The Nation | Vol. 28, No. 15

Each vaccination Each vaccination Each vaccination brings us closer to this moment. brings us us closer to brings to this thismoment. moment.

Follow the vaccination sequence Follow the for vaccination sequence planned your area, and book planned for your area, andonline book at Followan theappointment vaccination sequence an appointment online planned for your area, and at book

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Québec.ca/COVIDvaccine

CONTENTS 10 Édith Cloutier reflects Building Indigenous leadership after receiving academic honour

EDITORIAL Still looking for a drink

4

NEWS Youth shots

5

Inaction plan

7

IN BRIEF

9

FEATURES Paving the way

10

From anger into action

18

With a little help

21

REZ NOTES After Goose Break

25

T&B

18

Report on youth protection

Community

21

A helping hand

Gooe Break Blues

Photo by Paul Brindamour

Puzzles will be back next issue!

26

Editorial

Still looking for a drink

by Will Nicholls

C

ovid-19 has changed many of the things we take for granted. But it hasn’t changed the federal government’s lack of urgency to provide safe water for far too many First Nations communities in Canada. Justin Trudeau’s Liberals pledged, hands on hearts, that this basic necessity could be taken for granted in every community by the end of March this year.

Well, if there’s one thing that promise proved, it’s that Prime Minister Trudeau talks a good game but does not actually care about Indigenous people. Two months after that solemn promise was supposed to have been fulfilled, clean water is still something that dozens and dozens of non-white communities still cannot take for granted.

Indigenous Services Canada claims that 106 long-term water advisories have been lifted since 2015 (leaving even by their count 52 that are still unable to use their own water, even if it has been boiled). But an Auditor General’s report demonstrates that even this claim is no more reliable than the brown, contaminated liquid flowing out of the tap.

The Auditor General of Canada, Karen Hogan, revealed that many of the cancelled water advisories came as a result of temporary measures rather than permanent solutions. Hogan also noted that the Liberals failed to ensure sufficient resources were committed even before the coronavirus pandemic became Trudeau’s convenient excuse.

Now, the Trudeau government is promising that clean water will be provided... up to five years from now. In other words, probably after two federal elections, by which time our Liberal boy wonder will no doubt be enjoying the very rich perks provided by the corporations

who reward dutiful ex-prime ministers after their political career ends.

As the Auditor General’s report notes, however, past action plans haven’t measured up to any sort of real solution.

“We found that the department’s risk ratings for water infrastructure remained unchanged,” reads Hogan’s report to Parliament. “In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the department’s annual assessment revealed that 304 (43%) of 699 assessed water systems were either high or medium risk.

Five years later, in the 2019-20 fiscal year, the same percentage of systems (306 of 718) was still rated as high or medium risk. According to the department, highand medium-risk systems can have major deficiencies that need to be addressed.

If these deficiencies are not addressed, First Nations communities may not have reliable access to safe drinking water.”

In other words, the only thing we can take for granted from Justin Trudeau is that his promises are worth as much as the drinking water he has provided First Nations communities.

Some people are realizing that the emperor is lacking proper clothing – any clothing, in fact. They don’t believe Trudeau’s new promise will change a thing. Ontario MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) feels the political will to address the problem is not there. As he told Global News, “It’s an action plan to further oppress [and] colonize First Nations people in Canada. There are young people in Ontario, in Canada, in 2021, who have never known what it is like to be able to drink from the tap.”

Frustrated at the lack of actual action, several First Nations communities have now launched a class-action lawsuit. The legal challenge demands compensation for individuals and communities that have

suffered from a lack of reliable access to clean water and a declaration that Canada has an ongoing responsibility to work with First Nations to provide access to clean water. This includes requiring Canada to construct and fund appropriate water systems for First Nations communities, something that the federal government has been obligated to do since it established the Indian Act almost 150 years ago. (Hey, no rush guys!)

Many of these problems stem from the fact that Indigenous communities are barred from funding and managing their own water systems under that law. Even when provinces want to help, jurisdictional issues prevent them from acting. As Human Rights Watch water researcher Amanda Klaing rightly said, “If you are anywhere else in Canada and you turn on the tap, then you are protected by safe drinking water regulations. If you live on a reserve, no such regulations exist. There are no safe drinking water regulations.”

It’s a national shame that this problem is, seemingly, so difficult to resolve. When Canadian leaders take for granted that failing in their duty to provide clean water will have no political consequence, it’s pretty clear that even the “progressive” government of Justin Trudeau prefers to keep Indigenous people in Third World conditions. After all, we’d be able to take for granted the right to drink water out of the tap, just as people everywhere else in Canada do, if Trudeau had committed a fraction of the money he is spending to subsidize the oil industry on meeting his clean-water promise.

But that’s one thing we can now take for granted: Justin Trudeau is a fraud.

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 May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

C O V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E

by Ben Powless

Youth shots

Quebec approves vaccines for teenagers

Q

uebec has approved the Pfizer vaccine for youth aged 12-17, saying that a first dose would be available for all children by the end of June. A second vaccination could be available by the start of classes in the fall.

Speaking for the Cree Health Board, Corrinne Smith said the CHB still had no information about exact dates and availability, though they expected to soon be able to announce a schedule. Still, Smith signalled that it was a “welcome development” and that they may partner with the Cree School Board (CSB) to administer the vaccine.

While the Pfizer vaccine requires storage of around -70°C, which is not possible in many communities, the company offers thermally controlled shipping containers that can store the vaccine up to 30 days with dry ice, with another five days of storage possible in standard refrigeration temperatures.

The Moderna vaccine was initially chosen for more remote regions, including Eeyou Istchee, because it could be stored in regular refrigeration.

The remaining three vaccines approved for use in Canada are only available to those over 18. Legally, youth 14 and older are able to get the vaccine without parental permission, while those 13 and younger require parental consent.

Covid cases were down 8% across Canada in early May, with a 12% drop in Quebec. Numbers remained high in Ontario, which was under provincial shutdown measures. Public health officials urged governments to maintain lockdown measures until infection rates and hospitalizations decreased, and more people were vaccinated.

The CHB removed mandatory self-isolation measures for those visiting Region 8 (Abitibi-Témiscamingue) and is allowing necessary travel to Regions 10 (Norddu-Québec), 17 (Nunavik) and 18 (Eeyou Istchee). In six of the nine Cree communities, the 14-day isolation period will be replaced with a seven-day period for

those who had received both vaccine doses, and 10 days for everyone else. All Cree communities remained in Phase 4 of deconfinement.

