ARTICLES BY the Nation

Waskaganish elections for Chief, again

The Waskaganish Band Council has called a special election for Chief to take place on November 7. Nominations will be accepted at a meeting on October 22, and the advance polls will be held November 1. Chief Gordon Blueboy resigned abruptly last month citing “resistance” to his leadership, after only one ... read more ››

Deal Sealed – Eenouch vote 90% for new agreement with Canada

The referendum results are in for the new $1.4 billion agreement with the federal government and a whopping 90.2 per cent of those who voted said yes to accepting the cash and working towards Cree self-government. The agreement obligates Canada to deliver $1.4 billion over 20 years as compensation for failing ... read more ››

McGill Powwow offers diversity

Powwow season came to an unofficial end as McGill University hosted its fall classic of singing, dancing and culturally diverse entertainment September 21 in downtown Montreal. Held on a beautiful sunny Friday, the event attracted students and curious onlookers to see head dancer John McComber of Kahnawake and get their fix ... read more ››

First Nations may save Canadiens

Prodigal son Carey Price has already made quite a name for himself at every level in hockey. He won the Canadian Hockey League’s award for Goaltender of the Year, guided Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2007 World Junior Championship and won the Calder Cup in the American Hockey ... read more ››

Elections For Councillors for Chisasibi

Name: Number of Votes 1. Daisy House Lameboy: 4932. Jacob Sealhunter: 4133. Sarah Pashagumskum: 4014. Janie Pashagumskum-Moar: 3905. Bobby Neacappo: 3876. Reginald Sam : 3847. Charlie Louttit: 3748. John E. Sam: 3729. Ernest Spencer: 37210. Violet Pachanos: 35711. Mabel Rabbitskin-Napash: 35012. James Bobbish: 321

Native Nikes?

The multinational shoe giant Nike is moving up the politically correct ladder by offering a new product, Air Native N7 shoes, that are marketed specifically to Native Americans and cannot be purchased by others. In an effort to combat the lingering problems of obesity caused by a sedentary lifestyle amongst many ... read more ››

Status Indians to disappear in 200 years?

Winnipeg demographer Stewart Clathworthy is prediciting that no status Indians will be left in less than 200 years. Federal legislation is the main culprit, as the children of mixed marriages (including one parent who is not a treaty Native) are being eliminated from the list as “Indian,” and stripped of the ... read more ››

Help wanted – High unemployment continues to hurt Cree economy

Eeyou Istchee needs 3,000 more jobs in order to match employment levels in the rest of Canada. That’s one of the challenges addressed by economic advisors, analysts and businesspeople at the first Cree Regional Economic Development Conference in Oujé-Bougoumou September 18-20. Hot topics included the labour market, education statistics and external ... read more ››

Abraham Rupert: no regrets – Defeated Chisasibi chief vows to continue environmental battle

Two of the three chiefs most identified as environmental activists in elected Cree politics have been recently forced from office, one by an election loss and the other by term limits. Abraham Rupert served Chisasibi for six years. He led his people through the Paix des Braves referendum, in which his ... read more ››

Waskaganish Chief Blueboy resigns abruptly – Cites ‘resistance’ to leadership; special election to be called soon

In a strange twist to the August 14 election in Waskaganish, newly elected Chief Gordon Blueboy resigned his post less than a month after winning the position due to “resistance” to his leadership, among other reasons. Blueboy, who faxed a statement to his constituents and to the Nation, would not comment ... read more ››

Harper nixes rights declaration

The international community adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples September 13 over the objections of countries, such as Canada, which have large Aboriginal populations. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand also voted against the non-binding agreement at the UN General Assembly that sets out human rights ... read more ››

Inuit cruise lines

The Inuit in Nunavut, northern Quebec and northern Labrador could soon be running a joint Arctic cruise line that would bring people up to visit one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Most people prefer to head south to hotter climates, but the Inuit are banking on easier access ... read more ››

Mommy milk is best

Mommies with newborn babies are encouraged to find out more about the natural relationship between mother and child in the first week of October during breastfeeding week. This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding: Nature’s Way,” is set up to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. “It is well established that breastfeeding helps protect babies ... read more ››

