ARTICLES BY Amy German

And the drums played on: Kahnawake’s 2013 powwow

The 23rd annual Echoes of a Proud Nation Powwow in Kahnawake went off without a hitch, bringing together individuals from around the world to celebrate life through dance, drums and Indian tacos. According to the festival organizers, nearly 7000 people attended the event despite soaring temperatures and traffic congestion that was ... read more ››

Caught in the fire: Johnny Neeposh talks about his Eastmain forest-fire experience

On hand to protect his family’s cabins and camp, Mistissini’s Johnny Neeposh contacted the Nation and spoke about being alone in the bush with the wildlife in this incredible tale of survival. Here is his account from trapline M25, near Eastmain. “I went to check on my cabin as we have a ... read more ››

National Aboriginal Day: Celebrating the sun and First Peoples

It was late morning as the throngs of First Nations participants clamoured together just beside Montreal City Hall to don their traditional garb and prepare for a ceremonious march through Place Jacques-Cartier in honour of National Aboriginal Day. The event, organized by Terres en vues, the same organization that puts on ... read more ››

Oujé-Bougoumou and BlackRock sign BallyHusky Agreement mining deal

The Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation and the Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Regional Authority (GCC/CRA) signed an Impact Benefit Agreement June 20 with BlackRock Metals Inc., opening the way for an open-pit mine in Oujé territory. Known as the BallyHusky Agreement, the deal will allow extraction of iron ore and vanadium, ... read more ››

Improper medication storage leads to a mom’s worst nightmare

It was a typical evening for Waskaganish’s Bessie Gillies, before it turned into one of the most traumatic events a parent can go through. Coming home late from her mother’s with her three children aged nine, eight and two, Gillies was rushing to get a meal served to the family and ... read more ››

Robert Baribeau on becoming new CCDC president

According to Robert Baribeau, his new job as President of the Cree Construction and Development Corporation is “a little hectic,” but he says that so far things are going well. Nonetheless, Baribeau has his work cut out for him. The CCDC reported losses in the last fiscal year and faces the ... read more ››

Elections Part III: Christopher Napash, Linda Lillian Shecapio, Robert Kitchen

Christopher Napash Deputy Grand Chief candidate CN: I am from Chisasibi but was born on Fort George Island. I have been involved in politics both directly and indirectly over the course of my entire career. I currently work as the Assistant Director of Operations for the Cree Nation of Chisasibi and have done this ... read more ››

Elections Part III: Matthew Coon Come, Virginia Wabano, Roger Sandy

As the election race for the positions of Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief heats up, more candidates accept our invitation to speak about their dreams for the future. With perspectives from just about every point on the spectrum, some of these candidates have already run governments while others have had ... read more ››

Grand Council Elections

Further down the campaign trail…. It’s official! The nominations for the positions of Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief have been posted and the election race is on. Contesting this year’s race for Grand Chief are incumbent Matthew Coon Come, current Deputy Grand Chief Ashley Iserhoff and former CREECO/ Board of Compensation ... read more ››

Heading down the Powwow Trail

A guide to some of this summer’s hottest Powwows JUNE  Running June 1-2 is the Pictou Landing Annual Powwow in New Glasgow, NS. For more info: 902-752-1918 or 902-754-3726 June 8-9 brings Peace River’s 18th Annual Aboriginal Gathering and 10th Annual Powwow on the Peace River Ag Grounds in Peace River, AB. The event features a hand ... read more ››

Election Coverage Week 1

Ashley Iserhoff launches campaign for Grand Chief After two terms as Deputy Grand Chief, Ashley Iserhoff is now bidding for the top job at the Cree Grand Council. Iserhoff is challenging Matthew Coon Come for the position of Grand Chief in the July 15 Grand Council elections. The Nation spoke to the ... read more ››

Taking summer holidays by the horns

The Nation’s annual provincial guide to a plethora of summer fun While some Cree communities may still be experiencing the occasional snow shower or are watching the first signs of spring as the geese return north to be plucked by some anxiously awaiting Crees, down south the heat has already begun. While ... read more ››

