The Nation | Vol. 30, No. 24

USEFUL. UNIQUE. UNSURPASSED...

USEFUL. UNIQUE. UNSURPASSED...

USEFUL. UNIQUE. UNSURPASSED...

2024 Edition

2024 Edition

2024 Edition

A WEALTH OF INFORMATION FOR ANYONE LIVING IN EEYOU ISTCHEE

A WEALTH OF INFORMATION FOR ANYONE LIVING IN EEYOU ISTCHEE

A WEALTH OF INFORMATION FOR ANYONE LIVING IN EEYOU ISTCHEE

All your local numbers in one place!

“I was looking for that!”

All your local numbers in one place!

“I was looking for that!”

All your local numbers in one place!

ALL BAND OFFICE AND CREE ENTITIES CONTACTS IN ONE BOOK! MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE INTERNET!

ALL BAND OFFICE AND CREE ENTITIES CONTACTS IN ONE BOOK! MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE INTERNET!

ALL BAND OFFICE AND CREE ENTITIES CONTACTS IN ONE BOOK!

MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE INTERNET!

UNIQUE LAYOUT WITH TABS, MAKING IT A BREEZE TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED

UNIQUE LAYOUT WITH TABS, MAKING IT A BREEZE TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED

UNIQUE LAYOUT WITH TABS, MAKING IT A BREEZE TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED

Each Cree community has its own Personalized Tab section.

Each Cree community has its own Personalized Tab section.

Plus…Tabs for the Cree entities Blue section and the Business Yellow section.

“I was looking for that!”

Quick and easy! Need to call the clinic?

“I found it where it’s always been. In the phone book.”

Quick and easy! Need to call the clinic?

Quick and easy! Need to call the clinic?

“I found it where it’s always been. In the phone book.”

“What’s the Post Office number?” Look in the phone book!

“I found it where it’s always been. In the phone book.”

“What’s the Post Office number?” Look in the phone book!

“What’s the Post Office number?” Look in the phone book!

AN EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION RESOURCE FOR ANYONE IN BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH THE CREE NATION

AN EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION RESOURCE FOR ANYONE IN BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH THE CREE NATION

Easily find Cree entities and Band office contact info.

AN EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION RESOURCE FOR ANYONE IN BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH THE CREE NATION

Easily find Cree entities and Band office contact info.

Easily find Cree entities and Band office contact info.

“I need to speak to the coordinator of finances in Chisasibi.”

“I need to speak to the coordinator of finances in Chisasibi.”

Quickly find the name and contact info you’re looking for in the phone book!

“I need to speak to the coordinator of finances in Chisasibi.”

Quickly find the name and contact info you’re looking for in the phone book!

Quickly find the name and contact info you’re looking for in the phone book!

Plus…Tabs for the Cree entities Blue section and the Business Yellow section.

Each Cree community has its own Personalized Tab section. Plus…Tabs for the Cree entities Blue section and the Business Yellow section.

“The James Bay Cree Phone Book is a classic that has played an important role in keeping us connected to friends, family, and finding the elusive number to the post office or pizza place. It has given us access and information for cultural centers, business and administration offices. It provides us with vital links to help and prevention lines, child and family services, emergency services and mental health services within our communities.”

“The James Bay Cree Phone Book is a classic that has played an important role in keeping us connected to friends, family, and finding the elusive number to the post office or pizza place. It has given us access and information for cultural centers, business and administration offices. It provides us with vital links to help and prevention lines, child and family services, emergency services and mental health services within our communities.”

“The James Bay Cree Phone Book is a classic that has played an important role in keeping us connected to friends, family, and finding the elusive number to the post office or pizza place. It has given us access and information for cultural centers, business and administration offices. It provides us with vital links to help and prevention lines, child and family services, emergency services and mental health services within our communities.”

Mandy Gull-Masty Grand Chief/Chairperson

Mandy Gull-Masty Grand Chief/Chairperson

Mandy Gull-Masty Grand Chief/Chairperson

IS

Photo by Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association.

Given the life expectancy in times past I might once have already been considered an Elder. Not so these days. But a few years back Matthew Coon Come said he met a people that had a category called junior Elders. Maybe I qualify for that category.

After all, I am getting a little older. I really felt that when my back went out and I had to spend a few days in bed wishing I was a lot younger. In my youth I thought that I would never feel this way. Hell, we all thought we were invulnerable and would last forever. Sadly, we were –and are – mistaken.

Those days of climbing trees just for the fun of it are over. Remember seeing how high up you could jump from? I remember it now by watching my sons and their friends. Rolling down a hill doesn’t quite work out the way it used to do. Skipping along on a walk draws weird stares instead of the smiles that children get. As a result, flexibility decreases unless you take up yoga or something similar. Exercising falls by the wayside in most cases, and in some can contribute to other ailments.

We need to change that. I remember when we had a punching bag at the office. At first, I couldn’t use my full strength as I could feel it hurting my bones. So, at the advice of a boxer, I slowed down and hit it with lesser force and gradually built up

Getting Elderlish

by Will Nicholls

I recently watched a Jackie Chan movie that brought that home to me. Here’s a guy who’s 69 and is in better shape than I have ever been

the density in the bones. It worked and taught me a lesson about slowly getting up to the speed you want to be at. After not using certain parts of your body, they aren’t as capable as they were in the past, but it can be regained.

