The Nation | Vol. 30, No. 12

IGNORE VIOLENCE AND YOU’LL SEE THE EFFECTS FOR GENERATIONS. TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, WE MUST FACE IT. AND TALK ABOUT IT.

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Nicholls

Irecently underwent a colonoscopy. This is a procedure in which a doctor uses a colonoscope – a long, flexible tube with a miniature video camera on the end – to examine the inside of your anus and colon.

Why might one submit to this uncomfortable-sounding procedure? It’s quite simple. A colonoscopy is recommended for those over 45 years of age, especially if there is bleeding from the anus, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements such as diarrhea, or unexplained weight loss.

A colonoscopy exam looks for changes – such as swollen, irritated tissues, polyps or cancer – in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. The type of cancers it looks for are the second leading cause of death in Eeyou Istchee. This is a sobering fact when one considers that early detection with a colonoscopy could greatly increase the odds of survival. The earlier any problems are detected, the faster they can be dealt with.

I won’t lie and say I wasn’t worried. I was. My half-brother Kenny died of cancer. My brother Robie died of cancer. My dad and his dad both had cancer. My grandmother had cancer. It runs in the family.

Fortunately, no cancer was found during my procedure. Some polyps were removed as they can lead to cancer. Talking to some people I heard good and bad things, but they all said the same thing: don’t hesitate to get a colonoscopy. It could save your life.

To prepare, I had to drink a bowel-cleansing liquid the night before and again in the morning before the exam. I made sure I was close to the toilet both times. After the purging I went to the hos-

pital, stripped down to my socks and put on the gowns they gave me.

Going into the examination room, I laid down on my side, was given some drugs and the colonoscopy was on. I wasn’t even discomforted at all. After a while it was over.

Towards the end the doctor asked me to fart. I let go of one of my loudest and longest windstorms right in his face. I think I heard him say, “Thank God they don’t smell.”

Getting cleaned out may have had something to do with that. They didn’t get

all the polyps this time around so I’m back for a follow-up exam in three months. Getting such a positive result felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t realize how much the thought of cancer had been bothering me. I felt like bouncing around and it wasn’t due to the drugs the hospital gave me.

With colon or rectal cancer being the second biggest killer in Eeyou Istchee, isn’t it time you booked a colonoscopy for yourself?

Covid warriors

How Eeyou Istchee’s pandemic experience improved crisis planning

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the Covid-19 pandemic fades as a public health concern three years after it changed the planet’s life, some healthcare organizations are studying the Cree Nation’s successful mitigation measures to better understand how to respond to future emergencies.

Cree Health Board professionals attended two conferences in March to talk about their unique pandemic experiences and responses. On March 15, several team members presented at the Journées annuelles de santé publique (JASP), the country’s largest francophone public health training forum, while some also participated in a pandemic forum the following week in Gatineau.

“At the JASP conference, we talked about how to work with Indigenous communities,” said Robin Gull-Saganash, who facilitated the event. “I discussed the adaptation and formalization of the contact-tracing training offered by the CHB.”

To reduce transmission, healthcare leaders formed contact-tracing teams in each Cree community. Developed by and for the Eeyou Eenou population, this program was accompanied by specialized support and tool development.

Working with nine communities posed challenges for regional coordinators as some were mostly autonomous while others required extensive support. Virtual communication platforms like Teams and Zoom quickly became ubiquitous, highlighting the region’s unequal connectivity.

“One of the challenges was doing training in a fly-in community that doesn’t have as much internet,” explained GullSaganash. “I had to be there virtually, adapting material to be simpler, making sure the content, tests and programming were on just one screen where I was used to interacting with each participant on Zoom.”

The Cree Nation Government developed preventive measures months before

Covid hit Canadian populations, recognizing vulnerabilities like remoteness, overcrowded housing and a prevalence of chronic health issues. A leadership table united heads of all major entities, which swiftly coordinated responses.

When the pandemic was declared, local public safety officer (PSO) tables and a regional emergency group were ready. Checkpoints were established on roads accessing communities with information on travel and potential symptoms recorded in a centralized database.

“Because of the point of entry, we knew the names of who came in the last three days,” said Jason Coonishish, CHB coordinator of pre-hospital and emergency measures. “From there, we could test the wastewater in an area of the community and pinpoint exactly where Covid came from and contain it fast.”

As the virus replicates in the digestive system and is shed in high quantities often even before symptoms appear, testing conducted by the environmental health department provided an inexpensive method for monitoring without overburdening clinics.

“We had a containment plan that we followed precisely, working with frontlines like our fire departments,” Coonishish said. “We’d go directly to people who were positive and mapped out the community. This information we provided to the police and fire departments.”

Distribution of individual rapid testing kits improved response times. PSOs would contact individuals in isolation to answer questions, make recommendations and ensure basic needs were met –for instance, delivering groceries to their doors then waiting in the car until they were received.

Confidentiality rules meant frontline workers initially wouldn’t know whether Covid was present at houses they visited.

