Issuu 32-17 by nationmag

ᐋᔨᒧᐎᓐᐋᐋᒥᔨᐙᓂᐎᒡ ᒥᔨᐙᓂᐎᒡᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐆᐆᐋᐋᒥᓯᐦᑖ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᐋᐋᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐋᔨᒧᐎᓐ ᑭᔮᐦᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡᐋᐋᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ ᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᐋ ᐋᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡᐋ ᐋᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ ᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓂᑎᐦᐅᔅᑭᒡ ᐅᔅᑭᒡᑳᐦ ᑳᐦᐅᐦᒋ ᐅᐦᒋᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡᑳᐦ ᑳᐦᒋᑳᔮᔨᐦᑎᐦᒃ ᒋᑳᔮᔨᐦᑎᐦᒃᑳᓈᑖᐦ ᑳᓈᑖᐦᑎᐹᔨᐦᒋᒑᓯᐤ ᑎᐹᔨᐦᒋᒑᓯᐤ ᒥᓯᐦᑖ 1996ᑳ ᑳᐃᑎᔅᑖᒡ ᐃᑎᔅᑖᒡᐊᔅᒋᐤ ᐊᔅᒋᐤᐊᒋᐦᑖᓲᓐ᙮ ᐊᒋᐦᑖᓲᓐ᙮ᐅᔅᑭᒡ ᐅᔅᑭᒡᒫᒃ ᒫᒃᐊᓐᐊᓐ1945, 1945,ᐅᒋᒪᐦᑲᓂᒡ ᐅᒋᒪᐦᑲᓂᒡᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐆ ᐆᐊᔅᒌ ᐊᔅᒌᐎᔨᐙᐤ ᐎᔨᐙᐤᒋᐦ ᒋᐦᐎᐦᑎᒧᒡ ᐎᐦᑎᒧᒡᐋ ᐋᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᐦᑎᐦᒡᐊᓂᑎ ᐊᓂᑎᐋ ᐋᐅᐦᒡ ᐅᐦᒡ 1996 ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐋ ᓂᐱᐦᒡ “ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐅᒋᔑᑳᒧᐙᐤ”᙮ ᒥᓐ ᒫᒃ 1982, ᐊᓂᒌ ᓈᔑᓂᓪ ᐃᓂᑎᔨᓐ ᑉᕌᕠᐦᐆᑦ, ᔕᔥ ᒪᒃ ᐊᑎᐱᒡ ᐋ ᒫᒨᐱᒡ ᐃᔨᔨᐅᒡ, ᐎᔨᐙᐤ ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐋ ᓂᐱᐦᒡ “ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐅᒋᔑᑳᒧᐙᐤ”᙮ ᒥᓐ ᒫᒃ 1982, ᐊᓂᒌ ᓈᔑᓂᓪ ᐃᓂᑎᔨᓐ ᑉᕌᕠᐦᐆᑦ, ᔕᔥ ᒪᒃ ᐊᑎᐱᒡ ᐋ ᒫᒨᐱᒡ ᐃᔨᔨᐅᒡ, ᐎᔨᐙᐤ ᐅᐙᔨᑳᐴᐦᑖᒡᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦᐋ ᐋᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᐦᒡᐃᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐃᔨᔨᐅᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡᐋ ᐋᒫᒨᑳᐳᐎᒡ ᒫᒨᑳᐳᐎᒡᐋ ᐋᒋᔑᑳᔨᒡ ᒋᔑᑳᔨᒡᐊᓐᐊᓐᒧᔖᐙᐦᔮᐅᐲᓯᒻ ᒧᔖᐙᐦᔮᐅᐲᓯᒻ21,21,ᑯᐯᒃ ᑯᐯᒃᑳ ᑳᐅᑎᓂᐦᒃ ᐅᑎᓂᐦᒃ ᑳ ᑳᐅᐙᔨᑳᐴᐦᑖᒡ ᒑ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᔨᒡ ᐅᔮᔨᐤ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᒧᒋᑭᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᔨᒡ 1990 ᑳ ᐄᑎᓯᓈᑖᒡ ᐊᔅᒋᐤ ᐊᒋᐦᑖᓲᓐ᙮ ᒑ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᔨᒡ ᐅᔮᔨᐤ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᒧᒋᑭᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᔨᒡ 1990 ᑳ ᐄᑎᓯᓈᑖᒡ ᐊᔅᒋᐤ ᐊᒋᐦᑖᓲᓐ᙮ ᒋᔮᓂᐤᐊᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ, ᐊᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ,ᔕᔥ ᔕᔥᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐊᓂᑖᐦᐸᒋᐸᒋᐙᔅᑭᒡ ᐙᔅᑭᒡᒋᒋᐦᑖᓈᓂᐤ ᒋᒋᐦᑖᓈᓂᐤᐊᑎ ᐊᑎᐋᒸᔮᐦ ᐋᒸᔮᐦᐅᐦᒡ ᐅᐦᒡᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡᐆ ᐆᐊ ᐊᒋᔑᑳᒡ᙮ ᒋᔑᑳᒡ᙮ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓂᑎᐦᐊᑯᑦ ᐊᑯᑦᑳᐦ ᑳᐦᐅᐦᒡ ᐅᐦᒡ ᐅ ᐅᒋᔮᓂᐤ ᓄᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄᐋ ᐋᒧᒋᑭᐦᒃᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᒧᒋᑭᐦᒃᑖᔨᐦᒄᐊᓐᐊᓐᒑᒀᓐ ᒑᒀᓐᐋᑏᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐋᑏᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄᒋᑎᒋᑎᐊᔨᐦᐅᑐᐎᓈᐦᒡ, ᐊᔨᐦᐅᑐᐎᓈᐦᒡ,ᒋᑎᒋᑎᐊᔨᒧᐎᓈᐦᒡ, ᐊᔨᒧᐎᓈᐦᒡ,ᐊᓐᐊᓐᐊᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄᓂᓇᐦᑭᐤ ᓂᓇᐦᑭᐤᒑᒀᓐ, ᒑᒀᓐ,ᐊᑎᐹᒋᒧᔅᑖᑐᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᑎᐹᒋᒧᔅᑖᑐᔨᐦᒄᐋ ᐋ ᓄᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐙᐎᐦᑎᒫᑐᔨᐦᒄᐊᑏᔪᐦᑳᓐ ᐊᑏᔪᐦᑳᓐᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐋ ᐋᓄᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᓄᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄᐋ ᐋᒋᔅᑖᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒋᔅᑖᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄᐊᓐᐊᓐᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓂᑎᐦᐙᐦᑎᓂᒥᐦᒄ ᐙᐦᑎᓂᒥᐦᒄᐋ ᐋᐅᐦᑖᒋᐎᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐅᐦᑖᒋᐎᔨᐦᒄ᙮ᐊᑎ ᐊᑎᐋᑳᐋᑳᐅᐦᒋ ᐅᐦᒋᓂᔅᑯᐙᔮᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᓂᔅᑯᐙᔮᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᐙᐎᐦᑎᒫᑐᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐃᔑ ᐸᒋ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ, ᐄᔮᐱᒡ ᒋᒋᒥᔅᑳᓈᓅ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐎᓂᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᔕᔥ ᐸᒋ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ᙮ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᑖᐦ ᐃᔑ ᐸᒋ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ, ᐄᔮᐱᒡ ᒋᒋᒥᔅᑳᓈᓅ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐎᓂᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᐆ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᔕᔥ ᐸᒋ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ᙮ ᒋᑖᓂᔅᑯᓯᒥᓅᒡ ᐎᔨᐙᐤ ᒋᑭᓂᐙᔨᐦᑎᒧᒡ ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐎᓂᐦᑎᓂᔨᒡ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᐅᐦᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒋᔮᓂᐤ ᒥᔅᑯᒡ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐊᔨᑎᔅᑖᔨᒡ᙮ ᒋᑖᓂᔅᑯᓯᒥᓅᒡ ᐎᔨᐙᐤ ᒋᑭᓂᐙᔨᐦᑎᒧᒡ ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐎᓂᐦᑎᓂᔨᒡ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᐅᐦᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒋᔮᓂᐤ ᒥᔅᑯᒡ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐊᔨᑎᔅᑖᔨᒡ᙮ ᐋ ᐋ ᐋᐄᒋᑳᐳᓈᓂᐎᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐋ ᐋᓱᒋᓯᓇᓂᐎᒡ ᓱᒋᓯᓇᓂᐎᒡᐋᐅᒄ ᐋᐅᒄᒋᔮᓂᐤ ᒋᔮᓂᐤᐹᒧᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᐹᒧᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐃᔮᐐᐦᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐃᔮᐐᐦᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐋᐄᒋᑳᐳᓈᓂᐎᒡ ᐅᑎᐋ ᐋᒋᔑᑳᒡ ᒋᔑᑳᒡᒥᓯᐦᒡᑖ ᒥᓯᐦᒡᑖᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡᐋ ᐋᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ ᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤᐊᑯᑎᐦ ᐊᑯᑎᐦᐙᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐙᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡᒑ ᒑᒌᐦ ᒌᐦᒫᒥᑐᓈᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ, ᒫᒥᑐᓈᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ,ᒑ ᒑᒌ ᒌᐙᐱᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ, ᐙᐱᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ,ᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦ ᐅᑎ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᒧᒋᑭᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᒥᒄ ᒫᒃ ᒋᔮᓂᐤ, ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐳᓂᔨᐦᒄ ᐋᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᑳ ᐸᒋ ᑐᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡ, ᒋᑎ ᐊᔨᒧᐎᓅᐦ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓐ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᒧᒋᑭᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᒥᒄ ᒫᒃ ᒋᔮᓂᐤ, ᐋᑳ ᒑ ᒌᐦ ᐳᓂᔨᐦᒄ ᐋᐦᑐᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᑳ ᐸᒋ ᑐᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡ, ᒋᑎ ᐊᔨᒧᐎᓅᐦ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓐ ᑳ ᑳᐃᓯᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᒋᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓅ-ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓐ᙮ ᒋᔮᓅ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ, ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ, ᒋᑖᑎᓯᐎᓅ, ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᑎᐹᔨᒥᔨᓲᔨᐦᒄ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᒋᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓅ-ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓐ᙮ ᒋᔮᓅ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ, ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᔨᐦᒄ, ᒋᑖᑎᓯᐎᓅ, ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᑎᐹᔨᒥᔨᓲᔨᐦᒄ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᒥᔪᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐅᑭᒑᐦᑖᐙᔨᐦᑎᒧᐎᓂᐙᐤ ᒋᑎᐋᓂᔅᑯᓯᒥᓅᒡ᙮ ᐅᑭᒑᐦᑖᐙᔨᐦᑎᒧᐎᓂᐙᐤ ᒋᑎᐋᓂᔅᑯᓯᒥᓅᒡ᙮ ᒧᔖᐙᐦᔮᐅᐲᓯᒻ21,21,ᒋᓂᑐᒥᑎᓈᓐ ᒋᓂᑐᒥᑎᓈᓐᒑ ᒑᒌᐦ ᒌᐦᐎᒋᐦᐄᐙᔮᒄ ᐎᒋᐦᐄᐙᔮᒄᐊᒧᒑᔨᐦᑖᑭᓄᐎᒡ ᐊᒧᒑᔨᐦᑖᑭᓄᐎᒡᐋ ᐋᒋᔅᑕᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄ ᒋᔅᑕᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᒄᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᐊᓂᐦᐄᓂᓈᐦᑭᐤ ᓂᓈᐦᑭᐤᐃᔑ ᐃᔑᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓐᐦ, ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓐᐦ,ᐹᐦᑖᑯᓯᐎᓐ ᐹᐦᑖᑯᓯᐎᓐᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᐊᓐᐊᓐ ᒧᔖᐙᐦᔮᐅᐲᓯᒻ ᐃᔑᐱᒋᔅᑎᓂᑭᓂᐎᒡ᙮ ᐱᒋᔅᑎᓂᑭᓂᐎᒡ᙮ᓂᐱᑯᓵᔨᐦᒫᓈᓂᒡ ᓂᐱᑯᓵᔨᐦᒫᓈᓂᒡᒥᓯᐙ ᒥᓯᐙᐅᑎᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᐆ ᐆᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐄᔨᔨᐤᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡᑭᔮᐦᑭᔮᐦᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦᐆ ᐆᐊᔅᒌ ᐊᔅᒌᒑ ᒑᒌᐦ ᒌᐦᒧᒑᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡ ᒧᒑᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡᐅᑎ ᐅᑎᐆ ᐆᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᐦᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑳ ᑳᐃᔑ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ᙮ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐋ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓈᓯᒡ ᐆᒋᔑᑳᒥᐙᐤ᙮

