The Nation | Vol. 28, No. 03 by nationmag

Take self-isolation seriously In the fight against the spread of COVID-19, we must self-isolate: • in case of symptoms • after testing • if the test is positive • after returning from a trip • after being in contact with someone who’s tested positive

Québec.ca/selfisolating 1 877 644-4545 2 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

CONTENTS EDITORIAL

Normal love

NEWS

Red zones move north

Becoming true partners

IN BRIEF FEATURES

Top Cree on top of the world

Joyce’s principle

Healthier herds

Montreal’s reconciliation 24 strategy

New Cree clothing brand

PUZZLES REZ NOTES

Fighting for equal healthcare

Relentless

T&B

Politics

Getting trolled (again_

A healthy herd

Rebranded reconciliation

Photo from The Nation archives

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the the Nation Nation 3 3

Editorial Editorialhile 2020 has undoubtedly

been a bleak year, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Two encouraging vaccines have finally logged onto the Zoom call, as well as a couple of promising treatment options. But let’s not pop the single-serving champagne bottles just yet. Pfizer and Moderna have vaccines that appear to be 95% effective against the virus while Eli Lilly and Regeneron have produced antibody treatments that could be lifesavers for those who’ve tested positive with Covid-19. This news comes as all of us are dying to break free from confinement. Now would be the worst time to do so. Canada has secured 26,000 doses of the Eli Lilly antibody treatment

Normal love by Dan Isaac

drug – with thousands more to come. Initial doses will be delivered over a period of three months and Canada has already topped over 5,000 new cases per day in late November. Those numbers mean not everyone who contracts the virus will be able to receive the new life-saving drug, nor would they be eligible. The US Food and Drug Administration says that patients who test positive for the virus but have yet to show symptoms are the only ones who should be receiving the new treatment. However, several high-profile hospitalized patients, including President Trump, have praised the new drug as a miracle cure. But onto the vaccines. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will require two doses with a three-

week waiting period between the shots. And that’s not even considering the demand for them, which can only be described as crazier than for the new PlayStation5. Even with these two, admittedly, soul-saving medical breakthroughs, it’s still just Swiss cheese. The Swiss cheese model for preventing virus transmission describes multiple levels of prevention. Obviously, a single layer of Swiss cheese has holes. When lining up multiple layers, the holes become smaller or blocked completely. The vaccines and treatments are additional slices but there could still be gaps. Things like masks, social distancing and disinfecting are becoming new norms. They’ve proven to be effective against other coronavirus-

es. Flu diagnoses have been extraordinarily low this fall. In my estimation, morale has gone hand in hand. I know I’m not alone in saying this has been one of the most mentally trying years of my life. It’s done so by taking all the things I took for granted – seeing my coworkers, visiting family, going to the movies, the gym, restaurants, bars and participating in public life in general. We all want normal. You’re not alone. At no time in the history of humanity have we all wanted normalcy so badly. When we work our way back to some semblance of it, let’s give it the appreciation it deserves.

the Nation is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications EDITORIAL BOARD L. Stewart, W. Nicholls, M. Siberok, Mr. N. Diamond, E. Webb EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Nicholls DIRECTOR OF FINANCES Linda Ludwick EDITORS Lyle Stewart, Martin Siberok PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND MANAGING EDITOR Dan Isaac CONTRIBUTING WRITERS M. Labrecque-Saganash, S. Orr, D. Isaac, P. Quinn, B. Powless DESIGN Matthew Dessner (Kontroller Media) SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse THANKS TO: Air Creebec CONTACT US: The Nation, 4529 CLARK, #403, Montreal, QC., H2T 2T3 EDITORIAL & ADS: Tel.: 514-272-3077, Fax: 514-278-9914 HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 151, Chisasibi, QC. J0M 1E0 www.nationnews.ca EDITORIAL: will@nationnews.ca news@ nationnews.ca ADS: Danielle Valade: ads@nationnews.ca; Donna Malthouse: donna@beesum.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: $60 plus taxes, US: $90, Abroad: $110, Payable to beesum communications, all rights reserved, publication mail #40015005, issn #1206-2642 The Nation is a member of: The James Bay Cree Communications Society, Circle Of Aboriginal Controlled Publishers, Magazines Canada Quebec Community Newspaper Assn. Canadian Newspapers Assn. Les Hebdos Sélect Du Québec. Funded [in part] by the Government of Canada. | www.nationnews.ca |

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C O V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E

Red zones move north

Outbreaks in Chibougamau and Chapais prompt new travel and deconfinement warnings By Ben Powless

s Covid-19 cases continue to rise, Saguenay–Lac-SaintJean emerged with the highest number of new cases in Quebec, while Chibougamau and Chapais were moved into the red zone of highest-risk areas. That prompted the Cree Health Board (CHB) and Cree Nation Government to revise warnings and deconfinement levels in the area. Acknowledging that many essential workers may live in OujeBougoumou or Mistissini and commute to Chibougamau or Chapais, it is recommended that community members only travel to Chibougamau or Chapais for health care, emergency services, school or other essential services. For residents of the other communities in Eeyou Istchee, Chibougamau and Chapais are considered unsafe. People visiting either town will be required to isolate for 14 days upon returning home. There were no restrictions placed on travelling between communities within Eeyou Istchee. Mistissini and Ouje-Bougoumou also moved back to Phase 3 of deconfinement measures, meaning that only 25 people are permitted at indoor gatherings and 75 people at outdoor gatherings. The remaining communities stayed at Phase 4. The CHB stated that there was no evidence of community transmission yet in Chibougamau or Chapais, meaning any transmission in the community that could not be traced to a contained outside source.

Nonetheless, health authorities recommended avoiding restaurants (except for take-out or drive-through), bars, gatherings, or visiting anyone in either community. Students will not be prevented from attending school in either community but must follow any increased measures or restrictions. Additional safety measures were put in place for healthcare workers, patients and essential workers travelling to either community. The CHB said it was working with medical services in Chibougamau to ensure patients were safe, reiterating that hemodialysis treatments there are still permitted. Visits to the Chibougamau hospital were also reduced to one bedside escort per day. Cree health authorities stated that Covid cases were stabilizing, though at a very high and unsustainable level, but expressed optimism for vaccine development. “There are many hurdles to be crossed before a vaccine is available in Eeyou Istchee, but at least the question is no longer if but when. As the finish line begins to come into sight this will be the most challenging time. Community members are fatigued from all the restrictions, healthcare workers are fatigued from months of struggle and leadership is fatigued from the never-ending logistical challenges to keep our communities functioning,” the CHB said in a statement. Several vaccine trials in the US and the UK demonstrated effective-

ness of between 62% and 95%, as those countries moved forward with plans to begin vaccine distribution as early as December. The Canadian government has yet to approve any vaccines or give a timeline of when they may be distributed domestically. Region 2 (Saguenay–Lac-SaintJean) was reporting over 100 new cases per day, bringing their total to over 4,366 cases, with 1,103 still active. There were 57 people hospitalized in the region and seven new deaths, for a total of 103. The CHB said that local testing capacity in Region 2 had been quickly exceeded, which meant it would take longer to get test results. Region 8 (Abitibi-Témiscamingue) reported three new cases, for a total of 82 overall. Region 10 (Nord-duQuébec) reported no new cases, with 52 overall, and nine still active. Meanwhile, they stressed, the most important measures to prevent outbreaks in Eeyou Istchee were to respect travel restrictions, answer local security officers’ questions honestly, practice physical distancing and other precautionary measures, reduce the size of social circles and reduce the number of social interactions. The only areas that were considered safe to travel remained Region 8, Region 10 outside of Radisson (and Chibougamou and Chapais only for residents of Mistissini and OujeBougoumou), Region 17, as well as the Porcupine and Timiskaming regions in Ontario.

