Category: 2015 08 21

Dignitaries officially launch Goldcorp’s Éléonore mine

Louise Mayappo speaks to the crowd about her late husband, Michael Mayappo After years of development and negotiation, a gathering of investors, workers and political leaders finally inaugurated Goldcorp’s Éléonore mine last month. Operations at the site 300 km east of Wemindji have been in full swing since April. The July 30 ... read more ››

The ins and outs of the Cree Nation's 2015 AGA

Oujé-Bougoumou hosted this year’s Grand Council/Cree Nation Government Annual General Assembly in a beautiful setting marred only by the on-and-off rain. More than a few members thought we would be flooded out but thanks to quick thinking, plastic and sand banks it didn’t happen. Numerous local entrepreneurs provided home-cooked country ... read more ››

Waswanipi’s Vocational Training Centre celebrates 10 years of graduates

Responding to the needs of the rapidly developing employment market within Eeyou Istchee, it has been a full decade since the Cree School Board opened the Sabtuan Regional Vocational Training Centre in Waswanipi to give Crees the skills they needed to realize their dreams. “After many years of negotiations and representations ... read more ››

Osheaga 2015 knocks it out of the park

Another crazy weekend at Montreal’s Osheaga music festival came and went from July 31 to August 2 as Evenko celebrated the 10th anniversary in Parc Jean-Drapeau, where the event has grown into one of the biggest, most diverse musical experiences in Canada. Star-struck teenagers, flower princesses, care-free hippies, unabashed “bros”, ... read more ››

We need to be more responsible in harvesting wildlife

We somehow still believe that there is an abundance of wildlife on this planet. The facts show us that this is not the case. Still, all of us, including my people right across this country, tend to think that somehow it is our inherent right to harvest huge amounts of ... read more ››

Skipping our future

Absenteeism among Cree students was a hot topic at this year’s Annual General Assembly in Oujé-Bougoumou. The rates have dropped but still remain high at 19%. Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come said this would always be an issue, “because … the School Board (and the leadership) can only do so ... read more ››

Post-it Post Haste

One has to admire the total lack of knowledge retention and disregard for historical facts as well as the predictable rhetoric that the National Post seems to Post-it Post Haste require in their overtly Caucasian editorial staff writers. Ifs more than obvious, it’s downright in your face, with the extended ... read more ››

Heat Wave on for First Nations

The 30-day cooling period is over according to Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault and the consultations on the proposed native governance legislation will go ahead. This will happen without the consent or participation from First Nations leadership if they can’t come up with some sort of plan the Fed’s are ... read more ››

Fontaine To Head ICC

Former National Grand Chief Phil Fontaine has been named as the new Chief Commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission. The appointment, announced August 29, had the full support of acting co-chairs Daniel Bellegarde and P.E. James Prentice. “We were originally appointed co-chairs on a temporary basis until a Chief Commissioner ... read more ››

Z-man’s Back to School Tips

With the days getting shorter and the nights getting colder, one can’t escape the inevitability of summer’s end. A funny thing about endings is that they tend to signify new beginnings, like the beginning of a new school year. The piles of homework, the skill-testing math quizzes, the reading assignments ... read more ››

2nd Annual Burnt Church Lobster Festival

Though the season may officially start on August 20 for Burnt Church residents, some are already on the waters in defiance of the DFO wishes. JJ Bear, communications officer of the Atlantic Congress of Chiefs, says he hopes there will be no confrontations like last year. Bear said, “the DFO ... read more ››

Delta Hotel Chain Boycott Urged by Coon Come

reprinted from the Eastern Door Matthew Coon Come, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is calling for a boycott of the Delta Hotel chain by all First Nations citizens in Canada. According to an AFN press release, the chain is behind the attempts by the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation ... read more ››

Native Suicides Spread in Northern Ontario

The suicide rate across northern Ontario may hit record levels as the epidemic of youth suicides has now spread to communities that were previously untouched by the tragedy. Out of the 49 northern reserves in the area, 16 suicides have been recorded so far this year. Last year’s total of 26 ... read more ››

Shall we Gather at the (Big) River

Violet Pachanos said she was honoured to have Chisasibi host the 6th Annual Cree Nation Gathering. The Gathering took place from August 7-9, 2001 and saw Crees from all over Canada show up. Pachanos said she liked the fact that the Gathering brought together so many people “who want to ... read more ››

The Arrow Flies

Kwanah Sioui Moar, a Huron-Cree from Wendake, Quebec, has been taking the world of downhill mountain biking by storm. Nicknamed “The Arrow,” for the speed and accuracy with which he attacks the demanding race courses, the 17 year-old phenom has been turning heads with his uncanny and seemingly natural ability ... read more ››