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VOLUME 12
Volume 12, No. 26• NOVEMBER 11, 2005 ARTICLE Diabetes, the preventable killer The rate of diabetes in Eeyou Istchee has climbed each year and is currently at epidemic proportions. As of 2004, over 1,230 Eeyouch were living with diabetes..
Montreal’s modified car show Montreal’s salon de l’auto modifiée name was, as usual, a big hit this year.
Chisasibi residents fuming over gravel In an uncharacteristic move, Chisasibi construction workers set up a blockade to prevent two non-native truck drivers from exiting the local gravel pit in a protest against what they called unfair hiring practices by Chee Bee Cree Construction.
Kashechewan evacuated, promised new community The beleaguered community of Kashechewan on the Western James Bay coast has been hard-hit by a recent water crisis and has been promised a new community by the befuddled federal government.
REZ NOTES John Chabot Body Checked Since 9/11, the world changed and so did we. No longer can we board an aircraft with guns and ammunition, casually handled and stored under the seat. Nope. EDITORIAL Kashechewan The federal government should be ashamed. After taking the Kashechewan people on a roller coaster ride that has resulted in a game of aquatic Russian roulette and disease, is death far behind?
UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY A star is born There has been a new addition to the Kataquapit family. The baby (Cheecheesh) Orion Marcus Jeremy Kataquapit was born October 27, weighing eight pounds and two ounces to my younger brother Joseph and his wife Lynda.
Volume 12, No. 25 • OCTOBER 28, 2005 ARTICLE Beware of Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls! From its early Celtic beginnings to the present-day ritual of dressing up as a blood-sucking vampire or a cackling witch -all in a quest for sweet tooth-numbing candy - Halloween has come a long way.
Mukash and Iserhoff sworn in Everyone was milling about. The feast workers were busily setting the tables. Some young students came in with their teachers. The distinguished guests took to their designated seats and waited for the swearing in of the newly elected Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief.
One More River nominated for Gemini Rezolution Pictures’ compelling and controversial film documentary, One More River, has been nominated for a Gemini Award. EDITORIAL Deadly bureaucracy This editorial might have been my obituary. A couple weeks ago, I nearly died from what two doctors said was the worst case of tonsillitis they’d ever seen.
Volume 12, No. 24 • OCTOBER 14, 2005 ARTICLE The people of MoCreebec speak out The people of MoCreebec have been called outsiders, left out of numerous elections for their own Grand Chief for years and kicked around by Ottawa and Quebec. Now they want everyone in Eeyou Istchee to know how they feel about it all.
The Washaw Sibi struggle continues... Washaw Sibi met with Members of Parliament and the new Grand Chief recently to clarify their issues and demands and push for a solid separate identity.
Federal Environmental Review Board Visits EM1 The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, a federal review panel, with two Cree representatives on the panel visited the area of study of the Eastmain-1-A and Rupert diversion project on September 26 through 29. EDITORIAL Nemaska loses a fighter I lost a friend the other day, a friend that everyone in Eeyou Istchee should know about.
Volume 12, No. 23• SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 ARTICLE OJ Toxins debate I challenge the Nation to publish this letter in its entirety. Following the Nation’s recent editorializing about the heavy metal contamination in the Oujé-Bougoumou traditional territory where the author suggests that there is a cover up of information and that there is a lack of seriousness by the Cree leadership in addressing this matter, I think it is time to speak out.
A new leader for Eeyou Istchee The people have spoken. After six years under the leadership of Ted Moses, the Grand Council of the Crees – and the people of Eeyou Istchee – will look to a new era of cooperation, new ideas and perhaps most importantly, change. REZ NOTES Mud cakes After the election, calm settled over the Cree universe, and then reality set in. The headlines peeped in quietly and a thankful fax appeared on the front desks of band offices from the new head honcho. Apparently a discussion was held about the new leader on CBC North but it could only be heard up here by shortwave radio. EDITORIAL A new era After a hard-won battle we now have Matthew Mukash as our new Grand Chief. Many things were said during the campaign. Many things were implied. Some were on the mark and some were way off. People were hurt. People were confused. The people finally made a choice. We now have to live with that choice for the next four years. We will see.
