ARTICLES BY Will Nicholls

UN opposes rights for indigenous peoples

“Tuesday, November 28, 2006 will be a day Indigenous people from around the world will remember for decades to come. It was the day we were denied the rights the rest of the world takes for granted,” said Bruce Curlis, former Nipmuc Tribal Councilor from the United States. Many expected the ... read more ››

Lucky 13

It’s our 13th anniversary. Some might consider that an unlucky number, but I think it’s a significant date for this Aboriginal magazine. Thirteen consecutive years in business makes this one of the longest-lived publications in the Aboriginal media world. As I write this I am smiling with pride that the Nation ... read more ››

No deal: letter was wrong

In our last issue, the Nation published a letter to the editor from Leonard Matthews. In the letter, Matthews claimed that the Grand Council had completed negotiations with the Canadian government. It was also claimed that after approval by the federal cabinet this new agreement would be worth $4.3 billion ... read more ››

Just Us

By the Creator, it is true. The truth in that old chestnut of a joke we all told way back when. Justice for Indians? Look at the jails it’s just us. A federal ombudsman in the form of correctional investigator Howard Sapers reported last week that the Canadian justice system engaged ... read more ››

Mistissini Basketball Camp a slam dunk – Toronto Raptors put on a clinic for the sport and to promote literacy

Literacy is a key component in the development of a child. Without it, kids feel left out, unable to communicate in an age in which newspapers and online blogs rule. Mistissini’s 2006 Basketball Camp was set up to attack the large problem of illiteracy at the grassroots level in Eeyou ... read more ››

Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Regional Authority Annual General Assembly

AGA 2006 Ouje-Bougoumou played host to this year’s Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Regional Authority’s Annual General Assembly. Elijah Harper was a keynote speaker and talked about how he had to study legislative procedures and rules in his battles out west when he refused to accept the Meech Lake Accord. ... read more ››

Air Rally brings international ‘jet set’ to Wemindji

When you hear the words air rally, you automatically think one of two things; air show or a race. It is neither of these things. They have competitions on landing and accuracy but it isn’t a race and it definitely isn’t an air show. Rally check points are set up with ... read more ››

Beat the heat – get chillin’

It has been hot in Eeyou Istchee. I don’t know if anyone has tried frying eggs on the sidewalk of the band council steps lately, but at one point Whapmagoustui and the surrounding area was the hottest place in North America. Given how far north Crees and Inuit live, none are ... read more ››

Mistissini Mini Fitness Challenge

Kenny Gunner said he was tired after finishing first at the Mistissini Mini Fitness Challenge. The challenge didn’t seem too “mini” to most people as participants lined up to start. They would be swimming half a kilometre, followed by a seven-kilometre bike ride, a canoe portage for 5 kilometres, paddling for ... read more ››

Canada’s double-cross at the UN

The Canadian government’s recent vote against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was a surprise move and is one that will cost Canada dearly. Perhaps I better explain my thinking. Canada has a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. It was awarded one because of its stances ... read more ››

Ready to evacuate?

A few weeks ago in early June, I witnessed much of the first fire-related evacuation of Mistissini. I watched as lightning struck from the sky. Soon after, I could see a small plume of smoke reach for the sky. It would grow thicker and you knew another fire was on ... read more ››

Law and Order: Eeyou Istchee

Our focus in this issue is on justice and policing. Several stories this week raise a multitude of questions about the current models of criminal justice, punishment and rehabilitation in Eeyou Istchee and in First Nations across Canada. There are many different models out there. At present, Waswanipi is making some ... read more ››

Under the gun

It’s often a frustrating job being a police officer, especially in small Northern communities like those in the Eeyou Istchee. Friends and family feel slighted when you won’t give them or their loved ones a “break.” Victims are upset because the perpertrator is back on the streets. Add to that ... read more ››

Caution on the roads

Seven police officers are going to be gung ho for a while on the roads. Residents from Mistissini, Waswanipi, Ouje-Bougoumou and Wemindji may be in for a rough ride after the police officers finish their course. The seven officers are getting up to speed on the Highway Code of Quebec ... read more ››

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Some people think this idea was originally conceived by Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War as a day to honour the inherent pacifism of mothers. In reality, the idea goes much further back. The ancient Greeks celebrated a festival as they practiced mother worship. Indeed many of us should ... read more ››

Pulling strings with Grand Chief Matthew Mukash – The State of the Cree Nation Interview

The Nation: How are you doing in terms of carrying out your election promises? Grand Chief Matthew Mukash: Since our election, Deputy Grand Chief Ashley Iserhoff and I have tried to meet with as many Cree entities and organizations as possible. Some of those we have met with over the past ... read more ››

EM1 Rupert hearings begin

The first-ever joint hearings on a hydroelectric project kicked off in Mistissini March 15 with lively interventions from community members. The hearings on Hydro Quebec’s EM 1A and Rupert River Diversion projects mark the first time that the Federal Environmental Review Agency and COMEX has held a joint hearing on ... read more ››

Chishienuu Chiskutamaachwin – Elders Wisdom

Many in the Cree Nation have talked about the traditional knowledge of our Elders and how some of it may be lost as they pass on. More and more, however, the Cree communities are doing something to not only preserve those teachings but are making it a part of everyday ... read more ››

Charlie Brien: a pathfinder

Charlie Brien was one of the first Crees to choose an untraditional career and combine it with his traditional Cree values and way of life. He chose to do this by starting one of the first Cree-owned businesses in Mistissini. In those days, grants and loans to Crees to start businesses ... read more ››

Car Wash and Laundromat

For some the career choice is that of an owner/businessman and opportunities in Eeyou Istchee abound for youth. No one knows this more than Patrick Forward and Ryan Petawabino, owners of Transport R&P Services. They started out two years ago with a moving van, and few contacts and have been growing ... read more ››

AGA 2006 @ Waskaganish

From the start you could tell that this Special General Assembly of the Grand Council and the CRA would be preoccupied with Hydro-Quebec’s EM-1 and Rupert Diversion Projects. The tone was set when one delegate said the Cree School Board presentation was too long. “We’re here to talk about EM-1 and ... read more ››

Aashuumiih 2006

Aashuumiih translates from Cree to English as “pass it to me.” To the people of Waskaganish this means the transfer of traditional knowledge from one generation to the next. Stacy Bear, the Waskaganish Youth Chief, said these trips are open to ages 13-29 “but it’s mostly those aged 13-17 that ... read more ››

Looking for a Cree Sheila Fraser

Weren’t those quite the heady days? Cast your mind back to when a former Grand Chief and his team of experts were selling the Paix des braves deal. Grandiose promises were made left and right, tossed out like coins before a beggar. They were snatched up as they caught the ... read more ››

Bittersweet Bay

It was kind of sad to hear this past week that the Hudson’s Bay Company had been sold to an American financier named Jerry Zucker. I had mixed feelings, as I am sure is the case for many Aboriginals. In the Cree communities, I remember some Cree Elders being incredibly loyal ... read more ››

Happy VD Day!

I remember being woken one Valentine’s Day morning with a “Happy VD, baby!” It was a bit of a shocker when accompanied by a significant other’s impish smile. My brain went from groggy to full red alert in .9 seconds flat. Upon getting some candy (never a good idea first thing ... read more ››

Sharing in the challenges of 2006

On behalf of the Nation I would like to offer my deepest appreciation to each of the Cree leaders for the incredible efforts that you made in 2005 toward the advancement of the Cree Nation as a whole. The work that you have done expresses the Cree determination to expand the ... read more ››