The Nation | Vol. 30, No. 02

Time is precious

by Will Nicholls

We can all remember the story of Jordan River Anderson, a Cree kid from Norway House First Nation in Manitoba. Jordan had a rare muscular disorder that required years of medical treatment. When doctors finally said he could live in a home, the provincial and federal governments fought over who had to pay for necessary home care.

After two years of unresolved court battles, five-year-old Jordan died in his sterile hospital room never having experi enced the warmth of a real home.

The national outcry led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle, which mandates that both on- and off-reserve Indigenous children have a right to the same level of services enjoyed by all Canadian children. More specifically, children should not be denied services while governments fight over who should pay.

Of course, this was only expressed in a Private Member’s motion in the House of Commons. While it has moral power, it is not the same as a bill passed into law.

It was a bittersweet victory. But since then, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that the Canadian government’s improper implementation of the principle resulted in discrimination in the substan dard health and social services provided to Indigenous children.

Yet, there was hope in the beginning. Every people, culture, race, religion and human community value their children. Everyone recognizes that children are the most vulnerable members of any soci ety. Thus, all Indigenous Peoples with in Canada felt that a common ground was reached. Even while the children are voiceless other Indigenous people who cared for them could easily claim the

Every people, culture, race, religion and human commu nity value their children. Everyone recognizes that children are the most vulnerable members of any society

same. They are not allowed participation in decision-making, and are judged as failures, while the actions of others, espe cially non-Indigenous people, cannot be questioned.

Jordan’s story affected me deeply. And when the story surfaced of a Quebec coroner who ruled that delays in Quebec’s health system “very likely” lead to the death from bacterial meningitis of a sev en-month-old girl, the same emotions sur faced as well. The coroner said she might have survived if it hadn’t taken so long to get her to the hospital.

One must ask, what hospital did she mean? Coroner Géhane Kamel looked at the timeline from Manawan to a spe cialized pediatric centre in Montreal. The timeline really starts when the infant showed symptoms as early as March 31, when her parents were told to give their daughter Tylenol.

Three days later, a Manawan nurse called 911, saying the baby was suffering from breathing problems and was starting to convulse. The family waited more than an hour and 45 minutes for an ambulance.

Doctors at their regional hospital decid ed to medevac the infant to Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital. She arrived more than eight-and-a-half hours after the ini tial call to 911.

Given the overcrowding and lack of housing it is not surprising that there are problems. In Nunavik, a coroner’s report looking into the death of a three-monthold infant in 2021 said overcrowding in the home was a factor and has called on the Quebec and federal governments to rapidly increase the supply of social housing there.

So, are these examples of Jordan’s Principle having no teeth, not being respected or implemented? Or simply examples of the poor quality of health care in Indigenous communities? We all know those fine principles will be used to pave a certain political road for our camera-loving leaders. But in the end, we also know that losing our precious children while politicians procrastinate on fulfilling their responsibilities shows they have precious little principle on matters of life and death.

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

A New Health Model

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Anew report highlights changes that Cree community members believe would help improve physi cal, social, mental and spiritual health in their communities. Compiled by the Cree Health Board and independent research ers, it brings together nearly a decade of feedback received by committees tasked with improving wellness based on Cree values.

The CHB launched the Iiyuu Ahtaawin Miyupimaatisiiun (“being alive well”) Planning initiative in 2013 to seek com munity-identified solutions across Eeyou Istchee. Local Miyupimaatisiiun commit tees consulted members on all aspects related to a broad definition of health.

From 2016 through 2020, CHB staff and McGill University-affiliated researchers interviewed 22 of the committee members to gather their feedback and evaluate their projects, challenges and accom plishments.

Participants say the interviews were based on healing from residential school trauma, revitalizing Cree culture, and decolonizing health systems and policies.

The anonymous members shared that healing from residential school trauma was a long-term journey and that it was important to create spaces for collective healing. They noted that many people didn’t begin to share until the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, and it was important to foster more shar ing between generations, particularly between parents and their children.

Some felt it was important to recog nize that there are both traditional and religious people recovering, requiring a recognition of the spiritual diversity need ed to deal with trauma.

In terms of revitalizing Cree culture, it was felt that prioritizing the Cree language was of utmost importance. Participants identified the need to bring back “Cree traditional practices, teaching rites, as

well as skills, knowledge, values, and language, into everyday community life.”

Land-based activities such as hunting, trapping, snaring, fishing, cutting wood, building tents and healthy diets were seen as a key to returning to these ther apeutic traditions. Many had experienced a disconnect from their own culture in their lives and acknowledged embarrass ment in having to relearn these traditions as an adult.

To build a sense of pride, they iden tified dancing, drumming, and traditional rites surrounding birthing and aging –such as the walking-out ceremony – as being effective. Traditional arts and crafts, such as beading, snowshoe making or moose cleaning, were also highlighted.

