Issuu

The CBHSSJB wishes you a

HAPPY GOOSE BREAK

Our traditional practices are an important connection and contribution to our social well-being as well as physical, mental and spiritual health. We have always held a connection to Mother Earth, being together out on the land and reconnecting with our family values.

The land is healing and it brings us together. We need resilience during this pandemic; resilience is embedded in our culture. We draw our strength from our ties to the land and water. We are connected to our true being when we are at camp, it’s the essence of who we are.

Public Health continues to encourage you to follow recommendations when being out on the land, and to ensure your family is protected from viruses.

STAY SAFE AND BE WELL THIS GOOSE BREAK

We wish you a good harvest! creehealth.org

CONTENTS EDITORIAL

The beating of a heart

A win for the children

Bring our children home

NEWS

Reflecting on the apology

BRIEFS FEATURES

The Cree Nation’s trip to Vatican City

Unresoloved traumas

Time to rejuvenate

For Eenou, by Eenou

Lithium mining fight

PUZZLES REZ NOTES

Community

Getting closer to normal

T&B Triggered (again)

Post-secondary springboard program Politics

Immersive cultural experience

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here Nunavik Starts Here

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ Nunavik Startsᓄᓇᕕᒃ Here Sustainable Starts Here 26 Nunavik mining?

Photo of: Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty with John Bekale, Dene Nation, Northwest Territory Representative (left); and Dr. Wilton Littlechild, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Committee (middle)

ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965 ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS

ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS 1 800 661-5850 ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS

32 33 34

Editorial

The beating of a heart by Will Nicholls

ulture and the arts define a people and can influence the direction of their society. Music is one of the ways this is done. Woodstock still conjures up images of the 1960s and the changes that accompanied that era to this day. Anyone who has gone to a concert knows the energy the event has for the audience. Back in the late 1980s, I spoke at an event in the United States against the damming of the Great Whale River. Before my talk, a drum group played an honour song and I joined in. It started out as a heartbeat and then grew faster. As we drummed, the audience’s heart started to beat in time and increased when we did. Later, when I started to talk, I was cheered on with each sentence I spoke. Such was the power of music to influence the way people responded. Musique Nomade’s presentation at the Outremont Theatre on April 13 started off with drumming and reminded me of the power of music. Traditional music wasn’t the only genre on the Nikamowin bill as it encompassed hip hop, rock and more. One of the musicians on hand was Mi’kmaq rapper QO52 (aka Quentin Condo) from Gesgapegiag. Q readily admits to being an activist as well as a musician. His dad was a chief elected at the tender age of 21. Though his dad was a musician, who taught Q to play the guitar, music wasn’t what he wanted for his son. Q gave in and served as chief councillor under his dad for two terms. “I was raised in politics,” Q said but finally had to tell his dad it wasn’t for him. “The way I wanted to move things was through different means and I felt I had a stronger voice through music.”

Mi’kmaq rapper QO52

Q said that the constraints of having to speak and act in certain ways were part and parcel of being a politician, but “with art I can say whatever I feel I have to say without ruffling feathers.” It was all about getting the message out to a broader audience and informing them of the issues and needs of First Nations Peoples. That is why even though he does songs in Mi’kmaq he uses English to reach the non-Native population. “The Black community has laid out a sort of blueprint for us in the way they do their music and achieved social change,” said Q.

Being a victim of injustice cannot mean having to be silent is his belief. “We have to look at what has been done before, look at that and move forward. We have to make change and inform people. If we all work together, we can find a way to reach that point,” Q said. Q is right and it shows that while culture and arts may influence the direction of a society it can go beyond that. While First Nations issues have their 15 minutes of fame in mainstream media, perhaps a song will beat in a person’s heart for the rest of their life. We can only hope.

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 April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

A win for the children

Indigenous child welfare law largely upheld after Quebec court challenge by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

irst Nations leaders are applauding a Quebec Court of Appeal decision that maintained key parts of a federal law on First Nations child welfare in effect since January 1, 2020, against a challenge by the Quebec government. The law, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth and families, recognizes First Nations’ authority over child and family services. The Quebec government argued that the federal legislation was unconstitutional because it undermined provincial jurisdiction. The February 10 Quebec Court of Appeal ruling upheld much of the law but did invalidate elements it said infringed provincial rights. According to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the ruling “affirmed that First Nations have an inherent right to self-government, including jurisdiction over child protection and family law.” “The Government of Quebec’s decision to challenge the Court’s ruling is deeply disappointing,” AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald said in the statement. “Advancing First Nations priorities requires recognizing First Nations law-making powers affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act. Walking the healing path forward means respecting First Nations inherent rights regardless of where rights holders reside.” “The process towards the application of our right to self-determination is already well underway,” said Quebec and

“We are in the best position to ensure the wellness of our people and more particularly, our children” - AFN Chief Ghislain Picard

Labrador AFN Chief Ghislain Picard. “We are in the best position to ensure the wellness of our people and more particularly, our children. The province of Quebec will have to understand that this political desire will not go away, and that any interference will be strongly denounced.” The AFN intervened in the court case on the side of the federal government, arguing that the law was needed to uphold First Nations’ rights to oversee their own child welfare laws and policies. The court said that Quebec’s argument that their authority over public services would be impaired by the law did not hold up, and that the law was in fact compatible with Quebec’s own child welfare legislation. The court also denounced the “deplorable overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth protection.” It included a reference to the 2019 Viens Commission in Quebec which found systemic discrim-

ination against Indigenous Peoples and said that Indigenous children placed with non-Indigenous families is “unsuitable.” Isabelle Boily, a spokesperson for Quebec’s Attorney General, said the case will be appealed to the Supreme Court. “The Attorney General of Quebec will indeed be present to defend Quebec’s jurisdictions, as has always been the case in this case. The Government of Quebec remains of the opinion that federal law exceeds the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada under the Canadian Constitution.” Boily added, “The Government of Quebec agrees with the objective of promoting the exercise by Aboriginal people of greater autonomy in the area of youth protection. However, it must not be imposed unilaterally by the federal government, without the contribution of Quebec, as was done with Bill C-92.”

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022 the Nation 5

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 April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

fter the discovery of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools shocked the country, federal and provincial governments are committing tens of millions of dollars to First Nations groups working to “identify, investigate, protect and commemorate” residential school burial sites across Canada. In early April, Ottawa announced over $7 million in funding for Lac Seul First Nation’s efforts to work with 33 northern Ontario First Nations to locate and commemorate missing children who attended the Pelican Lake/Pelican Falls Residential School, with the province of Ontario contributing just over $1 million. “The funding commitment allows us, as First Nations, to search for our missing children and to find the truth through meaningful involvement of the residential school survivors and their families,” Lac Seul First Nation Chief Clifford Bull said in a statement. “This means having an ongoing stable mental health, financial and human support system in place that will be critical as we delve into such a dark past.” “Our government will continue to support Indigenous communities as their unique needs and priorities evolve, including Lac Seul First Nation, with their research and commemoration initiatives to heal from the devastating and lasting impacts of the Pelican Lake Residential School. We acknowledge the difficult work that the leadership, the survivors, their families, and the community of Lac Seul First Nation is taking on,” said Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller. In January, Miller and BC’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Murray Rankin, announced just under $2 million in funding for the Williams Lake First Nation. The federal government says it has committed $116.8 million towards locating and commemorating missing children, as a

