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CONTENTS EDITORIAL

10 2021 election special Meet the candidates for Grand Chief & Deputy Grand Chief

In residential school fields

NEWS Set to open again

Shining light on a dark chapter

IN BRIEF

FEATURES Meet the candidates

Resurrection

Blazing paddles

Northern oppurtunity

PUZZLES REZ NOTES

Indigenous Day ceremonies

Nobody here but us chickens

UTNS

Unique paddle art

We must continue to manage the pandemic

Events

Economic conference Photo by Nathan from Indigenous Climate Action (ICA)

Editorial

In residential school fields An AdAption of John MccreA’s fAMous poeM, in flAnders fields by Lyle Stewart

In residential school fields the little flags blow On the unmarked graves, row on row, That finally mark our place; We are dead, because of our race Now we are heard, from the ground below.

We are the Dead. Many years ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie Members of the Cowassess First Nation in Saskatchewan planted more than 750 flags identifying undiscovered remains of children sent to the Marieval Indian Residential School operated by the Catholic Church.

In residential school fields.

Take up our call for justice in the land: ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT

CAN CALL

1-855-547-5938

A MURDERED OR MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMAN, TRANS PERSON OR TWO-SPIRIT PERSON

To you from our forgotten hands, We pass a torch; hold it high. Call to account those who made us die We shall not sleep, with little flags we stand In residential school fields.

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 Randy Mayer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, S. Orr, P. Quinn, B. Powless DESIGN Matthew Dessner 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 | facebook.com/NATIONnewsmagazine | Twitter: @creenation_news

4 the Nation July 2, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

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

by Ben Powless

Set to open again Restrictions are lifted nationwide as vaccinations reach critical levels

uebec and Eeyou Istchee were both loosening Covid-related restrictions, as cases continued to drop and vaccination rates climbed. In the past week, the Cree Health Board announced that 221 residents received their second dose of an approved vaccine. The CHB pointed to vaccinations as being responsible for the large drops in Covid-19 cases. Wemindji had the highest rate of full vaccination, with 90% of the community aged 18 and above fully vaccinated. The lowest rate was Waskaganish at 69%, compared with the Canadian average of just over 20%. Waskaganish was leading with first doses among children aged 12-17, with 97% of that population receiving the first vaccine. The CHB will also be implementing gargle testing for Covid-19, meant to be a less intrusive method of detecting the virus, that is already available in OujeBougoumou and Waswanipi. As Quebec announced loosening restrictions, deconfinement measures in Eeyou Istchee still allowed for indoor gatherings of up to 50 people and outdoor gatherings of 150. However, Public Health said it was open to considering applications for indoor and outdoor gatherings beyond those limits. The Cree Nation Government will no longer be enforcing the mandatory self-isolation requirements for individuals who were fully vaccinated as of June 15, regardless of where they have been travelling. The 10-day self-isolation period was still in effect for others. In the announcement, Cree leadership stated that they were confident that fully vaccinated people aren’t likely to catch the coronavirus and are also unlikely to spread it if they do contract it, no matter what variant was present. This announcement mirrored a federal government update that Canadian citizens and residents returning to the country who are fully vaccinated will not

The Cree Nation Government will no longer be enforcing the mandatory self-isolation requirements for individuals who were fully vaccinated as of June 15

have to remain in quarantine at government-approved hotels but will be allowed to quarantine at home until receiving a negative test. Business and tourist groups eager to see cross-border travel resume had pushed for the move. Canada said it was working to develop a vaccine passport program with the United States and other countries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that restrictions may be lifted further in the coming weeks if things go well. The Quebec government has also announced that fully vaccinated contacts of someone who tests positively for the virus will not need to isolate. The Cree School Board had its last day of school for youth and adults on June 16. The CSB plans to resume classes under Scenario A measures in August, where measures may differ from the rest of the province owing to the unique local situations. The CSB said it would work with Public Health to determine the next steps for second doses. As the first-dose vaccine rate across Quebec passed 80%, Premier François Legault said that by June 25, those who have received two doses can gather inside without a mask and up to 3,500 can attend outdoor festivals. As of June 28, the entire province will also move into the Green Zone. This will allow indoor gatherings of 10 people and

outdoor gatherings of up to 20 people, while wedding and funeral limits will be raised from 50 to 250, and outdoor bar and restaurant terraces will allow for up to 20 people per table. The number of daily cases in Quebec dropped below 100 for the first time in nearly 10 months, health officials said. For the first time in 11 months, there were no new cases reported in Quebec City. Nationally, there were under 600 new cases reported, the lowest count in nine months. The first Canadian laboratory equipped to produce Covid-19 vaccines was inaugurated in Montreal, set to begin production of up to 24 million vaccine boosters by spring 2022. While health officials were warning about the new Delta variant, which was responsible for outbreaks in Ontario and other regions, Quebec had so far only documented 35 cases. In northern Ontario, an outbreak in Kashechewan First Nation was beginning to regress. There, 300 people in the community of 1,900 had been reported infected in recent weeks, with a further few hundred awaiting testing, while the community was setting up tents to help isolate sick individuals from others in their households.

www.nationnews.ca July 2, 2021

the Nation 5

Department of Justice and Correctional Services

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CREE CAVAC SERVICES (Crime Victims Assistance Centre) CAVAC or crime victims assistance centre, has been created to help victims overcome the physical, psychological and social consequences of a crime, and to advocate on their behalf to help them obtain compensation for the harm suffered. If you are a victim or witness to a crime, then there are three Cree CAVAC offices that have been established to serve you in the Cree Nation. POST-TRAUMA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION, to assess the needs of victims of crime INFORMATION ON THE RIGHTS CRIME VICTIMS HAVE AND THE REMEDIES INFORM AVAILABLE TO THEM, which encompasses the main stages of judicial process TECHNICAL SERVICES, to assist crime victims in filling out required forms REFERRING VICTIMS TO SPECIALIZED SERVICES, such as appropriate legal, medical, social and community resources capable of assisting victims as they attempt to deal with problems they face ACCOMPANYING CRIME VICTIMS, through their dealings with medical and community resources, and providing sustained support throughout je judicial process as the case proceeds Sexual Violence Prevention Our front-line services are free of charge 819-342-5296 and strictly confidential with you. Cree N rther CAVAC T ll Free: 1 (855≠ 603-6136 Wh pm stu , Ch s s b , Wem dj

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Come and visit us at your local justice facility. For any CAVAC requests please contact: cavacinfo@cngov.ca

www.creejustice.ca

wo weeks after the remains of 215 children were discovered at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Grand Council of the Cree has demanded full cooperation from governments and organizations to support healing in Eeyou Istchee. “Words will not be enough as the bodies of more children are unearthed,” said Grand Chief Abel Bosum. “We will need to honour all of these brave students. Cree leadership is committed to leading the efforts to investigate the residential schools on our territory and we will need access to information from the religious orders that managed them.” There are plans to search and document the two residential school sites on Fort George Island, guided by local groups and Elders to ensure no unnecessary harm is caused during the work. Cree leaders asked governments to assist local groups upon request and to be included in any legislation for establishing public archives of missing or deceased Indigenous persons. As Indigenous communities across Canada embark upon similar initiatives, proposed investigations with ground-penetrating radar at Chisasibi’s former location are seen as an important opportunity to set the standard for respecting this “solemn obligation” to children and families. “The knowledge that the remains of children taken from distant homes will be found on grounds in our community is almost too much to bear,” said Chisasibi Chief Daisy House. “Moving forward will not only be the challenge of documenting the past but of commemorating these sites in a way that captures the love and compassion we feel for all children who attended, for their families and communities.” In recent years, community members have held annual gatherings on the island to share their experiences. The Cree Nation highlighted the need for traditional treatment facilities to respond to the deep scars resulting from the Kamloops discovery and the prospect of finding the remains of more children at other sites. “The legacy of damage caused by residential schools has left our families and communities in pain which need help far beyond the capacity of any one organization,”

News

Shining light on a dark chapter Cree Nation addresses local residential school legacy stated Bertie Wapachee, chair of the Cree health board. “Our land is a healing land, and it does not make sense that in 2021, we still do not have a land-based treatment facility or programs needed to help our people manage old wounds.” The Mîniw chihw ukimikw Land-Based Healing Lodge is now slated to open as early as 2023 near Chisasibi, offering a year-round base for healing in a traditional setting for adults with dependency issues. Wapachee would like to see further investment into training programs for developing local healthcare capacity, particularly mental health specialists. With intergenerational trauma reflected in disproportionate substance abuse, incarceration, youth protection, chronic illness and other repercussions, Wapachee believes that proposed treatment programs will need to collaborate with the appropriate justice, housing and education institutions to effectively heal these complex emotional wounds. The discovery in Kamloops moved Cree leaders to emphasize that the impact of residential schools extends far beyond the pain suffered by former students. With parents and communities left without the vibrant voices of children for 11 months of each year, locals still remember the wave of crying that would spread from tent to tent after the children were taken away. “When you take one of our children, you do profound damage to the soul of our community,” explained House. “What do I say to a grandmother, who to this day gets upset when we disturb the footprints of a child, because during the most painful time in her life all she could do was preserve the footprints of her children as long as she could?”