Messageon onNational NationalIndigenous IndigenousPeoples PeoplesDay Day Message National Indigenous Peoples Day was officially recognized and celebrated the federal government the first National Indigenous Peoples Day was officially recognized and celebrated byby the federal government forfor the first time in 1996. As early as 1945, Chiefs across the land self-declared the summer solstice as “Indian Day”. Then time in 1996. As early as 1945, Chiefs across the land self-declared the summer solstice as “Indian Day”. Then in in 1982,the theNational NationalIndian IndianBrotherhood, Brotherhood,now nowthe theAssembly AssemblyofofFirst FirstNations, Nations,called calledforforthe thecreation creationofofNational National 1982, Aboriginal Solidarity Day on June 21. Quebec adopted the celebration in 1990. Aboriginal Solidarity Day on June 21. Quebec adopted the celebration in 1990. IndigenousPeoples, Peoples,wewehave haveexisted existedlong longbefore beforethis thisday daywas wasofficially officiallyrecognized. recognized.WeWehave havecelebrated celebrated AsAsIndigenous through our cultural practices, in the way we speak our language, perform our rites of passage ceremonies, through our cultural practices, in the way we speak our language, perform our rites of passage ceremonies, share stories and legends, and when show our respect the land harvest. Even when it was outlawed share stories and legends, and when wewe show our respect toto the land asas wewe harvest. Even when it was outlawed in the past, we found ways to keep our culture and traditional practices alive. Our traditional knowledge holders in the past, we found ways to keep our culture and traditional practices alive. Our traditional knowledge holders kept the embers our traditions safe that one day could bring them back and keep them burning stronger kept the embers ofof our traditions safe soso that one day wewe could bring them back and keep them burning stronger than ever. Resilience and strength are interwoven into who we are. than ever. Resilience and strength are interwoven into who we are. NationalIndigenous IndigenousPeoples PeoplesDay Dayis isa atime timeforforreflection, reflection,recognition, recognition,and andcelebration. celebration.But Butforforus,us,it itis isalso alsoa a National continuation of our ceremonies, our languages and our way of life –Eeyou Pimaatisiiwin. As Eeyouch, our continuation of our ceremonies, our languages and our way of life –Eeyou Pimaatisiiwin. As Eeyouch, our identity, culture, and sovereignty are rooted in the land and in the wisdom of our ancestors. identity, culture, and sovereignty are rooted in the land and in the wisdom of our ancestors. June21,21,weweinvite inviteeveryone everyonetotojoin joinin incelebration celebrationtotohonour honourIndigenous Indigenouscultures, cultures,voices voicesand andcontributions. contributions. OnOnJune Wishing everyone across Eeyou Istchee and beyond a meaningful and joyful National Indigenous Peoples Day. Wishing everyone across Eeyou Istchee and beyond a meaningful and joyful National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Norman Wapachee Norman A.A. Wapachee Grand Chief/Chairperson Grand Chief/Chairperson

CONTENTS 10

EDITORIAL

NEWS

Musique Nomade Community-driven artist development

Opinion

Cree youth delegation

Pathway to healthcare

Informing Trauma

Mystery of the Missing Lake

BRIEFS FEATURES Bringing it Home

Alberta Bound

Springboard to Nursing

REZ NOTES UTNS

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27 30

Editorial

What rights? by Will Nicholls

ell, it didn’t take long for Indigenous Peoples and the Carney government to butt heads, this time over Prime Minister Carney’s desire to fast-track “nation-building projects.” Indigenous communities and leaders are worried about what that might mean as many of the untapped resources of Canada lie within their traditional territories. The stakes have been upped as Canada has decided that no provision in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (which Canada has adopted) actually say they had a veto over development in Indigenous territories. Justice Minister Sean Fraser says that government experts consider the legal duties under UNDRIP to be limited. The text of UNDRIP, however, is quite clear: Article 10 Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the Indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.

Article 26

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.

HAPPY

2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired. 3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the Indigenous peoples concerned.

