The Nation | Vol. 30, No. 07

Photo provided by Donald Nicholls

Strategies are needed

by Will Nicholls

Critical minerals and materials are a concern for all of us on this planet as many are necessary for meeting both climate change objectives and defense needs. Especially rare-earth elements, like lithium and cobalt, which are used in everything from computers to all our household appliances that make our lives so much easier. Clean energy batteries, electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines cannot exist without them these days.

With 196 countries signing the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015, they are obligated to reduce greenhouse gases and transition away from hydrocarbons (gas, oil, coal) to renewable energy sources in an effort to stabilize and lower global warming trends.

But the costs of creating them are high. It means a sixfold increase in getting more nickel, copper, lithium and cobalt. And that’s not counting rare earths. The International Energy Agency reported that a “typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car,” adding that a wind power plant needs nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired plant.

Not only is green energy costing an arm and a leg but the same applies to other uses we all take for granted like cellphones, ear buds, internet connections, TVs and the list goes on. The commercial market is dependent upon them and so is the defense capabilities.

In 1950, the United States created the Defense Production Act (DPA). If you don’t think this affects you, think again. There is a silent economic war going on with China and Russia over mineral

and rare-earth resources. At one point China controlled supply of 95% of the rare earths; today, it’s the still high amount of 60%. Russia owns a high percentage of critical minerals and rare earths and that only increased when they annexed Crimea. It wasn’t just about protecting ethnic Russians living there. Their recent invasion of Ukraine has given Russia even more mineral wealth and a huge share of Ukraine’s lithium deposits.

The DPA by the way allows Canadian mining and exploration companies to get grants from them. Canada, itself, said it’s earmarking $3.8 billion over eight years to develop a critical minerals industry. Canada says they will not reduce regulatory oversight, however. But in a December speech to AFN chiefs filled with all the nice words politicians thrive on, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said,

“Your respect and stewardship of the earth is essential for our collective work to protect the environment, fight climate change…”

So, what really does this mean for a First Nations or Indigenous community? Well, it seems that Canada could become the leading source of rare earths and metals for the western world. The problem is that most of the sources are in northern Canada in what they call sparsely populated areas, meaning the homes and territories of First Nations and Inuit.

With grants from both Canada and the US, there will be even more exploration and exploitation of those traditional territories.

While Canada and the US have their strategies, it is obvious that Indigenous peoples must come up with their own because the rush is on.

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 S. Orr, M. Labrecque-Saganash, P. Quinn, B. Powless DESIGN Matthew Dessner, Ashley El Jachi SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse THANKS TO: Air Creebec

CONTACT US: The Nation News, 918-4200

The Nation is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications EDITORIAL BOARD L. Stewart, W. Nicholls, M. Siberok,

Not only is green energy costing an arm and a leg but the same applies to other uses we all take for granted like cellphones, ear buds, internet connections, TVs and the list goes on.

New Top Gun

Davey Bobbish takes over as Cree Nation Executive Director

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Davey Bobbish was at home, listening to the radio, when he found out through the news that he had been selected to be the new Executive Director of the Cree Nation Government (CNG), replacing the outgoing one, Bill Namagoose.

“That’s how they work at the Cree Nation Government,” Bobbish said with a laugh, adding that he later got a follow-up phone call from Namagoose and Human Resources. “I was pretty proud. It took a while, but it was worth the wait,” he added, after applying in December 2021 and getting the offer in August 2022.

Since September, Bobbish has worked alongside Namagoose to try to get a handle on the role, meeting with department heads, directors and consultants about all the files managed by the CNG’s top civil servant.

However, Bobbish said he had been working with Namagoose since shortly after he began his career in public service in 1998, when he was elected to council in Chisasibi. “That was my first experience in local politics,” Bobbish said. “I was working for a local construction company, then I became part of chief and council.”

With a background in finance, Bobbish was asked to take over as the Director of Finance for the community, since the role had been vacant for over a year. He had to first resign as a councillor so he could become appointed treasurer in 2002, which is when he began working with Namagoose.

By 2004, Bobbish became Director General of Operations for Chisasibi, while still holding the title of treasurer. He remained there until 2011, when he was appointed Deputy Director General of the Cree Regional Authority, before it became the CNG.

However, he would only last five months in that role before being elected as Chief of Chisasibi in 2012, remaining in that role until 2020, while also serving on the executive committee and part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government when it was created in 2014.

Bobbish said that he decided to apply for the executive director position because he saw it as an opportunity to help improve communities. “It was fun working with Bill and being part of the development and growth of communities,” he said. “It’s always been my dream to work for the people, and being the executive director, working with all the communities at the same time.”

Now that he’s officially taken over as of the second week of January, Bobbish said his priorities are to work very closely with leadership. “Our leadership is directing where the Cree Nation Government will go. It’s my responsibility to make sure the things being requested from leadership are being done accordingly with our staff.”

Bobbish said he does not expect to make major changes within the administration, but that he’s been meeting individually with different directors to get a

sense of what things they want to see improved. While the executive director has traditionally worked out of the Ottawa office, Bobbish said he will be based in Chisasibi while keeping the offices in Ottawa and Montreal.

Bobbish said the biggest challenge will be working with the Canadian and Quebec governments, as he anticipates having to renew and start negotiations over a number of agreements, including the New Relationship Agreement, which ends in 2028. “We have to ensure we’re ready for it and we’re prepared for these negotiations coming in the next five years,” he added.

Now that he has officially started the job, Bobbish said, “It feels great, and I’m very happy that I have a good team under the Cree Nation Government: all the directors, department heads, coordinators, and the people we have to make sure things are happening.”

After hosting his first official directors meeting on January 16, Bobbish said he was happy with the level of participation and ideas that are coming forward. “I think we’re going to have a great team,” he said.

“I want people to know they can come and talk to me about things. I’m very open, and very approachable. I speak Cree, English and French, and will discuss anything. If they want to talk about the Habs, I’m more than comfortable,” he added with a laugh, explaining he is a huge fan of the Montreal Canadiens.

Creating safer spaces

Two Spirits of Eeyou Istchee launched to make life easier

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Three Cree advocates for the 2SLGBTQ community (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) have launched a new non-profit organization called Two Spirits of Eeyou Istchee.

