ARTICLES BY Amy German

Gold mining opposition

The Quebec cabinet gave the Osisko Mining Corp. the go-ahead in August to begin production in Malartic on what will be Canada’s largest open-pit goldmine in history. The only problem is that the project will be happening on traditional lands owned by the Algonquin Nation and they have never given ... read more ››

Infringing on tradition

While the rest of the province is celebrating the new powers that Bill 57 will grant the Quebec government over forestry, what it could take away from First Nations groups is being swept under the carpet. Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec’s deputy premier and recently-appointed minister in charge of natural resources, has told ... read more ››

On the bench

Though he might not be a household name in Eeoyu Istchee, Robert Mainville worked as a lawyer for the Cree Regional Authority for over 30 years. On August 27, his lifetime of fighting for the rights of Aboriginal peoples was rewarded with a federal court judgeship. Mainville began working for the ... read more ››

Papers, licensing and protests

Though they were two very different protests, one outside of Ouje-Bougoumou and the other outside of Mistissini, two local Cree contractors made it known to the public that they do not like the way construction contracts are being handed out. On August 25, David Coonishish put up a semi-blockade outside of ... read more ››

H1N1 influenza and you

The Influenza A H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, has dominated the headlines over the summer months, particularly where Aboriginal communities are concerned. As a result of the flu pandemic, multiple activities in Eeyou Istchee were postponed this summer as individuals were looking to protect themselves by not congregating ... read more ››

School funding woes

While the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement guaranteed the Crees adequate funding for their schools and post-secondary education funds, the rest of the province’s reserves find themselves much worse off. This was why the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi staked out the highway that runs through their community on August ... read more ››

One year later

On September 6, 2008, Maisy Odjick, then 16, and her friend, Shannon Alexander, then 17, disappeared from the town of Maniwaki, Quebec without a trace. It’s been one year now and, according to Maisy’s mother, Laurie Odjick, nothing has changed. Another September has rolled around and her daughter will not be ... read more ››

Traditional garments on the catwalk

Whether you have heard of her or not, Tammy Beauvais is probably Quebec’s most prolific Aboriginal fashion designer. She is now giving another generation a chance at following in her footsteps. Beauvais has made a career of creating and selling longhouse-inspired traditional Native garments for men and women as well as ... read more ››

Maestro please!

John Kim Bell has lived many lives. The Kahanawake native is known for creating the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation in 1985, which started up the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in the 1993. Bell is also a composer, who has scored various television productions for CTV, including Divided Loyalties, and even PBS’s ... read more ››

Canoes and other news

The past few weeks have been very busy for Cree Nation Youth Grand Chief Stacy Bear. Between a highly successful Cree Nation Youth Council Annual General Assembly in July, spearheading a new campaign to inspire hope and seeing off her youths on their last ever Rupert River Canoe Brigade, the ... read more ››

Literacy rescue

Over the years the Nation has reported on the high drop-out rates in Eeyou Istchee, that its students have had substandard reading abilities and that many take more time to finish high school than the rest of the province. But, the scales might be on the verge of tipping. According to ... read more ››

Another Attawapiskat evacuation

For the second time this year the community of Attawapiskat has declared a state of emergency after an infrastructure failure led to a sewage backup in multiple homes in the community. Though the community appealed to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for aid in evacuating the residents of the contaminated homes, ... read more ››

Getting to know you

He might be young and without political experience but Stanley George beat out incumbent Chief Losty Mamianscum and running mate Isaac Masty to take the top position as Whapmagoostui’s new Chief. “I am very happy and I know it is going to be a lot of challenges. I am just looking ... read more ››

Vying for the Chair

Gordon Blackned, George Blacksmith, Alfred Coonishish, Reggie David Neeposh and Donald Nicholls are in the running to become Chair of the Cree School Board. Coming from various academic and career backgrounds, each has a different perspective on how things should be run and brings something unique to the table. The Nation magazine ... read more ››

An interview with Deputy Grand Chief candidate Bella Moses Petawabano

TN: How did you feel about the first round of the election? BMP: I think it went very well. I was very surprised because I was competing with people who have extensive experience in Cree politics who are also known in Eeyou Istchee and I cannot say that I am known. ... read more ››

An interview with Deputy Grand Chief candidate Ashley Iserhoff

TN: How are you feeling about the July 15 election? AI: It was very exciting. Elections are a very exciting time for everybody and people are very anxious. I guess I was more anxious than nervous to hear the results. TN: You now down to one opponent, tell me why you are ... read more ››

An interview with Grand Chief candidate Matthew Coon Come

TN: How did the first portion of the election go for you? MCC: I thought that all of the candidates campaigned superbly. They all made important contributions and they made me proud to be Cree. But, of course I would have liked to get an extra 45 votes in the first ... read more ››

An interview with Grand Chief candidate Matthew Mukash

TN: How do you think this last portion of the election went? MM: I have not made an analysis myself of why the numbers went the way they did. The voter turnout was not all that big. Basically it is one of the things that the people like a candidate who ... read more ››

Selling Cree Water to the U.S

The Montreal Economic Institute has just published a new study that shows how the province of Quebec could make billions selling water from the north to the United States. The study’s author, F. Pierre Gingras, a former hydroelectric power engineer for Hydro-Québec, said that this project would involve capturing and diverting ... read more ››

Getting to know the AFN candidates

Chief Shawn (A-in-Chut) Atleo and Chief Perry (Okemow Peeasew Awasis) Bellegarde may be from different walks of life and represent different political ideals but what they do have in common is a desire to become National Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. In early May, the Nation (Vol 16, ... read more ››

Dropping the Pop

Soda pop, sugary juices, iced tea and energy drinks have become a dietary staple for many kids in the Western Hemisphere, despite the fact that these drinks rot your teeth and can add on an unhealthy amount of extra weight. In light of this, the Public Health Department of the Cree ... read more ››

Meeting for the kids

There is always a first time for everything but the first Cree Child and Family Services Forum has been a long time coming. Over 400 Crees who work in different capacities for Child and Family Services descended upon the Delta Hotel in Montreal from June 25-27 to share, plan, network, brainstorm ... read more ››

Fighting for an inquest

Though 61-year-old Gladys Tolley died on the night of October 5, 2001, her family has yet to see any justice in what they have described as “homicidal negligence” at the hands of the Sûreté du Québec. Gladys Tolley had been walking along Highway 105, the road that runs through the Algonquin ... read more ››

An interview with Robert Kitchen

Running for Deputy Grand Chief, Waswanipi’s Robert Kitchen has had a lengthy history in politics having been part of the Youth Council, various regional councils and having served his home community of Waswanipi as Chief. He has also spent many years working in the field of economic development. On a personal ... read more ››

An interview with Matthew Coon Come

Matthew Coon Come was born on a trapline and has devoted his entire adult life to Cree leadership and Cree rights. His leadership and determination are recognized in Eeyou Istchee, in Quebec, across Canada and internationally. Perhaps more than any other Aboriginal leader, he has met with prime ministers and foreign ... read more ››

A Sister Still Missing

Over 300 people congregated at the Legion Hall in Kahnawake on June 18 to remember their stolen sister, Tiffany Morrison, who went missing on that day in 2006. Originally the memoriam had been planned as a candlelight vigil and march through the streets of the community however heavy rain put the ... read more ››