Eventually, addresses with Covid would be provided without specific names so workers could adequately protect themselves.

Nonetheless, communities published lists of people who visited “hot zones” and required isolation, which was difficult for those with chronic illnesses who travelled frequently for medical appointments. The CHB limited access to Elders’ homes, where many were passing away.

After restrictions were reduced in 2022, the Omicron variant forced Cree leaders to remain vigilant with isolation and contact-tracing measures. Training for rapid testing was conducted over Christmas and by December 27 all communities were doing testing at fire halls.

“From January to April 2022, we faced Covid, rabies and avian flu at the same time, which impacted our hunters with geese and threatened food security and safety,” said Coonishish. “The Arctic fox with rabies attacked dogs in a couple of communities. With the protocols we’d put in place for three years, PSOs knew how to handle the geese with rubber gloves and protect themselves.”

The pandemic forced the Cree to develop greater emergency expertise but also the confidence to coordinate responses across communities. At JASP, Gull-Saganash explained how public health can support self-governance by identifying community partners and implementing programs with active engagement.

“We’re prepared but we’re also building capacity in the local work force,” said Gull-Saganash. “We have 58 community contact tracers trained from six sessions. Most of them speak Cree. That’s incredible because if we need contact tracers for any situation, we’ll already have the knowledge on hand.”

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Luci Salt reflects on a lifetime of Cree language advocacy

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

To commemorate Cree Language Month this March, the Grand Council of the Crees honoured language experts and advocates like Luci Salt on social media. Salt has played a pioneering role in Cree language preservation for over 40 years, working with the Cree School Board and every other major Cree institution as well as the provincial and federal governments.

While she retired in 2006, Salt continues to work as a translation consultant and was selected in 2021 to be part of an ad-hoc advisory committee on the Cree language by language commissioner Jamie Moses. This temporary body meets three to four times each year to help guide the office of the commissioner.

“In spite of efforts to eradicate it, we still have our beautiful and rich Cree language,” Salt told the Nation. “I love my language and I feel privileged that I was a part of its inclusion in our education institutions and in the areas where our people want to show its importance in the work that they do.”

The Cree Nation and its language have evolved immensely over the course of Salt’s life, which began in 1947 when her family lived off the land and there were no hindrances to the language’s development. To be closer to medical assistance, her parents travelled by dog team to Fort George where she was born in one of the island’s few houses.

At the time, there were no books written in Cree except for religious material distributed by the church. All knowledge passed on to children was oral and traditional activities were learned by hands-on observation and experience. Residential school would soon rupture this bond.

“Suddenly speaking Cree was forbidden,” Salt recalled. “We were not allowed to speak the only language we knew. Everything familiar was taken away – the biggest loss was our daily connection to our parents’ love and guidance. We were put into a completely different environment.”

Although residential school students only returned to their communities for two months per year, the Cree language was strong enough that it was possible to retain that cultural connection. However, when Salt began her 11-year

Tongue trooper

teaching career working for Indian Affairs for 11 years beginning in 1967, it was in English.

The establishment of the Cree School Board in 1978 began a new era for integrating the Cree language in the classroom. As there were no written teaching materials available for Cree dialects, Salt and her colleagues consulted with other Indigenous school boards across Canada to adapt resources.

“When we started our own school guidelines, we developed many books, curriculum guides and other teaching materials from the very rich source of knowledge of our own storytellers, artists of all ages,” Salt explained. “Many Elders, teachers, professors and linguists were instrumental in developing the materials.”

Some of these resources emerged from the Cree Way Project, which operated out of Waskaganish from 1973 to 1976 and was later integrated into the CSB. Salt worked with the late Annie Whiskeychan to support language and culture teachers in each community, who in those days largely spoke Cree and lived traditional lifestyles.

After being away from her community for over 12 years as a student, it took many years of intense study for Salt to fully understand unilingual Cree speakers. She enrolled in several linguistics courses from UQAC, McGill and Memorial universities and took every opportunity to listen to community members whose only form of communication was oral Cree.

“I often travelled alone to my places of work, and I would listen to cassette

tapes in my vehicle of Cree legends to hear the old Cree words, for example,” said Salt. “When I got to my destination, I would ask my co-workers who spoke the language fluently to explain the meaning of the words I didn’t understand in the stories I had listened to during my trip.”

Salt worked with others to expand the curriculum and develop Cree dictionaries in standardized Cree syllabics. She was also instrumental in developing materials for the Cree Language of Instruction Program (CLIP), which was introduced one grade at a time starting with two communities in 1993.

Before that, the use of Cree in schools remained much the same as it was in the early 1970s – sometimes used in kindergartens and taught as a literacy subject and in others related to traditional skills or physical education. However, a paper Salt co-wrote about CLIP noted that previous attempts to make Cree the medium of instruction had encountered resistance from parents.

“While Cree parents could see the point of using oral Cree to explain concepts and do classroom management, they were not as sure that literacy in Cree first would be appropriate,” stated Salt, Barbara Burnaby and Marguerite MacKenzie.

