The Nation | Vol. 29, No. 21

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EDITORIAL A carefully scripted apology NEWS Now the work begins The Pope’s penance FEATURESBRIEFS Baiting the hook Culture as a driving force After the Promotingapologyhealthy living REZPUZZLESNOTES Daze of confusion UTNS Protect the vulnerable 262524222016109654 CONT ENTS Montreal’s First Peoples Festival programming16 22 Fishing derbies inandMistissiniOuje Competitions at Lake Mistassini and Opemiska Lake 10 1 800 361-2965 1 800 661-5850 ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here RESERVATIONS 1 800 361-2965 ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔫᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᑐᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ CHARTERS 1 800 661-5850 ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here concreteSeeking action20 Health Community

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4 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca 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 X. Kataquapit, S. Orr, R.A. Snow, 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 $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 Newspa per 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 CMC A AUDITED Editorial by Rachel A. Snow A carefully scripted apology Reprinted with permission from the Two Row Times| The residual effects of the residential school genocide still trigger many Indigenous people today. Canada bandies about words like reconciliation because they want the global audience to think that they care about their “Indians”. Canada does NOT care. Canada has never cared. The “Indians” have been posing a problem for centuries. The “Indians” are a deterrent – blocking glob al investment on stolen land for resource development. Canadians are tired of this. Canadians are tired of being reminded about stolen land, finding the bodies of children adjacent to old residential schools and anything that hampers their world-ranked lifestyles of privilege and power.Canada wants to close the chapter on what they have done to the original peo ples of this land. The original peoples are the 50-plus distinct linguistic nations who make up some 600 reserve lands. To thwart further claims or to cap spending on the relationship, Canada under Justin Trudeau has embarked on a farcical journey of reconciliation. The road to reconciliation is paved with the blood of our ancestors. The road to reconciliation is one-sid ed and made in the “best interests” for Canada’s Aboriginals. The road to reconciliation is tarred with ill intentions, bad faith and legal fictions.Justin Trudeau’s latest reconciliation blunder brought the Pope to Indigenous lands. Canada is still Indigenous land. Canada does not have a bill of sale or adequate legal purchase documentation that legitimately transfers “ownership” from Great Britain to Canada. How did the Pope arrive here? Well, Trudeau sent his trusty band of Indians across the big waters to beg the Pope to come over. They were duped into thinking they had received a full and heartfelt apology when they arrived at the Vatican last April. Excited Indians ran down the steps saying, “He apologized, he apolo gized!”Ifthey had listened, they would have understood that the Pope said he’s sorry there were a few educators who maybe did some stuff. Trudeau and his minion “Indians” quickly regrouped, saying they only intended to invite the Pope to come to “Canada” and apologize. Fast forward three months and voilà, the Pope was here. In preparation, Mascwacis/Hobbema residents were treated to newly paid roads, some quick infrastructure funds and the honour of hosting a spectacle. The Pope came. A man named Francis said, “I’m sorry” and then qualified it by saying, “I’m sorry for the ways that Christians supported colonization.” He’s sorry for the ways the churches and reli gious communities participated in cultural destruction and assimilation in this thing called a residential school. Then Pope said that the Catholic Church was forced to bear the brunt of the errors made by the Canadian government in policies linked to the residential schools. Once the Pope finished saying a whole lot of nothing, the “Indians” took over again. Many leaders tripped over their own headdresses and eagle staffs, so anxious were they to be seen as part of “a historic” gathering. One of Trudeau’s most devoted Indians decided to gift the Pope a headdress.

It is customary to give headdresses to non-First Nations who hold a place of honour among our people, or for those who have done great things for us. It is difficult to reconcile this honour for a man who represents the worst atrocities inflicted on First Nation children – the electric chair, or nutrition experiments, or forced sterilization of Indian girls.

The man giving it could have quietly passed it to the Pope. Instead, he chose to make it an elaborate show. Then a woman not part of the script told the Pope to take off that headdress. She sang that these are our lands. She asked these men to go home and right the wrongs they had done.One lone matriarch, with tears stream ing down her face, admonishing the Pope in her language, was the true moment we should embrace. We are still here, we speak our languages, and we will not be silenced.

One of Trudeau’s most devoted Indians decided to gift the Pope a headdress

Michael Petawabano elected Chief of Mistissini by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The newly elected chief and council were sworn in July 25 at the Neoskweskau Sports Complex, where a farewell to the outgoing chief and council was held. Petawabano said he set up a tent outside his house on election night to await the results with friends. When they came in, he was incredulous. “I couldn’t believe it – I was elected by the people,” he shared with The Nation. “There were cheers, it was an honour. I said ‘wow’!” Soon he was joined by supporters who came by to congratulate him. While some of them decided to do a joy ride around the community, Petawabano stayed home out of respect for those who also ran.

Petawabano had previously worked in construction before becoming a police officer. “One of the reasons I went into policing was I was informed by the direc tor of policing if I was hired, they’d pri oritize my home,” Petawabano said with a laugh.What was originally going to just be a few years turned into 15, but eventually Petawabano said he needed to priori tize his health and wellbeing. He ended up working for Cree Human Resources Development (now Apatisiiwin Skills Development), which he described as another way of helping people.

EditorialNews

Now the work begins

www.nationnews.ca August 12, 2022 the Nation 5

“I liked the idea of it – it was support ing Cree to get employment and training in industry sectors – mining, forestry, construction. It was fitting, it was human resources but in a different way,” he explained.After14 years at that job, Petawabano was tapped as deputy executive director for the Cree Nation Government (CNG) in 2016. He had been approached then to run for chief in Mistissini, but told his sup porters, “Let me finish these four years with CNG, then if you still feel I could be the chief and you want to nominate me I’d be honoured.”Petawabano credits the job with help ing him understand how things work at a regional level, but also how to “be a bit more innovative.” He pointed to tech nology, community growth and relation ships with community members and other partners as things he thought could use improvement.WhenPetawabano finally decided to run for chief, he wanted to make edu cation a priority, as well as building the economy. He is also focused on social aspects. “We’ve got a lot of youth, our population is very young, we have to learn how to work with them, and understand some of the mental health issues that are goingPartaround.”ofPetawabano’s education focus involves informing youth of the resources, jobs and other opportunities. He wants to prioritize language revitalization with the school board and encourage Cree to be used internally within the governance structure.Petawabano is committed to engag ing with hunters and trappers, Elders, youth and women in the community. “We have all these agreements, but we haven’t taken care of social problems for people. We need to build the economy and build our people,” he added. He said his phone and office are open to anyone who wants to share their thoughts with him. “I’m looking forward to the next four years, working with people, working with council. We have a very strong council. We can start improving our lifestyle and our opportunities and building on our peo ple,” he said. “I’m very honoured.”

