ARTICLES BY Will Nicholls

First Nations Bank Wins Out

Changes to the way Crees bank are on the horizon. Soon, many communities may see the opening ofa new Indian-run bank. And, if the deal goes through, Crees will own a piece of the action. In a tough competition to manage millions of Cree dollars, the Aboriginally-run First Nations Bankbeat out ... read more ››

Cree forestry court battle in the works

After years of trying to negotiate with governments, and numerous attempts by communities to talk with forestry companies, the Cree Nation is now taking them all to court. “Enough is enough,” said Grand Chief Mathew Coon Come. “We’ve tried to meet with forestry operators. The talleymen show them the sensitive areas, ... read more ››

Indian Affairs: More Money

The Nation and about ten 10 other journalists from acrossCanada recently interviewed Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian andNorthern Affairs about the new Federal budget. What follows area few highlights of the interview. Minister Stewart was happy to announce that her department was one of the few to receive new monies. While there ... read more ››

$15-Million deal in limbo

It’s unlikely that Cree communities will see any action soon on the estimated $15-million deal thatwas in the works. PQ Minister Guy Chevrette of Natural Resources and Native Affairs took a little time off to considerhis political future. He allegedly brought back a nice Florida tan on Wednesday, February 18, 1998 when ... read more ››

Tribal justice

Have you ever heard or come across an interesting idea? I have recently. It seems that down south of the border where several U.S. states and the U.S. government successfully sued the tobacco companies for big money First Nations have joined in. Judge Patrick Moore of the District Court of the ... read more ››

New mandates for Regional Chief Ghisuun Picard

The recently acclaimed Regional Chief Chislain Picard said the First Nations of Quebec and Labradorare looking to redefine their relationship with the federal and Quebec governments. They also want toeducate the Canadian and Quebec public about the aspirations and hopes of the First Nations. This waspart of the political platform ... read more ››

Open or broken?

I was flabbergasted, amazed and quite shocked at a recent discussion that took place at a CRA Council/Board meeting. A chief suggested that perhaps a request should be made to have the Auditor General of Canada look into the Grand Coun-cil/CRA financial records. I applaud and support those efforts. I ... read more ››

Fires in school a “cry for help”

Mistissini’s Voyageur Memorial School closed down for three days on January 29. The safety of Voyageurs student population was cited as one the reasons by the school administration. Some students had been starting small fires in the school and playing with the fire alarm system. Voyageur Memorial didn’t bother to fix up ... read more ››

The 15-million-dollar man delivers

It’s been four and a half years and an estimated $400,000 of Cree money spent since Cree negotiator Chief Billy Diamond first started talking to the provincial government. By February 19, the Crees’ long wait to see movement on the part of Quebec will likely come to pass. Crees are ... read more ››

A Job Well Done By All

It’s Day 16 or so of the Ice Storm Crisis. Thousands of people are still without power in some areas.You might have noticed you’re getting one issue of The Nation on top of another. This is because ourproduction office was without power for most of the time, but we’re back ... read more ››

Reaching Out Crees send relief mission to South Shore

Cree communities in James Bay are working hand-in-hand with non-Native towns in the North to sendhelp to Montreal-area residents hit by the ice storm. Hundreds of volunteers came forward in Mistissini to chop trees into firewood, load it onto trucks fortransport to the south, donate their own winter wood supplies and ... read more ››

JFK: The mystery revealed

Normally I wouldn’t have the time of day to consider, let alone read, an autobiography. I havefound most autobiographies to be pompous, self-serving regurgitation of their life’s best moments,including “how I crawled out of a ditch in a drunken self induced drug stupor and turned it aroundto become the success ... read more ››

Tips from Winners Toboggans to restaurants

This is your typical rags to riches story. Charlie Brien, a Cree from Mistissini, started building his restaurant business back in 1970. He didn’t start off with any grants, a large cash stake or even a high school diploma. What he had was more than that. He had a desire ... read more ››

Mother Nature: 1Hydro-Quebec: 0

We all thought that last year was the one where Mother Nature got really upset at Canada. We had the floods out west threatening to drown Winnipeg on the heels of the Sageunay floods. Perhaps we didn’t give enough attention to the Grand Old Lady and her powers. Well, most of ... read more ››

Capissisit lodge revisited

Didn’t have room for this the last few issues but thought that Ouje-Bougoumou’s Lodge deserved it’s good name back. Normally Neil would have first crack at this type of column, but due to the fact that he has only recently been allowed back in O.J. without having to constantly guard ... read more ››

TVA show singles out Cree HQ worker

Not many Crees work at Hydro-Quebec despite the 1986 La Grande Agreement guaranteeing 160 jobs by Jan. 1,1996. Today the number of Cree workers is low: only seven permanent employees, 12 temporary workers and 11 workers subject to recall if positions become available. This is out of a workforce of ... read more ››

Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come, Part II

This is the second part of the interview held with Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come at theend of November. In it he looks at the future of the Cree language and culture,negotiations with the federal and provincial governments, and forestry. The Nation: The Cree School Board just had a conference on ... read more ››

The silence of the lambs (chiefs)

My usual Christmas editorial is usually about the concepts of sharing with those less fortunate than ourselves. I think by now everyone has the message since I’ve been hearing about the good works done in many communities. Next year I’ll be covering some of them to give credit where credit ... read more ››

“The Status Quo is unacceptable”: An interview with Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come

It’s been a while since The Nation sat down and talked to the most powerful leader in the Creeworld. Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come was, as always, candid and open. His frank answers sometimessurprised me. It is no wonder that some people from the Assembly of First Nations asked when ... read more ››

Allies Once Again

The weekend of November 14 to 17 saw activists from the United States and Canada arrive inMontreal to gear up for another battle against mega-corp Hydro-Quebec. It was seen as a chance toinclude everyone south and north of the U.S.-Canada border for activists to heal the woundsbetween the two. Quebec ... read more ››

Nothing Changes Without a Fight

I have been talking to some friends within the Cree Nation. They were devastated because of the recent decision favoring the exploiters working to drown the land. I am as usual referring to Hydro-Quebec and their plans for the Rupert and Great Whale, as well as other Aboriginal lands and rivers. The ... read more ››

Trees Belong to Natives: Court

A November 4 New Brunswick court’s decision by Judge John Turnbull promises to be good news for First Nations across Canada. The decision says the trees on Crown lands belong to the Aboriginal people. This ruling basically means the forestry companies that have been granted access to Crown lands by the Nova ... read more ››

Commission Has Teeth Again

Irate Crees with a complaint against Cree government must be heaving a sigh of relief these days. It’s only taken four to five months since the chiefs met in June and agreed in principle on the appointment of three new commissioners. The federal government confirmed the appointments of the Cree ... read more ››

No Rest For The Wicked

Hydro-Quebec must think I’m the most outspoken, never-say-die opposition they have. I feel the majority of my editorials in some way deals with them and the impacts that they have on the Crees in some way. “Give it a rest,” I can almost hear them saying. Unfortunately this is the real ... read more ››

Hydro-Cree Cold War Heats Up

Whapmagoostui is back in international waters in its fight against the idea that Hydro-Quebec might endanger their river and homeland. A tour was recently launched to draw attention the issue in the U.S. On October 14 at Dartmouth College, the official tour launch was off and running. The tour is designed ... read more ››

Thoughts on Hydro-Quebec’s Plans

Several thoughts have been travelling through my head on Hydro-Quebec. At the head of the pack of my mind is the new international image Hydro-Quebec is cultivating. According to everything we’ve heard and know, the Evil Empire is saying that the Crees and Hydro-Quebec are experiencing a new relationship. It’s great ... read more ››