Approximately 87% of those currently eligible had received their first vaccine dose, with 62% having received both doses. Cree beneficiaries in Outaouais, Estrie, Abitibi and Montreal are will eligible to receive vaccines locally.

Those who received their first dose in Eeyou Istchee but who are outside the territories more than 112 days after the vaccination are encouraged to call Services Québec at 1-877-644-4545 with their RAMQ card to receive an appointment for a second shot.

The CSB and CHB released Covid School Kits for students in high school and Grades 5 and 6, which include a reminder of safety measures, a fridge magnet with important phone numbers, and two 3-ply masks.

Nationally, Canada reached 1.29 million cases, and 24,861 deaths, with 16.5 million people receiving their first vaccination, and 1.1 million fully vaccinated.

Quebec announced that it would be providing an electronic proof of vaccination as international debate intensifies over “vaccine passports,” which would allow fully vaccinated individuals more access to travel, or even for entry to restaurants, businesses and events.

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF ELECTION PUBLIC NOTICE OF ELECTION NOTICE GRANDPUBLIC CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTYOF GRANDELECTION CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON

GRAND CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY GRAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE GRAND OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE) CREE NATION GOVERNMENT GRANDCOUNCIL CHIEF/CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY GRANDAND CHIEF/VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE) AND CREE NATION GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ISTCHEE) AND CREE NATION GOVERNMENT NEMASKA, Eeyou Istchee (May 3, 2021). Please take notice that ELECTIONS for the offices of Grand Chief/Chairperson and NEMASKA, Eeyou Istchee (May 3, 2021). takeCouncil notice that ELECTIONS for theIstchee officesand of Grand Chief/Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson of Please the Grand of the Crees of Eeyou the Cree Nation Government NEMASKA, Eeyou Istchee (May 3, 2021). Please take notice that ELECTIONS for the offices of Grand Chief/Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson of the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Cree Nation Government have been called.

Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson of the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Cree Nation Government have been called. have been called.

The schedule for the elections is as follows: T heThe schedule forfor thethe elections is is asMay follows: schedule elections as follows: NOMINATIONS OPEN: Tuesday, 25, 2021 NOMINATIONS OPEN: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 NOMINATIONS OPEN: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 NOMINATIONS CLOSE: Thursday, June 3, 2021 NOMINATIONS CLOSE: June 3,3, 2021 NOMINATIONS CLOSE:Thursday, Thursday, June 2021 CLOSING OF BALLOTS: Monday, June 7, 2021 CLOSING OFOF BALLOTS: June 7,7, 2021 CLOSING BALLOTS:Monday, Monday, June 2021 NOTICE OF CANDIDATES: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 NOTICE OFOF CANDIDATES: Tuesday, June 8,8, 2021 NOTICE CANDIDATES: Tuesday, June 2021 ADVANCE POLLS: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 ADVANCE POLLS: July 7,7, 2021 ADVANCE POLLS:Wednesday, Wednesday, July 2021 ELECTION DAY: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 ELECTION DAY: July 14, 2021 ELECTION DAY:Wednesday, Wednesday, July 14, 2021 Nominations for the Positions of Grand Chief/Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/ Vice Chairperson open on Tuesday, May Nomin Nominations forfor thethe Positions ofof Grand Chief/Chairperson open on on Tuesday, Tuesday,May May Nomin Nominations Positions Grand Chief/Chairpersonand andDeputy DeputyGrand GrandChief/ Chief/ Vice Vice Chairperson Chairperson open Nomin 25, 2021.

2021.

25,25, 2021.

QUALIFICATION TO VOTE QUALIFICATION TO VOTE QUALIFICATION TO VOTE

The qualification for eligibility to vote and to participate in the elections is as follows: qualification eligibility vote and participateininthe theelections electionsisisas asfollows: follows: TheThe qualification forfor eligibility toto vote and totoparticipate a) To be a Cree beneficiary in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. a) To a Cree beneficiary the James Bayand andNorthern NorthernQuebec QuebecAgreement.

Agreement. a) To be be a Cree beneficiary in in the James Bay b) To be of the age of majority at the date of the elections (18 years of age on July 14, 2021). b) To of the age majority the date theelections elections(18 (18years yearsof ofage ageon onJuly July14, 14, 2021).

2021). b) To be be of the age of of majority at at the date ofofthe c) Not to be affected by any legal incapacity. c) Not to be affected any legal incapacity. c) Not to be affected byby any legal incapacity.

QUALIFICATION TO BE A CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION TO CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION TO BEBE AACANDIDATE

Any nomination for candidacy must be duly made by ten (10) eligible voters, as prescribed in the attached nomination forms Any nomination for candidacy must be duly made by ten (10) eligible voters, as prescribed in the attached nomination forms Anyboth nomination forincandidacy must be duly madenomination by ten (10)by eligible voters, as prescribed in the forms for positions, order to be declared a valid the Chief Electoral Officer. No oneattached shall signnomination a nomination for for both positions, in order to be declared a valid nomination by the Chief Electoral Officer. No one shall sign a nomination for for both positions, in orderfor toeither be declared a valid nomination by the Chief Electoral Officer. No one shall sign a nomination for more than one candidate position. more than one candidate for either position. more than one candidate for either position.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES NOMINATION PROCEDURES NOMINATION PROCEDURES

TheThe deadline forfor submission ofof the nomination deadline submission the nominationforms formsisisatat5:00 5:00p.m. p.m.on onThursday, Thursday,June June 3, 3, 2021.

2021.

The deadline for submission of the nomination forms is at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2021.

Please bebe advised that nominations received Please advised that nominations receivedafter afterthe theposted postedtime timewill willnot notbe beaccepted. accepted.

Please be advised that nominations received after the posted time will not be accepted.

TheThe nominees willwill have until 5:00 p.m. ononMonday, whether to to accept acceptor or nominees have until 5:00 p.m.

Monday,June June7,7,2021, 2021,to toinform informthe the Chief Chief Electoral Electoral Officer Officer whether Thedecline nominees will have until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021, to inform the Chief Electoral Officer whether to accept or decline their nomination. their nomination. decline their nomination.

TheThe nomination forms can bebe obtained by the the Chief Chief Electoral Electoral nomination forms can obtainedfrom fromthe theLocal LocalReturning ReturningOfficers Officers that that have have been been appointed appointed by The nomination forms can be obtained from the Local Returning Officers that have been appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer or from the office of of the Chief Electoral Officer.