To the untutored eye it would seem to give a veto without saying veto, when it comes to traditional lands. But Fraser said the duty to consult is not a veto. Of course, his position became clear after the Assembly of First Nations, citing UNDRIP, warned Carney that he must secure Indigenous consent to his large infrastructure projects. Fraser’s comments though show clearly how Carney’s government will interpret the UN declaration and Canadian law when it comes to consulting Inuit, First Nations and Métis people about projects on lands over which they may hold treaty or constitutional land claims. First Nation leaders were given a short briefing document on the proposed legislation and a week to give any feedback or concerns. The formal briefing was only a couple of hours before the one-week deadline expired.

Without the “free, prior and informed consent” of those communities, the AFN warned Carney’s plan will be mired in conflict and litigation. And that triggers two more parts of UNDRIP: Article 18 Indigenous peoples have the right to par-

ticipate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own Indigenous decision-making institutions.

Article 19

States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the Indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.

But none of that affected the First Ministers’ meeting in Saskatoon June 2. The meeting ended with Carney promising that Indigenous leaders would be deeply involved in the development of “nation-building” projects that all premiers are keen to accelerate, and which Carney intends to fast-track with new legislation, tighter timelines for approvals, and possibly federal infrastructure money. The praise by premiers and others were many and loud as a few rights seem to have been trampled underfoot in the rush to leave the meeting.

MONTH

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 MANAGING EDITOR Randy Mayer STORY COORDINATOR Patrick Quinn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, P. Quinn, N. Fedosieieva DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Donna Malthouse, Danielle Valade THANKS TO: Air Creebec CONTACT US: The Nation News, 918-4200 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC., H2W 2R2 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

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Editorial News

Informing Trauma

Montreal conference focuses on surviving trauma by Natalia Fedosieieva

ver 2,000 people gathered at Montreal’s Palais des Congrès April 30 and May 1 for the Symposium on Child and Youth Trauma, united by a shared mission – to better understand trauma and help children and families recover from it. Since 2018, this bilingual conference brings together professionals from mental health, medical and wellness fields to improve children, s thetrauma snow services melts andforthe geese including Indigenous youth. return, Eeyou Istchee prepares Event organizer Delphine Collinfor one of its most hallowed traVézina, the Director of the Canadian ditions: Goose Break. This celebration Consortium Child and –Youth is more thanonjust a hunt it’s aTrauma, time of proposed adaptive strategies to trauma reconnection, intergenerational learnresponses. ing, and youth-driven leadership. “We often think about the Goose usual “As we embark on our annual responses ‘fight the or flight’ Break, let’sof take time when to notfacing only dangerthe or hunt difficult Collinenjoy but situations,” also to share and Vézina said. “But in that talk, I wanted pass on our Cree traditional knowledge to expand those notions to demonstrate with our children and youth,” said Oujethat for human beings, we Cooper. have a range Bougoumou Chief Gaston “This of strategies to adjust to thingstothat are is a wonderful opportunity teach unbearable. them about our customs, respect for the “If land, and theisimportance family.” a person presentingofwith dysCooperstates stressed safety behaviours, during this regulated or difficult time, which starts with ensuring everyone is prepared and able to get out on the land in both physical and economic security. From sewing workshops and Cree-speaking contests to youth and young family subsidiary bundles, Goose Break 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic yet. The combined efforts of youth councils, community departments, and families across Eeyou Istchee show that Goose Break is more than a break. It’s a reawakening of relationships – with each other, the land, and with the knowledge that connects generations. Youth Councils have launched creative initiatives to support families heading to the bush. The Wemindji Youth Council, in collaboration with Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau, provided “Young Families Goose Break Bundles” to

there’s probably a trauma history behind that,” she continued. “My main message was that there are survival tools behind those strategies.” Collin-Vézina thinks the data speaks volumes. Research by Tracie Afifi at the University of Manitoba shows that 32% of Canadians report having experienced physical or sexual abuse, or exposure to domestic violence in childhood. assist those spendingaccount the entire “And it doesn’t for Goose other Break at camp. forms of trauma, such as neglect or Coordinatedviolence by Layla that Miniquken, the psychological we know initiative required recipients to submit are extremely damaging for the developphotos and videos documenting their ment of children,” Collin-Vézina stated. time on the land. “Unfortunately, it is very common and Mistissini Youth Council echoed this something we need to acknowledge.” effort, receiving over 150 applications The symposium away– for their Goose Breakdoesn’t Bundle shy initiative from difficult truths, she emphasized. its highest turnout yet. Each year,Youth the event spotlights intergen“Our Council spent nearly six erational trauma rooted in colonial polhours reviewing and discussing every icies Indigenous communities. singleagainst application with careful consid“Every year we invite speakers to eration,” shared one council member. make surehonour that this being recognized,” “It’s an toissupport our young she said.in“We families thishope way.”that this symposium andtheirChisasibi is a Nemaska way to amplify voices.” Youth Councils also partnered with Maamuu for youth bundles. Chisasibi launched an “Adopt a Youth” program, coordinated by Ashley Fireman and Shawna Sam. They explained that the program is created “for when a youth would like to experience their Goose Break in a different environment.” It’s about welcoming youth into a Cree tradition that they have not been able to experience yet. Families are encouraged to “take in youth and treat them like one of their own, sharing food, stories and traditions out on the land.” In Waswanipi, the Social Development Department through Brighter Futures offered a Goose Break Costco Bundle for children under 12. With 395 children registered, the team added an extra: grocery vouchers worth $100 to the last 10 who registered.

She pointed to the First Nations Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect as a tool to help understand measures Canadian governments imposed on Indigenous people. “The study found First Nations children are 3.6 times more likely to be investigated compared to non-Indigenous children,” she noted. Several Cree participants attended the symposium learn and share Nathanie toHappyjack of practhe tices that will better support youth in Waswanipi Community Justice Office Eeyou Istchee. brought traditional skills with a handsBush, from Ouje-Bougoumou on Tyler sewing workshop for Goose Break and a staff member at the healing hunters. Open to both menyouth and women, centre in Mistissini, told participants CBC radio that the workshop invited to the event unique make theirprovides own gunacase withopportunia matchty connectbag. with Or, other professionals, ingto hunting said Happyjack, share culturally grounded approaches “You can come and make one for your to healing, and gain deeper insights into hunter.” trauma-informed Grand Chief care. Norman A. Wapachee “I know how to teach the kids, and offered an important message. how“As to cope with their trauma,” Eeyouch/Eenouch, our Bush deep respect theare land sustains us said. “Butfor there newthat ways. I attendguides everything we do,” he said. “It ed the trauma symposium to learn expeis our home, andpeople we honour it andthem care riences of other and bring for it to byour keeping it clean after hunting or back community.” any outings on the land, preserving it for future generations.” Wapachee reminded hunters to pick up shell casings and reduce scrap lumber around campsites to help prevent forest fires. “Organizing a family cleanup day at the end of the season is a great way to ensure all is in order and properly stored, ready for our return in the summer,” he stressed. “Let’s all enjoy a safe and clean Goose Break across Eeyou Istchee. May we be mindful of those around us, respect safe hunting practices, and avoid shooting from the road. At the same time, we can be conscious of the environment – conserve fuel and minimize waste. Most of all, let us all honour the land that has provided for us for millennia.”

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Mystery of the Missing Lake

We do the financial part of Nation Building.

