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Your 2nd dose dose of of vaccine is essential. essential.

The combined effect of two doses ensures longer-lasting The combined effect of two doses ensures longer-lasting and better protection against COVID-19. and better protection against COVID-19. Getting your 2nd dose of vaccine is a must. Getting your 2nd dose of vaccine is a must.

CONTENTS 10 The return of Powwows Reconnecting and embracing Cree cultural pride

Deconfined fishing derbies

EDITORIAL 4

No place like...

NEWS A well-vaccinated Eeyou Istchee

National trailblazer

IN BRIEF

FEATURES Cultural healing

Happy hookers

Creative rebirth

Carcinoma concerns

PUZZLES REZ NOTES

Arts

32 33

Bear necessities

UTNS The red sky warning

First Peoples Festival returns

Health

Cancer rates rising Photo by Gerardo Salazar

Editorial

No place like... by Will Nicholls

here’s no place like home. We’ve heard that phrase all our lives, so often we usually don’t even pause to consider its importance. While many Cree people may make a “home” outside of Eeyou Istchee, pretty much all of us think of a particular place or community in the territory as our real home. In 1975, Quebec Liberal MNA John Ciaccia was then-Premier Robert Bourassa’s representative to the negotiations over what would become the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Unlike most of his colleagues in the provincial government, he came to understand the meaning of “home” for the Cree. “The needs and interests of the Native peoples are closely tied to their lands; their lands are the very centre of their existence,” Ciaccia wrote. “Land is the very basis of the Cree and Inuit cultures. And it is not just a matter of sustaining themselves with the harvest of the land, which of course they do. They have a mystique about the land, and what it contains. They have a special relationship with the land that their ancestors inhabited, a link, something indefinable but real and genuine nevertheless.” That’s a pretty good description of how the Cree relate to the territory of Eeyou Istchee. And that’s why, for those of us who have a home outside this homeland, the last year and a half of pandemic exile has been very difficult. We watched as almost all passenger planes stopped flying north of Val-d’Or (or anywhere, for that matter), as the busses stopped driving the Billy Diamond Highway, or we steeled ourselves for two

I would like to thank all those who Facetimed me over the long, lonely months of the pandemic so that I could catch a glimpse or two of home. I am looking forward to seeing you all in person.

weeks of solitary confinement in order to drive home, which wasn’t an option for a lot of us anyway. Crees are familiar with what surrounds them in Eeyou Istchee. It’s as simple as the things we eat, like country food. There are the daily routines and reassurance of community and family life. We know the people we grew up with and with whom we share the rhythms and landmarks of our lives. We celebrate the newborns, marriages and gather to honour those who have passed on. We understand the body language and subtle nuances of simple conversations. Above all, we know the land and its resources that we all share. We may not acknowledge or consider all this in a conscious way, but these realities are an integral part of who we

are; they distinctly define our behaviour and culture. That’s where we find our feelings of understanding, safety, trust and belonging. With Air Creebec flying again and the rules governing our visits home relaxed to the point of near normality, the expat community of Eeyou Istchee is finally able to refresh itself with the people, land and waters of home. We can visit friends and family, go fishing, hang out and relax. At home. And I am going home, finally. I would like to thank all those who Facetimed me over the long, lonely months of the pandemic so that I could catch a glimpse or two of home. I am looking forward to seeing you all in person. Because there’s no place like home.

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 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

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

by Ben Powless

A well-vaccinated Eeyou Istchee Canada moves to re-open as fourth wave threatens many countries

hile cautioning about the rise of a Covid-19 fourth wave fuelled by the Delta variant, Cree Nation health officials said that because of the actions of Eeyou Istchee residents, increased testing capacity, and the successful vaccination campaign, “there is reason to be optimistic that we will continue to enjoy a safe and advanced deconfinement.” Health authorities said they would make the second vaccine dose available within four weeks of a first shot, to allow anyone to travel with children 12 years and older. Further testing will help evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness for children as young as six months. Wemindji led all communities with 94% of its 18+ population being fully vaccinated, while the lowest full vaccination rate was in Waskaganish at 72% for adults. For youth, 12-17 years of age, 99% of that cohort in Waskaganish had received their first dose, while only 65% of Waswanipi youth had been vaccinated. This compared favourably with the rest of Quebec and Canada. Across Quebec, 82% of the 12+ population had received a first dose, while only 54% were fully vaccinated. Across Canada, 70% had received the first dose, but only 50% were fully vaccinated. This represented a milestone as Canada surpassed the US on vaccination rates, despite mobilizing in most places months after the US. This brought new daily cases across Canada to lows in the 300s, not seen since over a year ago. In Quebec, there were under 80 new cases reported, numbers not seen since last August. Quebec also saw no new deaths from the virus. This presented a marked change from the US, which saw a nearly 200% increase in cases in recent weeks, as the coronavirus was spreading among unvaccinated populations, fed by the Delta variant. The Delta variant has gone from representing less than 5% of new cases in early May to possibly being responsible for between 70-90% of new cases, according to data from the New York Times.

Unvaccinated people infected with the Delta variant were twice as likely to be hospitalized as those with the Alpha variant, stressing the seriousness of the new variant.

Even as the variant has spread, however, hospitalization rates have only increased substantially in states with low rates of vaccination. Unvaccinated people infected with the Delta variant were twice as likely to be hospitalized as those with the Alpha variant, stressing the seriousness of the new variant. Early research showed that vaccines were mildly less effective against the vaccine, providing 88% protection against the variant, as compared to 93-95% for previous variants. Those who are fully vaccinated are 94% less likely to be hospitalized, a sign of optimism for the vaccination campaigns. The Canadian government announced that the border with the US would open to fully vaccinated Americans as of August 9, though no reciprocal announcement was made by the US. This was seen as good news for much of the business and tourism industries. Canada will then allow

fully vaccinated travellers from around the world to enter the country beginning September 7. Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx announced a project to develop safety protocols with experts from Université Laval to allow for large festival audiences in Quebec. Meanwhile, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said he is concerned that not enough young Quebecers aged 18-29 are getting vaccinated for a return to college and university in the fall. That group is currently 67% vaccinated, lower than other groups in the province, and would need to rise to 75% for a safe return to schools. If that target cannot be reached, CEGEPs and universities may look at hybrid online and in-person models, as well as making some non-essential services only available on campus for those who have been fully vaccinated.