While founders Scott Wabano, Geraldine Shecapio and Jomarie Einish have increasingly been leading the 2SLGBTQ movement in the region, the new organization came together after Shecapio posted on Facebook about the need for two-spirit resources and services in Eeyou Istchee.

“Jomarie contacted me and Scott saying they agreed with me,” said Shecapio. “Ever since then we’ve been having meetings and talking about what kind of projects we could start. We’re working on building a strong foundation for the organization.”

Friends since college, Einish and Wabano reconnected at an Indspire Hope conference in Ottawa, which led to attending a two-spirit conference in Toronto together. Both were very open about their identities by this time and frequently discussed how two-spirit issues could be elevated in their own region.

“That’s how we started networking with fellow two-spirit people across the country, so we had a sense of community to build on,” Einish said. “The three of us were all going through our own journeys, recognizing these services weren’t offered in our region and how far we had to go to even find these resources.”

A group call revealed all were on board to create this organization with each bringing different ideas to respond to the diverse needs of the Cree 2SLGBTQ community. Since the official announcement on November 28, Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty and many Cree entities have reached out to offer support and ask how they can help.

“All communities want to better educate the public and create safer spaces for the rainbow community,” Shecapio explained. “Attitudes have totally changed compared to 10 or 15 years ago. There was a lot of lateral violence and even physical violence to whoever identified as 2SLGBTQ. People today are more curious and respectful.”

Photo provided by Geraldine Shecapio

Since being crowned Miss Eeyou Eenou Iskwaau in 2021, Shecapio has become an outspoken advocate for two-spirited people with empowering messages of acceptance and healthy living. In December 2021, they passed a resolution with Quebec Native Women that two-spirited folks be recognized, acknowledged and not discriminated against.

“I was open about being two-spirit in the pageant and that sparked hope, especially for our youth,” Shecapio told The Nation. “I have a lot of questions about pronouns these days. I like to point out if it’s hard for people to refer to me as they/them, just to think of me as a pack of bees.”

Last year, Shecapio started virtual sharing circles for two-spirit youth and organized “Embracing Your Spirit”, a three-day Eeyou Eenou two-spirit conference over Zoom. Einish delivered a presentation about two-spirit inclusivity, explaining there’s a difference between sex and gender: “You can be female and two-spirit, but your pronouns are different because gender is a feeling – it’s not who you are on the surface.”

Before contact in many Indigenous cultures, two-spirited people were revered for being gifted with both male and female spirits, often visionaries or healers and a fundamental component of societies. The group is considering how they can revitalize that historic two-spirit lineage in Eeyou Istchee.

“Something that’s resurfacing is that two-spirit people are considered sacred,” said Einish. “It’s about having to relearn what history tried to erase from us. Just existing is decolonization. How I bring that balance to communities is participating.”

The three friends emphasize that anything they do is inclusive and intended to deconstruct gender norms. Einish facilitates workshops for parents and healthcare professionals about the realities of two-spirit people while creating artisan crafts, which they sell through their business Washashqawin Euphoria.

Wabano has a particularly visible platform for educating society about Indigenous 2SLGBTQ identities through their genderless streetwear brand “Wabano”. The fashion designer is headed to New York Fashion Week in February, with Gull-Masty as one of 12 models taking the runway.

“With my platform within fashion, I try to educate people about the colonial stereotypes set in place within fashion and communities,” explained Wabano. “Labelling my clothing as genderless and combating against the gender-binary system is to show how much colonization plays a toll in fashion as well.”

With growing talk about authenticity, sustainability and inclusivity in the fashion industry, Wabano feels those conversations can’t happen without two-spirit people at the table. Recognizing the importance of positive representation, Wabano works with Indigenous models

of all shapes, skin tones and sizes, amplifying the voices of two-spirit and gender non-conforming youth.

Wabano has worked with giant corporations like Nike and IKEA Canada to help decolonize their brands and has recently worked with companies and schools to help develop policies that ensure 2SLGBTQ youth are better protected and respected.

“There’s a lot of talk that all spaces are safe spaces, but we actually need policies, laws and legislation to enforce that,” Wabano asserted. “Ensuring there’s counsel as well if these youth want to pursue that. We’re planning their first community Pride parade too. I hope to see that across all communities of Eeyou Istchee – celebrating and honouring our 2SLGBTQ relatives.”

As the founders of Two Spirits of Eeyou Istchee plan outreach events, they are adamant that the organization isn’t just about them. Shecapio said they want to make life easier for the youth and future generations, creating more supportive and tolerant communities with better opportunities and services.

“There are a whole lot of us within the region and I feel this organization can’t grow without their input and voices,” said Wabano. “We’ll definitely be including them and hosting a kick-off event to celebrate this milestone for all the community. Seeing two-spirits fulfill their roles within communities is not an accomplishment of ours but the whole Cree Nation.”

Two Spirits of Eeyou Istchee founders (l-r): Scott Wabano, Geraldine Shecapio, Jomarie Einish

Agreement-in-principle reached

An agreement-in-principle was reached with Canada in December to settle a class-action lawsuit involving the operation of boarding homes for Indigenous students attending public schools between 1951 and 1992.

The federal program removed an estimated 40,000 Indigenous children and adolescents from their families and communities to stay with boarding families in distant communities while attending public schools. The claim alleged that this assimilation program created an environment where abuse, harassment and other harms would occur.

“Probably almost all of us lived under the same kind of conditions that they had in the residential schools, which was a lot of abuse,” said lead plaintiff Reginald Percival. “The abuse was not only physical. It was sexual. It was mental. We had to deal with a lot of systemic racism. We were not allowed to contact family. We weren’t allowed to write letters or make phone calls.”

While a settlement was reached with residential school survivors in 2006, legal technicalities excluded those attending similar schools. Although much work on the final deal remains, this proposed settle-

ment has no cap on compensation and could see more than $2 billion paid out.

Claimants who were placed in a boarding home will receive a baseline payment of $10,000 with an additional $10,000 to $200,000 in payments depending on the severity of abuse. The deal also allocates $50 million to create a foundation for healing, commemoration, language and culture.

Percival, who was 13 when he was removed from his Nisga’a community in 1968, was encouraged to seek justice after watching the Harper government’s 2008 apology for residential schools. Survivors banded together and filed their claim in 2018.