After a first round of voting ended neck and neck, Michael Petawabano was elected Chief of Mistissini and John S. Matoush as Deputy Chief in a run-off election. The first vote, held July 13, had incum bent Thomas Neeposh win 39% of the vote, and Petawabano with 38%, while the other three candidates garnered the remaining 23%. The run-off election was held July 20. In that vote, Petawabano narrowly edged out Neeposh, receiving 52% of the 1,547 votes. The election for Deputy Chief also ended with a run-off vote between John S. Matoush and Jerry Matoush, after each candidate received 39% and 30% of the vote, respectively. Two other can didates received the remaining 31%. In the run-off election, John S. Matoush received 62% of the vote. Nine councillors were also elected, including Margaret Stacy Anderson, Ashley Iserhoff, Robert Jimikin, Samuel S. Mianscum, Linda L. Shecapio, Richard Shecapio, Abel Trapper and Denise White.

“While the efforts of the Pope recognized,are willhighareexpectationsnowveryonwhatcomenext”

6 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca As a media circus followed Pope Francis on his “pilgrimage of penance” to Canada, Indigenous people had vastly different reactions to his words and the diffi cult memories of residential schools that his visit“Itriggered.humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples,” said Pope Francis near the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School in Maskwacis, Alberta, during his first public Referencingaddress.stories he was told during the Indigenous delegation’s trip to Rome four months ago, the Pope said he was “deeply sorry” for the “colonizing mentality” sup ported by many Christians “in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation ... which culminated in the system of residen tial schools.”Duringhis initial speech, Francis pre sented moccasins given to him in Rome symbolizing the children that never returned home. He called this apology only a starting point, stating a “serious investigation” of past incidents and support for survivors’ healing were an important part of the pro cess.The visit coincided July 26 with the Feast of Saint Anne, venerated by many Indigenous Catholics as the grandmother of Jesus. The Pope visited several sites dedicated to the saint and using the Cree word for grand mother, kokum, he made parallels to the vital role of Indigenous women and Elders in their communities.ThePope’s words provoked a range of strong and conflicting emotions among attendees. Former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine witnessed “a humble person begging for forgiveness”, asserting it was an important step for many to move forward with peace and solace. While recognizing the importance of Pope Francis’ historic words of contrition, Murray Sinclair, former chair of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, felt the statement left a “deep hole” by plac ing blame with individual members of the Church, which minimized the destructive influence of the institution itself in instigating culturalSinclairgenocide.also emphasized the Church’s continued silence regarding the Doctrine of Discovery, the 15th-century papal edict that justified Christian colonial expansion and subjugation of Indigenous peoples. Pope Francis couldn’t ignore this issue when a giant “Rescind the Doctrine” banner was unfurled by Indigenous activists before he led mass at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica outside Quebec City.

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Before the Pope’s public address at Quebec’s Citadelle, thousands had gath ered on the Plains of Abraham, including a group of survivors completing a sev en-day 275-km march from the Innu com munity of Mashteuiatsh. While survivors from several Cree communities made the trip, including a busload from Mistissini, Chisasibi chose not to send an official delegation.“Asamain location in Eeyou Istchee where residential schools were located – sites that constantly remind us of our pain and trauma – Council has decided to move ahead with this important part of our healing at home,” stated Chief Daisy House. “Chisasibi Eeyouch are feeling raw, challenging emotions already, and this week will trigger more pain in the coming days.” The community focused instead on collective healing and traditional activi ties at its annual Fort George Residential School Gathering. Ahead of the Pope’s visit, Chief House reiterated demands for the release of all church records as “these heavily guarded archives hold so many pieces of our true history.”

The Pope’s Penance

Pope Francis apologizes for Christian ‘evil’ in Canada by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo by Matthew Bodnarek/CCCB

Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty met Pope Francis at the Citadelle, joined by youth delegate Allison MacLeod and Chisasibi survivor Clara Napash. Napash, who first entered a residential school on Fort George Island at age 2, said she was grateful to be there on behalf of all survi vors and “those who have already gone home to the spirit world, also, those who never made it home.” During his sermon, the Pope said the Church is asking itself “burning ques tions” on “its difficult and demanding journey of healing and reconciliation” but didn’t specifically mention residen tial schools. Waswanipi survivor Romeo Saganash found the address “hugely dis appointing”.Whilethe congregation was largely comprised of residential school survivors, many watched from the sideline. Bella Jolly from Nemaska left the basilica early because she had trouble understanding the Pope’s Spanish but said she accepted his apology to progress on her healing journey.During a prayer service later that eve ning, Pope Francis acknowledged sexual abuse inflicted on “minors and vulnerable people” for the first time on the trip with out specifying this happened at residen tial schools.Athisfinal stop in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Pope Francis was accompanied by tra ditional dancers, drummers and throat singers who explained how these cultur al practices were banned in residential schools. Saying “mamianaq” (the Inuktitut word for “sorry”), he condemned “the evil perpetrated by not a few Catholics” at theseAlthoughschools.he discussed the residential school system’s harms and assimilation practices in diverse speeches over the week, it wasn’t until questioned by report ers on his flight home that the Pope clari fied he was describing “a genocide.” This final reflection satisfied many that his visit was an eye-opening experience. Gull-Masty observed that the Pope is setting the tone for how he expects the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to proceed with the next steps in the long road to “Whilereconciliation.theefforts of the Pope are recognized, expectations are now very high on what will come next,” said GullMasty. “The apology must be followed by concrete actions to open their records and rescind the Doctrine of Discovery, for it is the truth that will guide our healing journey.”