Committee members explained that contemporary institutional policies, pro grams and bureaucracies limit Cree val ues and beliefs. Instead, they want to see health policies and programs designed by Cree communities and Cree deci sion-makers. Elder-care, abuse preven tion, youth protection, school program ming and health education were identi fied as priorities.

Jeremiah Mianscum is the Coordinator of Community Development under the Nishiiyuu Miyupimaatisiiun department of the CHB. His department works close ly with individual communities and the Cree Nation Government to reactivate local committees that had almost stopped functioning during the pandemic.

He says there has been high staff turnover since his appointment in 2019, and that there’s still some confusion about who is running the committees, since they were convened by both the CHB and local band offices.

Mianscum’s office is hosting a meet ing in Montreal February 21-23 to reacti vate the committees and understand the supports they need, the issues they’re facing, and how they can be better orga nized.

“We’re helping them with action plans, terms of reference, anything that can help them achieve their priorities to keep the committees going,” Mianscum explained.

He said most communities have an active committee with a renewed reso lution from chief and council. They had their first meeting as a group in July and Mianscum said there was a lot of enthusi asm and momentum to implement chang es that the committees have identified.

Committees are made up of commu nity members with backgrounds in social work, social development, and from fire and youth departments, among others. Mianscum said that if people are interest ed in joining their local committee, they can contact their local committee chair or the CHB.

Mianscum said the main challenge isn’t a question of funding but rather of collaboration.

“We’re going to need input from com mittees at a grassroots level to ensure that we’re supporting the population in terms of health and with land-based stuff. Once we have this symposium, we’ll have more of an understanding of what we can do,” he said.

While some communities may feel that they don’t have sufficient funding, Mianscum observed, they may simply be unaware of sources that would allow them to implement their initiatives. Other communities may need different forms of support, which his department is hoping to identify in February.

Mianscum is inviting chiefs and coun cils to attend the symposium to add polit ical weight to the initiative.

“We really want to work with them and with the CNG as well,” he insisted. “We’ll be sending out invitations shortly, hoping to have a dialogue with commit tees and establishing working-together strategies.”

Cree committees highlight efforts to decolonize health and wellness

What’s new on the to-do list as Chisasibi moves

Chisasibi held the second day of its annual general assem bly November 2; it had been postponed for a month due to a death of an Elder in the community. For Chief Daisy House, broadcasting these meetings on the radio are a valuable opportunity for community members to learn about important local issues while hearing stories from Elders.

“Long ago, they would have shouting matches at community meetings, but they didn’t hold grudges,” House recalled. “Some don’t have Elders at their home but if they hear stories on the radio, that’s ammunition for carrying our culture and traditions forward to our children and grandchildren.”

The general assembly heard about Kathryn Borbridge’s Animal Care and Control “spay and neuter” campaign and dis cussed Washaw Sibi’s request for transferring one square kilo metre towards its future village. A community referendum will determine that decision, which is complicated by the significant impact of development on Chisasibi territory.

“We’ve had 50 years of impact and Hydro-Québec has eight dams out of 11 on Chisasibi territory,” House told the Nation. “It won’t be that easy to give away land when we’ve lost so much. There’s so much underwater that the younger generation will never get to see.”

While Hydro-Québec is implementing refurbishments of their aging LG-3 and -4 generating stations, it’s begun discus sions with the community and Cree Nation Government about the potential for further upgrades. The company has agreed to study the nearby riverside’s record level of erosion.

“This will be the fifth consecutive winter the Fort George crossing doesn’t freeze,” explained House. “We used to be able to snowshoe or skidoo to the island. We’ve had an exceptional amount of erosion, especially the last two years.”

With the winter caribou hunting season approaching, com munity leaders have discussed with tallymen the prospect of renewing last year’s mutual understanding with the Innu Nation that enabled them to share in the Cree guaranteed harvest. While the Innu were hoping to start hunting before Christmas, House suggested that will be determined by the caribou popu lation’s sustainability.

“We’ll work around the caribou’s schedule,” said House. “Weather and the tallymen also determine the hunt. Out of that agreement, we ask for respect for the caribou, the land and the land users. We don’t want a handful of delinquents to ruin it for everybody.”

Although 19 of the 40 involved tallymen have welcomed the Innu back to their traplines, others have various reasons for saying no, such as not having caribou in their area. House emphasized the Elders’ teachings of only taking what you need, not hunting from a moving vehicle or at night, and knowing your surroundings.

Order of business

On Fort George Island, Elders contin ue to be consulted in identifying priority areas to investigate at former residential schools. George E. Pachano has been hired to work on the project’s next steps, which may involve ground penetrating radar (GPR), LiDAR or another new tech nology that can detect old graves without excessive clearcutting.