DOG's EAR Butterfly Song by Terri Janke
America’s Trail of Tears By Dean W. Arnold
Volume 12, No. 22• SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 ARTICLE Mistissini football camp draws hundreds CFL’s Ottawa Renegades make return appearanceMistissini was the scene of hundreds of cheery, smiling kids throwing footballs and having a grand old time as the second annual Mistissini All-Star Football Camp rolled into town August 23-25.
The elections for Grand Chief and Deputy Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees Matthew Mukash
Ted Moses
Ashley Iserhoff
Losty Mamianskum
Soleica monitors Eeyou elections In what is thought to be a first in history for Natives in Canada, the website company Soleica monitored the last round of elections and will do so for the run-off.
No clear winner in Grand Council elections The August 31st election that saw seven candidates run for Deputy Grand Chief and four for Grand Chief ended in a stalemate – sort of.
EDITORIAL Taking a stand We are back to where we were three years ago. Again you are asked to declare where you stand. Which candidate represents your goals and ideals? Who speaks for you? Who is the best person for the job? REZ NOTES I told you so I predicted a runoff election and boy, was I ever right, eh? I knew that our people are still for one side or another and it just goes to show how diversified our train of thought is.
Volume 12, No. 21 • SEPTEMBER 2, 2005 ARTICLE Maamweedow more popular than ever Maamweedow, Chisasibi’s 17th annual traditional gathering on Fort George Island, was so successful this year it was extended beyond its original four days to a full week of singing, dancing, feasting and games.
Waswanipi AGA heats up election fever The elections for Grand Chief and Deputy Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees were the hot topic at this year’s Annual General Assembly in Waswanipi.
Washaw Sibi Cree walk to new home The Washaw Sibi Crees reached a new level in their fight to be recognized as the 10th Cree community this month as they walked 115 kilometres from Amos to an old campground that they hope will be their new home.
REZ NOTES Bad News Hounds I see a certain flair to the articles flying about in cyber/paper-space that are driven by sensational stories of killings, bad politicians, rampant substance abuse, chronic alcoholism and poor grades. EDITORIAL Back to School Blues In this issue we talk about going back to school. Some students look forward to going back. I know I did.
Volume 12, No. 20 • AUGUST 19, 2005 ARTICLE Poisoned Two Quebec environment ministry studies obtained by the Nation clearly show that Ouje-Bougoumou Crees have a reason to be concerned over mining contamination of local waterways. What’s more, despite promising O-J residents quick action on the issue, the reports show that the Quebec government has been aware of the problem since 1998.
SNC artillery range rejected Waswanipi residents can breathe easier after a July 27 announcement by the provincial administrator that the proposed SNC Technologies firing range has been shot down.
Ted Moses talks to the Nation about his re-election bid One of the first issues the Nation raised with the incumbent Grand Chief, Ted Moses, was the Grand Council’s move towards self-government and a Cree constitution. “We have a framework agreement with the government of Canada which basically includes the implementation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement,” Moses explained.
Creefest teaches youth cultural values Creefest was launched in an effort to create a greater cultural awareness among the youth. Ininiw Makoshewin, the Cree name for the festival, means “celebration of people, and celebration of life.” The three-day gathering kicked off Aug. 4 at the Peetabeck Academy in Fort Albany to mark the commemorative signing of Treaty #9. REZ NOTES Working for the gas man Driving my SUV at 150 kilometres per hour on the autobahn of the north, the James Bay Highway, I watched my gas level go down steadily. Not to worry, I reassured my white knuckled passengers, we’ll have enough fuel to get to our destination. True to my word, we reached kilometre 381, safely within the reach of the gas nozzle. EDITORIAL The smoking gun When I first looked at the studies of mining contamination of the waters around Ouje-Bougoumou I was more than a little angry. Many of you, once you read the story, will feel equally shocked and outraged over what has been withheld from the Ouje-Bougoumou people. This information is the smoking gun: the Quebec government’s own data show that the lake and river sediments are poisoned.