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Editorial News

fter five rounds of voting, RoseAnne Archibald made history July 8 by becoming the first woman elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. With Mary Simon recently named Governor-General of Canada and Mandy Gull-Masty positioned to become Grand Chief in Eeyou Istchee, there is a growing movement towards empowering Indigenous female leadership. “The AFN has made ‘her’-story today,” said Archibald in her acceptance speech. “Today is a victory and you can tell all the women in your life that the glass ceiling has been broken. I thank all of the women who punched that ceiling before me and made a crack.” Seven candidates contested the position after Perry Bellegarde announced this spring that he would not seek re-election. Although Archibald didn’t receive the required 60% of votes on the last ballot, her remaining competitor, Muskowekwan First Nation Chief Reginald Bellerose, decided to concede before a sixth round of voting.

Archibald had publicly called on Bellerose to make room for the first woman AFN National Chief, following the “honourable path forward” of Nishnawbe Aski Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who withdrew from the race after the third ballot to support her. Following his concession, Bellerose said that the chiefs made it clear they didn’t want back-to-back national leaders from Saskatchewan. “Let’s take a collective deep breath and recognize that we have experienced a monumental shift in energy and consciousness,” stated Archibald. “The colonial and patriarchal systems are crumbling, and it can’t be stopped or reversed. We have all been awoken by this pandemic. Stay awake everyone for the evolutionary and positive changes to come!” During the AFN’s 42nd annual general assembly, hosted virtually in Toronto by the territories of Six Nations of Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, 406 band council chiefs or registered proxies voted for national chief. The AFN represents over 900,000 people throughout 634 First Nation communities

6 the Nation July 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

and other municipalities across the country. As a third-generation chief, Archibald has over three decades of experience in First Nations politics. In 1990 at age 23, she became the first woman and youngest-ever to elected chief of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation in northern Ontario. She later became the first woman and youngest deputy grand chief for Nishnawbe Aski Nation and then the first female and youngest grand chief for Mushkegowuk Council. After taking a break from politics for nine years to run a consulting business for First Nations leaders and organizations, she became the first woman to be elected Ontario Regional Chief in 2018. “I was very much an activist chief,” Archibald told APTN News during her election campaign. “I blocked highways and participated in every kind of action in order to protect our rights. That is difficult to do in this kind of environment, but I want First Nations to know that I will be standing beside them, behind them and working

National trailblazer

Archibald becomes first woman to lead the AFN by Patrick Quinn Photo provided by the AFN

with them in their struggles because the road ahead is still long for First Nations.” University of Manitoba Native studies professor Niigaanwewidam Sinclair told CTV News that Archibald’s priority will be to confront the “incredible divisiveness” within the AFN, observing that this “very rancorous campaign involved a lot of finger pointing” with Archibald’s supporters pitted against the “old guard” of Bellegarde’s allies. In December, Archibald had accused the AFN of misogyny and supported a resolution investigating sexual-orientation and gender-based discrimination. As she unveiled her 100-day leadership plan, she committed to making the organization a “safe, healthy and welcoming space for women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples.” “I will be revitalizing and evolving the Assembly of First Nations organization to reflect the people it serves,” said Archibald. “It’s important that 80% of the chiefs across Canada are men and they elected me. That to me speaks to the change that is happening, that our broth-

ers understand the importance of creating space.” Archibald’s election platform also focused on coordinating post-pandemic recovery plans and supporting community-driven solutions to move First Nations beyond reliance on federal dollars toward economic self-sufficiency. Her priorities include ending violence against Indigenous women, tackling the climate crisis and addressing systemic racism. One of her first visits as National Chief was to Kamloops, BC, where the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announced findings from the final report on the recovery of unmarked graves at the region’s former residential school. “It’s a long process to get to justice and reparations and recover our children,” Archibald shared. “I have seen first-hand, speaking to people across this country, they demand action – not promises, not moments of silence. It will definitely be one of the things that will be a thread through my whole leadership journey. There must be truth before reconciliation.”

“I have seen first-hand, speaking to people across this country, they demand action – not promises, not moments of silence”

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ELECTION FOR GRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPER GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE)/CREE NATION GOVERNMEN TO ALL CREE BENEFICIARIES OF EEYOU ISTCHEE

I, the Chief Electoral Ofﬁcer for the Cree Nation Government, do hereby certify the following results in respect for the Grand Chief/Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/Chairperson.

CANDIDATES Abel BOSUM

PUBLIC NOTICE GRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON

ELECTION 2021 TOTAL VOTES

PERCENTA

1377

29.5%

ELECTION FOR GRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE)/CREE NATION GOVERNMENT Mandy GULL-MASTY 2167 46.5%

Pakesso MUKASH

TO ALL CREE BENEFICIARIES 1110 OF EEYOU ISTCHEE

24%

I, the Chief Electoral Ofﬁcer for the Cree Nation Government, do hereby certify the following results in respect of the election TOTAL 4654 100% for the Grand Chief/Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/Chairperson.

CANDIDATES

GRANDGRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON DEPUTY CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON TOTAL VOTES

PERCENTAGE

Abel BOSUM

1377

29.5%

Mandy GULL-MASTY

2167

CANDIDATES

Ashley ISERHOFF

Donald NICHOLLS Pakesso MUKASH

TOTALA. WAPACHEE Norman

TOTAL CANDIDATES

1110

TOTAL VOTES 1895 1148

1593 DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON 4636 TOTAL VOTES 4654

46.5%

PERCENTA 41%

24%

25%

100%

34%

PERCENTAGE

100%

Ashley ISERHOFF 1895 41% with Article 26 of an Act Respecting the Cree Nation Government, R.S.Q.c. G-1.031 which specifi In accordance didate must be elected by an absolute majority with the results of Donald NICHOLLS 1148 vote (fifty percent + one), and in accordance 25% July 14, 2021, hereto, I hereby declare that no Candidate has secured the required majority vote (50 % +1) and Norman A. WAPACHEE 1593 34% date can be declared as having been elected to the office of Grand Chief/Chairman nor to the office of the TOTAL 4636 100% Chief/Vice-Chairman of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government.

with Article 26as of Chief an Act Respecting Cree Nation Government, G-1.031 which specifies that can- for the In accordance Therefore, in my capacity Electoral the Officer, I hereby declareR.S.Q.c. that another election shall betheheld didate must be elected by an absolute majority vote (fifty percent + one), and in accordance with the results of the Election of Chief /Chairman of the Grand Council of Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government between the two can July 14, 2021, hereto, I hereby declare that no Candidate has secured the required majority vote (50 % +1) and that no Candihave the most number of ballots the Election on July 14, 2021,nor namely; date can be declared as having beenfrom elected to the office held of Grand Chief/Chairman to the office of the Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairman of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government.

