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Cree connections
Business Exchange Day attracts northern development activity
While it wasn’t quite busi- the proposed improvements to living ness as usual, this year’s conditions and environment conserBusiness Exchange Day vation. was a successful networking event “We’ll strengthen our economy by for the Secretariat to the Cree Nation working together, providing enduring
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Economic prosperity, taking care of the envi-
Alliance, the non-profit organization ronment,” said Indigenous Affairs dedicated to building collaboration Minister Ian Lafrenière. “We’re not between Indigenous and non-Indige- talking about occupying the North nous entrepreneurs in the region. – we’re talking about living in the
About 200 participants joined the North. I believe in this open dialogue, event virtually via the Secretariat’s nation to nation. That’s why there are recently launched Allia network- three ministers present.” ing platform, which enabled them Following news of the imminent to access the day’s presentations closure of Matagami’s Glencore mine, from prestigious guest speakers, Grand Chief Abel Bosum announced visit eight interactive kiosks from the an agreement for developing strate-
Cree Nation and other entities, and gic infrastructure projects to support arrange meetings with other partic- sustainable ore processing in the ipants. community. By optimizing transporta-
“To see this day with distin- tion routes and upgrading equipment, guished guests and dignitaries fills the partnership aims to encourage me with pride for the small team of stable development that ensures the the Secretariat,” said their president region’s vitality.
Ted Moses. “Our team did not let “It is important to understand the chaos of life keep us from our what this means,” said Bosum. “The mission, which is to bring people Cree and the people of Matagami together and promote exchange. If are going to put themselves first. you know you’re doing something Together we will develop infrastrucimportant, keep moving forward and ture projects that will provide a weldon’t stop.” coming environment for the devel-
The event on December 9 fell in oper in a manner that respects our the middle of a particularly action- commitment to the land and our oblipacked week for economic activity gations to future generations.” in the region. Most significant was During his speech, the Grand
Quebec’s relaunching of a billion-dol- Chief described the Cree Nation’s lar northern development plan com- unique vulnerability to the pandemic prised of 49 initiatives to be complet- and the difficult sacrifices necesed over the next three years. sary to maintain its mandatory 14-day
While most of the funding is tar- self-isolation law, such as workers geted towards infrastructure for unable to see their families for as expanding access to the territory, the long as 20 weeks. plan also supports tourism, workforce He also defended his controvertraining, waste management, internet sial signing of the Grande Alliance access and food security. The three with Quebec earlier this year, which provincial ministers who spoke at was the reason for the recent hunger
Business Exchange Day emphasized strike by Chisasibi resident Heather 24 the Nation January 1, 2021 www.nationnews.ca
by Patrick Quinn | Photos by Paul Brindamour Photographie
House (Bosum reportedly called to assure her the agreement was not binding).
“We are seeing that not many people truly understand what the Grande Alliance is all about,” Bosum asserted. “People think it’s just about building a railway. It is a way of creating a vision for the future where the Cree and their amazing communities feel valued instead of opportunistic exploitation of our resources.
“We’re proposing something incredibly ambitious and there will be doubters from all sides,” he continued. “In a world defined by isolation and polarization, we’re proposing something that will not feel comfortable and will require patience where there is so little.”
In response to detractors who say the Cree are “taking up too much space”, Bosum declared that a robust First Nation ready to co-create the future is something Canada has never witnessed. As if to demonstrate that development goes both ways, CREECO (Cree Regional Economic Enterprises Company) announced the next day it was assuming full ownership of the Quality Inn in Val-d’Or.
The award-winning hotel was founded in 2011 in a 50-50 partnership between Trahan Holdings and CREECO, which is owned by the Cree Nation Government and acts through the Board of Compensation. With the hotel’s former president Fernand Trahan moving on to other ventures, CREECO will be solely responsible for its significant contribution to the region’s tourism industry.
“They are the first Cree of Northern Quebec owning 100% of a hotel,” explained Secretariat director-general Chantal Hamelin. “We want to see Crees get involved in economic development in our region. We hope to see more – there’s lots of space. The Crees say they are open for business and the region here is open for Cree business as well.”
While the less committal nature of virtual events resulted in more calling and convincing to secure attendance at this year’s Business Exchange Day, Hamelin received rave reviews for their innovative and value-added approach. Although she was generally pleased with Allia’s performance as a platform, she intends to have more control next time over its meeting scheduling.
“We’re organizing a spring conference on the theme of environment and energy,” Hamelin shared. “In those 49 actions [of Quebec’s northern plan], there are a lot specifically touching environment and energy, so I’ll ask the companies to talk about some real projects. It’s going to be on Allia again unless we can all meet by then.”
As successful as the virtual event was, many acknowledged that it was nothing close to the connections developed by meeting in person. While the pandemic has been an inconvenient interruption for big business, the event’s participants remained united in their optimism about the region’s economic future.