Volume 12, No. 19• AUGUST 5, 2005 ARTICLE Hydro-Quebec doesn’t understand Cree society – report Hydro-Quebec must be tiring of the federal review of the EM-1A and Rupert Diversion projects. The directives of the environmental impact statement said the utility must take into account “the ways of life of the local communities and the conditions that are essential for their preservation and development.” But a new report says Hydro-Quebec failed miserably to do this and that they have little understanding of the Cree.
Candidate for Grand Chief: Matthew Mukash “I had three years to think about the turnout and of the results of the last election,” Matthew Mukash told the Nation. “For the last three years people have been wondering if I was going to run again. I had to sit down with my family and ask them what their expectations were. And they said, ‘It’s not for your family; it’s for the people, it’s what the people want.’
Candidate for Grand Chief: Paul Gull helped to set up the Cree Youth Council in the process becoming the first youth chief – so that the young people of Eeyou Istchee could have a voice in Cree affairs. Now he wants his voice heard as the leader of the Crees and Chief of the Grand Council. REZ NOTES Coming out of the bushes Now why is it that when you need to get in touch with someone with political power, you can’t, and when you do see them, it’s because their face is plastered on every porch bulletin board in town asking for our support? Argh! The irony! Yep, it’s election time again. EDITORIAL Summer is about to get even hotter as election time looms It’s that time again folks, when you get to choose your new fearless leader and live with that decision, good or bad, for the next four years now. Volume 12, No. 18• july 22, 2005 ARTICLE Will on the Grill They say that special occasions call for special restaurants. You want the food to be fantastic. But there are other ingredients that go into a celebratory meal. “Tre Marie” is casually elegant, with nicely spaced tables and comfortable chairs. Overall it has a special intimacy that is a pleasing experience for anyone who has ever been in a restaurant.
Grand Council negotiating constitution with Ottawa The Grand Council of the Crees is getting ready to assume control of their own destiny and create a constitution under which all Crees would live – and at the same time work towards a new relationship with the Canadian government that will see Ottawa deliver on past obligations under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
RCMP targets Native youth program A program aimed at providing Aboriginal youth with traditional hunting and fishing skills was abruptly put to a halt by the RCMP’s INSET (Integrated National Security Enforcement Team) in British Columbia June 27.
Hydro looks to wind for future power Hydro-Québec’s future energy focus is literally blowing in the wind. And the new policy could be a win-win situation for the Cree.
Kahnawake Powwow’s 15-year Anniversary It has been 15 years since Kahnawake Mohawks held their first Powwow and judging by this year’s turnout, the show only gets better with age. REZ NOTES Scorchers I thought May was bad for heat, reaching 28 Celsius, until the other day, I felt like I was blow-dried on high when I went for a so-called cool ride in the breeze. The wind, imported directly from the Arizona desert, tortured my now blistered red skin with constant burning sensations, eased only by an indoor stay or rare shadow and I wondered if it would get worse.
Volume 12, No. 17• july 8, 2005 ARTICLE Mistissini teacher to attend Harvard University Mistissini’s Voyageur Memorial School may soon have a Harvard-educated teacher on staff. Teacher Kim Quinn has been accepted by the prestigious Ivy League school this fall.
Hockey brings father and son together after 29 years apart Hockey may bring people together in First Nations across Canada, but in Daniel Martinhunter’s case, the sport helped him meet a son he hadn’t seen in 29 years.
Grand Council calls for more logging The Grand Council of the Crees is joining a coalition of non-native municipalities, forestry companies and citizens in calling for a larger harvesting area for forestry companies in Eeyou Istchee.
Hydro Quebec EM1 Impact Statement thin on facts, says consultant The EM1 hydroelectric project will reduce the flow of water at the mouth of the Rupert River by more than half, but according to Hydro Quebec’s recently released Environmental Impact Statement, there will be next to no impact on the environment. REZ NOTES Wrestling Mania I watched the chanting crowd dodging the spit being spewed from the ugly face of the wrestler in the ring, as they eagerly absorbed themselves in a live version (albeit smaller) of the WWE. A few elderly men, who were previously in the higher seats of the small arena, moved down to the floor level and indulged themselves in some ranting and raving at their favourite foe.
