Volume 15, Issue 2

Chief David Masty, Sr. in Memorium

Former Whapmagoostui Chief David Masty Sr. has died after his snowmobile plunged through lake ice while on a hunting trip. Masty had been missing from his brother Robbie’s hunting camp, where he had been staying with his family, since the morning of November 28. The camp is approximately 100 km northeast ... read more ››

Diamond wins ‘Skag election

Steve Diamond is the new Chief of Waskaganish after beating out Simeon Trapper in the special election held November 19. Diamond received 372 votes, with Trapper receiving 133. Five ballots were rejected. Waskaganish expects to set an election date for Deputy Chief soon, as Diamond vacated his former post as the second-in-command ... read more ››

It’s a small world after all

Television is an old friend. I was born in Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast at the same time as the first television signals were being beamed into our small isolated community during the 1970s. So TV has been part of my life as long I can remember. We had ... read more ››

Majority aboriginal ownership for First Nations Bank

First Nations Bank of Canada is now the first Canadian bank to be majority Aboriginal-owned, with aboriginal shareholders holding 91 per cent of the bank – with 19.7 per cent owned by the Cree Regional Authority Board of Compensation and the James Bay Eeyou Corporation. Founded in 1996, First Nations Bank ... read more ››

No summer hockey in Abitibi

During a board meeting October 30, Hockey Abitibi-Témiscamingue ruled the organization could ban any AAA players who played summer hockey. The minor hockey group has provided penalties up to and including suspensions for any players that participate in summer league competition before the winter season ended. This also includes participation any ... read more ››

O-J Chief Wapachee sworn in during emotional ceremony

Former Chief Sam Bosum passed the reigns of leadership to Ouje-Bougoumou’s first female Chief, Louise Wapachee, in a special inauguration ceremony held November 20. Grand Chief Matthew Mukash acted as official witness for the proceedings, which were officiated by Pastor Enoch Hall. Mistissini council advisor Henry Mianscum was the guest speaker of ... read more ››

Party Planning

Whether it’s a big bash or an intimate gathering with friends and family, the best way to organize social holiday events is to be a careful planner. If you are hosting the family for Christmas, charged with making a success out of office or children’s parties, look after the details ... read more ››

Spread the cheer to those who need it most

One of the best parts of the holidays is when everyday people play Santa, not only by lavishing gifts upon those they know and love, but by opening up their hearts, cupboards, closets and pocket books to those in need. If your financial cup runneth over this season or if you ... read more ››

The cheapest deal: Difficult to obtain, slow to arrive and under-calculated: for many, residential school survivor payments are too little, too late.

The good news is that survivors of the residential school system are finally being compensated after many years of fighting with the federal government for just recourse for the century of abuse they suffered in the church-run schools. The bad news is that, much like recent government programs from passports to ... read more ››

The holiday blues are no gift at Christmas

As the holidays roll around, the hearts of many swell with anticipation of cherished time with family members, gift sharing and endless celebrations. For some, however, the Christmas season is the most depressing time of year. “The holidays are the darkest time of the year and it’s very hard for those ... read more ››

The silent crime of child poverty

In 1989, an unusual thing happened in Canada’s House of Commons. Members briefly forgot about party lines and unanimously voted to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000. In retrospect, perhaps it is little surprise that, almost eight years after that deadline came and went, there has been no change in ... read more ››

Time for story telling

The winter months are the traditional time for storytelling. Snuggled around the fire in the tipi, children of all ages would hear the voice of their nuuhkum or nimushum recounting one of those Cree legends that had been repeated since time immemorial. It was a time for laughter, reflection, learning ... read more ››

Wino chiyeyo

I watch a lot of TV to learn a lot of things. I tried tuning in to the youth channels and found out that, hey, youth is cool. They got something that I wished I had: a cool today, gone tomorrow type of attitude. Like, who cares? What I do ... read more ››