Mandy GULL-MASTY | Pakesso MUKASH

Therefore, in my capacity as Chief Electoral Ofﬁcer, I hereby declare that another election shall be held for the ofﬁce of Grand Notice of anCouncil election between the two (2) candidates shall between be heldthe on July 29, 2021. Chiefis hereby given /Chairman of the Grand of Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government two candidates, whom have the most number of ballots from the Election held on July 14, 2021, namely; Mandy GULL-MASTY | Pakesso MUKASH

And, And therefore, in my capacity as Chief Electoral Officer, I hereby declare that another election shall be held Notice is hereby given of an election between the two (2) candidates shall be held on July 29, 2021. Deputy Grand Chief /Chairman of the Grand Council of Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government betwe didates, whom have the most number of ballots from the Election held on July 14, 2021, namely; And, And therefore, in my capacity as Chief Electoral Officer, I hereby declare that another election shall be held for the office of Ashley Iserhoff | Norman Nation A. Wapachee Deputy Grand Chief /Chairman of the Grand Council of Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Government between the two candidates, whom have the most number of ballots from the Election held on July 14, 2021, namely;

Notice is hereby given of an election between the two (2) candidates shall be held on July 29, 2021. Ashley Iserhoff | Norman A. Wapachee

Notice is hereby given of an election between the two (2) candidates shall be held on July 29, 2021.

The schedule of the Election shall be as follows:

The schedule of theMonday, July 26, 2021 from Election shall be as follows: ADVANCE POLLS: 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. ADVANCE POLLS: Monday, July 26, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

ELECTION DAY: Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. ELECTION DAY: Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

further information, please contact: Robin Pachanos, Chief Electoral Officer ForFor further information, please Tel: contact: Robin Pachanos, Chief Electoral O The qualification for eligibility to vote and to participate in the elections is as follows: Email: rpachanos@cngelections.ca, 418-748-5495 Thea)qualification for eligibility vote and participate inAgreement. the elections is as follows: Email: Tel: 418-748-5495 To berpachanos@cngelections.ca, a Cree beneficiary in the to James Bay andto Northern Quebec b) To be of the age of majority at the date of the elections (18 years of age on July 14, 2021).

Ofﬁ

In Brief A new grand chief Abel Bosum announced July 15 he wouldn’t contest the run-off vote for a second term as Grand Chief after current Deputy Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty dominated firstround results, winning 46.5% of ballots cast. Bosum, who trailed far behind with 29.6%, threw his support to Gull-Masty in the July 29 run-off ballot with third-place finisher Pakesso Mukash. Mukash garnered 24% of first-round voting on July 14. Bosum did not respond to a request for comment. Running for Deputy Grand Chief were Ashley Iserhoff, Donald Nicholls and Norman A. Wapachee. Iserhoff led the first-round vote with 41% of the total and will face Wapachee, who garnered 34%. Nicholls, contesting his first election, came third with 25%. The Nation will have full coverage of this year’s Grand Council elections in the next issue.

In an interview with CBC News, Sky-Deer said she entered politics in 2009 to work for change in Kahnawake after graduating from university with a degree in psychology. A band councillor for 12 years, Sky-Deer speaks Mohawk and is an ardent supporter of Mohawk culture. She intends to focus on developing an economic strategy for the community to deal with unemployment and a housing shortage in Kahnawake.

Kahnawake elects first woman chief

Red Road to DC launched

The Mohawk community of Kahnawake elected Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer as its first-ever female grand chief in band council elections July 3. Sky-Deer is also the first person who identifies as LGTBQ2S to lead the community of 10,000 situated across the St. Lawrence southwest of Montreal. Sky-Deer replaces former Grand Chief Joe Norton, who died in August 2020.

Activists in the US left the Lummi Nation in Washington state July 14 on a cross-country tour they call the “Red Road

The Nation will have full coverage of this year’s Grand Council elections in the next issue.

to DC” to highlight the threats to Indigenous sacred sites. They are driving a 25-foot, 5,000-pound totem pole created by the House of Tears Carvers to a series of sacred sites across the United States over two weeks. The group arrives in Washington, DC, July 29 to push President Joe Biden to protect the sacred areas. The totem will then be erected outside the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. “It is our Xa xalh Xechnging, our sacred obligation, as Lummi people, to care for our lands, waters, and all living things on Earth,” said master carver Jewell James. “Each person who comes to the events at the sacred sites

who lays their hands on it, is instilling it with a message and a prayer that the places Indian people pray, and collect foods and medicines, will be protected.” Among their demands is for the US government to respect the principles of free, prior and informed consent outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They are also calling for Indigenous Peoples to play an active role in public land management, the recognition of Indigenous sites and ceremonial sites, and to have veto power over planned or proposed mines and pipelines that would threaten sacred sites.

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Features Photos by Gerardo Salazar

cultural

healing

This summer marks the return of powwows

by Patrick Quinn

hile most activities in Eeyou Istchee are again closed to outside visitors this summer, various communities hosted successful events in recent weeks that encouraged residents to reconnect and embrace their Cree cultural pride. From July 2-4, Chisasibi celebrated the region’s first powwow since the pandemic began. Upon request from a community member, an honour song was presented for healthcare and other frontline workers who helped keep people safe over the past 15 months and make gatherings like this possible. “I just loved every moment of it,” said head dancer George Trapper. “Wow, it was a great feeling to see people happy and enjoying themselves. I like when I see those little kids having fun running around, hugging any dancer they see. I didn’t know they were going to do three days – Sunday, my wife looked at me and said you have a hard time lifting up your foot.” After events were cancelled last year, Trapper is happy to be back on the powwow trail this season. In the weekends following Chisasibi, he was head dancer at the Kanesatake and Lac Simon powwows and plans to participate at several more throughout the summer.