As residential school survivors often sheltered their children from the abuse they experienced, leaders intend to help youth better understand this painful legacy with curriculum and program development from a trauma-informed approach. The Grand Chief, who attended La Tuque residential school, acknowledged the desire to protect youth from past trauma but said their strength and resilience should not be underestimated. “I held a lot of anger for many years against my mother, thinking she had failed me letting me be taken away and mistreated,” admitted Bosum. “It would be years later as a parent and a grandfather that I only began to understand the depth of pain and suffering. The youth of today deserve as much as the youth of yesterday; answers, explanations and resources to build a better tomorrow free from the terrible shadows of the past.” While education was the pretext for the “institutionalized abduction of children”, it is also seen as the cornerstone for healing and reconciliation. This past year, the Cree School Board launched a revised history curriculum with a new residential school study unit, which covers its racist origins and stories from local survivors before bringing students full circle towards self-empowerment. “Education is a sacred obligation of all societies, and we must ensure that the curricula across the country properly arm all students with lessons from the past,” asserted CSB chairperson Sarah Pashagumskum. “The lens through which history is viewed must be redefined for Canadians to learn stark truths, understand our present situation and take

Photo by Gerardo Salazar

by Patrick Quinn

responsibility for authentic actions of reconciliation.” The CSB’s new curriculum and accompanying toolkit designed specifically for non-Indigenous educators could become a valuable resource for Quebec’s education ministry, which has been widely criticized for ignoring or downplaying Indigenous history. However, Pashagumskum insisted that public education must transcend schools. In addition to sharing both the important contributions and injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples in adult education centres, professional orders and immigration ministries, Cree leaders called for the establishment of an Indian Residential School Museum in both Montreal and Quebec City. Similar to Montreal’s Holocaust Museum, these proposed institutions could help ensure this dark chapter of world history is not forgotten or repeated. Rather than simply displaying the horrors of these schools, Pashagumskum suggested a safe and solemn place where Indigenous parents and youths can come to understand the past by imagining themselves in such oppressive circumstances. “Museums have the power to assert our common humanity even when actions of genocide or dehumanization have taken place,” Pashagumskum stated. “It will be through personal realizations like this that the healing and strengthening bonds of empathy will be built between all peoples.”

www.nationnews.ca July 2, 2021

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In Brief Canada to implement UNDRIP The Cree Nation applauded the long-awaited passage June 21 of Bill C-15, legislation tabled by former NDP MP Romeo Saganash to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). Grand Chief Abel Bosum saluted Saganash’s efforts to achieve this “important milestone in the history of Canada.” “Today represents a tiny sliver of hope in the midst of tragedy,” shared Bosum. “Thanks to your efforts, we are now on the cusp of entering a new relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada. You have earned the most noble of legacies on behalf of all Indigenous peoples.” Saganash introduced two private member’s bills to implement UNDRIP, which was first defeated at second Commons reading in 2014 and then stalled at Senate in 2019. The Liberal government now says it will be used to co-develop laws and policies with Indigenous rights holders, with free, prior and informed consent on anything infringing upon Indigenous lands or rights. The legislation requires review to ensure federal laws, policies and practices are consistent with the Declaration. It recognizes and upholds Indigenous rights to practice their cultures and traditions, to live free from violence and discrimination, and to maintain their unique relationship with traditional territories. “This is the right to make our own decisions based on our own values, through our

own governance institutions,” said Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde. “To appreciate the importance of this right, consider for a moment the horrendous harm that has been done to First Nations children, families and communities through decisions forcibly imposed on us throughout Canada’s history.” Bill C-8 also became law on National Indigenous Peoples Day. It changes Canada’s oath of citizenship to include a new line affirming the treaty rights of the country’s Indigenous peoples.

Mixed response to MMIWG plan Two years after the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) detailed 231 calls for justice, the federal government has responded with its action plan. Co-developed with the National Families and Survivors Circle, Indigenous groups and different levels of government, the 113-page document includes seven categories of short-term priorities that are intended to be implemented over the next three years. Among them are public education campaigns, trauma-informed training for organizations working with Indigenous peoples, over-

sight bodies to address survivors, a national task force to investigate unresolved files, and improving data collection related to MMIWG and Indigenous women in the criminal justice system. Canada also promised $2.2 billion to help implement the inquiry’s recommendations. However, the action plan does not include anticipated costs, expected key outcomes or completion dates. An “implementation plan” is expected this fall. “We’re very concerned that it’s half of a document,” said Lynne Groulx, CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). “How could we ask the families; how could we ask the women to continue to wait? It’s already been two years since the report was handed down with the declaration of genocide.” NWAC had been involved with the action plan but left it in the last week, calling it “toxic

and dysfunctional.” Groulx said they were excluded from the main decision-making processes and couldn’t support the plan’s vagueness and lack of measurable deliverables. Instead, the NWAC released its own plan called “Our Calls, Our Actions”. Its 65 actions intend to expand their land-based resiliency lodges across Canada, advocate for government compensation to MMIWG survivors and families, maintain a national online MMIWG knowledge centre for disseminating information more broadly, and host an MMIWG world summit to raise public awareness. “If the system we have now was working, we wouldn’t have a problem right now,” said Groulx. “They’ll have to earn our trust back. Our healing centre is prevention and intervention – you need to invest in people. It’s time for us to take over.”

In Brief

www.nationnews.ca July 2, 2021

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Features

Meet the candidates The Nation 2021 election special

Candidates for Grand The names are in, and the race is on. Chief and Deputy Grand Chief answer our questions about their plans for the Cree Nation Once again, it’s election time for the top positions of the Grand Council of the Crees and the Cree Nation Government. Advance polls open July 7 and election day is July 14 to decide which two of the hopeful candidates will helm the CNG for the next four years. This year’s vote will be hotly contested, with Deputy Grand Chief Mandy Gull and musician Pakesso Mukash challenging current Grand Chief Abel Bosum for the top job. Three candidates are running for Deputy Grand Chief. They include Ashley Iserhoff, who held the job from 2005-2009, Cree Justice Coordinator Donald Nicholls, and Ouje-Bougoumou Natural Resources Director Norman Wapachee. 10 the Nation July 2, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CANDIDATES FOR GRAND CHIEF •

Abel Bosum

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1) With housing being a big topic, what would you see done to address the lack of housing? What are the priorities with regards to funding or training needed for the Cree Nation to be able to deal with this issue? Access for all Crees to decent, affordable housing is a top priority for me as it continues to be a major priority for the Cree Nation. During my current term of office, I am very proud of the achievements we have made so far, and my priority is to build on those achievements. Over the last four years, we worked in close collaboration with all the communities to put in place an ambitious and comprehensive Cree Nation Housing Strategy to address all sectors of the housing market. Private homeownership by Cree people is one of the cornerstones of our Strategy, which also seeks to address the needs of those who will continue to require support, including families, Cree Elders, trappers, persons with disabilities and our youth population. The Cree Nation Housing Strategy has enormous potential for unlocking wealth for the Cree Nation and Cree individuals and for stimulating our local Cree economies while, at the same time, creating employment and solving a number of persistent social issues related to overcrowded housing. One of the important consequences of implementing our Cree Nation Housing Strategy is that we will be in a position to address the housing needs of our young people who leave for college and university and come back looking for jobs and housing. During my term of office: • We have established a new Community Private Housing Initiative to encourage Cree access to private homeownership and to facilitate the short-term construc-

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tion of at least 1,000 new private housing units in the Cree communities. We have put in place various measures to encourage and support those Cree individuals who wish to do so to move from rented social housing units to private home ownership. We have created a $100 million Private Housing Fund to provide financial support for a large segment of our Cree population who qualify for private housing. We have effectively established private property rights in Eeyou Istchee through the removal of the 75-year limit on land rights to enable Cree homeowners, for the first time, to build up equity in their homes, and to allow them to sell their homes to other Crees or to pass them on to their children. This is a watershed moment for the Crees, which will accelerate the creation of a robust real estate market in the Cree communities. We have secured recognition of Cree land rights by a number of major financial institutions in Canada, and we have worked with them and other key players to find concrete solutions and remove obstacles to make it easier for Cree individuals to access homeownership and mortgage loans.

Through our private housing initiative, it will be possible to provide our people with opportunities to build their own homes while, at the same time, we will be able to free up social housing for those who genuinely need it. Now that we have opened the door to true ownership and provided resources so people can access it more quickly, we will all have to work together to bring the cost of construction down. This will require all entities, communities and the Cree Nation Government (CNG) working together. We must be able to give all community members choices while ensuring that the economic development opportunity represented by housing stays in Eeyou Istchee. We have continued to have discussions and to develop partnerships with both the Governments of Quebec and Canada, to see how they can contribute to our Cree Nation Housing Strategy and become part of the

solution – particularly in the area of social housing. Even if we make significant increases in private housing, social housing will always be very important in our communities. We have requested new investment from the Government of Canada of over $260 million over 10 years, in addition to existing commitments. We are also seeking to assume greater responsibility for developing and implementing our own housing programs that truly meet the needs and realities of our communities. These discussions will continue so that we can continue to develop a more robust housing initiative for our people. We know how to do this, and we will. We have come a long way in the last four years, and we finally have a solid foundation upon which we can build, in the next four years, affordable and sustainable housing solutions for all our members of the Cree Nation. 2) Do you have any plans or ideas to deal with the issue of homeless Cree, including the “hidden homeless” who are forced with stay with friends or relatives, both within Eeyou Istchee and in urban centres like Val-d’Or, Montreal, and Ottawa? The question of homeless Cree people who are staying with relatives within our communities or in urban centres is directly related to the availability of housing in our communities especially the type of housing. It comes back to choices; our people need access to choices. There needs to be a greater variety of housing options in the community. Where are the bachelor units, for example? We need to build units that reflect the needs of our communities, family sizes are changing, people are waiting before starting families, these people need options. The Cree Nation is changing very quickly and to make sure that no one is left behind we need to work together as a Nation, free from the programs or restrictions of outside governments and be imaginative. We have recently secured over $20 million from the Government of Canada to address the immediate needs of homeless and other vulnerable peoples in our communities through the Rapid Housing Initiative and the Reaching Home Program. Addressing the needs of homeless and other vulnerable peoples in our com-