www.nationnews.ca August 12, 2022 the Nation 9 In Brief

A Canadian Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples report takes the federal government to task over gender discrim ination. First Nations women fought for decades to regain their status and identity as Indigenous women for them selves and their children with in Canada under the Indian Act. In the past, women could not vote for First Nations band councils, nor access a range of federal and provincial ser vices and programs and could be ousted from their commu nities.The report underlines the government’s weak attempts at resolving gender discrim ination in the Indian Act, including amendments in 1985, 2010 and 2017. The committee says the quick fixes the gov ernment enacted have only made the matter worse. The amendments have complicated the registration process and created two unequal categories of status Indians, the report said. Before 1985, a First Nations woman who mar ried a non-First Nations man would lose her status. But if a man with status married a non-First Nations woman, she would gain status. To resolve this inequity, the federal gov ernment amended the Indian Act in 1985 to restore status for women who had lost it throughHowever,marriage.this amendment also created two tiers of status for First Nations — those who have one parent with status and those who have two par ents with status. The children of the one-parent category are disadvantaged because they alone cannot pass on status to the next generation. This is known as the “second genera tionPamelacut-off.”

Status discrimination

Mistissini rememberchildrenresidential school victims The Awash Childcare Centre joined two other local day cares to organize a children’s walk June 30 to mark a sol emn day of remembrance for victims of residential schools in lieu of celebrating Canada Day.Rhonda Mark, Head Start Team Leader at Awash, said they normally celebrate July 1, but “after what happened, we decided not to do it and want ed to do a remembrance of children that never came home from residential schools.” The centres helped to make ribbon skirts for the girls, and pins for the boys, trans lating “lodge” in Cree. Then participants walked around the band office on Main Street before returning to the cen tres. Overall, 80 children par ticipated in marking the occa sion.“We gave them air bal loons to release for remem brance of children who never came home from residential schools, and for the survivors also,” Mark said. “The chil dren were excited once they were given the pin and skirts. They were happy to walk around with their parents and with the educators. The par ents were happy that we made the time for them to make the dresses and the pins.” Mark says it’s a tradition she’d like to keep up. While she hasn’t yet talked to other schools, she’d like to have them involved as well. “We’re planning to talk to other child care centres in other commu nities to see what they can do as well,” Mark added. “As educators, we’re happy these children don’t see what happened. We’re happy to have them here in the com munities, teaching them here,” she said. BC steps up The British Columbia govern ment is funding a First Nations effort to clean up marine debris along the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Palmater, Chair in Indigenous Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University, said every First Nation in this country has a “legislated extinction date” that you can calculate based on their birth, death and the second-generation cut-off provision of the Indian Act. The federal govern ment has said it will modify the Indian Act yet again to resolve these issues.

The Coastal First NationsGreat Bear Initiative received an additional $1 million from the province’s Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initia tive, bringing its total CCCW funding to nearly $3.5 million. “Our partnerships with Coastal First Nations are essential to the success of the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative and clean ing up plastics pollution,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “As the largest shoreline cleanup in BC’s history, it is restoring and protecting sensitive marine ecosystems, creating jobs and leading to a healthier future for people.”TheCoastal First NationsGreat Bear Initiative brings together nine First Nations liv ing on BC’s North and Central coasts, and Haida Gwaii to protect ecosystems through sustainable management practices and to improve the quality of life for these com munities.“The shoreline cleanup projects in our territories have helped restore our marine environment, provided train ing and jobs to community members and youth, and rein forced our lead role as stew ards of the land and sea,” said Christine Smith-Martin, CEO of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative. “This additional funding will focus on pass ing on our culture, values and traditional knowledge to the younger generation.”

In Brief

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Baiting the hook

Successive weekends in July saw dozens of angling teams chasing prize walleye and pike in Lake Mistassini and Opemiska Lake. Organizers were delighted by the level of entries, which returned to pre-pandemic levels. Plans are in the works to grow both derbies next year. by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

10 the Nation

Features

Fishing derbies in Mistissini and Ouje hand out tens of thousands in prize money

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Seventy-nine boats poured into the waters of Lake Mistassini July 15-17 for the annual Big Rock Fishing Derby, each hoping to land the biggest walleye and pike to take home up to $25,000 in prizes.

The teams were formed of two to four people per boat, with each paying a $750 registration fee. Teams came from Waskaganish, Nemaska, Chisasibi, Waswanipi, Ouje-Bougoumou, Chapais and Chibougamau, with one from Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean.Intheend,TeamBMW from Chibougamau took home first place and a $20,000 cheque in the walleye category. Brien said

Mistissini’s Big Rock Derby returns to former glory

Each boat was allowed five walleyes weighed and mea sured throughout the derby, with the winners of the $20,000 prize chosen from the top three fish broughtEachin.boat was also allowed to bring in one pike per day, to get a chance at winning the $5,000 biggest pike prize. To protect the ecology of the lake, each fish had to be able to swim away from the weigh-in station within a minute of being released or the catch was considered invalid. Event organizer Peterson Brien was pleased with the event this year. “It was very successful. A lot of outsiders from the com munity too,” he said, which was a change from last year, when pan demic restrictions kept out people from other communities. “People here and from other communities were excited to come back to Lake Mistassini. It’s a fun lake to fish, one of the biggest natural lakes in Quebec – it’s a fishing paradise.”Thethree-day event started off on a warm, sunny Friday with no wind. But a large hailstorm hit on Saturday, with winds nearly blowing away the organizer’s tent, before returning to a pleasant day on Sunday.Besides the weather, Brien says the fish and people getting together were the other high lights. “Seeing people, how happy they were to come back and fish in Mistassini Lake. Seeing the big walleyes – I saw 6-, 7-pounders.”

Brien was also proud that this year they managed to lose a lot fewer fish than in previous years, with only 15 fish lost in the catchand-release event. “We’ve been doing a very good job on that.”

