Volume 18, Issue 9

A Cree Walkingout Ceremony

On Sunday, May 9, 2010, Maverick Nimischuu Coonishish, aged 9 months, prepares for his first walking out ceremony. Just a few days before, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were all working hard to prepare the site of the ceremony, a tepee was set-up adjacent to a young spruce tree. Maverick ... read more ››

Award afterglow still bright

CREECO has a lot to be proud of these days, particularly one of its many shining stars. Business Development Coordinator Rodney Hester has not only been recognized nationally for his efforts, he has made major strides in industry for the Crees. Last September, Hester was recognized by the Council for the ... read more ››

Banking 101

Banking can be intimidating for some and anything beyond the basics can become overwhelming. Fortunately, many financial institutions seem to understand this and have created services that are designed to make their clients feel more at ease. Most people have savings or chequing accounts with their banks which allow the access ... read more ››

Cree got your tongue

In 1993, the Assembly of First Nations declared the month of March as Aboriginal Languages Month. Since then, March is a time when First Nations celebrate their languages and their survival. There are 192 different Aboriginal languages that are recognized in North America. Canada is home to 70 of them. Statistics ... read more ››

CREECO to shave heads for cancer fundraiser

CREECO Chairman Jack R. Blacksmith and Communication Officer Jonathan Girard-Saganash will shave off their treasured manes to raise dollars for the Leucan Foundation for research into children’s cancers. Both Blacksmith and Girard-Saganash have agreed to shave their heads provided that the price is right. Girard-Saganash will do it if donations come ... read more ››

Dirty Dishes

One of the things in life that many people don’t understand, or want to cope with, is cleaning up. I remember in my earlier acne years discovering socks from bygone years all cuddled up with one of those numerous monster dust balls under my bed, begging to be thrown out ... read more ››

Donations needed for fire victim

On February 28, Kathia Rock lost her home and all of her belongings due to a fire. In response to this, Wapikoni Mobile, the Native film-training project, is asking the public for donations to help Rock in her time of need. On behalf of Rock, Wapikoni Mobile is requesting donations of ... read more ››

Fund midwifery fully

Quebec’s midwives are reaching out to the general public to get midwifery fully funded through a petition directed at the National Assembly. The petition, available on the National Assembly’s website, is a call to the Ministry of Health to raise provincial funding to 100% as the price tag is currently being ... read more ››

Golden opportunity

The Cree community of Wemindji may just be in for an economic boom in the coming years as in signing a deal for mining development with Goldcorp Inc on Category 3 lands just outside of the community. The signing ceremony took place in Wemindji on February 21 between Goldcorp, Wemindji Chief ... read more ››

Hockey rewards

They cheered, they jeered and gobbled down treats and kept their fingers crossed for the home team on February 12 when the Caisse Populaire Desjardins sent children from Mistissini, Waswanipi and Oujé-Bougoumou to see the Montreal Canadiens play the Toronto Maple Leafs as a reward for their good school performance. For ... read more ››

Man charged with assault in Mistissini after standoff

According to Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Hélène Nepton, 29-year-old Benjamin Gunner was formally charged at the Amos courthouse on February 23 with two charges of assault and one charge of uttering threats to kill or poison an animal or bird. The charges stem from an incident one day prior after Gunner ... read more ››

Nature, Trade and Industry Show to be held in Rouyn-Noranda

In collaboration with the First Nations Quebec Business Network, the Nature, Trade and Industry Show will be held in Rouyn-Noranda at Le Noranda Gouverneur Hotel March 23-24. The show will serve as an opportunity for First Nations entrepreneurs and those in the economic development field to network and share mutual experiences ... read more ››

Proposing partnership

The Société de développement de la Baie-James (SDBJ) recently announced that it has been in talks with the Cree community of Eastmain to revitalize the rest stop at Km 381 on the James Bay highway and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for possible development. According to Eastmain Chief Rusty Cheezo, ... read more ››

Satellite phones: are they worth it?

I remember a number of years back one of the Cree chiefs lent me his satellite phone to call the office. He was proud of it and I was impressed. This was before cell phones were as common as today. Satellite phones never really caught on but when Future Mobile ... read more ››

We Can Make The World A Better Place

I have so much to thank my parents for. One important thing has come to my mind lately. I owe them much gratitude for being good and decent people who never put the poison of hate into my thinking. It never really occurred to me in the past that I ... read more ››

Who not to get financial advice from…

After a few years of watching a recession put millions out of work, if not their homes, across the globe, many have turned to books on moneysaving to see how they can get the most bang out of their buck. The problem with these kinds of books is that many of ... read more ››