By Hugh Kruzel Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The president and founder of Weengushk Film Institute, Shirley Cheechoo, is a ground-breaking Cree artist, actress filmmaker and editor. On Friday, Cheechoo, who is based on Manitoulin Island, visited Laurentian University to talk about her current project, Blanket of Stars. In her own words, her work is “dedicated to harnessing the power of film to tell Indigenous stories while also providing a platform for the next generation of Indigenous filmmakers to be seen and heard.” Looking forward to July 20, just before its international film festival, the Weengushk Film Institute (WFI) is organizing “a momentous event on Manitoulin Island to honour residential school warriors,” Cheechoo said. “These warriors play a crucial role in the reconciliation process. Their testimonies, resilience, and determination to shed…