The CHB acknowledged that social isolation and uncertainty were taking a mental-health toll and reiterated that the health board was working to provide psychosocial support to those who may need it, including through the health line, 1-833-6324357. Mental health supports were also available to students and staff at the schools. The Cree School Board announced that the school break was being extended to January 4, which would allow for travel and self-isolation time for both students and staff. Post-secondary students were reminded that they must contact the post-secondary office if they plan to travel home for the holidays. Across Eeyou Istchee, there were no new cases, with 16 total cases and only one active case. So far, 1,421 regular tests had been done, with 1,398 negative results and seven awaiting results. Plus, 1,783 screening tests had been done, with 1,769 negative results and 14 awaiting results. In Quebec, over 1,100 cases a day had been reported recently. Premier François Legault announced that people would be permitted to attend two social gatherings with a maximum of 10 people each between December 24-27, with people asked to quarantine for a week before and after. Canada broke new records, seeing over 5,700 new cases and 100 deaths per day, rising to 345,000 cases and over 11,600 deaths in total. Globally there were over 59 million cases and 1.4 million deaths.

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Becoming true partners

News

New guide helps First Nations navigate Impact Assessment Act by Patrick Quinn

n the past, Indigenous communities were largely excluded from major projects on their lands. But over the years, successful demands and court actions for collaboration and compensation from government and industry have changed the view of First Nations participation to an imperative rather than an impediment to development. Passed into law in 2019, the federal Impact Assessment Act enables First Nations to become more involved in the decision-making process for proposed resource-extraction projects in their territories. Still, it is challenging to understand how to navigate these opportunities. A new technical guide and accompanying video series from the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) intends to simplify this engagement. “If you don’t build bridges to those opportunities, are those real opportunities at all?” asked Trefor Smith, a regulatory consultant for the FNMPC. “Until there is real co-management of resources in the territory, you’re still going to have remnants of a colonial system. This new act doesn’t change that. The intention of the guide is to advocate for the most advantageous implementation from an Indigenous point of view.” As it’s too early to determine how the new legislation will be implemented, the FNMPC is encouraging nations to become engaged wherever there are potential opportunities while identifying remaining ambiguity in the act’s wording. For instance, it’s still unclear who can become involved in an Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAA) process in

terms of jurisdiction, authority and governance. “Where there was opportunity for First Nations to get involved in, each of the phases was never made clear,” asserted FNMPC’s director of operations, Angel Ransom. “Providing space for some pre-planning to occur before a process is triggered helps address some of the initial concerns around the tight timelines. We’ve made it clearer where Indigenous nations can be involved as a true partner with better informed decisions.” Founded in British Columbia five years ago, the FNMPC has about 60 First Nations members, largely in Western Canada. Before joining the coalition, Ransom was a “one-woman show”, striving to understand the long-term implications of five liquefied natural gas pipeline proposals simultaneously affecting her Nak’azdli Whut’en community. Ransom says the coalition allows for Indigenous leadership from communities faced with “the chaos” that these projects can bring. “We’ve proven that working together gets Indigenous nations further ahead.” The new guide provides key steps for effective involvement in impact assessment processes. It provides helpful charts to demonstrate potential entry points at various stages. The eight-part video series offers a more concise version of the 145-page document, including emotional testimonies from Indigenous leaders about the consequences of unchecked development. While environmental assessments have been a required planning tool in Canada for over 40 years,

Indigenous perspectives have generally been relegated to the background. The previous act adopted by the Harper government in 2012 was particularly maligned for eliminating environmental protection. The new legislation has drawn criticism for exempting many projects from review and giving the new federal agency broad discretionary powers. Still, Trefor Smith notes that there is now a mandatory requirement for considering Indigenous knowledge and new openings for Indigenous-led studies and impact assessments. The biggest change is the compulsory 180-day early planning phase, when the project proponent and agency must engage with Indigenous nations for input on the project design. The FNMPC is analyzing governance structures and successful examples of independent approaches. For example, the Squamish First Nation recently undertook their own impact assessment of an LNG project in their territory, providing recommendations that the company agreed to. “Communities where modern treaties were signed have stronger levers for Indigenous-led assessment processes,” Smith affirmed. “But many have to be figured out through other means.” Other aspects of the act grant assessment authority to self-governing First Nations, though not to the extent achieved by the Cree of Eeyou Istchee in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. “This new act is very interesting in terms of more upstream involvement for First Nations across Canada in the planning of impact assessment,” said Kelly LeBlanc, environmental and

social assessment coordinator for the Cree Nation Government. “There will be changes for other First Nations but because of Cree treaty rights, we always ensure any new law will be structured to accommodate this special context of project proposals in the territory.” Niskamoon environment director Marc Dunn agreed, praising the foresight of JBNQA negotiators to establish the first environmental and social assessment process in Canada, while securing Cree representation on joint environmental boards. The Impact Assessment Act provides other First Nations without these treaty rights additional support within the system. “I’m unbelievably impressed by what the Crees foresaw and negotiated 45 years ago,” Dunn said. “The bar is so high with the JBNQA that legislation still seems to be catching up.” The Crees recent victory against Strateco Resources’ uranium project demonstrates the power of the JBNQA. Two new lithium mine projects in Eeyou Istchee are currently under review by the Impact Assessment Agency, which could provide a test for the effectiveness of the new federal law – though the JBNQA will still be the final legal threshold. “The thresholds haven’t changed, so a new metal mine project in Eeyou Istchee would trigger Section 22 of the JBNQA but not the IAA,” LeBlanc explained. “Every time there’s a legislative change, the CNG ensures there will still be special status for the Cree through consultation and representation, to make sure it respects the spirit of the JBNQA.”

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In Brief Sasakamoose hangs up his skates

“And I said, ‘You know what, dad? If you’re tired, you go. You go and don’t worry about us over here.’”