In Eeyou Istchee, the Fort George Indian Residential School was eventually converted to a boarding school despite little changing for the students. Kenneth Weitsche told the Rover about the physical and sexual abuse he suffered after being sent there following six years at Bishop Horden Hall Residential School in Ontario.

Like residential school, the program was overseen by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and students were forbidden from speaking Cree. Quebec plaintiffs in the class-action began with four survivors from Fort George then expanded to other Cree communities. After lawyers were told the boarding school

program was not covered, they joined the much larger class action in federal court for students from across the country.

“When you’re in residential school, you learn to blame yourself, to hate yourself for all the abuse you suffered,” explained Weitsche. “They took me when I was five years old, they returned me to my parents when I was 18. But I never really made it home. All of that violence lived inside me, and it led me to do things I will always regret.”

Detailed testimonies filed by survivors in the case included stories of racism, psychological abuse, malnutrition, rape, beatings, forced labour, bullying, cruelty and inhumane treatment. The claim alleges the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs underfunded and mismanaged the program, exacerbating the potential for abuse.

“My father was a trapper, spending most of his year living in the bush,” Weitsche recalled. “He didn’t speak English and I could barely speak Cree by the time I was 18. When I returned, I knew nothing of that life. There’s no amount of money that will ever bring that back.”

Hydro-Québec head steps down

Hydro-Québec President and CEO Sophie Brochu announced

that she will step down from her positions on April 11. She had been appointed to a fiveyear term initially in April 2020, with an annual salary of $580,000.

“Sophie’s contribution – marked by her human approach, strong communication skills and vast experience in the energy sector – will stand the test of time,” said Chair of the Board Jacynthe Côté in a statement.

“Under her leadership, a new strategic plan was developed in collaboration with a great many internal contributors and representatives of Quebec society, demonstrating her ability to bring people together. A constructive dialogue was also initiated with Indigenous communities, resulting in the creation of innovative business partnerships with some of them.”

Last fall, Quebec Premier François Legault announced a mandate to build new hydro dams ahead of an anticipated increase in demand. Quebec also recently signed an agreement to sell more electricity to New York state.

Brochu had previously questioned the government’s plan to entice industry to Quebec by pushing for lower electricity prices. However, CTV News reported that her departure was not related to disputes with the government nor for health reasons.

Legault will now be in the position to appoint a new Hydro-Québec President and Chair of the Board, ultimately giving him the power to bring in a person whose vision aligns with his goals for expanded hydro development, which has long been opposed by Cree communities.

The State of the Cree Nation

The Grand Chief reviews the year 2022 in Eeyou Istchee

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Since being elected in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty has seen provincial and federal elections and dealt with a range of issues, from meeting with the Pope over the legacy of residential schools, to provincial language laws, to federal announcements on protected areas.

The Nation reached out to the Grand Chief to discuss the state of the Cree Nation, and to ask about pressing issues and future plans.

The Nation: How would you describe the current state of the Cree Nation?

Grand Chief: I would say that the current state of the nation is there are many discussions going on at different levels with the government. Within the Cree Nation, three of the items we had targeted from my office was to really enhance and build stronger communities and dialogue with communities. This is something we’re planning for this year.

One of the big initiatives we launched in my first year was to better understand and connect with communities on their needs. These discussions and dialogues have been ongoing, and I’m pleased with them. Second is relations with external nationals: to see what opportunities and directions we can go in to build nation-to-nation relationships.

With both levels of government –provincial and federal – we see the return of re-elected governments, so we’re continuing the working relationships with Quebec. One of the things I’m pleased with is we didn’t lose progress with the election, so those discussions can continue seamlessly.

With Canada, we’ve seen big announcements with housing and the environment. Those have been fruitful for all nations, but for the Cree exponentially so. The dialogue is continuing.

There have also been some hardships. It has been challenging at local levels for some of the things that communities have gone through. Some things hit close to home for myself, but near the end of 2022 I saw a new working relationship and communities and regional entities which confirmed our relationship to work together. For me,

looking forward to the upcoming year, this is what I’m excited to see.

The Nation: How is the Cree Nation doing now in response to the pandemic? What have you learned?

Grand Chief: Of course, Covid is still active and out there. Last year with the pandemic was a huge transition year. You saw us move away from using measures for lockdowns and really engaging our community members to be responsible for their actions and activities.

It was a year of reopening and seeing more public activities, with people coming back to what was closest to the norm of our pre-pandemic lives. It has been challenging to observe the Cree Nation coming back, opening back up. Of course, it’s nice to see people, it’s nice to connect and get together in person, but I also see there’s been a lot

of stress due to the pandemic and what we’ve gone through.

It was a traumatic event. It was completely out of the norm; it took everyone by storm. It was hard and challenging. It was extra hard for us because we’re so social.

In hindsight, we need to sit down and have a discussion amongst ourselves as community leaders to ask what Covid taught us and what are we looking to highlight from the lessons learnt. We have had some internal discussions at leadership tables, but in our informal discussions we’ve touched on it a bit.

Time and time again, chiefs have said, “I’ve realized there’s so many issues, because of the pandemic.” Issues that weren’t transparent became very apparent. The pandemic has been an experience. We’re not over dealing with the stresses and traumas that it created at a local level.

We were lucky as the Cree Nation that we took measures to protect our members; they were extremely challenging. It was hard to lose family members, I also lost a family member. Grieving for those people together, now that we’re open again, is something we have to encourage.

As for the present day, people are more aware, are more cautious, and are more respectful of one another and trying to ensure they protect one another. It’s changed the way we think about illness and communities.

The Nation: Over the past year, what were the high points for the Cree Nation?

Grand Chief: For me, there have been many high points. One of the things I really appreciate this past year was the support that members have given to my office – contacting me, speaking to me in person or on social media. The support or encouragement for the things I’ve decided to do have helped push us forward. This has been a highlight – getting that feedback directly from people, be it good or that this thing I should’ve approached differently, I’ve appreciated as a leader.

Another thing that’s important has been the changing relationship with the Deputy Grand Chie f (Norman Wapachee) and working closely with one another. The work that Norman has done I’ve really appreciated. He has a huge role in the cultural baseline study, understanding where we are as a nation is very important for both of us. Seeing him establish the framework, preparing for work we’re doing this year with communities, I’m really proud of him and our good working relationship.