Learn more at www.fnbc.ca

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n the quiet hours of May 7, when many Waswanipi members had scattered to bush camps for Goose Break, a massive landslide hurtled towards Lac Rouge on William Dixon’s trapline W26. Two days later, his son Freddie Dixon discovered that the lake had completely disappeared. Eagles and crows scavenged the remains. “It happened all of a sudden,” said tallyman William Dixon. “All that water went down to Doda Lake. Where we had a boat landing, it’s all sand and we can’t go out with the motorboat anymore. We used to go to Lake Rouge to get drinking water – that’s how clean it was.” After a drone surveyed the damage, Waswanipi Chief Irene Neeposh called an emergency meeting with Cree Nation Government biologists, local witnesses and experts from Quebec’s Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts. Another aerial survey on May 20 revealed the destructive path the water followed to the much larger Lake Doda. While Lac Rouge regularly flooded in springtime, the disaster forced water along a new course that swallowed ponds and creeks towards Lake Doda. The latter turned dark brown from the sediment. Recent forest fires have exacerbated erosion, turning soil into clay and mud. After a fire burned very close to Lac Rouge in 2019, another four fires scorched the area in 2023. With newly planted trees ruined by the blaze, a scarification plan was submitted for 13,000 hectares, which Dixon repeatedly refused. “I even made a map that said no cutting, but they still go there,” Dixon told the Nation. “It hurts when a tallyman sees the damage on his trapline. They still force us to say yes, but on that one I was thinking about the bear, the moose and the blueberries that would be good there.” Scarification promotes quicker forest renewal by mechanically breaking the soil surface to remove obstacles that hinder tree growth and drainage. While the

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photos by David Bournival

Waswanipi investigates the sudden drainage of Lac Rouge fires closed Dixon’s trapline to further logging, salvaging of burnt wood, tree planting and pre-commercial thinning has continued. He said work had been done in the month before the landslide. Dixon asserted that the lake kept flooding over because there were no trees along the side to absorb water and stabilize the soil. Neighbouring tallyman Paul Dixon agreed, explaining that bigger “mother trees” can pull water from nearby creeks through their roots when there’s no rain, feeding smaller trees. “William Dixon’s dad used to warn us that too much scarification makes the land weaker,” said Paul Dixon. “Those roots have been there thousands of years, holding each other together. Where there are forest fires, poplar and birch trees will grow up and we’ll have mooseyards – forestry companies consider these weeds.” On May 13, Paul Dixon told local forest expert Allan Saganash about the environmental disaster, who informed the CNG. With everyone else on Goose Break when they first met with Chief Neeposh, Saganash and Paul Dixon assumed that disturbance on the trapline was the culprit, both from fires and from forestry. However, CNG biologists and forestry engineers determined that scarification work had been done at a lower land level and too far from the lake to impact the washed-out banks. Elevation was higher on Lac Rouge, previously 2 km long

and 1.5 km wide, than where the water drained out. “This was the banks of the lake totally giving way like a dam because of the erosion,” explained Saganash. “Where the banks collapsed, it’s just a big open area. All the water completely flowed out with such force that it basically created a large river on its path of destruction.” After fires remove tree cover, rains and melting snow more rapidly transform soil to clay, which naturally drifts to lower land as it liquefies. Provincial data reports about 100 landslides annually, which increase with extreme weather and spring melts. Recent landslides have occurred in Chisasibi and temporarily closed Mistissini’s walking trail. While culverts drained excess water from Lac Rouge under the nearby road, William Dixon believes the pipe installed by the forestry company was too small. He blames its blockage for washing away the road. Ice and debris are frequent causes of blocked culverts, costing forestry companies millions of dollars in road repairs. “Drainage is a contributing factor to many washouts, including Lake Rouge,” Saganash said. “There are so many questions about culvert size and placement. Of course, a beaver will block a culvert – it’s the fastest way to build a dam.” David Bournival, who has been fishing and swimming in Lac Rouge for 25 years and was the first to alert the Dixon family about the disaster, said the

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lake was flooded by beavers. Freddie Dixon confirmed there were many dams. Bournival suggested the lake’s edges have steadily crumbled and with beavers blocking water flow, it was only a matter of time before the lake emptied. “It’s completely natural,” said Bournival. “I hope the ministry will close the breach because the clay keeps flowing into the Doda. If they do nothing, the moose and woodland caribou could get stuck in the shifting clay.” According to an agreement with Quebec, tallymen can protect up to 1% of their traplines as traditional “sites of interest”. Dixon lost three of these sites to the disaster. “William’s never seen anything like this,” Saganash said. “Why now? We need the CNG to answer why scarification is not a contributing factor. We need proof that it’s only forest fires causing erosion.” Facing concerns about ground stability and possible mercury contamination downstream, biologists are continuing to take water and soil samples. An update was expected June 9. William Dixon worries for the fish in Lake Doda, where he netted sturgeon that he fondly recalled cured his wife from sickness. “I shed some tears about my wife in the meeting,” said Dixon. “I thought about if we ever can eat fish there again. It was a very good lake with very good fish. My hope is that sand would wash away before it gets to where I used to put out a net for sturgeon.”

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AUGUST 19-21

MISTISSINI

ENTREPRENEURS, YOUTH, AND LEADERS FROM ACROSS EEYOU ISTCHEE – JOIN US TO CONNECT, LEARN, AND BUILD TOGETHER!

FEATURING... The exciting return of the Eeyou Istchee

Bear Den Business Case Study Competition Change-making conversations and networking opportunities Our first-ever Regional Business Awards Gala

...and more!

The Cree Nation Business Summit is organized by the Cree Nation Government Department of Commerce and Industry

Briefs Chisasibi declares emergency over water shortage The Cree Nation of Chisasibi declared a state of emergency after lightning struck the community’s water treatment plant June 3. As teams worked to assess and repair the damage, community members were asked to use water only for essential needs. With critically low water levels in the community reservoir, the remaining supply has been temporarily shut off between the hours of 12am to 6am to stabilize the system. Schools and daycares were closed. “The engineers, water operators, Hydro-Québec, the Cree Nation government are working together around the clock,” said Chief Daisy House. “We know how to function without running water because that’s what we do when we go to our camp. It’s like camping for many of them.” According to Barry Bearkskin, Chisasibi’s director of general operations, the lightning strike “burned the heart of the water treatment plan system.” He said nothing was functional after it impacted a panel the plant relies on for monitoring and controlling the pumps. Working with HydroQuébec, the short-term plan was to increase water quantities pumped into the river. Jason Coonishish, the Cree Health Board’s director of emergency measures, suggested the river’s low levels resulted in excess debris, limiting how much could be pumped to the reservoir. The regional hospital and other facilities were operating on reduced services while residents requiring hemodialysis

treatment were transferred to Montreal. Coonishish said, “The local emergency team set up basins of water along the shore of the river so people can go with their pails to flush their toilets at home.” Shipments of clean water were arriving via Air Creebec, distributed to residents from the Mitchaup building, with priority given to Elders, young parents and other vulnerable community members. Entities could receive water for their employees. By June 5, stores had lifted their limits for water purchases. Residents were advised to boil water for at least two minutes for all drinking, cooking and oral hygiene. People were asked to check in on neighbours and share supplies with those in need. Retro Daze Café owner Roger Orr suggested it was time to build a community water tower for these types of situations. “The Great River flows by the community,” commented Wayne Robert Rabbitskin. “It can be heard, it can be felt, it can be seen but not a drop of water to quench the thirst of the People.”

Indigenous films win at Canadian Screen Awards Indigenous productions were triumphant at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards, presented in Toronto May 30 to June 1. Yintah was honoured with Best Feature Documentary and Best Cinematography, highlighting the Wet’suwet’en resistance movement against pipelines on their traditional lands. Directed by Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell and Michael Toledano, Yintah was years in the making, high-

lighting the BC First Nation’s land protectors in the face of RCMP repression. The movement inspired blockades and coast-to-coast demonstrations in 2020. One of its cinematographers, Jesse Freeston, noted this was the first time that a majority of Canadians polled supported an Indigenous-led movement taking direct action to defend their territory. “Collectively we navigated police exclusion zones, faced arrests, detentions, police violence and threats, and lived with ubiquitous police surveillance, harassment and intimidation,” said Toledano. “I am grateful to have been able to witness this inspiring history of Wet’suwet’en resistance to colonization and to have come out of the experience alive.” In accepting the award, Wet’suwet’en activist Sleydo’ Molly acknowledged the importance of Indigenous people telling their own stories. She connected their ongoing battle to freedom fighters in Gaza, where at least 232 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces. Lisa Jackson’s portrait of Cree Elder Wilfred Buck won Best Editing in the documentary category. Adapted from Buck’s memoir, the film weaves stories of displacement and addiction in his early life with his influential path to reclaiming traditional knowledge and ceremony. Bones of Crows was also celebrated with Best Direction and Best Picture Editing in a drama series. Indigenous actor Graham Greene won for Performance in a Supporting Role for the comedy Seeds and Tanya Talaga’s The Knowing won for Best Writing in a documentary. APTN was nominated in over 30 categories and won for Indigenous Art Adventures,

a children’s show hosted by Cree artist Lance Cardinal. Indigenous youth empowerment series Warrior Up! took home the Canada Media Fund Kids’ Choice Award.