Former Chicago Blackhawk Fred Sasakamoose – the first Indigenous player in the National Hockey Leage – succumbed to Covid-19 November 24. Sasakamoose was admitted to a Saskatchewan hospital November 20 and received a positive test result November 22. Sasakamoose, or “Chief Thunder Stick” as he was nicknamed, played 11 games for the Chicago Blackhawks

Cuffed for being Indigenous

“You go and don’t worry about us over here.’” - Sasakamoose’s son Neil

in 1954. He was also a residential school survivor and spoke about his experiences at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2012. Outside of hockey, Sasakamoose served as a band councillor and chief for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. Sasakamoose’s son Neil posted an emotional video on Facebook following his father’s death and spoke about their last conversation. “I talked to him about one o’clock in the afternoon. I asked how he was feeling, if he was scared,” Neil says in the video. “He said, ‘I’m not scared.’ He said, ‘I’m ready to go. If I’ve got to go, I’m going to go.’

Transcripts of a Bank of Montreal worker talking to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has shed light on a December 2019 incident that saw a Heiltsuk man and his 12-year-old granddaughter handcuffed for simply trying to open a bank account in Vancouver. Lawyers for Maxwell Johnson released the previously redacted transcript that shows a BMO employee calling ISC after being presented with an Indian status card. The worker appears not to know what a status card is and is directed by ISC to phone the police. Johnson and his granddaughter were subsequently handcuffed when police arrived at the BMO branch in downtown Vancouver and held until their identities could be verified. The worker called the police that day to report a fraud in progress even though both Johnson and his granddaughter provided birth certificates, healthcare cards and status cards. A human rights complaint has been filed against the BMO and the Vancouver Police Board by Johnson. Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller called the incident “a process of systemic racism” adding,

“if there is an issue with Indigenous Services… we will act swiftly.”

Demands for longer moose moratorium Though the hunting season for moose is over in Quebec, Algonquin leadership have continued their calls for a five-year moratorium on moose in the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve and Quebec may finally be ready to listen. Earlier this fall, the Algonquin blocked access to the park for sports hunters. Their action sparked weeks of controversy and tension. The communities surrounding the park are food insecure and rely heavily on the moose population in the park. An aerial survey of the park’s moose conducted by Quebec in early

2020 showed a declining population. At the time, Quebec’s forestry minister Pierre Dufour cited the numbers as “concerning, but not critical.” On November 16, Algonquian Nation Chiefs sat down with Quebec’s recently appointed Minister Responsible of Indigenous Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, to discuss the moose hunt. Lafrenière called the initial meeting “extremely important” and is prepared to continue negotiations with the Algonquin to find a solution. “This discussion needs to take place, and now we have a minister who’s willing to push this forward and sit down and start the negotiation – which is fantastic for the Algonquin Nation,” Verna Polson, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, told APTN.

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Features

by Ben Powless

TOP CREE ON TOP OF THE WORLD

“It’s simple what I did but it’s not – it just takes the right mindset and I wanted to encourage others to do so” 10 the Nation

New clothing brand celebrates Eeyou Istchee

or Samuel McLeod, it all started with a recommendation from his college professor – you should take advantage of the free subscription to Shopify, an online platform that allows anyone to sell just about anything. Originally from Waskaganish, McLeod is in his final year of Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies at Algonquin College in Ottawa. He was intent on breaking into the clothing industry, but first he needed a name. After a few ideas didn’t stick, he landed on Top Cree – and started building his brand from there. It turned out coming up with the name would be the easy part. “I’ve been making designs, and once I started that I worked on setting up my online shop,” McLeod told the Nation. “Then I ran into some problems.” McLeod found a company to make his clothing for him, but then Covid hit last spring. He was forced to delay his launch while his supplier reorganized production. “Over the summer it gave me time to do some promotions. I bought clothes for myself and friends, took pictures doing cultural things, hyping up the brand. It worked, people got more and more exited, and I got messages

asking when we were going to release it,” he said. He also engaged in guerrilla marketing by getting friends to wear his clothes in the community, while personally promoting his styles when he went home to visit. By September, orders were starting to be filled with the manufacturer, so McLeod decided to add another design to his repertoire, one that was about representing Eeyou communities. Still, McLeod says he was nervous: “It’s a big step, there’s a lot relying on this. One mistake, or people don’t like it, I take that personally. I was worried about it, so I spent a lot of time testing out products. It was quite a rollercoaster ride.” Those worries compounded the day he launched. With the website suffering technical issues, McLeod was forced to shut it down in order to fix the problems. He relaunched www. topcree.ca after resolving the glitches alongside his Facebook and Instagram pages. He says one mission of the brand is to motivate others and show young people their potential. “It’s simple what I did but it’s not – it just takes the right mindset and I wanted to encourage others to do so,” said McLeod. For anyone thinking of starting their own business, he has

sobering but encouraging words. “I would say it’s quite the road ahead. It can be challenging, there can be lots of bumps, but it relies on the person, how they want it to be, how they face problems and come up with ideas.” McLeod credits friends, family, his girlfriend and her mother for supporting him, helping model his clothes and promote the brand. Despite the online learning forced by Covid-19 restrictions, his college education was key. “Being in the program really motivated me to do something. It really has opened my mind.” He now wants to attend university after graduation, perhaps in Ottawa, Montreal or Toronto. “I might expand beyond fashion,” he mused. “Anything is possible, but I like where I’m going with Top Cree.” So far, the feedback has been great. “I’ve gotten a few messages of encouragement, they’re really proud of me. I’ve heard from family members and there’s a really encouraging community. It makes me proud to hear people say these things about me,” he enthused. “Thank you to everyone who’s supported me and bought merch, I hope to continue this journey and come up with new ideas and designs in the future. Anything is possible, especially being an Indigenous person.”

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The Cree Construction and Development Company want to thank our clients, partners and employees for their valuable contribution during this last year, ﬁlled with challenges and uncertainties. We wish everyone to have wonderful times with your family during the holidays… May the new year 2021 be ﬁlled with health, happiness and prosperity. Stay safe!

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• • •

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the Nation 13

Atikamekw document rejected by government aims to ensure equal access to health and social services

he tragic death of Joyce Echaquan does not tolerate institutional inertia when it comes to access, without discrimination, to health care and social services for Indigenous people. That’s the essential idea behind Joyce’s Principle, a document created by the Council of the Atikamekw Nation and the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, which was delivered to the federal and provincial governments on November 16. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec, however, appears to have a higher tolerance for institutional inertia after it rejected an attempt by Liberal MNA Gregory Kelley to have the document adopted and implemented by the National Assembly November 24, objecting to the term “systemic racism” in the document. Echaquan’s death on September 28 at a Joliette hospital was shocking even for those accustomed to the discrimination routinely faced by Indigenous people in public systems. After admitting herself to