Volume 12, No. 16• june 24, 2005 ARTICLE Moses Honoured with Second Doctorate Dr. Ted Moses was awarded a second honorary doctorate at Concordia University June 13, becoming a Doctor of Laws Honorif causa once again. His ongoing contributions at the United Nations as an international Aboriginal human rights leader have finally been acknowledged in Quebec.
‘Big Bear’ garners MVP Award in UHL playoffs For those who were emotionally distraught over the loss of the NHL season this year, Chisasibi’s Brant “Big Bear” Blackned has provided some solace on the ice. Blackned won his second league title in two years with the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League. Best of all, Blackned was this year’s Most Valuable Player in the playoffs.
Fire season makes blazing start Numerous forest fires have spread throughout the Cree Nation with an unbelievable force this past month due to extremely dry conditions in the north. Wildlife has been seen fleeing in all directions and most communities have been warned about possible evacuations.
Rezolution Pictures scores hat trick at film fest The 15th Annual Land Insights First People’s Fest – or at least what we’ve seen of it before press time – has been a great success and they owe that in large part to the Cree film company Rezolution Pictures and director Tracey Deer’s first solo effort, Mohawk Girls. PULSE How have the forest fires affected you? As James Bay Crees, we have all experienced the damage that forest fires can do to our wildlife and communities at least once in our lives. The Nation explored how it affected people from different communities and if they thought that enough has been done for public safety. EDITORIAL Our moving pictures tell powerful stories Every now and then I seem to have no choice to toot a friend’s horn. In this case it is Ernest Webb and Neil Diamond, directors and producers for Rezolution Pictures.
Volume 12, No. 15 • june 10, 2005 ARTICLE Tourism conference bridges culture gap They came, they saw, they schmoozed, and at the end of the day, the town of Amos and the Cree Nation were much closer to becoming partners in the development of Northern Quebec’s tourism industry.
U.S. Senator probes O-J mine contamination Ouje-Bougoumou’s battle over heavy metal toxins entering the area’s watershed through mine tailing ponds is getting political attention south of the border. The Sentinel of Keene, New Hampshire reported May 16 that U.S. Senator John Sununu “has taken on the Quebec Cree cause.”
Bringing midwives back to Eeyou Istchee Christine Roy has been a midwife for 22 years and she hopes her expertise and the assistance of the Cree Health Board will bring midwifery back to Eeyou Istchee – and soon.
The Nation bags 6 QCNA awards and 3 honourable mentions Tooting one’s own horn is usually not acceptable, but since we only do it once a year, here goes! EDITORIAL Elections are opportunity for nation building Sometimes it hurts to hear people still arguing over the Paix des Braves deal. I know it’s hard to let go when you feel an injustice has been done. But let’s look at the way it’s developed in the three-and-a-half years this agreement has been a part of our lives.
Volume 12, No. 14 • June 10, 2005 ARTICLE Chisasibi fights cancer The people of Chisasibi have vowed to fight cancer and they took the first step towards that when doctors, nurses and locals got together to raise money and awareness for teenagers suffering from the disease.
A healing journey For Kim Diabo, “It’s never too late to start the healing journey.” Diabo, from Kahnawake, was one of the organizers of the fifth annual Aboriginal Wellness Gathering held in downtown Montreal May 11-13. But sometimes the healing can be painful in itself: “Tears are medicine,” explained Diabo, who is also a Clinical Supervisor at the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal.
Caisse Pop trial set for August The lawyer for four Waswanipi women charged with defrauding the community’s Caisse Populaire entered pleas of not guilty in Quebec Court May 17.
Volume 12, No. 13 • MAY 13, 2005 ARTICLE Whapmagoostui man’s search for non-native dad ends The anticipation was almost too much to bear. Whapmagoostui’s Philip Cooper was going to be meeting his brothers for the first time in his 36 years and you could tell how nervous he was. His hands were sweating profusely as he wondered how the three siblings – he had already met Florent Lemay, a fourth brother in Val d’Or two days earlier – would receive him.
