Category: Editorials

The way to walk is with your head high

Everyone was talking about them, the walkers for diabetes awareness. It was exciting to know that people could still walk the way our ancestors did, with dogs and sleds. As they appeared out of the trail from across the river, I marveled at the speed they crossed the last stretch ... read more ››

the Dogs Ear

Lakota Woman Written by Mary Crow Dog and Richard Erdoes. Published by Harper Perenial, 1991 -Reviewed by Will Nicholls This is the story of a Lakota woman, hence the title, who started life as Mary Brave Bird. She was born into a reservation world that Crees know well. When she was born ... read more ››

The ghost of Christmas past

I always enjoyed The Christmas Carol. The story of a cruel arrogant old miser changing for the better touches something in all of us. It is the hope that people with this type of ingrained behaviour can change for the better, but this story is just fiction. In real life ... read more ››

Contamination in Ouje-Bougoumou: The Human Dimension

Anxious residents are still waiting to find out what course of action will be taken in the wake of the Covel report on contamination in the Ouje-Bougoumou region. The report, dated October 8,2001, gave evidence of heavy metal contamination in sediment, water and fish samples collected from the Nemenjiche River, ... read more ››

Where are the Voices?

I have a simple question. Why hasn’t the Cree leadership hasn’t asked for the resignation of the Minister of the Environment André Boisclair? The attitude of his department in keeping secret the toxic levels of arsenic, cyanide, cadmium, chromium, zinc, copper, selenium and mercury present in the fish surrounding the Ouje-Bougoumou ... read more ››

In God we Trust, All Others Settle the Bill

I watched, with the world, news concerning the terrorist attacks in the US and the analysis. Imagine my shock when Native First Nations were lumped in with potential terrorist problems within Canada by one security analyst. One of his references was the Oka Crisis. I remember First Nations peoples sitting ... read more ››

Just Riding Along in “Your” Automobile

A cousin of mine was getting married and here I was in Chisasibi. I looked for a ride to make it to Chibougamau where the wedding would be taking place but all the rides seemed to be full or had left already. That was Thursday night and the wedding was ... read more ››

2nd Annual Burnt Church Lobster Festival

Though the season may officially start on August 20 for Burnt Church residents, some are already on the waters in defiance of the DFO wishes. JJ Bear, communications officer of the Atlantic Congress of Chiefs, says he hopes there will be no confrontations like last year. Bear said, “the DFO ... read more ››

We Need More Federal Paternalism…Everywhere

Yes, that’s right I think we need more of that old time Federal paternalism and I think the role of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs should be expanded. Poor old Nault is increasingly coming under fire for his role in putting the Aboriginal community of Pikangikum under third party ... read more ››

It’s been some time since I started going to school…

It’s been some time since I started going to school, at the tender age of six, at Horden Hall in Moose Factory in the early ‘sixties. I was a model student and getting into trouble only a few times a year, like setting off the fire extinguisher in grade four ... read more ››

A Journalist and a Friend

Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that I met Alex Roslin for the first time. We were just starting up the Nation in those days. Our first issue hadn’t even come out. It was the classic start-up that you’re always warned about by people. No business plan, no grants, just ... read more ››

Miigwech!

Nshtuuten. It’s time to move on. What can I say after seven years at The Nation? It’s been an explosion of good times and memories. The Nation family and the Cree family welcomed me with open hearts and a blanket of warmth and love. I got a front-row seat for ... read more ››

Tears in my Poutine

The tear gas has finally cleared and our vision of what the free trade of the Americas means to Aboriginal People’s is still misty. When asked a question by National Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come, our esteemed Canadian Prime Minister Jean Poutine (as President Bush calls him) gave the standard political ... read more ››

Strawberry Anyone?

While on the Wellness journey I shared a Legend with a friend. He said I should share it with everyone as it doesn’t negate Christianity but adds to it. I will write as I remember it. In the beginning the Creator made the earth, animals and plants. He created First Man ... read more ››

Mistissini Elects Chief

Mistissini has elected a new chief. John Longchap got 335 votes, or 40 percent of the total 837 cast. Next were Kenny Blacksmith (212 votes), Kathleen Wootton (204) and George Blacksmith (73). Longchap will serve a 11/2-year term.

Reporting: Speech from the Throne

I never realized what dirty, no-good, slow moving S.O.B.’s the Aboriginal leadership was until I picked up the Gazette on Monday January 29th. I learnt through the good writings of journalist Joan Brydan that the Federal Government of Canada was “exasperated by the snail’s pace of treaty negotiations” and that ... read more ››

How to be a Superstar

Man, was I surprised to see Neil Diamond and Wernie Ebb jump out the plane and onto the frozen tarmac. They immediately shivered in the arctic winds and disappeared into the circa 1950’s hangar after a few soul greetings and handshakes. Little did I know that they were going to ... read more ››

White Knights Never Die Out

This year I went back home to Mistissini for the holidays. My brother, Don, was the kind soul who picked up Neil, Lynn and myself for that long ride home from Montreal. I wasn’t that talkative, slept a lot and occasionally thought about various things. I thought about the idea of ... read more ››

Happy Holidays from the PQ

Here’s hoping that the Holidays find you and yours well. I also hope that in this season of caring and giving you had a chance to give of yourselves. It’s important to help others at this time of year. Hopefully, you won’t be taking a page from the Parti Québécois when they ... read more ››

It’s That Time of Year Again

Well, it’s that time of year again, we’ve finished the Nation’s 7th birthday celebration (in dog year’s… 49). I think we’re getting a little older because we didn’t announce it to any fanfare. Tis the season for celebrating and don’t we know it, but let’s try to play it safe. ... read more ››

Feds Move to “Update” Indian Act

Indian Affairs is trying once again to change the 134-year-old Indian Act. Federal Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault plans to introduce legislation to “update” the Indian Act soon. His department is now working on what will be called the Modern Governance Act, and says it will consult First Nations. “It’s either going to ... read more ››

An Offensive Party?

I find most of what the Alliance stands for offensive, but nothing rivals its policy towards Aboriginal people in sheer, blatant offensiveness. In essence, the Alliance policy proposes to ignore the law as it applies to Aboriginal people. They make no such proposition in relation to white people, only to Aboriginal ... read more ››

Time to Party

Well it has been a busy month and it hasn’t even gotten into Christmas yet. I love the United States election process for two reasons. One is that they get to elect their leader independent of the party. Of course the way they elect the leader is a bit weird ... read more ››

Are you Ready for Winter?

People are getting ready to put out the pumpkins. Halloween is around the comers with all its ghosts and goblins. It’s a fun and scary time but a real scare is on the way: flu and pneumonia. It can hit anyone in the winter. While flu isn’t seen as a ... read more ››

Warning – Crooks Ahead

Got a surprise for all of you. Not all journalist and publishers are honest. I can hear the cries of dismay and shock all the way to my desk. But seriously folks, we have to once again warn all of our clients and readers about advertisements. Some magazines or newspapers send out ... read more ››

No Longer a Private Sort of Guy

Just when I thought Hydro-Quebec couldn’t or wouldn’t do anything more to upset or annoy me, the letter came out of the blue. A letter that started my journey into the bowels of Hydro-Quebec hell. First you enter a purgatory where you phone and phone and phone just trying to get ... read more ››