ARTICLES BY Will Nicholls

Atikamekw set to deal on Mégiscane

Atikamekw Band Councilor Roger Chachai says his community is currently in discussion with Hydro-Quebec over the proposed Mégiscane River diversion. Chachai said the Atikamekw, like the Algonquins, are participating in the impact studies, but his community doesn’t yet have a position on the project. Chachai said they are studying all the ... read more ››

Indians with A-bombs

The Road To Omaha By Robert Ludlum Random House of Canada, Toronto, 1992 Robert Ludlum is without a doubt one of those types of writers who take great joy in creating the most convoluted plot lines you’ve ever read. Keeping track of who’s who and exactly what they are doing is no task ... read more ››

Log Jamming

I’m sure not a day passes when some Cree somewhere doesn’t see a logging truck piled high heading south. And not one day passes with a Cree tallyman, hunter or trapper not mourning the damage done by Quebec’s clearcutting practices in the Cree territory. I remember flying over the land ... read more ››

No Cree review of Mégiscane project

The Quebec government says Crees have no special rights to review the Mégiscane River hydro project, even though it is on Cree land. Cree officials aren’t happy that the environmental-review process of the JBNQA isn’t being honoured. “It’s on Cree land. That’s Waswanipi land to us,” said Chief John Kitchen of Waswanipi. “Look ... read more ››

July in American Indian history

In an effort to promote Native versions of history rather than the current ethnocentrichistory most Natives are forced to learn in school, this will be a new section ofThe Nation. We present you with past events from July 16 to 31 in American Indian history. Unfortunally I do not have the greatest ... read more ››

Acting Chief

I had the honour of meeting Michael Lawrenchuk, a Manitoba Swampy Cree, in a military prison cell so to speak. Lawrenchuk was the actor in a one-man play called The Trial of Kicking Bear as part of a Montreal Native festival leading up to National Aboriginal Day. It was put ... read more ››

Who will be Chief?

This is a first for The Nation. It is the first time we have been able to reach the candidates for chief in a Cree community. In this case it was Mistissini. Normally the time between the nominations, acceptance and actual voting doesn’t allow for much time for the candidate’s ... read more ››

“Redskins” like “coloureds”

Did you hear what “whitey’s” talk’n about these days? The Washington “Redskins” football team is in court fighting “Injuns” to keep their name as a trademark. The Redskins team is arguing that it’s okay to use the word “redskin” because it’s like calling black people “coloureds.” I, for one, find this ... read more ››

Investigation of Judge Paul dropped

It was good news for federal Judge Réjean Paul. The RCMP has dropped the investigation into the judge’s alleged financial shenanigans. The judge says that he was not surprised. “I was convinced (it would happen),” said Paul. He said the facts spoke for themselves. Paul was being investigated on an anonymous tip ... read more ››

Happy Father’s Day

It was always recognized that Mother’s Day was important and fathers were left by the roadside, but as they say every dog has his day. Not to put down fathers of course. After all I’m one myself and proud of it. But one urban myth I’ve always hated was that ... read more ››

Chiefs question Quebec’s Indian policy

The Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador has rejected the Quebec government’s “partnership, development, achievement” deal. The new deal was initially praised by some Native representatives. Among other things, Quebec proposed that Native people would pay sales tax and bands could decide how to spend this money. Other ... read more ››

Dark Secrets Laid to Rest

I was invited to a film screening recently. It was a disturbing documentary called The Nitinaht Chronicles. It follows the Ditidaht First Nation in Nitinaht Lake Reserve. B.C., as they work on a six-year healing journey. It was a film that left many with tears in their eyes, both during ... read more ››

Never Without Consent

This, without question, is a book that every Cree should have as required reading in school. If you have ever had a question on what, why or how Native people should look at themselves in terms of the Quebec sovereignty question, then this is it. This is the Everest that Bouchard ... read more ››

Erasmus vague about healing fund

One of the few things that came out of the Royal Commission was a small ray of hope for the many victims of residential schools. The government would be giving $350 million to help begin the healing process. But questions are arising about how the money will be spent. We have just ... read more ››

The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters Letters from a senior to a Junior devil by C.S. Lewis Collins, London, 1942 Since the “Good Book” was reviewed in The Nation, in the interests of unobjectivity I decided to review this 160-page milestone of theology in an effort to help or hinder those still beset by doubts and ... read more ››

No pain if there is no gain

It was quite the Monday when I walked in the office on an angle. I learned that I was not the only one to suffer the pains of the damned. Yes, that old backpain. The familiar stoop of agonized muscles forcing you to march along slowly and quietly with that ... read more ››

Quebec-Cree MOU: money or unity

The Quebec-Cree Memorandum of Understanding just won’t go away, it seems. The Nation received some documents in the mail. They contained the breakdown on what each community would receive under the Quebec-Cree MOU process. The breakdown numbers have some people mad. The differences in how much some communities came away ... read more ››

Slapped silly

Another step has been taken in the unending struggle of the Lubicon Lake Crees for some real Canadian justice. A small group of their supporters, the Friends of the Lubicon, will be allowed to continue its boycott against the Daishowa paper-making giant of Japan. Daishowa wanted the courts to rule the ... read more ››

Sadie’s Walk raises diabetes awareness

Sadie Muik was a Native woman from out west. She was a well-loved woman who worked to raise awareness of diabetes. Tragically, she was killed by a logging truck. Her community started a yearly walk to honour her memory. The walk for Sadie has grown. Each year, Native communities across Canada ... read more ››

Goose Hunt’98

The geese are flying! And Cree hunters are oiling up their guns, buying supplies, checking out camping equipment and doing what they need to do to take off into the bush with a few unfortunates saying goodbye to the women and having to do their own plucking. Once again Cree ... read more ››

The Great Outdoors Show

On March 18-22nd this years Great Outdoor Show saw an increase in Crees participating. I found most ofthem in the Aboriginal Site and a few on the main floor. In fact the Aboriginal Site allowed Natives tohave their own area and added a distinct flavor to the show. When entering the ... read more ››

The few, the many..

The controversial Quebec-Cree Memorandum of Understanding was finally signed by Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come and Minister Guy Chevrette on March 27 in Montreal. All Chiefs except for Matthew Mukash of Whapmagoostui were also in attendance. Like Kenny Blacksmith said, I am not against the community projects, but rather against the ... read more ››

The Judas Goat

As I am writing this, events are happening. All of the Cree entities and organizations listed below and more might be examined by both Quebec and the Crees with a view to possibly abolishing some, merging others and maybe changing a few mandates here and there. At the heart of the ... read more ››

Cabinet approves deal with Crees

Chief Billy Diamond brought some good news to the Council/Board meeting March 19th in Montreal. The day before, the government of Quebec authorized minister Guy Chevrette to sign the$15-million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Crees. In a letter, Chevrette thanks Diamond for “the work you have done during the negotiations.” Quebecalso ... read more ››

$15M Cree-Quebec deal under fire

The $15-million-dollar deal between the Crees and Quebec has come under criticism again. This time by Dr. Ted Moses, Cree ambassador and federal negotiator. “I believe that, as drafted, it raises a number of serious concerns,” wrote Moses. Moses was critical of part of the deal that says the Crees agree to ... read more ››

CNC welcomes back an old hand

Richard Saunders is the new interim Chairman of the Cree-Naskapi Commission until Judge Paul returns to duty. Saunders was a former commissioner from 1986 to 1992. He readily admitted there is a backlog in the Commission’s responses to complaints because there weren’t any commissioners for a while. Saunders said the backlog ... read more ››