ARTICLES BY NATION

46 Cree teachers graduate from special McGill program

Forty-six Crees graduated last week from McGill University’s first class of students in Aboriginal-literacy education. A banquet was held at McGill University to honour the graduates. Elder Robbie Matthew Sr. of Chisasibi spoke at a banquet afterwards on the importance of the Cree language and teachers. Three awards were given out to ... read more ››

From Father to Son

Since Father’s Day is coming we gathered some Native wisdom that was traditionallyhanded down from father to sons in the past on Religion, Tradition and Being.Happy Father’s Day. Luther Standing Bear ( 168?-1939), Oglala Sioux Chief: “The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of the forests, plains, ... read more ››

Beaudoin pledges support for Cultural Institute

The Cree Cultural Institute got a boost when Louise Beaudoin, Quebec’s Culture Minister,passed through Ouje-Bougoumou this month during her first-ever official visit to theNorth. Beaudoin was given a tour of the community and told about the Cultural Institute,which needs $8 million in funding to get off the ground. Beaudoin’s spokeswoman, Manon Larouche, said ... read more ››

$80G vanishes from Elders’ account Northern manager fired after coupie ioses savings

The North West Co. has fired one of its store managers, Mike Taylor, after over $80,000 disappeared from an elderly couple’s account at Eastmain’s Northern Store. The Elders, Willie and Hattie Moses, discovered there wasn’t any money left in their account when they went to make a deposit with their stepdaughter. They ... read more ››

Worst government we ever had: ecologist

Hydro-Quebec’s proposed Mégiscane River hydro project proves that the PQ government isthe worst in Quebec’s history when it comes to the environment, charges a prominentenvironmentalist. The latest hydro project is on Cree land, but Hydro-Quebec is trying to avoid holdinghearings into the project as called for by the James Bay and ... read more ››

Health Canada Warning

Health Canada is advising anyone who uses EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. auto injectors toimmediately return them to the pharmacy for free replacement. These products aredefective and could be dangerous.

Toxic spill not so bad: mining giant

Canadian mining giant Cameco Corp. says the toxic spill of 1,700 kilograms of cyanide in central Asia isn’t as bad as local officials say. A truck carrying the poisonous chemical to a gold mine operated by Cameco plunged into the Barskoon River earlier this month. The accident poisoned 181 people, killed fish ... read more ››

Delay in forestry case

More delay for the Cree lawsuit on forestry. A scheduled meeting was postponed in the community of Waskaganish that would have given the lawsuit a green light to proceed. Originally scheduled for April, it was then postponed to May, and now there is more delay. Jack Blacksmith, member of the Cree Forestry Working ... read more ››

Whapmagoostui man dead after beating

A young man with a long history of violence is being held in connection with the murder of Sydney Bullfrog, 55, in Whapmagoostui shortly after midnight on April 30. Joseph Napartuk, 29, was arrested without a struggle in his house and charged with involuntary homicide. The charge may be raised to ... read more ››

McGill offers Cree Course

Need to bone up on your Cree? McGill’s Education Dept, offers a course July 6-17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Worth three credits. Info: (514) 398-4533. Due to an error beyond our control, we have selected a new winner of our Mother’s Day prize. We would like to congratulate Anita Mayappo’s ... read more ››

Homecare trainees head communities

Five Cree students are on their way to being certified in homecare after an intensive10-month course. The students are learning how to care for patients and will have all the training required by hospitals for homecare. As part of their training, they left the classroom and helped out at the Chibougamau Hospital. ... read more ››

KungFu Club wins 14 prizes

Members of the Chisasibi Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu School walked away with 14 trophies,plaques and medals at the 18th Annual Quebec World Open Karate Championships, held in Quebec City. Fifty-five Chisasibi residents made the trip on the Cree Nation Bus. Present at the tournament were people from as far as ... read more ››

Who got what in deal with Quebec

Here, finally, is the breakdown of who got what in the Quebec-Cree “MOU” deal.The information comes from documents mailed anonymously to The Nation. A month ago, we requested these same documents from the Quebec Native Affairs Ministryunder the Access to Information Act. The law gives officials 20 days to respond to ... read more ››

