

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Wasaya Group Inc News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 23, 2012

WASAYA GROUP INC WELCOMES SANDY LAKE FIRST NATION AS OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY.

'Wasaya Group welcomes newest Community Shareholder to join Ownership Group -'Sandy Lake First Nation.'

THUNDER BAY, ON, March 23, 2012-Wasaya Group Inc, is pleased to announce that Sandy Lake First Nation has
become the newest First Nation (Community) Shareholder to become a full partner in Wasaya Group Inc. Sandy Lake
is a very welcome addition to the current ownership communities of: Bearskin Lake First Nation, Kasabonika Lake First Nation, Kingfisher Lake First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Muskrat Dam First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation, Pikangikum First Nation, Wapekeka First Nation, Wunnumin Lake First Nation and Keewaywin First Nation. (Fort Severn First Nation is a shareholder of Wasaya Airways LP, the largest WGI subsidiary).

Chair of Wasaya Group Inc, Hezekiah Sakakeep stated that, 'The decision of Sandy Lake to join the Wasaya Shareholders brings a most welcome addition to our multi-Community Partnership. Sandy Lake First Nation is one of the largest communities in the northern region and has a rich vibrant history that complements the Wasaya First Nation Partnership. This type of growth helps to strengthen the area First Nations' pursuit of common goals such as business development, education, and training. A wide variety of career paths have been made possible within the Wasaya Group and its industrial partners. Wasaya Group continues to mature and perform its role as a recognized and established business leader in North Western Ontario. There is so much more we hope to achieve for our communities and our partners in the near future, and we are just getting started. We are thrilled to welcome Sandy Lake First Nation to the Wasaya Group!

Chief Adam Fiddler of the Sandy Lake First Nation Community stated that… 'The Community of Sandy Lake has been carefully studying the possibility of joining the Wasaya Group for a number of years and the growth and success of the Wasaya Partnership helped to make the decision easier for our First Nation. We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with so many of our neighboring First Nation Communities in a variety of established businesses such as Wasaya Airways, and also to help grow some of the newer joint ventures that have been recently established such as Helicopters, Trucking, and Wasaya Dowland Industrial Contracting….all which have tremendous potential with well established business partners.'

About Wasaya Group Inc.: Wasaya Group Inc is wholly owned by eleven First Nation Communities which are: Bearskin Lake First Nation; Kasabonika Lake First Nation; Kingfisher Lake First Nation; Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug; Nibinamik First Nation; Wapekeka First Nation; Wunnumin Lake First Nation; Muskrat Dam First Nation; Pikangikum First Nation; Keewaywin First Nation, and Sandy Lake First Nation. (Fort Severn First Nation is a shareholder of Wasaya Airways LP, the largest WGI subsidiary). Wasaya Group Inc. is in its 23nd year of business and is currently in a variety of business partnerships that total about 30 area First Nation Communities. WGI is also in partnership with non-aboriginal partners and businesses.

Wasaya Group of Companies comprises: Wasaya Group Inc, Wasaya Airways LP, Wasaya Prop Shop LP, WasCan Terminal Inc, Wasaya Petroleum LP, Metal Ahnokeewin LP, Bamaji Air Service Inc, Eastman Biofuels, First Nation Helicopters, Landmark Inn, Wasaya Dowland Contracting, and Wasaya “Ohtehban Trucking. The Wasaya Communities also direct 3 not-for-profit entities: Wasaya Community Economic Development Corporation, Wasaya Wee-Chee-Way-Win Inc (Charitable ) and Wasaya Wilderness Adventures Tourism Association.

About Sandy Lake First Nation: Sandy Lake is a fly-in First Nation community located in the boreal forested area of Northwestern Ontario. Sandy Lake is 450 km northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba and 600 km northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Sandy Lake has a land base of approximately 17 sq. miles and a population of approximately 2650. This figure is based on the entire population of the community including both registered band members and non-band members.