Category: Rez Notes

To Sign or Not to Sign That is the Debate

Before large hydroelectric dams, transmission lines and power stations were even heard of, we depended on the wood stove. The occasional house had electricity and even fewer had running water. Institutions or the Hudson Bay Company owned these houses and the best thing about knowing someone who lived in one ... read more ››

The Joy of Flying

In the last several weeks, the world held it’s breath while the search for terrorists responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon building became a primary and burning concern for the Americas. Although terrorism is a gruesome subject, the most convenient way to travel has ... read more ››

How I Came to be a Master Baker!

First of all, I wish to apologize to my growing fans for the evil caricature instead of the world famous Rez Notes that ordinary people have grown to love or hate in the last issue. I would like to attribute this loss to the ever-growing dependency we have on technology ... read more ››

Out of Cigarettes

It was a cool fall day when we, a trio of young lads, decided to go out on a major hunting expedition out on the islands of James Bay. We thought of everything, including a camera to record our incredible hunting prowess. We picked Big Mand for our spot for ... read more ››

Anadromously Speaking

One of the things that I like about myself is that I come from a salt-water community. It’s the brine in the air that made my community not quite a unique community but similar to other enhanced places like Wemindji, Attawapiskat and the like. The taste of salt in the ... read more ››

Delta Hotel Chain Boycott Urged by Coon Come

reprinted from the Eastern Door Matthew Coon Come, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is calling for a boycott of the Delta Hotel chain by all First Nations citizens in Canada. According to an AFN press release, the chain is behind the attempts by the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation ... read more ››

Action plan

I’ve read the news and seen it a bit on television. We are prepared to block all roads if necessary; to halt whatever is wrong or bad until we see something in the line of positive action. It’s really using a negative action against a negative action to produce a ... read more ››

Ain’t no Cure for Summer Time Blues

A long time ago, when I had a full head of hair, summertime was the time of the year. It was the time when a beautiful sunrise meant it was time to hit the sack after a long night walking mile after mile throughout our town of sleeping and worried ... read more ››

2nd Annual OAPRA

Nominations from the public for the second annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award (OAPRA) are now open. The award was established by the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat with the assistance of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. “The award recognizes the Aboriginal and corporate leaders who are building partnerships that remove barriers, ... read more ››

Penny is forever

I had the opportunity to see a play and comedy show all rolled into one man recently and I was struck with how effectively this man gets the message across that alcohol and drug abuse are bad for you. I’m not the one to say that these topics are funny, ... read more ››

Out of the Closet

Many a time Will has wished to go up north to the fabled Great Whale River community, a land he had heard of only in whispers from Neil Diamond’s and Wernie’s corner of the office. So it was decided that Will would go to Whapmagoostui under the guise of creating ... read more ››

Weathering Out The Weather

I’m not sure how many people like to watch the Weather Network, but I watch it religiously, making sure that I have the next 3 days forecast down pat, so that I may add a few more details to our daily debates and enabling me to have the last word ... read more ››

Happy Mother’s Day & Heating up Mother Earth

What makes the world go round, ooooohhh, la la la la lalaooooh…for some reason the Gibb brothers’ words go through my mind over and over again. The Beegees in their heyday sure could croon a tune. Back to reality. It’s Mother’s Day this 13 of May and many wishes to ... read more ››

Chief’s Reject Governance Talks

The Assembly of First Nations rejected the federal government’s much-ballyhooed “governance initiative” aimed at reforming the Indian Act during a national meeting of chiefs in Vancouver last week. An AFN resolution “strongly objected” to Minister Robert Nault’s “unilateral action… in holding consultations and drafting a Governance Act under the direction and ... read more ››

Summit Mania and Spring Fever

I tried to think of something to write about for this issue but my mind came up blank after seeing a naked protestor mooning the riot squad, who promptly retaliated with their water cannon square full on his bare hiney at the much publicized Summit of the Americas at our ... read more ››

Petroleum vs Dog Chow

In the good old days, most people were slim and trim and in reasonably good health. Then along came good old Bombardier and Mercury who introduced the effortless mode of transportation: skidoos and outboard motors. This changed the lifestyle of many a northerner and young fold these days probably have ... read more ››

Zen and the Art of Mammon

Ever wonder what it takes to be a successful businessperson? Did you know that the odds of making a business success is formidable, with the odds that 99% of enterprises that get started fail within the first year and only 5% of that 1 % make it past five years? ... read more ››

One Native-One Vote — The Debate Starts

A big debate is getting under way about the future of the Assembly of First Nations. The result may spark a revolution in Aboriginal government and even reshape Canada’s system of federalism. The debate is about how to elect the National Chief of the AFN. At present, he is elected by about ... read more ››

Lead us not to Temptation Island

Imagine you and your significant partner with a dozen other couples stranded on a deserted island with only your wits and piety to preserve yourself and your sanities. This sounds like Temptation Island to me and guess what. Crees and many other indigenous peoples around the world have been in ... read more ››

Misfortune 500

Long ago, when the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was hailed as the first comprehensive modern day treaty, fiscal deficits were regarded as being bad, bad, bad, and bad. Now, these days, I’m pig-biting mad when I hear of $30 million dollar losses. Is this a normal state of ... 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 ››

Let the Games Begin

Ahhh, tourney time in Vat d’Or again, good old VD will be swinging this year due to new talent from the baby boomer babies, fresh new talent galore. Them baby boomers all out cheering for their favourite son or daughter as they take on Eeyou’s finest broom bailers and hockey ... read more ››

Premier Poorly Briefed at Cree Summit

Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard seemed poorly briefed and misinformed at a key summit with Crees Nov. 23. The summit was held as Crees and Quebec face a serious deadlock over forestry and other disputed issues. But Bouchard didn’t seem to know what was going on. “Bouchard wasn’t informed about what was really ... read more ››

Christmas Fever…Attacks Entire Continent

Christmas Time is a coming, Christmas Time’s a coming!… Ever get stuck with a Christmas carol repeating itself over and over again, one of those new catchy tunes, like Redrider’s version of the Chipmunk’s hit Christmas Rock (one of my favorite x-mas ditties). At least it looks like Christmas outside, I ... read more ››

This is a homage to those who attend meetings in places other than Cree communities.

This is a homage to those who attend meetings in places other than Cree communities. I decided to dedicate my participation in this issue to those poor unfortunate wretches whom we rarely see in communities, those who must travel, travel and travel continuously just to attend meetings, go to boring ... read more ››

Ottawa, the city that fun forgot

Ottawa, the city that fun forgot. We drive in, call Kenny Blacksmith and ask for directions on how to get to the Assembly of First Nation annual general assembly. We learn it’s being held at Lansdowne Park, home of the Roughriders and the 67s. We stride into the conference center and campaign ... read more ››