Diamond discovery

Diamonds have been discovered in the Cree territory in the Otish Mountains about 300 kmnorth of Chibougamau. Preliminary drilling holds promise, according to Tom Hashimoto,president of Ditem Explorations Inc. Ditem drilled six holes and found four diamonds. “That’s a good start. We’re very optimistic,” said Hashimoto. The diamonds are knownas macros ... read more ››

Mistissini Karate Club gets six medals

Last April 4, Mistissini’s Karate Club traveled to Amos, Quebec, for its first tournamentever. It took place at Polyvalente La Foret, and when it was over Mistissini walked awaywith six medals. Twelve-year-old Noah Cheechoo won a gold medal in orange-belt fighting. Kenny Wapachee,another orange-belt, took the bronze in Kata. Katas are ... read more ››

Sniffing out the problem

Many Crees now talk about drinking and drugs in the communities, but the growing problem of sniffing among children is less out in the open. “We are certain that children are sniffing in some communities, and suspect it ishappening in all the communities,” says Bob Imrie, health promotion officer with theCree ... read more ››

Cree recycling investment scheme dead

The plan to invest up to $27 million of Cree heritage funds in a questionable U.S. recycling scheme is now dead. “For all intents and purposes, the project is dead,” said Bill Grodinsky, corporate secretary of the Cree Regional Authority. Grodinsky said both Crees and promoter Walter Childress, a Texas entrepreneur, pulled ... read more ››

Shake-up at 381

More ugliness at “381.” The sudden departure of the manager and another employee has shaken up things at the beloved rest stop on the James Bay Highway. The “lay-offs” followed a screaming match last summer in which a gas bar attendant refused to serve some Cree travellers. It all started when Christopher ... read more ››

Enviro-budget slashes

The Bouchard government has slashed spending on the environment to less than a third of what it wasunder the Liberals, says Greenpeace. Spending in 1993-94 was $776 million, but fell to $217 million in 1997-98. This, despite the PartiQuébécois electoral platform which promises to make “the ecological crisis” a top priority.

Extend Native tax exemption: merchants

The Chibougamau Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the Quebec government to expand the Native taxexemption. The 180-member association wants Native consumers to be able to purchase goods and services, and take delivery of them in town, without paying sales taxes. Presently, Natives are exempt only if the product is delivered to a reserve. Nancy ... read more ››

New Cree church

First Nations Ministries have taken a big step of faith to purchase a $145,000 building in Val d’Oras a church for James Bay Crees. Rev. Billy Ottereyes signed the sales contract and says he hopes Crees will donate funds regardless oftheir church affiliation. He would like the “Cree Evangel Centre” to ... read more ››

Band Job Descriptions

CHIEF Leaps tall buildings in a single bound Is more powerful than a locomotive Is faster than a speeding bullet Walks on water Gives policy to God DEPUTY CHIEF Leaps short buildings in a single bound Is more powerful than a switch engine Is just as fast as a speeding bullet Walks on ... read more ››

Quebec proposes taxes on Natives

Quebec is proposing to do away with the Native tax exemption, after complaining that the exemption hasled to fraud in Native communities. In its broad new First Nations policy announced last week, the Quebec government says Nativecommunities could reduce their “dependence” on outside governments by collecting taxes from theirresidents. First Nations will ... read more ››

Inuit, Quebec close to self-gov’t deal

The Inuit of Northern Quebec are on their way toward getting a regional assembly andself-government powers. While the Crees were asking for more funding from Quebec, the Inuit were pursuing a differentstrategy. In their negotiations with Quebec, they pressed for full jurisdiction in all areas affecting theirregion, Nunavik. They had in mind something ... read more ››

Ice show to feature Elizabeth Manley

Canadian figure skating champion Elizabeth Manley will be the special guest skater at the upcomingice show to be put on by the Chisasibi Skating Club in April. Manley is the last female skater to win any world or Olympic medal for Canada. Also performing will be members of the club from the ... read more ››

1996 recommendations of the Eeyou Estchee (ISTCHEE) Commission (EEC)

As you are probably aware, the WFN is in the process of mapping out and defining our traditionalterritory. Once this is done, a statement will follow declaring ourselves as a people and formallyreaffirming our rights over the extent of our territory (those that Quebec and Canada claim wereextinguished in 1975). ... read more ››