Editorial News

Bring our children home Ben Powless, Localby Journalism Initiative Reporter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

by Patrick Quinn,

response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 72 through 76. “The residential school system has caused indelible damage to our community and to most First Nations communities that had children who were forced to attend, or otherwise attended, these institutions,” Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars said at that announcement. “There is much work to be done to uncover the truth about this horrific and protracted chapter of Canadian history, and even more work to be done to heal from the wounds that it has left on Indigenous people.” James Cutfeet is the Director of Operations for the Bringing our Children Home initiative operating out of Lac Seul First Nation. He said the work and funding happening today is the responsibility of governments for their genocidal efforts going back over a century. “Through forced removal of children from communities, removing them from parents, from the comfort of their community, they were thrown into chaotic environments they were unfamiliar with,” he said. “The intent was to assimilate – to remove the ‘savage’ from the ‘Indian’. “The mass graves of missing children who never made it home, never experienced parenting, never spoke their

First Nations begin searching for residential school gravesites with government funding

| Photo provided by Neskantaga First Nation

language, never practiced their culture: We’re trying to find those children, to repatriate them to their communities at last, to go home and be with their people.” Cutfeet is working with 33 communities that were impacted by the Pelican Lake Residential School, which operated from 1927 to 1978, though he says that many students from the communities attended other schools in Ontario: St. Mary’s in Kenora (1897-1972); McIntosh School in McIntosh (1925-1969); Shingwauk in Sault Ste. Marie (1878-1970); and the Mohawk Institute in Brantford (1885-1970). The work was supposed to begin earlier, but with the Covid pandemic, travel has been restricted to a few northern communities. Meetings have sometimes been virtual, though he would prefer to be on-site with community members. Cutfeet says the first step is to work with survivors and listen to their stories while mapping potential grave sites based on what they share. He says that survivors had talked about hidden graves before, and there were informal searches conducted. The new funding will allow them to use more advanced technology for thorough investigations. They’ve also received feedback from communities that have already undertaken this work. Their recommendations: “It’s the survivors and their families that need

to take the lead. Take it from there, ensure there are supports available for those persons in the forefront searching.” The work is divided into five protocols the Bringing our Children Home initiative is focused on: healing, ceremonies, communications, searching and finding, and repatriations. “We’re recording survivor stories to produce a journey document and trauma-informed management plan and engagement with communities. It’s a large area,” Cutfeet added. The initiative is planning for spring and fall ceremonies, including one before the National Day of Recognition for Missing Children on May 25. The funding also allows them to hire more staff and lease office space, while bringing in mental health counselling. But Cutfeet sees this funding as just the beginning to deal with the “unimaginable trauma” that survivors and intergenerational survivors are dealing with. “The healing journey of our people will need to continue because of intergenerational trauma that exists because of residential schools. “It’s going to take a long time to heal our nation,” he stated. “Governments need long-term healing initiatives to repair centuries of damage to language and culture. We need to be made whole again.”

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 7

CBHSSJB_GooseBreak-Ads-NationMag_20220329_v5FINAL.pdf

Iyiyimiichim is healthy but lead shot is not! LEAD SHOT IS TOXIC

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᙮

CMY

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

Let’s keep our families and environment healthy by using lead-free ammunition. Make sure your gun can handle non-lead shot. It’s time to switch! For more information

creehealth.org/leadfree

2022-03

In Brief McGill provides in-community education Many people don’t realize that McGill University has an Office for First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE), or that it has been around nearly 50 years, since 1975. The OFNIE even has a partnership with the Cree School Board and a number of other Indigenous education authorities, providing in-community post-secondary programs, education degrees, as well as certificates in education, Indigenous languages and culture. Greta Cheechoo, Director of Education Services at the Cree School Board, told the McGill Tribune that, “The programs help the communities to have [many] qualified and competent teachers to teach in our schools.” Cheechoo herself took two programs that were offered as partnerships with OFNIE. Since a lot of the students are themselves adult learners, OFNIE focuses on in-community education, recognizing that many students already have jobs and lives that don’t allow them the ability to move to Montreal full-time.

Variant appears less severe as it becomes more contagious

McGill University

With a minimum of 4,856 cases, at least a quarter of Eeyou Istchee Crees have been infected. However, the latest Covid variants, though more contagious, appear to be less severe, also thanks to high vaccination rates. Eeyou Istchee remained in Step 3 of the deconfinement plan, meaning only mandatory testing is required from people returning from areas of risk, either the day before or the day of their return. Rapid tests are also required on day three and five after their return. Vaccination measures continued across the Cree communities, with all individuals 12 and older now eligible for booster shots, and children under 12 able to get a second dose. Quebec announced that those aged 60 and above are now eligible for a fourth dose.

Due to employees absent because of Covid infections, both the Waswanipi CMCAwash and Waswanipi Robin’s Nest announced that services were restricted at both service centres, with clients advised to call ahead. The rising infection rate has not spared politicians. Premier François Legault and Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault joined seven other members of the National Assembly in testing positive in recent weeks. Despite rising cases, the Quebec government signalled there would be no new restrictions. The Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux of Quebec said they expected to see over 250 new hospitalizations a day within another week, and growing numbers in intensive

care units, but that it wasn’t expecting there to be significant pressure on the health system. However, Quebec did push back the planned ending of mask mandates until the end of April, from the original date of April 15. Officials said they would reassess before May whether the mask mandate needed to be extended again. Quebec’s Health Ministry also approved the release of the Pfizer antiviral Paxlovid to symptomatic patients at risk of developing complications from the virus. The drug minimizes symptoms and shortens the period of illness, thereby reducing hospitalizations and deaths. Patients will be able to access the drug from 1,900 pharmacies across the province.

Eeyou Istchee, along with much of the rest of Canada, appears to be in a sixth wave of Covid infections. Cree health authorities reported 623 active cases April 11, nearly a 70% increase over the previous two weeks. The number of hospitalizations had climbed to 41. www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 9

Features

UN R E Grand Chief reflects on Pope’s apology following Vatican visit 10 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

SOLVED by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Photos provided by Patrick Quinn

historic week of meetings with Indigenous leaders from across Canada culminated with Pope Francis expressing his “sorrow and shame” for the “deplorable” abuses at residential schools. Survivors and their families had differing perspectives about the Pope’s statement, however. Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty believes his words shouldn’t be interpreted as an official apology, but rather a direct address to the

Photos provided by Patrick Quinn

TRAUMAS small audience and those watching the livestream. “I think the narrative perpetuated by the media was harmful because people didn’t understand the context in which it was delivered,” Gull-Masty told the Nation. “I don’t think he was intentionally omitting anybody. It was an important

moment for the Catholic Church to see he’s sending this message to take part in this process, to reset the tone of the Church’s responsibility.” Pope Francis was reportedly “deeply moved” by the delegates’ testimony, saying he hoped to visit Canada near the church’s Feast of St. Anne on July 26. Gull-

Masty thinks he will likely visit the former residential school in Kamloops, the truth and reconciliation exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, and perhaps make stops in Inuit and Métis territories. The Grand Chief believed his words to be genuine and a good starting point for