Some of the highlights I’ve seen have been observing chiefs working

observe and be a part of that process. It’s a very dark history, but to create a safe space to talk about it was very impactful.

Another element more internally to the Cree Nation Government was us taking the time this summer to have a session amongst leadership and administrative bodies and share where we wanted to go long term. It was a time to share our objectives, share our priorities, get feedback and get them in as part of our planning process to better understand staff and understand where they want to see the organization go, and recognize their contributions to the Cree Nation – that was a really good experience.

That was important for me to see what we’ve had so many members who have made significant contributions: volunteering, organizing events, supporting calls to community, or people with longstanding contributions in their careers. Having a chance to sit down and look at the ways people have given to the Cree Nation – it was a powerful moment of reflection.

on hard issues in communities, seeing these chiefs support their members. Seeing communities come together in sometimes very difficult circumstances. Seeing the nation coming together to support a community or family grieving. That’s been one of the things that’s really encouraged me – that even though we’re so many different communities, at the end of the day the communities come together to support one another.

Really impactful for me has been to see moments where people have come together in a quiet way to address very challenging discussions and issues. Going to Chisasibi and being part of the group hosting the Minister (of Crown–Indigenous Relations Marc Miller) when he made an announcement with the Elder and the way the community planned the announcement: sharing a meal while telling the story of what happened at that residential school. That was a very impactful moment to

Choosing people to receive the first awards that we gave out at the Annual General Assembly in August was a very powerful moment for me. It was challenging to only pick three. I was very honoured the people we chose accepted.

It’s unique to give back to members and call them out and acknowledge what they’ve contributing sometimes quietly over a lifetime. For me, those were moments I looked at people and said, wow, everyone’s contributing to push us forward. It’s not just one leader, but people contributing as a whole and allowing us to advance to new domains. These are things that help us push the Cree Nation forward.

The Nation: What has brought the most difficulty for the Cree Nation in the past year?

Grand Chief: One of the biggest challenges this past year is cyber-bullying. It’s so hard to watch people say negative things online – to have their own facts and perceptions on a situation and then go out and make state-

“We need to sit down and have a discussion amongst ourselves as community leaders to ask what Covid taught us and what are we looking to highlight from the lessons learnt.”

ments online. I don’t think we as people – not just the Cree Nation, but people in general – understand how much of an impact social media has on us and younger generations.

I’ve seen from time-to-time social media used in a really negative way. I’ve seen some things that are really hurtful. I’ve had it happen to me. I understand how it feels to be cyber-bullied. We have to set an example for our younger kids.

We don’t tolerate bullying in person, in workplaces and in schools. We all need to reflect on how we use social media and remember the statements we put out there have an impact on all the people reading them – not just the targets. I want to encourage people in the Cree Nation to think about how they use social media and the messages they’re putting out there and remember what our Elders tell us.

My late grandmother always said not to be mean to one another, and the knowledge shared through me was to always show love to one another. We forget sometimes the impact of our words. It can either help or hurt.

The Nation: How would you characterize the Cree Nation’s relationship with the provincial and federal governments?

Grand Chief: I think the Cree Nation is really unique with our relationship with Quebec. The way our treaty is written, it creates a distinct structure of relationship with Quebec. We’ve had over the duration of our treaty different phases: sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes non-existent.

I think we’re in a place where we have a good understanding of one another and our objectives, in terms of health and education. The Quebec government is in a place where it’s reflecting on who is part of the population that isn’t Québécois. The Québécois have a distinct identity and aren’t Indigenous, and they’re asking, what are we going to do to meet their needs?

We have many files and discussion on the table. Some are advancing well; some need more time and more discussions to understand what is the target-

ed outcome for each side of the table. We saw the appointment of new ministers, so we’ll have new relationships with them. We have the continuity of some ministers who were reappointed.

Of course, there are some issues that are more challenging, that I don’t necessarily agree with them on. I’ve spoken at length on Bill 96 about the officialization of the French language – I don’t agree, I don’t think it’s fair to recognize it as the official language where there are more than 12 Indigenous languages.

Since the re-election of Premier Legault, I’m challenging him to have an Indigenous advisor to speak to him about reconciliation. Reconciliation goes beyond acknowledgements and an apology. Reconciliation to me is building new relationships and ensuring you’re trying to elevate the lives and standards of those negatively impacted by previous governments – provincial or federal.

For me, that’s what reconciliation means. To hear the Premier make those statements was encouraging but if you want to do reconciliation, that’s not an easy task and you have to challenge yourself to move that file forward. So, I’m looking forward to seeing where he wants to go.

On the federal level, we have a longstanding working relationship with the government. We’ve seen big announcements with housing. There’s lot of files moving forward and lots of dialogue. I was encouraged at the end of the year to see all the announcements of environmental protection of land and marine areas coming from Canada. There are lot of good things on the table.

We have to remember to keep pressure on both levels of government. We have good relationships, but we have to do our part to respond to them.

The Nation: The Cree Nation has always been a participant in international affairs, what do you see as the Cree Nation’s role within international governance, given the Cree Nation’s recent participation in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Human Rights Council?

Grand Chief: I don’t think people know the Cree Nation is one of the few nations that has been recognized and given a role to speak in discussions at an international level. We did a lot of work to push the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) forward and I think that’s been a very challenging process, but it was because we had a long-term working relationship with bodies at the international level.

It’s important to understand the Cree Nation resides within Quebec, and has relationships with Quebec and Canada, but we shouldn’t limit ourselves to those relationships. Pursuing an international economic position this year is really important.

How can we build economic relationships with other countries? Highlighting and showcasing our territory and culture for tourism would bring lots of benefits. Building collaborative processes to engage tourists to come is important to me.

We were part of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this past fall. I had some staff participate in a technical working group in Geneva, and we’ll participate in the Permanent Forum this year. My plans are to bring forward proposals from the Cree Nation to enhance participation with these international bodies.

I want to see a new methodology for conservation credits associated with cultural activities. It’s well known that cultural activities contribute to the conservation of territories. I want to bring forward and encourage other

“We all need to reflect on how we use social media and remember the statements we put out there have an impact on all the people reading them – not just the targets.”

