Issuu

KEEP YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE CREE NATION

YOUR TRUSTED JAMES BAY CREE PHONE BOOK A WEALTH OF INFORMATION FOR ANYONE LIVING IN EEYOU ISTCHEE All your local numbers in one place! “I was looking for that!” Quick and easy! Need to call the clinic? “I found it where it’s always been. In the phone book.” “What’s the Post Office number?” Look in the phone book! AN EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION RESOURCE FOR ANYONE IN BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH THE CREE NATION Easily find Cree entities and Band office contact info. “I need to speak to the coordinator of finances in Chisasibi.” Quickly find the name and contact info you’re looking for in the phone book!

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USEFUL. UNIQUE. UNSURPASSED... UNIQUE LAYOUT WITH TABS, MAKING IT A BREEZE TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED Each Cree community has its own Personalized Tab section. Plus…Tabs for the Cree entities Blue section and the Business Yellow section. Special for the 25 Anniversary Edition! th

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CONTENTS 10 Cree Land Stewardship First Eeyou Ituun program launched in Waskaganish

Concerning moose survey

Community

EDITORIAL Open letter to Premier Legault

NEWS Preserving Cree identity

Better connected

IN BRIEF

FEATURES Surviving on the land

Protect the wildlife

A lasting influence

Creating innovative solutions 26

PUZZLES REZ NOTES

Spooks and ghosts

T&B On healing (again)

26 22

Photos by Vincent (El Duderino)

Remembering Larry Linton

YOUR TRUSTED JAMES BAY CREE PHONE BOOK 2022 EDITION 25 Anniversary Edition! th

Exciting initiatives

MESSAGE TO ALL COMMUNITIES’ MEMBERS OF EEYOU ISTCHEE Meegwetch to inform us of any changes to your contact information for the upcoming James Bay Cree Phone Book.

Please call us before December 1, 2021 25th Edition coming January 2022 To update your contact info: Call 514-272-3077 | projects@beesum.com

Editorial

Open letter to Premier Legault by Quebec Community Groups Network

s proud Quebecers, we reject your government’s impractical and ill-advised decision to label our community as “historic Anglophones” and your plan to limit government services to citizens who are eligible to attend English schools. Our community is an integral part of Quebec with full rights to participate in Quebec society and to receive government services. We are not some folkloric ‘historic’ group. We are full-fledged Quebecers, who are committed to building an inclusive Quebec where French is the common language. Our institutions serve all Quebecers and are among the fleurons du Québec – world-class educational, research, and health care establishments that attract top notch scientists and researchers working on leading edge technology that benefits all Quebecers as well as our economy. We remind you that eligibility to attend school in English in Quebec is not in any way linked to the language of the student or the parent. Rather, it is linked to the language of instruction received by the parent or the previous educational pathway of the student. Thus, the English-speaking minority does not coincide with the ‘English-school-eligible’ category. Many

We believe that the right to communication and services in English should never be based on eligibility for English instruction members of the English-speaking community attended French schools in order to perfect their knowledge of Quebec’s common language; under your proposal, they would not qualify to receive written services in English. Meanwhile, ironically, Francophones who attended English schools in their youth would have the right to receive the services in English. Most importantly, the use of the ‘English-school-eligible’ category is grossly under-inclusive. It removes the right to receive services including health care in English from between 300,000 and 500,000 English-speaking Quebecers. It is utterly divorced from our community’s self-identification. More broadly, the attempt to create categories of citizens who are eligible for certain services is deeply troublesome from a public governance perspective. Minorities define themselves; they are not defined by the state. The English-speaking

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ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965

minority of Quebec does not define itself based on the ‘English-school-eligible’ category, and the expanded use of this category is offensive. Premier Legault, your government should not be attempting to define our community or limiting our access to government services, whether for critical health and social services or the right to pay our taxes in English. As Premier Lucien Bouchard famously stated in 1996 at the Centaur theatre: “When you go to the hospital and you are in pain, you may need a blood test, but you certainly don’t need a language test.” We believe that the right to communication and services in English should never be based on eligibility for English instruction. We are confident that the status quo reflects the values and generosity of spirit of all Quebecers. To join others and sign the letter fullfledgedquebecers@qcgn.ca

ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS 1 800 661-5850

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 M. Labrecque-Saganash, 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 November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

Editorial News

Preserving Cree identity Kuukuminuwich Gatherings are important in keeping the teachings alive by Ben Powless,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

he Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association (CWEIA) held their 4th Kuukuminuwich Gathering in Nemaska October 2-3, over a year after it was originally planned and postponed due to Covid restrictions. The gathering brought together 50 people – the limit allowed under community health protocols – for a few days of teaching and learning, giving grandmothers and Elders from the Cree communities a chance to share their knowledge with younger generations. Delegations of women from every Cree community, except Whapmagoostui, attended this year’s event. “It’s where the grandmothers transfer their knowledge to the younger generations so we can preserve the language, the culture and the practices of Eeyou people,” explained Josephine Sheshamush, program coordinator for CWEIA. “The teachings by the kuukuminuwich – the grandmothers – are workshops where we try to capture their knowledge, and from this we make booklets

to summarize the teachings in detail,” Sheshamush said. She added that the booklets will be made available at future events for free. The organization was working to reprint booklets from the previous gatherings and get the booklet from the third gathering printed. “The gathering went very well. It was beautiful to have all the kuukuminuwich come to my community of Nemaska,” said Kristen Moar, who sits on the CWEIA’s Board of Directors and helped organized the event as president of the Nemaska Local Women’s Association. Moar said that some of the highlights were “having all the Elders come together and learning about the traditional teachings. We received teachings on the right to passage, from birth when a child is born to the right to passage ceremony, walking out ceremony, and there was a teaching on the girls’ first moon time.” She said another highlight was the entertainment night, where the Elders got a chance to dance. The gathering was

opened with a prayer by Rosie Tanoush, as well as a virtual presentation by newly elected Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty. Charlotte Ottereyes Ratt, the new president of CWEIA, also addressed the group. Other workshops were about baby bundle teachings, first kill rites, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the importance of storytelling for children. A presentation of a plaque was made to the family of Rose-Ann Blackned, who died in 1991 and was part of the documented Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls cases Moar said that it was important to be able to document all the workshops with video and audio recordings, which would be accessible on the organization’s website. “I hope that the Kuukuminuwich Gatherings continue as they are very important for passing on traditional knowledge to future generations, and very important in keeping our identity as Cree people,” Moar added.

When the road brings you to Val-d’Or, we are your home away from home! We are ready to welcome you for a safe and comfortable stay. 1.877.474.8884 www.QualityInnValdor.com www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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Eeyou Mobility targets year-end launch of service in six communities

eyou Mobility is closer to launching their full commercial services across the Cree communities. The company announced it will be servicing Ouje-Bougoumou, Nemaska, Mistissini and Waswanipi, as well as Chapais and Chibougamau, by the end of the year, according to president Henry Gull.

Taapwaauchaayimiisu (Believe in Yourself) is a resource available for schools under our Youth Enrichment Services. We offer support to students between the ages of 10 and 17 who need a break from the classroom while continuing with their schoolwork. t Our trained team offers one-on-one and group workshops designed to improve behaviours, motivation, and self-esteem, and monitors students to keep up with the lesson plans the teachers send. The expression “Believe in Yourself” is dear to our program as we want to send a strong message of empowerment and self-worth to our youth.

Taapwaauchaayimiisu is currently offered in 4 communities: Waskaganish, Chisasibi, Mistissini and Nemaska. For information on our program, how to refer a student, how you can access services for your child, and more, please contact:

6 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

“A lot of the reason behind it is for security reasons. The roads are all very isolated, there’s frequent issues with vehicles and people can’t reach anyone. It’s also good for tourism, in the mines or people operating or doing research in the area will have more access and safety,” Gull explained. “Our goal is to connect all the communities. Our partners have invested a substantial amount of funds to connecting all nine Cree and five Jamesian communities, and the Km 381 on the Billy Diamond Highway. From there we plan to have service on all the access roads, and eventually the entire length of the Billy Diamond Highway, the Route du Nord, and a section between Matagami and Quevillon for safety reasons,” Gull added. He said these proposals are outlined in the plans that were submitted to the Quebec government, and that they’re awaiting a positive response. The partners include Rogers, who will provide service to Eeyou Mobility customers when travelling across Canada (and provide service to Rogers’ customers travelling in Eeyou Istchee and the James Bay region), and SSi

Better connected by Ben Powless,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada, a telecommunications company based in the Northwest Territories with experience building communications infrastructure in remote areas. Gull also clarified that the system will be running on 4G LTE technology, which will allow the services to extend to farther areas. He said that during beta testing, they heard a response from a man on a skidoo on the Ouje-Bougoumou access trail who was the only one in his group to get cell-phone service. “Cree participation and direct involvement in the development of Eeyou Istchee is an underlying principle of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement as well as our more recent agreements with Quebec and Canada,” said former Grand Chief Abel Bosum in a press release. “Over the years, this principle has enabled us to direct our own future and provide opportunities for our families, our communities and our nation. Eeyou Mobility Inc. is another good example of what we can achieve, working together, to improve conditions for our people, to cre-

ate growth and to prepare the next generation with the assets they will need to continue on this path.” Gull said that their service packages are more expansive within Eeyou Istchee, and said he encourages people to use their phones within the territory, where they’ll have internet access through the company’s fiber-optic backbone. Packages on the company’s website begin at $20 for just talk and text, and go up to $99 a month for 60GB of data in the James Bay area, 5GB in the rest of Canada, and unlimited calls and texts nationwide. He added that the company wants to involve a lot of Cree people to work with them, and they are employing one person per community as a service provider, including in the

Jamesian communities. “We encourage people to get into this kind of business. We will be training employees to work in the head office in Chisasibi,” Gull added. “We want everyone to know that we are working hard to finish the network, targeting before Christmas to have it completed, and to let people know our plans are very competitive. There are pay-asyou-go contracts, you can bring your own phone, or buy a phone from us or a third party, you can get a chip and be ready to operate in our network.”