Survivors’ cheques in the mail

Canada has formalized a landmark compensation deal for an estimated 80,000 former residential school students. The largest class-action lawsuit in Canadian history came into effect September 19. Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine called it a “journey of tears, hardship and pain – but also of tremendous struggle and accomplishment.” Payments ... read more ››

The Mo Creebec factor

Cheryl Tomatuk, 29, has a different take on the 10-year clause. As a member of Mo Creebec, Tomatuk is well versed in the problems the clause has brought to the Mo Creebec people. The Mo Creebec Council was created 27 years ago to address the needs of James Bay Crees who moved away from ... read more ››

Mistissini radio voice is silenced – Police investigating whether charges should be laid in hit and run death of Willie Trapper

A well-respected Mistissini man who worked for the James Bay Cree Communications Society was killed in a hit and run accident August 25. Willie Trapper, 39, died after he was last seen walking beside a foggy highway 113 from Waswanipi towards Chibougamau early that morning. Police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle around ... read more ››

Chisasibi Chief shown the door

Abraham Rupert ousted after two terms. Roderick Pachano has defeated Chisasibi Chief Abraham Rupert and will now take over the reins of the Cree Nation’s largest community. Rupert led his people over two terms through two major agreements, a battle for the beloved Rupert River and numerous other battles including his staunch ... read more ››

Ottawa rejecting claim forms

“Unofficial” residential school forms that were distributed by Regina lawyer Tony Merchant to many residential school survivors in a class-action lawsuit to settle the issue of past abuse are being rejected, according to the Indian Residential School Resolution Department. “This was done without the permission of the official court administrator or ... read more ››

Canada seeks passport exceptions for seniors, Aboriginals

The Canadian government has asked U.S. officials to make an exception for seniors and Aboriginals on its imminent requirement for passports to cross the border. Aboriginals recognized by Ottawa should not have to get a passport, say the feds, despite the fact that Canada does not recognize the 1794 Jay Treaty, ... read more ››

Quebec rains grants on Nunavik

Provincial Health Minister Philippe Couillard has announced that the Quebec government will spend $36.4 million to protect children from abuse and violence in Inuit communities. The infusion, announced August 24, is part of the more than $ 170 million the province pledged to the area during the two-day Katimajiit Conference in ... read more ››

Basketball camp moves up the coast – Whapmagoostui youth get rare chance to learn from a pro

Many of Whapmagoostui’s youth learned vital lessons over three days, including drug and alcohol prevention and the importance of sport in teaching those lessons at the Second Annual Basketball Camp. The August 16-18 camp, which was held in Mistissini last year, was sponsored by the Cree Health Board and organized by ... read more ››

Gangs in Eeyou Istchee; what is to be done?

Just the mention of the word “gang” elicits strong reactions from the people of Eeyou Istchee. Most people rightly feel that gangs are hurtful, destructive and a huge strain on the community. All you have to do is take a drive around Wemindji to see the evidence of the youth gangs ... read more ››

Community consultations on federal agreement

The Grand Council is now touring Cree communities and selected Southern cities for consultation meetings concerning the proposed agreement between the Grand Council of the Cree and the federal government. A board of 15 delegates will discuss the agreement with the individual communities, including two Indian Affairs officials to cover the ... read more ››

Waskaganish First Nation Election Results

Chief – Gordon Blueboy Elected Councillors: Raymond Blackned Sanders Weistche Hugo Hester Stacy Bear Samson Wischee Walter Hester Jr.

Fire fighter competition

This year’s Cree Nation Fire Fighters Challenge was hosted by Whapmagoostui with Cree teams from Chisasibi, Eastmain, Waskaganish, Whapmagoostui, and an Inuit team from Kuujjuarapik. In the team challenges for men Kuujjuarapik placed third, just behind Whapmagoostui’s Team I, with Waskaganish claiming first prize. For the women there were two teams ... read more ››

Do-si-do in Chisasibi

Chisasibi will be swinging partners round and round at its Annual Invitational Square Dance Competition at Job’s Memorial Garden September 5-8. Competitions will be held in four different age groups: junior (12 and under), youth (13-21), preadults (22-29), and adults (30 and over). Within the age groups the categories include ... read more ››