Isaac Mianscum: Mistissini singer makes it to third round of reality TV competition Singing is not something that just anyone can do. It takes talent, heart and a touch of spunk – qualities that Isaac Mianscum most surely possesses.
Comex officially opposes firing range The Cree-Quebec Comité d’examen (Comex) is in danger of becoming irrelevant if the Provincial Administrator (PA) does not uphold its position against the proposed SNC Technologies firing range in Waswanipi – and soon. EDITORIAL Education starts at the top A letter to the editor of the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir has triggered an uproar in Mistissini. Published in early April, it bashed the system that schools the kids of Eeyou Istchee, and in particular the community of Mistissini. The surprising part is that it was the Mistissini School’s Principal, Alain Bellemare, who wrote it.
Volume 12, No. 12 • APRIL 29, 2005 ARTICLE When Cree adopt Cree: Adoption is one of those topics that no one wants to talk about. When the word comes up, people tend to shy away from it. Stacy Moses, on the other hand, wants her story to be told to the Cree Nation.
Chisasibi kids part of video pilot project Linguists say filming the kids in their early years helps to identify discernible patterns
Andrew Shecapio’s body found The body of the man, who has been missing since November, was spotted April 12 in a river in La Sarre after a lengthy search
EM-1 murder trial set to begin Emmanuel Blacksmith is now awaiting trial by jury after renouncing his right to a preliminary inquiry April 14.
O-J police officer takes own life Ouje-Bougoumou Police Officer Henry Wapachee was dead at his house in Chibougamau on April 4.
Residential School victims need new claims system Residential school survivors might be in for a nice surprise, according to the Montreal Gazette.
Minor’s murder trial set for fall A 17 year-old Waswanipi youth has waived his right to a preliminary inquiry and will prepare to stand trial for murder in a few months.
Taima wins Juno Taima is flying high after bringing home the Juno award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. Elisapie Isaac and Alain Auger make up the multiethnic duo that won the award for their self-titled debut album.
Volume 12, No. 11 • APRIL 15, 2005 ARTICLE Eastmain School’s Anti-Bullying Campaign On April 4, Wabannutao Eeyou School (WES) in Eastmain launched a three-pronged Anti- Bullying Program focused on bullying behaviors within our school and our community. The three-pronged approach consists of: an already successful plan entitled “Steps to Respect”; a police-sponsored Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program; and a “Good News Tepee,” a plan to recognize, reward and encourage positive student behaviours.
In Loving Memory of the Late Billy Blacksmith He was a small elder, but fit as a fiddle, and known to all who knew him as “the old man who was forever looking for a wife!”
It’s $70 million time It’s another fiscal year and another $70 million is being pumped into the Cree economy through the Paix des braves Agreement. Even though there are a lot of happy faces in Eeyou Istchee, some have those smiles upside down.
First Life-skills Students Graduate from Montreal Friendship Centre The Montreal Native Friendship Centre hosted its first graduation ceremony March 23, after setting up a life skills training program last year. Twenty-four of 30 students graduated in the first wave. EDITORIAL Residential School Conference I’m quite happy to see that there will be a regional residential school conference happening in Eeyou Istchee. Most people look at the problems associated with residential schools mainly as those that happened only to the students who attended these schools. REZ NOTES Inner peacenik Inner peace is something of a rarity these days. It is a feeling without the adrenaline to interfere with the mind’s ability to comprehend sensible things. Like, for instance, why is that guy looking at my girlfriend that way?
Volume 12, No. 10 • APRIL 1, 2005 ARTICLE School board may increase student support Chisasibi’s Elizabeth Rednose is disillusioned with the Cree School Board and what she refers to as “1981 funding levels” for students. She says financial restraints imposed on her as a 41-year-old post secondary student don’t reflect the current cost of living.
Cree broadcasting website After years of discussing the possibility, it’s now a reality. The Cree Radio Network can now be heard on the Internet.
