Volume 13, Issue 25

An Inside Job – Investigation reveals theft of almost $300K from Waskaganish band

An accounting firm’s forensic examination of the Waskaganish band council’s finances has uncovered a theft of almost $300,000. The investigation found the money was taken either by “persons unknown or by Ms. [Shirley] Cheezo herself” from rental payments intended for the Waskaganish housing department that Cheezo once ran. Cheezo, the former ... read more ››

Glenna Matoush – The art of living an empowered life

Glenna Matoush is known across the globe for her masterful and celebrated canvases. She presently has works exhibited in the National Gallery, has had major shows in Toronto and Europe, was once a special invitee of the Vatican to display her work and very soon her art will be displayed ... read more ››

Grand Council urges UN to ratify declaration

The Grand Council of the Crees and other Native groups are pushing to ratify the United Nations declaration on Indigenous Peoples internationally by the end of the year. Grand Council Executive Director Bill Namagoose said that the full support of UN members, including Canada, would bolster the declaration. Anything less would ... read more ››

Investigator condemns prison conditions for Aboriginals

The federal prison system has been discriminating against Aboriginals, according to the Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator, and something must be done about it. In his report released October 16, Canada’s Correctional Investigator, Howard Sapers, found that the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) routinely classifies First Nations, Métis and Inuit ... read more ››

Just Us

By the Creator, it is true. The truth in that old chestnut of a joke we all told way back when. Justice for Indians? Look at the jails it’s just us. A federal ombudsman in the form of correctional investigator Howard Sapers reported last week that the Canadian justice system engaged ... read more ››

Khayden Otter-Rupert recovering after skull surgery

Brave. Inspiring. Heroic. These words best describe Khayden Otter-Rupert in his courageous battle to live. The little fighter from Waswanipi has been struggling for a normal life for over two-and-a-half years. During that time, he has had several surgeries to repair his heavily damaged skull. In the latest one, doctors removed two ... read more ››

Native women to have more rights after divorce

Aboriginal women will have more rights to property if a marriage fails, Indian affairs Minister Jim Prentice proposed late last month. Prentice is looking to the Assembly of First Nations and the Native Women’s Association of Canada for guidance on legislation he hopes will level the playing field for women in ... read more ››

Power of the Drum

When you take part in a traditional Pow Wow, the first thing you notice is the rhythmic beat of the drum. It is difficult to miss the deep, resounding pulse of the drumbeat. When it is played, it fills the air with an energy that attracts people to move closer ... read more ››

Winter Road on the James Bay West Coast

The Services Company is working with DeBeers to upgrade the Winter Road to meet the requirements of the communities and DeBeers. This will make travel on the road much safer for all users. These upgrades are important because the road continues to be used heavily by community members to visit ... read more ››

Women’s History Month Part 2 – profiles by Amy German

Eva Ottawa is first female Grand Chief of the Nitashkinan by Marie_Claude Simard Surrounded by the fall splendour of the Nitashkinan (“our nation” in the Atikamekw language) October 7, wearing a sky blue dress, Eva Ottawa became Grand Chief of the Atikamekw Nation and president of the Atikamekw Nation Council. Elected September ... read more ››

XX vs. XXX

To my knowledge, I was born from a woman. She was born from a woman, who was born from a woman, who was born from a woman, who was…. That gets me wondering how those facts affect the argument between the supporters of creationism and evolution: was man created first, or ... read more ››