Volume 2, Issue 3

1994 in Review

January ’94 Cree Territory Mexican peasants, mostly Natives, calling themselves Zapatistas seize four towns in the state of Chiapas. Ted Moses, Cree Ambassador to the UN, visits Mexico on a human rights mission. Revenue Canada says that as of Jan. 1, 1995 certain Natives under certain conditions within certain guidelines, who ... read more ››

Crees not consulted in social reform

The Liberal government’s reform of Canada’s social safety net could hit Crees hard, says the Grand Council. “The Cree economy is very dependent on the programs they’re talking about,” said Brian Craik, the Grand Council’s federal relations director. “Federal and provincial subsidies make up the vast majority of what Crees earn.” The ... read more ››

Diseased beaver sparks fear of epidemic

The Ontario Natural Resources Ministry is warning of a possible tularemia epidemic in beavers after the carcass of a beaver was found with tularemia in the Pickle Lake area. Tularemia is a plague-like disease which can be fatal to beaver, muskrat and rabbits. The disease is most often spread by water. Although ... read more ››

Eastmain mine gets underway

After $10 million of investments, a gold mine at the head of the Eastmain River 250 km northeast of Mistissini is ready to start commercial production. Work is finished on the mining site and on a 180-km winter road connecting the mine to existing roads. The company operating the mine, MSV ... read more ››

Fort George Island: The way it was and maybe should have remained

I have always experienced a special feeling with people I have encountered living off an island. As theJamaican celebration for tourists song goes, “Come to my island, you never want to leave.” And Fort George, as it was called and still is on certain 3-D versions of the world globe, ... read more ››

Funding cuts would be a blow

Well, I’m sure you’ve all heard about a “confidential” document suggesting a phase out of federal funding for Native Friendship Centres across Canada. These proposed cutbacks would undoubtably damage the urban Aboriginal community and ability to function as a whole. There are many arguments to properly oppose these cutbacks. For example, ... read more ››

Great Whale panel dismissed

Disturbing news on the Great Whale front. In a little-noticed move in mid-December, the Quebec government fired the Great Whale project’s “Bureau de soutien,” a body of eight scientific experts whose job was to advise five federal and provincial committees studying Great Whale. These experts were well-versed in all aspects of ... read more ››

Just grab a-hold!

“If you have faith in yourself, the world is all yours,” Hello. My name is Bella Marlene Petawabano, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Petawabano. I’m from Mistissini but attend school in Quebec City. I’ve been in Quebec for three years now. I’ve been doing really well in school and ... read more ››

Mexico close to civil war

Mexico was at the brink of civil war last month as relations soured between the government and indigenous Zapatista rebels. Armed, masked rebel fighters seized dozens of villages and blockaded eight major highways in the southern state of Chiapas on December 19, fuelling an economic crisis that drove the Mexican peso ... read more ››

Moose Factory vets reject compensation offer

They fought under the Canadian flag in World War II and a group of war veterans in Moose Factory has fought the government for 50 years, only to be slighted once again. Under the Veterans Land Act, anyone who fought in World War II was entitled to three acres of land. ... read more ››

Native party forming in Manitoba

Manitoba Natives may have their own political party to vote for in provincial elections this spring. “Given the results of past elections, it is potentially possible that we could hold a balance of power,” said Robert Wavey, executive director of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The assembly has been discussing the possibility ... read more ››

Near-record fur sales in North Bay auction

An estimated $2.2 million worth of fur pelts were sold in the Dec. 12 fur auction in North Bay, making it one of the most successful sales for the Fur Harvesters Auction. Beaver pelts sold for an average of $30.69, $4 more than the same sale a year ago. In fact, ... read more ››

New Chief in Kashechewan

Oliver Wesley was elected as the new Chief of the Kashechewan First Nation in the community’s elections held on Jan. 9. Chief Wesley replaces the outgoing Andrew Reuben, who held the office for the past two years. Also elected was a Deputy Chief and 10 councillors, including Elder and youth representatives. Election ... read more ››

New taxation scheme for Indians

The current Indian occupation of Revenue Canada offices in Toronto stems from proposed taxation changes which would bring an end to certain tax exemptions enjoyed by Indians. Tax exemptions for Indians have existed in one form or another since before Confederation. Current tax exemptions are found in federal legislation, namely the Indian ... read more ››

Ojay wins world-wide praise for innovation

Ouje-Bougoumou is a leading contender to win a prestigious United Nations award for excellence in urban design. As part of the UN’s 50th birthday celebration, 50 communities from across the world are being chosen that best exemplify the values of the UN. Ouje-Bougoumou was nominated under two categories—sustainable development and human ... read more ››

Quebecers need alternative: AFN

Ottawa must give Quebecers a constitutional alternative to the status quo or they just might vote to separate from Canada, says Ovide Mercredi, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. “The prime minister I think would be well advised not to gamble with the fate of the country and not ... read more ››

Sit-in, blockades, court cases greet new tax

A new tax on Natives that took effect Jan. 1 has First Nations groups across the country up in arms. A group of 27 mostly Native protesters has occupied part of a Revenue Canada building in downtown Toronto for a month against the new income tax. Natives in communities across the ... read more ››

Sport hunters on the attack

Non-Natives should boycott Aboriginal-made products and refuse to attend bingos on reserves as long as Natives continue to harvest fish and game “unregulated,” says a flyer that has appeared across the country. The flyer’s authors only identify themselves as “concerned sportsmen and citizens.” They say that Native harvesting is jeapordizing such ... read more ››

Support for Natives in poll

A majority of people in Quebec and Canada believe Natives in northern Quebec have the right to remain part of Canada if Quebecers vote to separate, according to a poll published in the Montreal Gazette. In the poll, 54 percent of Quebecers and 78 per cent of people in the rest ... read more ››

Timmins tourney bigger and bigger

The fourth annual Timmins hockey tourney Dec. 2-4 was bigger than ever this year, drawing 15 teams from the west coast of James Bay and southern towns like Timmins and Calstock. Nine teams competed in open division play and six more in the newly created old-timers’ division. In upcoming years, organizers ... read more ››

To The Gazette

I was upset to learn of the ignorance of Montreal Gazette Outdoors columnist George Gruenefeld’s opinion piece on January 6. It showed a serious lack of knowledge of both the laws of Canada and Quebec, but also that of Native culture and lifestyles. It concerned the Huron First Nations people continuing ... read more ››