Officer or from the office the Chief Electoral Officer.

Officer or from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.

For further information, For further information,please pleasecontact: contact:Robin RobinPachanos, Pachanos,Chief Chief Electoral Electoral Officer For further information, please contact: Robin Pachanos, Chief Electoral Officer Email: rpachanos@cngelections.ca Email: rpachanos@cngelections.ca 6Email: the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca rpachanos@cngelections.ca

News

Photo provided by Ben Powless

Inaction plan

Ottawa continues to drag feet on calls to address violence against Indigenous women

F

aced with increasing violence against Indigenous women, many groups are calling on the federal government to finally implement the Calls for Justice made two years ago by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

May 5 marked Red Dress Day, a day of commemoration for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Conceived

by Winnipeg Métis artist Jaime Black in 2010 in a public art installation in called the REDress Project, the display of red dresses to symbolize the disappeared has since become an international event.

However, Lorraine Whitman, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, says that not enough has changed since then. “Eleven years later, the deaths and the disappearances continue in this country and, indeed, across the Americas,” Whitman said in a statement.

“Eleven years later, the government has produced no national action plan to stop the violence. Eleven years later, Indigenous women are no safer than they were on that day when Ms. Black hung that first red dress in Manitoba,” she stated.

Events to honour Indigenous women and girls were held across the country, including in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and London.

The MMIWG National Inquiry completed its work in 2019 after hearing from

over 2,300 participants. Its final report included 231 calls to action aimed at all levels of government, as well as all Canadians. It concluded that violence against Indigenous women and girls amounted to a genocide.

While the RCMP had recorded nearly 1,200 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the inquiry said the figures were unreliable and were likely to be much higher, which Indigenous advocates had always maintained.

In response to the lack of federal action, the Assembly of First Nations will develop its own National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada. The AFN announced a series of regional engagement sessions across the country to inform the plan.

In Quebec, one such session was hosted by the AFN Women’s Council and AFN Quebec-Labrador May 18.

That news came as the Urban Indian Health Institute, an Indigenous organization in the United States, released a report showing that domestic violence cases have risen by 8% since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

The institute called for support for necessities such as food and housing, mental health services, self-care and healing practices, and funding to support physical safety.

The report’s authors also called for increased cultural safety in care, noting that Indigenous peoples often face dis-

by Ben Powless

crimination in healthcare systems, and for institutions to support and hire Indigenous therapists when possible.

The 2021 federal budget committed $2.2 billion over five years to address root issues of violence against Indigenous women and girls, on initiatives related to culture loss and language, poverty, housing, food security, employment, education, health care, infrastructure and access to justice.

One of the MMIWG National Inquiry commissioners, Marion Buller, criticized the budget for using the words “national tragedy” instead of “genocide”, according to a CBC report. Buller also questioned the $2.2 billion commitment to an action plan that has yet to be released. The government has yet to commit to a target date for releasing any action plan.

In Montreal, the Iskweu project, affiliated with the Native Women’s Shelter, announced a new toll-free number that families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls can call for assistance with filing police reports and other issues.

The goal is to support Indigenous families who may not have much faith in the police by having an organization assist them and advocate on their behalf.

Anyone with information or questions about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are encouraged to phone 1-855-547-5938.

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

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8 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

In Brief Relief on the street With matching grants totalling $7.2 million from the Canadian and Quebec governments, a homeless shelter that serves an Indigenous-majority population in downtown Montreal announced it will be able to purchase a new building more suitable for its activities.

Private donors have promised an additional $1.8 million while the centre aims to raise another $2.7 million by the end of the summer. The building it wants to purchase is valued at around $8 million, but the location is confidential due to ongoing negotiations. The former restaurant currently housing the centre will be demolished to make way for a condominium project.

Nakuset, the Director of Development and Philanthropy for Resilience Montreal, said the donations will bankroll a permanent wellness centre in the Cabot Square area for an Indigenous community struggling to find culturally appropriate services.

“This will bring an end to the pattern of gentrification, which displaces the homeless,” she said. “It is both tremendous news and a relief.”

Co-founded in 2019 by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and the Nazareth House residence, Resilience provides shelter, food and clothing, as well as treatment for mental-health and medical problems. The centre also began a vaccination program in January. In a typical day, roughly 150 people will seek their help, and consume about 1,000 meals.

Donations to Resilience Montreal can be made at the Native Women’s Shelter website: www.nwsm.info/donate.

Grand Chief & Deputy Grand Chief Nominations The Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Nation Government announced that nominations for the offices of Grand Chief/ Chairperson and Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson, which are currently held by Abel Bosum and Mandy Gull will open May 25 and close June 3.

Candidates must be nominated by 10 eligible voters to be declared a valid by the Chief Electoral Officer, Robin Pachanos. It is not permitted to sign a nomination for more than one candidate.

Nomination forms can be obtained from the Local Returning Officers. The nominees will have until 5pm on Monday, June 7, to inform the Chief Electoral Officer whether they accept or decline their nomination.

All Cree beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement 18 years or older on the election date and not affected by any legal incapacity are eligible to vote and participate in the elections. Cree general elections occur every four years by secret ballot.

Camping ban?

With the pandemic blocking travel to the United States and

Maritimes last summer, tourists flocked to Gaspé beaches, leaving behind a trail of garbage. To prevent this situation repeating, Gaspé Mayor Daniel Côté announced that the municipality is banning camping on area beaches and most parking lots. Through a lease agreement with the province, Gaspé obtained legal powers over the beaches and can now rent the land.

The decision came after public consultations with local businesses and members of the Mi’gmaq Gespeg Nation.

However, the First Nation says the consultation was incomplete and doesn’t comply with rules established by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Despite these concerns, the Council of the Mi’gmaq Nation of Gespeg recognizes the urgency to act and concluded the ban is needed to protect the environment for the 2021 summer season.

“As Council, we have a responsibility and a duty to ensure the protection of our traditional territory, and we are committed to enforcing our rights,” said Chief Terry Shaw. “In this sense, the steps taken to protect the beaches seem legitimate and necessary.”

The Council wants to negotiate a co-management agreement of Gaspé beaches for the coming years, ensuring its rights are respected.

“Gaspésie is a beautiful territory with countless environmental and human riches.