According to anthropologist Adrian Tanner’s research published in 1981, parents expected English or French instruction from the beginning to prepare children for later school demands. There were also concerns that teachers weren’t trained to teach in Cree, few knew the

Cree writing system and materials were scarce and inadequate.

When CLIP was unveiled, language attitudes in Cree communities had changed considerably and the CSB had developed strong infrastructure, language resources and personnel. At education conferences, Salt observed that other Indigenous groups viewed the CSB as a model, telling her “You guys are so far ahead of us.”

Over the years, Salt kept busy in other language work such as transcribing and translating Cree legends. She helped develop eastcree.org, an online tri-lingual tool launched in 2000 by the CSB and Carleton University. She frequently worked as a simultaneous interpreter for various entities, which she practiced by translating television programs and bedtime stories for her granddaughter.

While new technologies bombard youth with non-Indigenous content, Salt encourages parents to speak Cree at home, listen to Cree radio and engage in land-based activities. Believing language is the strongest connection to Cree heritage, Salt wishes every month was Cree Language Month.

“I am thankful that Cree communities are promoting the Cree language and culture by organizing different activities,” Salt said. “I am happy that our local daycares in Iiyiyiuschii speak to the children mainly in Cree. We should always give our full support to any promotion and enhancement of our Cree language.”

Vatican renounces Doctrine of Discovery

Following decades of demands from Indigenous groups, on March 30 the Vatican formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery” and the associated 15th century Papal decrees which have been used for centuries to justify colonial conquests of Indigenous lands.

“Never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others, or that it is legitimate to employ ways of coercing others,” stated Pope Francis. “The Catholic Church therefore repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political ‘doctrine of discovery’.”

When Pope Francis visited Canada last summer, he was repeatedly asked to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery. Outside the mass in Quebec City that he presided over on July 29, activists Sarain Fox and Chelsea Brunelle of the Batchewana First Nation unfurled a giant banner reading “Rescind the Doctrine.”

The Vatican’s statement referenced the Pope’s dialogue with Indigenous peoples during this trip, stating, “the Church has acquired a greater awareness of their sufferings, past and present, due to the expropriation of their lands…

as well as the policies of forced assimilation, promoted by the governmental authorities of the time, intended to eliminate their Indigenous cultures.”

Indigenous leaders welcomed the news, resolving an outstanding issue that could force the revision of property laws that cite the doctrine. Former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine called the statement “wonderful.”

Michèle Audette, an Innu Senator and one of the commissioners responsible for conducting the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, said, “That doctrine made sure we did not exist or were even recognized. It’s one of the root causes of why the relationship is so broken.”

Cree Nation laments domestic tragedy

The Eeyou Eenou Police Force (EEPF) has confirmed that domestic abuse was the cause of death of a woman in Wemindji during the early hours of March 24. The young mother leaves behind four children as well as many family members and friends in Waskaganish, Wemindji and across Eeyou Istchee.

“There are no words that can bring solace to such a heart-breaking situation,”

read a statement credited to Grand Chief Mandy GullMasty, Deputy Grand Chief Norman Wapachee, Wemindji Chief Christina Gilpin and Waskaganish Deputy Chief Samson Wischee.

“Our hearts go out to the communities of Wemindji and Waskaganish directly affected by the traumatic events, concluded Cree Nation leaders. “We must be able to stand strong alongside the families affected and allow them to lean on us. Our communities are hurting but it is only when we stand united that we get through the most difficult of challenges.”

For those facing safety concerns related to domestic violence, they should contact the EEPF or the Robin’s Nest Women’s Shelter at 1-855-7532094.

‘Ring of Fire’ protest disrupts Ontario legislature

Leaders of five First Nations in Northern Ontario demand-

ed that their voices be heard at the Ontario legislature in Toronto March 29.

Earlier this year, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation, Wapekeka First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Grassy Narrows First Nation and Muskrat Dam First Nation formed the First Nations Land Defence Alliance to advocate for their rights ahead of any proposed mining projects on First Nations land.

In Question Period, Sol Mamakwa, the NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong, asked, “Will this government commit today to obtain the consent of First Nations before making any plans for their homelands?”

Neskantaga First Nation’s chief-elect, Christopher Moonias, shouted from the gallery that there should be no development without First Nations’ free, prior and informed consent. The visitors’ gallery erupted with applause, then the five alliance members got up and left the legislature.

The so-called Ring of Fire is a mineral-rich swath of land in northern Ontario but also the world’s second-largest peatland ecosystem that absorbs tonnes of carbon. Scientists worry that disturbing it would add to the climate crisis.

That doctrine made sure we did not exist or were even recognized. It’s one of the root causes of why the relationship is so broken”

- Michèle Audette

Visiting

The statue is known as Indian Girl, or The Dawn of Christianity. Created by American sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer, he described it as “A young Indian maiden, wandering listlessly in her native forest gathering bird-plumes, finds a crucifix, which impressive emblem she, seeing for the first time, gazes upon with wonder and compassion.” The Met allows Native perspectives, which we have included here.