14 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

hospital with stomach pains, the 37-yearold Atikamekw mother of seven filmed hospital staff making racist insults at her shortly before she died. “She fought until the end, wanting people to know what was going on with her,” said Atikamekw Grand Chief Constant Awashish. “[Joyce’s Principle] was initiated by leaders to come up with this document. We started with a few lines then asked the public for suggestions about what should be in the principle. A lot of people responded.” Awashish told the Nation the idea is modelled on Jordan’s Principle, the child-first and needs-based commitment to ensure First Nations children receive equitable access to all government services. Joyce’s Principle similarly intends to guarantee Indigenous people have equitable access to health and social services without discrimination. “It focuses on education and sensitization for government-Indigenous

relations so that our rights are respected,” explained Awashish. “With Joyce’s Principle, we talk about the healthcare system, but we could say the same thing about all levels. People have distorted views of First Nations.” The document begins with a statement by Echaquan’s husband, Carol Dubé, expressing his wish that her death didn’t occur in vain and that “no one ever again falls victim to systemic racism.” Acknowledging this last term is integral to the document, despite Premier François Legault’s refusal to admit it exists. “All the people who communicated with us agree there is systemic racism, but still the government does not recognize it,” asserted Awashish. “It’s recognizing we were the ones colonized with a system put in place against us. That’s what we call systemic racism. That’s what Mr. Legault doesn’t understand.” Awashish argued political rhetoric regularly paints Indigenous groups as

Photo by Lori Calman

by Patrick Quinn

Joyce’s Principle

opposed to development and continues to perpetuate stereotypes that have grown over centuries. A solution highlighted in Joyce’s Principle calls for a massive re-education, particularly for healthcare workers. It demands schools, professional orders and healthcare agencies offer training programs for cultural sensitization and that the Quebec government establish an ombudsperson’s office for Indigenous health and finance awareness campaigns to educate the general public about Indigenous issues. The document also specifically asks Legault to acknowledge systemic racism. “That’s a form of discrimination talking that way when you’re the premier of the province,” Awashish insisted. “We have to change the whole mentality. Government has its part to do with training and aware-

ness at all levels. We have to make the general population understand if we do well socially, everyone’s going to win.” Joyce’s Principle demands that all Indigenous people have an equal right to the highest standard of physical and mental health, with a right to traditional medicines and the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. It says the government must recognize Indigenous rights to autonomy and self-determination in matters of health and social services. On November 6, Quebec announced $15 million to train healthcare workers in providing better and more culturally safe care for Indigenous people, while compensating liaison officers to accompany Indigenous people through the healthcare system. This cultural safe-

ty was a key recommendation of the Viens Commission report, released over a year ago. “The $15 million is a good start but we’re going to keep working on the government to make sure it’s moving in the right direction,” Awashish stated. “Now what kind of curriculum is going to be taught to the non-Native staff? I regularly talk with [Indigenous Affairs] Minister Lafrenière and we want to work with him to improve the situation.” Awashish said this funding is encouraging but he doubts it will be enough to overcome the huge gaps in Indigenous sensitivity at all levels of society. He’s also skeptical of the government’s committee on racism that includes no First Nations. “We’ll wait a couple of months to see how the government is dealing with First Nations and where it’s trying

to go,” explained Awashish. “There’s a lot of questions about how they see us and where they want to go. We’ll give them a chance. Hopefully they’re doing concrete action in good faith.” With growing distrust of public services among Indigenous people, Awashish reported his community members are afraid to go to hospitals. Since the recent deaths of Echaquan and Atikamekw man Georges Herve Awashish, more people are wondering if racism played a role in the past deaths of family members in hospital. “We have to keep talking about it, to keep the government on its toes on this matter,” said Awashish. “How many people talk bad about First Nations when we go into a hospital? There are a lot of questions our people are asking. We have to make sure the government ensures our people’s safety.”

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Be there for yourself the way you’re there for others You are always there when your loved ones are going through difficult times. But don’t forget about yourself—solutions exist to help you feel better. The current situation may cause you distress. Experiencing various levels of anxiety in some spheres of life is normal. When this happens, you may find it more challenging to deal with your thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. Most people succeed in adapting, but listening to your needs is vital. Don’t hesitate to do whatever is necessary to help yourself.

Take care of yourself • Rely on your personal strengths and have confidence in your abilities.

• Remind yourself of the winning

strategies you used in the past to overcome difficulties. There is no one-size-fits-all solution! Each and every one of us must take steps to foster our own well-being.

• Enjoy life’s little pleasures, such as listening to music, taking a warm bath, reading, exercising, etc.

• If you live close to nature, make

the most of it. Breathe deeply and slowly as you walk.

• Lend a hand in your community in

a way that respects your personal limits and public health directives. By helping others, you can improve their wellness and your own as well.

• Think about what has meaning

and value for you. Reflect on the important things in your life that you can hold onto in hard times.

• Reduce the stressors in your life. • While it is important to stay informed, limit the amount of time spent reading about COVID-19. Information overload can increase stress and anxiety, and even cause depression.

• Learn to delegate, and allow others to help you.

• Ask for help when you feel

overwhelmed. It is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength when you are strong enough to do what is necessary to help yourself.

The Getting Better My Way digital tool Getting Better My Way is a digital self-management tool for emotional health. If you are experiencing stress, anxiety or distress, this tool can help improve your well-being by identifying practical things you can do to feel better. Learn more at Québec.ca/Gettingbetter

Help and resources Give voice to your feelings

Choose healthy living habits

• Keep in mind that having a range of

• Try to keep to a routine for eating,

emotions is normal. Feelings play an important role in life, and it is essential to experience them without passing judgment.

• Use words to express what you are going through. Do you feel alone? Are you worried?

• Allow yourself to share your feelings

with a trusted friend or family member. It might also be helpful to write down how you’re feeling or call a helpline. Find what works for you!

• Those closest to you may not

necessarily be able to “read” you. Express your feelings.

• Leave space in your life for your

feelings and those of your loved ones.

resting, sleeping and other daily activities.

• Take time to eat well. • Go to bed at an hour that lets you get enough sleep.

• Be physically active on a regular

basis, while complying with public health directives.

• Reduce your consumption

of stimulants like coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy beverages, chocolate, etc.

• Drink lots of water. • Lower your alcohol, drug and

tobacco consumption, or simply say no to them entirely. The same goes for gambling.

We are all going through unprecedented times that can intensify our emotional reactions. For example, you might feel greater fatigue or have fears that you can’t shake, or even have trouble just dealing with the day-today. Focus on these signs of a problem and, as soon as you can, contact resources that can help you to better manage your feelings and develop new coping strategies.

• Info-Social 811

Info-Social 811 is a free and confidential telephone consultation service available 24/7

• Regroupement des services

d’intervention de crise du Québec Provides 24/7 referral services for people in distress (French): centredecrise.ca/listecentres

• Suicide prevention crisis helpline

Crisis helpline that provides suicide prevention services 24/7: 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553)

For a host of other helpful resources, visit Québec.ca/gettingbetter

Make judicious use of social media • Use critical thinking before sharing

something on social media. Ill-advised information can have harmful effects and be detrimental to everyone’s efforts in these times.

• Use social media to share positive actions.

