ARTICLES BY NATION

1,300 Kilometres by Bike

By the time you read this it will be over, but three Crees biked from Radisson toNemaska. Redfern Cheezo, Eric Cheezo and Andrew Menarick Tent took the scenic routewith stops in Chisasibi, Wemindji and Eastmain. Even though it’s a little early forsnow, the three are hoping to raise enough money ... read more ››

Hockey News

Following the article of August 14, I received a few phone calls from concerned parents.I’d like to share some of the topics with you: 1. A 10-year-old faced racist remarks during hockey school this summer in the Abitibi region. His mother reported her son’s reaction was “ignore it,” which is one ... read more ››

Micmacs get ultimatum

Quebec is going to the brink with a group of Micmacs occupying a sawmill in the Gaspé. Native Affairs Minister Guy Chevrette gave the Micmacs an ultimatum to withdraw from the sawmill by noon, Thursday, August 6. He didn’t say what the consequences would be. The group of Micmacs had occupied ... read more ››

Miners swoop down on Lac Rocher

Swooping helicopters and mine-drilling equipment have been disturbing the quiet solitude of Lac Rocher north of Waswanipi. The Lac Rocher area, which is within Category II land, could one day be the location of a copper and nickel mine, if a Toronto mineral-exploration company has its way. Douglas Hume, president of Nuinsco ... read more ››

Innu take protest to UN

The Innu have taken their opposition to the Churchill Falls II hydro project to Geneva. In an address to a United Nations working group, Innu lawyer Armand McKenzie called the Hydro-Quebec megaproject a “vast enterprise of colonialism and economic imperialism toward the Innu.” McKenzie is the spokesman for seven Innu communities ... read more ››

Nisga’a ink historic treaty

Leaders of the Nisga’a Nation of British Columbia were rejoicing about the signing of the province’s first modern Aboriginal treaty. “Today we make history as we correct the mistakes of the past and send a signal of hope around the world,” said Nisga’a Nation President Joe Gosnell. “We are no longer beggars ... read more ››

What’s new at Nation

Billie jo Ratt up on a small reserve know (yes, that’s her real name) grew up on a small reserve known as Barrière Lake(Rapid Lake). She worked for the Federal Government while attending college.After graduating, she returned to the reserve and published a community newsletter.The Nation was lucky to get her because ... read more ››

Fundraiser features fabulous cook

The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal is raising funds for a scholarship fund forurban Aboriginal students, its first event is a pasta dinner on Thursday, July 30,at 6 p.m. Cost: $10/plate. “The dinner will be made by a fabulous cook with lots of experience (my ma),” writes one of the organizers ... read more ››

Canada urged to take action on toxic pollutants

Greenpeace has slammed Canada for its lack of action on eliminating the world’s 12 most dangerous toxic pollutants. “Here we go again,” said a Greenpeace spokeswoman. “Strong words for the television cameras, but behind the scenes an extremely weak position that risks the health of future generations.” The 12 chemicals have entered ... read more ››

Fant-Asia: can you spell A-K-S-H-U-N?

Montreal may be the City of Festivals, but the only one worth seeing in my book is Fant-Asia. For the third year, Fant-Asia offers the action-movie buff a buffet of disturbing and mind-blowing delights you must not miss if you are in Montreal. We’ve got Kung Fu classics like Prodigal Son Pulls ... read more ››

Mistissini prom night

The first Prom Night ever held in Mistissini was celebrated with excitement and eagerness by all who attended on the evening of June 12. The Secondary V students of Mistissini Voyageur Memorial High School and all their invited guests arrived handsomely and beautifully in their classy evening wear to best suit ... read more ››

Community “on the brink of chaos,” writes resident

CREE NATION OF MISTISSINI: CREE COMMUNITY ON THE BRINK OF CHAOS On the eve of the Cree Nation of Mistissini’s elections for Chief and Council, I find it strange that more has not been said or brought out by the candidates on an issue that is impacting and will impact the ... read more ››

August in Indian history August 1-15

August 1st 1615: Champlain enters Georgian Bay. August 2nd 1780: At the start of American Revolutionary War hostilities, Mohawks evacuated their village of Canajoharie, in New York. White settlers moved into the village. Today, Joseph Brant, and Mohawk warriors attack the settlers. Fourteen settlers are killed and 60 taken prisoner. August 3rd 1492: Columbus sails ... read more ››