With new Deputy Chief Mark Wadden (following Paula Napash’s resignation this summer), one of the community’s priorities is addressing its housing backlog, includ ing a 1,000-person waiting list. The private market can’t expand quickly enough, with new homes selling before they’re built and one recent open house drawing 90 visitors.

Developing the private sector was a focus of Sheena Costain’s AGA presenta tion for the Department of Commerce and Industry. Aiming to stimulate and diversify economic growth in Eeyou Istchee, the department wants business owners and potential entrepreneurs to know about its various funding programs.

“Whereas the private sector is flour ishing, and the public sector is on the backburner in most of Quebec, in Eeyou Istchee it’s the flip,” asserted Costain. “Social economy is a big one for us, like not-for-profits, because we don’t see a lot of thrift stores, food banks, greenhouses.”

While these gaps were identified during community discussions, aspiring

entrepreneurs were more likely to be interested in starting construction and transport companies, restaurants, cafés or convenience stores. Costain said many of these business types are lacking in the more isolated coastal communities, resulting in significant “economic leak age” from long shopping trips.

Funding applicants are encouraged to also look towards sources such as Apatisiiwin Skills Development and Eeyou Economic Group. When creating a busi ness plan, your local economic develop ment officer should be your first step for guidance and covering the plan’s costs.

During her late-summer community tour, Costain realized a need to better connect with young entrepreneurs and support more modern business models that leverage the online world. She looks forward to targeting this demographic, perhaps planting the seeds of entrepre neurship in secondary school workshops.

“What’s so unique about Chisasibi is youth were very engaged,” Costain said. “They stayed with us all day and were the last to leave, with lots of questions about online platforms. One of the many different avenues to having a career in Eeyou Istchee is being your own boss, achieving your own vision for what you think is needed here.”

Responding to strong demand for expanded cultural programs during the Cree Nation Youth Council AGA this sum

mer, Chisasibi’s Youth Council is planning land-based retreats this winter for both young women and men.

“We may be prioritizing those needing extra guidance,” suggested Youth Chief Corrina Napash. “We’ll be giving oppor tunity to build sisterhood, also having sewing activities, preparing traditional food. The same thing for the young men –hunting trips, life skills. A lot of youth don’t have access to the land.”

Among the organization’s many ini tiatives was a recent 100-day Sober Challenge, which drew 42 participants vying for the $4,000 travel-voucher grand prize. With summertime binge drinking common, Napash said the goal was to encourage reflection about consumption while promoting the many community resources available for those seeking help.

The Challenge culminated with a feast, including swag from Cree Prints Customs and entertainment from Brian Fireman. Recent activities like the popular haunted trail have raised funds for the upcoming “Gifts from the Heart” campaign, which provided gifts to about 250 children from low-income families last Christmas.

“If entities have the opportunity to fund these projects, please do, because they do help,” said Napash. “The cultural programs bring us a lot of healing and connection to our land.”

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photos provided by Sheena Costain

Landslide north of Whapmagoostui

A landslide was reported north of Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuaraapik along the Little Whale River. The river is near ly 100km northeast of the twin communities, and about 60km south of Umiujaq in a non-pop ulated area.

Umiujaq Mayor Davidee Sappa told Nunatsiaq News that news of the landslide came only after people saw the damage while flying over the river. It’s unknown exactly when it occurred.

Marine wildlife manager Eddie Qumaluk told Nunatsiaq News that satellite imagery showed that debris formed along the Little Whale River basin and has flowed into Hudson Bay. He said there would be an environmental impact assessment to deter mine the impact.

Whapmagoostui Economic Development Officer Sonny Orr said the landslide was similar to an incident that occurred along the Great Whale River in 2021, when millions of cubic metres of thick clay soils col lapsed along a few kilometres of the river.

Orr said the area had high embankments of up to 200 feet with sand and trees on top of clay. He said there had been abundant rain before the slide, and that there may have been an earthquake that contribut ed to liquifying the ground.

Longchap’s Grade 6 class led the large group, followed by those in kindergarten to Grade 5.

“It was cold, and freez ing out there,” Longchap told the Nation. “I was walking 40 minutes. The small ones were mostly running and scream ing.”

The students walked from the school up main street to the post office, then down to the lodge and back around, enjoying some healthy snacks upon their return. Participants wore stickers to declare who they were walking for.

“Some people were walk ing for family members who are battling cancer or have passed away and others were walking for community mem bers they know,” explained principal Ashley MacPherson. “A lot of classes were talking about who Terry Fox was, and his journey. There are some community members who are currently struggling with can cer, so I think a lot of the kids were thinking of them.”

Refusing to be daunted by his cancer diagnosis and the amputation of his leg, Terry Fox

began his cross-country mar athon in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research. Starting from St. John’s, Newfoundland, he ran about 43 km daily for 143 days until the disease forced him to stop in Thunder Bay.