10 the Nation July 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

There is added significance and emotion this year as communities emerge from pandemic isolation and deal with recent residential school revelations. “The powwows this year that I went to were pretty heavy with what happened to our young children,” Trapper told the Nation. “There are people who come to heal themselves. Sometimes I feel great but also emotional at the same time. There are times when I look at people around and it makes me want to cry.” Powwows are a family affair for the Trappers, with George’s son Kalvin starting to dance this year. Chisasibi was his first powwow as a dancer. Trapper’s own journey as a dancer was inspired by his daughter Lily Rose about eight years ago, whom he had initially left at home for a boys’ trip to a powwow in Mashteuiatsh. “When we got to the powwow site, the first thing that popped into my mind was my daughter,” recalled Trapper. “So, I drove all the way back to Chibougamau, a two-and-a-half-hour drive – that’s where everything started. Then she asked to have her regalia a year after and asked me to make my own.” While Waskaganish is planning a powwow for September 18-19, no dates have yet been

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confirmed for Wemindji or for Trapper’s original home in Mistissini. For many dancers and others on the powwow trail, these events are spiritually vital and might even save lives. “When I first started dancing in powwows, a lot of people told me it wasn’t a good choice,” Trapper reminisced. “I want to thank the people who came back years after and told me they’re sorry and to keep doing what I’m doing. I think there was a reason Creator gave us Lily Rose – she saved my life. I used to drink a lot and it’s been 12 years sober.” Powwows are an important venue for people selling their art, crafts or food. Then there are competitions. In Chisasibi, young speedcubing champion Walter Duff raised $1,790 in two days, with Ernie Whapshooyan winning a television donated by Cree Mart. “Artists and artisans are so used to interacting with the public through a display or selling their crafts,” explained Gail Chamberlain of Sacred Fire Productions, whose mission is to generate exposure for Indigenous artists such as Tim Whiskeychan. “Artists are so good at explaining their paintings, crafts

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16 the Nation July 30, 2, 2021 2021 www.nationnews.ca www.nationnews.ca

and materials with the viewer they’re engaging with.” Although Chamberlain couldn’t attend the Chisasibi event, she was in Kanesatake where throat singer Nina Segalowitz reportedly became the first Inuk to MC a powwow. Immersed in the music and the people’s energy, she felt “the power of healing”. “In light of what has been resurrected in the two months, there’s a power of change within Indigenous communities and the rest of Canada,” asserted Chamberlain. “Anyone who attends a powwow this year, it’s going to re-energize ourselves to keep moving forward towards getting answers, justice and having our voices validated.”

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

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Department of Justice and Correctional Services

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ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᐦᑑᑎᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐋ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒌ ᐅᔑᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᐤ ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐋᒌ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᔮᐧᐋᐦᒡ, ᐅᒥᑐᓈᔨᒋᑭᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᑭᔮ ᐅᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔨᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᒌ ᐲᑯᓂᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐧᐃᔨᔑᐧᐋᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ ᑭᔮ ᒫᒃ ᐋ ᐊᔨᒦᔥᑎᐧᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒑᒌ ᐱᑯᐦᑖᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᒌ ᐋᐦᑯᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡx ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᑖᑯᔨᓈ ᓈᔥᑦ ᐋᒌ ᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᒥᓐ ᐋ ᐲᑯᓂᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐧᐃᔨᔑᐧᐋᐧᐃᓐ, ᓃᔑᓐᐦ ᐃᔨᔨᐤ CAVAC ᐋ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᔥᑎᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐃᔨᔨᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᔨᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡx ᓂᓈᐦᑭᐤ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᔨᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᒌ CAVAC ᐋᐱᑎᓰᓯᐧᐃ, ᒋᒡ: ≠≠≠:≠ ≠≠ ≠:::: ≠≠≠: ≠≠: :≠ ≠: ::::≠≠≠: ≠≠≠≠≠::≠≠: ᐋ ᓂᑎᐧᐃᒋᔅᒑᔨᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔑᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ≠ ≠: :≠≠:≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠ ≠ ≠ ≠:≠ ≠:≠≠ ≠≠:≠ : ≠≠ ≠≠:≠≠≠≠≠ ≠: :: ≠ ≠ ≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠ ᐋᐧᐃᒄ ᑭᔮ ᐅᔥᑭᒡ ᐋ ᐊᑎ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡ ᐋ ᑎᐹᔅᑯᓂᒑᓂᐧᐃᒡ ≠:≠≠ᒡ ≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠: ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒑᒌ ᐃᐦᑑᑎᐦᒃ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᓂᐄᑭᓐᐦ ≠ ≠≠≠≠ᐦ≠≠≠≠≠≠≠ : ≠≠≠≠≠:≠≠≠≠≠ :≠: ≠ ≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠ ᐱᑯᓂᒑ ᑯᔨᔅᒃ ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐧᐃᔮᑯᓂᒑᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᓂᑐᐦᑯᔨᓐ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐱᒫᑎᓰᐤᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐋ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᒑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᒋᔥᑭᐦᒃ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᐧᐋᔥᑖᐱᔨᐦᐄᑯᑦ ≠ ≠≠ ≠≠≠≠≠≠: : ≠≠≠≠≠:≠≠≠≠≠ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᓂᒋᔥᑭᐦᒡ ᓂᑐᐦᑯᔨᓐ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ ᑭᔮ ᐋ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᒑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮ ᒑ ᔒᑐᔥᑯᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᔨᒡ ᐋ ᑎᐹᔅᑯᓂᒑᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐃᔥᑯᑎᒃ ᐋ ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᔨᒡ ≠ᐦ: ≠:≠≠ ≠≠≠ᒡ ≠: ::≠≠ ≠:: ≠≠ :::ᒡ ≠≠≠≠:≠:≠≠≠≠ᒡ :: ≠ ≠≠≠≠≠:::ᒡ ≠::ᒡ ::≠ᒫ≠:≠≠ CAVAC ≠: ≠:≠≠≠≠≠≠≠ ≠ ≠:::≠≠≠≠ : 1 (855≠ 603-6137 M st ss , Oujé-B u um u, W sw p ::≠:ᓃ, ≠≠ᐳ≠ᒨ, ≠≠≠ᓵ≠ᐲ

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ᐋᔥᑎᒥᒄ, ᐸᒋ ᒧᐧᐃᑎᓯᐧᐋᒄ ᐅᑎᐦ ᑎᐹᔅᑯᓂᒑᐅᑭᒥᒄ ᐧᐋᔅᑳᐦᐄᑲᓂᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒫᒃ ᐧᐃᓂᑐᒋᔅᒑᔨᐦᑎᒥᓈ ᒑᐧᑳᓐ CAVAC ᐅᐦᒋ ᐊᓐ ᒑ ᐊᔨᒥᔨᓐ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ:

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

Cree Ce tr l CAVAC T ll Free: 1 (855≠ 603-6168 W sk sh, Nem sk , E stm

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Cree S uther CAVAC T ll Free: 1 (855≠ 603-6137 M st ss , Oujé-B u um u, W sw p

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

www.creejustice.ca

Let us keep our communities safe every summer and protect our land. Be fire safe!

