ARTICLES BY the Nation

Public Art Competition for First Nations Artists

The Ministere de la culture, des Communications et de la Condition feminine and the Universite du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscamingue will be integrating a piece of Native art with the First Nations Pavilion building on the UQAT campus in Val-d’Or They are looking for pieces of art to make into a mural ... read more ››

Taxing reserves

According to the Institute on Governance (IOG), the Ottawa-based non-profit think-tank that specializes in governance, more First Nations communities should be taxing themselves as a means of solving on-reserve economic problems, such as housing and water quality. The 46-page report, In Praise of Taxes: The Link Between Taxation and Good Governance ... read more ››

Anishinabek to negotiate forestry rights

The Anishinabek Nation announced July 30 that negotiations on a new forestry deal are set to begin with the Ontario government. The goal is to enable all 42 Anishinabek communities to gain better access to and stronger involvement in forestry development on their territories in Ontario. “Our goal is to be ... read more ››

Art and residential schools

Painter Glenna Matoush succeeded at bringing two very important subjects together – art and residential schools – during a two-day workshop in Nemaska July 30-31. Matoush used the opportunity to create two murals that represent the tragedy of the residential school system. She asked anyone who wanted to participate to pick ... read more ››

Attawapiskat girl nominated for Peace Prize

Thirteen-year-old Shannen Koostachin has been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize. Koostachin has been fighting for a school to be built in her hometown of Attawapiskat. She gained attention when she challenged Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl over his refusal to respect a federal commitment to build a school in ... read more ››

O-J Golf Tournament

Ouje-Bougoumou held its 4th annual golf tournament July 11 at the Chibougamau golf course. The event, organized by the Ouje-Bougoumou Youth Council, promotes health, social, cultural, recreational and economic activities for the youth of all Cree Nations. All the proceeds raised went towards youth projects in Ouje-Bougoumou. The first place winner ... read more ››

Mistissini Police shoot local man

Mistissini Police shot and wounded Mistissini resident Willard William Trapper in the leg during a confrontation August 4. According to police, Trapper was driving around the community with two other men and his girlfriend. He became very angry with one of the men, who apparently was being inappropriate towards his girlfriend. “After ... read more ››

Kashechewan boy electrocuted

Nishnawbe-Aski Police received a call the evening of July 9 informing them that an eight-year-old boy had been electrocuted. Jayden Lazarus had entered a transformer area by passing under the surrounding fence that was surrounding it. He had made contact with a cable that carried a charge of approximately 135,000 volts. He ... read more ››

‘Dirty dozen’ on the decline

A new study concludes that toxic chemical levels are finally dropping in Arctic food animals; the bad news is that the mercury content isn’t. The Canadian government recently released a study indicating that carcinogens such as PCBs and other toxins derived from pesticides sprayed in the south have been on the ... read more ››

Chisasibi man swarmed: Edward Bearskin hospitalized after attack

In a brutal July 4 incident, Chisasibi resident Edward Bearskin was savagely beaten by a group of nine young men, including five under 17, while walking home from work. The Chisasibi police station has confirmed that alcohol was a factor. The attackers used pieces of lumber to pummel him repeatedly, rendering ... read more ››

NAN supports Kashechewan decision

On Thursday, June 26, Nishnawbe Aski Nation gave its support to the Kashechewan community in its decision to withdraw from the policing agreement it had made with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS). The decision was based on the ever-growing concerns for the health and safety of its community. Kashechewan, like ... read more ››

Native costume sparks controversy

Haida artist and fashion designer Dorothy Grant has spoken out about the inappropriateness of the official costume that Miss Canada, Samantha Tajik, wore at the Miss Universe pageant held July 13 in Vietnam. Donning a feathered war bonnet along with a rhinestone-studded, deerskin bikini and other Aboriginal inspired accessories, Tajik, who ... read more ››

Chibougamau mayor suffers tipi injury

More than 300 people had gathered by Lac Gilman for Chibougamau’s 27th Indian Day July 5, including Mayor Donald Bubar. His Honour is not likely to forget this year’s event. A large gust of wind hit one of the tipis, injuring local resident Jean Lepage and Mayor Bubar as it fell ... read more ››

