ARTICLES BY The Nation

Hometown Dream – Melisa Pash talk about opening for country star Johnny Reid in Chisasibi

I have been performing since I was a little girl. It has always been a part of who I am. First it was piano recitals, then cello, orchestra, lip-synching and then finally singing my own songs with my guitar and a full band to crowds so large, it still blows ... read more ››

Election 2015: Meet the candidates

With a federal election just around the corner, The Nation reached out the five major party candidates running in the Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding. The riding covers most of Northern Quebec and all nine communities in Eeyou Istchee. Click on the names below to find out what each candidate has planned for the North ... read more ››

Reflections on the life of Matthew Iserhoff, Sr.

On the morning of February 6, 2015, my wife Danielle and I received the news that Matthew Iserhoff, Sr. had passed away that morning. He was the father of our son-in-law, Matthew A. Iserhoff. Our hearts were broken. I first met Mr. Iserhoff in Montreal in 1970. He was enrolled at ... read more ››

Cree Youth finish 850-km walk against uranium development

By Jeremy East and Joel Barde Photos by Jeremy East After walking hundreds of kilometres through punishing late-autumn weather, a group of Cree youth arrived in Montreal December 15 to deliver the message they had carried since leaving Mistissini three weeks before: No uranium mining in Eeyou Istchee. The mood ... read more ››

C.R.E.E. Hockey and Broomball Tournament in Val-d’Or

Northern Lights Team The 34th annual Cree Regional Events and Entertainment (C.R.E.E.) Senior Hockey and Broomball tournament took place December 4-7 at the Centre Air Creebec in Val-d’Or. Featuring teams from Ontario, Quebec and one all the way from Nunavut, men and women battled it out on the ice in Women’s ... read more ››

Dispute within Mistissini’s Living Water Assembly prompts lawsuit

Controversy is roiling the Living Water Assembly in Mistissini, where the board of directors of the local Pentecostal church has taken former pastor Joseph Blacksmith to court. The members of the board state that in the past year Blacksmith has assumed control of their church building on 304 Amisk Street, ... read more ››

Susannah’s Journey

A Cree family from Whapmagoostui is raising funds to attend a Florida conference for families impacted by a rare genetic disorder. Susaannah Kawapit Their 12-year-old Susannah was diagnosed with Sotos syndrome shortly after her birth. The condition causes children to grow rapidly during the initial years of their lives. Susannah’s speech and ... read more ››

Courageous broadcaster passes away

Eeyou Istchee has lost one of its most prominent broadcasters. Roderick Rabbitskin passed away from heart failure on December 1 in Mistissini. For years Rabbitskin was a constant presence in many people’s lives as the sensitive man discussing the issues of the day as a radio host on CBC North. Rabbitskin worked ... read more ››

Forward's photo earns national acclaim

A Mistissini photographer recently finished as a finalist in a national photo contest. Brendan Forward’s engaging image of a fog bank looming over Lake Mistissini with the community in the background made it through to the final stages of the judging in Nature Canada’s annual photo competition. Forward was camping at the ... read more ››

Reopening copper mine given green light

A mineral company that wants to look into reopening an old Eeyou Istchee copper mine has received a green light from both the Grand Council of the Crees and a neighbouring Cree community. The Grand Council and the Cree Nation of Mistissini say that the partnership agreement signed with Copper One ... read more ››

Mistissini death

Mistissini fisherman David Miamscum has passed away. Miamscum was reported missing on October 27, and was found by his son the following day. His body was recovered in the Bay Penicouane, his traditional hunting territory. It is believed that Miamscum fell out of his canoe. David Miamscum was 67 years ... read more ››

How karate offered one man a way to lead a fulfilling life

Special to the Nation by David Bergeron In the land of the rising sun the people of Japan have practiced karate for centuries. The words – honour, justice, courage, mercy, politeness, honesty, loyalty, character and self-control – describe a way of life, which they called bushido, meaning the ways of the ... read more ››

Chisasibi Career Fair

Chisasibi hosted the 7th Annual Cree Human Resources Development Regional Career Fair Oct. 21-22 to promote job possibilities, provide one-on-one meetings between employers and potential employees and to help cut down on a sense of isolation job seekers may feel. However, the Career Fair isn’t just meant to inform job-seekers of ... read more ››