Grand Chief candidates announced Ahead of Cree Nation Government elections on July 17, candidates for Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief have been officially announced. The candidates for Grand Chief and Chairperson of the Grand Council of the Crees are incumbent Norman A. Wapachee along with John Kitchen and Paul John Murdoch. There are five candidates for Deputy Grand Chief – Grace Darlene Cheechoo, Robin Gull Saganash, Sammy Salt-Blacksmith, Linden Spencer and John Henry Wapachee. Local poll stations will open from 9am to 7pm on voting day, July 17. Advanced polls for online voting will open July 13 at 9am and close July 16 at 2pm. Voters must be Cree beneficiaries of the JBNQA and at least 18 years old on election day. Voters can access the online platform as of July 1 to ensure they are authenticated and will be required to submit their JBNQA beneficiary number, date of birth, and community of affiliation. Chief returning officer Robin Pachanos can be contacted for further information.

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Features

Bringing it Home by Patrick Quinn,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Musique Nomade showcases community-driven artist development Photo of Anachnid

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ontreal-based Musique Nomade delivered a showcase concert with Nikamotan MTL, featuring many of its standout artists at Club Soda June 11. Conceived as Maison des Cultures Nomades in 2006 by Wapikoni Mobile founder Manon Barbeau, Musique Nomade similarly travels the territory to offer a mobile studio to Indigenous youth interested in the music industry. In 2017, artistic director Joëlle Robillard helped Musique Nomade expand as a record label and booking agency. That year they presented the first Nikamotan MTL, an outdoor concert at the Présence Autochtone festival in Montreal. “I’ve been with Musique Nomade for almost 10 years and the difference is outstanding how we’ve collectively opened space for Indigenous languages in the music industry,” Robillard told the Nation. “The heart of Musique Nomade is the community work, the recording services we offer.” Its mobile studio visits three or four Indigenous communities each year with professional equipment, instruments and producers. Working with local coordinators, they provide a noise-free and accessible studio almost anywhere. Although stopovers last only two weeks, the production and marketing cycle typically lasts over a year. The team is open to any project and can help flesh out compositions, perform backing music, beats and video production. Aspiring artists can record at least one song along with promotional video interviews. More songs are possible depending on the number of interested artists and simplicity of setup. “If the artist has a vision in mind, it’s mostly possible,” said Robillard.

“Traditional music is sometimes easier, if it’s only singing and drumming. It’s important for us to be there for transmitting traditional knowledge that hasn’t been recorded before.” They try to return to communities to help build artistic talent. Last year, they joined Wapikoni to help artists produce a film and its soundtrack. Although Musique Nomade has yet to visit Eeyou Istchee, Robillard said they hope to build partnerships with Cree communities. Quebec remains its focus, but stopovers have expanded to Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. With the music industry increasingly interested in Indigenous artists, the Nikamowin streaming platform was introduced in 2018. Now featuring about 300 artists across Canada, this “Indigenous Spotify” offers listeners a choice from genres, languages or nations. Indigenous musicians are invited to send an mp3, picture and bio to create a profile on the platform. Weekly in-house promotional campaigns makes Nikamowin a valuable platform for film and television productions seeking Indigenous music. Each stopover session culminates in digital promotion through Nikamowin and inclusion on the label’s On the Road series, which recently spotlighted the Atikamekw community of Wemotaci. It’s the hometown of singer-songwriter Laura Niquay, who Musique Nomade worked with before she won the Félix award for Indigenous Artist of the Year. “We went to Wemotaci last year for the studio project and could feel her shining. It was an example for other artists to work with us and try to do something out of their art,” Robillard asserted. “More young artists feel there is a space for them

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arriving on time. She was very patient. I’m so grateful for her because I’m ready to work now.” Speaking from Toronto at the Indigenous Music Summit, the award-winning electronic artist was planning her distinctive style for the next night’s show. Navigating culture clashes and content creation for the TikTok age, Anachnid looks forward to a role in Lara Kanso’s stage show and a gig at the Montreal Planetarium later this summer. “I’m like a little spider, trying to get every string together so it’s all meticulous,” Anachnid said. “The dreamcatcher, Anachnid, represents the grandmother spider, who’s also linked to the sky and the spirit world. That’s how I get my songs – I reach to the invisible and share it with the world.” Cree artist Siibii was also at the Toronto summit after reaching new audiences during an April tour with Elisapie. Inspired by the Inuk musician’s impressive show and supportive team, Siibii realized how far they’ve come since first releasing music at age 13 through the N’we Jinan mobile studio project. “There’s such an imbalance to accessing those opportunities in the North,” said Siibii. “These initiatives are a great starting point to get your feet off the ground – definitely a career changer for me.” With a new album coming in October, Siibii hopes to tour Eeyou Istchee while elevating local talent and hosting workshops. “I’ve been bringing my music around the world,” she said, “but I want to bring it home.”

the Nation June 13, 2025 www.nationnews.ca

Soleil Launière, Photo by Lucile Parry-Canet

to build their own path into the music industry.” The June 11 Nikamotan showcase featured an eclectic mix of emerging Indigenous artists. Innu multidisciplinary artist Soleil Launière, the first Indigenous person to win the Francouvertes competition following her acclaimed album Taueu, headlined the event. “Musique Nomade is a family,” said Launière. “I feel very lucky I have this community around me, to be part of a label that supports who I am. I don’t have to explain myself and can just be myself.” Already established as a performance artist and playwright, Launière volunteered as a last-minute substitute for an early Nikamotan show. After providing backing vocals for other artists and collaborating with Sami musicians for a hybrid creation, she was ready to make an album. “I approached Joëlle [Robillard] with the full performance art-based project and she was excited to support everything it meant,” Launière said. “They’re very open and there’s a big freedom to make the artist shine in their own way of being.” The June 11 show also featured Anachnid, who caught the attention of Musique Nomade through a collaboration with Mexican artists at the beloved but now-closed Montreal venue l’Escalier. Originally the show’s hostess, she took her mentor’s advice that she belonged on stage. “Joëlle was like my big sister who believed in my magic,” Anachnid shared. “She would have to come get me or I was not

Anachnid

“Now we have an Indigenous leader who can work directly with First Nations across Canada” - Grand Chief Wapachee

Joelle Robillard

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CSERT

CREE SOCIAL ECONOMY ROUND TABLE

EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL ECONOMY PROJECTS: FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES WITH A SOCIAL OR CULTURE COMPONENT 75% of project cost, up to $25,000 Training and coaching Pre-start up and start-up fees Equipment or supplies purchases Feasibility and marketing expenses FOR MORE INFO

Thrift stores Cultural & wellness camps Community markets Meals on Wheels Greenhouses Local transportation

Social Economy Advisor 418-923-2901 ext. 3409 peggy.petawabano@cngov.ca www.cngov.ca

Department of Commerce and Industry

May this Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day be a day of celebration for all. DENIS LAMOTHE DÉPUTÉ D’UNGAVA

418 748-6046 denis.lamothe.unga@assnat.qc.ca

Photos provided by Adrian N. Gunner

Alberta Bound

Cree youth delegation visits Ermineskin Cree Nation by Patrick Quinn,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

osted by Alberta’s Ermineskin Cree Nation, over 30 youth representing Eeyou Istchee’s 10 communities spent five days experiencing life on the Alberta prairie at the end of May. Cree Nation Youth Grand Chief Adrian Neeposh Gunner said the visit had its origins in a 2019 council resolution to build contacts with other First Nations youth. “Meeting other young leaders really helps to be united as Indigenous people in Canada,” he explained. These exchanges help raise awareness about other Indigenous realities. With this in mind, CNYC projects coordinator Tania Richmond gave delegates guiding questions to encourage deeper reflection. “The idea was to put thought into what they hoped to bring home, what makes you proud to be Eeyou/Eenou,” said Richmond. “This is hopefully just the first of many. We opened one door but we’re hoping to build a whole bridge.” After the Covid pandemic, the CNYC started making connections with neighbouring northern communities and the First Nations Quebec Labrador Youth Network. The link with Ermineskin came from band councillor Jason Mackinaw, who collaborated with Drezus as a DJ when the hip-hop artist was invited to perform in Eeyou Istchee. The cross-cultural exchange began in March, when three youth from Ermineskin joined the CNYC’s winter journey, trekking by snowshoe over 100 km in eight days from Waskaganish toward Eastmain. The group reconnected in Treaty 6 territory, laughing together like cousins. After landing in Calgary May 26, the CNYC delegation toured the city’s downtown before visiting the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre. 16

