Volume 20, Issue 13

Attawapiskat reimbursed

After a year of holding back support funding at the Attawapiskat First Nations, the Conservative government sent a single transfer of $136,132 to the band office for the work of the third-party manager. The amount covers his time managing the community between December 2011 and April 2012. The payment comes after ... read more ››

Breaking the mould

The truth about moulds and your health Whether it is in images on the news of abandoned homes in Attawapiskat or a creeping fungus that has just appeared in your own basement, mould may be a relatively new problem to the north but it can have a huge impact on both ... read more ››

Endangered species

A report released last year outlining the state of decline of the woodland caribou herds of northern Quebec brought attention to the dire situation. In response to the situation, the Cree Regional Authority (CRA) released a plan April 10 detailing a new method aimed at preserving some of the last ... read more ››

Financial transparency act becomes law

Bill C-27, also known as the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, has reopened the controversy surrounding the salaries of First Nations chiefs. Critics of the new bill argued that the public is being fed myths and stereotypes over the salaries of the First Nations chiefs. On March 27, the bill received ... read more ››

I am mother, hear me roar

Two Cree women reflect on motherhood Whether you are a single mom braving it on your own or a grandmother with numerous grandchildren, part of being a Cree mother is not just your bloodline but an ancestral connection to how the land and tradition have shaped families for generations. To talk about ... read more ››

Keeper of the language

Dinah Asquabaneskum from Wemindji speaks about her life I was born in a winter lodge on my father’s trapline, not far from LG3, in 1958. As a child, I couldn’t go to school as much as I wanted because classes began in September, when my parents and I returned to the ... read more ››

On the trail of history

I find travelling liberating. When I first started to visit other countries I did so with a minimal knowledge of history. The more I travelled, I realized I wasn’t getting a good sense of where I was. It was wonderful to climb up to the Acropolis and view Athens from ... read more ››

Quality Inn Val-d’Or nominations

After winning three awards at the regional level, Quality Inn & Suites Val-d’Or has been nominated for two awards at the 27th annual National Gala for the Grand Prize in Quebec Tourism. The finalists were announced on April 16 with Quality Inn Val-d’Or being nominated in the categories for accommodations ... read more ››

Revolution

“Dad, what’s a hippie?” My daughter wonders about such things. I reply, “A hippie is the opposite of the straight, narrow-minded, war-mongering people and peace and love were the code words of those days.” Also, groovy, cool, hip, dude, chick among many other slang words. Then, what’s a yuppie? My mind ... read more ››

She shoots, she scores

Jenna Ottereyes of Waswanipi is rising fast in the world of youth soccer Four years ago, when Jenna Ottereyes moved to Val-d’Or with her family, she was hoping she could play hockey like she had back home in Waswanipi. Because she was only eight years old, however, she was too young ... read more ››

The next step?

As a nation grows so does the need for more and more infrastructure, tools, policies and procedures that will enable it to develop in a healthy way. There is no doubt that the Cree Nation, as a whole, has grown over the years. Where we once had people stand in ... read more ››

Timmy’s arrives in Mistissini

Two Crees open their own Tim Hortons franchise The new Tim Hortons’ outlet in Mistissini isn’t just the hottest ticket in town right now but it’s a labour of love, devotion and passion for siblings Anthony and Elaine MacLeod, the two franchisees who stand proudly behind the counter. Hosting its grand opening ... read more ››

Walking in a suit

Waskaganish youth leader shares Cree perspective on Ottawa conference Elliot on the far right with the Nishiyuu before departing from Waskaganish On the afternoon of March 25 while the Nishiyuu walkers were arriving on Victoria Island in Ottawa another emerging young Cree leader was huddled inside the National Press Building on Wellington ... read more ››