• Watch videos that make you smile.

Québec.ca/Gettingbetter Info-Social 811

Healthier by Patrick Quinn | Photos by Sylvain Paquin

18 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

herds Chisasibi promotes respect for caribou and Cree hunting traditions

he sight of healthy caribou stampeding past the Chisasibi band office in early November excited many in the community and prompted calls from community leaders to protect the herds that so important to the Cree. In a public notice, Chisasibi Band Council subsequently asked hunters to abide by Eeyou laws to ensure there is no waste or inconsiderate behaviour. Hunters are urged to be careful about where they shoot, and to respect community members, traplines and, especially, the caribou that provide so much food. “There seem to be many of them because they’re coming into the communities but they’re still vulnerable,” said Nadia Saganash, the Cree Nation’s former wildlife management administrator, now senior advisor for Cree-Quebec gov-

ernance. “If people are going into the territory of Chisasibi and harvesting caribou, consider the traditional ways of doing things. Respect communities and the trapper who is going to be receiving you.” While numbers of the Leaf River herd seen in Chisasibi have remained stable at about 190,000 over the past few years, it’s important to note there were more than three times this figure 20 years ago. The George River herd has declined 99% since the 1990s, which prompted a ban on hunting these caribou in 2018. Last month, it was announced that the George River herd in eastern Quebec had recovered from a low of 5,500 in 2018 to an estimated 8,100. Saganash said a complete hunting ban needs to

be maintained to encourage this growth – the herd’s first positive inventory result since 1993. “We need to continue to act with caution and maintain conservation efforts,” Saganash insisted. “If we start putting more pressure on the herd, we might see it declining again. For the moment, what we can do is try to maintain the low harvest rate for the Leaf River herd.” In 2013, the Cree Nation Government along with six other First Nations in Quebec and Labrador formed the Ungava Peninsula Caribou Aboriginal Roundtable to develop a shared vision for caribou in the region. The historic wildlife management plan established steps to monitor and manage the herd, as well as other conservation measures.

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the Nation 19

“Learning from my grandfather and father, when we don’t respect this animal, it will change its migration route, which we’ve seen in our community” - James George, Whapmagoostui Men’s Group

20 the Nation

“We did a lot of work this past year,” Saganash shared. “The Aboriginal Roundtable recommends not more than a 2% harvest rate for the Leaf River herd. That’s an acceptable harvest rate of 3,740 caribou – not just for the Cree, but for the Inuit, Naskapi and other nations that depend on this herd.” After cautioning that this calculation was a maximum level, she emphasized the importance of reporting harvests to your local Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA). Last month, the CTA introduced a mobile app to enable hunters to report harvests remotely in real-time while also noting changes in wildlife observations and keeping track of safety conditions. “Reporting is key in the management of the population,” asserted Saganash. “If we know the harvesting that is being done, we can better forecast the pressure on the herd and what we need to do in terms of conservation measures. Without a reliable number, it’s difficult to do that.” The new Eeyou Istchee Land Keepers program is currently building community awareness about the caribou herd status through posters, pamphlets and other information. The organization’s mandate is to act as “eyes on the ground” to monitor ecological health, report suspicious activities and promote cultural awareness. One priority in awareness campaigns is ensuring people harvest only what they need while recognizing the traditional value of using all parts of the animal. As Saganash observed, “Reintroducing our traditional knowledge about how we use all the parts of the animal is an awesome initiative – I hope all the communities will be able to learn from that.” In early November, the Whapmagoostui Men’s Group provided teachings at the local cultural camp about the “real” way to clean and dispose of caribou bones. “We use the bone marrow to make caribou fat, which was very important to our ancestors,” explained workshop organizer James George. “A long time ago, once an Elder cleaned the bones, they would crush them to make broth. After the broth, they would take out the fat from the broth, because it would create more fat. With that broth, they mix that broth fat plus the bone marrow to make caribou fat.” Several participants were paid to crush these bones over 13 days. George said the young people he spoke to were enthusiastic and hoped to return to learn more from Elders overseeing the workshop. “We’re setting up a feast for the whole community this Sunday to have the caribou fat and caribou meat,” George said. “We’re going to ask the young people to be the caterers for the traditional food, so they’ll know how to handle this meal. There are certain parts of the caribou we use for the caribou fat to be eaten with.” George follows the caribou’s roaming patterns on the news and blames its disappearance from his community on past disrespectful behaviours. The last time the herd came nearby he remembers people shooting animals for sport, chasing them with skidoos and leaving carcasses by the side of the road. “Learning from my grandfather and father, when we don’t respect this animal, it will change its migration route, which we’ve seen in our community,” he said. Chisasibi’s guidelines also noted that the posting of pictures of caribou harvests on social media can be perceived as disrespectful, especially for Elders. “The key principle of caribou management is the respect we show to the animals,” confirmed Saganash. “Keep that relationship with the animal intimate.”

the Nation 21

For information, reservations, or charters call: 1-800-567-6567 or visit: www.aircreebec.ca

Your Northern Airline of Choice

Air Creebec is operating by respecting and exceeding the rules with extensive cleaning and disinfecting of the aircraft, social distancing on board and at all service counters. We encourage everyone to respect the rules and to stay safe.

For the latest Air Creebec updates, please visit aircreebec.ca/covid19

Happy Holidays to all. Be safe!

Wishing everyone in Eeyou Istchee a safe and happy holiday season! ᑭᒫ ᒥᓯᐙ ᐃᔮᒀᒥᓯᔨᒡ ᑭᔮ ᒥᔻᔨᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᐙᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ ᐅᔮ ᒑ ᒥᑯᔖᒌᔑᑳᔨᒡ!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS From all of us at the Nation Magazine, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Nation CREE NATION OF MISTISSINI

B I L LY

DIAMOND

H I G H WAY

The Cree Nation of Mistissini acknowledge with a great sense of pride and joy that the James Bay Highway has been renamed the “Billy Diamond Highway” in honor of an extraordinary man and great leader, our former Grand Chief Billy Diamond. - Chief and council of Mistissini

Politics

Montreal’s reconciliation strategy Plan aims to improve lives of Indigenous residents, build relations with Indigenous governments by Ben Powless

ontreal announced a new reconciliation strategy in early November, with the goal of improving the city’s treatment of Indigenous residents and relations with Indigenous leadership, including the Cree Nation Government (CNG).

