Category: 2012 03 23

Romeo, Romeo, where art thou

There are many who saluted Romeo Saganash’s candidacy for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party as historic. That it was, as we can say now in the past tense: Saganash ended his leadership bid February 9 after political and financial realities caught up to a campaign that won ... read more ››

Institute holds debates on mining

Since the beginning of March, the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM) has been conducting public debates on the future impact of Quebec mining development brought on by the Plan Nord as well as the potential impact of a drop in mineral prices. The meetings have so far taken place in Rouyn-Noranda, ... read more ››

Making a choice

  If the practice of politics is famously known as the art of the possible, the historic success of the New Democratic Party in last year’s federal election was a masterpiece of the oeuvre: the perennially minor parliamentary player smashed conventional wisdom with an astonishing breakthrough that the smart money had ... read more ››

Letter to the editor

Addressing Cree Education To the Nation, This letter is in response to the editorial by Daniel David (“The Cree way”, Vol. 19, No. 06, January 27, 2012). As Chairperson of the Cree School Board, I welcome the opinions and perspectives of others regarding educational issues and the Cree School Board. I was ... read more ››

Saganash backs Mulcair

Romeo Saganash, MP of Abitibi–Baie James–Nunavik–Eeyou, was the first Aboriginal person to run for the leadership of a major Canadian political party. After dropping out of the NDP leadership race in early February, Saganash’s supporters awaited his endorsement of one of the remaining six candidates: Peggy Nash, Brian Topp, Thomas ... read more ››

RCMP delays missing persons database

After the Harper government’s announcement on March 1 that the RCMP’s national missing persons database was to be delayed until 2013, the Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS), a grassroots, volunteer, non-profit organization based in the Algonquin territory of Ottawa, have taken it upon themselves to establish their own database ... read more ››

DESD creates entrepreneur fund

The Department of Economic and Sustainable Development (DESD), in conjunction with the Cree Regional Authority, has created the Cree Entrepreneurship Assistance Fund (CEAF) to provide business owners with grants. Managed by the business bureau of the DESD, the grants will be issued to expand and create Cree-operated small and medium businesses ... read more ››

Great Whale murder-suicide shocks locals

On March 13, the funeral of Victor Sam Weetaltuk, 22, the victim of a murder-suicide, was held in the twin Inuit and Cree communities of Kuujjaraapik  and Whapmagoostui. The Nation extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims for their painful losses. A tragedy such as this is hard ... read more ››

New school in Attawapiskat is a dream come true

In June 2000, I wrote a column on the J.R. Nakogee Elementary School and the fact that it had been closed down due to contamination from an estimated 70,000 litres of diesel fuel over many years of leakage. I pointed out that it was distressing to know that the leakage ... read more ››

Cree Hockey News & Notes

NAHC Tryouts With the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) fast approaching, tryouts have now been scheduled for the teams that will go to Saskatoon representing Eastern Door and North (EDN). Team organizers are seeking male players born in 1994 or 1995, and female players born in 1992 or 1993 to ... read more ››

May the best dogs win

It may feel like spring in the southern regions of Quebec, but that is not keeping mushers from taking part in two dogsled races this month. Despite freezing rain in the days leading up to the event and temperatures forecast to be well above freezing on race weekend, the Fourth International ... read more ››

Maps and mining in northern Quebec

Mining in northern Quebec was once a “hit-and-miss” prospect. Miners might hear stories about shiny or glittering objects found on the surface of the land by Cree trappers. Prospectors would arrive looking to confirm the story. Sometimes the hunch would pan out and the miner would strike it rich. Other ... read more ››

Goldcorp Inc.

February was a strange month for Vancouver’s Goldcorp Inc., Canada’s largest producer of gold and the company in charge of opening the Éléonore mining project in the Wemindji area. In early February, Goldcorp chairman Ian Telfer was named as a person being investigated by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) with relation ... read more ››

C-Bay Minerals Inc.

In November, the newly minted company C-Bay Minerals took over the Lac Doré Complex of eight mines in the Chibougamau/ Oujé-Bougoumou area. C-Bay Minerals Inc., jointly owned by Nuinsco Resources Limited, based in Toronto, and Ocean Partners Holdings Limited, headquartered in London, England, intends to revitalize the region’s copper-mining industry. Mining ... read more ››

Labrador Iron Mines

Boasting that they are “Canada’s newest high-growth iron-ore producer”, Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (LIM) has their efforts focused on the Schefferville Projects, which span from northeastern Quebec over to western Labrador. With 400,000 tonnes of iron-ore product sold in 2011, operating permits and agreements in place for this year, a ... read more ››

Eastmain Resources Inc.

Just 50 km south of Goldcorp’s Éléonore mining project and just a few clicks away from EM-1 is Eastmain Resources Inc.’s Clearwater flagship, the Eau Claire deposit. As President Don Robinson explains, the company was drawn to the area because it has the same mineral potential as that of Val-d’Or, Timmins ... read more ››

Osisko Mining Corp

A homegrown Quebec company based in Montreal, Osisko Mining Corporation’s flagship is the Canadian Malartic gold deposit in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. After several years of preparation, the company finally poured their first gold bar on April 13, 2011 and commercial gold production began soon after on May 19. To the company’s credit, ... read more ››

Pacific Bay Minerals

Based in British Columbia, Pacific Bay Minerals Limited has exploration projects on the go both nationally and internationally with claims in Quebec, BC, the Yukon and Argentina. According to David H. Brett, President & CEO of Pacific Bay Minerals, the company has three separate projects in the Otish region. The main ... read more ››

A new leader

On March 8, the people of Chisasibi elected Davey Bobbish as their new Chief. The race between six candidates began when former Chief Abraham Rupert announced that he was stepping down due to health reasons at the start of 2012. In most cases, the Deputy Chief would step in to finish ... read more ››

Planet North

As you look back into our history, let’s say, several hundred years, you’ll see a change of interest of the North in general. The North was always important to the world in those years, when crossing the Atlantic Ocean meant reaching India from the other side. The world was a ... read more ››

Spring is in the air

Recently the Nation traveled to Toronto to attend the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s annual convention. It was huge and it was great to see so many Aboriginal people there either as communities, businesses or just plain interested individuals looking to network. There were exhibitors and delegates galore, but ... read more ››

Spring delicacies

The goose fat drips on the hot rocks surrounding the lazy fire. The goose, impressively fat, gets flipped over deftly by googum. This makes my eyes focus on the little chip of wood twirling around on the string that holds my favourite meal in just the right range from the ... read more ››