Volume 1, Issue 21

53 die in cult death pact

A doomsday cult investigated for a plot to bomb native communities has grabbed headlines once again. At least four Quebecers, including the mayor of Richelieu, Que., were among 48 people found dead in a mass murder-suicide in two Swiss villages on Oct. 5. Twenty of the victims had bullet wounds and ... read more ››

An impossible dream

BACK IN 1980,1 had the privilege of joining a delegation representing the Algonquin people of Quebec at the hearings of an international tribunal on native rights in Netherlands. The First Bertrand Russell Tribunal was held at the International Court in La Hague, Netherlands and dealt with war crimes perpetrated by U.S. ... read more ››

Anjabowa Daycare launch

Chisasibi’s Anjabowa Daycare Centre (Anjabowa Kinwhymausogomik) is inviting everyone to its grand opening Tues., Oct. 25. The new daycare building has been in operation since June 1993, but hasn’t been officially opened yet. Before that, the daycare was located in the old Bake Cree. The old daycare had spaces for 25 children ... read more ››

Anti-tax rally in Ottawa

Canada is illegally taxing aboriginal people and is threatening to reduce transfer payments to First Nations once self-government is implemented. So says an aboriginal organization that plans a protest caravan and rallies in Toronto and Ottawa on Oct. 18 against federal taxation policies toward First Nations. “The government of Canada is ... read more ››

Burning it up with 7th Fire

WELL, THERE I WAS, the envy of my co-workers at The Nation. I had just gotten to listen to 7th Fire live at the Native Friendship Center’s annual pow wow in Montreal. This year it was held at Vanier College and was a little different than most pow-wows I had been ... read more ››

Can’t see the forest with no trees

I cart still remember the first time I saw Cree country. I was flying into Chibougamau on my way to Mistissini. My task was to study the effects that Hydro, forestry and mining had in the community. I saw the long stretches of black spruce, interrupted only by small lakes ... read more ››

Did bikers bomb Hydro?

The SQ bomb squad was called out to a Hydro-Quebec facility in Drummondville on Sept. 30 to defuse a powerful explosive. The bomb was discovered in mid-afternoon by a man working at a dam in the Eastern Townships, said Surete du Quebec Constable Francois Dore. Dore pointed the finger at the Hell’s ... read more ››

Grand Chief proposes forum on forestry, mining

THE FOLLOWING letter was sent to Give Chiefs and Band Councils by Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come on Oct. 3. The Nation obtained a copy from a Cree hunter who wishes to remain anonymous. The letter was written in response to calls from the communities for regional direction on development questions. ... read more ››

In the hearts of our people

“Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors.” Dwamish Chief Seattle surrendered his land, on which the city of Seattle is now located, in 1855 and accepted reservation status for his people. At the signing of the treaty, he addressed Governor Isaac Stevens. MY PEOPLE are few. They resemble the scattering trees ... read more ››

Mohawk activist acquitted

Kahn-Tineta Horn’s court ordeal is finally be over. The Mohawk traditionalist from Kahnawake has been in court since January fighting assault and obstruction charges levied against her by two SQ officers. In May, she was acquitted of the charges, but the Crown appealed. That appeal was turned down by the Quebec ... read more ››

Nalukturuk settles in at Makivik

A gruelling schedule awaited Simeonie Nalukturuk when he took over as President of Makivik Corporation, reports Makivik News. “Makivik had been working on many issues, such as Hydro-Quebec, environmental issues involved in Hydro development, so those things I had to get familiarized with right away, because Makivik and Hydro were almost ... read more ››

Number One

This story was written for a computer learning course in Waskaganish. So was another story, written in Cree, which we published in our Sept. 9 issue on page 15. That story was written by Edith Matoush of Nemaska and Elizabeth Jolly of Waskaganish. Thank you for your contributions. He had turned ... read more ››

O’Reilly resigns as Cree general counsel

“This is to confirm formally that I have resigned as general legal counsel of the GCCQ/CRA effective today.” So started a letter signed by longtime Grand Council lawyer James O’Reilly on Oct. 4. The letter was faxed to Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come and every other Cree Chief. In an interview with ... read more ››

Old promises, New Cliche: An Interview With David Cliche

“Where I disagree will the Crees is where the Crees say they could eventually choose or decide that James Bay becomes a Cree country.” Crees are on their way to getting the reforms they want to policing services. At least that’s the word from David Cliche, the PQ government’s point man on ... read more ››

One in five Crees voted

Just one in five eligible Cree voters cast a ballot in the Sept. 12 provincial election, according to the final election results. Of 5,683 eligible voters in the nine Cree communities, only 1,170 marked a ballot, or 21 per cent. That’s down from 26 per cent in the last election, held ... read more ››

Pow Wow vibes groove Montreal

Pow Wow drums were beating once again in Montreal when the Native Friendship Centre held its 13th annual Native Cultural Festival at Vanier College on Oct. 1 and 2. THE PURPOSE of the festival was to make known to the public the diversity and socio-cultural reality of native culture in the ... read more ››

PQ offers natives resource royalties

PQ Premier Jacques Parizeau has reiterated a promise in his party’s platform offering natives royalties from the development of natural resources on their lands. “Do we start discussing royalties on natural resources with them?” Parizeau asked during a live TV call-in show on Oct. 3. “Of course. Why don’t we start ... read more ››

There’s a lot of work to be done

Robbie Dick Sr. is helping establish cultural programs and a Council of Elders with the help of his wife, Elizabeth. He was Chief of Whapmagoostui between 1976 to 1985, then from ’87 to ’92. He describes those years as “very educational and rewarding.” With his wealth of experience in the political arena ... read more ››

Thoughts about the turkey

Hope nobody choked on a bone from that traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Speaking or rather writing of that traditional Thanksgiving Day, have you ever wondered about the true origins of Thanksgiving? Almost everyone thinks nice thoughts about this holiday. We have visions of the North American Native inhabitants inviting the European newcomers to ... read more ››

Waswanipi moves ahead on sawmill

Waswanipi’s sawmill is a step closer to getting underway. A protocol agreement has been signed between the forestry company Domtar Inc. and the Waswanipi Mishtuk Corporation for a joint sawmill venture. The agreement is still being fine-tuned and will be signed by December. Chief John Kitchen told The Nation the sawmill will ... read more ››