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The UNESCO-designated world heritage site preserves over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture, where Blackfoot hunters harvested meat by driving the bison over cliffs. Before arriving in Ermineskin May 29, the group visited Lake Louise in Banff National Park and the Indigenous music exhibit at the National Music Centre. “In Ermineskin, some of the youth joined us for a watch party for the Oilers’ [playoff] game,” said Mistissini Youth Chief Justice Debassige. “We learned about the history of Ermineskin, how they formed as a community. We could communicate in Cree despite the different dialects.” Ermineskin knowledge keepers Jerry Roasting shared teachings about teepee raising, Carol Wildcat provided background about the community and Lorraine Cutarm gave a lesson about traditional hand games. Debassige spoke with Elders about the First Nation’s present struggles and realized they share many similarities. “They wanted to develop their own youth advisory committee – we could help develop that with them,” said Debassige. “We need to form relationships to help each other. It was my first time in Alberta – I loved every minute of it.” Ermineskin is one of the Four Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta’s largest Indigenous community, 95km south of Edmonton. Many delegates were impressed by their proximity to other First Nations, which frequently mingle together. CNYC Deputy Grand Chief Jordan Masty told the group that one day they’ll need each other so they may as well be friends now. The bonding experience applied to the group itself. Lone Eastmain representative Nancy Mayappo overcame homesickness as the delegation became a “second family” during their adventure. “When we got to Ermineskin, it was so welcoming it almost felt I was coming back home,” Mayappo said. “I was surprised at how alive their cultures were, how similar our culture and traditions are. It shows no matter where we are in the world, we’re all connected somehow.” A highlight was Ermineskin’s annual powwow, which began May 30. The visiting delegation was given the honour of joining

the grand entry, while Gunner and Masty delivered speeches. Gunner said it was the biggest powwow he’s ever witnessed. “The sound of all the jingles was just amazing,” recalled Waswanipi delegate Jimianne Gunner. “They were setting up a teepee and I saw two ladies sitting in the shade. I stepped over a teepee pole and Joyce and Marlene, so sweet, said never step across a teepee pole because it takes away the men’s power.” During the grand entry, Adrian Gunner recognized a familiar face among the dancers. He wasn’t sure it was his childhood friend Tyler Ottereyes-Eagle from Waswanipi until he read the syllabics on his regalia saying “eagle”. Having not seen each other in over 15 years, Gunner was happy to hear his friend was thriving in nearby Enoch Cree Nation, enjoying new experiences like hunting elk. “I sing with a world-renowned drum group called Blackstone,” Ottereyes-Eagle told the Nation. “It’s like the Rolling Stones of powwow. There’s a lot of strength and pride in Native culture at powwows – the feathers and drums all contribute to our spirituality.” While studies at the University of Alberta brought him to the province, Ottereyes-Eagle had dreamed of playing with Blackstone since listening to his late father’s cassette tapes as a child. When the group came to Waswanipi to work with the Waseskun drummers, they told him that if he ever moved to Alberta he could sing with them. Bullied back home for his braids, Ottereyes-Eagle said everyone there has long hair, dances powwow and embraces traditional ceremonies. Elders tell him that all Crees originally came from James Bay and while “tansi” remains the common greeting, many are reclaiming “wachiya”. “Wachi means a mountain or the top of something so wachiya is giving the highest welcome,” Ottereyes-Eagle explained. “I met a man about 80 who said when he was three years old, he was on a horse and wagon with his grandmother. The old lady passing by said wachiya – that was the last time he had heard that word.”

“Wachi means a mountain or the top of something so wachiya is giving the highest welcome” - Tyler Ottereyes-Eagle

www.nationnews.ca June 13, 2025

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MAY THIS NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY BE A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR ALL! ᐆ ᒑ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᒌᔑᑳᒥᐧᐋᐤ, ᑭᒫ ᒥᓯᐙ ᐊᐙᓐ ᒨᒋᒑᔨᐦᑎᐦᒃ!

Study at Canadore College Canadore offers culture-based programs with a focus on history and tradition Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention Indigenous Preparatory Studies

15%

Indigenous students make up of Canadore’s Student Population.

Our students like it here! We have one of the HIGHEST Indigenous student retention rates in Canada.

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On this Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour the strength, culture, and rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. As Chairperson, I reflect with pride on our journey that carries forward the spirit and the vision of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Our organization is unique in Quebec and Canada, and we are guided by a deep commitment to the well-being of our people and our collaborative work with partners. Today, we celebrate our achievements and reclaim a future where Eeyou/Eenou voices, knowledge, and healing traditions continue leading the way for future generations. Jeannie Pelletier, Chairperson of CBHSSJB 20

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Springboard to Nursing John Abbott College creates a pathway to healthcare Photos by Paul van den Boom/Cree School Board

by Natalia Fedosieieva

n a milestone for Indigenous-led education, John Abbott College has successfully completed the first year of a new Springboard to Nursing program for Cree students, delivered directly to Eeyou Istchee. The initiative, a collaboration between the college and the Cree School Board, was designed in response to community needs and aims to strengthen local healthcare systems by training Indigenous students to become tomorrow’s healthcare professionals. The two-semester program combines academic courses with culturally relevant content to support both personal growth and community well-being, said Kim Tekakwitha Martin, Dean of Indigenous Education at John Abbott College. “In our first pilot project group, we had 16 students who entered the program and 15 completed,” Martin said. “That’s a very good success rate.” Students study math, chemistry, environmental science and languages, and participate in land-based physical education that incorporates Cree traditions. Despite the emphasis on online learning, Martin said students visit the John Abbott campus several times. “For an orientation, to see the school, to understand what kind of program they’re going into,” she explained. Martin said the World Health Organization’s recent recognition of Indigeneity as a social determinant of health is profound. “That because of our realities,” she said. “Because of our lack of support in communities, lack of funding, intergenerational trauma, and

the continued harms that Indigenous people live.” Martin believes it’s important to take this into consideration in any healthcare assessment and to create courses for students that are embedded in Cree history, knowledge and realities. At their recent graduation ceremony, students arrived in traditional clothing, shared stories of resilience, and celebrated with community leaders, faculty and families. For many, it was not just a personal milestone but a communal moment of pride. “They were very happy,” Martin said. “Any nursing program is not easy. There were times when the students struggled, there were extra tutoring sessions. It was overwhelming sometimes.” John Abbott and the CSB are preparing for a second cohort with 35 applicants already lined up. The program aims to expand into a broader Health Sciences pathway, which opens the door not only to nursing, but also to careers in dental hygiene, radiology and pharmacy. For Martin, this is not just a college program, “it’s a step toward reclaiming health, knowledge, and self-determination for Indigenous communities.” Myah Trapper Stewart, a student from Mistissini, says the hybrid model of online and in-person learning suited her situation as a young mother who was not ready to relocate for college.

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“It was challenging to do some assignments and work because the teachers are just online and not there to help you, especially after school hours,” Trapper Stewart acknowledged. Nonetheless, she appreciated the flexibility and the commitment of her instructors. Trapper Stewart believes programs like this are crucial for Cree students who want to pursue education close to home. Currently working as a patient care representative, she plans to return to school in August to continue nursing studies. Jaylene Moses, a student from Eastmain, said online learning is not easy. “It could be difficult because you’re not seeing your teachers and classmates in person,” she explained. “But it’s also good since you’re working from home.” Moses applied to the program after seeing it advertised during her final year of high school. “Ever since I was a little kid, I was always interested in working in healthcare,” she said. “We need more healthcare workers such as nurses in communities because there’s a lack of Cree or Native people working in the hospitals.” Moses highlighted the importance of including Cree history and cultural traditions in the curriculum. “It reminds you where you come from and who you’re trying to help,” she said.

ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐃᔨᔫ ᐁᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᒫᑲᓅᑦ ᐧᐊᐸᑯᓅᐲᓯᒻ 21, 2025 ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐃᔨᔫ ᐁᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᒫᑲᓅᑦ ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁᑯᓐ ᐁᐃᔑ ᑲᓄᐧᐊᐸᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐁᓯᒋᔦᓯᓈᓅᐦᒡ ᑖᓐ ᓂᓈᐦᑰ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐊᔮᑦ ᐃᔨᔫ, ᐅᒥᔅᑯᓰᐧᐃᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐅᓲᐦᒋᑌᐦᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐅᑦ ᒣᔅᑌᔅᑲᒥᒡ ᑲᓇᑖ᙮ ᐆ ᐁᐃᔑ ᒌᐦᑳᔦᐃᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᐆ ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁᑯᓐ ᐆ ᐁᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᐦᑖᑲᓄᔨᒡ ᐃᔨᔫ ᑖᓐ ᑳᐃᔑ ᐸᒋᔅᑎᓂᐦᒃ ᐅᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐ ᐅᑦ ᑲᓇᑖ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᐁᓯᒋᔦᓯᓈᓅᐦᒡ ᑖᓐ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐊᐦᒋᔫ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑖᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᓀᔥᑦᐁᐃᔑᓈᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᐅᑏᐦᑐᐧᐃᓐ, ᐅᑕᔨᒧᐧᐃᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ ᑖᓐᑦ ᐁᐊᑎ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᑦ, ᐅᑌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑯᐃᔅᑯᓄᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᐁᐅᐦᒋ ᐊᐸᑎᓰᐦᑲᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐧᐄ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᑖᐅᒡ ᓀᔥᑦ ᓯᒋᔦᐃᔨᔅᑕᑯᐧᐁᐅᒡ ᐃᔨᔫᐦ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᐁᐃᔑᐱᔑ ᐧᐁᔫᑌᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᔨᒡ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐁᒥᔅᑯᓯᔨᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐃᔨᔫᐦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓐᐦ᙮ ᒋ ᐳᑯᓭᔨᒥᑎᓈᓐ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔫᐸᔨᔦᒄ ᐆ ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁᐧᐃᒡ ᑎᓰᐦᑫᒣᑯᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐯᔭᑰᑌᐅᓯᔨᒄ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒋᔅᑑᑌᒧᐧᐋᐅᒡ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᓂᐳᑯᓭᔨᐦᑌᓈᓐ ᐆ ᒉ ᓃᐱᐦᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔫᔮᔦᒄ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒉ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᒄ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᑖᓐ ᒉ ᐊᑎ ᐃᐦᑎᔦᒄ ᐊᓐᑦ ᐁᐯᔭᑯᑌᐅᓯᔦᒄ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒋᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓄᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᓇᓈᐦᑰ ᐁᐊᑎ ᐃᐦᑎᔦᒄ ᐁᐧᐋᐸᐦᑏᐧᐁᔦᒄ ᐃᔨᔫ ᐃᐦᑑᐧᐃᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ ᓇᓈᐦᑰ ᒉᐧᑳᔫ᙮ ᓂᐳᑯᓭᔨᐦᑌᓈᓐ ᒋᔮᒣᔨᐦᑕᒧᐧᐃᓐ, ᒥᔦᐃᐦᑕᒧᐧᐃᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒉ ᒥᔫᔭᔦᒄ ᐆ ᐁᒋᔅᑌᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁᒋᔅᒋᓰᑐᑕᐧᐋᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐁᒌᐦᑳᔮᐸᒫᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᐃᔨᔫᒡ ᐅᑦ ᒥᔅᑌᔅᑲᒥᒡ ᑲᓇᑖ᙮ ᑲᔦ ᐆ ᐁᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐊᓂᑌ ᑲᓇᑖ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᒋᒉᓰᓈᐦᒡ ᒌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐃᔦᐃᐦᑖᑯᓐ ᐊᓂᑌ ᒉ ᒌ ᐄᔑ ᐅᑎᓂᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᑖᓐ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐊᐧᐁᓐ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐁᐅᐦᒋ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐸᒫᑲᓅᑦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐅᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓄᐧᐋᐤᐦ ᐁᐆᐦᒋ ᒌᐦᑳᔭᐱᐦᑖᑲᓄᔨᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐊᓐᑦ ᒉ ᐅᐦᒋ ᒋᐦᒋᐸᔨᐦᒡ ᐁᒄ ᑖᓐ ᒫᒨ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔦᐃᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐊᐸᑎᐦᒡ ᐁᒄ ᐊᓐ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐊᐧᐁᓐ ᐁᐅᐦᒋ ᒌᐦᑲᔮᐱᒫᑲᓅᑦ᙮ ᒋᓯᒋᔦᓯᓈᓅ ᓃᑳᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᔑ ᒋᔅᑐᐦᑌᔨᐦᒄ ᒋᑲᔅᒋᐦᐅᓈᓅᐦ ᐁᐊᐸᒋᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐆ ᒥᒋᓲᐲᓯᒻ 2024, ᐊᓐ ᒫᐅᒡ ᐁᐃᔅᐹᒡ ᐧᐃᔮᔅᑯᓂᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄ ᐅᑦ ᑲᓇᑖ ᒌ ᐅᑎᓇᒧᒡ ᐊᓂᔫ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓂᔫ ᐁᑲᓄᐧᐋᐸᐦᑖᑲᓄᐦᒡ ᐃᔨᔫ ᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐊᓐᑦ ᐅᐦᒋ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐊᐧᐁᓐ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐅᓯᓇᐦᐄᑲᓐᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐊᓯᑎᓯᓈᑌᔨᒡ ᐊᓐᑦ ᑲᓇᑖ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐᐦᒡ᙮ ᑲᔦ ᒫᒃ ᐅᑦ ᑲᓇᑖ ᐅᐦᒋ ᔮᐃᑌᐃ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᑖᓐ ᐁᐃᔑ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᐦ ᐧᑳᐤ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓂᓯᓇᐦᐄᑲᓂᓵᐦ ᐯᔭᑯᓐᐦᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᑎᔅᑌᔨᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᒧᔮᒻ ᑖᓐ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑌᔨᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᑖᓐ ᐧᐁᐦᒋ ᑲᓄᐧᐋᐸᒪᑲᓅᑦ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐃᑎᔅᑲᓀᓯᑦ ᐊᐧᐁᓐ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᐁᑲᓅᐧᐋᐸᐦᑖᑲᓅᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᑦ ᐃᔨᔫ ᐅᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᐧᐃᓄᐧᐋᐦ᙮ ᐆ ᐁᐱᐳᐦᒡ, ᑲᓇᑖ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᒋᒉᓲᐦ ᒌ ᐱᒋᔅᑎᓂᒽ ᒥᓯᐌ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓂᓯᑦ ᐅᑌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑯᐃᔅᑯᓄᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᒑ ᐃᔑ ᐁᐱᑎᓯᔅᑖᑭᓂᐎᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐐᒋᐦᐄᑯᒡ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒥᓯᐌ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓂᓯᑦ ᐎᔮᔅᑯᓂᒑᐎᓂᔨᐤ ᑲᔦ ᒫᒃ ᑯᐃᔅᑯᓄᐌᐎᓂᔨᐤ᙮ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᒋᒉᓲ ᑲᔦ ᒥᓐ ᑲᔦ ᒫᒃ ᒋ ᐱᒋᔅᑎᓂᒽ ᐎᔨᔓᐗᐎᓂᔨᐤ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᓈᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐎᔨᒡ ᐅᑭᔅᒋᐦᐅᐎᓂᐙᐤ ᒥᓯᐌ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓂᓯᑦ ᑲᔦ ᒑᑎᑕᑭᓄᐎᒡ ᒋᐦᒋᓂᐙᒡ ᐙᐱᐦᑎᐙᐎᓐ ᒥᓯᓂᐦᐄᑭᓐ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᒋᒉᓯᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᐊᐱᒋᐦᑖᑦ ᒥᓐ ᑯᑎᒡ ᐙᓯᐦᑖᑭᓄᐎᒡ ᐎᔨᔓᐙᐎᓐ ᐊᐅᔅᑳᒡ, ᐎᔨᔓᐙᐎᓐᔅ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐎᐦᑎᒫᒑᐎᓐᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒐᔅᑎᓈᑎᔅᑖᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐎᒋᐦᐄᐙᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒥᓯᐌ ᐁᐃᑎᔅᑳᓂᓯᑦ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐙᒋᐦᒡ ᑎᔮᐦᑯᐦᐆᑯᒡ᙮

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY – JUNE 21, 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day is devoted to celebrating the diversity, strength and courage of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This special day is in recognition of the valued contributions Indigenous Peoples have made to this country, and it celebrates the distinctiveness of their culture, languages and societies. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge and celebrate Cree society, and the richness and strength of our Nation and communities. We wish you an incredible day with family and friends, and we hope that your summer is ﬁlled with good memories and opportunities to engage with family and community in traditional harvesting and other activities. We wish you peace, happiness, and well-being on this important day of acknowledgement and recognition of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. This day was also chosen by the Government of Canada for the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the launch of the National Action Plan to implement the UN Declaration. We celebrate those concrete steps forward for Indigenous rights. In March 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously aﬃrmed that Indigenous rights in the UN Declaration are now part of Canada’s positive law. Canada must also ensure that other laws and policies are consistent with the provisions in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This year the Government of Canada released an Indigenous Justice Strategy to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples in the court and corrections system. The Government also passed legislation to further protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and created a guide for the government to follow when creating new legislation, rules and regulations to ensure participation of Indigenous Peoples in areas that impact them. www.nationnews.ca June 13, 2025

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ECHOES OF A PROUD NATION

HAPPY NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY! ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᒑ ᒥᐧᔮᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᒑ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᒌᔑᑳᒥᐧᐋᐤ!