Happy hookers by Patrick Quinn

Deconfined fishing derbies prove to be more popular than ever in Eeyou Istchee

o promote physical activity and cultural connection over the months of pandemic restrictions, Wemindji’s local women’s association organized snowshoe and walking challenges this year. Then association president Angela Stewart had an idea for a woman-only fishing derby. “People were excited to go out,” Stewart told the Nation. “They were having fun, making friends, getting

22 the Nation July 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

out on the land. It was perfect weather. It was a good turnout for our first fishing derby for women only.” July’s warm weather and diminished restrictions after a long winter of pandemic isolation helped prompt the celebrations of an always-popular summer event – fishing derbies. In Wemindji, the derby generated significant buzz in the community, with 47 women registering in the adult

category. Many expanded their social networks, sharing boats with other participants, while other community members came to watch the weigh station and share in the harvest. To appease the men, there were also prizes for best guide and total boat weight. “I like to joke that Wemindji is small enough that everybody knows everyone, but just big enough that we don’t get sick of each other,” said Stewart’s

Photos provided by Bradley AJ Georgekish

husband Bradley Georgekish, who helped organize the event with Leon Asquabaneskum. “The idea was to allow a new group of people to experience James Bay and fishing out there,” Georgekish added. “It brought a new element for a lot of couples – it’s a new way to date.” Shania Georgekish won the $4,000 grand prize, while Kayla Visitor and Tara Matches placed second and third, respectively. Tiffany Mark won the 15-and-under category as the only girl to catch a fish. Best guide award went to Melvin Kakabat. “They were coming back really tired but full of smiles and, at the end of the day, some with sunburns,” said Georgekish. “There were a lot of first-time derby participants,

women who had fished before but casually. They had such a good time, now they’re going fishing on evenings and weekends.” Stewart thanked the sponsors and everyone who helped make the event so successful, suggesting it should become an annual event, possibly a family derby. Since the Wemindji sports and recreation department has begun hosting derbies, Georgekish has observe more community members buying boats and spending more time on the land. “It’s a fishing derby but we have measurable social impacts, and the results are all positive,” Georgekish said. “From an organizing point of view, it’s never been about prizes but about teaching the younger generation the naviga-

tion routes, traditional names of places and fish location – it’s about the land and actively knowing the territory.” Meanwhile, at Nemaska’s Lac Jolliet team fishing derby July 2-4, the Awehsha team of Michael Mianscum and Norman Matoush won the $12,000 first prize, followed by Team Blacksmith and Purple Jello. Awehsha, Purple Jelloand 2 Bear each won a prize for biggest walleye of the day. For biggest pike, the winner was KM 568, comprised of Mark and Frederick Chiskamish and Kevin Sealhunter, followed by King Fisher and Hooker. At Waskaganish’s fishing July 17-18, Mark Pepabano took home the $13,875 jackpot in the walleye derby, followed by Anson Weistche, Bradley

Iserhoff, Cathy Stevens and Jacqueline Salt. Salt won biggest fish on both days, while Dylan Erless and Weistche also won prizes. Gabriel Blackned caught the biggest pike. Ouje-Bougoumou’s fishing derby the same weekend saw Donovan, Dion and Sammy of Team Blacksmith take the first prize of $15,000, followed by Miquelon and Rapala. The Walleye Stalkers comprised of Nick Bosum and Sherry Dixon won the biggest pike competition, followed by Nemaska and Legends. Ouje Economic Development Director Ron Simard said he had never seen so many people come out for a fishing derby.

www.nationnews.ca July 30, 2021

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Arts

Creative rebirth Montreal’s First Peoples Festival returns to the stage in August by Patrick Quinn

A ANERCA – ELÄMÄN HENGITYS

fter a hybrid program of popup shows and online events last year, Montreal’s International First Peoples Festival is preparing larger shows for its 31st edition August 3-11 while planning for a big comeback in 2022.

This year’s program, titled “Joy Taken From the Night”, was unveiled July 14 and proposes “an exploration of risky areas, where the buried traces of an immemorial past are not yet erased and where the artists boldly highlight, in the fog of the present, the paths of a luminous future.” After presenting an evolving virtual program over the past year, festival co-founder André Dudemaine is excited to once again stage live performances at the downtown Place des Festivals. As with other events navigating public health guidelines, attendance will be restricted with tickets and reservations available via the Présence Autochtone website. “We are getting out of the pandemic so this year is a new start, but the big comeback will be in 2022,” Dudemaine told the Nation. “This year, we are testing new stuff. We have a comeback of usual activi24 the Nation July 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

ties like popular concerts, but we also gave ourselves the authorization to go forward with a more experimental form of expression during two nights at Place des Festivals.” Shows on the main stage include an album launch by Samian, the Algonquin rapper from Pikogan whose most recent video “Ishkodè” features a survivor from the Kamloops residential school. As Samian played the festival early in his career, Dudemaine felt it was meaningful to have him return this year. “We’re really honoured,” said Dudemaine. “This is something rooted in the history of the festival – 15 years ago, Samian began his career as an Indigenous star in the Quebec scene. We also have young artists. We feel this is our duty, to bring forward young artists as a launching pad for them.” Among them are Atikamekw musician Laura Niquay, Oji-Cree electro-pop

artist Anachnid and Mi’kmaq hip-hop activist Q-052. All three perform August 4, accompanied by contemporary orchestral arrangements from the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and guitar ensemble Forestare. Fresh off their multiple awards at this year’s Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, husband-and-wife duo Twin Flames will ignite the main stage the following night. The Ottawa-based couple has played over a thousand shows around the world while topping the Indigenous Music Countdown charts and writing the official UNESCO song to celebrate 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. “They are everywhere on the internet, Juno-awarded several times,” exclaimed Dudemaine. “They are so good, but I don’t think they’ve ever performed on a big stage in Montreal, so this is very exciting to have them be discovered by the Montreal public.” The festival’s Saturday night will fea-

Mike Paul

ture Innu folksinger Mike Paul while Gator Beaulieu will play Johnny Cash-flavoured country music with powwow and theatrical elements. A more experimental performance will come from Atikamekw