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 11

“It’s like going to the colonizer’s house and saying you’re responsible” - Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty

Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty with; Fred Kelly, Spiritual Advisor, Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation (middle) & Adrian N. Gunner - Youth Grand Chief (right + second photo) 12 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

further reconciliation efforts. She particularly appreciated the Pope’s following statement: “It’s chilling to think of determined efforts to instill a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots ... unresolved traumas that have become intergenerational traumas.” “I think that was the appropriate language,” said Gull-Masty. “I feel confident he will come and share another message. Will it ever be enough? I don’t know. I really don’t think you can share enough words to address what people endured in these schools. I think the work will go beyond one generation to heal from this. It will be a legacy that will never be forgotten.” She described the trip as challenging and emotionally draining, demonstrating both the harsh realities of residential schools and the legacy of Indigenous resilience. The Pope was presented with baby moccasins representing those who never came home and asked to bring them with him to Canada. Gull-Masty expressed concerns that the Church has failed to fulfill its settlement obligations for survivors and asking for complete disclosure. There were calls for expediting fundraising efforts for the $30 million Canadian bishops announced last September, bringing fugitive priests to justice and rescinding papal bulls that laid the foundations for colonial genocide 500 years ago. During the visit, the delegation was shocked by the Vatican’s extensive collection of Indigenous artifacts in its Anima Mundi ethnological museum. Delegates requested that the Church return items belonging to Indigenous communities. “This trip was kind of a weird experience,” Gull-Masty reflected. “It’s like going to the colonizer’s house and saying you’re responsible for all this stuff that went down and they’re not going to immediately change. I don’t think they’ll make an announcement the next day that they’re rescinding the papal bull.” Legal experts also cautioned that the Pope’s apology won’t make Catholic entities or individuals more accountable in Canadian courts. As a head of state, the Pope has sovereign immunity when he speaks. Apology legislation in several provinces also makes expressions of regret inadmissible in legal proceedings. “Legally it doesn’t have one scintilla of significance,” said Rob Talach, a lawyer who has sued Catholic entities over 400 times in the past 20 years. “When those words don’t lead to action, it’s just causing more trauma for people. These apologies don’t match the conduct of the church – they’ll still try to minimize compensation. This is an unrepentant organization.” While it remains to be seen what reparations and reforms might result from this trip, Chisasibi Chief Daisy House hopes it leads to the release of residential school records. As community consultations continue, it’s likely that preliminary investigations of former school sites on Fort George Island will begin later this year with an aerial survey and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). “It’s painful not to know but it will be painful to learn the truth as well,” House told the Nation. “The journals may fill in the gaps of what happened and direct the GPR process. Journals will help us in collective healing and can be kept at our cultural centre. We have some here and it captures a snapshot of the horrors.” While some survivors have said they don’t want to excavate, radar techniques will reveal how realistic it is to clear-cut, considering the overgrowth, buried debris and uneven surfaces. A growing team, including Sarah Beaulieu, the consultant who was instrumental in Kamloops, is expected to manage this project over the next two years. House was emotional watching the apology. With this exchange of compassionate words and gifts, including a Cree language bible from Gull-Masty and snowshoes delivered by Cree Youth Grand Chief Adrian Gunner, the Grand Chief hoped it was the beginning of a respectful relationship. “The biggest part of this journey was not so much hearing from the Pope but to break that taboo of not talking about residential schools,” Gull-Masty asserted. “Intergenerational trauma has been secretly festering and it’s my role to create a safe space to talk about these things. Some were angered, some were pleased. All of those responses are completely appropriate.” www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 13

Have a safe and wonderful

Goose Break

with your family and friends! From all of us at BOC & CREECO

CREECO is the holding company for:

A safe and abundant Goose Break to all.

Enjoy this traditional activity with your friends and family. ᒥᓯᐙ ᒑ ᐃᔮᒀᒥᓯᔮᒄ ᑭᔮ ᒑ ᒦᓯᒋᓯᔮᒄ ᐋ ᓅᒋᐱᔮᓱᐙ ᔮᒄ᙮ ᒑ ᒥᔻᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᐋ ᐐᒑᐙᐦᑯᒡ ᒋᑐᑖᒥᐙ ᐅᒡ ᑭᔮ ᒋᐙᐦᑯᒫᑭᓂᐙ ᐅᒡ ᐆ ᐋ ᐃᐦᑑᑎᒫᒄ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐃᔨᐦᑐᐎᓐ 14 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

2 lakeshore Road, Nemaska, Quebec JOY 3BO

www.niskamoon.org info@niskamoon.org

Y D A E GET R S U B E H T R O F

Reduce your risk of infections while you’re in the bush during Goose Break. Make sure your vaccines are up-to-date.

GOOSE BREAK VACCINATION CHECKLIST: Call the CMC to update your vaccines COVID-19 vaccines Get all the doses you're eligible for, including booster dose(s)

Flu vaccine

Make sure you had your annual ﬂu shot

Other vaccines Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date

EAK E BR GOOS li s t check

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Vaccines reduce the risk of severe complications from COVID-19 infections or seasonal ﬂu. DOGS NEED VACCINES TOO. Make sure your dogs’ rabies vaccine is up to date.

elp us h s e er Vaccin h oth c a e ct prote WE WISH YOU A SAFE GOOSE BREAK AND A GOOD HARVEST

www.nationnews.ca April 8, 2022

the Nation 15

time to

rejuvenate by Patrick Quinn

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo by Ndiamon

16 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

Getting your geese in a row for Goose Break

s geese return to northern skies, Cree families are planning for the traditional spring hunt that is a cherished connection to the land and culture. And just as many were just arriving at their camps, Willie Shecapio Blacksmith was celebrating the first goose kill of the season April 7 in Ouje-Bougoumou. It was a fitting time for Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty to announce investments of over $2 million for Cree entities supporting language and cultural revitalization. The Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association and Nishiiyuu Council of Elders were the first to receive additional funding, while the Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) and Cree Nation Youth Council will soon make similar announcements.

what people did, went away for Goose Break and stayed there weeks or months longer.” The challenges of meeting with tallymen during the pandemic partly inspired the creation of the CTA’s mobile app in 2020 for reporting harvests, ice conditions and signs of climate change. Stevens said people have been reporting the first sightings of geese, snow melt and other wildlife observations. Hunters should also be aware of reports about ice safety and cases of the Avian flu, which has recently been discovered among commercial flocks and wild birds in southern Quebec. As the risk of humans catching this virus is very low, the Cree Health Board and CTA emphasize it’s still safe to go hunting during Goose Break but recommend taking added precautions. “We don’t want to catch the Avian flu, but we don’t want to scare anyone,” Stevens told the Nation.