When Fox died at age 23 in 1981, his “marathon of hope” had raised over $24 million. His dream of eradicating cancer has since inspired countless people throughout the world, with Terry Fox Runs raising over $800 million internation ally to date.

Most people don’t know that this Canadian hero had Indigenous heritage. Research supported by Métis Nation British Columbia helped identi fy Fox’s maternal grandmother, Marian Gladue, who died in 2001, as Métisse.

Last April, a plaque was added in front of a memori al statue in Vancouver to acknowledge the Fox family’s Métis lineage, noting Terry was posthumously award ed the Order of the Sash, the Métis Nation’s highest honour, in recognition of his “contribu tion to the Nation and all peo

ple, as a leader in fundraising for cancer research.”

“He’s been a role model for many, many, many people of the world,” said Métis Nation Senator Philip Gladue at the unveiling. “Today, he’s with us here. He’s still running.”

While there have been several Terry Fox Runs in Cree communities over the years, the idea of bringing it back to Mistissini in 2017 came from student Anthony Rombotis. When he was in Grade 2, Rombotis became fascinated by Fox after seeing a statue of him in Ottawa, then helped his mother and teachers install posters around the commu nity.

“When I found out about Terry Fox, he was like a super hero to me,” Rombotis shared with the Nation in 2018. “Terry was determined. Even though it was hard to run with one leg, he never gave up. He believed in miracles, and so do I.”

While this year’s walk was Mistissini’s first since 2019 due to the pandemic, MacPherson hopes to keep the tradition going for many years – or at least until a cure is found.

Mistissini brings back Terry Fox Walk

On October 27, children at Mistissini’s Voyageur Memorial Elementary School walked and ran for Terry Fox, raising about $500 for cancer research. Local student Rylan

Rylan Longchap

Photo by Ashley MacPherson

Live in the presents

The Nation 2022 Christmas Gift Guide offers original ideas for everyone

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the Halloween decora tions are returned to their spooky lairs, the shopping malls tell us it’s already time to start thinking about Christmas. For this year’s holiday gift shop ping guide, the Nation offers something for everyone, even for that friend or family member who has everything.

In a cluttered world and uncertain economy, many people are moving toward do-it-yourself presents or “experience gifts” – such as theatre tickets, mas sage appointments or a trip to somewhere special. You could

also consider making donations to worthy causes on a loved one’s behalf.

Organizations like the Canadian Red Cross and Medical Teams Inter nation al provide survivor kits and other packag es for those in need. Oxfam’s Unwrapped program helps peo ple living in poverty by provid ing education, clean water and other life-changing essentials.

Another gift idea is to support artists by buying their music, books, paintings and other prod ucts of creative expression. Some interesting Indigenous

books released this year include Brandon Mitchell’s Guju’s Gift and William Dumas’ The Gift of the Little People. Both are illus trated novels based on tradition al stories.

We suggest targeting your purchasing power towards Indigenous entrepreneurs, envi ronmentally-conscious products and meaningful causes – but we can’t resist sharing some of the latest cool gadgets and trendy toys. Keep in mind, we haven’t tried any of these ideas, so buyer beware. Now on to that list!

Rapala Rag

Dolls

This small Montreal company is known for its cute and cuddly handmade dolls, along with its on-site “hospital” for repairing doll diseases such as detergent overdoses or big brother “accidents”. If you buy a Tutu doll, its “twin” will go to a child in a hospital with a special message from you. https://raplapla.com/en

Fisher-Price

DJ Bouncin’ Beats

Toddlers will get a kick out of this interactive toy that plays over 75 songs and phrases, introducing kids to counting, colours and the alphabet. Parents can even record messages for it to play, so their kids can hear their voice even when they are away.

www.amazon.ca

Glow in the Dark Rock Painting Kit

If you don’t mind paying 30 bucks for a box of rocks, this well-reviewed gift promises to spark your kid’s creativity while giving your garden some glow. When the included 3D glow paint runs out, keep the fun going with locally sourced paint and rocks. www.amazon.ca

Pop It!

Pro Light-Up Fidget Toy

Perfect for keeping the kids busy during your next road trip, this takes the classic bubble-popping fidget toy to the next level with three modes of solo or team games. Try to pop all the bubbles when they light up, then press the button on the back before time runs out.

www.amazon.ca

Children’s Fiction from Theytus Books

Theytus Books is Canada’s oldest Indigenous pub lishing house with a wealth of children’s titles, such as Harron Hall’s The Water Sings to Suli, Deborah Delaronde’s Louis Riel Day and Sus Yoo’s The Bear’s Medicine. www.theytus.com

Nation’s

Christmas Guide

Gifts for Kids

Raven Rising Chocolates

Chef Tammy Maki from White Bear First Nation creates unique flavours using traditional ingredients from Indigenous sources. To motivate you through the winter, you can choose a three-month “chocolate membership” featuring a curated blend of goodies.

