Volume 6, Issue 25

Abu-Jamal execution date set

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge has signed an execution warrant for former radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request for a new trial. Abu-Jamal, a prominent African American activist, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on December 2. Abu-Jamal was convicted of ... read more ››

Already Cut – An interview with Sam Etapp

Does the Quebec government know what’s going on in the forests? Is it letting logging companies get away with breaking the law? Are many Cree traplines on the verge of collapse due to unregulated clearcutting? These are some of the questions that will be answered in the coming weeks and beyond, ... read more ››

Cree cop gets Governor General’s award

Chisasibi law-enforcement officer Reggie Bobbish was recently awarded the Governor General’s Police Exemplary Service Medal. Bobbish began his 27-year police career with the Amerindian Police, then became a constable with the James Bay Police and later the Quebec Police Force. In 1984, he was one of the original members of the Chisasibi ... read more ››

Feds worried about big abuse payments

Faced with billions of dollars in potential residential school lawsuits, the Canadian government says it’s “digging in its heels” on settling the claims. Payments to survivors last year amounted tro less than half what was awarded the previous year because the government settled far fewer cases, according to federal figures. “I think ... read more ››

Mi’kmaq back in the water

In the early 1600s, the Mi’kmaq people introduced the first European settlers to a tasty ocean critter that looked like a huge bug. The lobster quickly became a delicacy. One early European governor nicknamed lobsters “the partridges of the seas because of their goodness.” Some time later, in 1760 and 1761, ... read more ››

Native images past and present

The Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull has opened a new exhibit of historical and present-day photos of First Nations people from across North America. The photos are taken by six Native photographers and archaeologists working for the former Geological Survey of Canada (precursor to the museum of civilization). The archaeologists’ photos ... read more ››

Nature and Hiking

Finding inner peace can be a challenge for many people and is often something that is easier said than done. Many of our people live in a society that is so fast-paced it forces them to live life at about a hundred miles an hour. Many of our people live ... read more ››

One heck of a hunting story

I just finished a great meal. A moose roast cooked slowly at low temperatures for a few hours and surrounded with potatoes, onions and carrots. It has been a while since I had a taste of wild meat and this moose was just the fix I needed. As a matter ... read more ››

Ottawa won’t fund study of Cree disease

The federal government has decided not to fund research into a rare fatal disease whose victims are mostly Cree children in Quebec. The scientific name for the disease is Cree Leucoencephalopathy, a disease that means Cree white brain sickness. In Cree, it is known as Was Aksuun Kaka Chiwich Takinwich. Doctors don’t ... read more ››

Quebec to tolerate late cutting Plans

Almost all of the forestry companies cutting trees on Cree land may be violating Quebec law because they are six months overdue on filing their five-year cutting plans. The cutting plans are required by Quebec law from forestry companies as part of their license to cut down trees. Provincial law allows the ... read more ››

Reform takes aim at Nisga’a treaty

The Reform Party is hoping to target the Nisga’a treaty as a way of discrediting the Liberal government’s approach to Aboriginal issues. Reform is against the treaty and thinks the government is giving too much to First Nations. The Nisga’a is in the House of Commons awaiting the legislature’s stamp of approval. ... read more ››

Testimony starts on injunction

One by one, Cree tallymen and trappers are flying off to Montreal to testify in support of a Cree request for an injunction to stop logging in two dozen traplines. The hearings started two weeks ago and will continue until December 23. Court rules don’t allow us to report anything that ... read more ››

The events of the past two days made Nemaska seem like a genuine capital with a capital C.

The events of the past two days made Nemaska seem like a genuine capital with a capital C. High political drama or comedy, depending on how you look at it. The Gang of Five’s breakup letter is finally brought up at a public chiefs’ roundtable. No locked doors at this ... read more ››

The red path to power

Did you hear about Quebec Native Affairs Minister Guy Chevrette’s latest little gift to First Nations in Quebec? Seems this lad is trying to gather the reins of power ever closer to himself. He has introduced a little bill in Quebec’s legislature. Let me give you the low-down on that little ... read more ››

We stand and fall together

Grand Chief Ted Moses gave the following address at his swearing-in ceremony in Nemaska on October 19. I want to thank Bishop Caleb Lawrence for his service to the Cree people and for preparing this ceremony and the arrangements for this occasion of our swearing-in today. I also thank the Reverend ... read more ››