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

the Nation 7

Systemic racism inquiry at Batshaw

ᐆ ᐁᐃᐦᑕᑯᐦᒡ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᑖᔮᐦᒡ ᑖᐧᐯᐅᒉᔨᒥᓲ ᑳ ᐃᔑᓂᐦᑳᑌᒡ ᐁᑯᓐ ᐆ ᐁᐃᐦᑕᑯᐦᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᐧᑳᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒫᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄᐦ ᐊᓐᑦ ᐅᔅᒋᓃᒎᒡ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ᙮ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᓂᔫ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ 10 ᐁᐃᑎᑐᐳᓀᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᐲᐦᐄᒻ 17 ᐁᑳ ᐧᐄ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᓂᑌ ᐁᐱᒋᓵᔨᒡ ᐁᒋᔅᑯᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᔮᐸᒡ ᒉ ᒋ ᐃᐦᑑᑕᐧᑳᐤ ᐅᒪᓯᓇᐦᐄᑲᓄᐧᐋᐤᐦ ᐁᒋᔅᑯᑎᒫᓱᐧᑖᐤ᙮ ᐊᓐᒌ ᒉ ᐧᐄᒋ ᐊᐸᑎᓰᒫᐧᑖᐤ ᑫᑌᐦᐹᓐ ᐧᐄᒋ ᐊᐸᑎᓰᒣᐅᒡ ᐊᓂᔫ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐᐦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒫᒨ ᓀᐅᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐊᔨᒨᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓄᔨᒡ ᒉᐧᑳᔫ ᒉ ᒌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᔨᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔫᐸᔨᔨᒡ ᑖᓐ ᐁᐃᑌᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᔨᒡ, ᒉ ᒌ ᐊᔅᒉᔨᐦᑕᒥᐦᐄᑯᔨᒡ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔫᑲᓄᐧᐋᐸᒥᓱᔨᒡ ᓀᔥᑦ ᓂᓈᑲᒋᐦᐁᐅᒡ ᐊᓂᔫ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᐦᑑᑕᒥᔨᒡ ᐊᓂᔫ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᒥᔮᑲᓄᔨᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᐊᐸᑎᓰᐦᑲᐦᑕᒥᔨᒡ ᑖᓐ ᑳᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔅᑖᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒫᒉᓲᐦ᙮ ᐆ ᐁᐃᔑ ᒌᓱᐧᐋᓅᐦᒡ “ᑖᐧᐯᐅᒉᔨᒥᓲ” ᒥᔅᑕᐦᐄ ᓂᑎᑌᔨᐦᑕᒥᐦᐄᑯᓈᓐ ᐆ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᑖᔮᐦᒡ ᐧᐁᔥ ᓂᐧᐄ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑕᒥᐦᐋᓈᓐᒡ ᑯᔅᒋᓃᒌᒥᓅᒡ ᑖᓐ ᒉ ᒌᔑ ᒥᔅᑯᓰᐧᑖᐤ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔫᑲᓄᐧᐋᐸᒥᓱᐧᑖᐤ᙮

ᐊᓂᑌ ᐧᐁᐦᒡ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐆ ᑖᐧᐯᐅᒉᔨᒥᓲ ᐊᓂᑌ 4 ᐃᔨᔫ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᓐ: ᐧᐊᔅᑲᑲᓂᔥ, ᒋᓵᓰᐲ, ᒥᔅᑎᓯᓃ ᓀᔥᑦ ᓀᒪᔅᑳ᙮ ᐁᑎᑑ ᐧᐄ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑎᒣᐧᑫ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ, ᑖᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᐦᑏᓐ ᐁᐧᐄ ᐲᐦᑌᐸᔨᐦᐄᑦ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐ ᐊᓐᑦ, ᑖᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᐦᑏᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑲᓅᑦ ᒋᔅᑕᐧᐋᔒᒻ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᑲᔦ ᐁᑎᑑ ᐧᐄ ᓇᓇᑑ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑕᒥᓀ ᒉᐧᑳᓐ, ᐅᑌ ᒋ ᑳ ᒌᔑ ᐯᒋ ᑖᐦᑲᐱᐦᒉᓂᒉᓐ: ᑖᐦᑳᐱᐦᒉᓂᑲᓐ ᐁᐃᑎᓯᓈᑌᒡ: (418) 923 2661 ᒦᓐ ᐁᒪᑯᓂᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐊᒋᐦᑖᓱᓐ 1172 ᐁᒋᓯᐸᔨᐦᒡ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐲᐦᑌᓯᓇᐦᐄᒉᔨᓐ: YES@cngov.ca

After cutting ties with upper management of Batshaw Youth and Family Centre in late September over continued inaction to address systemic racism, the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) in cooperation with the Center for ResearchAction on Race Relations (CRARR) has requested that the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission launch an inquiry. “It is both gut-wrenching and outrageous that in order to fight discrimination, we need to request yet another investigation into systemic racism against Indigenous children and families at Batshaw,” said NWSM executive director Nakuset. “Report after report, recommendation after recommendation, and time after time, nothing really changes.” The request asks the Commission to examine Batshaw’s employment equity and other staffing practices that have excluded Indigenous candidates. NWSM also seeks an investigation into barriers that prevent Indigenous families from accessing equitable services in the system. Among the problems highlighted are accurate data collection of Indigenous children, racial profiling, inadequate community-based health resources, lack of support for Indigenous youths in care who transition into adulthood, and a general failure to ensure culturally sensitive services for Indigenous and foster families. As Indigenous women with children in the system are often afraid to speak

out, Nakuset felt that filing a formal request was the only way for the youth protection agency to address concerns her organization has raised for years. “We’ve made so many efforts to try and help them and it’s just fallen on deaf ears,” said Nakuset. Batshaw board member Judy Martin told CBC that the institution is working to implement recommendations and improve its relationship with Indigenous peoples. She said that improvements are a “work in progress” and that the youth protection agency will continue to reach out to NWSM. “Sometimes you have to work a little harder to bring partners back to the table and that is absolutely the intention the CIUSSS has with the Native Women’s Shelter,” said Martin.

imagineNATIVE award winners This year’s imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival was declared bigger than ever, with over $55,000 presented to Indigenous artists from around the world at its awards ceremony on October 24. Enoch Cree Nation actress Crystle Lightning hosted the event, which included musical performances by Classic Roots and Crown Lands. “Recognizing and celebrating Indigenous works shows the world the talent our community has,” stated imagineNATIVE co-founder Cynthia Lickers-Sage. “It’s paramount we celebrate stories that are told from the First Peoples point-of-view.” Caroline Monnet took home the dramatic feature award for Bootlegger, which

In Brief explores a Quebec Indigenous reserve’s debate about the sale of alcohol. Landon Dyksterhouse won the documentary feature award for Warrior Spirit. The APTN web series pitch award had the largest prize at the ceremony, with $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizing awarded to The Feather News by Ryan Moccasin, Shawn Cuthand and Daniel Knight. As the only Indigenous film festival to be a qualifier for Best Live Action Short at the Academy Awards, Angakusajaujuq The Shaman’s Apprentice by Zacharias Kunuk will be eligible to submit for this category at the next Oscars.