Will on the Grill I used to lay awake some nights wondering how to cook country food in an haute cuisine style. You know, take the traditional foods and spruce them up a bit. After all, they are healthier than many store-bought foods but I was tired of cooking with lard and other such substances. REZ NOTES Easter phobias Many things come to mind when thinking of the holiday that accompanies spring’s joyful arrival. One of them is how the dates are determined. I checked the Bible and it seems to end in the year 2016, which I interpret as being the next time good ol’ J.C. is to return to save our souls. Then another question comes to mind, why does it end there, why aren’t there any other dates following that (fateful) year? Perhaps only God knows.
Volume 12, No. 09• MARCH 18, 2005 ARTICLE Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: One woman’s story For many people across Canada Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside conjures up images of hopelessness, shattered dreams and drugs and prostitution. Part of the reason Aboriginal women turn to this kind of life is because they’re Native. Christiane Bordier explains why.
Maggie Minister can breathe easier Nemaska woman receives bilateral lung transplant After lengthy wait of almost six years. EDITORIAL Lubicon Cree burned by oil The story of the Lubicon Cree should almost feel like déjà vu to many Eeyou. They have never surrendered their traditional lands or signed any treaties. They were simply overlooked when the Canadian Treaty negotiators passed through the area in the final moments of the 19th century. PULSE Are the Cree experiencing withdrawal? It’s what every hockey fan dreaded. The NHL lockout appears to be lasting forever and will be as slow to resolve as the curling matches that replaced hockey on CBC. It was a money issue, a greed issue, some say. It was about salary caps by greedy owners. It was about wanting no limits by greedy players. It all depended on which spin doctors you were listening to.
Volume 12, No. 08 • MARCH 4, 2005 ARTICLE International Women’s Day Eeyou Istchee is filled with many inspirational women who don’t always get the credit they deserve. March 8th marks International Women’s day, a time to celebrate the creators of life and our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts. In this issue we profile four very different women with one common trait – personal strength.
Billy Diamond, Hall of Famer Billy Diamond became one of the first members of the new Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame when he was inducted February 15.
Four Waswanipi women charged Four former employees of the Waswanipi Caisse Populaire have been charged for stealing money from entities within the community, including two grocery stores, the day care centre, and the band office.
Security at northern dams easily compromised Two hours and 14 minutes. That’s how much time Chisasibi residents would have to evacuate their community before it was totally submerged in water if anything happened to the LG-2 dam, according to Hydro-Quebec.
Cree film on AIP makes debut A Cree film chronicling the signing of the Paix des Braves Agreement – aptly titled One More River – made its French language debut at the Cinematheque Quebecoise February 19. more
SNC bullies Waswanipi Elders to support firing range According to one Waswanipi family, SNC Technologies has sunk to a new low in the company’s quest for an artillery firing range in Cree hunting and trapping territory.
EDITORIAL A Cree Enron? A problem that has been going on for some time continues to bother me. Everyone in Eeyou Istchee has been talking about accountability and transparency but has anyone been doing anything about it? THE LAST LINE My sympathies... My sympathies go out to our friends and colleagues at Hydro Quebec regarding the recent beatings they’ve endured in the Quebec media. PULSE Celebrating Women in Eeyou Istchee In this issue the Nation marks March 8th, International Women’s Day, by asking people in Eeyou Istchee about the women they look up to and why.
Volume 12, No. 07• FEBRUARY 18, 2005 ARTICLE Family grieves over Waswanipi man’s mysterious disappearance A Waswanipi family’s hope to see their loved one is slowly waning now that a full two months have passed since Andrew Shecapio was last seen.
Waswanipi man murdered in Montreal A 33-year-old Waswanipi man was attacked and killed in downtown Montreal after leaving a bar with a friend early in the morning of February 2.
Waswanipi Chief and council avoid early elections - Missed quorum at recall meeting blamed on timing Some Waswanipi residents thought they’d see a changing of the political guard February 4 in a special general meeting called to address demands for early elections.
RESIDENTAL SCHOOL SECTION My experience with RSS I know many people, who I consider to be good friends from childhood, who went through the residential school system. I, on the other hand, lived a privileged life alongside the system for many years.
It’s a Prison Charles Esau was a bewildered six-year-old boy standing in the auditorium. His parents had just taken him to Horden Hall in Moose Factory. It was 1962 and he was one among thousands who had gone through this bewildering welcome to a new world.