“Goose Break is not just a vacation – it’s a time to rejuvenate and heal” - Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

“Goose Break is a time to reflect and plan for the season,” said Chisasibi Chief Daisy House during the ceremony. “It’s one of the places where we use our Cree language the most. Our vocabulary is different when we are out on the land. It’s medicine for the mind, body and spirit – pure excitement in the air for the younger and older generation.” While spring came early last year, better ice conditions now have resulted in more hunters travelling by snowmobile to bring supplies to their camps. With the lifting of many pandemic restrictions, Cree hunters have already begun harvesting geese in popular southern destinations. “Since the pandemic started, a lot of people have gone back to the land,” said CTA executive director Thomas Stevens. “I think a lot of people have been building cabins and making new camps. The best place to be was at the camp away from Covid. That’s

“Make sure you know if there are any cases of Avian flu in the territory. We try to remind people who will be plucking geese to take precautions. If you identify a sick bird, don’t touch it and make sure to wear gloves.” Sick birds can be identified by easily visible symptoms, including extensive swelling or discoloration, difficulty moving and unexplained mass mortality. To avoid risk of contamination, the Cree Health Board recommends wearing separate clothing for hunting and handling your harvest, plucking and gutting in the field with access to handwashing, and avoiding fowl suspected of being infected. Stevens also emphasized the importance of gun safety. As the expanding population in Eeyou Istchee leads to more people at camps, it’s essential to identify whatever you’re shooting and be aware of where other people are. He said guns should always be unloaded as soon as you leave your blind.

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 17

ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᐋ ᓄᒋᐲᔮᓱᐧᐋᔮᒄᐦ! ᔕᔥ ᒥᓐ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐋ ᓰᑯᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᐹᐱᐦᔮᑦ ᓂᔅᒃ ᐊᔨᐦᒡ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᐃᔑ ᓂᒋᔅᑭᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᐧᐄ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐊᔨᒥᐦᐄᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐆ ᒥᐦᒑᑐ ᐲᓯᒽ ᐋ ᑎᐦᑳᔮᒡ ᑳ ᐸᒋ ᐱᐳᐦᒡ᙮ ᔕᔥ ᒫᒃ ᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᑰᓐ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒥᔅᑯᒦ ᒑ ᐱᑯᑦ ᒑ ᒫᒋᔅᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᐋᐱᒥᒋᐅᒡᒡ, ᐊᓐ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᓂᑐᐦᐆᒫᔅᑭᓂᐤ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᐊᐱᑎᐦᒡ, ᐊᑎ ᐹᐦᐹᔨᑯᑖᐅᓯᒡ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᒌᐧᐋᒡ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋ ᓄᒋᐱᐧᐋᓯᐧᐋᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᐧᐋᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐊᑎ ᐹᐦᐹᔨᑯᑖᐅᓯᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐋ ᐧᐃᒑᐧᐋᑭᓂᑐᑖᑑᒡ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᐧᐋᐧᐃᒑᐅᑑᒡ, ᓈᔥᒡ ᒋᔅᑎᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᓐ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐧᐄ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᐋᔨᒥᐦᒡ ᐋᑳ ᐹᓲᒡ ᒌᐦᑖᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᑎᐹᓐ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐊᐦᑖᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᔕᔥ ᐧᐋᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒑ ᒌ ᒫᒧᐧᐃᔨᐦᒄ ᐄᔮᐧᑳᒥᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ, ᑕᓐ ᑭᔨᐧᐹ ᒥᒄ ᐊᓐ ᐊᓯᓂᑯᓂᐧᑳᐤ ᐋ ᓂᓈᔅᑯᒧᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᓂᑐᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐊᒥᔨᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐋ ᐊᐱᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓅᐦᒌᒑ ᐋᒌ ᐊᓈᔅᒑᓂᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᑭᒥᒄ ᐊᑎᐹᒋᒧᔅᑖᑐᔨᐦᒄ ᐋ ᐧᐃᐹᐦᐱᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᓈᔥᒡ ᒋᒋᔅᑎᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᓈᓂᐆᐤ ᐆ ᐅᑎᐦ ᒋᑎᐊᔨᒧᐧᐃᓂᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᓐ ᐊᔅᑎᑖᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᑳ ᐅᐦᑎᓂᒥᐦᒄ ᒋᒋᓵᔨᒥᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑳᓂᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐅᔮᔨᐤ ᐃᔑ ᒋᔅᒑᔨᐦᑎᒧᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᒫᒃ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᐧᐋᐦᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒥᓐ ᑯᑎᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᓐ ᐋ ᐅᔅᑳᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐋ ᒧᒋᒑᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᒋᑎᓯᐦᐧᑖᐧᐃᓂᐅᐤ, ᐱᑯᓂᒑ ᐋ ᐧᐃᐧᐃᑎᐦᐋᓲᓈᓂᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᒥᑯᓵᓂᐅᒡ ᐅᐦᒡ ᐊᓐ ᐅᔅᒋᐱᐧᒫᑯᓐ, ᐧᐃᔅᑭᒡ ᐋ ᓂᐱᐦᐋᑭᓂᐅᑦ ᓂᔅᒃ᙮ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᒋᑎᐊᔨᐦᑐᐧᐃᓂᐤ ᐋ ᓄᒋᐱᔮᓯᐧᐋᓂᐅᒡ ᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᐋᐦᑎᑯᐦᒡ ᒥᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᒧᒌᒑᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐋ ᐄᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐅᒌ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᑎᐹᔨᐦᒋᒑᓯᐤ ᒋᐱᑯᓵᔨᒥᑯᐧᐋᐅᒡ ᒑ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐱᔮᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒌ ᐱᑳᔅᒋᐦᐆᔮᒄ ᐆ ᒑ ᓄᒋᐱᔮᓯᐧᐋᓂᐅᒡ᙮ ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᐊᓐ ᒑ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᑖᔮᒄ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᑯᐦᒡ ᐋ ᐧᐃᒑᑐᔮᒄᐦ᙮ ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒃ ᐋ ᓂᑐᐦᐆᔮᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᓵᑳᐱᐧᐋᓐ ᐊᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ᙮

Happy Goose Break!

The arrival of spring and the return of the geese presents a welcomed change from the hardships of the long cold winter months. As the melting snow and ice open up waterways, our traditional Cree highways, families can once again plan to go back to the land. Goose break is a chance for families and friends to reconnect, which is especially important during these troubled times of distancing and isolation. Now is the time to gather in a safe way, whether it’s giving thanks on the land to the animals that give their lives to nourish us or sitting on fresh boughs in the teepee telling funny stories. It is also a valued opportunity to learn about our language and culture from elders and knowledge keepers. This time represents new beginnings and long celebrated traditions, from walking out ceremonies to feasts commemorating the ﬁrst goose. Traditional harvests such as goose break are a chance to practice our culture and celebrate our Cree identity. The Cree Nation Government would like to wish the entire nation a safe and plentiful goose break. Enjoy your time on the land with each other. Happy hunting and happy Sakapwaan season! ᒪᓐᑏ ᑲᓪ-ᒫᔅᑏ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫᐦᑳᓐ/ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎᐦᒃ

Mandy Gull-Masty Grand Chief/Chairperson

18 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

ᐧᓈᕐᒥᓐ ᐧᐋᐹᒌ ᑎᔮᐦᒋᔥᑭᐧᐋᑦ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫᐦᑳᓐᐦ/ᑎᔮᐦᒋᔥᑭᐧᐋᑦ ᑳ ᓃᑳᓂᐱᔥᑎᒥᔨᒡᐦ