Shirley Cheechoo receives award Shirley Cheechoo, originally from Eastmain, received the prestigious 2021 August Schellenberg Award of Excellence from the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival on October 24. A well-known artist, actor and filmmaker, Cheecho has spent over 30 years in the arts. She became the first Native person to write, produce, direct and act in a feature-length drama, Bearwalker, released in 2000. Cheechoo is the founder and artistic director of the Weengushk Film Institute in M’Chigeeng, Ontario, which seeks to engage Indigenous youth in a land-based film school. She also founded Debajehmujig Storytellers, an Indigenous theatre company based in Wiikwemkoong, Ontario. The August Schellenberg Award of Excellence recognizes professional and personal achievement by an Indigenous

actor. Past recipients include Tantoo Cardinal, Lorne Cardinal, Tina Keeper and Tom Jackson.

Covid update Cree health authorities announced that as of October 12, there were no more active Covid cases in the Cree communities, though one case remained involving a patient at the Espresso Hotel who had travelled to Montreal from Waskaganish. Nunavik’s Regional Board of Health and Social Services reported a total of 71 active cases in the region as an outbreak spread through the communities of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kuujjuaq, Salluit, Ivujivik and Kangirsuk. The list of areas of risk were updated to include Outauoais, Laurentides, Gatineau, Laval, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Center Quebec, Quebec City, Montreal, Montérégie, Eastern Townships and Chaudière-Appalaches in Quebec. In Ontario, the only areas considered not at risk were Porcupine, District of Algoma, Timiskaming, North Bay, Renfrew County, and Leeds, Greenville and Lanark districts. Fully vaccinated travellers to these areas were asked to be tested on day five after returning, while those partially vaccinated or unvaccinated

were required to undertake 10 days of isolation, and a test between day five and seven. However, travellers were urged to check with their local health authority who may have different rules. The Cree Health Board also announced that flu shots would be available in all communities starting November 1, and in Montreal November 16-18. They urged people to get vaccinated for both the flu and Covid, to prevent a “twindemic” of overlapping illnesses, which could cause either to spread more easily. As of October 30, Transport Canada is enforcing a requirement for proof of full vaccination for air and rail travel, which would include fly-in sites such as Stornoway or Eleonore. Quebec Premier François Legault pushed back a previous deadline for healthcare workers to get vaccinated from October 15 to November 15, faced with the potential that 22,000 healthcare workers would have been unable to work. In the US, federal regulators said that the benefits of the Pfizer vaccine outweighed any risks among children 5-11, clearing the path for approval of the vaccine in children, expected soon. Canada would likely follow suit, allowing for vaccinations of one of the few age groups still not able to get vaccinated.

Fraud warning

In Brief

The Eeyou-Eenou Police Force is warning about scams that have been affecting community members, defrauding people and potentially draining their bank accounts. Captain Audrey Icebound told the CBC that some of the scams involve asking people to buy prepaid cards with money, with promises of money sent back to the individual. Scammers may ask for the victim’s bank account information, which is then used to steal the person’s funds. Other scams involve links sent via apps like Facebook Messenger, where someone may impersonate a friend or family member, and ask them to click a link. If clicked, they can lose access to their accounts, and their account may be used to scam others. Icebound also said there were reports of a Covid-related scam, where someone phones up pretending to be a public health official and demanding personal information. She said that individuals shouldn’t give out their full name, date of birth, address, social insurance number, maiden names or parents’ maiden names. She said the elderly are particularly vulnerable and encouraged anyone targeted by scammers to report it to the police and the Canadian AntiFraud Centre.

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

the Nation 9

Features

NG SURVIVI e land on th

First Eeyou Ituun program launched in Waskaganish by Patrick Quinn,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Photos by Vincent (El Duderino)

10 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

new program long wished for by the Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) started in Waskaganish on September 27 called Eeyou Ituun (Cree Land Stewardship), which aims to teach fundamental bush skills and traditional knowledge to younger generations. Since 2014, the CTA has been working with Niskamoon Corporation and the Cégep de St-Félicien to establish this 900hour accredited program. Open to all Cree registered under the JBNQA who are 18 or over, graduates of the Land Stewardship program will earn an Attestation of College Studies certificate from the Cégep at a ceremony following completion in March.

“Our goal is to have the students learn what it was like in the old days when you survived on the land,” said Mary Jane Salt, Eeyou Ituun coordinator. “They have to find their own food and learn the traditional skills so they can pass them on to others and maintain our traditional way of life.” While the program was initially planned to begin in March 2020, it was delayed several times before a two-week pilot project was launched last winter to finalize preparation. Now a total of 17 students from across Eeyou Istchee are enrolled, ranging in age from teens to mid-40s.

“They all have different reasons for applying to the program,” Salt told the Nation. “Many said they like being out on the land, ‘it helps me a lot’ or ‘I want to learn so I can pass it on to my children.’ Some are the next tallymen so they want to know.” Several of the 15 competencies covered in the program are essential skills for managing natural resources on family traplines, such as territory surveillance, wildlife monitoring and land use negotiation. Each of the program’s three sessions feature extensive stretches of autonomous camping on the land to maximize the various learning opportunities presented in each season.

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After an orientation day at the Waskaganish lodge, the group headed out to Km 18 where they learned to build a camp from scratch. With the guidance of four instructors, the students built a teepee and shaptuan while participating in harvesting activities over nine days. “We wanted them to experience how it feels to build a camp out on the land,” Salt explained. “Some slept in the shaptuan. They did harvesting of beaver. They were donated a full bear and did all the skinning and the preparation that needs to be done. They also did gill netting and learned how to cut fish.” After this experience, the group headed to a camp called Siisiijiinuk along the Jack River. It was a beautiful day for travelling out on the bay as the students prepared to apply the knowledge they had learned so far for a more self-sufficient excursion. “The first week was camp with support,” said Salt. “When they went to the Jack River, it’s called Camp Autonomy.

We told them whatever food you take, you must try to stretch it over the whole week. Whatever is harvested, you eat what you prepared. It was like in the old days when you had to survive on your own.” gookum Adapting to this way of life isn’t always easy for those accustomed to familiar foods and the comforts of home. Salt and her team regularly give the students encouragement, reminding them about the program’s goals and reassuring them that they’re with a supportive group of Crees. She says this is less challenging than the culture shock often experienced when navigating studies in the south. “At the beginning of the program, it was difficult for them to adjust,” Salt shared. “It was hard for us to encourage them to eat what they had over there. Some said I don’t eat that. They did much better at the second camp. I didn’t have any complaints.” It has been a character-and-team-building exercise for the students to come together in this way,

12 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

performing all aspects of meeting their basic needs as they learn about themselves and the land. A few of the students who don’t speak Cree have had additional challenges learning important words and expressions. “There are days they’re homesick,” said Salt. “I always ask them how they feel – I know they’re anxious to go home sometimes. Some out-of-town students have relatives in the community and they have probably made new friends. I know some have girlfriends already.” After classroom time at Waskaganish’s Rupert Hall, learning how to make snowshoes and other tool crafting, there is a one-week break before the second session begins with bush-kit training. On November 22, they’re scheduled to go out on the land near Km 298 of the Billy Diamond Highway for three weeks, again camping independently following some initial support. Then it’s a four-week break over the Christmas holidays before more class time

and winter camping at a location that hasn’t yet been confirmed. With special emphasis on land-user safety and nurturing an appreciation for environmental sustainability, the program greatly benefits from the expertise of numerous Cree Elders who participate in various stages of the students’ journeys. There is no cost to join the program and students are provided allowances and meal monies from Apatisiiwin Skills Development to buy their own groceries. Community members are compensated for welcoming out-of-town students into their homes. Additional program funding comes from the Cree Nation Government’s social and cultural department, Plan Nord, Cégep de St-Félicien, Canada’s Challenge Fund, and the regional CTA. The inaugural edition of the Cree Land Stewardship program is proving to be a learning experience for both students and organizers. While Waskaganish was chosen as this year’s base primarily because it is Salt’s home community and she is

more familiar with the camps, tallymen and instructors, the program is intended to move to a different Cree community next year. Although 900 hours isn’t enough to learn everything about Cree culture, the valuable skills learned by program participants are excellent preparation for future tallymen or wildlife protection assistants in Eeyou Istchee. Interested students who missed this year’s deadline can learn more about the program in a forthcoming series from a video documentary crew who have been accompanying the group throughout their adventures. “Our plan is to release the first session documentary,” said Salt. “They’re filming and doing interviews with the students. At the beginning, the students didn’t know who they were. It was challenging going to school with someone they don’t know. Today I see a lot of change.”

“Our goal is to have the students learn what it was like in the old days when you survived on the land” - Mary Jane Salt, Eeyou Ituun coordinator.

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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Your

Time, Your Claim, Your Journey

Your time You have waited long enough. Apply before the deadline: July

13, 2022

Claim what’s yours.

Your claim

Your journey

If you attended a Federal Indian Day School, see if your school is on the list

If you experienced harm, you may be eligible for compensation

For information or support visit indiandayschools.com or call 1-844-539-3815

To fight COVID-19,

Let’s continue to protect ourselves.

