Volume 12, Issue 14

A Healing Journey – Montreal Conference Tackles Social Ills

For Kim Diabo, “It’s never too late to start the healing journey.” Diabo, from Kahnawake, was one of the organizers of the fifth annual Aboriginal Wellness Gathering held in downtown Montreal May 11-13. But sometimes the healing can be painful in itself: “Tears are medicine,” explained Diabo, who is also ... read more ››

Aboriginal Women Protest Tax Policy

Aboriginal women and children staged simultaneous protests in six cities across Canada on May 12 against Revenue Canada’s repeal of child tax benefits. Protesters say the federal government’s actions violate Aboriginals’ tax-exempt status and effectively breaks a 10-year-old agreement struck between Revenue Canada and Aboriginal communities. “We’re protesting against government policies that ... read more ››

BDC Winners of E-Spirit 2005

The Saugeen District Secondary School of Port Elgin, Ontario, has won this year’s top prize in the fifth annual E-Spirit Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition. Their proposed business, Mno-yaamgod, is a restaurant in the native community that would promote awareness of diabetes, obesity and other health issues related to Aboriginal ... read more ››

Caisse Pop Trial Set for August

The lawyer for four Waswanipi women charged with defrauding the community’s Caisse Populaire entered pleas of not guilty in Quebec Court May 17. The alleged financial misdoings ran from January 2001 until July 2003 and according to the Crown involved thefts from entities within the community, including two grocery stores, the ... read more ››

Chisasibi Fights Cancer – Community, Health Professionals, Raise Money to Fight Deadly Disease

The people of Chisasibi have vowed to fight cancer and they took the first step towards that when doctors, nurses and locals got together to raise money and awareness for teenagers suffering from the disease. “The fundraiser was done for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation that benefits teenagers ... read more ››

Fighting Disease in Our Communities

There are many ailments that affect Native people at much higher rates than they do the Canadian public. These include cancer, diabetes and some diseases that are unique to one Nation, like Cree-leukoencephalopathy and Cree leukoencephalitis. It’s an uphill battle fighting these diseases, but our health care professionals have answered the ... read more ››

Midgets and Jugglers and Flares, oh my! – A Review of Cirque de Soleil’s Corteo

The Cirque de Soleil is always trying to reinvent itself while staying close enough to its roots so as not to be confused with other, lesser acts. And on Friday, May 13th, I tried my luck with their latest installment, Corteo. After leaning toward adult productions, the Cirque has come back ... read more ››

More Cash for Native Sports

The Canadian government announced a plan to increase Aboriginal participation in sports with an investment of $ 12 million over five years. Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), said in Vancouver May 7 that the money will finance sport policy initiatives for equity improvement as ... read more ››

Murder Trial Again Postponed

Linda Shecapio’s trial has been postponed – again. Shecapio, from Mistissini, is charged with second-degree murder after she allegedly stabbed an Inuk man in an incident that occurred Oct. 27 in Montreal. Former Chisasibi resident Charlie Ekomiak, 19, collapsed on the corner of de la Montagne and Notre Dame Streets and later ... read more ››

Off to a Bad Start

The reports came in slowly, each word carefully pronounced over the crackle of the HF radio. Camp by camp, the intelligence grew to another inconclusive conclusion. The geese were not showing as in the past years. The camps slowly emptied, children were brought back to school and workers gladly went ... read more ››

Suspicious Death in Waskaganish

Suspicious circumstances surrounding an apparent suicide have led the police to send the body for an autopsy. Justine Whiskeychan, 18, appeared to have taken her own life in her Waskaganish home May 16. Police received a call at 6:25 a.m. and when they arrived at the scene her boyfriend was performing CPR ... read more ››

Tembec to Close Four More Mills

Tembec will cut 459 jobs and close four sawmills, three of which are in Quebec, the forestry company announced last week. Tembec cited “fundamental issues” related to competitiveness, including the strong Canadian dollar, according to the Montreal Gazette. The money-losing plants that are slated to be or have already been shut down ... read more ››

What Goes Around Comes Around

The spring time goose hunt has always been a big part of our culture and tradition on the James Bay coast. It is a period that has been part of our way of life for thousands of years. People up the coast look forward to seeing the annual migration of ... read more ››