This Cree hood toured the Cree communities in 2016 and is in the National Museum of the American Indian.

Visiting the past

the Nation visits The Met

by Will Nicholls

As artist and writer Maira Kalman once said, “A visit to a museum is a search for beauty, truth and meaning in our lives. Go to museums as often as you can.”

While in New York City, the Nation took Kalman’s advice and visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met) and the National Museum of the American Indian. Both museums had exhibits pertaining to or curated by First Nations and the Inuit.

Much like Eeyou Istchee’s award-winning Aanishchaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, these museums preserve and exhibit important cultural, artistic, historical or scientific artifacts. The exhibits do more than simply provide informative and visual explorations, they help to teach, inspire and connect people and communities. They are places that involve researching, collecting, interpreting and showing all aspects of a distinct heritage in an understandable way.

Well, at least they try. As William Thorsell, director of the Royal Ontario Museum, noted, “Museums should be places where you raise questions, not just show stuff.”

Looking at the stuff is part of what they call informal learning, which is about 90% of the education that stays with you throughout your life. That’s one reason, among many, why there should be field trips for Cree youth to these two New York museums.

Seeing the roots of different cultures gives you a greater understanding of how they perceive the world. When two or more cultures interact and share knowledge it leads to great advances for humankind. It also introduces different ways to experience and understand the world.

Some of the exhibits at the Met involving First Nations featured a museum statement on certain pieces, but also included a Native Perspective statement right next it.

Yes, our youth should go to Aanishchaaukamikw to see our heritage, but they should have an opportunity to visit these world-renowned museums in New York. They will gain so much from them and bring home those experiences, ideas, inspiration and knowledge to share with all of us.

The Nation saw the beaded hood that toured our communities in 2016. But that was the only evidence we could see of the James Bay Cree.

The Nation suggests that if a school trip is made to New York, it should take various artefacts prepared by Aanishchaaukamikw. These could include a drum, tamarack geese, a snow shovel, a crooked knife or a pair of beavertail snowshoes. Done right, it could get a lot of publicity for both museums and the Cree Nation.

Perhaps Aanishchaaukamikw could even attract new supporters from outside Canada. In any case, looking at the interpretations of history, looking at the different viewpoints of the world and seeing how they apply to ourselves can give us pride in simply being human.

These shot pouches were made either by a Cree or an Ojibwe person. The quills used were coloured by boiling them with plants, berries or nuts.

Nellie Two Bear Gates from Standing Rock Reservation made this case for her daughter Josephine after she graduated from a government-run boarding school. Gates made others for family and friends. The scene shows her father, Two Bear, in a battle against the United States.

American sculptor James Earl Fraser created this bronze statue called End of the Trail. It represents an exhausted Native man on a windblown pony and is said to be an evocative comment on the damaging effects of Euro-American colonization on Indigenous peoples.

TOP TO BOTTOM

American artist Alexander Pope painted The Oak Door on an oak panel. When looking at it one is amazed at the detail. It seemed more of a photo than a painting. This is by Spanish painter Francisco Goya and is called Still Life with Dead Hares.

This painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso allows us to see where those ugly argyle socks and sweaters come from – Spain.

That A Way: “They went that a way,” said Donald Nicholls. A lot of the armour looked like it was made for youth as the men were smaller back in medieval times. Armour weighed anywhere from 35 to 91 pounds. Some armour had handles on the front so a squire could help the knight to his feet after falling to the ground.

It just wouldn’t be right not to include a painting by French artist Claude Monet. This is Water Lilies, painted in 1919, seven years before he passed away.

‘Go For It’ Inuit technology forum focuses on Arctic innovation

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At the inaugural Inuit Technology Forum held March 14-16 in Iqaluit, industry leaders and government representatives met to advance innovative solutions for the North. The event was organized by Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corporation (QBDC) with funding from Indigenous Services Canada.

“The overarching premise was to both bring awareness collectively to the initiatives happening in the various Inuit regions across the country and for participants to gain insight from the presenters here in Iqaluit,” said QBDC director of project management Sheldon Nimchuk.

The week began with lighting of the qulliq, the traditional oil lamps that are just one example in the long history of Inuit innovation. Presentations over the following days covered everything from clean energy and internet connectivity to cybersecurity, fisheries research and groundbreaking local artists.

Following last summer’s agreement with HydroQuébec to develop green energy across Nunavik, Tarquti Energy’s Joë Lance discussed the region’s emerging solar and wind projects. Presenters also highlighted windfarm initiatives in other Inuit regions and the potential for small nuclear reactors in energy generation.

Addressing both the region’s housing shortage and the need to move away from diesel energy dependency, ArchTech founder Alex Cook discussed building a net-zero energy home in Baker Lake, Nunavut, while SolarLab CEO Anders Smith came from Denmark to explain his company’s solar facades that make buildings energy producing.