Québec.ca/coronavirus

Answers: hands, mask, distance. We know you know.

wash your _____ , wear a ____ and keep your ________ from others.

Protect the

16 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

wildlife

by Patrick Quinn,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Cree Nation responds to concerning moose survey results

espite last winter’s aerial survey results showing a significant decline of the moose population in Zone 17 and the south part of Zone 22, the sports hunt continued as usual this season, which ran October 2-17. The survey showed a 35% moose decline in Zone 17 compared to previous figures in 2009, as well as the lowest levels yet recorded for reproduction (30 calves/100 females) and the number of males (27 males/100 females). Although the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) reportedly received this preliminary data in June, the Cree Nation didn’t receive results until September 9. Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty had called this delay unacceptable as it has hindered meaningful discussion on measures that could have relieved pressure on the population. Among the proposed measures currently under discussion are for the Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) and concerned tallymen to develop and adopt guidelines for ensuring sustainable Cree harvesting, including a reliable monitoring system. At its latest general assembly, the CTA had adopted a resolution recommending the closure of the sports hunt in Zone 17 and the establishment of an upper limit of kill by the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee (HFTCC), which consists of Cree, Inuit, Naskapi and federal and provincial government representatives and has binding authority regarding wildlife harvesting in accordance with the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). As a sustainable harvest level of 10% of the estimated population was recommended in Zone 17, representing 104 moose, and the JBNQA stipulates Crees have a Guaranteed Level of Harvest of 158 moose in this zone, Waswanipi Chief and Council formally requested that the HFTCC allocate Zone 17’s entire moose harvest to Crees until the population has recovered. “The coordinating committee has discussed the matter and submitted its recommendation to the minister last week,” the HFTCC’s Miles Mark told the Nation. “The minister will make his public announcement any day now.” While the MFWP intends to clarify its position following this announcement, it told the Nation that it had to meet “certain analysis and production deadlines” and meet with the HFTCC before disseminating survey results to the Crees. The regulatory modification process enables recommendations to be made for 2022 and subsequent hunting seasons – the full report is expected this winter. www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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“80% of moose are killed in open areas. If there were trees there, those moose would still be walking around today” - Allan Saganash

18 the Nation

“The Cree harvest remains unknown for Zone 17,” the MFWP stated in French. “The results of an aerial inventory can hardly be interpreted without quantifying the hunting mortality rate since the previous inventory. Restoring reliable monitoring of the Cree harvest is necessary to understand and predict the trend in moose numbers.” Waswanipi land users have been alarmed about the moose decline in Zone 17 for decades and even requested that the HFTCC close the sports hunt back in 1994. Allan Saganash has witnessed this reduction since he began hunting in 1966, when the territory was relatively untouched and moose were abundant. “Forestry is responsible for the destruction of important wildlife habitats, especially moose,” asserted Saganash, Waswanipi’s former forest administrator. “Forestry development caused a chain reaction – landscape changes, wildlife behaviour, decline of wildlife populations. Forestry roads is an issue in itself, promoting access in the Cree territory and other development projects.” Deforestation has impacted Zone 17 perhaps more than any other part of Eeyou Istchee. Moose feeding in open areas can be hunted at great distances from the 37,000 kilometres of roads in Waswanipi, which mostly serve the forestry industry, and are vulnerable to predation from wolves and bears, who primarily target newborn calves. Saganash believes this development has transformed the Cree way of life, quadrupling the number of Cree hunters in the area and significantly changing travel modes, hunting locations and equipment. While moose are clearly threatened by the over 800 non-Native hunting camps in Waswanipi, compared to about 350 Cree camps, Saganash sympathizes with both sides and suggested that forestry corporations are the bigger concern. “It’s easier to deal with (hunting) groups instead of concentrating on the real problem,” Saganash said. “In my experience, 80% of moose are killed in open areas. If there were trees there, those moose would still be walking around today. They should create wildlife refuges on all traplines. Let’s look at smaller harvested areas, interconnected residual forest,

expanding the corridor of trees along water shores and forestry roads.” Although 2002’s Paix des Braves agreement included an adapted forestry regime to guide more sustainable development, Saganash argued that measures to protect wildlife are not being implemented. Tallyman Paul Dixon, half of whose large trapline is in Zone 17 and reportedly 90% logged, believes that one trapline can be legally leveraged if that agreement or the JBNQA is breached and he’s encouraging the Cree Nation to do so. “Hunters and tallymen were never in the same room when they made the Peace of the Braves and all these other deals,” Dixon told the Nation. “I requested a moratorium on forestry and to immediately ban sports hunting of moose and caribou. Also, to put on hold exploration and mining projects until after careful review. There is no priority of Native harvesting if there is no moose.” Dixon has long vocally opposed the “careless and unchecked development” that has ravaged his region and declared that Cree traditional hunters are facing an epic battle for survival. With moose cornered in small pockets of forest or helpless as cows in a clearing, he thinks guidelines are futile if forestry isn’t checked first. “I predicted some years ago that CNG, CTA and Quebec officials would come to Waswanipi and ask us to stop killing moose or caribou,” said Dixon. “Quota-kill resolutions are the same as asking a farmer to stop eating eggs when a fox is stealing from the hen house. When we’re only reacting to development, we end up losing not only the land but a way of life.” Dixon’s family have chosen not to go moose hunting this season and he said they’re suffering for it. While governments grapple with these latest survey results, moose experts like Dixon and Saganash lament that this wildlife decline was all too predictable. “Traditional knowledge is very important to stabilize the moose population,” said Saganash. “They need a better method of calculating disturbances of wildlife. The biggest problem is developers base decisions on what’s important to them. You’ve got to listen to the voices of the land.”

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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COVID-19 VACCINATION

ᓂᔅᑰᔅᑖᐦ ᑳ ᐲᐸᒫᔅᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᐦᑯᓲᓐ

FIGHT FLU

COVID-19 VACCINATION PROTECTS US AGAINST COVID-19

FLU VACCINATION PROTECTS US AGAINST THE FLU

COVID-19 and the ﬂu are different illnesses - they need different vaccines creehealth.org/covid

creehealth.org/ﬂu-vaccination

Contact your local CMC for an appointment

CREE NATION GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

20 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

the Nation 21

larry linton

A lasting influence

22 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

Mistissini mourns the passing of Larry Linton by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

family lost its brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. A church lost its pastor. And a community lost a leader, as people across Eeyou Istchee mourn for the loss of Larry Linton of Mistissini, who passed away October 14. Born in Bloomingdale, New York on September 29, 1939, Linton’s life took him to ministry school before arriving in Waskaganish in 1961. He later moved to Nemaska in 1965 and eventually settled in Mistissini, where he would go on to lead the Faith Bible Chapel. He leaves behind three children – Paul, David and Twyla – as well as 11 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He was the oldest of nine siblings. He is predeceased by his late wife Peggy Linton, who passed in 2012. “He was a crazy old man,” his son Paul says, with a laugh. “We’re all a bit crazy.” “He lived by what he spoke, and by the word. He was always there to give a hand whenever anyone needed it, and he was always happy to do it. He was the example of what the Christian faith is,” Paul shares. Linton was known for helping people and living his faith. When he moved to Nemaska, the community was barely serviced by planes, he bought a plane to be able to provide for his family, and to be able to visit people at their camps during the wintertime. He would go on to form his own flight company, flying from dawn until dusk six days a week, in every type of weather imaginable, ferrying people and goods from communities to camps and back. He was known to accept payment in the form of moose, fish or beer, or whatever people could afford to pay.

That lasted until roads were built connecting the communities, where there would only be about five weeks of flying needed to service the areas not connected by vehicles. Linton also helped the late Paul Petawabano attain the flying hours he needed to get his commercial license, before going on to found Waasheshkun Airways. Paul says his father got to know the land so well that people would just say, “Pick me up at my camp,” and he’d

“People looked at him as being a member of the community, they didn’t look at him as a White man” - Mary Jane Petawabano

answer, “The one by the water or the mountains?” Linton never needed a map. His other son David ended up getting a commercial license and followed in his father’s footsteps. “The one thing that stands out as a family is the example he led in his life – his willingness to do what needed to be done. If wood needed to be cut, he cut it. If a house needed to be built, he helped. If a camp needed work, he worked at it. He worked tirelessly to stay ahead of starving, and to show people you could live a

normal life and have a good relationship with God,” Paul says. At Linton’s funeral, Paul noted that his father kept rabbits and chickens in the homes he had and joked that kids would borrow eggs from him without telling him. This never bothered him, of course. Paul shared another story of his father running out of fuel while flying and being forced to land. It took four days to find him, and when they did “he was happy because he had a planeload of meat, so one day he ate beaver, the next day caribou, and the day after moose.” Mary Jane Petawabano first met Linton in the early 1970s through family members who attended parties and social nights at his house. “Larry had a huge impact in our community because he had a ministry for children. Before he came to Mistissini we didn’t really have camps for children so at that point he started to gather the children along with his late wife Peggie,” Petawabano explains. Started in 1975, the camps became a tradition; he even got some horses so that the kids could learn how to ride. “He was a big influence on our people and not only on the adults, but on the children. They loved him and going to his camps and Sunday school,” she adds. “People looked at him as being a member of the community, they didn’t look at him as a White man.” “For me personally I looked at Larry as my spiritual father, because he helped me to understand the Bible. I felt free to talk to him about any questions I had or share whatever it was I needed to find out about the Bible. He helped me to understand and to be grounded in God’s word and I’m very thankful to him.”

