ARTICLES BY Xavier Kataquapit

Under the Northern Sky A Gold for First Nations at the Olympics

I watched the opening ceremonies of the 11th Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah this past week and like everyone I was amazed at the music and theatrical show that took place. The Olympics is a major world event that is very popular in the remote First Nation northern ... read more ››

Lets Take Our Time

There have been some major developments taking place over the last several years with First Nation politics at Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN). NAN is a regional political body that represents First Nation people in Northern Ontario. For some time now NAN has been involved in a Self Governance negotiation process with ... read more ››

Dealing with the Cold

I went out for a walk today with a friend of mine and got my first blast of freezing winter weather. We were both prepared for the weather and were bundled up in warm winter ackets, an extra layer of clothes, toques, mitts and heavy Boots. It has always been ... read more ››

Things Are Looking Up

Last night I was out with some friends of mine at three in the morning in anticipation of the annual Orionid meteor shower that takes place during the fall. I read about this celestial event on CBC’s internet news website at www.cbc.ca. I discovered that the best time to view ... read more ››

Breaking the Myths

When I was growing up in my community of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast, television was our window to the outside world. Sometimes this window provided a different image of the real world. As a boy I watched a lot of movies and regular television shows. I saw programs ... read more ››

In the Swing of Things

When I was growing up in Attawapiskat, I never had access to a wide variety of sports. Like most northern communities, hockey was the prominent sport that everyone took part in. During the winter just about every youngster in the community played hockey at the local outdoor ice rink. Even in ... read more ››

The Bear Facts

This morning I headed out with a friend on a long bicycle ride. Our goal was to complete 24 kilometers of riding on a back road. It was warm and it felt good to be moving under my own power with the wind in my hair. At one point on our ... read more ››

Keeping an Open Mind

There are many differences between life in First Nation communities as compared to living in the non-Native world. One thing I notice is how badly the non-Native world treats those people who are different or who may have mental problems in a negative way. I notice in the cities and ... read more ››

On Top of the Water

It has been very hot for the past few days. I have been doing a lot of summer things that are new to me, like sailing and recreational swimming. I do not do too well in the heat so I have been seeking relief from the scorching sun by going ... read more ››

Remembering My Mooshom

One of the fondest memories I have of growing up in Attawapiskat is of my grandfather, James Kataquapit, who lived with our family for a few years when I was a young boy. We called him Mooshom, which is the Cree word for grandfather. Before he came to our home, Mooshom ... read more ››

I Don’t Miss The Bugs

For the past few days I have been enjoying the beginning of summer and its long days of sunshine and warm weather. It feels good to be outside and to be able to sit in the sun and enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, I have also been reminded that insects like ... read more ››

A Hard Game

There are a lot of First Nation elections for Chief and Council happening this summer. In Attawapiskat and other small remote communities people are getting excited as election time draws near. I remember wondering what all the fuss was about. Just before election time, people started to talk. The big discussion ... read more ››

Coming Out Of The Smoke

Cigarette smoking has been in the headlines lately with a focus on young people who are starting the habit. I met up with a few friends of mine recently who still smoke. I was really shocked when they showed me their cigarette packages with gross pictures of the results of ... read more ››

History Notes

As a Cree person from Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast I have often wondered how my community came to be. I learned from my elders and my parents that Attawapiskat was once a place where my people came to live for only a few months to camp and fish ... read more ››

Take One Batteries Included

It’s hard for me to believe that my younger brother Joe has grown up so quickly. Recently he showed up in a fancy rental car during a visit to Timmins where he was filing claims that he had prospected up the coast near Attawapiskat this winter. I’ve never seen him ... read more ››

The Art of Survival

Depending on the weather, goose hunting season usually occurs during the months of April and May up on the James Bay coast. The spring goose hunt is the biggest one. Almost everybody in my home community of Attawapiskat heads out on the land for this hunt. They take this opportunity ... read more ››

Feeling left Out

I had the opportunity to visit Ottawa recently. I am always happy to spend a little time in the nation’s capital. It is a beautiful city and our Parliament Buildings are an awesome sight to say the least. During this visit I took a tour through the Parliament buildings. I was ... read more ››

Goose Fever

The coming of spring breathes new life into the frozen James Bay coast. Winters are long and hard for my people, the James Bay Crees. After months of up to minus-40 and even 50 below zero, everyone welcomes the change in the season with longer days, with more light and ... read more ››

Going to the Dogs

My father Marius and many of the Elders in Attawapiskat have stories about the days when they used dog teams. I recall one story my dad told me. He awoke in the night to the sounds of his dogs barking. As he pushed back his heavy blanket he felt the cold ... read more ››

The Perfect Hamburger

One year my dad decided to open up a restaurant. The place went through a few changes and suddenly I, along with a couple of my younger brothers, ended up running the operation. Considering I was 17 and my two brothers were younger, the restaurant business was not exactly a natural ... read more ››

Little Wheel, Spin and Spin

I grew up using and working on all kinds of vehicles from an early age. The first vehicle I ever drove was a Skidoo Elan when I was only 12 years old. In the remote community of Attawapiskat where I was born and raised it was normal to see young ... read more ››

Traveling on

Most people I meet who are non-Native have a false perception of who my people are. I find this is even more so with European or Asian people as I travel through Spain. For those of us who were born and raised in a First Nations community, life has not been ... read more ››

By the Light of the Moon

Last night I was in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Spain. While taking a long walk I marveled at the star-studded night sky. I love looking up at the night sky and get great comfort out of sitting back and staring up at the stars. Star gazing has ... read more ››

Dicovering the Old World

As a First Nation person visiting Europe, I have run into many situations where people are surprised to find someone like me in their city or town. Much of the time I am asked if I am Indian or often it comes up in conversation with people I meet on ... read more ››

Cree Spoken Here

I recently had the opportunity to view “Cree Spoken Here,” a film about the Crees of James Bay and made by the Crees of James Bay. This film is one that every First Nation person should see. It documents the history dealing with the disintegration of the Cree language and ... read more ››

In the Spirit of Good Will

There is a lot of attention being paid these days to our First Nations communities and nearby traditional hunting and trapping areas. The fact is that most of the big mining and forestry companies are looking at these lands to make a profit. Many of our First Nations communities are ... read more ››