We are proud to share these attractions with tourists who come to visit us every year.

We hope that the measures will enrich the visitor experience without leaving anything behind on our territory.”

In Brief

Help for Elders who stay at home In the 2021 budget, the federal government announced $90 million over three years to support seniors who wish to remain in their homes.

The Age Well at Home initiative would connect seniors with volunteers who can help them with preparing meals, home maintenance, yard work and transportation.

The initiative includes a $500 one-time payment to Old Age Security pensioners over 75, as well as increases to payments to those 75 and older starting in July 2022. A further $3 billion was pledged over five years to support long-term care centres.

A similar program was launched in 2020 by the Métis Nation of Ontario with support from the Ontario government, allowing for Métis individuals to have some of their costs paid for, including in-home cleaning, transportation and contracted services like snow removal or yard work.

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

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Features

“We’re leaving the gravel road and getting on the highway”

Paving T

Val-d’Or’s Édith Cloutier reflects on building Indigenous leadership after receiving academic honour

by Patrick Quinn

10 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

he Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is awarding an honorary doctorate to Édith Cloutier, who they call “a dedicated ambassador of Indigenous identity and a defender of Indigenous rights.”

The executive director of the Val-d’or Native Friendship Centre for 32 years, Cloutier has received numerous honours, including the Order of Canada in 2013.

Cloutier was quick to share this new distinction with the Indigenous women of Quebec and elsewhere, “who are sources of light, nurturing the hope of justice for all.”

“I feel privileged to share this success with all those who have been working at my side,” Cloutier told the Nation. “The Friendship Centre and I have been part of the INRS research network for the past 15 years, building bridges so we can shed a light on urban Indigenous issues in Quebec.”

Cloutier graduated from the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue in 1989. UQAT is part of the provincial university network – of which INRS is the graduate research component. She’s remained active at her alma mater by overseeing the creation of the First Peoples Pavilion on the Val-d’Or campus and becoming the first Indigenous woman to chair its Board of Directors.

“We have chosen to give an honorary doctorate to Edith Cloutier to celebrate and honour not only her work, but her as a person,” stated INRS CEO LucAlain Giraldeau. “She embodies our deepest-held values – respect, openness and inclusion. We can all relate to and be inspired by the unifying message she has been sharing for so many years.

Growing up in Val-d’Or as the daughter of an Anishinaabe mother and Québécois father, Cloutier has been involved with the Friendship Centre since

Photos by Paul Brindamour

the way

she was a girl. In the early 1970s, her grandparents and large extended family (her mother was one of 11 children) were one of the first Indigenous families to settle in the community, living in three apartment buildings on the same street.

“My grandfather was actually one of the first board members of the Friendship Centre,” shared Cloutier. “We grew up participating in community events – as a young girl I would come to youth camps. At the age of 15, my first summer job was working in the kitchen at the Friendship Centre. It was my path.”

Established as a drop-in centre for Indigenous peoples living in or transiting through Val-d’Or in 1974, the Native Friendship Centre expanded its facilities and services in the early 1980s.

Around this time, Cloutier was brought under the wing of then-director Dominique Rankin and chosen to participate in the first national youth gathering of friendship centres across the country.

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Cloutier accepted the offer to become executive director. Over the decades, she has overseen the organization’s growth as community needs evolved. Its influence has also grown by developing trailblazing initiatives and regional partnerships.

“Actually, I’ve only had one job in my life – it’s this one,” said Cloutier. “It’s forged the woman I am. We’ve been challenged with social realities, but the Friendship Centre is taking on our

own destiny as a people by taking on development of housing initiatives, health and social services.”

While she never would have guessed homelessness would impact Val-d’Or when she first took the job, the organization now offers a day centre for vulnerable people. Including a space exclusively for women, it offers a variety of culturally safe and personalized support services to help people get off the streets.

“One thing I’ve been learning all these years is that Indigenous self-governance is not just a political stand – it can be at a community level,” Cloutier explained. “How do we translate that capacity to be our own governance as a people, connecting it to a community need? That translates to concrete services – I guess that’s the mission of the Friendship Centre after close to 50 years.”

One initiative is the Minowé clinic, which since 2009 has integrated frontline health services through a partnership with the local public health authority (CISSS). The clinic was highlighted by both the Viens Commission and the recent Laurent Commission as a model to be emulated for delivering systemic change to urban Indigenous people.

“We’re trying to get the clinic recognized in the Quebec health and social system, demonstrating how the Indigenous approach to health can have a better impact on our people because it’s culturally safer and more relevant,” said Cloutier. “We’re still not www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

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CONFERENCE

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT IN A NORDICITY CONTEXT

JUNE 9-10 2021

LIVE ON

The Secretariat in collaboration with the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and Cree Nation Government and the City of Amos organizes this conference that meets the mission of the Secretariat of developing harmonious economic relations between the Cree Nation and the other nations, mission based on the four pillars of information, gathering, exchange and communication.

Four important axes also of any sustainable development.

Renowned indigenous and non-indigenous speakers, from companies and organizations involved in Energy and/or Environment; virtual exhibit and various networking activities make this event a must in terms of networking and strategic alliances.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Dr Abel Bosum

Chief/Chairperson, Grand Council of the Crees Eeyou Istchee / Cree Nation Government

Mandy Gull

Deputy Grand Chief/ Vice Chairperson, Grand Council of the Crees Eeyou Istchee / Cree Nation Government

Jonatan Julien

Member for Charlesbourg, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister Responsible for the CôteNord Region

Pierre Dufour

Member for Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Minister Responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region

Drs Ted Moses

Sébastien d’Astous

President, Secretariat to the Cree Nation AbitibiTémiscamingue Economic Alliance

Mayor of Amos Prefect of Abitibi Regional County

in collaboration with

12 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

REGISTER NOW AT CREENATION-AT.COM

(Photo Credit)

RENOWNED SPEAKERS WILL ALSO INCLUDE

officially recognized but we have indications we’re at the end of that long road.”

“Active research” in collaboration with Carole Lévesque of the INRS has been instrumental in proving the effectiveness of a clinic by and for Indigenous people. In the past, Cloutier observed, INRS was the only organization interested in better understanding urban Indigenous realities.

“It’s been a long road in moving this Indigenous health clinic forward and now we’re leaving the gravel road and getting on the highway with this recognition, thanks to research and the opportunity to present our model,” she explained. “Now the government is directly called upon to provide systemic transformation by working with friendship centres that are the pillars of these clinics.”

