Category: News

Inadequate mail service has Mistissini residents going postal

Like many northern communities, the Cree Nation of Mistissini relies solely on Canada Post to provide its residents with the means to send and receive letters and packages. Private delivery companies don’t serve the community. The community’s burgeoning population means its postal needs are growing, but people in town claim ... read more ››

Wemindji youth ready to rock Nicaragua

The dream is finally becoming a reality for the students and teachers of Wemindji Rocks Nicaragua. After months of planning, hard work and tireless fundraising, the team of 15 ambitious youth from Wemindji have reached their goal. The students and five chaperones will leave Wemindji July 6, starting their 26-hour journey ... read more ››

Election coming to Mistissini: Candidates, Voting hours

Band council elections in Mistissini will be held on Tuesday, July 15 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm), at the Emmet H. Macleod Conference room in the Issac Shecapio Sr. Administration Building. Advance polls are scheduled for July 8 and 9 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) at the same location. Travel polls will ... read more ››

Golf Tournaments

With temperatures on the rise and fairways greening up, golfers across Eeyou Istchee are hitting the links once again. The following is a list of Cree golf tournaments and benefits that may be coming soon to your local course. With some tournament dates yet to be announced, the list is sure ... read more ››

A Mohawk-led tour explores the traditional uses of plants

Darrell Thompson and Éric Richard in front of commemorative white pine planted There aren’t many people – especially people from Eeyou Istchee – who think of Montreal as a place where nature flourishes. Even Parc Mont-Royal, known to locals as “the Mountain,” is less of a natural place than a carefully ... read more ››

Disputes growing in the forest, warns Matthew Coon Come

The Cree are facing a new battle in the forests, according to the Grand Chief of the Crees. Speaking at the conference on forestry in Val d’Or May 28, Matthew Coon Come made it clear that disrespect for hard-won achievements in forestry in recent years is leading to new disputes that ... read more ››

Governments meet to devise solutions for Val-d’Or’s homeless

The Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre along with other stakeholders in the city’s homelessness issue met with representatives from three levels of government – federal, provincial and municipal – on May 26 to discuss various city proposals for its most vulnerable citizens. It was also an opportunity for those working on ... read more ››

Atleo resigns as AFN Chief

The federal government’s controversial First Nations Education Act has been put on hold following the May 2 resignation of Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Atleo supported the education bill, which has been criticized by several First Nations groups for the amount of control it would ... read more ››

Odjick: One hit over the line

Former Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks enforcer Gino Odjick, 43, was admitted to a Gatineau psychiatric hospital December 3 for undisclosed reasons. Sources close to “the Algonquin Enforcer” say he claims his problems stem from the numerous concussions he suffered during his years playing and fighting in the National Hockey League. ... read more ››

From senator to journo?

Controversial senator Patrick Brazeau of Kitigan Zibi has landed a new gig as a “journalist.” Brazeau was hired by the Halifax arm of Frank, a satirical and gossip magazine, that lampoons Canadian politicians. Brazeau came to prominence when he boxed future Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau. Brazeau lost the bout and ... read more ››

Days of wine and whiskey

Day One It was proud, it was loud and what a crowd at this year’s La Grande Dégustation de Montréal held November 8-9 at Place Bonaventure. This annual exhibition is a spiritual event for anyone looking for a new flavour to impress friends and family over the holidays. This is an ... read more ››

How to recognize the difference between the blues and depression

While the holidays are hyped as a time for tidings of comfort and joy, there are those who tend to get a little down during the Yuletide season and then those who slip into severe depression. But just what is the difference between the two and when should someone get help? ... read more ››

Christmas memories

Memories of Christmas past often return to me as the holidays approach. One of my earliest was in Moose Factory. We lived in a small red trailer on the island in those days with dad working at the former CFB Moosonee. Santa used to come to every home to hand ... read more ››

The lost tribes: Bringing the Jewish and Aboriginal communities closer together

First Nations and Jewish communities each have an interesting history. At the start of European contact many Jews believed that the First Nations were descendants from the lost tribes of Israel. As the relationship progressed through the centuries, however, many Jews began identifying with the plight of Native Americans due ... read more ››