Residential School – one man’s story Some people know Paul Dixon as a Cree hunter and trapper. Others know him as a family man and protector of Cree rights. In this article we will talk about another aspect of the man – as a residential school survivor.
Cree Residential School Task Force emphasized healing The Cree Task Force on Residential Schools, which issued its final report last fall, emphasized the need for Crees to deal with the continuing effects of residential schools. It came as no surprise that Crees, and indeed any First Nations peoples in Canada, must face the pain of the past. THE LAST LINE Of knights, dragons and their slayers Do you want to make enemies real fast? Are you so arrogant as to think you’re important enough to have enemies? If so, do what many others before you have done: join the hordes of professional good spellers who call themselves journalists. Or take an even quicker route – run for political office. PULSE Residential School Issues For this issue we look at how we can heal ourselves from the effects of residential school. The Nation interviewed some residential school survivors who attended different institutions in Quebec and Ontario.
Volume 12, No. 06 • FEBRUARY 4, 2005 ARTICLE Caisse Desjardins banks on closer ties with Crees The Federation des Caisses Desjardins pledges increased service for the Cree throughout Eeyou Istchee.
Peggy Petawabano – Not a Quitter Peggy Petawabano has had a busy day. She says she is “the ear that listens for problems.”
Ouje-Bougoumou’s political rules challenged Anthony Hughboy has a valid point, the Cree-Naskapi Commission has ruled, when he says Ouje-Bougoumou’s election and membership laws are applied inconsistently. However, in a report issued November 23, the Commission says only the courts can settle the issue.
EDITORIAL Editorial Sovereignty Guy Caballero, the fictional president of the SCTV television network, once said that the business of a TV news team wasn’t to give people what they needed but to convince them that what they wanted was what you were giving them. THE LAST LINE I was already at work, in search of material, a subject, some serious insider info and in need of a cool, cheap drink when I bumped into a Cree politician at a Native bar late at night in downtown Montreal. It’s the kind of bar where the two-piece band will dedicate a song like Folsom Prison Blues to those “who just got out of jail.” PULSE Hunting Regulations in Eeyou Istchee: What do you think? The question we pose for this issue concerns gun regulations or hunting restrictions. Some of the regulations from section 57 of the Conservation Act state that no one is to leave a cartridge in the chamber or charger. No one is to shoot a firearm from a vehicle, including a snowmobile. No one is allowed to hunt at night-time from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. And Crees are not allowed to give, sell, or trade wild meat to non-beneficiaries. Just to name a few.
Volume 12, No. 05 • January 21, 2005 ARTICLE Hunting in the ‘grey’ zone Jimmy Cooper is beginning to wonder the meaning of being Cree in today’s world after a Val d’Or Court ruling found him guilty of hunting south of the 49th parallel – even though he had signed an agreement with the farmer who owned the land he was hunting on.
Board removes C.T.A. President from office Citing a lack of leadership, the Cree Trappers Association board of directors voted to fire CTA President Johnny Cooper December 9.
Trevor Spencer sentenced to 54 months in prison Khayden Otter can rest easy for the next 32 months - Trevor Spencer can't hurt him behind bars.
EDITORIAL Innocence lost One of the saddest chapters in the history of the Cree Nation came to a partial close January 11, when Trevor Spencer was sentenced to 54 months in jail – which actually translates to 32 months after time already served is taken into consideration.
Volume 12, No. 04 • January 7, 2005 ARTICLE The Spirit of Hockey As Canada’s world champion junior hockey team showed last week, it’s nice to know hockey isn’t really dead despite all the grumblings of the owners and players of the National Hockey league. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus after all. And more often, he’s just doing his thing in the hinterlands of Canada, where a bunch of unpaid hockey players got together to have a special holiday fundraising exhibition game.
24th Annual Cree Hockey Tournament The 24th Annual Cree Nation Hockey Tournament took place at the Palais des sports arena in Val d’Or from December 17- 21st.
