ARTICLES BY NATION

Waskaganish Mobile Treatment Centre Evacuated

A traditional healing centre located on an island at the mouth of the Nottaway River 12 miles from Waskaganish was evacuated on August 22 after a heavy storm that flooded a number of the lodges. The centre was formed in collaboration with the Waskaganish wellness centre, and deals with alcohol and ... read more ››

Forest Fires Quelled Near Chisasibi

A forest fire that had been burning for three weeks north of Chisasibi was finally contained with Mother Nature’s help. Heavy rains helped to stamp out the fire, and the water bombers helped to keep it away from the community. When most of the fire was extinguished, the firefighters were able to ... read more ››

A Tribute to a Dear Friend Ella Saganash

I arrived on the shore of Rupert’s River after four days of canoeing to protect Rupert’s River from further development, only to receive the sad news of my dear friend’s departure from this world. I cried when I heard the news, but I remembered her last words, “Don’t ever give ... read more ››

A Celebration of Heiltsuk Art and Culture

If you are going to be in downtown Montreal in the next couple of months, you should consider checking out a unique art exhibit at the McCord Museum, located on Sherbrooke St. Entitled “Kaxlaya Gvilas,” meaning “the ones who uphold the laws of our ancestors,” it showcases the past and ... read more ››

Simon’s Story

I am an avid reader of the Nation, and I have read many articles, letters, and stories concerning important issues such as the Paix des Braves, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, etc. But, I noticed that I had never seen anyone write about special needs children. I know that ... read more ››

Transmission/Presences 2003

“In order to maintain our presence, Aboriginal artists constantly look back in order to look forward. By navigating through time we revisit the origins of our artistic expression that we now refer to as traditional or cultural. It is from this essential position that we also permit our creativity to ... read more ››

Reginald Moses: Rest in Peace

Reginald Moses, the son of Grand Chief Ted Moses passed away in Nemaska on Saturday August 9. Reports say he died of complications from an undiagnosed diabetes condition. The funeral was held Thursday, August 13 in Eastmain. Reginald at one time worked at the airport in Eastmain and was a talented ... read more ››

New ID Cards for Indians

Ottawa will spend $17-million to modernize identity cards for status Indians in a move to stop widespread fraud it says costs $62-million a year. The federal government wants to introduce updated Indian status cards to Canada’s 700,000 registered Indians by spring, according to a Department of Indian Affairs report on the ... read more ››

MoCreebec Drops Challenge; Seeks Cree Membership

MoCreebec will not challenge the results of last year’s Grand Council election after all. As the Nation reported last November, the Quebec Cree community living in northern Ontario was considering launching a court challenge after their members were not offered an opportunity to participate in the vote that narrowly reelected ... read more ››

Weistche Re-elected in Waskaganish

Robert Weistche was re-elected to a four-year term in the general election held in Waskaganish on August 12, 2003. Weistche beat out Billy Diamond, who has served as chief of Waskaganish in the past. The final tally was 437 votes for Weistche to 264 votes for Diamond. “I feel excited, and happy. ... read more ››

Ouje Stays the Course

Sam Bosum will serve another term as chief of Ouje-Bougoumou after winning a five-way race August 11. Bosum received 41 percent or 120 of the 289 votes cast in the general election. Norman Wapachee came in second with 83 votes, followed by Deputy Chief and singer-songwriter Kenny Mianscum with 32 votes. ... read more ››

AGA Postponed

The CRA/ GCCQ Annual General Assembly that was to take place in Waskaganish on August 19 to the 23rd has been postponed due to the death of Grand Chief Ted Moses’ son. The yearly Cree nation assembly has been rescheduled for September 9th, 10th and 11th in Waskaganish. No dates ... read more ››

Rupert Reverence Nearing Journey’s End

This year’s Rupert River Reverence canoe brigade started July 26 on the Route du Nord highway and is slated to conclude on August 18 in Waskaganish. Eric Gagnon, co-president of the Rupert Reverence coalition, along with Diane Reid from Waswanipi, have been paddling along the Rupert River to raise awareness of ... read more ››