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munities is a central part of our Cree Nation Housing Strategy and of our Cree proposal for a partnership with Canada and Quebec. 3) The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong healthcare system. What would be your priorities for health care, including for patients who have to seek treatment outside of the territory, and what if any changes would you like to see? I consider that the major lesson we have all taken to heart during the Covid-19 pandemic is that with the adequate resources – financial resources and human resources – we ourselves are in the best position to address any and all challenges that come before us. I am very proud of the fact that the Cree Nation, through our Cree institutions together with our communities, have been able to stay safe during this pandemic and we have not experienced any serious outbreak of the Covid-19 virus in any of our communities. We have been able to stay safe by taking things into our own hands and we didn’t wait for anyone else to solve our problems. Over the course of my first term in office, we were able to successfully negotiate a very robust funding agreement for our Cree Board of Health and Social Services. This has given us the resources that will permit us to continue to address our own priorities in the area of health and social services, and we will do so ourselves – chiiyaanuu, together, and in the spirit of niikaanihch, setting our own priorities and setting the path forward. We got through this pandemic, but it has demonstrated that we are too reliant on services outside Eeyou Istchee that need to be available inside Eeyou Istchee. During the pandemic too many people skipped important medical appointments because they were afraid to go to an area of risk, while they knew that the safest place was inside their community. I don’t blame them, both my wife and I found medical appointments in the south very difficult and challenging. We followed numerous self-isolations and it wasn’t easy. We need to bring those services home. The priority should be developing the capacity at home first; second it should be importing the services or making it available remotely in our communities; and the last choice should be sending our people away for health services. Even when there is no pandemic, when you are having medical issues, you want to be with your family not with strangers, building the capacity to care for our people at home is very important. The CNG can assist with negotiations with the Quebec government

and help ensure that the infrastructure is there in our region. 4) Environment and sustainability are long-term challenges. What are some of the challenges you’d want to address? How would you help ensure the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting practices, including protecting caribou populations, moose populations, and populations of fish and waterfowl? We have an excellent record on environmental matters, we have the highest ratio of protected areas in the province, we have prevented and will continue to prevent uranium mining in Eeyou Istchee, and in my first year I even prevented Hydro-Québec from even proposing a project on the Nottaway River. These are very important, but we can do so much more. The Cree Trappers’ Association has successfully developed and implemented a college-accredited program for traditional activity with our support. This is extremely important as a first step to lifting up the role of hunters and trappers. Hunters and trappers, the men and women who live on the land, are our professionals. We need to treat them as our most respected professionals. This means changing the Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Program so that it does not treat them like welfare recipients, so that it does not punish them if they participate in works to protect the land, the wildlife or repair damage that has been done to the land. The cap on the amount that can be contributed to the Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Program must be removed. It is one thing to create a protected area or designate wildlife that needs our special attention, it is another to manage these areas or be responsible for the management of wildlife. We are in discussions with Quebec right now to define the management role the Cree Nation will play in managing protected areas and the Ministers of Wildlife and Native Affairs and I all agreed to set up table to discuss wildlife management where I know we can demonstrate that with the incredible skill of our hunters and trappers, local administrations and regional capacity we are the most credible to be managing wildlife in Eeyou Istchee. It was Cree hunters and trappers who saved the beaver population when they collapsed long ago, they will always be the ones best suited to protect wildlife so that they will always be there for future generations.

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5) How would you deal with the issue of food security, and ensuring that people have access to good quality food? Our people need choice and we should always demand choice. We need to get away from the colonial model that was always applied to us. It was the Hudson’s Bay manager who decided what would be available locally, it was priests and nuns who would decide what we ate at residential school. Why should we let this continue? Why should we not demand the same service and choices that exist in the south? I was proud to see numerous initiatives during my term for the development of local greenhouses, developing local capacity is always good and we should always do what we can to support this local capacity. Again, this pandemic has taught us a lot and how we need to be more self-reliant. When it comes to food aside from focusing on the healthiest food for us, which is the food that comes from the land, we need to support and develop the transportation infrastructure needed to deliver quality fresh food in our communities. Before the pandemic it was always a non-Native businessman who would arrive with frozen meats or other goods in our communities. I started to see our own people working to fulfill this service, this is what we need to support. It might sound strange but we need to become more demanding of the services that we are provided. 6) There are concerns often raised that young people in particular aren’t learning as much Cree language and culture. How do you help to get young people to want to learn more about their history, language and culture? Preserving our Cree language is certainly a challenge, and there is not just one way to do that. I am proud that the very first law that we adopted after signing our last self-government agreement with Canada was the adoption of the Cree Language Act. That says a lot when our first legislative act was to promote and protect our language. The Act established the Cree Language Commission, and we appointed Jamie Moses as the first Cree Language Commissioner. This will provide a focus and the resources to undertake important program development aimed at protecting and promoting our Cree language. It is good to see that communities are adopting their own language acts and naming commissioners because it is going to take all entities and local governments working together to promote and protect our language.

I believe that promoting the traditional way of life as a professional will also indirectly encourage the use of our Cree language and ensure its protection. Since our traditional land-users are the protectors, not only of our land, but our Cree language, we have taken measures to enhance the economic viability of the traditional Cree way of life. These, and other initiatives – taken together – all contribute to the use, the promotion and the protection of the Cree way of life. Even initiatives such as our repatriation of the “Gunner Hood” to the Cree Nation have a significant role to play. Actions such as this, and there will be more similar ones as we continue to repatriate Cree objects which are found in museums around the world, speak to the beauty and the integrity of our culture. It will be through such actions, and the things that we all do on a day-to-day basis, that will continue to inspire our youth to deepen their ties to our culture and language. So, it is not just one thing – it will be many things that will contribute to the enhancement of our Cree language, and I commit to continuing on this vital path. 7) Are there any concerns you want to address with policing, or ways you envision changing or enhancing policing in the Cree communities? Most of the issues that we must address as a Nation in enhancing policing in our communities come down to issues around human and financial resources required to increase the level of effective peacekeeping and policing in our communities, and to further adapt our approach to policing to better address the realities in our communities – culturally and socially. I am pleased that during our first term in office, we have secured a first-ever longterm 10-year funding agreement, including for the first-time capital resources to support precisely these kinds of enhancements. These funding agreements provide the Cree Nation with the financial capacity and longterm financial security to plan and implement a truly Cree Police Force adapted to our cultural and social needs. The most important challenge we face at present is one of capacity building. We now have the financial resources to engage fully qualified Cree police officers however, our challenge is attracting and retaining our local people to ensure that the EEPF can in fact deliver culturally and socially relevant services to our communities. The EEPF and our Human Resources Department have now developed several

new training and employment initiatives which will allow us to attract more Cree persons who wish to develop a career in policing. We are also developing new compensation and incentive programs aimed at ensuring that the EEPF has truly attractive working conditions which are competitive in all environments. If reelected, we will in the coming months be introducing the kind of changes that will increase the sense of security and safety for people in our communities. 8) Are there any other issues that you would make a priority? We all feel that our world is changing quickly, and we are being asked to adapt too quickly and we must not underestimate the pressure on our youth. They are the first to feel the pressures of changes in technology and the isolation that seems to be associated with the modern world. Many are taking that brave step of going off to post-secondary school to better themselves so that they can come home and contribute to the future of our communities. Are we doing all we can to ensure that they have housing options when they come home? We should, because they represent a sound investment in housing, they have been reliable renters paying their rent consistently for years before coming home. Are we giving them enough housing options? Not everybody wants or needs a 3or 4-bedroom house as their first house. Most importantly are we offering them employment opportunities at home? Not everyone wants to work on a worksite away from home. There is so much work being carried out in Eeyou Istchee, why are the administrative and professional services associated with these works not being delivered from our communities? The pandemic has demonstrated that it is not true that these jobs need to be based in urban centres. We have been working on a proposal which will require any company working in Eeyou Istchee to invest in employment development in our communities. Our communities need our youth and they need us. Over recent weeks, we have needed each other even more as we have all been traumatized by the revelations from the Kamloops Indian Residential School. It has been hard to think about anything other than the tragic and horrifying discoveries of the unmarked graves of 215 innocent children. For those who went to Residential School it brings up terrible memories and for those who did not go to residential schools it raises terrible questions and fears because it is hard

as a parent to share with your children what you went through. I am afraid that things will get harder as we support the Cree Nation of Chisasibi as the Residential School sites in Fort George are secured and investigated. It will get harder as we get more news from the other Residential Schools across Canada where our people were also taken. We will need to come together as friends, families and communities. We survived Residential School by sticking together, protecting each other and caring for each other. This is what we need to do today. I support the measures on the part of several of our communities to cancel Canada Day celebrations this year. Let this Canada Day be a time when, collectively, we declare that we must now close the chapter on colonialism, dispossession, systemic racism and hatred once and for all. The Cree Nation has done exceptionally well despite all the adversity we have faced, and we can do even better, and we will do even better.

Mandy Gull 1) With housing being a big topic, what would you see done to address the lack of housing? What are the priorities with regards to funding or training needed for the Cree Nation to be able to deal with this issue? Housing, unfortunately, continues to be a significant issue despite the many programs put into place. I truly think that we need to re-define what we see as lack of housing and look at the root cause – one that I see as a “barrier to accessing housing.” That barrier consists of many elements, one being the lack of training provided to those seeking home ownership. We have to empower those wanting to build a private home with information and tools to understand the responsibility and work required to purchase their own home. Once we truly understand the financial tool of home ownership, I think we will transition until having a larger and more substantive housing market. A major contributing barrier is the cost of housing – we are in a position that we must

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truly challenge ourselves to think outside of the box for housing. First is evaluating the cost of materials and look at bulk buying materials for distribution at the local level to reduce the outrageous expense of building a home in the community. Further I strongly encourage seeking alternative materials and building styles to move away from stick built as the cost of lumber is extremely high. 2) Do you have any plans or ideas to deal with the issue of homeless Cree, including the “hidden homeless” who are forced with stay with friends or relatives, both within Eeyou Istchee and in urban centres like Vald’Or, Montreal, and Ottawa? I had the opportunity as part of my work with the justice committee to have a bit of insight into this issue and gain some knowledge on existing programs that we are putting into place. I do not think we can deal with homelessness by simply looking at homelessness itself, but we have to have a better understanding of the root cause. This is an issue that we have to be more proficient at responding to by actually addressing it and being aware that we have a responsibility to understand why Cree Nation members are facing this issue. 3) The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong healthcare system. What would be your priorities for health care, including for patients who have to seek treatment outside of the territory, and what if any changes would you like to see? My family was one that was severely impacted by Covid-19 with the loss of my father-in-law. I hope to see a reevaluation of our patients seeking medical care for reoccurring illnesses. I find it challenging that we have to travel outside of the territory, but we need to have better protocols in place to address preventative healthcare Especially when we see so many patients going to the clinic numerous times before they are provided with additional follow-up. A role as a government is to support the healthcare system and I truly believe that those who are in place right now are open and willing to collaborate on creating a stronger Cree model of healthcare. 4) Environment and sustainability are long-term challenges. What are some of the challenges you’d want to address? How would you help ensure the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting practices, including protecting caribou populations,

moose populations, and populations of fish and waterfowl? We need to assert more governance over the land by creating our own environmental and cultural legislation that outlines key regulations with respect to Cree culture. We need to go beyond our present position and use the tools we have as Crees. We need to understand the critical state of wildlife. There is a serious need to undertake our own scientific and cultural studies to understand the impact on the wildlife. Further, we have to supplement this with creating greater access to the territory. We need to develop more programs that will encourage the youth to go out and be hunters and continue learning our way of life and culture. We can only ensure sustainability if we have crews that are working to preserve wildlife according to our traditional values and more needs to be done to pass on those teachings. 6) There are concerns often raised that young people in particular aren’t learning as much Cree language and culture. How do you help to get young people to want to learn more about their history, language and culture? This issue is a cornerstone of my platform. I’m very concerned about preservation of language and ensuring that we all have enough tools to learn our language and culture. At the moment, we have one person, Jamie Moses, who is our first Cree Language Commissioner, but that’s not enough for the large amount of work that needs to be done. I believe he needs to have an organization supporting his work. I’m one of the people who worked really hard to regain lost language skills and I’m very proud of that. I want to ensure that others feel that way and I believe that starts with providing them with more tools which will mean a serious investment of Cree funds. 7) Are there any concerns you want to address with policing, or ways you envision changing or enhancing policing in the Cree communities? About five years ago we had a comprehensive policing assessment presented at the council board and yet we haven’t undertaken a new review of the findings of that report or analyzed if the solutions offered are working for us. I believe in the continued review of government. This is not a one-time approach and that applies to all our departments and social services, like policing. We must evaluate if the services we are offering to the peo-