After years of scraping for funding, the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan last year led

to new resources that could position Minowé as part of the broader public health service. As similar clinics are implemented throughout the province, including in Echaquan’s Lanaudière region, Minowé is adding natal services with two doctors beginning in June.

When an expansion project that began in 2017 is completed, the Friendship Centre will double its size and the health clinic will become more like Ottawa’s impressive Wabano Centre.

Although this is just one of “a plateful of projects”, it demonstrates Cloutier’s commitment to tangible change.

“It sets a very important historical precedent,” Cloutier asserted. “It means financial resources on a permanent basis, which is major for a friendship centre. Solutions exist – Indigenous people and institutions have to be master of their own destiny.”

“Indigenous people and institutions have to be master of their own destiny”

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M. Legault,

ᓕᐧᑳᓪ,

Vous êtes réellement pressé de conclure les négociations?

Alors donnez des mandats à vos représentants aux tables sectorielles. Depuis 18 mois nous n’obtenons que des « non » en guise de réponse à nos demandes prioritaires et c’est inacceptable!

Est-ce que la réussite éducative des jeunes Cris et Inuit du Québec est importante pour vous?

Que faites-vous pour l’attraction et la rétention du personnel?

Qu’offrez-vous pour rendre les conditions de travail de nos membres, concurrentielles?

Leurs conditions de travail doivent être améliorées et ça passe, entre autres mais surtout, par une bonification de leurs bénéfices sur les disparités régionales, surtout pour les Cris et les Inuits.

Nos membres du personnel enseignant et de soutien des commissions scolaires Crie et Kativik méritent mieux!

ᑖᐧᐹᐦᐋ ᐊᔅᒋᓯᐧᐋᔨᐦᑎᒥᐦᐄᑯᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᒋ ᒑ ᒥᔨᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐃᔮ ᐋᒫᒧᐧᐃᓈᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ᙮ ᐅᑖᐦ ᐃᔑ ᒥᒄ ᐊᓯᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᐦᐄ ᓂᔅᐧᑳᓯᐦᐄᐧᐋ ᑳ ᐃᔑ ᓂᔅᑖᒥᔅᑖᔮᐦᒡ ᓂᑐᐦᒑᒧᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ! ᓂᒥ ᐊᔅᒋᔅᑎᒫᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᓈ ᐊᓐ ᒋᔅᑯᑎ ᑯᐹᑭᐦᒡ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐅᔅ ᒑᐧᑳᓐ ᐊᐦᑐᑎᒥᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᐅᒋᐱᑎᐧᑖ ᐊᐱᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᒡ? ᒑᐧᑳᓐ ᐧᐋᐦ ᒥᔨᐧᐋᔨᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᒧᒋᐦᐄᑯ ᐊᓂᔮᔨᐤ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐃᔮᒡ ᒑ ᐃᔑ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᓂᔨᐤ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᒑ ᓄᔅᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂ ᐋ ᐅᒋᒫᐅᓈᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐋ ᐅᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᐅᑎᐱᐦᐋᒫᑯᓯᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᐤ, ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐃᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ᙮ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒑᔅᑯᑎᒫᒑᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑭᔮᐦ ᑳᑎᐱᒃ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒫᑐᑭᒥᒄᐦ ᐃᓯ ᑐᑎᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ!

In education in Eeyou Istchee and in Nunavik, things have

M. Legault,

ᒋᔅᑐᑎᒥᓐ ᐊᓐ ᐋ ᐊᔨᒥᐦᐄᑐᓈᓂᐅᒡ? ᔮᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᑐᐦᑖᔅᑎᒫᒑᒡ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ 18 ᑎᐦᑑ ᐲᓯᒽᐦ, ᐋᐅᒄ ᐋᐧᐃᓐ ᐋᑳ ᓇᔥᒡ ᒥᔪᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᐊᓐ ᐦ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐋᐅᒄ ᐊᓯᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᐋᑳ

ᑎᒫᒑᐧᐃᓐ ᒑ ᒌ ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᔅᒋᓂᒋᐅᒡ? ᑖᐤ ᑭᔮᐦ ᒫᒃ ᒑ ᒌ ᒥᒫᐦᒋᑯᓂᐧᑖᐤ

ᑯᒡ ᐊᐱᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᒡ ᐋ ᐊᐱᑎᓯᒡ? ᐧᐃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒡ ᐅᑎ ᐋᐱᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐋ ᒥᔪᐱᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᑎᐦ ᒡ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᐋᐅᐦᒡ ᓅᔅᒋᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᑯᑎᒃ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ, ᒫᓲᐦᐋᑳ ᐊᓂᒌ

ᐃᔮᐱᑎᓰᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑎᒫᑐᑭᒥᑯᐦᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᓯᓈᑯᓂᔨᐤ ᐊᑎᑎᐤ ᑯᔨᔅᒄ ᒑ ᒌ

to change NOW! |

Are you really in a hurry to conclude the negotiations?

Then give mandates to your representatives at the sectoral tables. For the past 18 months, all we’ve been getting are negative responses to our priority demands and that, Sir, is unacceptable!

Is the educational success of Quebec Cree and Inuit youth important to you?

What have you been doing to attract and retain staff?

What are you offering to make the working conditions of our members competitive?

The working conditions need to be improved and it mainly comes down to an improvement in their regional disparities’ benefits, among other things, especially for Crees and Inuit.

Our teaching and support staff from the Cree and Kativik school boards deserve better!

aenq.org

Even once vaccinated, Evenyou once vaccinated, still need Evenyou once vaccinated, stillyourself. need to protect you still need to protect yourself. to protect yourself.

16 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

the Nation 17

“They have chosen – not failed – chosen not to implement those reforms even though they know they could help children” - Cindy Blackstock, director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

I

ndigenous groups generally welcomed the recommendations made in the report into Quebec’s youth protection services released May 3. Although only two of the report’s 550 pages specifically addressed Indigenous issues, this was largely because effective solutions have already been offered by previous commissions.

The report was commissioned two years ago after the death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby was attributed to the system’s failure. Shortly after the inquiry was called, two young HuronWendat children died after several warnings to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) went ignored.

“We must move from indignation to dignity,” concluded Régine Laurent, who led the commission. “We must turn our anger into action... A number of commissions have already examined Indigenous issues and the solutions are known – it is time to take action.”