Indigenous nations to have these efforts and develop new mechanisms for environmental and cultural preservation.

We must lead by example and encourage others. We’ll also participate at major discussions in Geneva in July, and I’m excited to see what happens. There will be lots of dialogues on Indigenous issues, so I’ll look at what’s coming from that and what directions Indigenous Peoples want to head in with international relationships.

The Nation : What can Crees expect from the Cree Nation in 2023?

Grand Chief: 2023 is going to be a big year for the Cree Nation because the first year we were in office, we were doing lots of planning and preparations. The Deputy Grand Chief and I are going to be doing engagement sessions starting in April. We want to go to each community and do extended visits, do governance sessions, and ask them to contribute to the Cree constitution.

We’re in the process of doing a governance review and want input from members on what they want their governments to do in the future, and to bring forward concerns but also be a part of the building process of where they want the Cree Nation to go.

We want to encourage people to be part of the working sessions so they can be part of building the Cree Nation, giving feedback on services, and engaging to determine where they want to go in the future as Cree members.

The second thing I’m excited about is the declaration we made on social solidarity. We’re working with local and regional leadership on these issues. For me, the two areas I’m going to be focused on are violence against women. I’m working with staff on a project to address this and have a campaign to bring greater awareness.

The other important issue is to work on bullying. We have to address

the impacts on children and how to teach them to speak kindly to one another. We hope to get into communities and speak with younger members.

And lastly, I’m looking forward to working with our new Executive Director (Davey Bobbish). Just because he’s a different person, it will have an impact on our organization. I’m encouraged to see how we will transition as an organization with this extremely senior civil servant position. As a leader, I’m excited to see how that relationship will grow and have an impact on our staff.

The Nation: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Grand Chief: One of the things I have enjoyed this past year is we’ve started doing a governance review. I want to thank the JBQNA signatories and former leaders who participated in that process and who spoke with Norman and me and my team in the meetings we had.

They came in and discussed the spirit and intent of negotiations before the JBQNA, what it was like negotiating the JBQNA. We had former Grand Chiefs come in and share what they were doing and what their intentions were. They gave such insightful stories, feedback, advice and direction. It was the first time we’ve taken those steps as a council board. I want to thank them for continuing to serve the Cree Nation beyond their mandate and sharing and educating our current council board members about our treaty and how we’ve evolved as a nation.

I want to thank staff, and I’m excited to bring this information forward to our members, to each of the Cree Nations, what our treaty is doing for us and what we’re doing to implement the treaty. I hope that our members here in the Cree Nation are going to engage in that and learn what we’re doing as a nation and continue to contribute to that.

NEVER TOO LATE

Priscilla moved from Arviat, Nunavut, to Ottawa in 2016 before deciding she wanted a career change. ree years later, she enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College as a mature student.

Algonquin College offers great support for those that want to change their lives through education

Priscilla moved from Arviat, Nunavut, to Ottawa in 2016 before deciding she wanted a career change. ree years later, she enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College as a mature student.

Priscilla moved from Arviat, Nunavut, to Ottawa in 2016 before deciding she wanted a career change. ree years later, she enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College as a mature student.

“In 2018, my daughter, who is now ve, was a client in the early years program here in the Indigenous community,” Priscilla said. “I saw the need for Inuktitut/Inuktut-speaking early childhood educators; she was my inspiration to take the program at Algonquin College.”

“In 2018, my daughter, who is now ve, was a client in the early years program here in the Indigenous community,” Priscilla said. “I saw the need for Inuktitut/Inuktut-speaking early childhood educators; she was my inspiration to take the program at Algonquin College.”

“In 2018, my daughter, who is now ve, was a client in the early years program here in the Indigenous community,” Priscilla said. “I saw the need for Inuktitut/Inuktut-speaking early childhood educators; she was my inspiration to take the program at Algonquin College.”

She said there is high demand for Indigenous early childhood educators, not just in Ottawa but across the country. But another reason is that the college o ers a great support system.

She said there is high demand for Indigenous early childhood educators, not just in Ottawa but across the country. But another reason is that the college o ers a great support system.

She said there is high demand for Indigenous early childhood educators, not just in Ottawa but across the country. But another reason is that the college o ers a great support system.

During the Covid pandemic, Priscilla moved over to AC Online (the college’s online campus) to complete her program. ough she could have chosen to remain with her classmates and taken the program over Zoom, she instead chose the exibility AC Online o ered.

During the Covid pandemic, Priscilla moved over to AC Online (the college’s online campus) to complete her program. ough she could have chosen to remain with her classmates and taken the program over Zoom, she instead chose the exibility AC Online o ered.

During the Covid pandemic, Priscilla moved over to AC Online (the college’s online campus) to complete her program. ough she could have chosen to remain with her classmates and taken the program over Zoom, she instead chose the exibility AC Online o ered.

“I decided to take Early Childhood Education through online courses at Algonquin College because my daughter was very young at the time, and I wanted to spend more time with her,” Priscilla explained.

“I decided to take Early Childhood Education through online courses at Algonquin College because my daughter was very young at the time, and I wanted to spend more time with her,” Priscilla explained.

“I decided to take Early Childhood Education through online courses at Algonquin College because my daughter was very young at the time, and I wanted to spend more time with her,” Priscilla explained.

“It was a bit of a challenge in the beginning because it was my rst time taking courses online,” she shared. “However, I did get the hang of things quite quickly as I received a lot of support from the facilitators. Plus, my classmates were very supportive as well as my family and friends.”

“It was a bit of a challenge in the beginning because it was my rst time taking courses online,” she shared. “However, I did get the hang of things quite quickly as I received a lot of support from the facilitators. Plus, my classmates were very supportive as well as my family and friends.”

“It was a bit of a challenge in the beginning because it was my rst time taking courses online,” she shared. “However, I did get the hang of things quite quickly as I received a lot of support from the facilitators. Plus, my classmates were very supportive as well as my family and friends.”

at support was crucial as she found online learning had its unique challenges, but there were unmatched bene ts. “Being a mother to a toddler and a full-time student, I had to manage my time. e facilitators are great, and very helpful. ey’re there for you. Any questions or concerns you may have, you’re able to reach out and they’ll get back to you in a timely manner,” she said.