Motion-Controlled Music Mixer

Musicians in your family will love this toy that lets you loop, mix and remix with four simple moves of the hand. It comes with 120 mixable music tracks and 80 sound effects. Plus, you can upload your own music or record yourself, con trolling the mixes with your movements.

https://rukusfx.com/?

Outsmart Bulb

For the next blackout, it would be handy to have this bulb, which works in any socket but automatically switches to LED lighting for up to six hours when the power goes out using advanced “Surge Switch” tech nology. After charging, you can take it off-grid to the bush for six hours of use or recharge it for an hour with a generator.

https://offer.buyoutsmartbulb.com

ArcTorch Lighter

This rechargeable lighter is waterproof and wind-resistant. There’s none of that old-fashioned butane; a long-lasting battery that gives 300 lights per USB charge will get your fires started no matter the weather you find yourself in.

https://arctorch.originaldefense.com

Streetwear by Chippwar

Jay Soule from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation creates provocative, colourful art and apparel highlighting the traditional warrior role in Indigenous cultures. Subversive shirts from his “built on genocide” collection are sure to generate attention and discussion. https://chippewar.com/

Securelite Cam

For simple yet superior home security at a fraction of the price, this innovative 360-degree camera screws into standard light-bulb sockets and can be accessed through your phone’s Wi-Fi. It has two-way audio, night vision, motion tracking, alarm functions and much more. www.amazon.ca

Napash Arts Apparel and Accessories

SliceChum Portable Sharpener

A few draws of this portable sharpener will restore your dull knives to razor sharpness. Its suction cup and locking mechanism ensures safe and simple sharpening with separate slots for coarse or ultra-precise work. Remember a dull tool can be more dangerous than a sharp one – knife skills are life skills!

www.myslicechum.com/en

OMNI ThePhotoStick

You know you should back up your important files, but the process is tedious. This tool automatically does it on any device with just one click while removing duplicates and organizing files for quick and easy retrieval.

www.amazon.ca

Eeyou Istchee’s Janet Napash and her daughter, both of whom now reside in Thunder Bay, have an online busi ness featuring beautiful clothing, paintings, handmade jewelry and more. Keep cozy this winter with “storytime

Danielle: ads@nationnews.ca Donna: donna@beesum.com

Farewell Mama Bird

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mistissini mourns the passing of teacher Marcela Henriquez

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Marcela Henriquez, who had become a beloved member of Mistissini’s community over six years as a Mikw Chiyâm teach er at Voyageur Memorial High School’s (VMHS), passed away October 29 surrounded by her family in Montreal.

Born in Guatemala in 1983, Henriquez left her tenured position in Montreal in 2016 to move to Mistissini after learning about Mikw Chiyâm from friends who helped found the ground-breaking arts program. At the first school to adopt Mikw Chiyâm, Henriquez was instrumental in the program’s exponential growth, both locally and regionally.

“I’d always wanted to work with Indigenous youth,” Henriquez told the Nation earlier this year. “To see how empowered they are through self-expres sion, it’s really inspiring not just as a teacher but as an artist, pushing myself to learn new things and be vulnerable. I share so they’re willing to try.”

Henriquez touched the lives of innu merable students by opening space to explore their creativity without judgment. Since her passing, many former students have credited Henriquez for helping them not only graduate but see a future they didn’t always see in themselves.

“Marcela had a heart of gold,” said her friend and colleague Krista McNamara. “She was generous, talented, warm and loving. Our students called her Mama Bird as she took them under her protective wings. We will miss her bright beautiful smile, great laugh, and passionate ener gy.”

out birds for community members to add their own messages. VMHS honoured Henriquez at a lunch feast on November 4,

Henriquez touched the lives of innumerable students by opening space to explore their creativity without judgment. Since her passing, many former students have credited Henriquez for helping them not only graduate but see a future they didn’t always see in themselves

when her family visited the community for the first time to meet the students she said were like her children.

students] step into creative careers them selves, carrying forward the unparalleled love, kindness, and support she showed each and every one of them.”

Siibii Petawabano was one of the pro gram’s first students and the first to come full circle as an artist-in-residence before becoming a nationally recognized music star. Siibii had a particularly strong bond with Marcela, remembering her tireless support in times of heartache and joy.

McNamara and others set up a memo rial at Henriquez’s front door, adding cut-

Katie Green, inPath’s executive direc tor, said Henriquez’s impact “will continue to ripple out for years to come as [her

“You brought your light and endless kindness to our home and made it a better place,” Petawabano shared on Facebook. “You impacted so many people’s lives and probably saved more lives than anyone could ever know. You planted these seeds, and we get to have a bit of Marcela with us because of it.”