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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For more info... Jordan’s Principle Ofﬁce Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) 418-923-3355 x42186 18tcr.jordans.principle@ssss.gouv.qc.ca creehealth.org/jp

Individual Applications for Eeyou Istchee

The legacy of Jordan River Anderson

Jordan was born in Norway House Cree Nation, Manitoba in 1999, with multiple disabilities and stayed in the hospital from birth. When he was 2 years old, doctors said he could move to a special home for his medical needs. However, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. Jordan passed away in the hospital at the age of 5. In 2007, the House of Commons passed Jordan’s Principle in memory of Jordan. Today, Jordan’s Principle is a legal obligation, which means it has no end date—it will support First Nations children for generations to come.

Is your child eligible for Jordan’s Principle? Current eligibility criteria under Jordan’s Principle are: • 0 to 18 years old • Must have a band number (or parents’ band number, if not yet assigned)

24-hour Jordan’s Principle Helpline

1-855-572-4453 Your child does not have to have a disability to be covered under Jordan’s Principle.

24 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

creenation-at.com

2021 Business Exchange Day December 7, 2021

Hôtel Forestel, Val-d'Or and on the Aliia Platform

•

Featuring Cree businesses •

•

This year, we will have the honour to welcome Cree companies with extensive experience in partnerships and business collaborations. The Business Exchange Day will begin with presentations from John Kitchen, CEO of Miyuukaa, and Louie-Rene Kanatewat, CEO of Wachiya Construction Inc., Kanapio Property Development Inc., BakeCree, Waaskaahiikin Furnishings and Auberge Maanitaaukimikw.

John Kitchen Director and President/CEO Miyuukaa Corporation Cree First Nation of Waswanipi

•

The two entrepreneurs will share with us on their best partnering experiences and the challenges that made them grow. Additionally, we have the distinct honour to welcome Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty as our keynote speaker. Whether you are in presence or virtually, you will l have access to quality conferences and scheduled business meetings throughout the duration of the event on December 7th. In addition, for those present on site, you will have access to the booths of our exhibitors.

Louie-Rene Kanatewat President/CEO Chisasibi Business Owner

creenation-at.com

Registration deadline November 22, 2021 | www.nationnews.ca Vaccination November passport mandatory y 5, 2021 the Nation 25

Community

Creating innovative solutions Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre unveils exciting initiatives by Patrick Quinn,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

ince its creation in 1974, the Vald’Or Native Friendship Centre has been an innovative force for urban Indigenous issues. This autumn, several new initiatives that have been progressing for years are finally coming to fruition. Executive director Édith Cloutier was recently featured on popular Quebec television show Tout le monde en parle discussing reconciliation and her emerging partnership with the Montreal Canadiens. The NHL team made huge media waves when they opened their hockey season with a land acknowledgement stating they were on unceded Mohawk territory. “The partnership began as a friendship around a skating rink,” explained Cloutier. “They’ve been working with the city of Val-d’Or to build an NHL-sized outdoor rink with a roof that will be inaugurated November 15. When they came to work on this project, I began to understand this was their first real contact with an Indigenous community.” The team’s Bleu Blanc Bouge program, which has already constructed 11 similar rinks throughout Quebec, provides sport infrastructure for underprivileged neighbourhoods. Geneviève Paquette, vice-president of community engagement, invited the Friendship Centre to be partners in the project, which led to discussions about expanding their Indigenous engagement in other ways. Inspired by a pre-game ceremony by the Winnipeg Jets in last June’s playoff semi-finals, around the time of the residential school discovery in Kamloops,

Paquette sought Cloutier’s advice for creating a respectful tribute. Cloutier connected her with the Centre’s chairperson Oscar Kistabish and Mohawk Elder Kenneth Deer and suggested appropriate protocols for advancing a reconciliation action plan. “The first step was a territorial acknowledgement for the opening of the season,” Cloutier told the Nation. “We’ll be working with the foundation to involve the friendship centres of Quebec in some actions we’re still working on. It’s the beginning of a genuine relationship.” Another exciting initiative is the development of an Indigenous transitional housing project called Amwatam Miguam, which is Anishinaabe for “the home of calm waters”. Partially based on “wet shelter” projects developing in Vancouver, the 20 studio units will be integrated with frontline services and cultural programing intended to help residents reconnect with the land and traditional knowledge. “Yes, it’s housing but that won’t work on its own if it’s not combined with cultural connection and programs that support people who have issues with alcohol and drugs,” Cloutier shared. “To provide that safe space where you can be supported in terms of frontline, jus-

26 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

tice and cultural services. We know our people carry traumas. It’s innovative as a global integrated wellness program – in Cree, we say Miyupimaatisiiun.” The $6 million project has already been accepted by Quebec’s housing program and if federal funding follows suit, the housing could be ready by March 2023. The city of Val-d’Or has also been a strong partner in addressing this prominent social issue. “Adding the Indigenous factor to homelessness in Val-d’Or can be a difficult cohabitation,” said Cloutier. “It exacerbates discrimination because it’s such a small downtown that it’s very visible. The Friendship Centre is a grand circle of our community and we can’t leave anyone out of that circle.” The Centre’s work with marginalized communities also led to $12 million in funding from Quebec in May for its trailblazing Minowé health clinic. Now regarded as a province-wide model for improving urban Indigenous healthcare, the clinic has received adequate funding for four years, which Cloutier hopes to make ongoing. While this clinic has been connected to the local health and social network over the past 10 years to facilitate Indigenous access to culturally safe services, this relationship has accel-

erated since the formation of the Viens Commission. Cloutier and other women involved with the Friendship Centre were instrumental in instigating the Commission, which brought systemic racism in the province’s public services to light. “Interestingly, we were able to get funding in direct link with the Viens Commission,” Cloutier shared. “We presented how an Indigenous health clinic can have a very positive impact in improving the health of our people. That innovative project was translated into two specific calls to action that the government has now been answering.” After struggling for years to keep it running, the clinic is now positioned to move towards something resembling the expanded services of Ottawa’s Wabano Centre. Along with its five doctors and two nurses, the clinic is developing an Indigenous traditional healing program that will include access to a bush camp purchased seven years ago by a lake outside of town. “You’ll have access to doctors but also to Elders,” explained Cloutier. “A program that would integrate sweat lodges, walking-out ceremonies and talking circles, combining classic medical services with cultural and traditional services. Healing can happen if we reconnect with the land, even though we’re urban.” Cree patients travelling to Val-d’Or for medical appointments will soon have more reason to extend their stay. While the Friendship

Centre has provided lodging and food services to Crees accessing medical services for over 40 years, it began working with the Cree Health Board in 2017 to expand its capacity and redesign its facilities. “We’re building a brandnew annex to the centre, modernized with 42 private rooms and washrooms,” Cloutier said. “People can have more privacy and comfort like at a hotel. There will be a space for cooking wild meat on your own, though we’ll still have a modern cafeteria within the Friendship Centre, making it a home away from home.” The Centre has been working with architects and consultants jointly with the Cree Health Board to create an ambitious five-story extension that responds to patient needs while evolving existing facilities that were built 25 years ago. The nearby clinic will provide easy access for pregnant women and others requiring medical or cultural services. Despite its many accomplishments, the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre continues to develop innovative solutions that respond to the evolving needs of its urban Indigenous community. “These four initiatives don’t happen overnight,” shared Cloutier. “Nobody gives us gifts. It’s working hard for our people, connected to our community. That’s why we always know what the needs are. We can’t just sit and say we’re good with what we have. No, it’s evolving every day.”

The Cree Construction and Development Company wishes to acknowledge the 46th Anniversary of the signing of the James Bay and B Northern Quebec Agreement on November 11, 1975.