Norman A. Wapachee Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson

“I’m an instructor for gun safety and I always tell students the importance of being safe on the land,” said Stevens. “Once you get out from your blind, everything should come out. Make sure your gun is put away from kids. It’s your responsibility as a gun owner to protect the people around you.” Stevens recommended avoiding outings alone because anything can happen during hunting season and ice conditions can be particularly unpredictable. He said to always inform your family where you’re going hunting and keep a radio nearby just in case. “The Elders have mentioned they see less geese flying in the coastal region and more inland,” shared Stevens. “We do see the migration patterns changing over time, so we adapt how we hunt. The Cree Trappers’ Association wish you a happy and safe Goose Break.” Just in time for Goose Break, a new exhibition at the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City, in collaboration with Indigenous non-profit La Boîte Rouge VIF, invites visitors into an immersive Cree cultural experience. The Grand Chief and musician Charlie Ottereyes attended the inauguration of the exhibit, which runs until September 5. Eeyou Istchee: An Invitation to Live the Land features 360º footage of traditional Goose Break activities projected in a dome, provided by Waswanipi’s Ian Saganash, with explanations narrated by

Scenes from Eeyou Istchee: An Invitation to Live the Land Photos by François Ozan, Icône

Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash available on adjacent electronic tablets. “It really makes you feel like you’re there at the camp,” Saganash told the Nation. “We tried to share everything as much as possible – cooking, cleaning out the teepees, getting wood, hunting and we even managed to film my cousin’s walking out ceremony. Some people think we still live in teepees so it’s nice to share our culture in the museum.” When pandemic protocols prevented a camera team from coming North, they mailed a special camera to Saganash and provided instructions over Zoom. Although it wasn’t always easy carrying the extra gear and capturing the geese on camera while hunting, Saganash said it was a fun experience and a valuable opportunity to share Cree realities with the outside world. From camouflaged hunting on the open water to decoy making and traditional food preparations, the 18-minute documentary is an intimate tribute to the Cree way of life. Saganash is excited that Goose Break is almost here to share this cultural treasure with his three children. “Goose Break is not just a vacation – it’s a time to rejuvenate and heal, spend time with family and enjoy good food,” said Saganash. www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 19

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 20 the Nation March 11, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

CBHSSJB_GooseBreakBertieWapachee-NationAd_20220408_v2_FINAL.pdf

“

2022-04-11

8:53 AM

This Goose Break, let’s focus on maintaining our traditions, practicing our values and safety on the ice, in our hunts or around our camps. Let’s enjoy our time out on the land with family and friends, and in honor of those who joined the spirit world.

Bertie Wapachee, CBHSSJB Chairperson

CMY

”

Happy

GGse Break

Gunsmith on location

ᒑ ᐃᔮᒀᒥᓰᔮᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒥᔻᔨᒧᔮᒄ ᒑ ᓅᒋᐱᔮᓯᐙ ᓂᐎᒡ᙮

Community

For Eenou, by Eenou Iyeskuwiiu post-secondary springboard program jumps off in Eeyou Istchee by Patrick Quinn

Happy Goose Break to all. ᒥᓯᐙ ᒑ ᒥᔻᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᒑ ᓅᒋᐱᔮᓱᐙ ᔮᒄ᙮ This is the time to celebrate the Cree tradition of Goose Break! Have wonderful times with friends and family, ﬁlled with happiness and blessings. Enjoy!

22 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

partnership between the Cree School Board (CSB) and John Abbott College has created a Cegep-level springboard program that allows Cree students to begin their post-secondary education from their home communities in Eeyou Istchee.

The unique oneyear program is called Iyeskuwiiu (in English, “get ready”). It helps students prepare for college and university while reinforcing their Cree identity through a combination of customized online courses and a land-based physical education component. “It’s a program for Eenou, created by Eenou,” said Nian Matoush, the director of Sabtuan Adult Education Services (SAES). “We wanted to work with the community to develop the program. It’s a good way for community members to figure out what they want to do with post-secondary education without having to commit to the usual pathways of relocating out of the region.” The course content and program structure were developed through consultations with working groups from both youth and Elder councils. Information

and research from the Cree Cultural Institute guided the creation of courses such as Cree Language, Power and Influence in Eeyou Istchee and Sub-Arctic Literature. “We developed the content to reflect Cree history, the Cree experience and Cree worldview,” Matoush told the Nation. “They’re very Cree-centric, not only to mirror Cree identity but help students strengthen their Cree identity. A critical part of being successful in post-secondary is being confident about who you are and where you come from.” Cree interest in post-secondary education is increasing, but students are often reluctant to leave their communities and support systems behind. This program enables students to acquire Cegep prerequisites and valuable study skills without having to also manage the culture shock

and systemic barriers that are commonly encountered in the South. “Students delay post-secondary education because they don’t feel prepared to leave their community,” explained Matoush. “It’s not just culture shock but the life skills that help them integrate into post-secondary life. They’re calling and asking for more culturally oriented programming – it makes sense they would hesitate to leave if their interest in building their cultural identity is so high.” Applications are open to anyone who has graduated from Secondary V or is on track to graduate by the end of the year. However, registration for 2022-23 closed March 22 following significant interest for the 30 available places. Students participating in the pilot project this year enthusiastically recommended the program. “Each course is amazing,” said Iyeskuwiiu student Ethan MacLeod. “I strongly believe this is the decolonization of our Indigenous minds. It teaches you about who you are, helps

you improve communication and writing skills, and gives you that extra time to figure out what you really want to do when you go to college. It’s the perfect opportunity.” With credits transferable to any English-language Cegep in the province, students complete eight assigned courses over two semesters plus a choice between Cree or French as a second language. Students are supported with an allowance, a loaned laptop, and access to counselling services – as well as study space and tutoring. “We thought this would take a couple of years to build before it became a regular part of our programming,” said Matoush. “This pilot project has been so successful just from word of mouth, which wasn’t entirely expected.” Most courses are offered online, but Iyeskuwiiu also provides guest lecturers from the communities to lead life skills workshops. Students get a break from computers during the five-day intensive cultural physical education ses-

sions taught on the land by Elders each semester. “They follow the principles of how skills are traditionally taught: demonstration, observation and then practice,” Matoush explained. “In the fall it was offered in Ouje-Bougoumou and in the spring it’s going to happen in Chisasibi, creating that balance of representing the inland as well as the coastal culture. I believe this time they’ll be preparing a moose hide.” Two of the program’s five teachers are Cree and two others have experience teaching in a Cree context. SAES worked closely with John Abbott College on teacher recruitment, including hiring some who are currently teaching in a similar springboard program the college developed with Nunavik’s Kativik School Board called Nunavik Sivunitsavut, which has been offered in Montreal since 2017. “They’ve been able to bring together all these people that make our program that much better,” said Matoush. “It’s a springboard but also a bridge between different programs – they’ll already have been introduced to that environment.” John Abbott College has a longstanding relationship with CSB’s post-secondary student services and has received numerous Cree students over the years. Matoush appreciated that the Cegep was willing to support Cree education experts in designing this program while meeting Education Ministry requirements. The interest in the program has the CSB thinking about how Iyeskuwiiu could be expanded into a wide range of programs, helping students access fields that interested them. For example, an engineering sector focus might include higher math and sciences courses. “We want to help students dream into whatever area they’re wishing to specialize in by making sure they have those prerequisites,” Matoush added. “We’re working hard to diversify the programs we give. This program is the first step for us to give as many opportunities to as many community members that are out there.”