Now that she’s graduated, Priscilla is humbled that at 47 years old, she is able to inspire other Indigenous people who may want to enrol in online classes. She stated that her nieces and nephews saw her taking courses and said, “‘If auntie can do it, it doesn’t matter how old you are’.”

Now that she’s graduated, Priscilla is humbled that at 47 years old, she is able to inspire other Indigenous people who may want to enrol in online classes. She stated that her nieces and nephews saw her taking courses and said, “‘If auntie can do it, it doesn’t matter how old you are’.”

Now that she’s graduated, Priscilla is humbled that at 47 years old, she is able to inspire other Indigenous people who may want to enrol in online classes. She stated that her nieces and nephews saw her taking courses and said,

She now has a sister in college, as well as a niece taking teacher education to whom she gives a lot of advice.

She now has a sister in college, as well as a niece taking teacher education to whom she gives a lot of advice.

She now has a sister in college, as well as a niece taking

Priscilla advises potential Indigenous students to be prepared. While courses may be intense, there is a lot of help available, both from facilitators and classmates. “Algonquin has a great support system such as the Mamidosewin Centre. We had weekly sessions virtually, things like tea talks,” she said.

Priscilla advises potential Indigenous students to be prepared. While courses may be intense, there is a lot of help available, both from facilitators and classmates. “Algonquin has a great support system such as the Mamidosewin Centre. We had weekly sessions virtually,

Priscilla advises potential Indigenous students to be prepared. While courses may be intense, there is a lot of help available, both from facilitators and classmates. “Algonquin has a great support system such as the Mamidosewin Centre. We had weekly sessions virtually, things like tea talks,” she said.

Algonquin’s Mamidosewin Centre provides academic, career and personal support to all Indigenous students, as well as on-campus amenities and a smudging location that even online students can visit should they wish to.

Algonquin’s Mamidosewin Centre provides academic, career and personal support to all Indigenous students, as well as on-campus amenities and a smudging location that even online students can visit should they wish to.

Algonquin’s Mamidosewin Centre provides academic, career and personal support to all Indigenous students, as well as on-campus amenities and a smudging location that even online students can visit should they wish to.

at support was crucial as she found online learning had its unique challenges, but there were unmatched bene ts. “Being a mother to a toddler and a full-time student, I had to manage my time. e facilitators are great, and very helpful. ey’re there for you. Any questions or concerns you may have, you’re able to reach out and they’ll get back to you in a timely manner,” she said.

at support was crucial as she found online learning had its unique challenges, but there were unmatched bene ts. “Being a mother to a toddler and a full-time student, I had to manage my time. e facilitators are great, and very helpful. ey’re there for you. Any questions or concerns you may have, you’re able to reach out and they’ll get back to you in a timely manner,” she said.

AC Online o ers more than 80 full-time and part-time program options and more than 800 courses. eir learner-driven focus has led Algonquin College to provide their students with an online learning experi ence like no other: a complete post-secondary educa tion, in a virtual campus format, with the sta support they would get on a physical campus.

AC Online o ers more than 80 full-time and part-time program options and more than 800 courses. eir learner-driven focus has led Algonquin College to provide their students with an online learning experi ence like no other: a complete post-secondary educa tion, in a virtual campus format, with the sta support they would get on a physical campus.

AC Online o ers more than 80 full-time and part-time program options and more than 800 courses. eir learner-driven focus has led Algonquin College to provide their students with an online learning experience like no other: a complete post-secondary education, in a virtual campus format, with the sta support they would get on a physical campus.

Algonquin College offers great support for those that want to change their lives through education

Algonquin College offers great support for those that want to change their lives through education

Footing Equal

Cree Nation pushes for guaranteed Indigenous participation at the United Nations

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In many ways, Donald Nicholls had been preparing to attend this human rights workshop in Geneva, Switzerland all his life.

After getting law degrees from the University of Toronto and McGill University, Nicholls received a Master of Laws from the University of Arizona, where he would later become a professor. There he ended up working with Indigenous nations from across North America and the world, including work in Australia, Mexico and Nicaragua.

His first trip to Geneva was in the 1990s, when he attended negotiations under the Working Group on Indigenous Populations which would eventually become the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). He was in New York when it was eventually passed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2007 (without Canada’s support).

After turning down an offer from the Harvard School of Management while still at the University of Arizona, Nicholls decided to return home to be closer to his parents and accepted an offer to work with the Cree Nation Government in 2005. His job as a political attaché would eventually lead to him becoming the Director of the Department of Justice and Correctional Services in 2009.

“I stepped from the political office and took over as Director of Justice and started building the Justice Department. It’s now the largest department within the Cree Nation Government structure,” Nicholls told The Nation

“The Grand Chief requested I take an active role in the international file,” he said. So when the Justice Department was informed that the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights was hosting a special

“Expert Workshop” on Indigenous participation through the Human Rights Council, it was clear that Nicholls was perfectly suited to attend and represent the Cree Nation.

Nicholls is quick to point out that the Cree Nation has always been involved with advocating for Indigenous rights, domestically and internationally, going back decades. “As a nation, we have rights to lands, territories, communities, and the safety of our families,” he explained. “When you look at the international system, you understand what international law is – it’s about respecting people and respecting life and freedom.”

“I went to Geneva because our legal counsel that works on the international file said it would be good if we had a representative there, so the Grand Chief asked me to be that representative,” he said. Nicholls and legal

Photo provided by Donald Nicholls

counsel Paul Joffe attended the meetings held November 21-24 at the UN’s main offices in Europe.

The meeting focused on the fact that while Indigenous Peoples are allowed to participate in many UN negotiations, they are only granted the same access as many non-governmental organizations, but not the same status as nations.

Nicholls pointed to Haudenosaunee Chief Deskaheh, who travelled to the League of Nations, which predated the UN, in 1923. Ultimately, he wasn’t recognized nor allowed to speak. “Indigenous Peoples are saying, when we go to the UN, why are we not being accepted as other nations?” Nicholls asked.

While there are bodies within the UN that prioritize Indigenous participation, including the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, other bodies like the Human Rights Council or the climate change negotiations don’t

prioritize Indigenous engagement, even through they discuss items that impact Indigenous rights.