Lance Cooper

Holiday Spirits

The return of La Grande Dégustation adds cheer to the coming holiday season

by Will Nicholls

Another victim of the pandemic, it’s been three years since La Grande Dégustation de Montréal – the wine and spirits exhi bition – was able to raise our spirits. An attempt to hold smaller gatherings in multiple places last year never really took off.

But at the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal October 20-22, tipplers were able to renew their tastebuds during a pleasurable quest for their next holiday cheer. With over 280 producers showcasing more than 1,600 products, it wasn’t hard not to find some thing for every palette.

Prices ranged from $15 for a six-pack of White Claw to $357 for a bottle of wine. With so many choices one wonders why only a few days were set aside for this event. In any case, it’s a great way to try out different wines or spirits without buying the whole bottle or depending on the tastes of SAQ employees.

Papegaai is a nice, sim ple South African wine. It was a semi-dry full-bodied white wine with a price tag of $21.90.

A sweet rosé I tried is called Crazy Birds, but this is difficult to find. It’s not too sweet but just enough

to titillate the tongue and is a relaxing wine to sip and enjoy.

A.A. Badenhorst is a fam ily-owned winery in South Africa. Their vintages range from $14.50 to $51.25. I tried the higher end at first and was pleasantly surprised. Even the lower-end red was decent. This is a wine to serve with moose, goose, caribou and even bear. It would be great to use in Beef Bourguignon.

A great way to clear my palate was with White Claw. I’ve never been into hard seltzers but decided to give it a try. The two I enjoyed the most were the pineap ple and lime flavours. The pineapple is a best seller for the company and after tasting it I understood why. Though some might feel this is a summer drink, I have brought it several times since the show. It is cheaper at the SAQ than at depanneurs or

With so many choices one wonders why only a few days were set aside for this event. In any case, it’s a great way to try out different wines or spirits without buying the whole bottle or depending on the tastes of SAQ employees.

grocery stores. Though launched in Canada only a couple years ago, White Claw already accounts for more than half of hard-seltzer sales in the US.

Some people are tired of Jameson Irish Whiskey because production methods make for an inconsistency in its taste. Not that this is a bad thing, but sometimes you want the flavour that the last bottle offered and often it isn’t there. Glendalough Irish Whiskey is a good alternative. It has a smooth taste that will warm the whole mouth and is a sure pleaser at $42. It would make a great gift that’s sure to impress the fatherin-law, boss or co-worker.

You want something to go with dessert? Then order a bottle of Signature Honey Wine, offered at $24.15. This Quebec-based mead is sweet and is quite different from your everyday wine. It also goes well with chocolate.

In South America I learned that not all rums are equal. One way to realize this is to try a glass of Newfoundland Screech

($27.15), which was a rite of pas sage for young Maritimers back in the day.

One house that stood out was the Flor de Caña. Lower-end pric es are around $28.50 but I didn’t taste those, instead heading to the 15-year-old Flor de Caña priced at $60.25. It has a beautiful scent and is even more beautiful on the tongue, leaving one want ing more.

For connoisseurs, however, the 25-year-old Flor de Caña is available for a hefty but worth while price of $226. It was like waking up just as the sun was starting to come over the trees while out on the land. It provides a sense of well-being that tells you all is well in the world.

Other suggestions include:

Tawse Chardonnay – A good white wine.

Figure Libre Freestyle – Good to have with red or wild meat.

Tamnavulin – A Speyside Single Malt Scotch that is just amazing

Never too late to chase your dreams

Outstanding Cree women honoured at CWEIA awards gala

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After moving to Gatineau from Chisasibi without a high school diploma in 2016, Tiffany Bearskin started studying at Algonquin College, getting her certificate in Aboriginal Studies in 2017. From there, she enrolled in the Office Administration program, getting that certificate in 2018.

She went on to get a diploma in Business Management from Algonquin in 2020 and is currently enrolled in

another one-year program at Algonquin while she works on a business plan for an enterprise that she hopes to launch in 2023.

Her efforts are paying off: Bearskin was honoured with the Woman in Education Award at the Outstanding Women Awards held by the Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association in Val-d’Or October 15.

“I was struggling to find a job because of my lack of education; that’s how I got into education,” Bearskin remarked. “I felt honoured to be rec ognized with all the struggles I went through all those years, coming from my community without a high school diplo ma to being recognized for education – that’s really an honour.”

Other winners include: Amy Dick (Whapmagoostui), Humanitarian/Compassionate Award

Frank Atsynia (Wemindji), Man of the Year Award

Maggie Lynn Sandy (Whapmagoostui), the Arts and Culture Award

Mary Jane Salt (Waskaganish), the Woman in Health Promotion and Fitness Award

Sharon Blackned (Nemaska), the Woman in Leadership Award Tammy Petawabano (Mistissini), the Woman in Public Service Award Alycia Lameboy Dixon (Chisasibi), the Youth of the Year Award.