The CMEB Aims to

• Assist the Crees in accessing mineral exploration opportunities. • Facilitate the development of mineral exploration enterprises with Cree entrepreneurship. • Help encourage the Crees and Cree enterprises to beneﬁt from Quebec’s regular funding programs as well as other provincial assistance allocated to mineral exploration activities. • Act as the main intermediary between offers and demands of services made to Cree enterprises in matters relating to mineral exploration. THE CREE MINERAL EXPLORATION BOARD 21 Hilltop, P.O. Box 150 Wemindji, QC J0M 1L0 T: 819-978-0264 x327

cmeb.org

The strategy comes after two years of consultations carried out with 30 Indigenous-focused organizations by the city’s commissioner of Indigenous affairs, Marie-Ève Bordeleau, who is of Cree heritage from Waswanipi. The five-year plan contains 125 commitments divided into seven objectives, including developing government-to-government relations, supporting the urban Indigenous community, improving Indigenous residents’ sense of security, dealing with Indigenous homelessness, and supporting Indigenous cultures. At the launching of the initiative, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the city is committed to the reconciliation process, but that there was only so much a city can do, with things like funding commitments requiring the participation of the provincial and federal governments. The strategy’s launch was delayed from the spring due to the Covid pandemic.

24 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

“Today, the City of Montreal commits to developing and maintaining strong relationships with its First Nations and Inuit partners. Collaboration is more than ever essential to ensuring the quality of life and security of Montreal’s urban Indigenous community,” Plante stated in the strategy. Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations QuebecLabrador, is quoted in the strategy: “The essence of the principle of reconciliation is rooted in the traditional values that forge our cultural identity as Indigenous peoples. We are proud that this heritage can be translated today into the actions put forward by the leadership of the city of Montreal.” There were over 35,000 Indigenous residents in Montreal, a growth of 211% since 2001, representing 0.7% of the city’s total population. The strategy comes after repeated criticisms of discrimination and racism by the city and province. A

2019 report showed that Indigenous peoples in Montreal were 460% more likely to be stopped by police than white people, and Indigenous women were 1,100% more likely to be stopped than white women. The 2019 Public Inquiry Commission on Relations between Indigenous Peoples and Certain Public Services in Quebec (aka the Viens Commission) report made 142 calls to action in response to racism against Indigenous peoples across Quebec. Montreal’s public consultation office also issued a report in 2020 detailing systemic racism and discrimination across the city. Commissioner Bordeleau said that the strategy was inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) calls to action, which recommended all levels of government start their own reconciliation processes. Twelve of the TRC’s recommendations are specifically applicable

“The fight against racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples starts with reconciliation processes where our histories and realities will be understood and our rights respected” - Marie-Ève Bordeleau, City Commissioner of Indigenous affairs

to cities, including sections that deal with languages, culture and justice. Montreal is the first municipality in Quebec to develop a reconciliation strategy, following cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Bordeleau said it is important for the city to try to implement the calls to action coming out of the Viens Commission, the TRC, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Montreal’s public consultation office, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “We’re trying to make sure that we improve the living conditions of our urban Indigenous community and services for urban Indigenous people, so people feel safe, so the relation with police is improved, so there’s

no more systemic discrimination with city services, that we develop ongoing relations and communication with Indigenous communities including the Mohawks and Cree and with Indigenous organizations like shelters and artists groups,” Bordeleau said. Bordeleau described the document as an educational tool, noting how it talks about the history of different Indigenous groups in and around Montreal, the history of the Two Row Wampum, and the history and realities of Indigenous peoples today in Montreal. She stressed that reconciliation isn’t a process just for Indigenous groups, but for everyone to be working collaboratively in a healing process. “It’s important to stress that the success of this strategy is the collaboration and partnership with different

Indigenous partners and that we all have to be part of the reconciliation process.” She highlighted Mayor Plante’s meeting with Grand Chief Abel Bosum to discuss the relationship between the two governments in June 2019, when the CNG proposed projects to collaborate on. This includes the repatriation of items held by the Montreal art collection to Eeyou Istchee. “These are the types of projects we can develop with the Cree Nation Government, and we want to continue the communications channels. Many Cree Nation Government members reside here or come here for services so it’s important that they are part of the community,” Bordeleau said. The recent death of Joyce Echaquan in a Joliette hospital served as a reminder that racism and discrim-

ination still exist in public services, she added, but that this strategy towards reconciliation was an important first step to stopping racism and discrimination in the city. “The fight against racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples starts with reconciliation processes where our histories and realities will be understood and our rights respected,” Bordeleau said. “Ensuring relations and communications with different Indigenous partners and the urban community as a Cree woman is not only a job, it’s a goal, an objective, a passion. I’m working for my community, my brothers and sisters and all of us. The reconciliation strategy and process reflect that – it’s a personal commitment.”

Happy Holidays

& Happy New Year 2021

WWW.CREECULTURALINSTITUTE.CA

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the Nation 25

May the kindness of people and the comfort of your home renew your spirits this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Laurentia Project: Port of Quebec Deep-Water Wharf - Beauport Sector Public Comments Invited & Virtual Information Sessions What is happening? November 16, 2020 — The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is conducting a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Laurentia Project: Port of Quebec Deep-Water Wharf - Beauport Sector, located in Quebec. The Agency invites the public and Indigenous groups to comment on the draft Environmental Assessment Report, which includes the Agency's conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the project and their significance, the proposed mitigation measures, and the follow-up program. The Agency also invites comments on the potential environmental assessment conditions for the project. Final conditions would become legally-binding on the proponent if the project is allowed to proceed. The Agency recognizes it is more challenging to undertake meaningful public engagement and Indigenous consultation in light of the circumstances arising from COVID-19. The Agency continues to assess the situation with key stakeholders, make adjustments to consultation activities, and is providing flexibility as needed in order to prioritize the health and safety of all Canadians, while maintaining its duty to conduct meaningful engagement with interested groups. How can I participate? Comments can be submitted online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 80107). All comments received will be published online as part of the project file. Written comments in either official language will be accepted until December 16, 2020. For more information on environmental assessments and alternative means of participating in the process, visit the Agency's website at canada.ca/iaac. Virtual Information Sessions The Agency is holding virtual information sessions that will take place on December 8, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and December 10, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The virtual information sessions will include presentations from Agency’s representatives on the draft environmental assessment report and potential conditions, followed by a question period online or on the phone. Federal experts will also be available to respond to questions from participants. For more information on how to attend the virtual information sessions, visit the registry page or contact the Agency at: iaac.quebecportproject-projetportquebec.aeic@canada.ca or 418-649-6444. Will there be more opportunities to participate? This project has benefited from several public and Indigenous consultation opportunities. This is the final public comment period in the process. Follow us on Twitter: @IAAC_AEIC #PortofQuebecWharf What is the proposed project? The Quebec Port Authority is proposing to extend the line of the existing wharf eastward by 610 metres in order to operate a deep-water terminal dedicated to containerized general cargo. The 31.7-hectare project would include the construction of a new berth and a retaining dike that would allow for the development of an additional 17 hectares of backshore space. The project also includes the construction of rail lines and road accesses, the reconfiguration of two outfalls and Henri-Bourassa Boulevard with the addition of an overpass, as well as the reconfiguration of part of the Port of Quebec's existing land for truck loading and the relocation of part of the recreation and tourism area for the development of the operations support area and the storage of empty containers. For more information on the Agency’s privacy policies, consult the Privacy Notice on its website at canada.ca/iaac.