“There are a lot of initiatives taking root,” Nimchuck told the Nation. “Challenges with legislation are slowly being addressed. Clean energy and enhanced connectivity set the stage for all the areas technology may play a role in business opportunities.”

Nimchuck is hopeful that Galaxy Broadband’s $67-million deal with low-orbit satellite provider OneWeb in February will be the “game changer” that local businesses have been waiting for. Focusing on businesses, organizations and governments in Nunavut, the development should significantly improve online latency in applications such as virtual meetings.

Madeleine Redfern, the chief operating officer of CanArctic Inuit Networks and the former mayor of Iqaluit, was pleased to see government representatives from the Canadian Space Agency, CSIS and Policy Horizons that hadn’t previously come to the North. She wants them to understand the keen interest that Inuit need to fully participate in new opportunities.

“Our leaders have been stating for some time, nothing about us without us,” said Redfern. “With the funding Canada has announced in the energy sector, the Northern Corridor development

and telecommunications, there needs to be inclusive discussion and participation.”

Redfern emphasized strategic investments to address the infrastructure needs as many of these technologies are interrelated, and because there are extensive lead times in potential airport, deep seaport and telecommunications projects.

“We have limited resources, so these investments need to be smart,” Redfern asserted. “There’s an interest in Indigenous communities to participate in building, owning and managing that infrastructure. There’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get these investments done right.”

Redfern was fascinated by an Inuit delegation from Cambridge Bay which leverages technological expertise to monitor vessels according to their unique community and cultural needs. As compa-

nies increasingly look toward the Arctic, a panel by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster explained emerging collaborative projects between industry, research, not-forprofits and government.

While local opportunities will come from the Nasittuq Corporation being awarded the NORAD air defence system contract last year, Redfern said Canada has fallen behind Arctic neighbours in infrastructure investment, which she noted has ripple effects in the national economy and security.

The forum demonstrated that talent in Nunavut can handle this growing demand, showcasing local success stories like Iqaluit-based Arctic UAV. With cutting-edge technology, the all-Inuit company’s drones equipped with specialized cameras produce site surveys, detailed mapping and 3D replicas of communities.

“As a small Indigenous tech company, we can certainly provide a worldclass service,” said Arctic UAV founder Kirt Ejesiak. “We understand the landscape and some of the challenges. The tech is only one part – the critical piece is having local folks delivering these services, using community support and local knowledge.”

Ejesiak’s drone pilot team travels long distances in small vessels, navigating harsh conditions and the occasional polar bear to achieve highly detailed images. They’ve expanded into underwater imaging and robotics testing and are currently working on a language application that would provide real-time translation into “natural spoken” Inuktitut.

“It’s certainly an exciting time with a new focus on the North and Inuit want to be part of those discussions,” Ejesiak said. “Often, we look at these conferences with skepticism; grand plans draft-

ed in some boardroom far removed from where we live. This tech forum was refreshingly forward-thinking.”

However, Ejesiak sees a fundamental flaw with southern models that might subsidize 50% or 75% of accepted projects. With such significant gaps in capacity, it’s prohibitively difficult to come up with even 25%. Ejesiak suggests funding certain projects completely, at least in the “proof of concept” stage.

“Development is a catch-22,” asserted Ejesiak. “Show us the project that has legs and okay, but you have to get to that stage. I’d like to see ‘here’s 100%, try for a year,’ and if there’s success let’s highlight that, and get other partners to make it a much larger project.”

On the forum’s final day, local artists shared how the internet enables them to connect with the world. Artist

Mathew Nuqingaq discussed finding new revenue streams during the pandemic while Inuk TikTok star Shina Novalinga recounted bringing a spotlight on her culture.

Organizers invited Grade 10 students for a youth panel. With a young population and growing opportunity to choose one’s destiny, Ejesiak advised aspiring entrepreneurs “to jump in with both feet.”

“There’s certainly more resources now than when I started,” said Ejesiak. “I would encourage folks to reach out to organizations that are there to offer support and people like us who have gone through fighting in those trenches to make this business work. You won’t know unless you try – go for it.”

“Development is a catch-22... Show us the project that has legs and okay, but you have to get to that stage. I’d like to see ‘here’s 100%, try for a year,’ and if there’s success let’s highlight that, and get other partners to make it a much larger project.”

- Kirt Ejesiak

School tales

Cree storytellers share trauma recovery stories in groundbreaking book

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Cree Health Board launched a powerful book about the Cree experience in residential schools March 17 at the National Gallery of Canada, with a following event March 28 in Ouje-Bougoumou. The 316-page book is the first volume in an expected series of three or four.

E nâtamukw miyeyimuwin: Residential School Recovery Stories of the James Bay Cree, illustrated by Cree youth and edited by Ruth DyckFehderau, contains 19 accounts by Cree storytellers impacted by the system. The Cree title roughly translates as “going forward to a good place of peace.”

Each narrative is conveyed with fiction techniques in an engaging third-person short story format that resonate emotionally long after reading. This approach proved effective in DyckFehderau’s first collaborative project in Eeyou Istchee, The Sweet Bloods of Eeyou Istchee, an award-winning chronicle of diabetes in the region published in 2017.

