Ouje Crees were forced to relocate their villages seven times over fifty years, with the last relocation occuring in 1970. Community members dispersed throughout their territory, establishing small encampments that consisted of makeshift dwellings, often just simple tent frames.
A decades-long struggle finally became reality May 16 when Canada’s Privy Council adopted the order to officially recognize the Cree Nation of Oujé-Bougoumou as a Cree Act Band.
“When we learned that all of the necessary steps had been completed for Oujé-Bougoumou to be finally and fully incorporated into the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and the Cree-Naskapi Act, we were of course overjoyed,” said Abel Bosum, a former Chief of Oujé-Bougoumou and the current Cree-Quebec Negotiator Grand Council of the Crees.
“This was the culmination of our long journey from being regarded as squatters on our own land to occupying our proper role within the Cree Nation and within our region. It was a journey from total marginalization to having a major role in the economic and political life of our region.”
According to current Chief Reggie Neeposh, the dream of an Oujé-Bougoumou community began in the early 1960s. Then-Chief Jimmy Mianscum, with the assistance of David Bosum, wrote to the federal Indian Affairs department to request that land be set aside for the Oujé-Bougoumou people to build a village. While a separate Nation, the people of Oujé had administratively grouped by Indian Affairs with the Cree Nation of Mistissini.
“We told the Indian Affairs agent that we are not from Mistissini, we are Oujé-Bougoumou people, we are a different community,” said Neeposh.
The letter is now treasured as a historic document. It contains a detailed vision of what would eventually become a unique First Nations community. Almost 50 years later, the political aspect of those plans is now in place.
It’s a struggle that has always been part of Neeposh’s life. From the time he was very young he knew about the importance of Oujé’s fight for recognition.
Neeposh said that it never would have happened without the hard work from many previous community leaders, including Chief Jimmy Mianscum, Abel Bosum, Sam R. Bosum and Louise Wapachee.
Celebrations of the official recognition may take some time.
“We have a community assembly on July 22-23 where we are going to inform the people what has happened but we are really planning on doing something special for the one year anniversary of our recognition,” said Neeposh.