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the Nation 27

December 2020 - Issue 1

Puzzles

Crossword

SUDOKU Tough

6 5 2

Previous solution - Medium

1 8 6 9 5 3 4 2 7

4 1 3 2

9 6

4 2 7

– ngle number can r column. But... are divided by black artments. These with numbers that t’. A straight is a set gaps but can be in ,5]. Clues in black umber as an option umn, and are not part nce at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. are formed.

8 3 4 7 4 8 2 3

2 9

7 4 6

1 2 3 2 1 4 5 6 6 4 5 7 8 5 3 7 8 6 7 8 9

No. 265

3 5 4 2 7 1 6 8 9

2 9 7 4 6 8 1 5 3

4 7 2 3 9 6 5 1 8

9 3 1 8 4 5 7 6 2

8 6 5 1 2 7 9 3 4

6 4 9 5 8 2 3 7 1

7 2 3 6 1 9 8 4 5

5 1 8 7 3 4 2 9 6

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

STR8TS

SUDOKU

No. 265

Easy

Previous solution - Medium

4 5 5 6 7 9 8 7 8 6 2 5 8 7 6 1 3 4 2 1 3 4 2

5 7

4 6

2 4

5 6 1

4 1 6 5 3

9 9 8 9

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

Medium

8 6 3 1 2 2 3 9 4 6 5 5 4 6 5

9 8 7 3 4

1 2 3 2 1 4 5 6 6 4 5 7 8 5 3 7 8 6 7 8 9

6 5 2

9 6

28 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

30 35

41 45

31 36

34 38

23 26

67 Bugs, to Elmer 68 Fiesta fare 69 Studly sorts

10 French leader 32 Correct after Hollande 35 Sign of trouble 11 Annoyance 38 Subtlety 12 Clash of clans 39 Aardvark's fare DOWN 13 Unnerve 41 State of limbo 1 Cass of 60's 19 Show one's 44 Crackpot music face 47 Spirited 2 Miles away 21 Flight board 49 Texter's "Wow!" 3 Smoke or napkin abbr. 50 Outcast follower 25 Bullets and such 52 Bush successor 4 Casino dealer 26 Unarmed, in 54 Go on a spree 5 Solitary sort slang 55 See the sights 6 Part of AARP, 27 Expenditure 57 Make over briefly 28 Plant-growing 58 Pudding fruit Medium 7 Praise effusively Tortoise racer Tough sitePrevious solution - 59 8 On edge 29 After-bath 60 1 3 2 4 9 8 6 White-plumed 7 5 9 Big name in powder 8 5 9 7 3 6 4 swimmer 2 1 home security 31 Camp ___ 6 4craft 7 2 1 5 62 9 Welcome 3 8

4 1 3

9 5 3 4 2 7

4 2 7

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These PREVIOUS need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set SOLUTION: of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

8 3 4 7 4 8 2 3

2 9

7 4 6

ere’s another edition of the Nation’s puzzle page. Try your hand at Sudoku or Str8ts or our Crossword, or better yet, solve all three and send us a photo! As always, the answers from last issue are here for you to check your work. Happy hunting.

ACROSS 1 Selma event of 1965 6 Old Spice rival 10 Annoy 14 Flaming 15 Husky burden 16 Geometric measure 17 Mount Vernon, for one 18 City on Monterey Bay 20 Heated discussions 22 Group of lions 23 Casino area 24 Pekoe vessel 26 Think hard 30 Ketcham's Dennis, e.g. 33 Anagram for "rule" 34 Fragrance 36 Tartan cap 37 Never-ending 40 Glacial deposit 42 Census statistic 43 Verbal white flag 45 Welcome benefit 46 Like some yogurt 48 Sealed 51 Kermit's creator 53 Request starter 54 Unemotional 56 Pie chart alternatives 61 Rent sharer 63 265 Acquired kin No. 64 Give the boot 65 In the thick of 66 Integra maker

by Margie E. Burke

2 7 1 6 8 9

4 6 8 1 5 3

3 9 6 5 1 8

8 4 5 7 6 2

1 2 7 9 3 4

5 8 2 3 7 1

6 1 9 8 4 5

7 3 4 2 9 6

Rez Notes

Relentless

Contrecœur Port Terminal Expansion Project Public Comments Invited & Virtual Information Sessions What is happening? November 18, 2020 — The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is conducting a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Contrecoeur Port Terminal Expansion Project, located in Contrecoeur, Quebec. The Agency invites the public and Indigenous groups to comment on the draft Environmental Assessment Report, which includes the Agency's conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the project and their significance, the proposed mitigation measures, and the follow-up program. The Agency also invites comments on the potential environmental assessment conditions for the project. Final conditions would become legally-binding on the proponent if the project is allowed to proceed. The Agency recognizes it is more challenging to undertake meaningful public engagement and Indigenous consultation in light of the circumstances arising from COVID-19. The Agency continues to assess the situation with key stakeholders, make adjustments to consultation activities, and is providing flexibility as needed in order to prioritize the health and safety of all Canadians, while maintaining its duty to conduct meaningful engagement with interested groups. How can I participate? Comments can be submitted online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 80116). All comments received will be published online as part of the project file. Written comments in either official language will be accepted until December 18, 2020. For more information on environmental assessments and alternative means of participating in the process, visit the Agency's website at canada.ca/iaac. Virtual Information Sessions The Agency is holding virtual information sessions that will take place on December 2, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and December 3, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The virtual information sessions will include presentations from Agency’s representatives on the draft environmental assessment report and potential conditions, followed by a question period online or on the phone. Federal experts will also be available to answer questions. For more information on how to attend the virtual information sessions, visit the registry page or contact the Agency at: iaac.contrecoeurportproject-projetportcontrecoeur.aeic@canada.ca or 418-649-6444. Will there be more opportunities to participate? This project has benefited from several public and Indigenous consultation opportunities. This is the final public comment period in the process. Follow us on Twitter: @IAAC_AEIC #ContrecoeurTerminal What is the proposed project? The Montreal Port Authority proposes the construction of a container port terminal with a maximum annual capacity of 1.15 million containers on its property located in Contrecoeur, approximately 40 kilometres downstream from Montreal. The project would include the construction of a 675-metre dock for two berths to accommodate vessels between 39,000 and 75,400 deadweight tonnage (DWT). The project would also include a seven track classification yard, a container storage and handling area, an intermodal rail yard, support facilities, rail and road accesses, a truck control area and a viaduct on Route 132. For more information on the Agency’s privacy policies, consult the Privacy Notice on its website at canada.ca/iaac.