- Robert Baribeau, President/CEO

www.nationnews.ca November 5, 2021

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La Convention de la Baie-James et du Nord québécois a été signée le 11 novembre 1975 par les représentants des Cris et des Inuits,, les gouvernements du Québec et du Canada, la Société de développement de la Baie-James, la Société d'énergie de la Baie-James et Hydro-Québec. À titre de ﬁer partenaire de la nation crie, la SDBJ souhaite souligner le 46e anniversaire de la signature de l'Entente. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) was signed on November 11, 1975, by the Cree and Inuit representatives, the Governments of Quebec and Canada, the "Société de développement de la Baie-James", the "Société d'énergie de la Baie-James" and "Hydro-Québec". As a proud partner of the Cree nation, SDBJ wants to acknowledge the 46th Anniversary of the signature of the agreement.

sdbj.gouv.qc.ca 28 the Nation November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CREE JUSTICE FUNDS 2021-2022

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FUNDING PRIORITIES

CRIME PREVENTION FUNDS

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FUNDS

To prevent and combat crime in Eeyou Istchee by addressing the underlying causes

To empower and engage youth by promoting positive lifestyle choices that reflect our cultural values

Prevention of Violence

Alcohol/Drugs Abuse and Addiction

Prevention of Crime

Addressing Trauma and Mental Health

TO APPLY CONTACT: Desiree Ottereyes, Justice Funds Administrator Department of Justice and Correctional Services

P: 819-978-3300 F: 819-978-3301

info@creejusticefunds.ca www.creejusticefunds.ca

Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards

Need money for school? We can help!

Wasamac Gold Mine Project Participant Funding Available October 19, 2021 — Funding provided by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is now available to help the public and Indigenous peoples to participate in the impact assessment process for the proposed Wasamac Gold Mine Project, located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, Quebec. Funding is available to assist eligible individuals and groups to participate in the upcoming impact assessment process. These steps include reviewing and providing comments on the proponent's Impact Statement or the summary thereof, and the Agency's draft Impact Assessment Report and potential conditions. Applications received by November 19, 2021, will be considered. To apply for funding in the second phase of the Impact Assessment, complete the Assessments by the Impact Assessment Agency Application Form available on the Agency's website at canada.ca/aeic in the Funding Program section. For more information about the funding process, please contact the Participant Funding Program by writing to fp-paf@iaac-aeic.gc.ca, or by calling 1-866-582-1884.

Indspire helps Indigenous students just like you - with additional money to complete your educational journey. Apply online at indspire.ca/apply Eligibility • Canadian Indigenous, Métis or Inuit student • Enrolled at an accredited CEGEP, Trade School, College or University Need help? Email education@indspire.ca or call 1.855.INDSPIRE (463.7747) x0223

The Agency will announce the start of the public consultation period on the summary of the proponent's Impact Statement at a later date. More information on the regional assessment is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website, Registry reference number 80879. For media inquiries, contact the Agency’s media relations team by writing to media@iaac-aeic.gc.ca, or by calling 343-549-3870. Follow us on Twitter: @IAAC_AEIC #Wasamac

Puzzles Crossword ACROSS 1 Jack, for one 5 Still life subject 9 Tentative agenda 14 Sheltered, in a way 15 Blow the whistle on 16 Tax man's task 17 Islands with giant tortoises 19 Cartoon canine 20 "Lose Yourself" rapper 21 Voice of Buzz Lightyear 23 Disney dwarf 24 Sooner or later 26 "Right you ___!" 27 Southern veggie 28 Establish as law 30 Full of nerve 33 Buzzed 35 Capitol Hill worker 38 Throw off 39 Really neat 40 Make a reservation 41 Fancy trim 42 "Nay" sayer 43 Netflix activity 44 Cashless deal 46 Arkin, for one 48 "Gotcha!" 50 Julianne's "Next" co-star 52 "___ whiz!" 55 Stage curtain, e.g. 57 Ceremonial act 59 Up and about 60 Like some genes

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 I S A

P A R A

U N I T

A S S I S T A N T

H E D G E

E M A I L

A M I S S

S T U D I O D I S T A S T E

H E M P A S S U T M O R C H O E R W A C L E

A P T L Y

M A I L

I O T A

A S S E T

T H A W

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

A G A T E

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A X E D

STR8TS Medium

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

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4 4 9 3

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

6 7

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Shoulder wrap Motivate Smart-___ African laugher Kind of palm Medical advice, often

DOWN 1 Like Angelou's bird 2 Texas siege site 3 Dig discovery 4 Rat Pack member 5 Captivate 6 Tail movement 7 Ham it up 8 Like suburban streets

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No. 292

Previous solution - Tough

Tropical fruit Down time Fawning praise Gunpowder component Sculptor's medium Annoying Like a stray dog "Semper Fi" group Blender brand Rustic digs Salon goo Thurman of "Kill Bill" Game with x's and o's Back at sea

36 37 39 43 45 47 48 49 51 52 53 54 56 58 61

Monopoly token ___ out a living Zenith's opposite Foundation Tuscan tenor Bocelli City on the Rio Grande Embarrass Hurried Puccini work Deviousness Roof part President-___ Potter's oven Russian despot Lowly worker

SUDOKU

No. 292

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8 9

3 2 4

Medium

3 8 5 3 5

4 1 3 7

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These 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 November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

5 4 9 6 7 2 3 1 8

6 1

4 5 6

Previous solution - Easy

9 8

S P A R

by Margie E. Burke

8 7 3 4 5 1 9 6 2

6 2 1 8 3 9 7 4 5

7 6 4 2 9 3 8 5 1

1 3 5 7 8 6 4 2 9

9 8 2 1 4 5 6 3 7

2 9 8 3 1 4 5 7 6

4 1 7 5 6 8 2 9 3

3 5 6 9 2 7 1 8 4

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

Spooks and ghosts by Sonny Orr

cary things disturb people and sometimes I give my old beating heart a little jolt when I think I see something unusual out of the corner of my eye in the darker corners of the room. I think there’s some sort of movement and I quickly look again to see what it iis. It’s nothing but a shadow that didn’t move, it’s just my failing eyesight that plays tricks on me. Lately, I’ve had many more of these tricks of lights and shadows startle me, but that scary figure that pops out is just a Halloween costume hanging in the closet waiting for its annual night out. This Halloween is on a Sunday and should be a little tamer than the other years. For the past consecutive years, winter storms have lashed those poor costumed children going door to door wishing us a scary and eventful day as they fill their bags with candy and goodies. The storm isn’t expected this year so the time to get around without having a hurricane tossing you around is a relief. In a few days, a visit to the dentist might be in order so I’m hoping that most of the goodies handed out this year will be at least healthier and won’t send you into a diabetic coma. One notable treat is popcorn. Since corn is a vegetable and its popped version isn’t deep fried, bags of this white puffed veggie should help those who have a dietary conscious. Of course, fruits and carrots might be added to the regular fare and rebottled water tinted green or orange might jazz up the treats children are expecting. I should go around and

Hopefully Halloween can keep its creepy side alive trick-or-treat for T-bone steaks to go with the corn. But hey, it’s for the kids and the adults who don’t want to grow up. I look back to see if there are any memorable costumes that might be recycled. But then, I remember, most of the outfits centred on some slick-looking suits that cost hundreds of dollars. I used a suit once and dressed like Lucifer and surprisingly, people bowed down to me and called me “Master”. Go figure. With all the latest revelations surrounding religious groups who denounce Satan and other ungodly figures, they sure have a lot of explaining to do about the latest scandals surrounding clergy and priests and their victims. Now maybe the devil is really the good guy and Halloween is his Christmas party since his opponents seem to be a lot worse than the way Beelzebub is presented. Then again, the spirit of Halloween is becoming more sanitized with everyone wearing masks and focusing on Disney characters and other innocent icons. It takes away from the ghoulish nature of

Halloween – hopefully Halloween can keep its creepy side alive. Who knows? Maybe the scariest costume will involve a white collar or a papal crown this year. Since Halloween is supposed to scare the living daylights out of you and its intent is to keep you as scared as possible so that you don’t turn into a little devil or imp later in life, becoming someone who isn’t you might help your secret desire to be that person. Maybe being a deranged serial killer might perk some heads up, but who knows what they look like? It could be that sweet old lady next door, or the kindergarten teacher who seems so chirpy when she talks, or that guy who is always pushing ice cream cones at the corner store. You’ll never know until someone notices that you didn’t make it home from that giant bingo game last night. Anyways, I hope you don’t get too creeped out and chew on carrots for this Halloween, after all a carrot is orange and tastes way better than a slice of pumpkin.