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ple are performing to the best of their ability and meeting the needs of our members. This is something I would like to ensure is continuously carried out. 8) Are there any other issues that you would make a priority? I believe that the Cree Nation needs to look into the future and carry out a visioning exercise based on actual population statistics. For example, five years from now we will see a boom of young children who are entering into school, and 15 years after that we will see a large group of people entering the workforce. Ten years after that an exponential growth of families are going to create a high demand on the programs and services at both the regional and local level. I’m looking 40 years into the future to create an Eeyou Istchee that will support their needs, so that we will have the tools, language and teachings in place for them to continue being proud of their Cree identity. Every level of leadership wants to have a greater say in making decisions and we must ensure a collaborative approach to achieve that goal. We have a lot of work to do on the current state of the nation, but we also have the obligation to continuously plan for those who are coming after us. We need to have a strong financial plan to meet their needs. This is why these two elements are important components in my campaign platform.

CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF Ashley Iserhoff 1) With housing being a big topic, what would you see done to address the lack of housing? What are the priorities with regards to funding or training needed for

the Cree Nation to be able to deal with this issue? This is an issue that is always brought up at election time, promises are made, however, it seems to be still an issue today. We seem to be waiting on governments to fulfil their obligations; however, we will not catch up with the backlog with the way we are going. I believe we need to be innovative and think outside the box so that we can have more housing available. One idea that comes to mind is the regional organizations can open their housing to Cree people who are employees. Working with the leadership, we can invest more resources into housing, I am aware the Cree Nation Government is working on addressing it. Encouraging those who can build, we should have an easier system to support them. 2) Do you have any plans or ideas to deal with the issue of homeless Cree, including the “hidden homeless” who are forced with stay with friends or relatives, both within Eeyou Istchee and in urban centres like Vald’Or, Montreal and Ottawa? I’ve sat with people who are homeless in Mistissini, because of my previous role as Director of Health & Social Development, I heard many stories of the challenges people face when they’re homeless. In my discussions an idea that we had was to build small homes as a pilot project, to help the single people who are homeless, and we do know there are some families that are in the same situation. I hope it’s being done this summer in a few of the communities. Being innovative is key and I can tell you that we do have financial resources that can address the homeless situation. Many who are out, do want to come home, we must make it happen. With this, I would work with the leadership in the communities to address it. 3) The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong healthcare system. What would be your priorities for health care, including for patients who have to seek treatment outside of the territory, and what if any changes would you like to see? I brought up the issue at a leadership call last August 2020 that would have to face mental health and strategize on the after-effects of the pandemic. Many people’s traumas might have come back with all the restrictions and protocols we had. It was a very challenging time for all of us. In my managerial role in Mistissini, the strategy has been to always work with stakeholders,

working with the Cree Health Board in this and community health departments would be important. I know we were able to have a support mechanism in Mistissini and it’s still on-going today. There are lot of patients who want to come home and receive care in Eeyou Istchee, specialized conditions do require specialized professionals to have services in our community. I do know the CSB is addressing this, and I would continue to advocate both with the CHB and working with governments for resources. 4) Environment and sustainability are long-term challenges. What are some of the challenges you’d want to address? How would you help ensure the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting practices, including protecting caribou populations, moose populations, and populations of fish and waterfowl? Cree Elders have taught us to always protect Eeyou Istchee, major decisions that are made today will have an impact on future generations, therefore, we do need to be mindful of this. There can be development, but at the same time, if we assess certain projects that are not compatible with the Cree way, we can simply say no. In 2012, when I was Deputy Grand Chief, I spoke at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearings where I stated the Cree Nation was not interested in uranium development. Whatever happens out in Eeyou Istchee, it will affect everything that survives off the land. We have to make responsible decisions so that we can continue our way of life. We do have environmental regimes under the JBNQA that reviews all projects whether they are acceptable or not. 5) How would you deal with the issue of food security, and ensuring that people have access to good quality food? With the growing health concerns in Eeyou Istchee, food seems to be costlier than a few years ago. Processed food is purchased more because it’s cheaper. I think creating a sustainable program of having Cree food readily available for the vulnerable. If it’s not done yet, perhaps a program that can help from the Cree Trappers’ Association to provide traditional food in the communities at a reasonable cost, we should look at it and create new opportunities. I do know at provincial and federal governments, there are incentives for northern communities and working with food suppliers so that good quality good can be distributed throughout the communities at an affordable price.

6) There are concerns often raised that young people in particular aren’t learning as much Cree language and culture. How do you help to get young people to want to learn more about their history, language and culture? I grew up in Montreal part of my life. One of the attractions of coming back after I was done school was seeing the Cree people being bold and I was proud of our people standing up for what was right. They knew certain development projects would have a negative impact out in Eeyou Istchee. I think stories of our own history will inspire our young people to learn about us. I know our young people love being out on the land. I was once young, I almost lost speaking Cree, I came home and sat with many people and learned. Using our own history and teaching it to our young people is important, using our own people to share the stories. I know the Cree School Board has started the process, even the stories of the residential schools, more recently the 215 children who were found, we are slowly hearing of more stories of what our people faced. 7) Are there any concerns you want to address with policing, or ways you envision changing or enhancing policing in the Cree communities? Police are there to protect and serve our communities. Back in 2016, I remember we had one police officer working when a major community event happened. I was surprised when I was informed there was only one working. Before I was appointed as the Police Commissioner by the Council/Board, these were concerns that I already brought up to the negotiating team, however, I was informed funders wouldn’t fund more officers per community. We do need more officers in our communities. We do need to address the drugs situation because it is tearing a lot of families apart and leads to addictions. One way to enhance policing is to change the way we deliver the services; we need to look at the service as people who are helping our communities to be safe and secure. I’m proud of our officers who are doing an amazing job despite the number of officers out on patrol. 8) Are there any other issues that you would make a priority? If I am elected, my plan would be to review the resolutions that were passed from general assemblies and follow up because the Cree Nation Government is there to support the communities. I’ve always worked

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with local leadership in my previous mandate as Deputy Grand Chief. I remember many stories of people sharing the time when the JBNQA was negotiated, our trappers and hunters were the ones who spoke on our behalf. If they didn’t take that stand and speak for future generations, I don’t think we would be where we are today. They spoke not just for themselves, but for future generations. We have the responsibility to ensure the Cree Trappers’ Association and other Cree organizations which promote our way of life, the arts, our children and youth, our women, our education system, our health system, to name a few is supported by Cree leadership and to never look down on the organizations. They help a great deal with all of the challenges we face. We should be building our people, our communities and our future, not just with infrastructure but helping our people.

Donald Nicholls 1) With housing being a big topic, what would you see done to address the lack of housing? What are the priorities with regards to funding or training needed for the Cree Nation to be able to deal with this issue? Housing is something that I take the opportunity to speak about every time I am before the government since the Cree Nation Government emphasized it at the Viens Commission. It relates to so many other issues in our Nation and our overall standard of living. We need to build a nation of builders. I have advocated for a YouthBuild-type program in the Cree Nation. This program has been successful with Indigenous Peoples and in inner-city neighbourhoods in the USA for over 40 years. It allows students to learn trades and work on construction sites while in secondary school. The trade unions, or in our case the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), would allow them to accumulate hours towards their levels of certification should the students wish to pursue a trade. If we give our youth the tools they need to build, then the future in housing is surely theirs. It goes without saying, that we also need to ensure that Cree workers are a

part of any work site within the Cree Nation. It is important that we build up our trades and professions; this was never more apparent than during the last two years of construction when Covid-19 measures prevented us from engaging in important building projects and homes in our Nation. We’ve also begun a project in Justice and Corrections to build transitional housing for those returning to our communities for any number of reasons. 2) Do you have any plans or ideas to deal with the issue of homeless Cree, including the “hidden homeless” who are forced with stay with friends or relatives, both within Eeyou Istchee and in urban centres like Vald’Or, Montreal and Ottawa? The transitional housing that we have been waiting to build in Justice for the last few years will have spaces for those who find themselves homeless. We have received a grant from the government to pay for some “tiny homes” in the communities to address this issue. The only thing that is delaying these projects is the lack of construction during Covid-19. If we can provide an environment where people with socio-economic barriers can receive support, services and training, then they will have the opportunity to take the next steps in their lives. As we look at this issue together, it is important to acknowledge the “hidden” needs as well. At the beginning of this year, I was contacted by the Cree Health Board to participate in building some shelters, and I agreed wholeheartedly that we would be available to discuss a collaboration on these types of services. As for urban centres, I was asked to sit on a provincial table looking at needs for Cree who access services in Chibougamau, and most recently, looked at a project by the Val-d’Or Friendship Centre on possible collaborations that would help address homelessness. It is one of those solutions where partners matter. 3) The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong healthcare system. What would be your priorities for health care, including for patients who have to seek treatment outside of the territory, and what if any changes would you like to see? Healthcare is a concern to everyone. During the pandemic we have done well with isolation measures, but we need to build our healthcare capacity for the future. What will we do with future pandemics or waves or other health issues that may arise? H1N1, SARS, … were not that long ago, and what was our response? We need to impress upon the Ministry of Health that it is time to build

