We arrived at Elijah and Marion Cox’s camp on the I Oth of March. The camp is made up of severalcabins used by different family members. It is wedged in between the LG-2 airport and the dikes thatsnake along their family’s traditional hunting grounds. The camp is in an area called Aauschikaasich.I asked him about Udaaunaansh and he said that is “actually across the river.” More than 50 percent oftheir hunting ground is under the reservoir. The land that is left manages to provide a minimal supplyof food for them. You’d be hard pressed to find a piece of land that has no traces of “development” onit. You’d also be hard pressed to sense any bitterness in Elijah’s voice. “We had been raised to vieweveryone equally.”
We had come in with a film crew to film Elijah and his family at his camp. Elijah, a holder of a B. Ed.from the University of Chicoutimi, has been a teacher for 17 years. Marion also holds a B. Ed. anda Cree Literacy diploma from McGill, and has been a teacher for nine years. Elijah retired last summer.I remember Elijah from when I was a kid at school. His laughter was a constant presence duringCree Culture class. Going back to visit was no different. We want to thank Elijah, Marion and Josiefor the hospitality during our stay at their camp.
