Pictured above: Pikangikum Chief Dennis Owen hands over a First Nation jacket to Sivakumar Sekar, Northern Store Manager.

After more than a decade serving Pikangikum, ON, the manager of the Northern store was touched by a special gift of recognition from the community.

Pikangikum First Nation Chief Dennis Owen and Deputy Chief Jonah Strang visited the store in April to present a First Nation jacket to Sivakumar Sekar for eleven years of service to the community.

As Northern store manager, Sekar has worked hand in hand with the community and Elders all this time, providing unconditional service at all times, even in an emergency. This support and service has not gone unnoticed, as the First Nation leadership frequently acknowledges Sekar for his contributions to the community. As a gesture of appreciation, they had a First Nation jacket made especially for Sekar, which has his Pikangikum First Nation name ‘Siva’ embroidered on it. 

Pictured above: Pinkangikum Northern Store Manager, Sivakumar Sekar displays his First Nation jacket.

“When Chief Dennis Owen gave me the jacket, he told me to stay with the community for another 84 years. He meant it as a way of the community recognizing me and how important they saw the work I did, along with what everyone else at Pikangikum First Nation did. It’s our way of showing how deep our bond goes.”