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capacity and essential services within our Health Board – equipment and training for personnel to deal with respiratory pandemics, for example. Now is the time to look at what we can build. We have become so good at monitoring Covid-19 and how it is tracking through our Nation, regions, province or countries, that perhaps we could apply this to other areas of health concern such as cancer or other health conditions within our Nation. We have increased the use of telemedicine during the pandemic, we should see how this has impacted the overall healthcare in our communities. As a Nation, we are now more connected on this issue than ever before and can think about ways we can work together to improve. 4) Environment and sustainability are long-term challenges. What are some of the challenges you’d want to address? How would you help ensure the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting practices, including protecting caribou populations, moose populations, and populations of fish and waterfowl? We are vigilant on the environment as the land is our strength. It is intricately connected to our culture and the exercise of our traditional activities. To look at sustainability of the land, there is a Department of Environment with expertise, impact-assessment committees, organizations such as the Cree Trappers’ Association, tallymen and now the newly created land keepers who can contribute to the monitoring of land in terms of traditional harvesting activities. Each group also has ideas to ensure populations of moose, caribou, fish and waterfowl are preserved for current and future generations of Cree hunters. If we start from the understanding of the importance of our lands and culture to our people, then we cannot help but come up with solutions. It was not long ago that youth stood up to uranium development in the Cree Nation and that our leaders paddled their way to Earth Day in New York City to protect the Cree lifestyle and our environment. 5) How would you deal with the issue of food security, and ensuring that people have access to good quality food? Food security is a key issue for us as a Nation, as this was a big concern during the pandemic. The governments guaranteed that the food supply chain would not be interrupted, and the delivery vehicles for essential services like food were exempt from isolation measures. While this was the case during the pandemic, should we not now take the oppor-

tunity to plan for a future? I know some communities have been looking at greenhouses and types of food crops they can grow in their areas. As mentioned above to ensure sustainable harvesting of animals, waterfowl and fish is important as these are staples in our food supply. People are also doing smart gardens in their homes with herbs and small plants. This technology of using lights and water can be used to grow larger crops in any indoor environment. There can be community gardens at schools to teach children on how to grow food, and to help them learn about the type of natural foods that are in our environment already. I know there are cranberry harvests, berries, mushrooms, Labrador tea, and many other plants we could use for food in our environment. 6) There are concerns often raised that young people in particular aren’t learning as much Cree language and culture. How do you help to get young people to want to learn more about their history, language and culture? One of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was to put in all our schools age-appropriate learning on the residential schools. Youth should not be learning from media about such an important issue. The TRC and the recently passed Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples support education on culture, language and history. We need to breathe life into these documents by including them in our schools. I know the Cree School Board has a working group on the history curriculum, and that there are culture classes and Cree as a language of instruction; however, learning should still be on the land as well. I would continue to support and advocate for land-based programs where young people can learn the culture and history in the setting it has traditionally been taught in. In the summers, there are youth canoe brigades and, in the winter, wellness walks and traditional hunts. There must be opportunities for youth to be on the land and in environments where naturally they would practice and learn about the culture and language associated with that activity. There is an interesting program run in another Indigenous Nation – when a student graduates from secondary school, before going to school in the south they have the opportunity to go on the land for a few months to learn traditional skills, culture and history. However, we do have cultural breaks throughout our year where families get to return to the land as well.

7) Are there any concerns you want to address with policing, or ways you envision changing or enhancing policing in the Cree communities? Policing is an essential frontline service in our communities. I know that recruitment is an issue as those who want to become Cree police officers may have issues with some of the requirements even though those requirements may not apply to the work they will ultimately do in their communities. The police launched and have been promoting a Neighbourhood Watch program to create more connections with community members to address public safety together. The Eeyou Eenou Police Force has also been looking at more community policing options especially with alternative measures. This would mean that, in appropriate cases, people would go to programs instead of courts. So, this means we need to build programs in our communities for these individuals, to better support them and to reduce harm to individuals going through the system. This approach would also address underlying causes of crime, and likely reduce the incidence of recidivism so increase community well-being and sense of safety. 8) Are there any other issues that you would make a priority? My priority would be to work collaboratively with people. I believe that many of the answers we need are already here within our people. We have a whole nation of people thinking about our economy, culture, housing, healthcare, development, language, education, environment, and many other areas. We need a more formal mechanism to be able to listen. Another area I would like to advocate for is a land-based youth addictions program. Our Elders say the land heals, and the idea of helping someone earlier in their life with an issue just makes sense. When visiting a youth addictions facility that uses both an institute and the land, their philosophy was that a youth should spend six weeks on the land learning to take care of their basic needs. They believed that once a youth learns how to address their physical needs, they can then apply it to address their addiction. A youth generally spends 14 months in the program before reaching a level of emotional maturity to handle their addiction. With our connection to the land, we could do more to help our youth to heal. Studies have shown that land-based therapy is as much as six times as effective as programs in institutions.

Norman Wapachee 1) With housing being a big topic, what would you see done to address the lack of housing? What are the priorities with regards to funding or training needed for the Cree Nation to be able to deal with this issue? Similar to other First Nation communities, housing has been an outstanding issue in the Cree communities. The increase in housing need has outpaced the number of available social housing and rental units. Contemporarily, we have various housing programs. We have social housing, rental units/ apartments and some established private home ownership programs. In some cases, we have tried to start a revolving fund loan system that would enable us to build more houses if tenants/ homeowners paid into the program. Unfortunately, unpaid debts leave communities in a deficit. In addition, poor housing conditions of existing homes is issue. Public education and responsibilities on home maintenance must be addressed. CNG’s private housing initiative is indeed an excellent program for families – families that are ready for private housing. I believe we need to further develop, design and modify the CNG’s housing initiative with the communities. We need to take a bottom-up approach to ensure low-income families are not left out in the cold. They ought to be a priority. We are aware that federal funding is insufficient. We need to find an innovative community-driven approach to build private, social housing and apartments and explore various possible ways to create a revolving fund that is realistic and sustainable. 2) Do you have any plans or ideas to deal with the issue of homeless Cree, including the “hidden homeless” who are forced with stay with friends or relatives, both within Eeyou Istchee and in urban centres like Vald’Or, Montreal and Ottawa? Homelessness is a reality in Cree communities as well as in the urban centres. We need to seriously consider taking this reality into account when we talk about our housing needs. In order to address homelessness in our communities, we need to explore pro-

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grams such as alternative housing, multi-generational housing, tiny homes, or modular housing, one-bedroom apartments to address homelessness in our communities. When shelter is not available, hidden homeless community members also need a shelter to hang out during the days. Each summer I spend a couple of weeks in Pekuakami (Mashteuiatsh), I have a couple of friends I usually spend time with. I never knew they were homeless. When I found out, I went to spend time with them at a community shelter. The place was clean; a caretaker was present during opening hours; it had a TV room, a small library, a pool table and a large-sized refrigerator. Community/ family members, and friends would bring various types of foods and drinks for the homeless. I felt welcomed… I felt comfortable. In an urban setting, Cree homelessness is a reality too. We need to consider building partnerships with Native friendship Centers or other Indigenous organization that deal with similar issues. 3) The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong healthcare system. What would be your priorities for health care, including for patients who have to seek treatment outside of the territory, and what if any changes would you like to see? The pandemic placed us all in a tough situation. I must commend our healthcare providers, frontline workers, staff and volunteers in their efforts to meet the needs of our people. I found that when the situation escalated, the harder it was for our people, especially the ones who required special medical care outside the Cree territory. The lack of adequate services required them to go into restricted areas, and also required them to isolate for 14 days upon return. We have lost a few members down south due to the pandemic. Our Elders found it extremely difficult when loved ones were unable to visit them. Mental health issues escalated within our communities. It would be worthwhile to do a study on the physical, mental and emotional impacts of the pandemic. Our findings, information/ data would definitely help us revamp our healthcare system and better prepare ourselves for the future. 4) Environment and sustainability are long-term challenges. What are some of the challenges you’d want to address? How would you help ensure the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting practices, including protecting caribou populations, moose populations, and populations of fish and waterfowl?

Resource development is inevitable and so is climate change. With the combination of accumulative impacts of resource development and climate change, we must pay close attention to the potential global environmental impacts and find ways to adapt to climate changes. The challenge we have ahead of us is to ensure the protection of our lands and resources. Our aim is to protect 50% of Eeyou Istchee from industrial development. We must move towards the creation of additional parks, protected areas and biodiversity reserves. We must ensure that all resource development activities are compatible with the Cree way of life and make sure that there is a balance between development and environment. I believe the CNG initiated a Land Keepers program that is designed to monitor activities, climate change and wildlife. In addition, it is important that the CNG, Cree Trappers’ Association and communities continue working together on a wildlife management program(s) to protect moose, caribou and various species of marine life. 5) How would you deal with the issue of food security, and ensuring that people have access to good quality food? The land has always been the number one provider of our basic human needs. It offers an abundance of wildlife, marine life and waterfowls as a source of healthy traditional foods. Active Cree hunters/ gatherers and land users have continuously accessed traditional foods to provide for themselves, families and Elders. I believe there is a need to initiate innovative community-based programs that allows active and knowledgeable Cree hunters/ gatherers bring young people out on the land to harvest, maintain and prepare nutritious traditional foods; and make them accessible to community members that depend on it. Agriculture is another great way of making sure good quality food is available to the Cree. As part of a self-reliance initiative in OBCN’s early years, we had a plan to go into agriculture. At the time, we had talked about conducting a study to see if farming would work in our region. We never actually realized the project. However, the project still comes up at our community planning sessions. Currently, we are slowly moving towards a greenhouse project in Ouje-Bougoumou. To ensure Cree good quality food is always made available in Cree communities, we must make sure our transportation of goods/ foods into our regions is not significantly interrupted or discontinued due to a pandemic or something.