12 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca they had previously won two or three years before. Team M-16 took home the $5,000 prize in the pike category. The event was “almost a last-minute thing,” Brien noted. “I only had a month to prepare and advertise the event. For next year, I already have a plan for the 10th annual – my community and I want to make it a big event. We’ll have more time to start working on it and start adver tising.”The organizers are looking at holding the 2023 derby in mid-July but are waiting to consult a regional event coordinator to ensure there’s no overlaps with other competitions. Participation was back to pre-pandemic levels, though not as big as in record years. “I remember one time we had 400 boats – it’s something I’d like to seeBrienagain.”said the event is also import ant for Mistissini’s tourism and economic development. However, he noted high gas prices was a discouraging factor for many potential participants. Brien said he got a lot of advice from an organizer of one of the bigger national fishing derbies, including lower ing inscription fees to accommodate the higher gas prices. Asked if he’d like to see the Big Rock fishing derby become a regional or national-level event, Brien said he would, “but it would take a lot of work to get there.”

“People here and from other communities were excited to come back to MistissiniLake ”

While the team struggled to find two good walleyes to register for the second day, Grad said the fish moved again on the third day, so they returned to their starting location and found the fish waiting for them. “We caught two nice fish very quick, which was good for us because we needed bonus points to stay first,” he explained.

The catch-and-release event featured a $20,000 prize for the biggest walleyes, as well as a $5,000 prize for the largest pikes. There were additional rewards of $500 for the biggest walleye caught each day, and a $1,000 prize for the largest walleye caught throughout the weekend.

The first day for the team started off well. According to Grad, “The fish were where we thought they would be. But on the second day, all the fish moved out of our spot, so we had to adjust our strategy and find the fish again.”

“The highlight for our tournament was Day Two when we saw a large mark on our sonar. We knew it was a big walleye, so we worked for that fish for a while and finally caught him! It was a 29-inch walleye,” Grad enthused. “We were very happy and knew it will be good on the score sheet!”After what he described as a lot of stress, self-pressure to perform, hard work and planning, the team found out they had managed to maintain their lead and came in first place. “When we found out we came in first place, all the stress disappeared, finally able to breathe normally – we jumped and celebrated our second win in two tournaments!” said Grad.Event organizers announced that the 2023 derby would be held July 21-23.

Ouje’s Kaa Pimiskaanuuch Derby hooks fishers Over 100 participants across 66 teams crowded the shores of Opemiska Lake at Ouje-Bougoumou to compete in the 2022 Kaa Pimiskaanuuch Fishing Derby July 22-24.

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Team Martin Tour Terrain took home first place in the pike category, while Team Advantage Chrysler/Abitibi Angler hooked the main prize in the walleye category. David Grad, a member of Advantage Chrysler/Abitibi Angler, said it was his first time participating in the event, which he described as “very nice, and well organized.” He said the team met lots of welcoming people and had the chance to visit Ouje-Bougoumou as well. While the weather was windy, Grad said he was ready for the conditions, having practiced on the lake during the previous month.

THE WEBSITENATIONHAS MONTHLY 10,000 READERS Since 1993 THE NATION Date de parution : 12 août 2022 PUBLIC NOTICE From August 22nd to September 16th, 2022, the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP) invites members of the general public to express their opinions regarding commercial and non-commercial silvicultural work that is scheduled to take place in management units 026-62, 026-63, 026-64 and 026-66. If you are interested, you can view the work and submit comments online, through the MFFP website at yourgouv.qc.catopublicrepresentativeYouwww.Québec.ca/consultations-foret-nord-du-québechttps://.canalsomakeanappointmentwithanMFFPatanytime,MondaytoFriday(excludingholidays),from8.30AMtonoonandfrom1PM4.30PM,orbye-mailatnord-du-quebec.foret@mffp..Therepresentativewillbeabletoanswerquestionsandaddressanyconcernsofcitizens. Chibougamau Management Unit 624, 3e ChibougamauRue (Québec) G8P 1P1 Telephone: (418) 748-2647 Fax: (418) 748-3359 IMPORTANT: If you would like to receive information on the MFFP’s future public consultations in the Nord-du-Québec region,please contact christine.morin@mffp.gouv.qc.ca and enter Demande d’inscription sur la liste de diffusion in the e-mail subject line. Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Forestry Work

“More important than Rome – its pomp, circumstance and repentance –Aboriginal art rises up and proudly asserts itself,” reads the statement. “Anger, joy and hope are its cardinal virtues. These cultures and languages that we wanted to erase from history are alive and the heart of Montreal will soon vibrate under their harmonic chords.”

The evening concerts kick off August 10 with critically acclaimed Inuit/ Mohawk “Inu Indie” singer/songwriter Beatrice Deer supported by Anishinaabe opening act Leonard Sumner. For Musique Nomade’s annual concert the follow ing night, Nikamotan MTL will bring together emerging Indigenous voices from diverseAtikamekwgenres.

Apillar of the city’s summer festival season, the Montreal First Peoples Festival, emerges from the “pandemic torpor” with a vibrant program August 9-18. This year’s lineup was announced on the first day of the Pope’s visit to Canada, a coincidence acknowledged in its defiant press release.

Inuit artists from Tupiq Arctic Circus Troupe were present at the festival’s unveiling and will be performing at Place des Festivals during the day, along with drum groups Northern Voice, Buffalo Hat Singers and special guests from French Guyana. Visitors will also be welcomed by traditional dancers, puppe teers, artisans and various film screenings.

“When you arrive on Ste-Catherine [street], you will see a Buffy SainteMarie electronic exhibition on big panels that will be backlit by night,” said Land InSights artistic director and festival organizer André Dudemaine. “Of course, our great teepee will be in the middle with the big Quebecor stage there for performances in the night.”

band Pinaskin from Manawan opens for Juno award-winners Digging Roots August 12, while the next night features Mack MacKenzie (for merly of Three O’Clock Train) and an album launch for Innu singer Matiu.

as a Driving Force

The Nuestroamericana Friendship parade is a festival highlight, celebrating unique Indigenous cultures throughout the world with colourful dances and

CULTURE

Montreal’s First Peoples Festival unveils its programming by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism InitiativePhotosReporterprovided by the Montreal First Peoples Festival

16 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

“Something very special we have is a theatre show, Uteï, récit d’un sur vivant, on August 15,” Dudemaine told the Nation. “With the help of Montreal’s Menuentakuan theatre troupe, Omer St-Onge from Maliotenam has created an autobiographical piece telling his story of a traditional Innu kidnapped and taken to residential schools and the long journey of healing after that difficult time.”