“We are in a process of reconstruction of our identity, our individuality, and art is an important tool to go forward” - André Dudemaine, co-founder

poet and playwright Véronique Hébert’s Notcimik (“where my blood comes from”). She takes the stage August 8 and 9. “The music and images on the wall will be improvised during the presentation,” said Dudemaine. “The two shows won’t be the same because of the live improvisation. This year we are taking risks and offering something more experimental.” Innu artist Sonia Robertson’s installation Le sang de la Mère Terre will show at the Guild, a downtown gallery specializing in Indigenous art. Book launches at the fest include one illustrated by Atikamekw artist Eruoma Awashish. It will also be featured in large panels along Ste-Catherine Street, aiming to inform the general public about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. About 60 films will be screened during the First Peoples Festival, which is increasingly recognized for its innovative selection of international Indigenous talent. It announced a collaboration with the Festival du Nouveau Cinema in March, enabling a wide audience to freely access last year’s winning works. “We have a lot of films not screened in 2020 because there were no venues,” explained Dudemaine. “We kept those films plus several others that have been

submitted this year. The awards will be announced August 8. First Nations have to recognize our own talents if we want others to recognize them.” Films exploring cultural reclamation include a world premiere of ethnologist Lisa Koperqualuk’s Ataatasiak and Roxann Whitebean’s Haudenosaunee Canoe Journey. Viewers can explore Indigenous struggles of resistance and resilience in films like A Última Floresta, where the Yanomami defend the “last forest” of the Amazon, and Anerka, which documents Finland’s Sámi people balancing ancestral traditions with modernity. The festival area will again feature an immersive experience with familiar giant figures, teepees and other cultural signifiers. The diversity of Indigenous art will help elevate spirits in these troubled times, said Dudemaine. “We are now living a traumatic moment in Canada,” he asserted. “For us, this is nothing new. We are in a process of reconstruction of our identity, our individuality, and art is an important tool to go forward. We are in a special moment. There is more openness in general society, and we hope that will open better channels of communication.”

www.nationnews.ca July 30, 2021

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NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY HELP MANAGE NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE NORTH Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is now accepting applications to appoint members to Land and Water boards, commissions and tribunals in Nunavut, Nunavik and Eeyou Istchee. Applicants must have knowledge or experience relevant to the board, commission or tribunal on which they wish to serve. Current board members interested in being re-appointed are also invited to apply. More info: www.canada.ca/appointments-north Application deadline: August 13, 2021 Preference may be given to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT

CAN CALL

1-855-547-5938

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

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

Health

Carcinoma concerns Cree Health Board report shows cancer rates rising, but still manageable by Ben Powless

ata from the Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health Board shows that the rate of cancer diagnoses in Eeyou Istchee remains statistically lower or on par with the rest of Quebec, even as rates in the territory jumped noticeably over the past two decades. The report, titled Cancer in Eeyou Istchee: Morbidity and Mortality, 2018, was provided to the Nation as part of an investigation into cancer prevalence across the Cree nation. It shows that the rise in cancers may be partly explained by an aging population. An increase in life expectancy for the people in the Cree Nation is a good news/bad news story since people older than 50 are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. The cancer hospitalization rate for Cree beneficiaries increased from 22.7 people per 10,000 in 2007-2010 to 33.2 in the 2013-2016 period. The nearly 50% increase nonetheless leaves the risk of cancer at less than half the prevalence in Quebec as a whole. Cancer rates among Quebec’s general population increased from 69.7 to 74.5 per 10,000 over the same period. However, the report’s authors note limitations with the data because the provincial government stopped reporting cases to the Quebec Tumour File in 2010 even though it was supposed to have been updat-

ed in a new reporting structure at the Quebec Cancer Registry by 2020. That’s why the report relies on individuals hospitalized with cancer as a metric instead of diagnoses, as the global data is still unavailable. The CHB’s Public Health Department identified 58 individuals suffering from cancer from 2013-2016 while noting that the previous rate of cancer was significantly lower. This put Eeyou Istchee at the second lowest rate of cancer in the province; only Nunavik had a lower incidence. Indeed, rates of hospitalization declined from 44.1 people per 10,000 in the 2007-2010 period to 36 over 2010-2013, before climbing back to 47 in the 2013-2016 period. Quebec global rates, meanwhile, were above 85 per 10,000 from 2007 to 2016. What stands out in the numbers is that individuals from Eeyou Istchee are diagnosed with cancers at a younger age than the rest of Quebec’s population, and that there is a higher incidence of kidney cancers and deaths among the Cree than in the

rest of Quebec. One unidentified Cree community had significantly higher rates of cancer compared to the rest of the territory, while another – also unidentified – had much lower rates. Eeyou Istchee had the lowest rate of cancer deaths across all regions of the province, but it was not much lower. Disturbingly, the average age of death from cancer was significantly younger, at 67, versus 73 for the rest of Quebec. Lung cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer in Eeyou Istchee, and first in the rest of the province. When adjusted for age, residents of Eeyou Istchee are 20% more likely to be hospitalized for cancer than are other residents of Quebec. The average age of hospitalization in Eeyou Istchee is 59.6 years compared to 67.7 for the rest of Quebec. Discrepancies with age and cancer rates can be partly explained by a differing age distribution in the population of Eeyou Istchee. More are in the 50-59 age range than the

provincial average, but fewer are in the 60+ range. Though colon cancer rates are similar between the two populations, the average age for those diagnosed with colon cancer is 60.5 for Crees versus 71.3 in the rest of Quebec. Another CBHSSJB report highlights that cancer is the main cause of death in Eeyou Istcheer, followed by circulatory system-related deaths, including heart attacks. The Canadian Cancer Society emphasizes that smoking is the most important risk factor for cancer. Sun exposure, unhealthy body weight and alcohol consumption are runners up. Exposure to air pollution and radon can also increase the risk of cancer. Several screening methods are available the most common cancers, including the prostate-specific antigen test, mammograms, pap tests, and stool tests for colorectal cancer. Talk to your doctor if you notice anything significantly different about your body – including growths, lumps, fatigue, or dramatic weight loss.

www.nationnews.ca July 30, 2021

the Nation 29

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ᒑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᐧᐋᑦ ᐋᐦ ᐧᐄᐦ ᒥᓈᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐊᔅᒌᔨᐤ, ᓂᐲᔨᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᑯᑎᒋᔨᐤ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᐋᐦ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒻ

AIDEZ À GÉRER LES RESSOURCES NATURELLES DU NORD

ᐅᑖᐦ ᑳᐦᓈᑖᐦ ᑎᐹᔨᐦᒋᒑᓰᓈᐦᒡ ᐋᐦ ᐧᐄᐦ ᒥᔪᐧᐄᒑᐱᑎᓰᒥᑐᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᐋᐦ ᐄᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒻ, ᔖᔥ ᒋᑭ ᒌᐦ ᐄᑎᔑᐦᐋᒧᒡ ᐅᒥᓯᓂᐦᐄᑭᓂᐧᐋᐤᐦ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᐧᐋᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒫᒨᐱᔥᑎᑭᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐊᔅᒌᔨᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᓂᐲᔨᐤ ᐋᐦ ᐧᐄᐦ ᒥᓈᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐅᑖᐦ ᓅᓈᕗᑦ, ᓅᓈᕕᒃ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᔅᒌᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒫᒃ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐧᐋᐦ ᑯᒋᔥᑖᒡ ᔮᔨᑖ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓱᐧᐃᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒥᔪᒋᔅᒑᔨᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᔖᔥ ᐋᐦ ᐄᔨᑭᔮᔮᔨᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔮ ᓈᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐋᐦ ᐄᔑ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᓈᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ᙮ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑭᔮᐦ ᔖᔥ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐄᔑ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒌᐦ ᐊᔥᑎᐱᒡ ᐧᐄᔨᐧᐋᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᔮᐱᒡ ᒋᑭ ᒌᐦ ᑯᒋᔥᑖᐧᐃᒡ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐅᑎᓈᑭᓂᐅᐧᐃᒡ᙮ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᐧᐄᐦ ᒋᔅᒑᔨᐦᑎᒫᐧᑳ ᒑᐧᑳᓐ ᒫᐅᑖᐦ ᒑ ᐄᔅᐱᔨᔨᓐ ᓂᑐᐧᐋᐱᐦᒋᑭᓂᐦᒡ: www.canada.ca/appointments-north ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᒫᐦᒋᒡ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᒥᓯᓂᐦᐅᓱᓈᓂᐧᐃᒡ: ᐅᐦᐱᐦᐆᐲᓯᒻ 13, 2021 ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᓃᔥᑎᒻ ᒑ ᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᒫᑭᓂᐅᐧᐃᒡ: ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ, ᐄᔥᒌᒫᐅᒡ, ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐄᐦᐱᓂᒡ ᐋᐦ ᐧᐃᔥᑎᐧᐄᑯᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᐅᔮᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᑯᑎᑭᒡ ᐄᔨᐦᒡ ᐋᐦ ᐄᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ᙮

Relations Couronne-Autochtones et Affaires du Nord Canada accepte maintenant les candidatures de personnes désireuses de siéger aux offices des terres et des eaux du Nunavut, du Nunavik et d’Eeyou Istchee. Les candidats doivent posséder une expérience ou des connaissances liées au mandat de l’organisme auquel ils aimeraient se joindre. Les membres actuels qui souhaitent un renouvellement sont aussi invités à poser leur candidature. Plus d’info : www.canada.ca/nominations-nord Date limite : 13 août 2021 La préférence peut être accordée aux candidats qui s’identifient comme membres d’un ou plusieurs des groupes suivants : femmes, autochtones, personnes handicapées et membres des minorités visibles.

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– Whale Mart

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

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– Nemaska Grocery T: 819-673-2525

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the Nation 31

Puzzles Crossword ACROSS 1 Zero in (on) 6 Word after big or buck 10 Swit's sitcom 14 End early 15 Denver's co-star 16 "Do ___ others..." 17 Thanksgiving centerpiece 19 Seating section 20 Royal flush card 21 Charades and such 23 One of the Spice Girls 25 Cantankerous 26 Wedding hiree 28 Eliot or Frost 29 Track shape 30 Flower cluster 32 Seek election 35 Atlanta-based airline 37 Here-there link 38 "One of ___ days...." 40 Biblical boat 41 Housefly larva 44 Many moons 45 Coniferous tree 46 Turn off and on again, say 48 Confront boldly 51 Gait between trot and gallop 52 Risk taker 54 "CSI" evidence 57 Yellowfin, e.g. 58 Annoyance 60 Lysol target 61 Building toy

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: R A D O N

S O M E

A N O N

A C H E

S H A G

A L O N E

G O R I L L L A E A T F O W S A A R N D G S

T O P F E L A P M I E N A R C O O I L L A D A

O P A R T

L I E D T O P

P I C E R A P E R C C H E D I U N O N M G O O A R G E R E R D N E E D C O P T A N S D O S O R T

A S H A M E D

B E A T

E A S T

T R E Y

T I E A S T H A I M R O S U T R

A C R E

L E N D

P A D R E

S L E E K

STR8TS No. 282

Previous solution - Easy

1 2 8 3 4

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

6 6 2

2 4 5 9

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

8 9 1 3 5 4 3 5 6 5

17 21 23 26

25 28

36 41

31 37

45 49

44 47

62 It takes two to do it 63 Monthly check 64 Butcher's cut 65 Vacuum tube gas DOWN 1 "Is that a ____?" 2 Reedy instrument 3 Plant with ears 4 Coffee holder 5 Foggy state 6 Like some missiles 7 By chance 8 Mixed dish 9 Pekoe place

10 Part of "TMNT" 11 Japanese cartoons 12 Range rover 13 Merry-go-round figure, to a child 18 One using T.L.C. 22 Receive at the door 24 Trapper's ware 26 Last part, in music 27 Formally state 28 Lofty speech 31 Gear tooth 32 With respect to 33 "Ruse" anagram 34 Twiggy digs

36 Off the mark 39 Can't stand 42 Aardvark's paradise 43 Basic belief 45 Warhol piece, e.g. 47 Rock layers 48 Someone in a cast 49 Unrefined 50 Big name in cameras 51 Short-legged dog 53 Nabisco favorite 55 Aborted mission 56 Auth. unknown 59 Black gunk

SUDOKU Medium

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

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

No. 282

Very Hard

7 5 9 6 8 9

1 2

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

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.

32 the Nation July 30, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

7 1

Previous solution - Tough

9 6 3 2 5 4 1 7 8

4 5 1 3 9

C H O C K

by Margie E. Burke

8 2 1 7 6 9 4 5 3

7 5 4 8 3 1 2 9 6

5 4 6 1 8 7 9 3 2

1 8 7 9 2 3 5 6 4

2 3 9 5 4 6 8 1 7

4 7 8 6 1 5 3 2 9

6 1 2 3 9 8 7 4 5

3 9 5 4 7 2 6 8 1

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

Bear necessities by Sonny Orr

ears can be like ornery big brothers at times. In the North at this time of year we often see our bros in action, usually at the local dump. They tend to congregate there to gorge on the leftovers from our feasts. Back in the day, dogs would eat anything at hand and thereby keep the bears at bay. Now our dogs are into processed foods – just like us. Instant doggie gratification: toss a biscuit and make friends the easiest way possible. If only bears had a dog’s mentality and hung around to eat our leftovers until hibernation time. At least they wouldn’t leave yellow stains or preserved crap in the snow all winter. Our people have great respect for bears, though we tend to pity those that scavenge the dump. It’s a bad place to be unless you are a raven or a seagull. Just like certain dives close to the Espresso hotel in Montreal, local dumps tend to be an invitation to an open-bar party. They have their own kind of wild ways.

