4 minute read
EDITORIAL
Editorial
Larry House had a way of finding humour in the most serious situations. Almost 30 years ago, we were both in the United States working on the campaign to stop
Advertisement
Hydro-Québec’s Great Whale project.
We were both booked to speak at a university in Boston, Massachusetts,
Larry in the morning talk and myself during the afternoon. At the time,
I was organizing an international march in support of the Cree of Eeyou
Istchee and our opposition to the project. I had asked the Canadian consulate for a Canadian flag as I couldn’t find one in Boston. The head of the consulate mentioned to Larry that they were giving me one.
Larry’s response. “You’re giving us one to burn?”
The word got around. During my address that afternoon I was asked if I was really going to burn the flag.
Recognizing Larry’s hand in this, I replied “No” in a way that allowed for the possibility that Larry might have been serious.
The next day I went to collect the flag and was met with a strange reception. Normally, I was given full access to the consulate. Not this time. I was made to wait in a room surrounded by bulletproof glass and obligated to sign a statement promis ing that I would return the flag in the same condition I received it in.
Both Larry and I had a good laugh over this. During that time, we would tell people we were trying to work ourselves out of a job so we could return and help our people in some way.
Helping people wasn’t a joke for Larry. He did just that all his life, which was cruelly cut short on June 2.
His presence will be missed by more than just his family and the Cree Nation. He touched many people pro foundly.
He was remembered during a vir tual social event hosted by the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, where an honour song was performed for him. One person remembered meet
A life well-lived or Log In
Ernest Webb June 5 at 8:03 PM ·
by Will Nicholls
ing Larry at Horden Hall, a residential school in Moose Factory, where, like so many of his generation, he was forced to attend. Larry wasn’t embit tered by the experience, but it shaped his lifelong fight against injustice.
He was known for helping people overcome the pains and problems inflicted by the residential school sys tem while working at the Cree Health
Board and by helping the Cree School Board integrate the Cree way of life into its programming.
He was the Chisasibi Sundance Chief and traditional knowledge keeper. In fact, when he was young er, he started the first drum group in Chisasibi after the public use of the drum had been banned for many years by the church. He piloted many land-based programs to heal people Larry had a big heart, a sense of humour and a desire to heal people in the right way. His insights and friendship will be missed by the many people he touched throughout his life. Our condolences, prayers and Bertie Wapachee June 4 at 2:37 AM · Ernest Webb is on Facebook. To connect with Ernest, join Facebook today. in traditional ways. Larry believed love go out to his family. Rest in that a lot of the answers to the prob peace, my friend. We know that what lems the Cree people faced could be you have built is solid. Your lifelong found in our traditions and that they contribution to our people will con could be adapted to the world we tinue. face today.
“Happy Indigenous People's Day from the Eeyou Marine Region, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the EMR Land Claims Agreement. On behalf of the EMR Wildlife Board, EMR Impact Review Board, and EMR Planning Commission, we would like to wish you well on this holiday. Meegwetch. Thank You. Merci.”
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 Dan Isaac CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, M, Labrecque-Saganash, P. Quinn, L. Madill, C. Miniquaken DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse, Melissa Juliette 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 |