Breaking the mould

The truth about moulds and your health Whether it is in images on the news of abandoned homes in Attawapiskat or a creeping fungus that has just appeared in your own basement, mould may be a relatively new problem to the north but it can have a huge impact on both ... read more ››

Timmy’s arrives in Mistissini

Two Crees open their own Tim Hortons franchise The new Tim Hortons’ outlet in Mistissini isn’t just the hottest ticket in town right now but it’s a labour of love, devotion and passion for siblings Anthony and Elaine MacLeod, the two franchisees who stand proudly behind the counter. Hosting its grand opening ... read more ››

I am mother, hear me roar

Two Cree women reflect on motherhood Whether you are a single mom braving it on your own or a grandmother with numerous grandchildren, part of being a Cree mother is not just your bloodline but an ancestral connection to how the land and tradition have shaped families for generations. To talk about ... read more ››

State of the arts

Crees share and discuss artistic endeavours at the CNACA festival   While there are artists and artisans throughout the Cree nation who embody the culture, spirituality and uniqueness of the Cree arts scene, looking at them in terms of social infrastructure is a whole other story. According to Lloyd Cheechoo, the executive director ... read more ››

The half-life of the uranium battle

Moratorium far from the final word on the Matoush project, says Strateco While many Crees and environmental activists throughout Quebec may be celebrating the Quebec government’s decision to impose a moratorium on uranium development pending a provincial study, Strateco Resources Inc. is making it clear that the company isn’t throwing in ... read more ››

Fun at the food show

The Manger Santé et Vivre Vert expo serves up a bevy of new eats   VIEW IMAGE GALLERY It was all about quality, purity and going organic at this year’s Manger Santé et Vivre Vert March 15-17, when the Nation made its annual pilgrimage to investigate trends and sample the latest healthy food ... read more ››

Connecting to the past

Youth Grand Chief discusses the two-day meeting devoted to Cree history   Two jam-packed days in Ottawa focused on passing on Cree history to the future generations. This landmark meeting couldn’t have gone better, said Youth Grand Chief Joshua Iserhoff. This event was held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa March 16-17 to ... read more ››

Increasing awareness

Will revamping the sex-ed program change the alarming stats?   It was just a few months ago that several health professionals from the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay were talking about how sex education needed to be expanded to an even younger clientele in the communities as ... read more ››

Discovering Tursujuq’s beauty

A new collaborative park project for the north   photo by Robert Fréchette Covering an incredible 26,910 square kilometres of pristine land untouched by development, the new Tursujuq National Park project, on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay, highlights the transition between the boreal forest and tundra. Located near the Inuit community of Umiujaq, ... read more ››

A new voice for the missing and murdered

A new Parliamentary committee will be formed, but who will it help?   A motion put forward on Valentine’s Day by Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett will finally see a new Parliamentary committee study the alarming number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. The motion passed unanimously on February 27. Bennett, who ... read more ››

The butterflies go free!

The Nation steps into a winged-wonderland at the Botanical Gardens   If you are in Montreal and are desperate for some escapism in the dead of winter, the Butterflies Go Free exposition at the Botanical Gardens is like stepping into a magical fantasyland. Tropical warmth and luscious greenery provide a welcoming environment for ... read more ››

A fighter for Native women

New NWAC president Michelle Audette looks at the big picture for International Women’s Day   With International Women’s Day being celebrated March 8, the Nation checked in with Native Women’s Association of Canada President Michelle Audette for her views on how well Aboriginal women are faring in Stephen Harper’s Canada. An Innu activist ... read more ››

Hunting and Fishing and Outfitting, Oh My!

The 2013 edition of the Hunting, Fishing and Camping show at Place Bonaventure was a jam-packed hit that featured the latest in firearms, knives, fishing technology and outdoor gear. This year’s highlight was the booth hosted by Magnan Taverne, where many patrons enjoyed a cold one while filling up on a ... read more ››

Heart smart eating

With all of the focus on love and romance in February, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the health of our actual hearts takes centre stage, as February is Heart Month. Between the frigid weather, the endless shovelling and the store shelves laden with St. Valentine’s Day sweets, ... read more ››