Volume 21, Issue 21

AGA 2014: 40 years of Cree politics

It’s been almost 40 years since the Grand Council of the Crees first met at the Pal’s Hotel in Val-d’Or. On October 16, 1974, Chief Billy Diamond was elected the Grand Chief by a vote of 9-7, Chief Robert Kanatewat was elected as Deputy Grand Chief (10-6) and Abel Kitchen ... read more ››

Crees reaffirm position on uranium

The Cree Nations of James Bay have reaffirmed their position on uranium mining in Eeyou Istchee. In a resolution passed August 6 at the Annual General Assembly in Waswanipi, the Cree government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that any land falling under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement remains free ... read more ››

Derby results and big fish stories

Throughout the summer months, Eeyou Istchee’s many fishing derbies are the talk of the towns as the Cree nation’s finest fishermen set out to compete against some of the fishing world’s big names. Last year’s winner of the Wemindji Fishing Derby, Jeremy Jolly, claimed the grand prize of a 2013 Dodge ... read more ››

Googoom’s special friend

Youth Grand Chief Joshua Iserhoff Here I am in mid-air again with the Roundtable crew flying from Whapmagoostui to the heart of the Cree Nation, my hometown Nemaska. The stars have aligned to visit this wonderful place again. This time I brought along Googoom Mary Iserhoff, my dad’s mom and the only ... read more ››

Osheaga music fest brings sights and sounds to Montreal

Montreal’s festival season has offered up a gamut of high-octane events for years, but one of the youngest events on the summer bill has quickly become the city’s biggest. England’s Arctic Monkeys closed out the festival on Sunday evening. (Photo by Pat Beaudry) On August 1, the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival ... read more ››

Putting the Mohawks back in punk rock: Kahnawake bands play Montreal's first FN punk show

Punk rock as a musical genre is an uncommon choice for First Nations musicians. A trio of Kahnawake-based bands set out to change that notion August 2 when Montreal’s TRH-Bar hosted the first-ever First Nations Punk Show to be held in the city. Featuring Once Were Warriors, Skid Mark and The ... read more ››

Resolutions from the 2014 Cree Nation Government Annual General Assembly

GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE)/CREE NATION GOVERNMENT – Annual General Assembly 2014 Resolution 2014-10: Resolution Regarding Adoption and Implementation of Uniform Interpretation of 10-Year Clause in Section 3.2.7 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement to Promote Education of Cree Youth WHEREAS the rights that Cree beneficiaries enjoy under the ... read more ››

Results from Chisasibi's Duncan Lake Fishing Derby

Chisasibi’s first Walleye fishing Derby made a splash this weekend, wrapping up on August 17 with big fish and bigger prizes. Organized by the Chisasibi Sports & Recreation Association and held at nearby Duncan Lake, the event attracted anglers from across Quebec. “It was our 1st Walleye fishing derby and we will ... read more ››

Shaawinihan Outfitting caters to hunters who can’t wait for Goose Break

Running his business from rented farm fields just outside of Ottawa, John Cole said his new career began as a fluke one morning when he was headed out to get a cup of coffee. “I had popped into a restaurant for my morning coffee and there was a table of First ... read more ››

The legacy of laughter

I awoke today to the sad news that Robin Williams had passed away. His story reminded me of one my favourite operas, one of the most well known in modern culture. I’m sure most everyone has heard it at least once in a movie, on the radio or in a TV ... read more ››

The meaning of Cree

Across Canada there are more than 200,000 people who identify themselves as Cree. In Eeyou Istchee there are over 18,000 recognized Cree members, but what does that mean? How many more don’t qualify as members but who are nonetheless Native to our communities? Which Cree are entitled to the benefits of ... read more ››