“We would like to congratulate all of the recipients and encourage them to keep up their amazing work in their communities,” CWEIA President Charlotte Ottereyes said in a statement.

Josephine Sheshamush, CWEIA Program Coordinator, said that the event initially had to be postponed several times because people had scheduling conflicts, but everything worked out in the end.

“It’s important to recognize women in all walks of life because we hardly give recognition to women and they’re the backbone of our communities, with some in leadership roles,” Sheshamush explained. “We want to bring back the strong women to acknowledge them for the hard work they do that’s not paid sometimes, and to inspire them to become more than what they can be.”

This is the first year for the youth award, she added. “We wanted to include young women to inspire them to be forward looking and to recognize who they are, young leaders and trail blazers.”

About 60 people attended the event. While the organization has 11 award categories, they only received nomina tions the year for eight, and not all the winners were able to attend in the end. Sheshamush encouraged community members to nominate women, youth and men for next year’s awards.

Bearskin said she didn’t know who nominated her, and she was surprised to win. “I didn’t think I would have that recognition, knowing I’ve been in school

for six years now,” she shared. “It’s been quite the journey.”

Bearskin hopes her example can inspire young women and mothers to get their education and follow their own career paths. “I pretty much started over, over here,” she said.

Her parents helped with her son in those years, and now she has a good support system thanks to her family and boyfriend, with her son keeping her motivated.

“It’s never too late to chase your dreams,” she said.

When she won the award for Woman in Health Promotion and Fitness, an elated Mary Jane Salt said, “I felt moti vation kicking in for what I’ve been doing all this time.”

She attended the event with her par ents and five-year-old daughter. “When I told my mom, after I found out, she said you have to go, this is a very spe cial award,” Salt said, even though she initially planned to go to Chisasibi that weekend for a volleyball tournament.

Salt’s journey began in doctors’ offices, where she confided that she often found herself in tears after consis tently receiving bad news from her doc tors about high blood pressure, while

dealing with high sugar, lots of stress, panic attacks and anxiety attacks.

“Every time I visited my doctor, he would say I wasn’t in good health: ‘If you don’t do something there’s a chance for heart attacks or diabetes.’ I tried playing sports, but I didn’t watch what I was eating,” she said.

Salt still remembers the day – March 20, 2018 – when she finally decided things needed to change. “I said okay, I’m going to change this lifestyle and do something about it. It’s enough.”

She began going to fitness ses sions in her community with her sec ond daughter who had just been born. “I’d go with her and learn how to eat well and healthy. Then I started to see results. Every time I’d go for checkups, the nurse would say my blood pressure was going down.”

“I used to take three pills in the morning and at night. I always thought, only old people take pills. But I’m not old. I became more motivated every time my nurse would give me good news,” she said.

She began attending marathons, since running a marathon was always a dream of hers. However, her fitness journey hit a road bump in 2019, where

she broke her foot running for a homer un in a baseball tournament in Val-d’Or.

However, where others might give up, it only inspired Salt as she reflect ed on people more unfortunate than her. “My doctor said you’re very lucky because there was no pulse on your foot. It reminded me that things happen to people, and they can’t walk anymore. So never take health for granted or life for granted,” she added.

Salt continued with her exercises and health diet, eventually getting to the point where she didn’t need pills any more. “I’m really happy where I am right now. I have all these happy moods,” she shared. “Getting the award is a blessing for me, all this time I asked God what’s going on with me?”

Now the Programs and Events Coordinator for Waskaganish, Salt start ed inviting people to work out with her and get help with their workouts during the pandemic. She hopes to make peo ple realize how important it is to take care of themselves.

“It’s all about the mindset. You have to get motivated. And you have to be dedicated if you want better health,” she added. “I learned that it really helps when I have a positive mindset. Believe in yourself.”

Through the comic book

by Sonny Orr

There was a time years ago when absorbing yourself in a comic book was something that whittled away a few hours of the day. As often as we could, we tried to keep up with the ongo ing adventures of Batman and Robin, Superman and the Hulk. And if you were of legal age, Wonder Woman.

Sometimes, those comics made our somewhat dull lives a little more enter taining, as our minds filled with imagi nation. This imagination is what kept our little noggins busy in the few hours that we could call down time. At Christmas, the joy of receiving a flashlight meant that you could read those comics in the dark and made that scary visit to the outhouse a lot less frightening.

Today, the thought of being with out a battery to light your phone to see everything within a half watt of power is unheard of. Now, the reason why you can’t do anything can be excused by saying that you are waiting for your phone to charge. Some people even think that messaging at odd hours is considered working overtime, but then again, they are an odd sort.

For me, it’s either for work or for play and I don’t like mixing the two. One could get confused with my sincerity at the job. For example, if I told the council, “Wait, I can’t come to the meeting right now because my phone is dead, and I’m par alyzed.” If I heard that excuse, I’d whip out my Archie comic book and swat the person upside that unused head of theirs.