From Lebanon to Saskatchewan: Nadine Track exhibits her photos of the Waterhen Lake Cree

Nadine Track was born in Lebanon at the height of a long civil war. Working as a first-aid worker, she picked up her camera to capture moments of this experience as a way to make sense of what was happening around her. A decade ago, Track packed up and moved to ... read more ››

Chisasibi fisher succumbs to hypothermia

A Chisasibi man perished in a boating accident while fishing on Wastawawmakw Lake September 24. Johnny Menarick was fishing with James Hill near kilometre 20 beach when an evening storm caught the men in rough waters. Their canoes capsized on their way back to shore. Both men were wearing lifejackets and ... read more ››

Conflict over moose organs

The Abitibi-Témiscamingue health agency recommended earlier this month that people refrain from eating moose organs, including the kidneys and liver. They claim that organ samples collected last fall had abnormally high cadmium content. Cadmium is a toxic metal that can accumulate in herbivorous animals. A press release from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue health agency admitted that the ... read more ››

Crees launch anti-uranium campaign

The Cree Nation Government reaffirmed its opposition to uranium development with the launch of #standagainsturanium October 7. The digital campaign is anchored by a website, www.standagainsturanium.com “This is another step in our campaign to ensure that our voices are heard and that our lands are protected,” said Grand Chief Matthew Coon ... read more ››

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor: First, thank you for publishing our family’s earlier “Letter to the Editor” on The Nation’s webpage on August 4, in which we presented our proposal for a resolution concerning section 3.2.7 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) or “the 10-year clause.” Secondly, thank you to my ... read more ››

Kepa crash

A Kepa Transport truck heading southbound on the Laurentien Autoroute slammed into the pillar of an overpass early Monday morning on September 8 just outside of Saint-Jérôme. The driver reportedly suffered slight injuries. The truck, carrying particleboard, was traveling from Val-d’Or to Montreal when it ran off the highway and into the ... read more ››

New school opens in Attawapiskat

Attawapiskat elementary school students will attend a modern, brick-and-mortar school this year – something they haven’t done for more than a decade. The new Kattawapiskak Elementary School will include 16 regular classrooms, five nursery and kindergarten classrooms, and three special-needs classrooms. It will also include a classroom dedicated to teaching Cree ... read more ››

Mistissini Derby Results

Anglers from across the province were shoving off on Lake Mistissini August 22-24 for the community’s 17th Annual Fishing Derby. The three-day event drew in over 325 participants from the Cree Nation and elsewhere. The top prize, a brand new Kingfisher boat, went to Gino Rivard from Chapais. Rivard placed ... read more ››

Resolutions from the 2014 Cree Nation Government Annual General Assembly

GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE)/CREE NATION GOVERNMENT – Annual General Assembly 2014 Resolution 2014-10: Resolution Regarding Adoption and Implementation of Uniform Interpretation of 10-Year Clause in Section 3.2.7 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement to Promote Education of Cree Youth WHEREAS the rights that Cree beneficiaries enjoy under the ... read more ››

Waswanipi elections 2014 – Dates & Candidates

Band council elections in Waswanipi will be held August 29. Travel polls are scheduled for August 14 in Amos and Washaw Sibi. They will also be available August 15 in Val-d’Or. The advance poll in Waswanipi will be held August 19. Polls will be open from 9 am to 7 pm ... read more ››

Shecapio re-elected Mistissini chief

Mistissini’s controversial band council elections came to an end late last month with incumbent Richard Shecapio keeping his position as Chief, scraping by challenger Henry Mianscum in the July 24 run-off election with 52% of the vote. Another run-off election for the position of Deputy Chief ended with a new ... read more ››

Letter to the Editor: Current ten-year clause hurts Cree beneficiaries

Dear Editor of The Nation: We, as Cree beneficiaries and members of the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, are submitting a proposed resolution for a vote at the next Annual General Meeting of the Cree Nation Government. We are seeking your help in making Crees aware of the issue and generating supporting ... read more ››

Mysterious vote count delays mar Mistissini elections

Usually, results from band council elections are made available in the hours following the closing of poll stations. But Mistissini voters had to wait almost two days to find out who was leading or elected in the first round of polling July 15. More than 27 hours after polls closed ... read more ››