That first project also began a long process of developing a font closer to Cree syllabics that Elders could more easily read. Sweet Bloods is being translated into inland and coastal Cree, French, and Ojibwe for classroom use. The new book’s stories, however, are intended to be informally shared in the respectful manner of talking circles.

Trained in trauma mitigation, DyckFehderau engaged Elders willing to tell their stories. In meetings ranging

from 45 minutes to sessions spanning years, she listened until their stories were finished, then reviewed her written drafts with them until they were satisfied with the results.

“Sometimes I hang out with them for several days,” explained DyckFehderau. “Quite often they want me to come to their camps. That’s where they feel safe. They say that’s what I want to tell for now but don’t write anything yet –I’m going to think some more and come back in six months.”

Considering the sensitive nature of these stories, DyckFehderau took the extraordinary step of destroying all source material upon the completion of each draft. Storytellers would often request that details be changed to obscure identities and respect other people’s personal stories.

“I work to get that person’s way of talking to be as true as possible to who that person is,” DyckFehderau explained. “I try to create something they want. A couple of times at the end of telling a story, they said, ‘That feels

good – I’ve never said that before to anybody.’”

Although long-suppressed experiences in residential school have increasingly surfaced in recent years, many of these stories contain details of shocking cruelty. Johnny Neeposh tells of being left for days in a closet without food or water. Then, after attempting to run away, having his toes forced under his feet in tiny shoes until they grew permanently towards his heels.

When home for the summer, his father admits that if Johnny doesn’t attend school – “the temple of disrespect” – the Indian agent will starve them and withhold ammunition. Every spring, families are found starved to death in their tents. Still, his parents teach him how to live on the land by himself so he can hide in the woods when the plane returns.

“These storytellers find ways to heal,” commented former Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Chief Willie Littlechild. “Through their stories, you learn about culture as treatment,

about the power of forgiveness and love, and about peaceful co-existence in community as essential to healing.”

While the subject matter is difficult, the protagonists’ remarkable resilience overcomes the despair. DyckFehderau said these are the strongest, most cou rageous people she’s ever met.

“If somebody turned 18 in October, they wouldn’t be allowed to go home or back in the classroom,” said DyckFehderau. “At that point, they became free labour for the schools. Quite a few were trafficked south to be maids in Montreal, sometimes as sex labour. A number of them came back pregnant.”

The sad story of Juliet Rabbitskin is told by her two cousins and sister, the latter of whom was born after Juliet died and didn’t know of her existence until she was an adult. To counter the frequent darkness, each story is illus trated by a Cree youth and the devel opers conceived a child-friendly font for titles by having kids write out the alphabet.

Between the narratives, “Stories Along the Way” add humorous context. One tells about a pontoon plane pilot landing in Eastmain to enjoy time off, but he is then called back for a medical emergency. Finding the tide far out and his plane on dry land, he was helped by 20 Cree men who manoeuvred the plane to open water.

The recovery stories brim with hope, humour and determination. Opening with a description of the atrocious cooking and familiar hunger at the La Tuque school, George Shecapio’s story recounts a successful scheme to break into the kitchen’s supplies.

“We had such small portions at mealtimes,” Shecapio told the Nation. “I don’t know if anybody died of malnutrition, but people got sick. Sometimes the older girls would bake some bannock and everyone would rush to the kitchen to get our delicacy.”

As Shecapio was a good student and generally followed the rules, he wasn’t severely punished and even joined a small school group that visited

Montreal’s Expo 67. However, he vividly recalls where the bush plane landed the day that he was taken at age six, convinced it would only be a day trip and that he’d be home by evening.

Later in life, Shecapio realized his mother had fallen into a deep depression that lasted until after Easter when anticipation spread about the children’s return. With his weight loss and her

weathered skin, they could hardly recognize each other after 10 months of separation.

“Are you George, my son?” Shecapio recalled her asking in Cree. “I recognized her voice, and she hugged me. It was really something and all the trauma lifted off.”

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Floating fun

Montreal boat show features the latest in water vehicles

by Prem Lee Prasannam

Companies from around the world showcased hundreds of vessels – from the million-dollar boats to small dinghies – at the Montreal International Boat Show February 9-12. This family friendly exhibition at the Palais des Congrès gave visitors a close look at rare and pricy exhibits from popular world-class brands.

With the warmer months fast approaching, boat owners and new customers are getting prepared for the upcoming boating season. The boat event was an opportunity for visitors to compare the many marine products being marketed. Plus, they could attend free on-site workshops and presentations from the manufacturers.

From deck boats to pontoons to small fishing boats, the dealerships at the venue offered great tips about their buying incentives and the cost of owning one of these fabulous machines.

The fishing, hunting and trapping sector in Canada contributes $1.13 billion to the national economy, and marine manufacturers are all in to get their market share.

cific boat types, in deep lakes or shallow water, and the type of fish expected in the water.