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| S TA R T T R A I N I N G I M M E D I AT E LY

Don’t be a backseat driver anymore! Experience the freedom of the road and we’ll make it happen in no time at all. Contact Voyageur Driving School at 418-770-3699 or check out our Facebook page. Still on foot? Then just come and see us at 203 Mistissini Blvd. The course is available for everyone in Mistissini. SO DON’T DELAY! Come and sign up to expand your horizons

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the Nation 33

Bannock & On healing (again)

Tea

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

remember when Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse novel was adapted for the screen. It took me a while to watch the film because I didn’t see the purpose of retraumatizing myself all over again with facts I already knew. When I finally watched it, I was quite disappointed in the ending. If you haven’t seen the film, I suggest you skip the next paragraph. At the end, you see the main character returning to his homelands, paddling into the horizon and smiling away like everything was miraculously healed and over. I thought it was a very simplistic narrative that implied that the suffering of residential school survivors ended when they resturned home. It didn’t represent my family’s reality. What happened was much more complicated. I recently reconnected with my father and saw him for the first time in two years. Residential school complicated many things in our communities, including our relationships. Over the years and after countless hours of therapy, I finally put into practice everything I have learned on radical acceptance. I can see that my own healing forced healing onto my relatives. If you are not familiar with the lingo of therapy approaches, “radical acceptance is when you stop fighting reality, stop responding with impulsive or destructive behaviours when things aren’t going the way you want them to, and let go of bitterness that may be keeping you trapped in a cycle of suffering.” The reality is that my dad lacks basic communications skills because of trauma

and it makes it hard for him to show up the way I need him to. Radical acceptance is not about enabling the person, but rather accepting aspects of the situation that causes problems. My mom once told me: “Don’t think your father wakes up in the morning with the intention to hurt you. He loves you; he just doesn’t know how to express it in a healthy way.” Hearing that was such a liberating moment for me. Since then, I have started welcoming what my father is able to give me with empathy rather than resentment. Radical acceptance is harm reduction, because you meet people where they’re at rather than where you want them to be. For the first time in my life, I saw my father healthy and glowing. My whole life, the relationship with my father was a huge setback, but for the first time, I saw my family moving forward in its long overdue healing process. We tend to think it’s too late to move forward, to forgive and to express our needs because we think too much harm has been done to even contemplate moving on. Compartmentalizing my feelings towards my father helped me a lot. I’m still mad at him for allowing intergenerational trauma to seep into our lives, but the bottom line is that I still need him in my life. My father is not fundamentally a bad person, he is just hurt. As I mentioned, I am proud to have him in my life, because he is such a brilliant and funny person. I shouldn’t prevent myself from enjoying quality time with him when he can. Ever.

I’m still mad at him for allowing intergenerational trauma to seep into our lives, but the bottom line is that I still need him in my life

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

cmeb.org

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 November 5, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

ᐊᑎᐱᔨᒡ ᑳᑳ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᒥᓯᓂ ᒥᓯᓂᐅᓱᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᐅᓱᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᒋᒥᔅ ᒋᒥᔅᐯᐃ ᐯᐃᑭᔭ ᑭᔭ ᐊᑎᐱᔨᒡ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽ ᑯᐹᒃ ᑯᐹᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐃᓐᐃᓐ- ᑭᔅᑭᑎᓐ ᑭᔅᑭᑎᓐ ᐲᓯᒽ ᐲᓯᒽ11, 11,2021 2021 ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽ

ᔕᔥ ᒑᑳᑦ ᓂᓱ ᐱᐳᓐᐦ ᑲ ᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡ ᓈᔥᒡ ᐋ ᐧᐃᓈᓈᑭᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐋ ᐧᐃ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᔅᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐤ ᔕᔥ ᒑᑳᑦ ᓂᓱ ᐱᐳᓐᐦ ᑲ ᐃᔑ ᐋ ᐧᐃᓈᓈᑭᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐧᐃ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᔅᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐤ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐆ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡ ᐊᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡᓈᔥᒡ ᔮᐦᔮᐧᐋᔅᐱᓈᓂᐧᐃᓐ ᐧᑳᕕᑦ-19,ᐋ ᐅᒌ ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᔮᐧᑳᐦ ᓈᔥᒡ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐆ ᐊᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡ ᔮᐦᔮᐧᐋᔅᐱᓈᓂᐧᐃᓐ ᐧᑳᕕᑦ-19, ᐅᒌ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᔮᐧᑳᐦ ᓈᔥᒡ ᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᒧᒡ ᒥᓐ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐋ ᐧᐃ ᐃᔑ ᒋᐧᐋᐦᑖᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐸᒋ ᐱᒥᐲᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᒥᒄ ᐋ ᐊᔅᑎᓂᐦᒡ ᔮᐧᑳᒥᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᒧᒡ ᒥᓐ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐋ ᐧᐃ ᐃᔑ ᒋᐧᐋᐦᑖᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐸᒋ ᐱᒥᐲᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᒥᒄ ᐋ ᐊᔅᑎᓂᐦᒡ ᔮᐧᑳᒥᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐊᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᒫᒡ ᐊᔅᑏᐃᔨᒥᓂᐤᐦ - ᒋᒋᓵᔨᒥᓂᐤ, ᐊᐱᔅᑖᐧᐋᔑᔥ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔨᔨᒥᓯᔨᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᓐ ᒫᒃ ᐊᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᒫᒡ ᐊᔅᑏᐃᔨᒥᓂᐤᐦ - ᒋᒋᓵᔨᒥᓂᐤ, ᐊᐱᔅᑖᐧᐋᔑᔥ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔨᔨᒥᓯᔨᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᓐ ᒫᒃ ᐊᐱᐸᒥᐱᔨᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᒫᒥᐦᒑᑎᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᒋᔅᑏᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒋᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓈᐦᒡ, ᐃᔑᓈᑯᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒫᒨ ᐊᐱᐸᒥᐱᔨᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᒫᒥᐦᒑᑎᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᒋᔅᑏᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒋᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓈᐦᒡ, ᐃᔑᓈᑯᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒫᒨ ᐊᓐ ᐊᐱᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐆ ᐊᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᐧᐃᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᒥᔪᑭᓂᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᐊᐱᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐆ ᐊᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᐧᐃᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᒥᔪᑭᓂᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᔅᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓈᐦᒡ᙮ ᒫᒨ ᒫᒃ ᒋᑭ ᒌ ᓵᐳᔅᑳᓈᓂᐤ ᐆ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐸᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᒫᒨᑳᐳᔅᑎᒥᐦᒄ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐊᔅᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓈᐦᒡ᙮ ᒫᒨ ᒫᒃ ᒋᑭ ᒌ ᓵᐳᔅᑳᓈᓂᐤ ᐆ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐸᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᒫᒨᑳᐳᔅᑎᒥᐦᒄ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓲᐦᒋᑳᐱᐧᐃᔨᐦᒄ ᑭᔮ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᑐᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᒑ ᐅᐦᑎᓂᒥᐦᒄ ᓂᔅᑖᒥᐦᒡ ᒑ ᐃᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᓲᐦᒋᑳᐱᐧᐃᔨᐦᒄ ᑭᔮ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᑐᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᒑ ᐅᐦᑎᓂᒥᐦᒄ ᓂᔅᑖᒥᐦᒡ ᒑ ᐃᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐊᑎ ᒫᒃ ᒫᒃ ᐆ ᐆ ᐃᔑ ᐃᔑ ᓂᒋᔅᑭᒥᐦᒄ ᓂᒋᔅᑭᒥᐦᒄ ᒫᓐ ᒫᓐ ᐊᔅᑰ ᐊᔅᑰᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐆᐆᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡᐸᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ, ᐸᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ,ᐄᔮᐱᒡ ᐄᔮᐱᒡᒫᒃ ᒫᒃᐊᑯᑖᐦ ᐊᑯᑖᐦ ᐊᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᒌ ᑐᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᑎ ᐊᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᒑ ᒌᒑ ᑐᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔨᔅᑖᔨᒡ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᑳ ᒥᓯᓂᐦᐆᓱᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᒋᒥᔅ ᐯᐃ ᑭᔭᐦ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽ ᑯᐹᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐧᐃᓐ; ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔨᔅᑖᔨᒡ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᑳ ᒥᓯᓂᐦᐆᓱᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᒋᒥᔅ ᐯᐃ ᑭᔭᐦ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽ ᑯᐹᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐧᐃᓐ; ᐋ ᐋ ᐧᐃᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᓐ ᐊᓐ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐᐦᐅᑖᐦ ᐅᑖᐦᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐄᔨᔨᐤᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ᙮ ᐊᓅᐦᒡ ᐊᓅᐦᒡᐆ ᐆᑳ ᑳ ᐱᐳᐦᒡ, ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐧᐃᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐸᒋᐸᒋ ᐱᐳᐦᒡ, 23 23 ᑎᐦᑐᑎᐦᑐ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᒌᐦ ᒌ ᒋᐦᒋᓂᐧᐋᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᐋ ᐧᐃᒥᓈᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒌ ᐧᐃᔮᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᒋᐦᒋᐧᐋ ᐧᐋᐅᔮᔥ ᒫᒃ 39,000 ᐊᔅᒌᐦ ᒌ ᒋᐦᒋᓂᐧᐋᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᐋ ᐧᐃᒥᓈᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒌ ᐧᐃᔮᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᒋᐦᒋᐧᐋ ᐧᐋᐅᔮᔥ ᒫᒃ 39,000 ᑎᐦᑐᑎᐦᑐ ᒋᓵᒥᑖᐦᑐᒥᑎᓂᐤ ᑳᑭᔅᑭᒑᒡ ᑳᑭᔅᑭᒑᒡ ᑳᑎᐦᐧᑳᒡ ᑳᑎᐦᐧᑳᒡ ᐊᔅᒋᐤ ᐊᔅᒋᐤ ᑎᐱᐦᐄᑭᓐ ᑎᐱᐦᐄᑭᓐᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᐃᔥᐱᔥᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐄᔨᔨᐤᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡᒋ ᒋᐃᑎᓯᓂᐦᐄᑭᓂᐤ ᐃᑎᓯᓂᐦᐄᑭᓂᐤ ᒋᓵᒥᑖᐦᑐᒥᑎᓂᐤ ᐋᑳᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᒑ ᒌ ᐱᒫᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐋᑳ ᐋᑳ ᒑᒑ ᒌᒌ ᓄᑎᓯᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᓄᑎᓯᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ᙮ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ᙮ ᐊᔅᑯ ᐊᔅᑯᒫᒃᒫᒃᒥᔅᑎᐦ ᒥᔅᑎᐦᒋᑭᒋᑭᐋᐱᑎᓰᔅᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᔅᑖᑭᓂᐤᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐆ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐱᒫᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐋᐱᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆᐆ ᐧᐋ ᐧᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐃᔑ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡᐊᔅᒌᐦ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒥᒄᒥᒄᒫᒃᒫᒃᐊᒥᔮᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᒥᔮᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐃᔮᐱᒋᐦᑖᒡ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐧᐋᐱᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᐃᔮᐱᒋᐦᑖᒡ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᒋᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᑯ ᐊᔅᑯ ᒑᒑ ᒌᒌ ᑐᑎᐦᒡ ᑐᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᑳᑳ ᐸᒋ ᐸᒋᑎᒡ, ᑎᒡ,ᐊᓂᑐᐦᐆᒡ, ᐊᓂᑐᐦᐆᒡ,ᐋ ᐋᓄᑎᒫᓵᒡ ᓄᑎᒫᓵᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᒫᒃ ᒫᒃᐊᐧᐃᓂᐦᐄᒑᒡ, ᐊᐧᐃᓂᐦᐄᒑᒡ, ᐊᐆᒄ ᒫᓯᓈᑖᒡ ᐊᔅᒋᔨᐤ ᐊᐆᒄ ᒫᓯᓈᑖᒡ ᐆ ᑭᔅᒋᐦᐅᐧᐃᓐ ᑭᔅᒋᐦᐅᐧᐃᓐ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᒋᒥᔅ ᒋᒥᔅ ᐯᐃ ᐯᐃ ᑭᔭᐦ ᑭᔭᐦᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽ ᐊᑎᒫᐲᓯᒽᑯᐹᒃ ᑯᐹᒃᓂᔅᑯᒧᐧᐃᓐᓂᔅᑯᒧᐧᐃᓐ-ᑭᔮᐦ ᑭᔮᐦᒫᒃ ᒫᒃᒋ ᒋᐃᔑᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔨᓲᐧᐋᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᑭᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐ ᐆ ᐧᐃᔨᓲᐧᐋᑖᑭᓂᐤ ᑭᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐆ ᒑᒑ ᒌᒌ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᓈᑭᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᓃᑲᓂᐦᒡ ᒫᒃ ᒫᒃ ᐋᐋ ᐃᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ, ᐃᑐᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ, ᒥᓐ ᒥᓐ ᒫᒃᒫᒃ ᒋᐧᐃᐦᑖᓈᓂᐤ ᒋᐧᐃᐦᑖᓈᓂᐤᐋᐋᓂᔅᑯᒥᐦᑰᒡ ᓂᔅᑯᒥᐦᑰᒡᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᒌᑳ ᑳᐸᒋᐸᒋᓃᑳᓂᔥᑎᑯᐦᒡ ᓃᑳᓂᔥᑎᑯᐦᒡ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ ᓃᑲᓂᐦᒡ ᐅᑖᐦᐅᑖᐦ ᐃᔑᐃᔑ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ 46 46 ᑎᐦᑐ ᑳ ᑳ ᐃᔑᐃᔑ ᐹᒡ ᐹᒡ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᔨᒡ ᑎᐦᑐ ᐱᐳᓐᐦ ᐱᐳᓐᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐋᐋ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᒋᐦᑳᓈᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᓈᑯᓂᔨᒡᑳ ᑳᐃᔑ ᐃᔑᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᐦᒡᐋ ᐋᓄᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᓄᑯᓂᔨᒡᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᔨᒡ ᑳᑳ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐱᒫᒋᐦᐆᒄ ᐱᒫᒋᐦᐆᒄ ᐋᔮᓃᔥᒑᐦ᙮ ᐋᔮᓃᔥᒑᐦ᙮