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6) There are concerns often raised that young people in particular aren’t learning as much Cree language and culture. How do you help to get young people to want to learn more about their history, language and culture? First of all, transmission of Cree language, culture and values need to start at home. Unfortunately, I find it very difficult to carry out this responsibility effectively especially when one resides in the community. Nevertheless, we, as Cree parents, need to bring our little ones to our permanent/ seasonal bush camps and have them participate in our daily traditional activities. Their love for the land, customs and traditions will increasingly develop over the years as well as their sense of identity. We must remember our children learn through observation – the natural process of individual development. Our current educational system can help but it has its limitations. Our place of learning (schools) is located in our communities; and our Cree culture/ language classes are not taught out on the land. We are disconnected from our traditional way of life. Our modern lifestyle has significantly changed. I recall a time when our Cree culture teacher, Elder, Alfred Coon Come, took us out on the land for a whole week. We left Mistissini on snowshoes, pulled our toboggans/ gear, setup camp, cut firewood, place boughs in our camp, snare rabbits, prepare moose meat stew and bannock. It was a great and a memorable experience. Land-based traditional programs are essential in the protection, preservation and promotion of Cree culture and language. 7) Are there any concerns you want to address with policing, or ways you envision changing or enhancing policing in the Cree communities? Recruitment of Cree workforce in policing and correctional services is an ongoing issue. If the desire to increase the Cree workforce in both sectors is there, I believe we need to come together; find core issues and innovative ways to attract, engage and retain a committed Cree workforce in the Eeyou/ Eenou Police Force. 8) Are there any other issues that you would make a priority? The health and wellbeing of Eeyou/ Eenou life is my priority. This includes physical, mental and spiritual well-being of Eeyou/ Eenou; land, housing and the protection/ preservation of Cree language/ culture.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ELECTION 2021 GRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE) AND CREE NATION GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES FOR GRAND CHIEF/ CHAIRPERSON

CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Abel BOSUM

Ashley ISERHOFF

Mandy GULL-MASTY

Donald NICHOLLS

Pakesso MUKASH

Norman A. WAPACHEE

THE SCHEDULE FOR THE ELECTION IS AS FOLLOWS: ADVANCE POLLS: Wednesday July 7, 2021 - From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ELECTION DAY: Wednesday July 14, 2021 - From 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ELE QUALIFICATION TO VOTE The qualiﬁcation for eligibility to vote and to participate in the elections is as follows: a) To be a Cree beneﬁciary in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. b) To be of the age of majority at the date of the elections (18 years of age on July 14, 2021). Telephone voting will be available for eligible voters who: a) reside in other locations where there are no polling stations; b) are in self-isolation in accordance with the “local mandatory self-isolation law”; and c) are unable to vote in person due to long-term illness or physical disability. LOCAL RETURNING OFFICERS

For further information, please contact: Robin Pachanos, Chief Electoral Ofﬁcer Email: rpachanos@cngelections.ca, Tel: 418-748-5495

Even once vaccinated, you still need to protect yourself.

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

Resurrection 22 the Nation

Indigenous Day ceremonies see a summer solstice cultural rebirth by Patrick Quinn Photos by Nathan from Indigenous Climate Action (ICA)

fter a long winter of curfews and quarantines, this year’s Indigenous Day celebrations felt particularly well deserved. It was also a bittersweet day, as many events across Canada took time to honour the recent discovery of unmarked graves at a Kamloops residential school. In Montreal, the summer solstice was an occasion to celebrate newfound freedom from pandemic restrictions with the annual Cabot Square concert. Thunderstorm warnings moved the proceedings to the nearby St. Jax church, an irony not lost on organizers on a day when two BC churches located on reserves were burned to the ground. “There was a very long time when Indigenous people could definitely not perform in a space like this,” said co-presenter Sylvia Cloutier. “Just singing here in a church like this is reclaiming spaces that are ours too now.” This year, the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) collaborated with Pop Montreal to present Jeremy Dutcher, Moe Clark, Shauit, Buffalo Hat Singers and others. Mohawk Elder Kevin Deer’s opening speech declaring this an era of “Indigenous spiritual resurrection” set the stage for a stream of talented performers proving exactly that. “I’ve been smiling all day,” NWSM director Nakuset told the Nation. “That was better than I could have ever imagined. It was so nice having the hoop dancers [Scott Sinquah] from Arizona – it’s amazing to showcase that with all the powwows being cancelled.” Several performers expressed their joy to finally be playing for live audiences again. An especially emotional moment occurred during Moe Clark’s show, when throat singer Nina Segalowitz shared that she had been diagnosed with cancer in December. “For Moe to share a song from my territory is very healing for me,” said Segalowitz. “Being on stage is seeing I’m winning the battle. For all of us going through a hard time, we will rise and be stronger every single day.” As the sun overpowered the clouds, the audience was led outside for the day’s final performance. Most people removed their masks and sprawled on the churchyard’s long grass, squinting into sunlight like groggy polar bears emerging from extended hibernation. Accompanied only by his hand drum and the birds overhead, Jeremy Dutcher sang moving Wolastoqiyik traditional songs in the intimate setting. The operatically trained, Polaris- and Juno-awardwinning musician considered it less a real performance than a return to his roots singing unplugged at ceremonies at his Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.

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“I’ve never performed like that before,” admitted Dutcher. “Our Wolastoqiyik songs don’t always get to be expressed because I’m doing shows in big theatres. They give me a red piano and I have a band there. Sitting and making a simple performance felt powerful.” It also served as a humble introduction to the city’s Indigenous community for Dutcher, who moved to Montreal just before the pandemic started, looking forward to immersing himself in its vibrant music scene. Instead, he’s been learning how to make sense of solitude, living alone for the first time while writing a book in his Nation’s language, studying French and walking the mountain. “It’s too bad we haven’t been able to gather,” Dutcher said. “Especially for Indigenous people, our gatherings are so important to community health, passing on those traditions and songs. We have a teaching among our people – ceremony is life itself.” While outdoor shows sporadically occurred during last summer’s lull in Covid cases, live music certainly hasn’t been a priority for politicians and public-health experts navigating the pandemic’s unpredictable ebbs and flows. Perhaps its return will be greeted with renewed appreciation for its unique power to nurture spirits. “It’s so absurd we considered music non-essential in this time,” asserted Dutcher. “I might be a bit biased but for me music is one of the most essential things in life. It’s been relegated as an add-on we get if things are going well. No, that’s ridiculous – music is for all times.” At the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s Indigenous Day Live broadcast the day before, many of Canada’s hottest Indigenous musicians were similarly preparing to relaunch their performing careers. If an artist’s role is speaker of truth and beacon of hope, it can be expected that society’s surreal turns will seep into their future music. “One of the things we had to deal with during the pandemic is isolation,” said Mattmac, a blind Oji-Cree songwriter, rapper and producer. “I talk a little about that in my music. A lot of time has been making beats on my computer, building up my catalogue. I would love to get on stage and do more live shows.” Mattmac’s debut 20/20 took home the rap/electronica album of the year at the recent Summer Solstice

Indigenous Music Awards. Another big winner was Silla & Rise, who won best Inuit group and best artistic video ahead of the release of their third album’s first single, “Pandemonium”. “The song reflects every emotion that 2020 encapsulates,” said Charlotte Carleton, the band’s newest throat singer. “There’s been tears and so much energy put into this. Every element influences what we do – 2020 was a crazy year. ‘Pandemonium’ is the tip of the iceberg.” Silla & Rise have called the chaotic track, which layers geese and seagull throat songs together, a “sonic comment on the state of the world at the time.” Isolation and injustice also influenced the new album from Snotty Nose Rez Kids, who

released the “Something Else” video on Indigenous Peoples Day. “At the beginning, we definitely took a dip creatively because we usually get our inspiration from going out and experiencing things, not being locked in the house for months,” shared Darren “Young D” Metz. “We’ve both been through so much this last year, whether it’s in our career or personal

lives. Like everybody else, we’re not the same people coming out of the pandemic.” Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce added that they’re channelling energy provoked by recent issues back into their music and are coming out of the pandemic firing. While they’ve adjusted to the new normal of playing for cameras in empty venues, they can’t wait for tour life to come back. “It’s an understatement to say we’re excited,” said Metz. “We’re not going to take any of that for granted anymore. We’re going to enjoy every show like it’s our last and make the most of it.”

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Even once vaccinated, Evenyou once vaccinated, still need you stillyourself. need to protect to protect yourself.

26 the Nation June 18, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other. Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

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Ojibway artist celebrates Indigenous History Month with unique paddle art by Ben Powless

jibway artist Patrick Hunter decided to mark this year’s Indigenous History Month by releasing a collection of four artisan canoe paddles done in the Woodland Art style made famous by renowned painter Norval Morrisseau. “I grew up in almost the birthplace of Woodland Art. Norval spent some time there developing this art style he’s accredited with. I grew up seeing his artwork around town, it was really celebrated. Not everyone gets to see their culture represented every single day, in a community that’s not just an Indigenous community but a mining community,” he said of Red Lake, Ontario. Hunter said he always had a passion for art, eventually studying graphic design in Sault Ste. Marie, then moving to Toronto to pursue a career as a graphic designer. However, he said that he found it boring, and that he wanted to see more celebration of Indigenous art. For Hunter, that means the display of Indigenous art in more public places, a desire that inspired a career that has stretched from traditional paintings to t-shirt and mug designs, up to large murals, and now canoe paddles. When Canada Canoe Paddles approached Hunter to partner and create the artisanal paddles, Hunter says it was a “no-brainer”. He is an avid canoer and had previously worked with some charities to do wood burning on paddles. “It’s really cool that non-Indigenous business are partnering up with Indigenous artists and trying to tell our stories through their platforms,” Hunter observed. “In a lot of places, they’re just realizing that it’s an important thing to do.” Canada Canoe Paddles founder Mario Zeskoski agreed. “Working with Patrick on an Indigenous paddle series seemed like the

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Blazing

Paddles perfect way to showcase his work and provide Canadians with a unique artistic expression of the Native lands we all call home,” Zeskoski said in a statement. The paddles are being sold as part of a limited-edition series, with each paddle numbered 1 to 300. A portion of the proceeds will go to Hunter’s workshop initiative to support new generations in picking up a paintbrush. Hunter admits that his mother bought the whole set as she was excited to support him, and he’s excited to see how others react. Social media sites such as Instagram have been useful to build up an audience and generate business, he says. For young artists, he recommends starting with designs on mugs. “Everyone loves coffee and tea; they’re perfect gifts and people will pay $15 to $30 for a mug.” As a two-spirit person, Hunter joined the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, which served as a way to network with executives in large businesses. “It’s not always about stuffing your wallet,” he insisted, however, having donating art for door prizes and to support worthwhile initiatives. Hunter says it’s important to always be true to yourself. “It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Month and Pride Month. I’m both gay and Indigenous and those have both been huge assets to my success, I didn’t think it would be,” he noted. “People love diversity these days.” One thing that Hunter says he will never tire of is seeing how others react to his art. After seeing a person wearing an orange shirt sporting one of his designs, he stated, “I said ‘Wow, the impact of the work has totally changed from who I can reach on social media and it’s people I don’t even know.’ Hopefully my good deeds inspire others to carry on with good deeds and positive energy.”

