Volume 20, Issue 12

“Midnight Shine” lights up the coast

Attawapiskat resident Adrian Sutherland, an old friend of mine, and his fellow members of the band Midnight Shine recently launched a new First Nation music production. James Bay musicians have produced a lot of great music over the past few decades and Midnight Shine is part of a new crop ... read more ››

A Grand Elder’s sacrifice

Raymond Robinson holds a hunger strike for nation-to-nation talks     Manitoba Cree Grand Elder Raymond Robinson ended a five-day hunger strike April 9, but not before visiting Concordia University to explain the message behind his fast. He introduced himself to the group of students and journalists at Concordia April 4 by shaking their ... read more ››

A huge step forward for health care

Mistissini’s new Miyupimaatisiiun Centre is open for business     Crees take pride in seeing their communities grow and Mistissini is no exception. Seeing a needed addition to your community is a pleasure when it fulfils a basic necessity like health care. The local clinic had become too small to handle Mistissini’s population growth ... read more ››

Branding Eeyou Istchee

Eeyou Istchee Tourism, Tourisme Baie-James and the Cree Outfitting and Tourism Association unveiled a new brand image for the region. Launched at the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Centre April 8, the new marketing campaign is placing the spotlight on Cree heritage and the region’s vast tract of wilderness in hopes of ... read more ››

Budding scientists

Science fair attracts talented young Aboriginals Johnny Yuliusie and Judith Naluiyuk from Salluit made traditionnal inuit soap photo by: Isabelle Dubois What can I do to avoid bacterial growth in my poutine? What do smokers’ lungs look like? How can I grow tomatoes in Chisasibi? How can I make low-cost speakers? These are ... read more ››

Crees welcome moratorium

The Quebec government puts the brakes on uranium development   Is Quebec ready to take on the risks of uranium mining? That is what the provincial environmental review board (BAPE) is trying to find out. Quebec Environment Minister Yves-François Blanchet unveiled the process on March 28 in Montreal. The Grand Council of the ... read more ››

CSB’s new location in Montreal

The Cree School Board officially opened its head office for Post Secondary Student Services at a new location at 1440 St. Catherine St. in Montreal. The grand opening took place March 28 with numerous students and friends present for the event. With so many universities and trade schools in Montreal, the ... read more ››

Fifteen minutes later…

One of the many talents I learnt from some very smart people is that time has values. Time for this and time for that both have different values, but in all cases, time has some sort of face value. Time is precious it turns out and it’s the way you ... read more ››

Food for thought

It’s no surprise that Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, concluded that current food systems are deeply dysfunctional. He said the world is paying an exorbitant price for the failure to consider health impacts in designing food systems. In his “Report on the special ... read more ››

Nishiyuu’s epic journey: Kitigan Zibi

  photo by Ernest Webb VIEW IMAGE GALLERY I joined the Journey of Nishiyuu in Kitigan Zibi, the Algonquin community near to Maniwaki, Quebec, on March 21. I made my way to the community centre, where most of the walkers were being served breakfast. What struck me about the walkers as I entered the ... read more ››

State of the arts

Crees share and discuss artistic endeavours at the CNACA festival   While there are artists and artisans throughout the Cree nation who embody the culture, spirituality and uniqueness of the Cree arts scene, looking at them in terms of social infrastructure is a whole other story. According to Lloyd Cheechoo, the executive director ... read more ››

The half-life of the uranium battle

Moratorium far from the final word on the Matoush project, says Strateco While many Crees and environmental activists throughout Quebec may be celebrating the Quebec government’s decision to impose a moratorium on uranium development pending a provincial study, Strateco Resources Inc. is making it clear that the company isn’t throwing in ... read more ››

Winning words

  “My true goal is to be a pilot,” shared Sec. 1 student Michael Mark at the 25th Annual Public Speaking contest held in Wemindji on April 4. “When you get back on the ground you can still feel the greatness of the sky.” Michael also told a crowded house that ... read more ››