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SCAN TO EXPLORE

SUMMER FIRE SAFETY Summer is just here, and these are the times where the earth is dry, and the chance of forest fires are high. Think back to the times when a community was faced with a forest fire, some communities had to evacuate from their community. Forest fires can start accidentally, such as from cigarettes being thrown on the ground, or from campfires not being put out completely. Each year the fire department also receives reports of children hanging out in wooded areas where they are playing with matches or lighters and accidentally starting a fire and endangering the community. We can however help to reduce fires where we teach and educate children not to play with matches or lighters, by keeping matches or lighters away where they do not have access to them. Teach them whenever they see lighters or matches that they should give them to an adult and make sure you praise them for telling you or an adult. This reinforces that they are doing good, and children are happy that they have done a good job and you approve of their good behavior. Every summer fire departments respond to brush fires and some do get out of hand and become forest fires, and some communities do not have the manpower or equipment and get overwhelmed by forest fires because the fires spread so quickly. Forest fires have also been reported starting from campfires, or cigarettes thrown on ground and it can be hard for firefighters to extinguish forest fires because the heat travels underground from roots and flare up somewhere else. And they can stay underground for hours or days. Forest fires give off embers and they can also travel long distances and land far from where the fire started at least a few kms and start new fires. When forest fires cannot be extinguished near a community, the evacuation of the residents may be the only thing that can be done. The evacuation of people can be confusing for a lot of people, especially the people who have asthma, breathing problems and other medical issues because the air is filled constantly with smoke. The evacuation of people can also be hard for the community and the people organizing the evacuations, trying to find a location and keeping them safe for who knows for how long they will be out of town. FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR THIS SUMMER ●

Do not place lighters or matches where children can have access to them easily.

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Completely extinguish cigarettes and have a container of sand to put them out. Look after campfires and completely extinguish them before you leave.

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Stay Fire Safe !

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the Nation June 13, 2025 www.nationnews.ca

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T&B Rez Notes

Early summer thoughts by Sonny Orr

he little bee buzzed by me, checking out the orange rind I left on the ground. It landed and inspected it before flying off to a cluster of tiny flowers on a blueberry bush. I wonder if this year’s harvest will be as bountiful as last year’s as we unknowingly depend on these tiny insects to keep our natural garden alive. I watch the bee as it busily works the tiny flowers before it heads deeper into the underbrush. Relieved that I’m not a target for a deadly sting, I continue harvesting the labrador tea, which I drink on a daily basis. The earth and moss are very dry and crackle under my boots. The normally soggy caribou moss just crumbles with each step. I realize I should have my cigarette near a small pond as I’m sitting on a possible spontaneous combustion scenario if I flick my cigarette anywhere. I check out the pond and see cracked dried-up mud is all that’s left. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to be extra careful when I have my smoke. The cool offshore breezes are welcoming as the summer season approaches and the spring migration ends. This afternoon, large flocks of the greater Canada goose (aka long-neck geese) tease the hunter in me. Should I rush out after work to get a few hours of hunting in, or just relax and wait for the weekend to arrive. I lean towards patience and timing, as I know this is just the start and other frantic hunters are probably having similar thoughts. Most likely, this year’s hunting season will be very quick and getting out to your hunting spot is a priority. My thoughts wrestle with my logic, and I

finally head back into my office. I start planning for the next day as we’ve started summer hours and I can leave right after lunch. As for my spouse and family, having the chance to go to our cabin and build an outdoor fire without worrying about setting off the next environmental catastrophe just so my marshmallow treat is burnt just right. It’s safe now as the rains have dampened the ground just enough not to ignite anything that is warmer than skin temperature. I have some summer preparation work to do. The list includes cleaning up the yard, changing my winter tires, taking down the remaining Christmas lights, clean and vacuum my car, oil and grease the kids’ bicycles, change the winter oil in all my vehicles, and finally, stock up on windshield wiper fluid. Surprisingly, I don’t need to get more bug sprays as last year’s stock was barely

touched due to the enjoyable absence of mosquitoes and black flies. I’m not sure if the lack of flies is a good or bad omen. But it’s bad news for the retailers in every fishing store in the area, as they depend on our dislike of being bitten to death and losing a pint of blood in the process. As for me, I intend to keep looking for that elusive summer jacket, the one that’s waterproof yet breathable, windproof and warm, yet cool when it’s hot outside, as well as fashionable and practical. Most jackets that I think are near perfect always have the same flaw, cheap zippers that don’t last more than a season. If only someone could invent the perfect zipper, then the world would be ready to welcome my presence, just to ooh and aah my perfect zipper, hopefully with a tinge of jealousy. But no, the masses will have to wait for the unbreakable zipper, but when it arrives, the world will be a better and stronger place.

The world has to wait for the unbreakable zipper

www.nationnews.ca June 13, 2025

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UTNS

Under the Northern Sky And it burns, burns, burns, the Ring of Fire by Xavier Kataquapit

he Ontario government is pushing legislation to designate the Ring of Fire as a “special economic zone”. Bill 5 would eliminate regulations for major infrastructure, mining and resource projects. According to Premier Doug Ford, it’s necessary to respond to the economic warfare of US President Donald Trump. However, this legislation amends the Ontario Heritage Act, Ontario Energy Board Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Mining Act, Environmental Protection Act, Electricity Act, Endangered Species Act and Rebuilding Ontario Place Act. This is no minor tweak to existing laws. It is a frontal assault on environmental protections. The Ring of Fire is in northern Ontario just west of the James Bay lowlands and my home community of Attawapiskat. The proposed development affects the headwaters of the Attawapiskat River, meaning all the region’s water flowing out to James Bay. According to the Chiefs of Ontario, “Bill 5 significantly weakens environmental protections, reduces oversight of mining and development projects, and limits opportunities for First Nations consultation and consent.” First Nation leaders protesting this development include the NishnawbeAski Nation and Anishinabek Nation. At

Queen’s Park, both the provincial NDP and Liberals also oppose the bill. The rise of global warming and changing global environment are examples of what happens with à unrestricted corporate growth. Just look at the sky this summer. Recently, I looked up to see a red glowing ball in the sky in an orange haze of light. Forest fire smoke obscures the sky with unhealthy amounts of ash particles from the estimated 1.7 million acres of forest currently burning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In a report by The Guardian in 2017, they estimated that just 100 major global companies had been responsible for about 70% of greenhouse gas emissions from 1988 to 2017. In 2024, Oxfam reported that “Fifty of the world’s richest billionaires on average produce more carbon through their investments, private jets and yachts in just over an hour and a half than the average person does in their entire lifetime.” It’s clear to see that all of us may be responsible to a degree for global warming, but it is the activities of the most powerful corporations that drive global warming. These are the reasons why Indigenous leaders fight government initiatives like Bill 5. Poorly regulated corporations, especially in resource development, have

a long track record of environmental devastation. That devastation is left for those who live on the land to deal with. When the companies finish their work and have made their money, it is the people, especially the local First Nations who are left to deal with the aftereffects and contamination. Attawapiskat has already dealt with the development of the DeBeers diamond mine just west of the community in what was once pristine wilderness. In a short space of time from 2008 to 2019, the company carved out a space in the James Bay mushkeg, dug past the swamp and deep 20-year-old John into the rock. After all that work andMercier effort, the company left a huge scar on the land and contributed to negative effects on the general environment. In the long run of human history, it will be all of us who will face the aftereffects of global warming if we continue to not properly deal with unrestricted and uncontrolled exploitation of our natural resources and disrespect of Mother Earth. How many poisoned rivers, burning forests and toxic air will it take for us to realize that we need to take better care of our world, the land, the water, the air and the creatures who live there? Are we to trust governments and corporations to do the right thing in the wake of a Bill 5? I don’t think so.

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day ᐊ ᒧᒋᒑᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐅᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ 1-800-361-1402 admin@abenaki.com abenaki.com

the Nation June 13, 2025 www.nationnews.ca

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