When picnics clash with bears, someone is bound to win Bears, being bears, have strong olfactory powers. When summer cookouts and BBQs send savoury odours wafting on the breeze, it’s as if we had sent them an invitation by express courier. Phooey to the humans – lovingly roasting the hind leg of a moose or caribou, or just plain burgers – to a bear, it all smells the same flavour of delicious. So, when picnics clash with bears, someone is bound to win. In the North, scaring off a bear is preferred in the summer, as it is a bad time to harvest any meats. That’s why killing a bear isn’t an option unless you have plenty of room in the freezer for a special feast occasion. Some bears have to be carefully harvested, as was the case in Whapmagoostui when bears roamed around the site of the annual gathering. One bear met its fate in the sights of a local security guard and was respectfully

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here

offered to a googum. Ironic feasting on the feast crasher. Another bear showed up the next day and ripped up a tent or two. The googum of that tent made a wise decision. She knew it wasn’t fashionable to wrestle a bear dressed in her nightgown. Instead, she took no chances and headed home with her entire clan in tow. One story of marauding bears from back in the day gently tickles my now-feeble memory – a story about a cross-eyed boy armed only with a slingshot. That particular spring day, the men were at a pond a mile or so away hunting geese when a sleuth of bears entered the campground. One of my aunts and her son were inside their tent when a bear poked its head in. Luckily, she was near the bush radio and called for help. As we were the closest to her camp, we tried to rush

ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965

there over dangerous ice conditions on a rescue mission. Meanwhile, as the hibernation-hungry bear got closer, the cross-eyed boy pulled his slingshot to its maximum tension. With his right eye aiming left and his left eye aiming right, he let go of the stone, hitting the bear bullseye square on the nose. Brother bear grunted, turned around and lumbered off into the bush. We arrived a few hours later to find no bears and went to tell the hunters of the drama at their camp. And that even cross-eyed boys can be heroes. So, take care of your camp. Leave no scraps or garbage, try not to burn anything because the regional fire authorities say so, and finish that hotdog you’re choking on. Don’t feed the bears, because you might end up on their menu.

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the Nation 33

UTNS

Under the Northern Sky

The red sky warning by Xavier Kataquapit

sat out admiring the lake on a warm summer afternoon the other day. Although it was only four o’clock and the sun would not set for another five hours, I was in full view of a reddish orange globe hanging in the sky. Smoke and pollutants from hundreds of blazes burning in the wilderness if northwestern Ontario were filling the sky high into the atmosphere. The thin layer of smoke that rose in the air could be noticed by the fact that the sun took on a brilliant reddish hue. Forest fires are a common occurrence in the North. We Cree valued burnedover areas along the James Bay coast because they provided a source of dry dead firewood that could be easily cut and collected for the winter. Most of these fires were on small tracts of land that left charred, dead trees where they stood as the bark burned and the branches and roots were singed. Fires are a natural part of the forest life cycle that renew the landscape for new growth to occur. But modern fires are growing in size and intensity, and scientific research show that this is mostly driven by our own human activity. Climate scientists have warned us for decades that as the weather warms, it will bring a cascade of environmental change. More carbon in the atmosphere means temperatures rise worldwide, drying the forests and increasing the risk of ever larger fires earlier in the spring and for longer periods. There is even the rare phenomenon known as “zombie fires” –

If we could channel as much energy and resources into solutions as we do in trying to send people into space, we could do so much to save our environment and by extension save ourselves fires that smolder for months underground and then reignite after the spring thaw. In an article by Science News, researchers report that as winters become milder and the summers become hotter, zombie fires could become more frequent. During every recent summer, many Indigenous remote wilderness communities have had to be evacuated due to huge burning infernos. In 2019, there were catastrophic bush fires in Australia. Then in 2020, major fires burned through Washington and Oregon in the western US. This year, heat waves with temperatures of almost 50C are scorching Western Canada and led to the forest fire that destroyed the town of Lytton, BC. The world seems to be in a state of denial, and we all don’t really want to believe that our climate could change so much in such a short space of time that it could cause so much devastation. We like to think that these major forest fires might be a “one-off” season or just a freak of nature that won’t happen again for a long time. Unfortunately, the science and the research that so many professionals have pointed to all say the same thing that global warming will cause more droughts and more forest fires as the world heats up.

As a matter of fact, the process of heat, fire and drought all work together to intensify one another. As the environment heats up, more drought occurs, as more drought occurs, forest and bush fires become more pronounced and as more fires happen, more carbon is released into the air to make the problems of global warming worse. Scientists have warned about this for years and now they are telling world leaders that we are headed towards a climate emergency. They are demanding action. As natural as fires may be for forests, the size and intensity of modern fires are a sign that we are driving the changes in our world. We all have to work together the world over to find solutions to manage fossil-fuel use, create more environmentally friendly solutions to producing energy and to find ways to reduce our culture of sending so much carbon into our atmosphere. If we could channel as much energy and resources into solutions as we do in trying to send people into space, we could do so much to save our environment and by extension save ourselves. Even in the midst of an historic pandemic we cannot ignore climate change and the impending danger to life on this planet.

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.

34 the Nation July 30, 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

CURRENTLY OPEN FOR PROJECTS for 2021-2022 ﬁscal year

In partnership with Solidarity Alliances and the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE To alleviate poverty in Eeyou Istchee, in order to allow all Crees to have the resources, means, choices, and powers necessary to maintain their economic independence, and to be able to participate fully in the development of their Nation.

PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS

Poverty & Exclusion

Health & Nutrition

Education

WHO CAN APPLY? • Local/Regional not-for-profit corporations • Cree Nation Bands and Departments • Local/Regional Aboriginal organizations • Related research organizations • Not-for-profit corporations • Private sector organizations* *Organization must not profit from the program.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

CONTACT

August 31, 2021

Nellie W. Gray, Funding Administrator @: nwapachee@cngov.ca P: 418-923-2330 | F: 418-923-2674

or until all funds have been depleted for approved projects submitted prior to this deadline date.

CREE NATION GOVERNMENT Department of Social and Cultural Development