“This is the beginning of a new trend within the festival – the collaboration with classical music and contemporary composers,” said Dudemaine. “Deantha Edmunds is happy to have this connection with another Indigenous cultures. It took work to familiarize herself with the Innu intonations and universe of Joséphine Bacon.”

The festival hosts a conference called “Revisioning the Americas” August 15-16 in Montreal and Kahnawake, featuring Indigenous cinema scholars looking to build bridges between academia and Indigenous media. The festival represents a world showcases of Indigenous film. Leo Koziol, a film festival director from Aotearoa (aka New Zealand), and a delegation of emerging Maori filmmakers will screen their short films and meet with the public.Dudemaine recommends two Bolivian feature films, El gran movimiento and Utame, which have performed well at major international festivals. Alanis Obomsawin presents two new films, including Upstairs with David Amram, which reflects on music and activism during the 1960s.

Visual art created by artists Kiana Cross of Kahnawake and Lydia Mestokosho-Paradis from the Innu community of Mingan will be projected on the library building during the festival.

The nearby Jardins Gamelin will host lunchtime concerts starting August 4 with Corey Thomas and the Backwater Township Band, followed by Mi’kmaq singer/songwriter Esther Pennell August 11 and Mack MacKenzie August 18. On the final evening, Mapuche musician Akawui and Naskapi band Violent Ground share the stage.

www.nationnews.ca August 12, 2022 the Nation 19

regalia. More than 1,200 dancers take the main stage August 14 doing four-min ute performances over three hours.

Beyond the Place des Festivals, the world premiere of Uiesh takes place August 14 at the Grande Bibliothèque. Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds will pres ent this new composition by Tim Brady based on the poems of Joséphine Bacon along with the orchestral music of the Nouvelle Ensemble Monderne. Wendat poet Andrée-Lévesque-Sioui also performs.

Adeus, Capitão is a Brazilian film by Video nas Aldeias, which helps remote Indigenous communities produce their own films, Dudemaine shared. The film by Vincent Carelli and Tatiana Almeidais traces the heroic journey of a Gavio Nation Chief, who has fought for their rights since witnessing his culture’s first contact with the white man in his youth. Carelli will receive a lifetime achieve ment award for his four decades of providing a voice to the Indigenous peoples of Brazil.InKahnawake, a Haudenosaunee film program will be offered at Legion Hall August 15 with films by Brooke Rice, Nicolas Renaud, Roxann Whitebean and Courtney Montour. Mohawk filmmakers Montour and Sonia Bonspille-Boileau will give masterclasses at the NFB as part of the festival.

“This is a place where we can meet each other, show our pride, exchange with tourists from all around the world that are now coming back to Montreal,” Dudemaine asserted. “We are centred on young artists and the expression of our own identities. We are now on the verge of a new era to re-establish our sovereignty and the artistic movement is a driving force for that fight.”

20 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

After apologythe

First Nations leaders seek concrete action from the Catholic Church

Following an emotional week that saw Pope Francis make various statements expressing sorrow and shame for the role of Catholics in the residential school system, First Nations leaders are ready to move on to what happensWhilenext.the Pope apologized multiple times for the “the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous people”, it wasn’t until directly ques tioned on the flight back to the Vatican by Ojibway journalist Brittany Hobson that he considered the residential school system a “genocide”, explain ing the term hadn’t previously come to mind.On August 2, NDP MP Leah Gazan said she is planning to present a motion to have the Canadian Parliament acknowledge the system as genocide. She had unsuccessfully attempted to get unanimous consent from MPs in the House of Commons about use of the term last “Havingyear.the experience of resi dential school survivors continually up for debate is another act of violence,” said Gazan. “I hope that Members of Parliament who are really committed to reconciliation, committed to justice, will finally recognize what happened in residential schools for exactly what it was, which was a genocide.” Cindy Blackstock, the head of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, believes that public pres sure on the church and government following last summer’s discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites played a critical role in the Pope’s apology and will be important to continue pushing the Catholic Church to make meaningful change. “That pressure has to be on them,” Blackstock told APTN. “We can’t let them get away with, ‘Oh well, it takes a long time. Change doesn’t happen overnight or this is a good first step.’ None of that. No. They are big, they are well resourced, they could make these changes.”Blackstock thinks the Canadian gov ernment could take steps to make the Catholic Church pay the financial com pensation it still owes residential school survivors, such as revoking the Church’s charitable tax status in Canada, speak ing out against the Holy See at interna tional human-rights reviews and ensur ing the Vatican Bank itself is account able.While people had diverse reactions to the Pope’s words of contrition, a com mon criticism was that his apologies were for the actions of Catholic indi viduals implementing these oppressive by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo by Mehmet Y. Community

Days before the Canadian visit, the Vatican stated “a reflection” about the doctrine is currently underway. While some have speculated the Church is reluctant to remind the world about its history of destructive influence, Indigenous activism has brought the issue to the forefront. “We understand the desire to name these texts, acknowledge their impact and renounce the concepts associat ed with them,” said Jonathan Lesarge on behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The Bishops of Canada are working with the Vatican and those who have studied this issue, with the goal of issuing a new statement from the AlthoughChurch.”Canada denounced the doctrine when implementing Bill C-15 regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, calling it “racist, scientifically false, legally inval id, morally condemnable and socially unjust”, adopting this position in the high court could dismantle a core com ponent of Canada’s sovereignty claim, impacting modern rulings on Indigenous rights and title.

“When you don’t accept the responsibility that your institution has breached so many human rights, done so much harm to children, and you’re still not at a place of accepting accountability, then there’s a real question as to what you’re going to do in terms of reforming your behaviour”

In an apparent attempt to address this shortcoming, Pope Francis said during his first talk since returning to the Vatican that he had gone to Canada “to ask forgiveness in the name of the Church.” He said that priests, nuns and other Catholics had “participated in programs that today we understand are unacceptable and contrary to the Gospel.”Throughout the Pope’s visit, Indigenous people repeatedly demand ed that the Church release all resi dential school records and rescind the Doctrine of Discovery, the 15th century papal edicts which lay the foundations of colonialist subjugation that culminat ed in these schools.