“In 2020, you are only as safe and as strong as your neighbour,” stated the Grand Chief. “We will all come out of this pandemic stronger if we pursue it together. I’m looking forward to 2021 as a year we can start up many of these projects that have been suspended and move forward with our greater ambitions for the future of our people.”
Jacques le Chaud
by Sonny Orr
Having recently acquired a Homebase Alexa, I ask it many questions, the most frequent being about the temperature and weather. This is not a silly question, as it makes a big difference when lining up outside.
Is there a temperature range for this virus that makes it say, “Hey, I think I’ll die now because it’s too cold to stay alive”? Or does it just hibernate until it revives itself in a warm porch or something?
Just asking for a shy friend who doesn’t want to wait outdoors all day for a coffee at Tims. Could not a large franchise go mobile with oodles of fresh coffee and pastries, sort of an adult version of the ice cream truck? Just fantasizing, maybe someone could make big bucks with this, only to go belly up when the vaccine comes in.
Hopefully 2020 will just be a bad memory, fodder for hundreds of B-movies for a decade or two. Like a long prequel to some bad zombie movie, it will take some years to shake off, but lessons will be learned from this year. 2021 better be a good year to us all.
For starters, the mask stays on. But will total face coverings become a new fad? Anonymity now bestows prestige, but being the unknown person is expensive when only a mask hides your identity. Then again, this might all just fade away and we start a new year with a list of resolutions that involve handwashing, wearing masks and avoidance of other humans.
Yep, this new year will be celebrated, most likely with TikTok – which I never have used or seen for that matter. Maybe I could make a fortune with a 30-second video quaffing hot chocolate in a caribou-driven sled. I might change the song, though I’m not sure which band needs saving or reviving – or, in my case, remain in total obscurity.
Something will come out of this winter activity, as outdoor sports are encouraged. Uphill skiing anyone? Since there are few places here that have a good downhill ski slope, it might be more challenging to go uphill instead. Maybe flying drones around or even better, battling air drones. That would be fun, like a remote aerial dogfight in the skies.
At night we could use laser beams that would set off a loud explosion sound and really make outdoor life fun again. As long as your batteries are good, you are good to go. All, of course, contact free.
As I quaff my marshmallow-topped hot chocolate thinking about a possible future for next year, I dream of different ways to make life fun again. I remember the good old days when crowds were wild and crazy and allowed to gather in great numbers.
We’re talking about greater numbers than in any fake news story about the size of the crowd at the inauguration of Donald what’s-hisname four years ago. Gone already are the memes that had anything to do with hair. Yes, it’s grey-hair times folks, a little less frightening south of the border when it comes to strange news. I will miss the daily entertainment of the orange guy, but I’m glad his long goodbye is the end to this year – something to be grateful for! Happy New Year everyone! www.nationnews.ca January 1, 2021
This year was surreal. The pandemic made it seem like I existed without really living. The world is still, and even with the first Covid-19 vaccine doses in Canada, we still don’t know when and how we will have access to it. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines need to be stored in very cold temperatures and that poses great challenges for remote regions like ours.
I have not seen my father in over a year and the last time I saw my siblings and nephews was in June. The distance between my loved ones and me is heartbreaking, but knowing this is a collective experience makes it seem less lonely. However, I think most of us hope that the situation will soon be under control.
I have seen a lot of misinformation around the two vaccines, mostly that it is not safe because they “skipped trial steps and came up with it in just a few months”. The skipped-trials conspiracy has been debunked many times and the data monitoring is under an independent board. As for the argument that it took just a few
Tea & Bannock Get vaccinated
by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash
and health authorities
months, the whole world was working on the same virus at the same time and both vaccines are mRNA, which are new but not unknown. They have tested this technology for the flu, Zika, cytomegalovirus and rabies.
I’m no expert, so the best I can do right now is to trust the scientists and health authorities. I know as Indigenous people we have many reasons not to trust health authorities because of past events. But if being vaccinated can save lives including my own, I will gladly do so.
They still don’t know if both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines prevent symptoms from appearing or if they sterilize the virus completely, but if they still don’t know by the time I get vaccinated (which I highly doubt), at least I’ll have a couple more antibodies and proteins in my body. That is the way I see it.
Vaccines are a public health matter. When many people refuse to be vaccinated, we lose the opportunity to significantly slow down and even eradicate some viruses.
Our flu vaccine rates in Eeyou Istchee are still too low, even if the flu poses great risks to our Elders and people living with underlying conditions, as does Covid-19. The fact that more and more people are not checking trustworthy sources in order to make these crucial decisions makes me panic. Covid-19 has deeply affected people’s mental health worldwide and we have lost many lives. I just want this to stop.
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