“Working with Patrick on an Indigenous paddle series seemed like the perfect way to showcase his work and provide Canadians with a unique artistic expression of the Native lands we all call home,” Zeskoski said in a statement. - Mario Zeskoski, Canada Canoe Paddles founder

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AVIS PUBLIC Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs

PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN THE NORD-DU-QUÉBEC REGION MANAGEMENT UNITS: 026-61 AND 087-62 From June 28 to July 23, 2021, the ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP) invites the general public to express its opinions on forest road closures to restore boreal caribou habitat. This work will take place near route 167, the road leading to the monts Otish in the Chibougamau management unit 026-61. Conducted as part of the development of the Mountain and Boreal Caribou Strategy, the purpose of the work is to evaluate various road closure methods in a boreal caribou habitat. Also, the general public is invited to express its opinions on the addition of infrastructure in the 087-62 management unit. If you are interested, you can view the forest roads affected by the closures and submit comments online via the MFFP’s website at mffp.gouv.qc.ca/consultation-plans-damenagement-forestier-integre/. You may also make an appointment with an MFFP representative at any time, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays), from 8.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The representative will be able to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have.

Chibougamau Management Unit 624, 3e Rue Chibougamau (Québec) G8P 1P1 Telephone: 418-748-2647 Fax: 418-748-3359

Lebel-sur-Quévillon Management Unit 1121, boulevard Industriel, C. P. 159 Lebel-sur-Quévillon (Québec) J0Y 1X0 Telephone: 819-755-4838 Fax: 819-755-3541

IMPORTANT: If you would like to receive information on the MFFP’s future public consultations in the Nord-du-Québec region, please contact christine.morin@mffp.gouv.qc.ca and enter Demande d’inscription sur la liste de diffusion in the email subject line.

Events

Northern opportunity Regional economic conference focuses on energy and the environment by Patrick Quinn | Photos provided by Joshua Iserhoffx

o explore emerging business opportunities in green energy and conservation, the 16th annual conference of the Secretariat to the Cree Nation AbibitiTémiscamingue Economic Alliance (SCNATEA) – themed “Energy and Environment in a Nordicity Context” – was held as a hybrid event June 9-10 in Amos and on the Secretariat’s web platform, Allia. The conference brought together government ministers, business presidents and Indigenous leaders, often in the same discussion panel. A common theme highlighted throughout the event was the effect climate change is already creating in the North and its significant implications for First Nations communities. “The changes have been keenly felt by our Cree land-users and they have been dramatic,” said

SCNATEA president Ted Moses in his opening speech. “We have become increasingly concerned also about the thickness and durability of ice cover in the winter. The flight pattern of geese is completely outside of normal – we see geese increasingly flying more toward the inland of James Bay.” While the relationship between energy and the environment has not always been harmonious in Eeyou Istchee and other northern regions, Moses noted that it’s also the foundation for the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the bedrock of regional governance and benefits that has led to the recognition that proposed projects must meet the Cree test of social acceptability. “We are developing programs so land users become meaningful participants in defining what acceptable development is,” said Grand

Chief Abel Bosum. “No longer will they be treated as obstacles but rather important partners that can makes us all better in building any project on their territory. They are the key ingredient in ensuring that when we talk energy, we never leave out environment.” Bosum credited improving regional relationships for the recent establishment of protected areas in Eeyou Istchee, which surpassed the Cree Nation’s goal by 10,000 square kilometres. He also pointed to the mutual benefits derived from collaborating with local energy companies during the pandemic, which made significant investments in testing protocols largely to minimize self-isolation of Cree workers between shifts. “Many of these testing protocols caught and prevented outbreaks that would have been devastating to all

“There are opportunities for all northern communities to be part of the change” - Chantal Hamelin, SCNATEA director general

32 the Nation July 2, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

workers at the mine,” asserted Bosum. “Accommodating Cree needs saved the lives of non-Cree workers and these companies will always have my gratitude for coming to our aid in our time of greatest need. The reward is when we invest in each other, we are stronger.” One presentation focused on green energies combined Cree and Inuit speakers to demonstrate the improving cost feasibility for alternative power that also fortifies regional autonomy. Matthew Mukash explained how the new wind-energy project in WhapmagoostuiKuujjuaraapik will be implemented over the next few years, which has inspired other communities to follow suit. “It’s inspiring to listen to these projects led by communities,” commented Anthony McLeod, CNG director of commerce. “Changing to green energies might sometimes be a puzzle for us – that’s why it’s good to find businesses that can guide us through the process and find solutions that adapt to our communities. Capacity building and human capital is key.”

Several other northern communities are currently in the preliminary stages of developing their own wind-power projects, including Chibougamau, Nemaska and Eastmain. While these projects reduce reliance on external interests and fuel sources, particularly diesel, wind is not the only option for creating cleaner energy. “Let’s not underestimate the other resources we have,” suggested Kristina Hamernik of TUGLIQ Energy. “Waste can be used to create heat and improve waste management. For many northern communities, the reality is still open burning. Why not turn waste into value while also protecting the environment?” TUGLIQ has supported northern communities transitioning from diesel dependence over the last decade, adapting to occasionally unexpected environmental challenges. Installing wind power at the Raglan nickel mine, it was forced to completely re-engineer a turbine design because of the permafrost to create the first floating turbine base in Canada. While the company started in the Arctic, it currently provides a variety of solar, biomass, energy storage and microgrid solutions in locations as distant as the Bahamas and Mali. Hamernik said replacing fossil fuels is not just about changing the power source but also the system so benefits remain locally regardless of company involvement. Transitioning to renewable energy will limit the possibility of environmental

disasters like the 2015 spill of 13,500 litres of diesel fuel in Inukjuak. This Nunavik village is now implementing a “run-of-river” hydroelectric plant, which will not only lower pollution and home electricity costs but also stimulate the local economy. In another initiative supporting environmental protection and Indigenous empowerment, Pikogan First Nation Chief Monik Kistabish described a new tourist attraction to be developed near Amos called Parc Anisipi. In collaboration with Montreal’s acclaimed Moment Factory, the attraction will consist of a thematic trail along the region’s waterways with artistic installations and sound production. Participants expressed optimism over new partnerships based on mutual respect, community involvement and shared benefits. As SCNATEA plans a fully in-person conference for its next business exchange this autumn, momentum is growing for more green energy solutions in the North that support both the environment and economy. “Once we thought it was impossible to change [diesel reliance] but we’ve seen projects in the last few years that are changing everything,” SCNATEA director general Chantal Hamelin told the Nation. “There are opportunities for all northern communities to be part of the change and make it economically profitable. The change is happening in front of our eyes.”

If you need more information or have additional questions, contact our office in Val-d”Or. By phone: 819-874-2600 By email: justicevaldor@cngov.ca

www.nationnews.ca July 2, 2021

the Nation 33

Notice is provided on June 28th, 2021, that the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board ("NMRWB") and the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board (“EMRWB”) will be conducting a Joint Written Public Hearing to consider the proposed Quebec, Nunavik Marine Region and Eeyou Marine Region Polar Bear Management Plan (“QC-EMR-NMR Polar Bear Management Plan”) and to determine whether to approve the plan for application in the Nunavik Marine Region in accordance with s. 5.2.4(d)(i) of the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (“NILCA”), in the Eeyou Marine Region in accordance with s. 13.2.2 (d)(i) of the Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (“EMRLCA”), and in the Cree/Inuit Overlapping Interest Areas in accordance with Part IV of the Agreement Relating to the Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interest Area. The proposed QC-EMR-NMR Polar Bear Management Plan and additional documents relevant to the joint hearing are available for download from the NMRWB’s website (nmrwb.ca/2021polarbearmanagementplan) or by contacting the NMRWB or the EMRWB using the contact information below. Parties with Standing to this joint hearing include: • Makivik Corporation • Government of Canada • Government of Nunavut • Any LNUK • The RNUK • Any Nunavik Inuk • Cree Nation Government • Eeyou Istchee Local Cree Bands • Eeyou Istchee Local Cree Trappers’ Associations • Any individual Cree of the Eeyou Istchee • Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated • Nunatsiavut Government

NUNAVIK MARINE REGION WILDLIFE BOARD P.O. Box 433, Inukjuak, QC J0M 1M0 Phone: (819) 254-8667, Fax: (819) 254-8816 Email: info@nmrwb.ca

Applications for Party Status by individuals or organizations not listed above may be submitted to the NMRWB/EMRWB in writing no later than July 9th, 2021. The Application must contain information that shows how a right or interest of the applicant would be directly impacted by the decision to be made by either Board. The NMRWB/EMRWB further issue an Information Request to all Parties with Standing, as well as any individuals and/or organizations that may have relevant reports, studies or information that would assist the Boards in this hearing. The deadline for filing relevant information is July 9th, 2021. Parties with standing may submit Written Questions in relation to the QC-EMR-NMR Polar Bear Management Plan proposal to the Boards. The deadline for submitting written questions is July 30th, 2021. Final Written Submissions from parties with standing to the hearing, including answers to written questions, must be submitted by September 24th, 2021. Unless persuasive written reasons are provided for late filing, the Boards will not consider materials for this hearing that are not filed on time. The Boards will make publicly available all written materials filed with them one week after filing deadlines, subject to relevant confidentiality or privacy concerns. How to obtain more information To receive more information please contact the NMRWB or the EMRWB:

EEYOU MARINE REGION WILDLIFE BOARD P.O. Box 580, Chief Isaiah Salt Road Waskaganish, Quebec, J0M 1R0 Phone: 819-895-2202, Fax: 819-895-2474 Email: wildlife@eeyoumarineregion.ca

www.nationnews.ca July 2, 2021

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Puzzles Crossword

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.

