ARTICLES BY Amy German

Open season on elections

Since the rejection of the Harper government’s last budget, it has now been a few weeks since the candidates in the coveted federal riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou have been out to vie for your votes. Between incumbent Yvon Lévesque for the Bloc Québécois, Romeo Saganash, the first Cree to ever run as ... read more ››

Science fair successes

Congratulations are in order for Eastmain’s Raven Mark and Mistissini’s Amy Mattawashish and Roberta Polson-Blacksmith as all three returned home winners from the 2011 Quebec Aboriginal Science and Engineering Association (QASEA) Science Fair provincial finals held on the Naskapi Kawawachikamach reserve March 22-23. Twelve-year-old Mark, who is in Secondary 1, claimed ... read more ››

The diabetic elephant in the room

The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) once again crunched the numbers on how many Crees have succumbed to diabetes in the past decade and, like in all previous studies, the numbers have increased. “It wasn’t very different from the last one. The message hasn’t really ... read more ››

A new place to lay your head

It’s been a long time coming! What was once an idea tossed around between CREECO’s major players – Jack Blacksmith, Rodney Hester and the late Albert W. Diamond – has now become a reality. The Crees finally have their own hotel in Val-d’Or and business is already booming. The Crees of ... read more ››

Solidarity against racism

In its 11th edition, the city of Val-d’Or was once again host to five days of activities devoted to anti-racism awareness and learning. The Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre (VDFNC)’s vice president Janet Mark, who also works at the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue First Nations Pavilion, said the week was jam-packed with activities ... read more ››

Better than the Oscars!

According to Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, this year’s awards show went off so well that it may have put some well-known American awards programs to shame. When asked if she thought it might have been a better show than the Oscars, she responded, “Well, ... read more ››

Speaking out for the voiceless

“You don’t see it the way we have walked it,” said Bernie Williams, cofounder of Walk4Justice, a British Columbia-based organization that is devoted to raising awareness concerning Canada’s 582+ missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Williams, whose mother, two sisters and brother were all murdered in Vancouver’s downtown eastside, had come to ... read more ››

One step closer

While the Washaw Sibi Cree still remain displaced living amongst the Algonquins in the community of Pikogan, the Council Board of the Grand Council of the Crees/ Cree Regional Authority has finally set up a corporate entity that will manage the allocated funds and issue all of the contracts dealing ... 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 ››

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 ››

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 ››

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 ››

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 ››

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 ››

Representing community health

Laurie Ann Georgekish and Joni Saganash have a lot to be proud of these days. Both are back working in their respective home communities of Wemindji and Waswanipi, and both are the first graduates from the Community Health Representative program at the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. “When we graduated we were told ... read more ››

The way we were

While there have been many books written about the David and Goliath story of how the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement came to be, nothing really compares to hearing it from those who made this history. After years of discussion over the film, the Grand Council of the Crees, in ... read more ››

Cabinet shuffle

After a four-year stint managing other portfolios in the National Assembly, Geoffrey Kelley, Liberal MNA for Jacques Cartier, is back handling Aboriginal Affairs, after taking the position over from Pierre Corbeil. “Working on the Native questions in Quebec is something that I find a very exciting challenge,” said Kelley. The Nation spoke ... read more ››

For love and justice

In solidarity with those in Ottawa, Vancouver and across the country, Montrealers braved the cold at Cabot Square on Valentine’s Day to remember and honour the women Canada forgot – at least 582 missing or murdered Aboriginal women. This was Montreal’s second annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women, an ... read more ››

Reaching the heart via the stomach

She has rapidly become Canada’s culinary Queen of Hearts as the host of Bitchin’ Kitchen on Food Network Canada, but Nadia Giosia was “bitchin’” long before her small-screen debut. For that matter, while she is the host of a TV cooking show, Giosia, a.k.a. Nadia G, has never actually set foot ... read more ››

Uproar over illegal drilling

In early January the Innu of Pessamit were shocked and dismayed to discover that the Nevado Resources Corporation had been illegally carrying out drilling on their ancestral lands known as the Nitassinan. “We have never given Nevado permission to drill on our territory. We demand that it cease all activities immediately,” ... read more ››

Misinformation campaign over uranium?

While the Cree and other nearby communities in Quebec hold their breath waiting for the ruling from the November 23 COFEX/COMEX hearing over whether Strateco Resources will be allowed to pursue a uranium exploration ramp in the Otish Mountains, tension has been building on both sides of the debate. In the ... read more ››

A shout-out for support

Strapped for cash since loosing one third of their funding with the Federal Government’s decision to put an end to the Aboriginal Healing Fund, the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal has since had no choice but to try and raise funds publicly. Fortunately, about a year ago when the shelter’s Director, ... read more ››

Getting closer to “being healthy”

Aboriginals in the Val-d’Or area will now have the opportunity to get a leg up when it comes to starting out healthier lives as the city’s Native Friendship Centre (VDNFC) has just opened a new clinic. Dubbed the Minowe Clinic, which in Algonquin means “being healthy,” the facility, located within the ... read more ››

Back to Class!

It’s impossible to teach an old dog new tricks but never too late in life for someone to learn something new. So, whether you have thought about going back to school to train for a new career, finish a degree or diploma that you let slide in the past, learn a ... read more ››

Searching for the truth

Four major announcements were made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) on January 13: 1) a new office will open in Yellowknife; 2) there will be a series of hearings in the far north prior to a national event in Inuvik; 3) the creation of a National ... read more ››

What Bill C-3 means for Crees

Bill C-3 finally received Royal Assent on December 15, opening the door for many Natives to gain the official Indian status that they were previously denied. The remaining hurdle before the bill comes into effect is a proclamation by an Order in Council, but this is anticipated within the coming ... read more ››