Asked directly about the doctrine, Francis referred instead to a “doctrine of colonization” that continues to exist today and must be changed. Theology experts suggest the Church hasn’t rescinded the doctrine because other edicts have already replaced it, so they don’t consider it has any standing.

- Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

At a protest in Montreal organized by a Kahnawake women’s group known as the Mohawk Mothers, spokesperson Kwetiio said the Pope should revoke the doctrine if he’s serious about making things right. They called his apology meaningless without action and said the 30-metre cross atop Mount Royal represents a painful reminder of residential schools. “I would like that cross to be taken down,” said Kwetiio. “There’s a symbol of that power that comes over us and that’s just cruel. You’ve tried to commit genocide on us, yet this symbol still stands everywhere we look. We need the people who live on this island with us to understand what has happened to us and that we’re not going to allow it to continue.”Thegroup argued the $35 million cost of the Pope’s visit could have been better spent addressing infra structure issues or compensating for lands taken from Indigenous peoples. Local Indigenous day shelter Resilience Montreal added that although the apol ogy represented a step towards healing for some, “it fails to address the impacts of deep intergenerational trauma that many continue to experience daily.”

www.nationnews.ca August 12, 2022 the Nation 21 systems rather than for the Church as a collective“Wheninstitution.youdon’t accept the responsibility that your institution has breached so many human rights, done so much harm to children, and you’re still not at a place of accepting accountability, then there’s a real question as to what you’re going to do in terms of reforming your behaviour,” said Blackstock. “And that’s the piece that’s left out of the apology.”

“The bull Inter Caetera is a histor ic remnant with no juridical, moral or doctrinal value,” the Vatican stated at a United Nations forum for Indigenous issues in 2010. “The Holy See confirms that Inter Caetera has already been abrogated and considers it without any legal or doctrinal value.”

“If churches genuinely believe in reconciliation,” the organization stated, “they will direct funds towards projects like Resilience Montreal, which wel comes those deemed ‘too damaged’ to be granted not only opportunities to heal, but often even basic dignity.”

Dozens of people came from Mistissini and other communities to participate in the 11th annual Mistissini Fitness Challenge, held July 23-24.Organized by Mistissini Sports and Recreation, the event featured individu al races across different age categories on Day One, while Day Two featured team relays involving swimming, cycling and running in the youth categories, while adding canoeing and portage challenges in the 16+ categories. At least 23 participants competed in the individual events, while 16 teams of 60 participants competed on Day Two. Laurie Mathieu won the women’s competitive 16+ race, while Dave Jobin came in first for the men’s, each taking home a prize of $1,500.

While the event is open to any one, and some competitors came from Chibougamau, Gunner said she would like to see the entire Cree Nation get involved. “It would be nice to have other communities hosting these events because it promotes health and keeps youth off the streets,” she said. The event is one of the biggest that the Sports and Recreation department puts on, giving out over $33,000 in cash prizes, plus additional spending on tro phies and souvenirs. To encourage more participation, this year the organizers removed the requirement that at least two partici pants or teams competing in a category to assign a winner. “We don’t want to close the door on them especially if they prepare all summer for it, so we’re trying to make it reasonable with the athletes,” Gunner said. Four of Mistissini’s first responders staffed an ambulance, going out with a lifeguard in a boat on the lake, and escorted the competitors through town. “We enjoy being part of it as well when we’re asked to work during that time – it’s for the safety of participants,” said First Responder Coordinator Mary Mattawashish.

healthyPromotingliving Mistissini community members soar in fitness challenge by Ben Powless Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Health

In the women’s 16+ relay, Team Miranda took home first, comprised of Audreanne Bouchard, Joannie Guilemette, Shayna Dominique, Trisha Gunner and Laurie Mathieu. In first for men’s was Team Go Habs Go, com prised of Caleb Awashish, Dave Jobin, Silas Neeposh, Louie Mianscum and Wally Rabbitskin. Both teams took home a prize of $2,000. “It was a success this year,” said organizer Helen Gunner, the Sports and Recreation Interim Coordinator. She said participation was a struggle com pared to last year, but in the end, they got more participants than last year.

22 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

the Nation 23 At least 23 participants competed in the individual events, while 16 teams of 60 participants competed on Day Two.

Mattawashish said they see people becoming interested in becoming first responders after these kinds of events, which involves an application, background check, followed by an eightday training. While they haven’t held many trainings during the pandemic, they’re starting to come back now.

Louie Mianscum has been racing since the late 1990s, and now works in the Sports and Recreation department as a minor sports assistant. This year he helped to train athletes, while also compet ing – coming in third place in the men’s competitive cat egory.Mianscum said he got hooked on being active and training for races. “I used to be over 300 pounds before I started training. Just going up the stairs was hard work, or staying outside on a hot day,” he said. “I didn’t like that. Now I’m enjoying life because I’m active again. “I used to be a good run ner, but now I don’t have a lot of strength. I guess you can say I’m average on all five events,” he added with a laugh. “I like the part of just being active, training for races. You start to feel the effects of training – it helps you in your daily life and you sleep better. You almost feel like you can do anything.” Mianscum prepared athletes for cycling by helping them know what they would confront on the course and helped others who weren’t as strong with canoeing. “Some of them are good at swimming, others good at running. It takes more than a year to really prepare for the competitive category,” he added.He’salso inspired by the athletic abilities of commu nity members. “I’m really happy to see the outcome, especially seeing new ath letes,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated, especially after the last few years and what’s happened with the pandemic.” Still, Mianscum is encour aged to see new swimming pools open in Cree communities, since it can be hard to train in the cold lakes and riv ers scattered across Eeyou Istchee.“I’ll be there next year as a 50-year-old, if anyone wants to challenge me!”