The Princecraft Starfish base model, starting at $7,822, is a five-person aluminum utility boat, and can handle an outboard engine ranging from 15 to 40hp. The top end Platinum SE 227 starts at $111,005, comes with a range of hull and deck functions and other fishing features. It includes a multifunction touch screen with VesselView Link instrumentation display, GPS functions, sonar and DownScan imaging. Supposedly, aluminum boats with high free boards work better in unpredictable weather and water.

The baseline Tahoe T16 came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen multifunction display of GPS-accurate speed, water depth, and the motor’s vitals. It has twin forward lounges, ample underseat storage and boasts good fuel performance.

The top-end Tahoe 210 Si Limited brings the sporting experience to the next level. It offers soft-touch flooring and amble power delivery without compromising the economic angle. The new 8” touchscreen multifunction display unit keeps tabs on all vital data.

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A range of sport-fishing products with the latest gear and modern electronics were displayed, specific to lakes and rivers. Some of these boats were designed to catch specific fish species. If you are considering buying a boat, you need to know where to use the spe-

The Tahoe Sport Series showed an interesting lineup, with luxury, style and performance. With comfortable seating, decent storage and advanced instrumentation, it caught the attention of visitors. The entire sport boat series from T16 to 210 Si Limited, all looked sporty and with decent deck space to enjoy the warm sunny days.

The inflatable Suzuki Suzumar MS-250-OKIB starts at $3,296 and is available in 2.4m and 3.2m lengths. The floor and keel have a solid feel and are designed to enable more speed and comfort. It is perfect for fishing or exploration without worrying about towing or heavy trailer transporting. When you’re ready to pack up for the day, you can store it in a travel bag and put it in your trunk. The Suzumar is powered by

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Suzuki engines that feature enhanced performance and efficiency.

It comes with a seat, oar locks, oars, plus hand holds, lifting handles, mooring rope, and other accessories. This solid five-layer construction is easy to set up, disassemble and transport. It can be deflated and folded into a carry bag and when you are ready to put it back into the water, use a handy foot pump to bring it back to its normal form.

If you are looking for a lighter tow, then the Suzumar MX-380-ORAB D/H is a more impressive inflatable product priced at $20,040. It has a 3.86m deep V-hull and features an offset centre console to maximize space for a more generous seating area. This model offers greater fuel efficiency and is easy to launch and operate.

Lund displayed its core fishing models, Bass and Crappie and other utility and hunting boats. The moderate Angler starts at $17,777 and goes all the way up to the high-end luxury class Baron, at nearly 23 feet long and a 400-max horsepower for serious fishing dudes to hover in large lakes, price tagged at $97,987. It claims to be perfect for big-water fishing to catch salmon trout or walleye.

In the deck boat category, the Princecraft Ventura 23 RL is quite spacious and starts at $89,246; this 23ft aluminum deck boat comfortably seats up to 11 people and can be powered by an engine ranging from 150 to 250hp. With its generous space and lounge seats, it is ideal for fishing or simply cruising.

The Tracker Targa V-19 WT seemed well built to fish in big waters. The wrap-

around walk-thru windshield looks nice and gives added protection. The large 47-gallon fuel tank can keep enough juice to give you long trips. It also has extra-wide gunnels with storage inside.

In the pontoon boat collections, the 27ft Princecraft Vogue 27 XT was stunning with all the comfort and convenience one needs. It has advanced instrumentation and even includes a wireless smartphone charger, cup holder modules and USB ports. Spend $127,454 for a 450hp engine, and you can easily organize a party with up to 13 friends.

Also, the G3 SunCatcher Pontoons series comes with good quality creature comforts, advanced Garmin electronics, and a top-end entertainment system with a subwoofer.

In the big boat class, the award-winning design from Marex showcased its largest seaworthy Marex 375. It has two large seating areas and gives the passengers a yacht experience.

The presence of the Italian company Italmar made the event truly international. They boast expertise in the pleasure boat sector. The AS 26 GL is well designed with all essential amenities and an Italian touch to its accessories.

The show also presented smaller water sporting equipment like Yamaha Sea-Doos and Happy Cat surfboards, and easily transportable catamarans. Overall, the boating event gave businesses and customers a jumpstart on the upcoming new season.

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.

How to beat Str8ts –

Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

SUDOKU

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

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

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Worshipping in the one true church

by Sonny Orr

The crowd roared and the foot stomping shook the arena to its foundations as the puck neared the net. The goalie stood on his head, displaying gymnastic skills that any contortionist would envy. Despite his efforts, the puck blasted past him at high speed – and exited straight through the net.

No one noticed and the play continued. But the player who scored the goal displayed his disbelief. Later, the referees thoroughly checked the net, only to declare it a no goal. One witness asked me if, in my opinion, there was a goal. I said yes, but I was only another agitated disciple of Canada’s true religion: hockey.

Yep, it’s tourney time again in the Great White North and now it’s Whapmagoostui’s turn to host a tournament for the older teams. Just a month earlier, a much younger group of teams came to partake in events that led to more youth skating to glory or hitting a broomball with a deadly broom.

