Category: Editorials

It’s time to implement the Declaration

Politics is one of the most amazing and confusing things human beings ever invented. The world political stage vis-a-vis the United Nations on September 13, 2007 voted overwhelmingly for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It’s a document that was in the making for over 30 years. A ... read more ››

Suffer the consequences of your actions

Aboriginal people are not going to jail as often these days, but that does not mean we are committing less crime. It stems back to the Jamie Gladue case that was heard before the Supreme Court in 1999. Her defence lawyer argued that an offender’s Aboriginal background should be taken into ... read more ››

Suffer the consequences of your actions

Aboriginal people are not going to jail as often these days, but that does not mean we are committing less crime. It stems back to the Jamie Gladue case that was heard before the Supreme Court in 1999. Her defence lawyer argued that an offender’s Aboriginal background should be taken into ... read more ››

UN Declaration Adopted

There are those who talk about the benefits of a minority government. Usually you don’t see the benefits as one of the problems is that they aren’t around that long. Just look at poor Joe Clark who lasted nine months less a day as Canada’s Prime Minister. Clark’s Finance Minister John ... read more ››

Politics, Racism and Corporate Prisoners

In this issue we have photos showing anti-racism and the progress that has been made in northern Quebec in the Val d’Or region. Unfortunately we also have photos of what I would describe as selective racism as well. I am referring to the sentencing of a chief, four band councillors and ... read more ››

The blockade effect

The word blockade is most often associated with disgruntled Native groups who are getting nowhere through the usual channels of negotiating with the government, or in the form of a court case snaking its way through the painfully slow judicial process. Recently, forestry company Chantiers Chibougamau and its supporters from Chibougamau, ... read more ››

Colonization to decolonization

Most First Nations are intimately versed in the realities of colonization. The outcries we heard from many First Nations about Canada’s refusal to sign the UN declaration of Indigenous Peoples seemed to be a continuation of the colonial roots of Canada. I have to admit that I am confused given ... read more ››

Respect is a 2-way street

The fight between the Grand Council and the Municipalité de la Baie James has heated up recently as Cree policing, the Red Chute project and the proposed Cox Cree Lodging Camp have hit snags in some form or another from jealous or ignorant non-Natives. Being a Cree in what can be ... read more ››

Respect is a two-way street

The fight between the Grand Council and the Municipalité de la Baie James has heated up recently as Cree policing, the Red Chute project and the proposed Cox Cree Lodging Camp have hit snags in some form or another from jealous or ignorant non-Natives. Being a Cree in what can be ... read more ››

See no evil, hear no evil…

The dictionary definition of transparency reads: The full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information. Transparency is one of the most important words everywhere in the world, but it seems especially pertinent these days in Eeyou Istchee. Cree territory has been hit with its share of questionable activity in the past; from money ... read more ››

Our children’s health

For many of our readers, especially those of you who are parents, this will be a difficult issue of the Nation to read. At least, it should be. Too often we find ourselves reporting on stories that involve drug and alcohol abuse, broken families, violence and suicide – or combinations of ... read more ››

Things’ll be great in ought-eight

It’s time once again for the Nation to consult our tea leaves to give you, our faithful and discerning readers, a scientifically sound set of predictions for the year ahead, some serious, some less so. And boy oh boy is 2008 shaping up to be an exciting year! Politics Federal elections in ... read more ››

Faster than a speeding bullet

Well, Christmas time is hitting Eeyou Istchee and all the gang here would like to wish you and yours the best for the holidays. I hope you all find what you want under the tree this year (unless of course it’s too big to bring into the house). I have always ... read more ››

The silent crime of child poverty

In 1989, an unusual thing happened in Canada’s House of Commons. Members briefly forgot about party lines and unanimously voted to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000. In retrospect, perhaps it is little surprise that, almost eight years after that deadline came and went, there has been no change in ... read more ››

Federal fun and games

Just when you thought an election was around the corner, politics can show you that life isn’t as predictable as you might have hoped. I know if you were the Liberals a while ago you weren’t hoping for a trip to the polls as much as Stephen Harper, et al. With ... read more ››

Rev. Annett’s lonely fight

The abuse and murder suffered by generations of Aboriginal children at residential school is the most horrific and blatant attempt to commit cultural genocide against Aboriginal peoples in Canada’s checkered history. It is a story everyone should be familiar with by now. Those children did not only suffer sexual, physical and ... read more ››

Political games may yet undo our deal

Money in the bank? Not yet. Even though we voted by the tune of 90 per cent to accept a new relationship agreement with the federal government, one that will see $ I.4 billion in compensation paid out over 20 years, events in the Canadian capital could still derail the deal. That’s ... read more ››

Opinion – Refusing to be Silent – Economic Disruption in Indian Country

On Friday, August 10, my husband, Shawn Brant, was denied bail for the second time on charges relating to the closure of the CN main line, a provincial highway and the 401. Shawn is a member of the Mohawk Nation of Tyendinaga. The context for all the charges he currently ... read more ››

Canada opposes ban on genocide of indigenous peoples

Dickens started off his classic novel A Tale of Two Cities with the timeless sentence, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Perhaps that statement can sum up what most North American First Nations peoples felt on September 13. Certainly, most of the world’s indigenous ... read more ››

A ‘civilized’ beginning

There exists the possibility of Cree self-government within five years. We will be looking at Cree governance that reflects our values, culture and way of life. The tentative agreement recently negotiated with the federal government (which still must be ratified in a referendum) finally recognizes the Grand Council as a ... read more ››

Gangs in Eeyou Istchee; what is to be done?

Just the mention of the word “gang” elicits strong reactions from the people of Eeyou Istchee. Most people rightly feel that gangs are hurtful, destructive and a huge strain on the community. All you have to do is take a drive around Wemindji to see the evidence of the youth gangs ... read more ››

The $1.4 billion deal: a victory, or a defeat?

Ever since the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was forced on the James Bay Crees in the mid-1970s, it cannot be said that they have been treated generously by Canadian governments, provincial or federal. As that deal was being signed, the $16 billion James Bay Hydro Project was already being ... read more ››

A brave new world

I tried to summon the devil last July 16. The word was out that the Harper government was set to unveil a monumental agreement with the Cree of Eeyou Istchee. And I felt I had to at least try to verify if Hell had in fact frozen over. I guess I’m ... read more ››

The multiple ways to skin a cat (or a municipality)

I’ve always liked the old saying that there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Personally, I wouldn’t waste my time skinning a cat (the pelt isn’t worth much), but I do try to implement the lesson in looking for more than one solution to a particular problem. It was ... read more ››

On responsibility

As June 28, the national day of protest for aboriginal people, approaches, some in the non-Native community are starting to lose their cool. Take, for example, the statement by Ontario Provincial Police Association President Karl Walsh. Mr. Walsh, very authoritatively, recently warned all Native leaders and National Grand Chief Phil ... read more ››

On June 29, remember the lessons of Dudley George

Leaders are urging calm on June 29, including Grand Chief Matthew Mukash. June 29 is the day many Aboriginals across Canada will protest the lack of federal concern for Aboriginal issues, including treaties and agreements. This comes on the heels of the release of the Ipperwash Report May 31. The report ... read more ››