24 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca ACROSS1 "Let There Be Rock" band 5 Wound covering 9 Specialized lingo 14 Foal's mother 15 Medic or legal starter 16 "Gone With the Wind" star 17 Clothes presser 18 Impossible to fill 20 Limb's partner 22 Cash in 23 Geyser output 24 Gas guzzler 26 Caustic criticism 28 Carry on 32 Galaxy rival 35 Picnic side dish 37 Salon service 38 Hunter's quarry 40 Soften, as lighting 41 It may be inflated 42 Christmas ball, 68 Standards org. 13 "It's us against 43 Parking lot e.g. 69 Count (on) ___" covering 45 Dwell on 19 A million million 44 Garden State 47 More or ___ DOWN 21 Slim Shady capital 48 Head wreath 1 Out of place 25 Cape of ____ 46 Like most models 50 Flatware finisher 2 Insertion mark Hope 49 Bay windows 52 Send payment 3 Pilotless plane 27 Program airing 51 Zaps in an OR 56 Waikiki 4 Part of a peso 29 Nautical adverb 53 Bea Arthur role welcomes 5 Washer cycle 30 Badgers 54 Urge onward 59 "Honest Abe", 6 Tropic of ____ 31 Rare bills 55 Itsy-bitsy for one 7 1944 film, "____ 32 One to worship 56 Resident of 61 Heartbroken and Old Lace" 33 Fiery heap 66-across 63 Pull one over on 8 Call to Little 34 Brooding 57 Carson's 64 Anoint, old-style Bo-Peep mothers successor 65 Barbie, for one 9 Visitor from afar 36 Start, as a 58 Bakery fixture 66 Tree of life site 10 Library patrons voyage 60 451, to Caesar 67 Blanc et al. 11 Cutting remark 39 Gut feeling? 62 Toothpaste tube 12 Eye flirtatiously letters Crossword by Margie E. Burke Copyright 2022 by The Puzzle Syndicate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Here’s another edition of the Nation’s puzzle page. Try your hand at Sudoku or Str8ts or our Crossword, or bet ter 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. Puzzles PREVIOUS SOLUTION:Solution to Crossword: F O R C E F U S S S P O T A V I A N O M I T E A C H R E T R O G R A D E A N T I E R A S U R E E A R H E N G I F T L E G A T E O V E R H E R E T H E N P A C E F O R E H A N D E D E L O P E N B C B E L L O D E L E G A T I O N R E S T O A R S U N A W A R E S A N G L E S M O V E L I I T U B M A R S H A L I N C H M O B I L E H O M E B E A U E A R S N O S E S I S L E D R A T T E E N S 3 75536 94 834 478 357 28 617 9© 2022 Syndicated Puzzles57598 354761 92 8264 25683 17© 2022 Syndicated Puzzles548321796 276598431 319746852 123675948 967814325 485239167 831452679 792163584 654987213 STR8TS No. 606 Easy 34789 65423978 563489 785234 7869345 475623 217634 32184765 32156 6921 857 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 see how ‘straights’ are formed. Previous solution - Medium SUDOKU To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number Foruniquely.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.The solutions will be published here in the next issue.You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com No. 606 Tough Previous solution - Medium

www.nationnews.ca August 12, 2022 the Nation 25 by Sonny DazeOrr of confusion Rez Notes

It used to be good to have a negative result but keeping up with the masking and the washing has gone out the window and we bathe in a microscopical ether issued from others

Iarise from my bed, the acid reflux tak ing its toll on my weary abdomen as the continuous burping turns into a torren tial spewing session. I recover, weakened by this second assault to my body, and slowly recover my senses. It must be that gastro that’s going around, I say to myself. And sure enough, gastro is the main suspect as many others are complaining about this new-yet-old medical problem on social media. I decide to complain as well, and sev eral helpful hints are echoed from here and there. Not too many strikes, I guess I can’t compete with the Kardashians or some other reality show host with nothing better to do than show us what they do on a regular basis. My show would start with the usual cock-a-doodle-doos as the first light of day emerges. Now was that a rooster that crowed or was it a seagull, raven, crow or forlorn zombie? Who knows, the morning is a wonderous time, like hey, what happened to the dogs that abound ed last year? A lonely dog, within ear range, howled and yapped, as if to say, I’m still here! So glad that there’s good dog control in this community. Back in the day, the first person employed right after the chief was the dog control officer. Dogs played an important role and were a natural resource, but a wild one at that. Dogs weren’t just dogs back then. My coffee awaits me in my reality show, and life kicks back in very slowly. As I sip the java, I pretend I can taste and savour it, but I can’t, as Covid has disabled my sensory system, my nose and tongue. I find out after doing my test for the umpteenth time, I get the double line. For some reason, it’s a sigh of relief as I was the last man standing, literally. It used to be good to have a negative result but keeping up with the masking and the washing has gone out the win dow and we bathe in a microscopical ether issued from others. I was happy to learn that it was a flu-like problem but keeping it under the hood doesn’t seem to matter anymore. I guess its herd immuni zation time! As far as getting sick, I found that I couldn’t stay awake long enough to get anything done. Being drowsy in the mid dle of the day all day doesn’t seem right, but it does feel luxurious. No real reason to move around and do anything produc tive; a small break for the old worn-out bodyI’mmaybe?justhalfway through my isolation test. Can I last that long, or will I go out and spread the good microbe news around? There is no end to what can be thought of but trying to focus is extremely difficult to do. Do I have the attention span of fruit fly or is it more like elephant memories that take a lifetime to re-enact? Who knows? Not even the robot doc tor on 811, whose musical choice was designed to put you to sleep and calm your nerves but only exacerbates them. Now I just self-medicate, meditate and memorize these moments as the songs of my youth drone on. At least the online service is stuck in the 1970s. So, I wait for a voice to respond as the music drones on and on and on… zzz... zzz...

T T T

ter. There may be fewer hospitalizations, ICU cases and deaths but still, who wants to get sick at all in the middle of our pre cious summer here in Canada? The other cause for concern when you get infected is in how it can severely or permanently affect your health. I’ve been cautioned by doctors and medical professionals in the past about how even just a simple viral infection can set off a chain of events inside your body that can cause irreparable damage. Our natural immune system is a complex system of protections inside our body that works most of the time but sometimes can go off balance for many different reasons.