The report emphasized that the youth protection system has been underfunded since its creation in 1979, and its deterioration has reached a critical point. Between 2014 and 2019, reports to the DPJ jumped 21%. There has been a worrying increase in isolation and medication measures with insufficient educational and psychological support.

Laurent recommended updating Quebec’s child protection laws, creating a charter of children’s rights and implementing an independent commissioner to oversee this system. The report also encourages expanding adoption opportunities and mediation techniques to minimize judicial proceedings.

The child’s interest should be paramount in all decisions, including preservation of their cultural identity and their participation in decisions concerning them. As ignorance about cultural diversity often leads to discriminatory practices and the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the system, Laurent affirmed the importance of self-determination.

“We believe that reforming the legislative framework for youth protection in Quebec, in support of the governance and laws of the First Nations, is a fundamental matter,” responded Ghislain Picard, Chief of the

18 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

From anger into action

by Patrick Quinn

Report on youth protection recommends wholesale change, but says Indigenous solutions already exist Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL). “First Nations have the right to self-determination, which includes jurisdiction over child and family services.”

While Quebec is the only province opposing federal Bill C-92, which gives Indigenous communities control of their own child welfare systems, it suggests it will support their autonomy through Article 37.5 of the Youth Protection Act. The AFNQL is supporting both communities that want to create their own laws and those using Quebec’s system in the interim.

“Just because First Nations go down this interim road of using a Quebec model, please don’t take that as a generalization that they don’t want to exercise their inherent rights,” said AFNQL social services manager Richard Gray. “Youth protection is a complex issue and First Nations have to think about traditional practices, language and family relations.

They want to get it right and ensure all their members understand and agree.”

Gray applauded the commission’s recommendations for Indigenous self-governance and a more preventive approach.

He said AFNQL’s research revealed negligence as the biggest factor in DPJ interventions involving Indigenous children, with only about 15% of cases a result of extreme maltreatment.

“The Youth Protection Act is not the proper door to go through for solving problems regarding negligence,” Gray told the Nation. “It should be community-based prevention services with the first kick at the can to support these families. We’re interested in making prevention approaches more readily available.”

Gray believes DPJ workers don’t adequately understand Indigenous culture and how social determinants often lead to neglect. Laurent’s report calls for a greater societal shift to reach families before they end up in the system, including better school services and increased funding for community groups specializing in domestic violence, food security and transitioning youth to adulthood.

“The community is really the force that can help in the child’s life and in the prevention of violence,” said Marilou Leclerc-Dufour, a facilitator for ESPACE Gaspésie-les-Îles, a group that works to prevent child violence. “It’s been years that organizations have talked about this.

It would be useful for First Nations to solve those problems within the community.”

The Quebec government announced it will table significant reforms to its youth protection laws this fall, indicating it supports the commission’s general conclusions. It’s expected the province will establish oversight authorities, provide better support to foster families and enact a charter of children’s rights.

For Cindy Blackstock, director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, the report’s findings that anglophone and allophone communities are disproportionately affected by youth protection are evidence the system doesn’t put children’s well-being first. However, she’s not convinced establishing a children’s rights charter will make much difference.

“What I worry about sometimes with these charters, is they’re symbolic and don’t result in real change,” Blackstock said. “That’s why having a binding

accounting mechanism is required.

Something along the lines of having a children’s lawyer who could litigate against systemic matters and the state if they fail to take these actions.”

She pointed to existing documents, like the AFNQL’s “Declaration of the Rights on First Nations Children” introduced in 2015, which outlines appropriate standards of care and jurisdiction. While Laurent’s report proposed creating an assistant commissioner exclusively dedicated to the rights and well-being of Indigenous children, it remains to be seen whether this position will “have teeth” or merely make recommendations.

“It should be at minimum a First Nations, Métis and Inuit commissioner who has parallel powers, because the situations affecting these communities are unique,” said Blackstock. “It shouldn’t just be a reporting position for another children’s commissioner – governments have already shown they will not act on these recommendations.”

With a steady stream of reports going back decades recommending greater funding and prevention services for youth protection, she argued governments already have the tools for making change.

For instance, a 1967 federal report proposes more support for Indigenous families to keep their children at home.

“They have chosen – not failed – chosen not to implement those reforms even though they know they could help children,” asserted Blackstock. “First Nations need to have equitable funding to not only support child abuse prevention, but also address the structural factors that drive children into child welfare.”

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

the Nation 19

URGENT NEED

OPEN YOUR

HEART HOME OPEN YOUR

Foster Parents receive training, orientation and financial support.

OPEN YOUR HOME TO A CHILD, AN ADULT OR AN ELDER IN NEED Helping children/adults/elders stay in our communities, where they can continue speaking their language and continue practicing their culture. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact the Foster Home Worker at your local Community Miyupimaatisiiun Centre (CMC).

Cree Foster Care Resources urgently needs responsible and caring adults to provide long-term, short-term and emergency foster homes in our Cree communities.

BEING A FOSTER PARENT TODAY MEANS HELPING TO CREATE A STRONG EEYOU ISTCHEE OF TOMORROW For more information on becoming a foster parent, scan this code or call your local CMC

CREEHEALTH.ORG

20 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

Chisasibi-Wemindji-Whapmagoostui: (873) 365-0184 Waskaganish-Eastmain-Nemaska: (819) 895-4834 Mistissini-Oujé Bougoumou-Waswanipi: (418) 770-8673

Community

With a little help

GoFundMe campaign aims to help Indigenous mothers with microloans

by Patrick Quinn

M

any years of supporting Indigenous women through counselling and other advocacy work has taught Dr. Cathy Richardson/ Kinewesquao that sometimes a small gesture can go a long way. A few weeks ago, she started a GoFundMe crowdsourcing campaign to help “get the boot off the neck” of Indigenous mothers.

“I wanted to help Indigenous moms because I know they are targeted by the state,” Richardson told the Nation. “People sometimes need a little help to get started.

The idea was a woman could take a loan like this to get something resolved or going.

When she has the money, she puts it back in the pot and another woman could get that loan.”

While the campaign raised $849 in its first week, Richardson aims to reach $12,000, which could provide six women with loans of $2,000 to start small businesses, pay for legal support or assist with other urgent needs. The initiative is a form of microlending, a peer-to-peer financing concept that has become popular in recent years to support entrepreneurship and alleviate poverty.

