UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: We Were Hockey Heroes

Xavier Kataquapit with his childhood friend and cousin Joey Okimaw at their home community of Attawapiskat First Nation in 2016. (Photo by Xavier Kataquapit)

By Xavier Kataquapit I recently lost my cousin Joey Okimaw. We were childhood friends who had grown up together since we first entered grade school in Attawapiskat. Joey’s parents are Margaret and Peter Okimaw. Margaret is my first cousin and she is the daughter of my uncle Alex and aunt Susan Kataquapit. It was always exciting to be around Joey when we were kids because he was the first grandchild in Alex’s family. It meant that Joey and his siblings Gregory and June were always surrounded by a group of young, vibrant aunts and uncles. Alex’s children are Janie, John, Rosalyn, Bertha, Evelyn, Morris, James, David, Helen and Margaret. They are all older than me, so we younger cousins, looked up to all of them. My favourite memories of Joey…

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