REZ NOTES Old Long Since… Most of us get the chance to do the countdown in anticipation of better times and many of us do party till the wee hours of the new dawn, but have any of us actually understood the song that personifies New Year’s Eve, the original written by no other than Robert Burns?
EDITORIAL You give, I give, we all give for… what exactly? Christmas has come and gone and most people have been left with large credit card bills and for some, a bit of an empty feeling.
Volume 12, No. 03 • DECEMBER 24, 2004 ARTICLE Grand Council Gala The Christmas party for the Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Regional Authority this year was a stunning success, hosting over 196 dignitaries and guests. The spiritual Christmas cheer was in full swing and everyone was wearing ear-to-ear smiles.
Let me stand next to your company! The Second Annual Cree Nation / Abitibi-Témiscamingue Business Exchange Day came to a close recently with much success.
PULSE OF THE NATION Ghosts of Christmas Past Billy Stephen, Waskaganish: When I was young, children usually just got bannock for Christmas. Our parents always reminded us that Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday so we were always happy to celebrate Christmas even with just a little food. Just before Christmas our Dad told us to go cut down a small tree and place it somewhere where Santa Claus can see it as a marker to find our place...
REZ NOTES Dance til you Drop T’was the morning after and all through the night, all creatures were stirring, dancing to fiddle music and laughing with delight. The party had ended and the old folks went home, content with the thought of knowing, that, yes, they can stay out all night, too. The sound of the last ski-doo, revving away, making me wonder, if I can play, a little longer...
EDITORIAL Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (And keep an eye on the ceiling…) Tis the season to be jolly. Ho ho ho and all that jazz. That is if you’re a Christian or an atheist celebrating Christmas for the great presents! I don’t know of any Jewish Crees out there but if there are, Happy Hanukkah!... Volume 12, No. 02 • DECEMBER 10, 2004 ARTICLE Challenge on Ouje Toxins A year has passed since the Nation last tackled the Ouje-Bougoumou heavy metal toxins issue. The magazine decided to let that issue rest for a year out of respect for the family of the late Joseph Shecapio-Blacksmith.
Waswanipi divided over firing range? Some Waswanipi residents are firing back at SNC-Lavalin and their proposal to build an artillery range on residents’ traplines, but others are still undecided and at least one family has agreed to the project.
PULSE OF THE NATION Christmas wishes In this Pulse of the Nation we go to Chisasibi. We visited the teachers and Grade 3 and 4 students at the James Bay Eeyou School. We asked them for their Christmas wishlist. All the students first of all would like to wish everyone especially their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.
REZ NOTES Career Day for Wimps Often I tend to look at life with a sarcastic twist, some would even say from a bizarre viewpoint, but life is not always what it looks to be, at face value or superficially.
EDITORIAL More mental health resources needed The Cree Health Board is not doing enough to ensure one of the most pressing health issues in Eeyou Istchee – mental health - is properly addressed; especially after the alarming rash of suicides in recent months.
Volume 12, No. 01 • november 26, 2004 ARTICLE Home for the holidays She stayed so long in Montreal she joked she was losing her Cree. Elsie Georgekish Erless is being fitted for a prosthetic leg and hopes to be home by Christmas.
Larry Ross fires back Larry Ross says his former boss is a liar. In a Nation interview to respond to allegations by former Chisasibi Police Chief Harry Snowboy, Ross he feels betrayed and that he never breached his oath of discretion as a police officer.
Artillery range draws opposition fire Waswanipi residents say they aren’t getting the answers they are asking for on the proposed military firing range near Chapais.
Mistissini teen found stripped, beaten A 13-year-old Mistissini girl was found beaten and stripped down to her socks October 30.
Chisasibi teen commits suicide The community of Chisasibi is in mourning once again as one of its youth has committed suicide – in her own home.
PULSE OF THE NATION Two-Spirited People in Eeyou Istchee For this issue the Nation interviewed people on what they thought about two-spirited people or how they’re treated in Eeyou Istchee.
REZ NOTES Party on One of the most dangerous seasons is approaching, dangerous for those who have dared to speak up on what lurks behind the annual Christmas office party.
EDITORIAL Out in the cold Sometimes you know it’s going to be one of those days followed by more of the same.
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