Good conduct and fair sportsmanship were practiced with only a few mishaps and tumbles with the referees. Which recalled a roughing penalty for most members of both teams as a flurry of blows and body slams dominated one broomball game, in which the referee was ejected from a mass of tangled bodies on the ice. Worthy of 10,000 views in my opinion.

I wonder if curling would ever catch on here as it is a strategic game played with finesse. I can almost hear the tea

being sipped while the commentator calmly calls the plays: “And there it goes, the rock spinning out of control landing in dead centre. It’s suicide for a rock to sit there out in the open. Any player with marginal sniper skills could knock it out with their eyes closed and one arm tied.”

The announcer emits a strong sipping sound like a sloppy slurp indicating that this shot could end someone’s career in the curling big leagues. Eventually, a critical shot knocks out all the rocks from the circle and the score doesn’t change. Again. Sip, sip, sip. Hey, I thought this game was supposed to be enjoyed with some Scottish dark beer. I guess tea takes the edge off the frosty breath and the players’ team effort sweeping the ice.

If only I could practice curling at home with a sturdy broom and clean out the sand during off season. I could turn into a tea-sipping superstar curler.

But as with all dreams, they could be dashed with just a few mistakes. The next

thing you know, you’re branded forever while becoming a TikTok sensation – the curler from the North who dared sweep with gusto. One who slid into the limelight because of a total rock demolition play where only your stone remained at the final throw.

You could compare that with any highlight-reel hat trick. But would it get you the lucrative sponsorship deals? Does anyone still sip tea or slosh back a Guinness beer anymore? Who knows? You could be the next curling superstar.

My fantasy slipped back into obscurity as I realized that the masses don’t really appreciate a game that requires brains over brawn, finesse over roughing, or quiet screams over the roar of a bloodthirsty crowd that needs to vent its animosity for the opposing team. I continued to sip my tea in peace as the screaming fans brought me back to reality to witness a real goal, a winning one this time.

Almost 52,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Canada to date that we know of. Most of them have been older people and those with existing health problems. Younger and middle-aged people have also died, but in general most who were vaccinated did not end up in a hospital or succumb to this terrible virus.

The problem is that Covid is still circulating and making people sick. Testing does not seem to be picking up the virus all the time and this is resulting in people thinking they just have a cold or the flu, which is often not the case. The bigger problem is that we all were gathering this winter thinking and hoping the pandemic was very much over. Elders and people with health problems are among those gathering and that has not been good for many of them. So, many Elders with health issues have been getting sick, ending up in the hospital and some passing away.

You would think that after three years of going through this pandemic and learning so much about disease and vaccines, we would have figured out that the virus will be around for some time and change into many variants along the way. We know by now that younger people and those in good health are not dying or being hospitalized with Covid, but we also know that our grandparents, older friends and those with health issues can get very sick and die.

Why is it that we all seem to have forgotten that to a great degree and we are not being careful to protect these

vulnerable groups of people? Why are we continuing and have done so all winter in gathering these vulnerable people for events without thinking about how dangerous this could be? The reality is that things are not back to normal and Covid is still around. The data shows it is less prevalent and less serious than before, but it still can endanger Elders and people in poor health.

Even in the good old days before this pandemic we saw that the flu killed between 3,000 and 4,000 people every year in Canada and, of course, most of these were Elders and people with health problems. At this point I think we realize that our society does not have enough respect and appreciation for older people. We tend to marginalize them to a great degree and push them into private oldage homes that in some cases have not been good experiences.

These people built our society, they raised all families and are the reason we are here, so why are we exposing them to viruses that can make them very sick or even die? We know that any kind of virus or sickness can be easily transmitted to this vulnerable population, but we just don’t get it. We are not doing our best to protect them.

We are getting a lot more data now on how Covid affected us and how the vaccinations performed. There are so many people with long Covid and all kinds of health issues, including autoimmune disease, heart problems, lung problems and clotting. We are learning more about

by Xavier Kataquapit

what we have been through for the past three years. However, the biggest thing we should have learned is that Elders and those with health problems are the ones most affected by Covid and other transmittable diseases.

Why on earth is that not important enough to remember? We could have these wonderful Elders and vulnerable people in our lives for many more years. We could benefit from their experience, their stories and the kindness and love they bring to our world.

Covid is still around and, not long ago, hospitals and old-age homes in my part of Ontario had outbreaks. We know it is around and there is no doubt about that. Hopefully, with spring here and summer on its way this pandemic will be less threatening, and we can gather more safely in the outdoors and not be cooped up inside.

We all need the freedom to move around, meet up with family and friends and enjoy being out and about. However, we must remember that Elders and vulnerable sections of our society are still in danger of picking up a virus and getting very sick and possibly passing away. So, if you have Covid in any form, a flu, a cold or some illness is it too much to ask for us to protect our grandfathers, grandmothers and the vulnerable?

I think this is very easy to do as all we have to do is care a little more.

We need to care a little more