At these meetings in Geneva, however, the UN tried a new format, allowing Indigenous Peoples to speak with equal footing as states. “The whole idea with advance representation is let’s make a system that’s more inclusive, that honours commitments made in the declaration, and that should be more open to Indigenous participation,” Nicolls explained.

He said the outcome ended up being “very productive”, with everyone being allowed to speak. Nicholls also said he proposed to allow some seats to be guaranteed for Indigenous Peoples at UN meetings, potentially with one for each of the seven major socio-cultural regions recognized by the UN. “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re likely on the menu,” he added.

The meeting will generate a report that will go to the Human Rights Council this summer, which could then see it go to a resolution for the UN General Assembly in September, potentially enmeshing it in law by this year or 2024. Nicholls said that around 80 people attended the workshop, including 10 Indigenous delegates from Canada and three or four from the Canadian government.

Nicholls said he’ll continue to work on the file, which may see him attending the 100th anniversary of Deskaheh’s trip to Geneva this summer, which the UN will celebrate by hosting Indigenous events and changing some of the flags to Indigenous flags. He said Indigenous groups also proposed a follow-up meeting on this workshop but that hasn’t been set yet.

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Understanding the bay

A glimpse into the James Bay Expedition’s research

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Cree Nation’s plans for developing protected areas in James Bay took a giant leap forward last summer when two major expeditions gathered extensive data about its mysterious waters. With significant changes observed by Cree communities in recent years, oceanography research can help predict potential impacts on traditional practices and inform global conservation efforts.

Before the National Geographic’s Pristine Seas Expedition documented the marine region’s environment last August, Cree entities had already spent years planning for the James Bay expedition aboard the research vessel William Kennedy. The converted fishing vessel is the first of its kind dedicated to studying the Hudson Bay region.

“Through planning that expedition over several years, we formed a Cree Research Needs Working Group with representatives from various Cree entities on both sides of the James Bay coast,” explained Angela Coxon, director of the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board (EMRWB). “It’s such an amazing opportunity – we can’t establish these protected areas without data.”

Ottawa-based organization Oceans North, which is dedicated to supporting marine conservation in partnership with Indigenous and coastal communities,

was instrumental in establishing both the project and working group. Chief scientist CJ Mundy from the University of Manitoba worked with Cree representatives to help identify research priorities.

“Creating that working group opened a way for us to work across the bay to better understand each other,” said EMRWB biologist Stephanie Varty. “Main goals were better understanding the bay’s water flow and quality and collecting information on biodiversity.”

James Bay is one of the least studied and understood bodies of water in Canada. Before the William Kennedy’s two-year expedition began in 2021, an oceanographic exploration hadn’t been conducted in nearly 50 years, prior to the huge hydroelectric projects in the 1970s and the more recent impacts of climate change.

“James Bay is all so uncharted,” Mundy told the Nation. “We definitely added some mapping transits that didn’t exist. It was to update our knowledge of the oceanography, emphasizing ocean circulation, freshwater influx and carbon cycling in the system, and what’s feeding it.”

Operated by the Arctic Research Foundation in partnership with the University of Manitoba’s Churchill Marine Observatory, the 20-metre William Kennedy can accommodate up to 14 scientists in addition to its crew. With only a 3.6-metre draft, it’s uniquely suited to work in James Bay’s shallow waters for focused studies.

“A huge thing we dealt with was moving the ship slowly through hidden shoals,” explained Mundy. “We’d be steaming along in 80-metres of water, then suddenly it’s 10 metres and the captain would put it in reverse – the

If you are an Indigenous woman of Eeyou Istchee and you are seeking safety and support,

whole ship would shake. We never grounded, but almost did a couple of times.”

Five oceanographic moorings were deployed during the expedition’s first phase in 2021 and retrieved last year, demonstrating changing conditions over the seasons through sediments falling in the water column and sensors monitoring numerous variables. Other measurements were taken every five nautical miles while hydrophones enabled crew to listen to whales and other marine mammals.

While it will take a few years before conclusions can be drawn from the data, the heavy influence of rivers into the bay are anticipated to yield surprising results. Arctic Ocean waters circulating counterclockwise from the northwest meets warmer river water reaching to the bay’s bottom, substantially transforming what pours out into eastern Hudson Bay.

“What blew me away about James Bay is the mixing that occurs in the system,” said Mundy. “Between Eastmain and Waskaganish, the river water around 7 degrees is mixing right down to 80 metres. The river addition of nutrients and organic matter that get broken down quickly can feed primary producers and create carbon production in the marine environment.”

Nutrients emptied from rivers may help explain why as many as 10,000 beluga whales exist in southern James Bay, which was thought to be an oligotrophic (low nutrient) sea. The expedition collected samples at different depths and from the bottom of the bay to better understand the base of the region’s food web.

“They presented a preliminary report explaining some of the impacts of freshwater input and early information on fish and invertebrates they were finding,” Varty told The Nation. “Understanding how things have changed over time can help us focus on specific areas where change is being felt intensely or is important to the people living along the coast.”

Biodiversity was assessed through environmental DNA sampling, “like a snapshot of all the organisms in the water”. With current projections showing parts of Hudson Bay won’t have any ice forming by mid to late century, the shifting food web has made killer whales the new top predator in some areas and introduced invasive species like rainbow smelt into the EMR.

“There are sobering consequences of climate change occurring in front of our eyes right now,” asserted Mundy. “I was just at a polar bear symposium in Churchill and there’s strong potential for a polar bear population crash in 30 to 40 years. The sea ice is forming too late and breaking up too early for those particular polar bears to survive.”

Along with environmental observation aboard the William Kennedy, the highly innovative Churchill Marine Observatory will be opening the OceanSea Ice Mesocosm facility in late summer. Adjacent to Canada’s only Arctic deep-water port, the facility is designed to accommodate controlled experiments to determine effects on the ecosystem.

“A big aspect is looking at how to deal with oil spills in sea ice cases,” Mundy explained. “Shipping is increasing in the Arctic, meaning more potential for accidents. This sees how we detect (spills), how does it degrade naturally and can we use things to clean it up.”

