Volume 9, Issue 26

Cree School Board wins big: Supreme Court of Canada refuses Federal Gov’t appeal

Thanks to something Canada’s top court would not do, top Cree leaders are declaring victory in a long-running dispute with Ottawa. On Oct 25, the Supreme Court refused to hear the federal government’s request to appeal a Sept, 2001 Quebec Superior Court decision on the implementation of the James Bay and ... read more ››

Diabetes can be beaten

The Crees of Eastern James Bay are experiencing a diabetes epidemic. There are three to five times more diabetes in Eeyou Istchee than in the general population of Canada. As of May 2001, there were 975 people diagnosed with diabetes. The total number of people with diabetes has more than quadrupled since ... read more ››

From fights to bingo

My grandfather and his brothers and buddies would sit around in the evening with aniticipation of the next call the radio announcer would make, amidst the intensity of listening through the crackling static and the lazy smoke from hand rolled cigarettes rising from the heat of the small wood stove. ... read more ››

HIV/AIDS brainstorming session In Montreal

At the 2001 Annual General Assembly, a resolution was passed by the Chiefs supporting the Regional Public Health Department promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS. On October 18 and 19, 2002, the project got underway. The Regional Health Promotion Officer, George Diamond, brought together Cree Health Representatives (CHR’s) and Public Health Officers ... read more ››

In their own words Cree living with diabetes

In the summer of 2001, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay conducted a study of diabetics living in Chisasibi and Waskaganish, focusing on how they maintain control of the disease and the difficulties they encounter. The people were asked what the most difficult thing was ... read more ››

Johnny M. Cooper: CTA’s New President

The new president of the Cree Trappers Association was elected on August 19, 2002, to a three year term. Although Johnny Cooper does not trap right now, (he stopped in 1986) he remembers being on the trapline with his family when he was younger. Cooper says that they would go ... read more ››

The wood chip controversy

The Crees of eastern James Bay may be entering into a new relationship with Quebec but there are storm clouds on the horizon. Gary Cooper says he hasn’t seen any evidence of this new relationship that the Crees are supposed to be enjoying with the rest of Quebec. Cooper says ... read more ››

The work of Robertjohn Knapp, Native Spiritual Leader

Robertjohn gives me a riddle. “You cut off your hair, toss it on the ground. Alive or dead?” he asks. “Dead,” I answer. “You cut off your fingernails, toss them on the ground. Alive or dead?” “Dead.” “You look at the earth from outer space, alive or dead?” For a moment. I’m stymied, ... read more ››

Three Little Words

I guess some amount of commerce would grind to a halt if telephone solicitors weren’t able to call people at home during dinner hour, supper hour or during your favourite television show. But that doesn’t make it any more pleasant. The good news is that this problem has been solved. Steve ... read more ››

Vern Cooper

Allan and Clare Cooper are probably one of the most famous Cree couples, well-known for being parents of hockey players: natural-talented, good hockey players. Every hockey fan in the region knows or has heard of Chris Cooper, Johnny Cooper and Naaman Cooper. Now their youngest brother is keeping up with ... read more ››

Walking on water

Winter has arrived early this year. The snow is on the ground and the cold weather has settled in for the season. Everyone up north is excited to see the cold and the snow return again. It is a time of year when there is a lot more freedom to ... read more ››