Our offices have been plundered and violated by God knows who and themselves. A wave of shock went through our collective being when we found out “My God!” screamed our News Editor Alex Roslin. “My computer, my life’s work. It’s all gone!” “My editorial!” shouted Ernest, pain gushing from the very core of his soul. Will hung his head in shock in the corner of the archival section of the office. He was regressing. And Neil, he went to the closest restaurant and stuffed himself silly with souvlakis.

Snap out of it boys! said Catherine, slapping Will back to reality. Celya burst in and ran towards Alex. “My poor baby,” she said soothingly, stroking his curly locks. “We’ll get it back, little one.” She planted a big wet kiss on his furrowed brow. (Exciting intro by Neil— Ed.) Back to reality. Yes, we were robbed. Our offices were ransacked. Pretty well everything of value was stolen. Two computers, two laser printers, fax machine, phones, tape recorders, camera, and of course our work (Brian’s syllables—Ed.) among various other things. He, they or should I say “it” took our CD player and our entire collection of CD’s (Alex is still mourning the loss of Motorhead—Ed.) and tapes. Oddly they left all the fiddle music.

We laughed. “How can you laugh now!?!” a concerned friend asked. “Hey! We’ve been laughing for the past five hundred years!” I replied. “Ah,” he said.

The first break-in was devastating. But we quickly recovered emotionally because we had our other computer in the other office. It contained the template we use to put out The Nation. We figured we’d do some crisis managment Put out The Nation on that. All was not lost.

Famous last words. We were hit a second time. This time everything was gone. (Don’t worry, Katerina and Linda had copies of the invoices—Ed.) We had to start from scratch. There was not a trace of The Nation anywhere in our offices not even on computer disc. They even bloody well stole our computer discs. (Lots of people are asking if it’s political. That’ll keep us wondering eh?—Ed.) A special big thanks goes out to the Mistissini Economic Development Department for the $10,000 emergency loan for equipment replacement and to the Grand Council of the Crees for an injection of $1,000 to help us get back on our feet (We have hit up other organizations. Well keep you informed—Ed.) Also to the many advertisers who have responded with concern and their ads, we thank you. This issue would not be possible without them. And a thanks and a hearty handshake to Will for sleeping in the office with a bat until the alarm system came in.

Now, more than ever we are determined to keep bringing you The Nation. The reaction in the communities has been very uplifting.

Thank you all for your concern, support and prayers.