While the James Bay Expedition’s data is compiled and analyzed, published research is emerging from the William Kennedy’s first project near Southampton Island in 2018. Although scallops and “bait fish” were observed in James Bay, a publication declaring sea stars the seafloor’s equivalent to polar bears highlights the potential vulnerability of these ecosystems.

“If we were to start having a shrimp fishery in that region and combed up all the sea stars, maybe the walrus population would crash because it’s all connected,” said Mundy. “The point is to be more cautious about these contained ecosystems that are so unique because they are separated from the south.”

James Bay is one of the least studied and understood bodies of water in Canada.

Before the William Kennedy’s two-year expedition began in 2021, an oceanographic exploration hadn’t been conducted in nearly 50 years.

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

- Tough

SUDOKU

Previous solution -

4 STR8TS No. 637 Medium 8932 679843251 785432 8976543 63754 4352687 561298 352419876 4389

You can find more help, tips and hints at

9671 24 1 865 723 126 8 95 1 29 47 65

How to beat Str8ts –

8 61 2 9 815243697 793165842 426897351 974618235 152734986 368952174 541329768 237586419 689471523

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store. The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

©

Back to the office Rez Notes

by Sonny Orr

Okay, the holiday season is over and it’s time to get back to work. The number of people anxious about jumping out of bed and heading to the workplace was probably zero – the empty streets of our sleepy communities can attest to that. Unless it just before 9 am and the roads were finally active for about 10 minutes. Then the quiet sets back in and the community falls into the early work morning slumber. Finally, the first break arrives and lineups to get that weak but fresh cup of java at your local coffee-and-doughnut shop brings you out of your stupor and Monday morning blahs.

Yes, it’s that time of the year when the bear hibernates, the sky is darker from snowstorms and the mind is just as foggy. Perhaps a little sunlight would do the trick, but sadly my office is tucked away in the back and nary a movement, unless from a stray dog or hungry raven, breaks the bleak outdoor view from my window. I sip my coffee to shake off the morning grey spells and clear my misty eyes and mind.

Aaahhh! The coffee kicks in and so does my need to figure out what to do while at work. Tackle the usual emails, phone calls and confirmations for the first hour. Then on to the next coffee. Aaahhh… the edge is off, and the fogginess gives way to bright lights and a clearer mind. The emails are luckily few and undemanding, so the next phase of the morning is to check the top three most urgent things that need to get done. Relax,

it’s only this column’s deadline, which can wait until lunch hour.

The next urgent item is related to travel, always an issue for those of us in the North-With-No-Roads. Travelling is a mix of science and extreme time management. First, call to see if there are any vacancies in nearby hotels, then see if the travel date you planned for eight months has a seat on a plane, then check the weather forecast to see whether to pack light or heavy. After that the contingency planning for the plans you just made in case something goes wrong. In the NorthWith-No-Roads, things going wrong is a regular occurrence and nothing to throw your toupee away for.

The third urgent matter I discover can’t be done today so it’s tossed back into the organizer app. The next objective I realize is not due for another week. So, I go to phase three earlier than planned and start calling the supervisors to see if my work has a go/no-go status, then it’s off to lunch.

Some days the travel part takes longer than planned and even the simple matter of greeting your guest at the airport has its own little issues that need my attention. Thankfully, another app beeps out the aircraft’s position just prior to landing, and it’s off to the airport. This doesn’t happen every day, so it’s exciting to see your guests and prepare them for the worst blizzard possible before bringing them to my office.

This could be a doozie of a storm, I warn my unsuspecting guests. There are times when the runway is lost in the most dangerous form of fog. Yes, the deadly ice fog, known to trap passengers for days, cutting them off from the world as we knew it. But prepared or not, the weather was good and sunny. I could be wrong but is that what you call a nice day? I haven’t seen one for so long.

Eventually, my guests helped dispel my top three to-do items and I retire for the day, ready to tackle tomorrow’s top three urgent matters.

Yes, it’s that time of the year when the bear hibernates, the sky is darker from snowstorms and the mind is just as foggy.

Navigating our housing crisis

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

Ahousing crisis is in full swing everywhere, especially in our communities where there’s always been housing issues. The birth rate up North is much higher than Quebec’s and housing departments don’t have the resources or the latitude necessary to keep up with our fast-growing communities. On top of that, many of our existing units need renovations or to be rebuilt entirely.

Dealing with the housing crisis out of community is a challenge, dealing with it when you live in the community is an entirely different problem, thanks to the band system which was imposed on us through the Indian Act.

In urban centres, you have rights and resources as a tenant; there are housing courts, laws and policies, and building regulations to help you access your right to housing and to hold your landlord accountable if necessary. Obviously, they are not perfect, and they are changing over time, but at least it gives you a certain framework to deal with housing matters.

For instance, if you have black mould in your unit and it stems from building conditions, your landlord cannot make you pay for renovations, and they cannot ignore it for health and safety reasons. If they don’t deal with it, you can take them to court. Also, Hydro-Québec cannot disconnect your electricity service during winter out of human rights concerns.

But those resources don’t apply under band management, so we don’t

have many options when we face housing issues in units that belong to the band. All we can do is to advocate for ourselves through letters addressed to the housing committee that will then be reviewed without our presence.

Before the holidays, I was sent an e-mail stating I had 30 days to move out because the department wants to give my unit to someone else. I pay rent, I take good care of my unit, so why should I move out? The reason I was given is that the relative I used to live with moved out and the department doesn’t want to transfer the unit to my name for obscure reasons.

I live with other relatives in a two-bedroom unit, because the housing crisis is tough on everyone. It is not a CSB or CBHSSJB unit, so it doesn’t have anything to do with my job. I already started the

procedures through the Home Ownership Program last year and building a house in this awful economy is the only viable option I have if I want to stay in my community for the near future.

My question is: what tools can the Cree Nation give itself to prevent human rights violations in housing matters? Of course, Canada placed Indigenous people in a system where it’s remotely impossible to have such mechanisms.

But since we are a self-governed nation under a modern treaty, I wonder what can be done. Could it be a permanent human rights commission? Better guidelines adopted at the local level? It is time to reflect on it, because dealing with the housing crisis under a colonial framework doesn’t work and it continues to cause harm.

My question is: what tools can the Cree Nation give itself to prevent human rights violations in housing matters?