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 23

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24 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

Propane fridges, ranges/stoves, coolers, heaters, water heaters, tanks and ﬁttings available.

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To our Cree clients we wish a happy Goose Break. ᓂᐱᑯᓵᔨᒫᓈᓂᒡ ᒥᓯᐙ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐋ ᐋᐱᑎᔒᔥᑑᒋᐦᒡ ᒑ ᒥᔻᔨᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐋ ᓅᒋᐱᔮᓱᐙᒡ᙮

Knowledge Fire Behaviour

Knowledge

Politics

Lithium mining fight Renewable energy depends on rare metal, but can it be mined sustainably? by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

ong Point First Nation is calling for more comprehensive environmental reviews after an Australian mining company said it wants to expand operations in the area. The Anishinabek community situated in Winneway is concerned about the impacts of lithium mining, a key component in the global efforts to move towards sustainable energy. As environmental initiatives push consumers towards electric vehicles, debates rage over how “green” is the production of key elements like lithium, as mining can devastate landscapes. Those tensions hit close to home for Long Point First Nation Chief Steeve Mathias, whose community sits on Lake Simard, an area where Sayona Mining Limited wants to establish a fourth mine. The company already has three mines in the region, near Winneway, La Corne and La Motte, and hopes to develop the Tansim mine near Lake Simard. The community learned of the intended mine a few years ago, when Sayona Mining came to the community’s general assembly and informed them of the work. The company came back last year with drilling samples it said is “very interesting,” according to Mathias. In a presentation to the community, Mathias said, Sayona Mining evoked an open-pit mine, which troubled residents. “We’re next to the Ottawa River, Lake Simard, a lot of our people have camps on that lake. Right away, the concern from our people was about contaminating the water, the land – it would significantly impact the wildlife and the fish,” Mathias said.

Long Point First Nation Chief Steeve Mathias

“It would impact our traditional way of life,” he added, saying proponents need to demonstrate there is no risk of water contamination. “We’re not just going to sit by and let things happen. We’ve been here forever and we’re not planning to let any company just exploit the land as they wish.” Chief Mathias insists the project won’t go ahead without the consent of the community. “The position of the community is against the project,” he emphasized, adding he wants the community to do its own studies to gauge the total impact of all the mines in the area. “Too often we’re left aside, they come here saying they’re going to consult us, but it’s all planned out. The minute we try to modify or harmonize these files, if there’s significant changes, we’re told it’s too late, we’ve spent too much money. There’s always some kind of excuse,” said Mathias.

26 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

It’s an opportunity to ensure that traditional ecological knowledge is addressed, Mathias said, noting that the territory Sayona wants to mine is a hunting ground, especially for moose. Mathias said rumours of a spill at one mine site, which was owned by North American Lithium before Sayona Mining took over, means all three existing sites need to be evaluated. Nine other citizen and environmental groups support Long Point and have launched a petition demanding the government commit resources for a cumulative assessment of Sayona Mining’s operations. “Without denying the utility of lithium in the fight against the climate crisis, this fight must not be used as a pretext to destroy the territories of Indigenous Peoples once more without ensuring their rightful place in the decision-making process,” said Geneviève Béland of Mothers Step In – Val-d’Or, one of the groups behind the petition.

“The areas where Sayona Mining hopes to mine in perpetuity are living places, inhabited, occupied, loved and shared by Indigenous Peoples here – in stark contrast to the company’s shareholders who, since their first appearance in the region in 2016, continue to try and avoid the most rigorous and comprehensive environmental assessments,” said Marie-Hélène Massy-Émond, founder of the Pas du lieu Collective, another petition signatory. A New York Times investigation found that lithium mines can consume vast amounts of water, while contaminating groundwater with antimony and arsenic. A mine can create millions of cubic metres of mining waste, which may be contaminated from the sulfuric acid treatment that is used in some processes. Lithium is usually found in deposits of clay and mineral ore. It is excavated in open-pit mines, extracted directly or piped up to the surface with briny water, which is seen as more environmentally friendly. Sayona Mining did not respond to an inquiry by press time. However, they did tell CBC News that they were still in an exploration phase at the Tansim site, and don’t yet know if there is enough lithium to construct a mine. Mathias said the company reached out to him with a draft agreement over a year ago, which he didn’t bother analyzing. “It’s dead on the shelf,” he said. “Before we start talking agreement, we need to know what we’re getting into. If it doesn’t go with the best interests of the community, we won’t support that kind of partnership agreement.” Mathias said the community was previously flooded and twice forced to relocate. “We’re not about to allow another project that would force us to relocate. We’re not ready to jeopardize our way of life in our community,” he added. “We’re more than happy to do development with any type of industry, as long as it protects and respects Mother Earth and future generations.”

“We’ve been here forever and we’re not planning to let any company just exploit the land as they wish”

Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering

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- Steeve Mathias, Long Point First Nation Chief

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 27

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

Claim what’s yours. Join the more than 130,000 others who attended a Federal Indian Day School and have applied for compensation.

July 13, 2022 is the last day you are able to submit a claim. It’s free and confidential. For information or legal support visit: indiandayschools.com or call 1-844-539-3815 Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310

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THE NATION WEBSITE HAS

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Wishing everyone a safe and successful Goose Break! ᓂᐳᑯᓭᔨᐦᑌᓇᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ

ᒉᒌ

ᒥᓯᐌ ᐊᐌᓐ ᒉᒌ ᐊᔮᒀᒦᑦ

ᒦᔫᐸᐃᑦ ᐋᔫ

ᒉᒦᔫᔅᑲᒦᒡ

troilusgold.com

30 the Nation April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 31

Puzzles Crossword

PREVIOUS SOLUTION:

Solution to Crossword: T A L K

A L A N

A L E S

T I L E R

C O M I C O P E R A

P A R E

P I S A

A R A B

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

D R A P E

D I V E R S S E T A S T E I S O S N I S O N

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

STR8TS

No. 598

R E L O A D

P O L O

I D E A

F O R M I D A B L E

F R E E D

E D G E

I O T A

N E O N

Previous solution - Medium

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

6 9

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

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

D E B T

SUDOKU

Easy

5 7 8

A N E C D O T E

1 2 3 4 5 ACROSS 1 Cut a rug 14 6 Otologist's 17 concern 10 Tolkien 20 creatures 14 Squirrel's stash 24 15 Bird feeder fill 30 27 28 29 16 Brazilian soccer legend 33 34 17 Sci-fi extra 40 18 Ivan the Terrible, 39 e.g. 43 19 Declare 47 20 Has a hunch 22 Juliet, to Romeo 53 51 52 24 Scenic view 26 Headed up 56 57 27 Trail the pack 62 30 Like some heartbeats 66 31 African grazer 69 33 Not theirs 35 Pack of paper 36 Water lily 39 Speeder stopper 65 Decided 41 Skater's hangout 66 Frosted a cake 43 Hot spot 67 Pipe thread type 44 Bushy coif 68 TV host Couric 46 Pie à la __ 69 Like grass at 47 Big Apple paper, dawn briefly 70 Whole lot 48 Pacers and 71 ___ preview Pistons 50 "___ what?" DOWN 51 Former slugger 1 June honorees Carew 2 Farmland unit 53 Type of fracture 3 Palindromic time 56 Forefather 4 Fresh, as lettuce 58 Short snooze 5 Win the favor of 62 Magpie or 6 VA time zone macaw 7 "The Sound of 63 Load to bear Music" setting