Fire in “temporary” housing modules leaves up to 80 homeless in Attawapiskat

Attawapiskat’s luck refuses to change. In late November, the late-fall storm that pounded many communities of Eeyou Istchee wiped out power to the beleaguered Mushkegowuk Cree community on the West Coast of James Bay. In the power outage that followed, a candle set off a fire in the complex of ... read more ››

Forgotten code talker heroes honoured

When many people think of the world-famous code talkers, the Native Americans who used their language to transmit messages in wartime that enemies could not decipher, they immediately think of the Navajo tribe. Earlier this month, the United States government finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the “forgotten” code ... read more ››

Stornoway promotes new projects

Stornoway Diamonds hosted an event this month to emphasize the company’s close collaboration with Quebec and the communities of the James Bay region in the development of its mining projects in the area. Mistissini Chief Richard Shecapio, Quebec Natural Resources Minister Martine Ouellet and Chibougamau Mayor Manon Cyr were on hand ... read more ››

Indians + Aliens: The Game FREE

Fans of the Rezolution Picture’s documentary television series Indians + Aliens can now explore the extra-terrestrial mysteries of the North from their mobile devices in the newly released Indian + Aliens: The Game. Inspired by intriguing stories of interstellar visitors as told by people from across the Quebec’s northern communities, the ... read more ››

The Nation’s annual Christmas shopping guide

While Eeyou Istchee’s grounds have long been blanketed by several layers of snow and the Halloween decorations have been swapped out for Christmas lights (or a Habs crest, depending the home), people throughout the land are gearing up for the annual pilgrimage south to shop until they drop. Whether you’re planning ... read more ››

Cloutier renews her efforts to house the homeless in Val d’Or

With the early November election of former Quebec Aboriginal Affairs Minister Pierre Corbeil as the new mayor of Val d’Or has come a renewed hope for three separate housing projects for Aboriginals that were rejected by former Mayor Fernand Trahan. Edith Cloutier, the executive director of Val d’Or’s Native Friendship Centre, ... read more ››

Nation Timeline 2009-2013

2009 Jan. 2: Two union associations compete to unionize workers at Cree childcare centres Jan. 16: Plan Nord scrutinized – Quebec premier Jean Charest causes alarm by referring to his proposed northern development plan as an “occupation” – Justice gains ground at Barriere Lake. Protesters on Parliament Hill dispute Ottawa’s refusal to recognize ... read more ››

Two decades of laughter, tears, toil and news

The noted author and journalist Michael Connelly once said, “A newspaper is the centre of a community, it’s one of the tent poles of the community, and that’s not going to be replaced by Web sites and blogs.” A Cree teepee has many poles and the Nation is proud to have ... read more ››

Diamond documentary shines

Scene from Inuit Cree Reconciliation Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond’s latest project, Inuit Cree Reconciliation, was a hit at its October 17 debut at Toronto’s ImagineNATIVE film and arts festival, later winning the festival’s Best Short Documentary Award. Co-directed by Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk, the 44-minute film details conflict between Inuit and Cree in 18th century Northern Quebec and examines how that ... read more ››

New technology could prevent diabetes-related blindness

A technology that has just been made available to the diabetics of Eeyou Istchee could help prevent the onset of diabetic-related blindness. The tele-retinopathy process will transmit retina images taken in the north to specialists so that the patient can access top-notch medical care without leaving their home community. Patients in ... read more ››

QPIRG’s Culture Shock discussion highlights Aboriginal incarceration

A panel discussion on Aboriginal incarceration was one of the many events that took place at this year’s Culture Shock, an annual event which looks to dispel the stereotypes surrounding immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples and communities of colour. Hosted by the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG), the event seeks ... read more ››

Democracy or hypocrisy?

As I write, the Canadian Senate is in the middle of a debate over a motion to suspend three of its members without pay. They are Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau, all Harper appointees who have since been forced out of the Conservative caucus after embarrassing revelations about ... read more ››