PREVIOUS SOLUTION: L O N E

A I M S

G N A W

I N F E R E N C E

C A P R I

A D I O S

N A T A L

D E E P E N H A N D M A D E

E R R

S C R P I A L M D A M I R I N E S R A T T L E S A P S A E P R A

L O A N S T R A Y P R I G

A C M E

P A A N P A A P P C O H A Y S O H T R E A D A M B A A T H S T E E L E R I U N C S I E E A

W A L L E

O T T E R

L O O S E

A B S O L U T E S

S L I M

H E R E

F I V E

F E E L

STR8TS Medium

1 2

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

6 3 8 4 2

3 7 9 8 6

4 1

2 3

Previous solution - Tough

6 7 9

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

8 7

24 28 34 38

29 35

36 40

51 56

45 49

10 16

23 26

53 58 63

67 Mayberry sheriff 68 Film with the tagline "Get ready for rush hour" 69 From the top DOWN 1 After all? 2 Carpet layer's calculation 3 Industrial mechanic 4 Sentimental songs 5 Geologic layers 6 Ship's backbone 7 Map inside a map 8 Shaggy locks

9 Rikers resident 10 Flowering shrubs 11 Postmark part 12 Soon, to a poet 13 Steve Urkel's pursuer 19 Take a load off 21 Overused 25 Summertime top 26 Bank heist, e.g. 27 Brady housekeeper 28 Swiss dwelling 30 Classroom performance 31 Over-dramatize 32 Went along (with) 35 ___-stop shop

39 Produces milk 40 Moving about 43 "Grey's Anatomy" extra 46 Roald Dahl title character 48 Prepares to shoot 50 Expressed a view 52 Oklahoma tribe 54 Robin Cook classic 55 Nobelist Pavlov 56 Eggheady sort 58 Carpet feature 59 Alleviate 60 Keene's Nancy 62 Eminem's music

SUDOKU

No. 280

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

No. 280

2 4

Medium

9 4 6 8 8

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 need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set 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.

36 the Nation July 2, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

7 3 9 5 6 2 1 8 4

7 6 1 5 6 1 8 9

5 7 1 5 1 3 6

Previous solution - Easy

1 6 7 5

3 9

S L I P

ACROSS 1 Follower of Mary 5 Cut corners 10 "Bonanza" brother 14 Soprano solo 15 Carreras is one 16 Madcap 17 Unload, as stock 18 Breathing apparatus 20 Unlikely story 22 1997 J-Lo title role 23 Witch's blemish 24 That and that 26 Type of arrest 29 Giant red star 33 Cream of the crop 34 Golfer's goal 36 Big rig 37 Pot-bellied pet 38 Hyundai model 41 Fish-and-chips fish 42 Say again 44 Away from the wind 45 Strike, in the Bible 47 Go over again 49 Did a tire maintenance job 51 "Same here!" 53 Pocket bread 54 Mall attraction 57 Full of energy 61 Exert too much 63 Cry in a mudslinging contest 64 Clay-rich soil 65 Philly footballer 66 Teaspoonful, maybe

by Margie E. Burke

5 2 6 8 1 4 9 7 3

8 4 1 3 9 7 5 6 2

6 9 3 1 2 5 8 4 7

2 8 4 9 7 3 6 5 1

1 5 7 4 8 6 3 2 9

3 1 2 7 5 8 4 9 6

4 6 8 2 3 9 7 1 5

9 7 5 6 4 1 2 3 8

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.

Rez Notes

Nobody here but us chickens by Sonny Orr

t would be a dismal world without chickens. What would replace them, one could wonder? There could be an episode on some nature TV channel imagining the world waking up one day without chicken. That would be a real world-ending scenario, worse than volcanoes or crashing comets. Nope, the world could not live without chickens. To my mind, it would be truly apocalyptic if no chicken were present to cook or eat (and we usually prefer chicken already cooked for some reason). And worse still, no eggs? Arrgg!!! My mind reels with revelations of long line-ups once again waiting for the cargo to come in to fill empty shelves, and the goods being immediately scooped up. There should be a cargo coming in, so we’d better get to the front of the line-up at three in the morning. Some people have overcome the possible nutritional deficiency associated with skipping breakfast. That’s because they now raise their own real, live egg-laying chickens. Now, how cool is that? It sure beats owning a

To my mind, it would be truly apocalyptic if no chicken were present to cook or eat noisy dog that just craps all over the place and eats more than your kids do. A chicken just keeps on producing an egg every day or so, apparently depending on the moon and the availability of calcium. I’m no chemist, but it’s preferable to keep the chicken feed as organic as possible. Now, those chickens have to have some sort of resistance to the cold, and some types just don’t make the cut. The hardiest ones are best to use in our environment, but I hear that there may be some new hybrid breed with penguin DNA. Not only do you get an egg a day, but you don’t have to build a cage for them. They like skating on rinks and play hockey, too. Now that’s a northern fowl! Because they like to eat fish, fishing will remain a way of life.

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here

But back to reality. These lucky people, who I admire greatly, get to enjoy not only raising chickens but to consume a very fresh omelet. Or better still, a boiled egg, a staple of our life and not too much of a strain on the culinary skill set. Who can think in the morning anyways? And who needs to cook anything fancy for a crew of nine hungry mouths of all ages, including mine? Now enough of the eggs. What to do with that old hen when it starts slowing down? Well, prepare the roasting pan for the freshest, oldest, bestfed chicken you will ever eat. Unless you give it a name, that is – a fancy one like Cordon Bleu or something more common like Kay Eff See. Then it would feel so bad to chop off her head as you flash-

ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965

back to all those times you spent together getting fat. So, when the apocalypse does strike, the wise chicken coop-keepers will survive in style, while the rest of us feed on grasshoppers and worms. Yes, children of tomorrow, prepare yourselves and get your own chickens so you may survive until the next cargo comes in. And you hungry neighbours, stop begging for a half dozen or so. Yes, feed us common coop-less folks lemon meringue pie while you gnosh on a drumstick full of juicy satisfaction and create jealous chaos. Yes, the next millennium people will be indoor farmers and there’s nothing wrong with eating cordon bleu and Caesar salad, only hours fresh.

ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS 1 800 661-5850

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the Nation 37

www.underthenorthernsky.com

UTNS

Under the Northern Sky We must continue to manage the pandemic by Xavier Kataquapit

his has been a worrisome month. After a year and a half of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, like everyone else I was hoping that things would be getting back to normal by now after our world shut down. In many countries, the numbers of cases and deaths have been dropping and just when things were looking good in northern Ontario, the Porcupine Health Unit area had increased cases in the communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moosonee and Moose Factory on the James Bay coast. Our infection numbers in northern Ontario have been low until recently. This has been because we are more remote and rural so that protects us to a degree. However, with people moving about, air travel and workplaces deemed essential still operating, the virus took hold. There were not many deaths or severe cases along the James Bay coast and in other Indigenous communities across Canada because these First Nations had been prioritized for vaccinations. Many people don’t realize that the vaccines won’t always prevent you from getting the virus, but they will help lower the cases of severe illness and death. That is why it is necessary to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible. Can you imagine the disaster this virus would have created in remote James Bay communities without vaccines? As vaccines continue to roll out in Canada, we are seeing a decrease in

cases and deaths. However, things are starting to open up now and there is a fear that we might not be out of the woods with this virus for some time. There are new variants, like the Delta Variant, that are challenging the vaccines and the experts say there will be more developing. This means we will probably need booster shots at some point to deal with new variants. It looks like vaccines will most likely not be able to solve this pandemic globally, but they will help us manage it in certain countries and regions. Developed countries that have the most vaccinations will probably manage well, returning to some form of normal over the next year or so. But many parts of the world will not be able to do that. That means we won’t really be safe from this virus because people will move about internationally and Covid-19 will continue to spread as newly developed variants. The bottom line is that we are living in a new world. We have learned so much about viruses and disease over the past year and a half and that has kept many of us safe. Many people have had to keep working in close quarters in plants, mines, production and distribution centres and essential services. Our governments and public-health units have developed many ways to deal with this virus. We now know our best protection has been wearing of masks indoors in public places, staying two metres apart from others and washing hands often.

We need to remember that, yes, we can have more freedom, we can get together safely, and we can even begin to travel again. However, we must remember all the things we learned to cope with this virus and the new way we see and understand disease and how it spreads. Vaccines have been proven to work and although they might not solve this pandemic on a global basis, they will allow us to manage life in many parts of the world. I am very thankful to the Indigenous leadership at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chiefs of Ontario (COO), Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN), our tribal councils and Indigenous political bodies across Canada for doing such a great job to lobby the governments so that our communities were prioritized for vaccines. Right now, I can point to the success of that advocacy in the outbreaks that were safely managed on the James Bay coast. Thanks also to the federal government, provincial governments, public health units and all those doctors, nurses, paramedics, personal support workers, teachers, as well as all essential workers for risking their well-being to keep us all safe and for propping up our economy. Things are looking better every day and we will manage this nasty Covid-19 virus. We all have to remember what we learned over the past year and a half to stay safe.

We have been present since 1939. All members of the large Deshaies' family are by your side today and will also be for the better days to come.

38 the Nation July 2, 2021 www.nationnews.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

Where can you pick up a fresh copy of your Nation every two weeks? – – – –

Let’s cheer these amazing businesses listed below…

Nation is available there!

Chisasibi Coop | T: 819-855-2828 Retro Daze Café | T: 819-855-1847 Miichiwaap Restaurant | T : 819-855-2430 The Yummy Cook Out | T: 819-855-2241

– Whale Mart

in Whapmagoostui – Wemindji Community Store T: 819-978-3656

in Chisasibi – Eastmain Grocery Store T: 819-977-0283

in Wemindji

– Nemaska Grocery T: 819-673-2525

in Eastmain in Nemaska in Waskaganish – Smokey Hill Grocery T: 819-895-2727

– Meechum Reg’ T: 418-923-3217

in Mistissini in Waswanipi

– Waswanipi Grocery T: 819-753-2514

Always available for download at:

in Oujé-Bougoumou – Casey’s Depanneur and Gaz T: 418-745-3211

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