Wehavebeenpresent since1939.Allmembers ofthelargeDeshaies' familyarebyyourside todayandwillalsobe forthebetterdaysto Wehavebeenpresent since1939.Allmembers ofthelargeDeshaies' familyarebyyourside todayandwillalsobe forthebetterdaysto come. by Xavier Kataquapit

The research into what Covid does to our bodies is ongoing and there is still debate as to what it does to us in the short term let alone the long term. One of the easiest things to do to pre vent yourself and others from getting sick is to simply be careful, wear a mask when you are in a grocery store, restaurant or retail place with lots of people and stay away from anyone with obvious symp toms. This virus is not finished with us and although we are fed up with it, common sense indicates that wearing a mask at times is a good idea. If you choose to wear a mask you could be protecting Elders, grandmothers, grandfathers and those with compromised health. We can’t smoke anymore in public places, and we must wear seat belts in vehicles because they are proven to save lives. People pushed back on these restrictions but in time with some education things changed for the better. Wearing a mask as often as possible can saves lives and hopefully Covid will wind down with the combination of vaccines and natural immunity. It is mostly the elderly over 60 years of age who are dying with Covid, but thousands of others who are younger are also getting very sick, suffering from long Covid and some even dying. For the next few months as we make our way through this current wave we should be thinking twice and doing our best to protect the more vulnerable in our population from this virus. I know that many people up the James Bay coast are travelling this summer. They are so happy to be out and about, and I am happy for them. There are all kinds of amazing powwows, gatherings, music and community events happening this summer and I encourage people to take care, wear a mask when indoors at these events and get booster vaccines. I am concerned about hearing many of my Indigenous family and friends contract ing this latest variant. Some have mild er symptoms while others are extremely sick. Due to the nature of how closely everyone lives together in remote north ern First Nations there is always the dan ger that new Covid variants can be easily spread in their communities. Remember this is not just about you. When you are out and about remem ber our Elders, the grandmothers and grandfathers and those who are not very healthy ... do your part to protect them.

26 the Nation August 12, 2022 www.nationnews.ca Under the Northern Sky www.underthenorthernsky.com

Protect the vulnerable – wear a mask UTNS My people have a long history of dealing with new dangerous and deadly diseases that we had no protection against. During the First World War, I lost my great-grandfather to the 1918 influenza pandemic when he left his homeland on James Bay to volunteer for the war overseas. He never returned and he now lies in a burial plot just outside the city of London. In the decades that followed, wave after wave of influenza, smallpox, mea sles, polio and most commonly tubercu losis claimed many people on the James Bay coast because there was little to no immunity to these new diseases. My par ents often reminded us of how they lived through epidemics in the 1940s and 1950s. Older members of my family know these stories and they understand how new infectious diseases can quickly affect our small remote communities. History is repeating now with new waves of the Covid pandemic continuing to spread everywhere. We know for sure that we are in a new wave with new vari ants which are more infectious. Health experts are warning that these latest variants are more contagious and better at escaping our antibodies which means this is causing breakthrough and repeat infections.Iamhearing about many people I know catching the latest variant and some are very sick with it. Thankfully, for those with vaccinations, things are not so bad when they pick up this virus and those with boosters seem to do even bet

in Whapmagoostui in Chisasibi in Wemindji in Eastmain in Nemaska in Waskaganish in Waswanipi in Oujé-Bougoumou in Mistissini copy of your Nation every two weeks? Let’s cheer these amazing businesses listed below… Nation is available there! Chisasibi Coop | T: 819-855-2828 Retro Daze Café | T: 819-855-1847 BAKECREE | T : 819-855-6344 The Yummy Cook Out | T: 819-855-2241 Eastmain Grocery Store 819-977-0283 Whale Mart Waswanipi Grocery 819-753-2514 Meechum Reg’ T: 418-923-3217 Nemaska Grocery T: 819-673-2525 – Casey’s Depanneur and Gaz T: 418-745-3211 Hill Grocery 819-895-2727 Wemindji Community Store T: 819-978-3656 Always available for download at: nationnews.ca in Whapmagoostui in Chisasibi in Wemindji in Eastmain in Nemaska in Waskaganish in Waswanipi in Oujé-Bougoumou in Mistissini Where can you pick up a fresh copy of your Nation every two weeks? Let’s cheer these amazing businesses listed below… Nation is available there! Chisasibi Coop | T: 819-855-2828 Retro Daze Café | T: 819-855-1847 BAKECREE | T : 819-855-6344 The Yummy Cook Out | T: 819-855-2241 Eastmain Grocery Store T: 819-977-0283 Whale Mart – Waswanipi Grocery T: 819-753-2514 Meechum Reg’ T: 418-923-3217 Nemaska Grocery T: 819-673-2525 – Casey’s Depanneur and Gaz T: 418-745-3211 Smokey Hill Grocery T: 819-895-2727 Wemindji Community Store T: 819-978-3656 nationnews.ca in Whapmagoostui in Chisasibi in Wemindji in Eastmain in Nemaska in Waskaganish in Waswanipi in Oujé-Bougoumou in Mistissini Where can you pick up a fresh copy of your Nation every two weeks? Let’s cheer these amazing businesses listed below… Nation is available there! Chisasibi Coop | T: 819-855-2828 – Retro Daze Café | T: 819-855-1847 BAKECREE | T : 819-855-6344 – The Yummy Cook Out | T: 819-855-2241 Eastmain Grocery Store T: 819-977-0283 Whale Mart Waswanipi Grocery T: 819-753-2514 Meechum Reg’ T: 418-923-3217 Nemaska Grocery T: 819-673-2525 Casey’s Depanneur and Gaz T: 418-745-3211 Smokey Hill Grocery T: 819-895-2727 Wemindji Community Store T: 819-978-3656 Always available for download at: nationnews.ca

Air Creebec is operating by respecting and exceeding the rules with extensive cleaning and disinfecting of the aircraft, social distancing on board and at all service counters. We encourage everyone to respect the rules and to stay safe. the latest Air Creebec updates, please visit aircreebec.ca/covid19

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