Cree Nation Firefighter Challenge

On July 5 and 6, Mistissini hosted the 8th annual Cree Nation Firefighter Challenge. With a total of 530 points, Waswanipi was the winner of the men’s section of the team competitions. In second, not far behind came Waskaganish with 500 points and Nemaska was third with 445 points. As for the ... read more ››

Armed robbery in Kuujjuarapik

On June 14 at 9:25 am the Kativik Regional Police received a phone call from the Kuujjuarapik social club. Three male suspects entered the social club and one pointed a gun at the janitors who were cleaning up. Nobody was harmed but a good quantity of alcohol was stolen before the ... read more ››

No More True Value

On June 27, at about 9:30pm, a fire erupted at the True Value store in Mistissini and left the building in ruins. The charred remains hold little of the original building except for its steel frame. The Mistissini police and fire departments refused to comment to the Nation on the incident since ... read more ››

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Bill

On June 12, Quebec Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis introduced a new anti-SLAPP bill into the National Assembly that would prohibit Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Bill 99 came about to protect environmental and public interest groups against silencing lawsuits from the corporations or governing boards they are often fighting. At times, ... read more ››

Cree-Naskapi Reappointment

On June 20, Indian and Northern Affairs minister Chuck Strahl announced the reappointment of the members of the Cree-Naskapi Commission. The tenures for Philip Awashish, Robert Kanatewat and chairperson Richard Saunders have all been renewed for another two years. The Cree-Naskapi Act in 1984 created Canada’s first Aboriginal self-government and the ... read more ››

Moosonee moms receive literacy reward

Two Moosonee moms, Connie Hergott and Theresa Crown, were honoured on May 26 for their contributions to literary development in their community. The James Bay Chapter of the Ontario Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) presented the award to Hergott and Crown for their work with The Dolly Parton ... read more ››

Propane explosion in Nemaska

On Sunday, June 15, at 12:30 in the morning, five teenagers, between the ages of 13 and 18, were injured following an incident involving a propane explosion in Nemaska. Some of them were sniffing propane which led to the devastating explosion after it was ignited by the flame of a lighter. ... read more ››

New Youth Grand Chief

On June 17, Stacy Bear was elected Youth Grand Chief. The 28-year-old from Waskaganish won with over 35 percent of the votes. Candidate Charly Washipabano came in second with 30 percent while Jeremy Diamond garnered 22 percent of the votes. Bear is the first woman to be Youth Grand Chief in the ... read more ››

Gestion ADC first Cree Company to make PROFIT 100 list

Chisasibi’s Gestion ADC (1996) Inc. is the first Cree company to make the list, PROFIT 100: Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Gestion ADC, a catering and janitorial services company, is a subsidiary of the Cree Construction and Development Company and belongs to the entire population of Eeyou Istchee. Ranking 27th among Quebec companies, Gestion ... read more ››

Canada’s poor human rights

Amnesty International shook a shameful finger at Canada as well as various Western countries and China on May 28. Canada is getting a failing grade, particularly when it comes to protecting its Indigenous People from violence and defending their rights. Canada was criticized when it came to not doing enough to ... read more ››

Bill Reid’s artworks recovered in B.C. bust

Over $2 million in stolen artworks were recovered following an RCMP raid in Burnaby, British Columbia, June 7 and 8. The most prized piece of the collection, a gold box with an eagle created by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, was successfully recovered, although two of Reid’s pieces remain missing. The artworks ... read more ››

In Memory of Philip Bosum

In Memory of Philip Bosum September 9, 1918 – May 6, 2008 On behalf of our dear mother Sarah and the rest of the Bosum family, I would like to thank everyone who prayed for our late father Philip, and who shared our grief. Special thanks to Louise Neeposh and her mother Catherine ... read more ››

Saving the polar bear

Now that polar bears are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as of May 14, Inuit groups have started to complain that they have lost money from the outfitting trade. Though Americans were not the only group that frequented the outfitters of the north for the thrill of hunting the ... read more ››