Senneterre: one Elder remembers

Senneterre Cree Elder Annie Moore tells of the old days before Senneterre wasbuilt In this story for the town’s 75th anniversary celebration. Thank you toMbecca Moore of Senneterre for providing us with a copy of the story.(Translated from French.) Rapide-des Cèdres is one of the sites where the Indians passed on ... read more ››

Cree student studies Mégiscane impacts

A Cree student is planning a research project to study the social impacts of the Mégiscane River hydro project this summer. Rébecca Moore of Senneterre wants to interview Cree families in the areas that may be flooded or otherwise affected. The rivers and lakes downstream will see their flow fall in a ... read more ››

Mistissini elects new chief

Mistissini is looking at a new chief this year. Kenny Loon, in a close race, won the June 8 election with 268 votes, just 29 more than incumbent 2nd place contender, former Chief William Mianscum (239 votes). Henry Mianscum received 230 votes, Sam Etapp got 185 and Peter Coon came ... read more ››

New Youth Council

Cree youth have elected a new Cree Nation Youth Council. Ashley Iserhoff of Mistissini is the new Youth Grand Chief/Chairman. Waswanipi’s John Jolly is Deputy Youth Grand Chief/ Vice-Chairman. Tina Mark of Wemindji will be treasurer, Priscilla Mark will be secretary and Charles J. Hester is the executive member. Samson Wischee will hold ... read more ››

Dr. Tom Jackson

Just don’t call on entertainer Tom Jackson for medical advice even though he now can add doctor to his name. Laurentian University awarded the Native actor/singer/ director an honourary Doctor of Letters degree on June 5. Standing behind Jackson (see photo) is Dr. Emily Faries, a Cree professor of Native ... read more ››

Drug bust in Chisasibi

Police swooped down on a Chisasibi home to seize $1,000 of suspected marijuana on June 23. Charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking was Robbie Shecapio, according to Chisasibi police Constable Robert Shem. Asked why police suspected Shecapio, Shem explained, “Informants and a community member of Chisasibi wanted to help us ... read more ››

Fontaine gets raise

National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations just got a raise. Fontaine got a 50-per-cent salary increase approved by chiefs at the latest AFN meeting.His salary jumps from $85,000 to $125,000 a year. Only 4 per cent of the AFN’s 630 chiefs, or 25 odd chiefs, were present for ... read more ››

Old Nemaska Days

Champion Lake residents say to first time visitors to Old Nemaska, “It’s like paradise. You’ll wonder why we ever left.” The reason why they ever left was far from people’s minds when the entire community gathered again at the old site. For another brief shining week it was like they had ... read more ››

Place of the Drawings on the Rock

Archaeologists have their eyes on a set of rock paintings that Cree Elders have known about for decades. “This is an important find,” said Daniel Arsenault, the archaeologist in charge of the study. The pictograph site is the first ever reported in Cree Territory and is the farthest north of the ... read more ››

Kahnawake issues ultimatum

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has warned the federal and Quebec governments it is asserting its sovereignty over the community’s territory, taking control of highways, railways and waterways, and declaring the community a duty-free zone. The move was prompted by Quebec’s recent changes to its tobaccco-tax laws and has been described ... read more ››

First victims of nuclear age want justice

The Slavey people of the community of Déné in the NWT say they are “the very first victims of the nuclear age.” They want Canada to acknowledge its responsibility for the nightmare of radiation poisoning that has hit the community and clean up radioactive waste in their area. Government-sponsored uranium and radium mining ... read more ››

Chisasibi man held in Ontario after police chase

A Chisasibi man in his pick-up truck led Ontario Provincial Police and a local squad car on an 80-kilometre chase before being arrested on 12 charges near Kirkland Lake, Ont., according to police. Tom Henry Rupert, 31, was able to evade officers for some time until his tires were blown out ... read more ››

Lubicon score victory

The Lubicon Lake Cree Nation have scored a major victory in their long fight to protecttheir land. After a 10-year Lubicon campaign, the Japanese forestry giant Daishowa hasfinally agreed not to harvest or purchase timber from Lubicon lands until a land-claimagreement is worked out with the governments. Daishowa obtained logging rights ... read more ››