Anniversary Anniversaryof ofthe theSigning Signingofofthe theJames JamesBay Bayand and Northern 2021 NorthernQuebec QuebecAgreement Agreement– –November November11, 11, 2021 A healthy and safe during thethe After fter nearly nearly two two years yearsofoffocusing focusingon onkeeping keepingour ourcommunities communities healthy and safe during COVID-19 pandemic, the Cree Nation is cautiously returning to how things once were but with thethe COVID-19 pandemic, the Cree Nation is cautiously returning to how things once were but with precautionary measures to protect our people – our Elders, young children and those who areare precautionary measures to protect our people – our Elders, young children and those who more vulnerable. While travel and our social connections are important parts of our lives, we must more vulnerable. While travel and our social connections are important parts of our lives, we must continue in in protecting ourour healthcare network, thatthat continue the thework workwe wehave havedone donetogether togetherasasa anation nation protecting healthcare network, allowed us to be safe in our communities. Together, we will emerge from the pandemic with a a allowed us to be safe in our communities. Together, we will emerge from the pandemic with renewed sense of unity. It is these strong ties and partnerships with one another that have always renewed sense of unity. It is these strong ties and partnerships with one another that have always moved us forward. forwa moved us forward. forwa Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we continue to strive towards the implementation of the Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we continue to strive towards the implementation of the vision of the signatories of the JBNQA : to protect Cree way of life in Eeyou Istchee. This year, 23 vision of the signatories of the JBNQA : to protect Cree way of life in Eeyou Istchee. This year, 23 new protected area reserves in Eeyou Istchee were officially recognized meaning that over 39,000 new square protected area reserves in Eeyou officially recognized meaning over 39,000 new kilometres of Eeyou IstcheeIstchee will bewere protected from any natural resourcethat exploitation new square kilometres of Eeyou Istchee will be protected from any natural resource activities. We still have much work ahead of us to continue this vision. The preservation ofexploitation the terriactivities. still have much work of us to continue thisactivities vision. The of the territory while We allowing land users to ahead continue their traditional of preservation hunting, fishing, and tory while allowing land users to continue their traditional activities of hunting, fishing, and trapping, is a fundamental right of the JBNQA and constitutionally protected. trapping, is a fundamental right of the JBNQA and constitutionally protected. As we move forward, we once again express our gratitude to the leaders of the past 46 years for As we move forward, once express our gratitude the leaders the past 46 years for their trailblazing visionwe based onagain the Cree way of life that has to sustained us forofgenerations. their trailblazing vision based on the Cree way of life that has sustained us for generations. ᒪᓐᑏ ᑲᓪ-ᒫᔅᑏ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫ ᑳᓐ/ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎ ᒃ ᒪᓐᑏ ᑲᓪ-ᒫᔅᑏ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫ ᑳᓐ/ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎ ᒃ

Mandy Gull-Masty MandyChief/Chairperson Gull-Masty Grand Grand Chief/Chairperson

ᓈᕐᒥᓐ ᐋᐹᒌ ᑎᔮ ᒋᔥᑭ ᐋᑦ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫ ᑳᓐ /ᑎᔮ ᒋᔥᑭ ᐋᑦ ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎᒥᔨᒡ ᓈᕐᒥᓐ ᐋᐹᒌ ᑎᔮ ᒋᔥᑭ ᐋᑦ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫ ᑳᓐ /ᑎᔮ ᒋᔥᑭ ᐋᑦ ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎᒥᔨᒡ

Norman A. Wapachee Norman A. Wapachee Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson

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