As the director of First Peoples Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, Richardson strives to nurture a sense of belonging for students far from home while building bridges to Indigenous knowledge keepers around the world. Her group of Métis

post-secondary educators and cultural supporters in Montreal has established an advisory of five women to send out proposal calls, make selections and manage interest-free loans.

“I don’t really have the [application] process yet but I’ll probably work with the Montreal Native Women’s Shelter to start with and just quietly let people know we have this fund,” explained Richardson. “As we get started, we could give a few loans and see how long it takes the women to get on their feet and pay it back. Maybe at some point we would form a little non-profit foundation to support Indigenous moms.”

Richardson has a long career as an educator, researcher and counsellor specializing in violence prevention and recovery. Twice a delegate to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, her work has often focused on decolonizing approaches to social work.

The crowdsourcing campaign stems from Indigenous counselling experiences early in her career. Young women would often arrive with similar stories of a neighbour calling child protection services after overhearing a domestic argument.

“Once they had a social worker in their life, it seemed they could never get rid of her,” recalled Richardson.

“They would often lose their kids, not because they were

bad mothers. Maybe they had just partied a bit. I started trying to help them find family-based solutions and got fed up with the system.”

She says legal aid isn’t enough to help these women keep their children – thus the need to pay lawyers to fight the allegations Indigenous women commonly face. As well, urban Indigenous women are disproportionately incarcerated for unpaid tickets.

“It’s important to me to find ways to get out of this structural jam,” she said.

“Organizations might offer counselling, legal advice, job or housing support, but sometimes you just need a little money. At an interpersonal level, sometimes people are feeling hopeless – offering a little opportunity like this could make a big difference.”

Co-founder of the Centre for Response-Based Practice in Duncan, BC, Richardson said dignity-driven counselling helps people overcome hardships by instilling positive social responses. Instead of perceiving victims of violence as deficient, it builds on culture-based strength and existing capabilities for self-empowerment.

“Just because we have problems, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with us,” affirmed Richardson. “We would see things like substance abuse as an understandable response to emotional pain. We don’t judge if we think their responses aren’t healthy. We say, ‘Wow,

it’s amazing you kept yourself alive so long’.”

This humanistic approach helps those feeling isolated, a common experience in the pandemic. This perspective seeks to build connections, perhaps with families or friends discussing their loneliness out on the land to deepen a sense of belonging.

In 2019, Richardson applied these skills facilitating emotional support in healing tents set up following Corey Payette’s powerful musical Children of God, which dealt with residential school oppression. After the opening night’s performance, she told the audience, “It takes courage to be a witness.”

“Response-based practice is not just what happened to you but what comes after,” she explained. “For decades, people denied residential school ever happened. If an Indigenous person brought it up, they would be accused of lying. That’s what makes people suffer so much.”

Of Métis, Cree and Gwichin heritage herself, Richardson suggests it’s easier for the state to view Indigenous people as unfit to manage their lives when they are collectively portrayed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Targeted groups experience a disproportionate amount of violence,” Richardson said. “There are different ways colonization is still at work to keep people seen through a deficit lens.”

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

the Nation 21

For more info...

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

Individual Applications for Eeyou Istchee

The legacy of Jordan River Anderson

Jordan was born in Norway House Cree Nation, Manitoba in 1999, with multiple disabilities and stayed in the hospital from birth. When he was 2 years old, doctors said he could move to a special home for his medical needs. However, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. Jordan passed away in the hospital at the age of 5.

In 2007, the House of Commons passed Jordan’s Principle in memory of Jordan. Today, Jordan’s Principle is a legal obligation, which means it has no end date—it will support First Nations children for generations to come.

Is your child eligible for Jordan’s Principle?

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

24-hour Jordan’s Principle Helpline

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

LeArN FrOm ThE LaNd!

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

the Nation 23

Puzzles Crossword

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 Playground 15 16 14 staple 18 19 17 6 Give a hand?

10 G.I. offense 21 22 20 14 Solitary sort 23 24 25 15 Colombian crop 16 Post-WWII 28 29 26 27 alliance 17 Deduce 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 18 Alternative to 37 38 39 steps 19 Choral voice 41 42 40 20 Chick's chirp 43 44 45 46 21 Luau servings 23 Domain 50 47 48 49 25 Stick together 52 53 54 55 56 26 Sometimes it's 51 hidden 58 59 57 28 Approval power 61 62 60 30 Wayside stop 31 High spirits 64 65 63 33 Talk bad about 37 Like barcodes Copyright 2021 by The Puzzle Syndicate 40 State under oath 41 Latin dance 62 Kitchen strainer 10 Literary 36 Now's partner 42 "Yes, ___!"

63 Beach site repetition 38 Like craft fair 43 Sharply dressed 64 Latest thing 11 Pixar title robot goods 45 Where charity 65 Art studio item 12 Riverbank 39 Slack off begins romper 44 Promo 47 Something 13 Baggy 46 Weightlifter's wicked?

DOWN 21 Not fancy at all worry 50 Danielle of 1 Lose traction 22 Write a check 47 Pants style romance novels 2 Famous Ranger for later 48 "So long", in 51 Lump in one's 3 Logical 24 Navy bigwigs Sonora throat conclusion 26 Draws a bead 49 Brazilian port 54 Dennis the 4 Intensify, as on 50 Cake serving Menace's dog feelings 27 Nibble on 52 One of a bear 57 Bread for a gyro 5 Slip up 28 Dogcatcher's trio 58 Indian garment 6 Theater curtain quarry 53 Stuffed shirt 59 Pull strings?

7 Pawn shop 29 "Excuse me…"

55 Prime number 60 Line on a map offering 32 Take a breather 56 Have a hunch 61 Grander than 8 Top spot 34 Givens 59 "What's the grand 9 Vatican rule 35 Kind of chance ___?"

H

ere’s another edition of the Nation’s puzzle page.

Try your hand at Sudoku or Str8ts or our Crossword, or better yet, solve all three and send us a photo!* As always, the answers from last issue are here for you to check your work. Happy hunting.