Musical Chairs at Cree Health Board

How do you fire the boss? That’s certainly the question the Cree Board of Health and Social Services has been preoccupied with these last few months. The answer is one of the following: a) secretly; b) by calling it a suspension; c) by saying the position of chairman – not the ... read more ››

A King is Born

The king of the jungle roars for his food at Parc Safari in Hemmingford, QC. Born on May 31st, 2003, the little king is the centre of attention displaying an abundance of cuteness. The little king must be handled like a newborn baby drinking formula from a bottle and establishing a ... read more ››

Peter John Gull: June 10, 1943 – June 18, 2003

The family announces with great sorrow his death at the General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec on Wednesday June 18, 2003 at the age of 60, he was the beloved husband of Emily Gull. He is preceded in death by his parents, Anna and William Gull; his sisters Maggie & Daisy Gull; ... read more ››

Who is Phil Fontaine?

It’s probably fair to say that most Cree people didn’t follow national native politics very diligently until their native son Matthew Coon Come was elected National Chief. They’d heard of, thanks to our Mohawk brethren during the Oka Crisis, Ovide Mercredi. Chances are the only other prominent Indians they could named ... read more ››

Natives Look to Israel for Lost Spirit

Edwin Francis Jebb is looking to the people of Israel to revive the spirit of Canada’s native children. The education director of the Opaskwayak reserve in Manitoba left Toronto in July for Israel to look for inspiration in his people’s own struggle for land, heritage and identity. “The spirit of our children ... read more ››

Clayoquot First Nation ‘Evicts’ Forest Company

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Clayoquot Sound protests on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is handing an eviction notice to International Forest Products. Tla-o-qui-aht councillor Simon Tom said hereditary chiefs say they want Interfor gone because the logging company is ignoring their ... read more ››

BC Judge Quashes Native Fishery

Native-only, commercial salmon fisheries are a form of racial discrimination and thus a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a BC Provincial Court judge ruled last week. In a landmark decision certain to have far-reaching implications for the West Coast’s fishing industry, Mr. Justice William Kitchen declared native-only ... read more ››

Natives Refusing to Register Guns

Thousands of aboriginals across Canada are refusing to obtain gun licences and register their rifles and shotguns under the federal Firearms Act, according to government documents unearthed by the Canadian Alliance and reported by the National Post. Justice Department surveys and briefing papers show that most aboriginal gun owners and their ... read more ››

CBC Trashes Aboriginal Poet

Pauline Johnson, (1861 -1913) the Metis poet from a First Nations reserve in Ontario, was portrayed as a drunk with a British accent in a comedy sketch on CBC in Regina in late July. The program drew an official complaint, filed with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code against CBC Regina’s ... read more ››

Masty: Master of ‘Magoostui

In an election that produced no surprises, David Masty Sr. has been re-elected Chief for a second three-year term in Whapmagoostui. Masty won by a landslide, taking 209 out of 245 votes cast. His challenger for chief, Josie George, gained 52 votes. In other races from the July vote, Frances George ... read more ››

Northern Ontario Celebrates Artists

Music and Film in Motion (MFM) is still accepting nomination submissions for the inaugural edition of the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards Program. This year, eligible music and film artists have the opportunity to participate in the foundation of an annual event that it is hoped will be a ... read more ››

Feds to Create Northern Business Centre

The Federal Government is partnering with the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund to create a Northern Business Access Centre. The Centre for Aboriginal people in businesses is the second of its kind in Ontario. Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault was in Thunder Bay to make the announcement last week. Nault says the ... read more ››

Hydro Quebec Encounters Problems in Chisasibi

There are a large number of people in Chisasibi who are refusing to pay their electricity bills, according to Michel Lemay, spokesperson for Hydro Quebec. Although details are being worked out with the band council right now and couldn’t be elaborated on, the actual money owed is well into the millions. Some ... read more ››