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

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

No. 598

19 22

21 25

41 44

46 49

55 58

8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 32 34 37

38 40 42 45

Naval officer Pull strings? Australian gem Prince's backing band Section of garlic Used a Singer Trapper's device Top scout In working order Quite a few Distinctive air Airport workers Vera's husband on "Cheers" PlayStation maker Edit menu option

9 1 5 7 2 4 6 8 3

49 51 52 54 55 57 59 60 61 64

Distort, in a way Maze choices Funny fellow Metal cap on a stick Pretzels and such Overzealous Chilling, say Physics particles Hawke of Hollywood Circular current Score unit Kyrgyzstan's continent Sneaky look Clinch, with "up"

Previous solution - Medium

6 5 3 5 4 1 2

8 7

6 2

26 31

Tough

4 9 6 7 3

9 1

10 16

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 April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

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.

by Margie E. Burke

6 7 8 9 1 3 4 5 2

3 2 4 8 6 5 9 1 7

1 5 7 2 9 8 3 4 6

2 4 6 3 5 1 8 7 9

8 9 3 6 4 7 1 2 5

5 6 9 4 8 2 7 3 1

7 8 1 5 3 9 2 6 4

4 3 2 1 7 6 5 9 8

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

Getting closer to normal

Rez Notes

by Sonny Orr

fter taking numerous tests that all came out negative, I was allowed to leave town. Now that I’ve left, it’s just a matter of figuring out what to do with my spare time. Turns out I don’t have spare time because there’s nothing to do. No direct contact with anything other than your own belongings and your closest family. Since I don’t have too many things that I’m attached to, that only leaves close family members to cling onto. They seem happy that the grumpy old guy is gone for a few days. At least I still have my smart phone to keep me from losing my sanity... which is slowly ebbing away into a semblance of life without parole. It’s time to break away from this constraint of isolation and antisocial behaviour. I venture out on the lonely streets of your average small town. Only to discover other lonely out-of-towners as locals are stay put in their cozy homes. I brave the fury of the final days of winter and wander around wishing I had my car so I could do doughnuts in an empty parking lot. It’s the middle of the month which means nothing is going on or so it seems. So, what to do in a boring town that used to be dubbed Sin City? Do I raise a little hell like back in the day? Should I just sit back with aging wisdom and remind others that this was once a bustling town? And yet, with gold soaring to record highs and lithium becoming more attractive, Sin CIty should be that much more dangerous. Petroleum seems to have lost

2021 was a rollercoaster year, but 2022 is turning into a year of erupting volcanoes and bottomless sinkholes favour with vehicle owners who don’t possess a gas station. Prices have gone so high that for the first time in history the rate is lower in the Great Whale River. Looking back, 2021 was a rollercoaster year, but 2022 is turning into a year of erupting volcanoes and bottomless sinkholes. This pandemic mixed with a war no is affecting everything. I try to deal with it in my usual cheery approach. Cracking jokes and offering helping hands is about all that’s left to give as the clock ticks towards that eventuality when there will be nothing left to give. As I stroll through the stores still open but discovering only empty shelves, I wonder if the right time to stock up on essentials is now. As families must keep apart for days on end and schools and daycares have iffy schedules, the pressure is growing to open up. But we shouldn’t until everyone is on the same page. The need to get together is no longer as strong, but for many people these days it’s the call from the health authorities telling us that

we are free again that makes our lives happier. No one thought that the absence of family and friends would be so heartbreaking. Coming from my grandchildren’s perspective, love and hugs are missing “big time” and they can’t wait for things to get back to normal. I keep my voice cheery as my hugs become longer and my squeezes tighter. They need it much more than the adults do, but for grandparents it’s better than gold. I guess the human touch may one day be the most valuable commodity on the market or the most treasured. Did you get your hug today? As I leave my family and cozy home for a few days, I hope that the coming weeks and months will get closer to normal. Then we can all go on a family trip, where the mask is no longer necessary, and the virus is just a lesson for humanity. Stay healthy and avoid confusion. Signing off from lonely town…

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www.nationnews.ca April 22, 2022

the Nation 33

Bannock & Triggered (again)

Tea

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

’ve grown to be quite protective of the dignity of residential school survivors in my family. I knew the Vatican visit would be harmful to some extent, even if I respect that it was important for some survivors. I don’t want to make trivial comments, because it’s a complex situation that stems from colonial violence that made our interpersonal relationships, well, complex. My dad, my siblings and I have just started to figure out healing as a family, and I am thrilled to see my father embrace his right to joy after the hardships he faced in La Tuque Residential School. I am happy that he is taking care of himself and prioritizing his mental integrity over work. I was hoping he would get a break from constantly being retraumatized, especially after last summer, and after having to frequently comment on his own decadelong experience in the Indian Residential School system during his years as a Member of Parliament. I cannot describe the grief and anger I’ve felt watching the news coverage on the Pope’s “apology”, because once again my relatives were unnecessarily triggered just for a carefully worded address by his Holiness. “I feel shame – sorrow and shame – for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you.” Two things with this statement. The first one being the denial of the systemic role of the Catholic Church in the imple-

I think my father, my uncles and aunts deserved far more than those words mentation of Canada’s colonial policies. The second fallacious point that irked me was the so-called “educational responsibilities” of the “few bad apples” Pope Francis describes. It was never about education. As a matter of fact, children would have school lessons the first half of the day, then they would work the other half to save on maintenance costs. In Quebec, most survivors also had to do equivalences after residential school because the Indian Affairs curriculum was not rigorous enough, one of the reasons being that the government assumed that Indigenous children were not as intelligent as non-Indigenous children.

I knew the Pope’s response to our display of trauma would be insincere. That’s why I personally didn’t see the point of going there in the first place. In the past, many chiefs, including two of our former Grand Chiefs, met with the Vatican without any result. I think my father, my uncles and aunts deserved far more than those words. My Uncle John, who never came back from Horden Hall Residential School, certainly deserves more than those words. I had hoped for a better path to justice for them, one where no one would have felt robbed of their dignity, although I understand many survivors were satisfied with the Pope’s address.

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 April 22, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

ᐄᓅᒡ / ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐋᐦ ᑭᓂᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔮ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐅᐦᒋ ᒥᔪᐱᔨᓈᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐋᐦ ᐹᔨᑯᑖᐅᓰᓈᓂᐧᐃᐧᐃᔨᒡ

2022 Eeyou/Eenou Family Values

GOOSE BREAK CALENDAR

Our family values originate from our Eeyou/Eenou philosophy/Iiyiyiuiyihtuwin (Eeyou/Eenou way of life), traditional values and customs that come from the land, birds, ﬁsh and animals we harvested for food.