by Sonny Orr

fter using white-knuckle driving skills to drive icy roads up hills and around deep curves on an isolated gravel road, we returned home after seeing a few ptarmigans flitting about. They were hard to see against a bland white background, with fading grey light turning dark in minutes. We pack up the sleeping children, who urged us to take them. I learned a long time ago the ancient art of babysitting kids with a vehicle. You just drive around a truckload of little people on a bumpy road very slowly with the heat on and when the last one drops their nodding head, you take them home, snoozing and quiet. The next morning, they are up and hungry as I’m outside clearing a foot of snow away from my trusty AWD. It’s cold and the swirling snow keeps driving in hard. It looks like a blizzard, but for We the North, this is normal for early winter. We pile the kids back into the car and drive off to school and daycare, with the hazard lights flashing and the wipers slashing. The kids whimper as the cold winds whip away their breath, but all is okay, it’s just another day. Then to work where colleagues are still brushing snow off their shoulders. Amazingly, the morning goes by without a hitch and lunch is served after another snow-removing stint. It’s only noon and the third time I’ve pulled out my snow shovel. Later, the workday disappears into a work night even though it’s late afternoon. The blizzard rages on and it is time to get the little ones again. Then it’s off to line up in the blizzard outside a store with other masked folks. The winter clothes are in full use with a month to go before winter solstice arrives. I remove more snow with my intrepid shovel. The next day, it’s the same routine – shovelling and getting around.

Finally, we get a break from winter’s wrath of snow-heaping dunes, but just to get us in the craw, the temperature then starts dropping. Early in the afternoon, it’s homeward bound to deal with a sewage backup. The kids are sent to another home as we trudge through our soaked belongings and dispose of them in the name of health safety. Finally, we get a break when the hardworking guys find the blocked main and release the backed-up pressure. The water and gunk swirl down the drainage hole that I now know is an essential part of the overall architectural plan of things. Then magically, the neighbourhood is quiet again. What will happen next? We’ve already had a few power failures which are almost normal these days. I’m sitting here anticipating some sort of catastrophic event, something that could turn me into a blubbering idiot of a man. Maybe if the store ran out of chicken, we could see people desperately searching for freezer-burnt portions of seasoned-breaded chicken strips to satisfy their incurable hunger for white poultry meat. Perhaps the postal service could go on strike for Christmas due to the heavy loads that were once made by elves and borne on the backs of reindeer. The elves and reindeer have been replaced by child labour, UPS and the mailman. We are just a few postal codes south of Santa’s workshop, however, and the reindeer are everywhere, providing plenty of evidence that he’s around. Having a cuz who worked in the post office most of his adult life, he can confirm Santa’s mailing address – he is in the H0H 0H0 postal code. So send him some traditional mail – the internet doesn’t reach the North Pole yet – to tell him your Christmas wish or desires.

www.nationnews.ca December 4, 2020 the Nation 29

Bannock & Getting trolled (again)

Tea

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

bout a year ago, I was collaborating with Picbois Productions on a series of videos that would later go viral on social media. Those videos were part of the web section of the documentary Briser le code, which aimed to tackle the racism experienced by Indigenous, Black and other racialized people in Quebec. One video that I hosted with colleagues Réda Saoui and Garihanna Jean-Louis focused on systemic racism, a concept that is internationally recognized and documented. Even right-wing Ontario Premier Doug Ford recognizes systemic racism. In Quebec though, Premier François Legault still categorically refuses to admit its existence. Legault’s government recently rejected a motion in the National Assembly to adopt and implement Joyce’s Principle – most likely because the document urges governments to recognize the concept of systemic racism. Our video tried to explain systemic racism, what it stems from and how we can dismantle it. Months after the video was out, I was at work, mind-

Because of Jean-François Lisée, I have been called a “drunk Indian”, “stupid” and have been compared to Islamic fundamentalists.

ing my own business, when I saw that former cabinet minister and Parti Québécois leader Jean-François Lisée was going off on Twitter about the video. He tagged Premier Legault and his ministers in the tweet and attached a screenshot of my face from the video. You’d think that Lisée would take advantage of his political retirement (after leading the PQ to its worst-ever election result in 2018) to contemplate the scenery, relax and write on his blog, but no. Lisée preferred to attack racialized people on Twitter to entertain racist trolls. Lisée and others argue that because the concept of systemic racism is still being debated, we cannot teach it in school. The videos are not part of any official curriculum. Many

The management and staff of Newmont, Éléonore, wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season! May 2021 bring you happiness, health and prosperity! ᐊᓂᒌ

ᐧᐋᒋᒫᐧᐃᒡ

ᑭᔮᐦ

ᐊᓂᒌ

ᐊᐱᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᒡ

ᐅᑎᐦ

ᓂᔪᐧᒫᓐᑦ,

ᐃᓕᐧᓅᕐ,

ᒋᐱᑯᓵᔨᒥᑯᐧᐋᐅᒡ ᒑ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐱᔨᐧᐋᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒌ ᒧᒋᒑᔨᐦᑎᐧᒫᒄ ᐅᔮᔨᐤ ᒑ ᐊᑎ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒑ ᒧᒋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓂᔨᒡ! ᑭᒫᐦ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᒑ ᐊᑎ ᐅᔅᒋᐱᐳᐦᒡ 2021 ᐹᐧᑖᑯᔨᓐ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒧᐧᐃᓐ, ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒥᔪᒥᔨᐧᐋᐧᐃᓐ!

30 the Nation December 4, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

instructors in high schools, colleges and universities show them to their students because there are barely any educational tools in Quebec on this topic. Youth are capable of critical thinking. We can make up our own mind on social issues. Not too long ago, the same people were out of their mind because a University of Ottawa professor was suspended for saying the N-word in an “academic context”. For them, academic freedom is to be able to say the N-word, but not to teach about systemic racism. Free speech, am I right? Because of Jean-François Lisée, I have been called a “drunk Indian”, “stupid” and have been compared to Islamic fundamentalists.

Unfortunately, this has happened to me quite a lot over the years. Lisée claimed that he has not seen the hate I was getting in the comment threads below his tweets. I don’t believe that. The human rights violations experienced by my people are not up for debate and I don’t appreciate being made fun of for raising awareness on a heavily documented phenomenon that affects my daily life. Lisée also claims to be anti-racist, but his petty tweets and interviews polarize and undermine social cohesion. I would appreciate a courteous discussion on systemic racism. One that respects the fact that a woman just died while facing racist insults on Facebook live.

CREEHEALTH.ORG

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2020-10-23

3:24 PM

ᓂᔅᑰᔅᑖᐦ ᑳ ᐲᐸᒫᔅᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᐦᑯᓲᓐ

FIGHT FLU GET YOUR FLU SHOT

CMY

Nick and Gaël Wapachee, First-time father and his newborn son

Mary MacLeod, Elder

April Iserhoff, Nurse

Flu vaccination is more important than ever Elders, pregnant women, babies under 6 months, and people living with chronic disease are at risk of developing serious complications, including becoming so sick they need to be hospitalized. While most people recover from inﬂuenza, in the most vulnerable people a lung infection from the ﬂu can even cause death. VACCINATION CLINICS OPEN IN NOVEMBER

Visit our website or call your local CMC for more information

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