PREVIOUS SOLUTION: B O A T

L I M O

G A S P

G E N I E

S A L E

P L A T

I N T E R F A I T H

E L I O T N E S S I T C H Y

A F A R D O V E S O L E S D R I L A R E G G E R S N D O T F L A M L O T A A C C E L X E R A D U D S E D I S E U V E L P E S

P L A T E L E T B A T

B A R G A L O U S L U N I N K A N D P A T E A B A N O S N U T R A T E O P D O W S E L I E I S N S E T

E D G Y A G E S

E F T S

STR8TS

SUDOKU

No. 277

Easy

7

4

8 5

5 3 4 2

5 8 7 6 8 1 5 5 3 3 6 6 4 1

8 6 7

6 1

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

© 2021 Syndicated Puzzles

4 2 2

Previous solution - Medium

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

8 6 5 9 7

9 7 8 6 1 4 3 3 5 4

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

No. 277

Tough

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

8 4 3 5 1 7 2 6 9

3

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.

24 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

Previous solution - Medium

© 2021 Syndicated Puzzles

A R C S

by Margie E. Burke

6 5 1 8 2 9 4 7 3

7 9 2 3 6 4 5 8 1

9 1 5 2 3 8 6 4 7

4 7 8 6 9 5 3 1 2

3 2 6 4 7 1 8 9 5

2 8 9 1 5 6 7 3 4

1 3 4 7 8 2 9 5 6

5 6 7 9 4 3 1 2 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.

Rez Notes

After Goose Break

by Sonny Orr

G

oose Break is over, and the kids are back at school for yet another Covid-restricted term. But it’s hard to shake off Goose Break fever – the daily dose of outdoor activities, good old hunting and grumblings over an early spring.

We complain that the ice is not ice on the lakes. It’s floating slush – the same out on the bays. Aircraft that usually land on that ice... can’t. Instead, helicopters are now used, much to the chagrin of the local hunters as choppers are slower, cost more, and offer less payload. Such is the way of modernity.

Meanwhile, the geese are flying unimpeded over lonely ponds. Still, geese kills were respectable; not too many and not too few, enough for several suppers and a feast or two. The amount of the goods we depend on to harvest them is growing, however – the batteries, the charger cords, the wi-fi router, the 4k TV set and satellite getup along with microwaves for the popcorn during hockey games or just for the hasty hunter.

We have it all, but something’s missing. Oh yes, the new gear for the ponds.

The inflatable wind-directed, semi-gloss reflective 3D decoys and the bullhorn goose-callers that have replaced the traditional ones that dangled around our necks. It’s the 4GB USB filled with every imaginable type of goose call, snow goose mating calls, moose calling geese – attached to the bullhorn strategically hung around the shoulder like an upside-

Geese kills were respectable; not too many and not too few, enough for several suppers and a feast or two down Sidewinder missile launcher that makes a hunter complete.

We lead a fashion parade with our wearable gear – rustle-proof, waterproof, windproof and scent-free for those “420” days. The ultra-flexible gloves that enable you to grasp shotgun ammunition in the cold and load that modified AK-48, a higher-level Cree version of the Kalashnikov, except in three-point-fiveinch, 12-shot silenced version. This is for the hunter who needs to shoot multiple times before knocking them down. But it makes for a fine YouTube upload that will harvest many thumbs up.

The communications system has changed – from the silence of nature and the need to shout at old men with hearing aids before being locked, loaded and ready to shoot – to the loud chatter of radios updating everyone on the daily affairs of the hunt or even live broadcasts with OOOwaaah comments for the hits and misses.

Then there’s transportation. We’ve evolved from paddling canoes and using a light two-stroke snowmobiles to become helicopter-hopping hunters, even if we only need to travel 50 kilometres. We want to be away from the crowds but remain

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here

ᐃᓂᓕᐅᕐᓃᑦ RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965

within reach of a cell tower, since we can no longer be sure something happened if it’s not posted on Facebook. Walking in ordinary hip-waders to the blind has been replaced by sitting in a completely amphibious eight-wheeled wonder that can go anywhere and still ensure that our jiggling beer bellies remain intact.

Back in the day, the most advanced technology we used were sandbags to make the ponds that would attract geese and ducks from afar. The gun was always within reach and ready to fire as split seconds were needed to knock down that spoon-billed duck or that errant lone goose. Rubber patches were the only material needed to repair the holes we constantly created in our hip-waders, which had to be coddled and cared for since natural rubber could easily tear if you didn’t tread carefully.

Today, we should care for the hunt and treat each harvest with respect and share with those in need. Why clean out your freezer every year because of overharvesting? Please remember our traditions and teachings from those who have the experience and knowledge. Most of all, stay safe and healthy!

ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS 1 800 661-5850

www.nationnews.ca May 21, 2021

the Nation 25

&B

T

Bannock & Goose Break blues Tea

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

I’m extending my respect to all of you who “adopted” a youth for Goose Break to give them a chance to live and reclaim their culture

H

uge flocks of geese are flying above the community. I’m fond of Goose Break. I love seeing people enjoying quality time with their relatives in the bush.

Goose Break is not always a consistent thing for me. My late grandmother became a widow in the late 1970s and had to raise her children on her own. That meant I never had a Cree grandfather to take me out on the land and to teach me bush skills. On top of that, my father was in politics for decades and that left very little time for him to show me how to harvest game. I spent my summers in Assinica with my mom, my maternal grandfather and some skilled trappers like Billy Voyageur, but we were only fishing.

I still rely on uncles, cousins or friends to show me the ways, when they’re available. I find it so great that many of you have that full Goose Break experience with your entire family for weeks. I never had that and it’s something that still saddens me at times.

I was cruising around with my cousin and saw teenagers hanging out in the streets and I said: “They’re missing out not being with their family right now.” I understand it though. At that age, I was sometimes reluctant to go spend the summer out there. I just hope they grow up knowing how lucky they are to have the opportunity to be in the bush.

Despite all of this, I’m grateful people invite me to their camp and let me tag along on hunting trips. It means a lot to me. That’s what I love about Waswanipi; people are generous of their knowledge and their time with youth in complicated situations like mine. My uncle Red and my cousins often go out of their way to make sure I spend time out there and I enjoy every single moment when those opportunities come.

My cat and I were watching geese flying from our patio this morning. Fortunately, I’ll get to go harvest for a couple of days.

It’s only a few days, but as my grandfather says in la langue de Molière: “C’est mieux qu’une claque sur la gueule.” I’m going to let you translate this on your own.

I’m extending my respect to all of you who “adopted” a youth for Goose Break to give them a chance to live and reclaim their culture. You are doing important work that often goes unrecognized. I also hope everyone had a safe and bountiful harvest.

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.

26 the Nation May 21, 2021 www.nationnews.ca

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