ᓂᐦᐄ

ᐄ ᔑ ᐧᐋᐧᐄᒋ

ᐦᐄ

ᐦ

ᒋᔅᑯ

ᑎ ᒫᒑ ᓂᐧᐃ

ᒡ

ᐃᓐ

ᒥᑐᐧ

ᐧᐃ

ᓐ

ᑐᑖ

D ᐧᐃᓐ

ᐃᓐ

ᒧᐧ

ᐱ

ᓘᐧ

ᐹᐃ

ᒌᐦ ᐅ ᔑ

Contact your local Community Organizer at the CMC to get a copy of the Eeyou/Eenou Family Values book.

ᑭ ᓐ ᓂ ᔅ ᒋᐦ

John Blueboy and the Tamarack Decoy Pages 42-43

ᑳᓐ

ᑖᐧ ᐹ ᐅ ᒑ

Eeyou/Eenou family values guide and steer you in the direction of healthy living Visit creehealth.org to learn more:

Page 30

ᒋᓈ

ᐹᔮ

FAITH

Page 40

TRUTH

ᐧᐋ

Page 38

ᓐ

14 AY

ᔨ ᐦ ᑎ ᒧᐧ ᐃ ᓐ

TEACHING

ᐋ

ᐦ ᐄ ᑎ ᒧᐧ ᐃ

13 AY

ᑖᐧ

ᓂᐧ ᑐ

ᓈ

ᓐ

ᐧᐃ

ᐧᐋ

ᐋᐦ

ᓂᓂ

ᐧᒑᓐ

ᒥᓯ

ᐋ

Page 36

ᐋ

ᓰ

10 AY

ᓰᐲ

ᓐ

ᐃ

ᐄᐧ

THANKFULNESS ᒧᐧ

Page 28

ᐧ

ᐅ

ᐧᐋ ᓰ

PATIENCE

ᓐ ᐧᐃ ᐃᒡ ᓂᔅᑯᒧ

Page 32

ᐃ ᔮᐧᑳ

SHARING

ᑖᐧ ᐹ

Page 26

ᓵᒋᐦ

Page 34

SAFETY

ᔥ ᑳ ᑐᐧᐃ ᓐ

9 AY

ᐃᒡ

12 AY

Page 16

OBEDIENCE

ᓂᐧ

11 AY

ᔨ

HONESTY

ᐅ

ᓂ

Page 24

ᒥᑐ

ᓐ - ᒥ ᐧᔮ ᔨ ᐦ ᑎ ᒧᐧ ᐃ

Page 14

ᒡ

ᒋᓈᐅᓱᓈ

ᓈ

ᐋᐦ ᒋᔥᑖ

ᔨ

ᐦ - ᑯ ᐃ ᔅᒄ ᐋ

KINSHIP

LOVE

Page 22

ᐄ

ᐹ

ᐃᓐ

Page 12

ᐧ

8 AY

RESPECT

ᐦᑐ

ᐊᔅ

Page 20

ᐅᐦᐱ

5 AY

HARMONY

7 AY

Page 10

4 AY

ᐃ

ᐱᐦ ᑎ

ᔨᐦ ᑎ ᒧᐧᐃ ᓐ

HAPPINESS

ᒥᔫ

ᑎ ᐧᐋ

KINDNESS

ᓐ

HOPE

Page 18

ᒧᐧ

ᓲᐦᒑ

ᐋ

6 AY

ᐅ

Page 8

ᑖᔨᒧ

HUMILITY

ᒋᔅ

ᔨ ᐤ ᒋ ᔖ ᔨ ᔨᐤ

ᐧᐃ ᓐ

Page 4 Page 6

ᐧ ᑭ ᓂᐧᐃᑦ ᐊ

ᐄᔨ

GOOD CHILD REARING

ᐋᐦ

Read Cree Elder Teachings on the inside cover and pages 1-2

3 AY

COURAGE

ᒫ ᒑᐧᐃ ᓐ

know the Eeyou/Eenou Family Values book

2 AY

1 AY Get to

ᑯᑎ

This Goose Break, we invite you to read through the Eeyou/Eenou Family Values book and reﬂect with your family:

ᐦᐋ

ᐤ

ᔨᐦ

ᑎ

ᐋ

ᓄᒋᐱᔮᓯᐧᐋᓂᐅᒡ ᓈᔥᒡ ᒋᔅᑎᒫᐧᐃᓐ ᐧᐋᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐋᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᐹᔨᑯᑖᐅᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᐋᐦᑖᒡ ᐊ ᒋᔅᑎᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᑯᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᑯᐦᑎᓈᓈᓂᐤ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋ ᒥᔅᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᒋᒥᔅᑯᓯᐧᐃᓂᐤ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᐋᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒫᒃ ᒋᔅᑎᒫᐅᐦᑖᑯᓐ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐧᐄ ᐋ ᐅᑎᐦᑐᐦᑖᔨᒄ ᐋᑳ ᓈᔥᒡ ᐅᐦᒌᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᑳ ᓵᒋᐦᐄᑯᒡ ᐋᐦᑖᒡ᙮ ᒋᑎ ᐊᔨᐦᑭᒥᒫᓂᐅᒡ ᒫᒃ ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒑ ᒌ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᐧᐋᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐧᐃᔨᐧᐋᐤ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐊᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒫᒃ ᐄᔮᐧᑲᓴᒥᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᑎ ᒫᒃ ᒑ ᒌ ᐃᔮᔨᐦᒄ ᒧᔥ ᒑ ᒌ ᒋᔅᒋᔨᐦᒄ ᒧᔥ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ᙮ ᔮᐧᑳᐦ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐋᐱᒋᐦᑖᐊᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓐ ᓂᑐᐦᐆᐧᐋᑭᓐᐦ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔮᐧᑳᒥᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐱᑯᓂᒑᒡ ᐋ ᒋᔅᑖᐹᐧᐃᑎᐦᒑᓂᐅᒡ, ᒧᔥ ᐆ ᒑ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᔅᑯ ᒥᐦᒑᑐᐱᐳᓐᐦ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐃᔑ ᓂᔅᑖᒥᐦᒡ᙮ ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᓂᔮᔨᓐ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐋᐦᑖᔮᐦᒡ ᐧᐃᔮᔅᑯᓂᒑᐧᐃᓐ ᑭᔮᐦ ᑯᔨᔅᑯᓂᐧᐋᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᒋᐱᑯᓵᔨᒥᑎᓈᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᐱᑳᔅᒋᐦᐆᔮᒄ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᓂᑐᐦᐆᔮᐦᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒑ ᒌ ᐄᔮᐧᑳᒥᓯᔮᐦᒄ ᐋ ᐱᐹᒥᐦᑖᔮᒄᐦ᙮

Goose break is an important part of

the year where we spend valuable time with family and also take the opportunity to strengthen our connection to the land. This becomes even more important coming out of a period of limited interaction with our loved ones. We encourage everyone to take part in this tradition in a safe and healthy way so that this season is a memorable one. The proper handling of weapons and taking sanitary precautionary measures like hand washing, will help us preserve this practice for many years to come.

All of us here at the Department of Justice and Correctional Services wish you all a great hunt and safe travels.