Now, a comic book is something that I’ve noticed is starting to lean towards an older audience, a more worldly one. So much so that I wonder when Archie and Robin managed to get so physically perfect. That’s either by just chasing girls or beating up bad guys on command from an older dude who uses fancy weapons like batwings.

Speaking of batwings, do they taste like chicken or is it the Covid-induced loss of taste and smell that somehow makes those crispy wings feel like a famous wing dipped in a sauce? Or is it the new fad now – the flirt with danger that used to belong exclusively to the pufferfish, which can kill you with its deliciousness.

For a batwing, it’s the flirtation with the world’s medical response to the cur rent pandemic and, as you can tell, it takes years to play out. So, you get a choice: the quick and easy way (and get on the short list of people who have dared to eat the toxic pufferfish) or those who got the flu and dared take the long slow death, which could take a lifetime.

If this were based on an actual com ic-book story, the mystery is always dealt to the reader upfront and the unknown bad guys are always the last to suspect.

With Archie, it’s some jealous rival or the school principal. For Robin, it’s the medi cal secretary who he has a secret crush on. But she’s the only suspect because she’s the only one with the keys to the laboratory and with an evil twin sister whose main task is to wreak havoc on the free world. Unsurprisingly, the evil twin is the same person with a split personality – a good nurse by day, a ravishing blood thirsty angel by night. Poor Robin and his diminished sense and sensibility.

As for comic books compared to today’s technology, at least the batteries didn’t wear out and could be reused, recycled and repurposed for anything you needed it to be. At the worst, you could have preserved your childhood passion in plastic. But who would’ve known back then that a lame joke guy like Archie would be worth a pretty penny today.

My bathroom entertainment device is now worth anywhere from 25 cents to 200 grand in loonies, if in mint condition. So, save those paper-made comic books in vacuum-sealed plastic. Better still, get a signed one at a comic-book convention and resell it on social media in 40 years for billions (10 bucks in today’s currency rate).

But who would’ve known back then that a lame joke guy like Archie would be worth a pretty penny today

Co-operate or perish

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

This year’s Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) was hosted by Egypt, where more than 100 world leaders discussed our most pressing environmental challenge. There were also powerful fossil-fuel lobbyists who tried to gaslight everyone into think ing their industry is not responsible for destroying the planet.

However, UN Secretary-General António Guterres was firm about the urgency of taking immediate action to reduce global greenhouse emissions: “A third of Pakistan flooded. Europe’s hottest summer in 500 years. The Philippines hammered. The whole of Cuba in black out.... We are on the highway to climate hell.”

According to Climate Action Tracker, we’re still racing to disaster, with projec tions of average temperatures rising 2.4 degrees Celsius by 2050, well above the 1.5⁰C target.

Developing countries are the most impacted by the climate crisis and many of their leaders used the forum as an opportunity to seek international support. The stakes are high. And the scientific community is almost unanimous about the fact that we’re running out of time to take meaningful action.

For a youth like myself, I find it absurd to see a bunch of middle-aged politicians discussing climate like it’s just another agenda item in another humdrum world forum. The general attitude of politicians here in the West is dismissive of our fears about climate change.

Last month, Quebec Premier François Legault even said, “Young people should worry about education instead of the environment.” But we can’t attend school if the world is on fire.

It is also odd for us to keep studying or working full-time to save money for our future without knowing if any of our goals will be relevant in 10 years.

We’re constantly told to work hard for what we want and that taking time to enjoy life means we are slackers. But will I be able to enjoy a decent quality of life in a few years? It’s hard to figure this out when our leaders prioritize profits over science.

This year, leaders of so-called devel oped countries were expected to dis cuss the concept of climate reparations to address other countries’ requests for

funds to manage the damage caused by extreme weather events.

I hoped to see leadership from Canada on this issue, especially given the big chunk of budget that was quickly diverted towards humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

It’s hard not to worry when the effects of climate change are tangible and observable in our region of Eeyou Istchee. Fall was abnormally warm, and we seem to lose the transition seasons that are necessary for wildlife to prepare for harshest months.

I have a healthy distrust for authority, especially for the small minority of world leaders who can either steer us away or towards disaster. As Secretary-General Guterres put it, “Humanity has a choice: co-operate or perish.”

Wehavebeenpresent since1939.Allmembers ofthelargeDeshaies' familyarebyyourside todayandwillalsobe forthebetterdaysto

Wehavebeenpresent since1939.Allmembers ofthelargeDeshaies' familyarebyyourside todayandwillalsobe forthebetterdaysto come.

We’re constantly told to work hard for what we want and that taking time to enjoy life means we are slackers. But will I be able to enjoy a decent quality of life in a few years?

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