Some of us never lose it. I recently watched a Jackie Chan movie that brought that home to me. Here’s a guy who’s 69 and is in better shape than I have ever been in my entire life. The moves he made were unreal… at least to me. It gives me hope that if I can get my act together, I might be able to make a comeback. Well, not up to the Jackie Chan level, but better than what I’m doing now.

Hell, we’ve all heard about some Cree whose diabetes has gone into remission, meaning their blood sugar levels have returned to normal. That’s a result of diet and exercise with maybe a few bits of medicine tossed in. Apparently, 150 minutes a week (2.5 hours) of exercise like swimming, biking and brisk walking can make a difference. Who knew without checking websites and trusted medical practitioners?

Solidarity, the ability to listen, curiosity about others and living together are the fundamental values on which our vision is based. Audit | Tax | Advisory RSPD0001693_Pub Nation Magazine_V3.indd 1

Of course, one of the signs of getting on in years (which can start at any age) is the passing on of stories, advice and family history to younger people. As with many Cree in my generation I find it fun to let the youngsters know how it was.

Like telling them about growing up without electricity, running water, a road into the community, phones – not to mention the internet or television. It’s no joke that we used yokes to haul pails of water and chopped wood to cook and heat our homes. It’s kind of fun when they look at you like you’re a fossil from the past come alive.

I usually smile and think of grandparents telling their grandkids about walking to school in minus 40-degree weather and hearing the wood on the boardwalk crack under their feet because of the cold. Wait! That was me.

I guess I’ll follow in my late father’s footsteps and take off a year with each birthday rather than adding one. After all, I’m only a junior Elder and am still learning about this thing called wisdom.

2023-09-13 11:07:42

M. Siberok, Mr. N. Diamond, E. Webb EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Nicholls DIRECTOR OF FINANCES Linda Ludwick EDITORS Lyle Stewart, Martin Siberok PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND MANAGING EDITOR Randy Mayer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS S. Orr, X. Kataquapit, P. Quinn, J. Janke, A. Nambiar, S. Hossain DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse THANKS TO: Air Creebec

CONTACT US: The Nation News, 918-4200 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC., H2W 2R2 EDITORIAL & ADS: Tel.: 514-272-3077, Fax: 514-278-9914 HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 151, Chisasibi, QC. J0M 1E0 www.nationnews.ca EDITORIAL: will@nationnews.ca news@nationnews.ca ADS: Danielle Valade: ads@nationnews.ca; Donna Malthouse: donna@beesum.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $60 plus taxes, US: $90, Abroad: $110, Payable to beesum communications, all rights reserved, publication mail #40015005, issn #1206-2642 The Nation is a member of: The James Bay Cree Communications Society, Circle Of Aboriginal Controlled Publishers, Magazines Canada Quebec Community Newspaper Assn. Canadian Newspapers Assn. Les Hebdos Sélect Du Québec. Funded [in part] by the Government of Canada. | www.nationnews.ca | facebook.com/NATIONnewsmagazine | Twitter: @creenation_news

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

At a special members’ meeting August 12, the Cree Nation of Washaw Sibi selected a location for their future village. After considering four options, community members overwhelmingly chose a site near the town of Matagami.

Members voted 87% for the site, said Chief Annie Mapachee-Salt. “Having the support of the mayor of Matagami and his council was very strong,” she noted, saying she will meet Mayor René Dubé October 3 to make the announcement official.

Recognized in 2003 as the tenth Cree Nation community, Washaw Sibi’s approximately 500 members were scattered in various towns for generations, but still dreamed of securing a place they could call home. A financial envelope was reserved for Washaw Sibi to establish a village in 2007 with the signing of the New Relationship Agreement with Quebec. Last year, it established an administration office in Amos.

With expert advice, community members evaluated four sites using several criteria: suitability for construction, costs, and the speed that they could proceed with detailed planning. One option, on the Robert family trapline, had been selected in 2014 but became mired in land disputes after the Anishinaabe community of Lac Simon claimed the location as their own.

Other options near La Sarre and at a mine on trapline 13 were also shown to members in a PowerPoint presentation. Then the assembly was divided into groups to encourage discussion and debate. After each shared their thoughts, they regrouped after dinner to vote.

Mapachee-Salt believes they made the right choice. Near the Route du

A future home

Washaw Sibi chooses a community site near Matagami

by Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nord and connected by a gravel path to Matagami, the location also provides access to the Bell River.

“We wanted to make sure we have a body of water nearby,” explained Mapachee-Salt. “There was some logging done in the area we chose. We’re told the ground will look more like the golf course that’s right beside it – it brought excitement.”

The decision was welcomed by Dubé, who previously expressed an openness to sharing infrastructure, facilities, programs and services.

“What is important is to see how we can move forward together with respect for others, so that it is beneficial for everyone,” Dubé told Radio-Canada. “From the different exchanges we had with Chief Mapachee, we see that everyone is in good faith.”

As Matagami’s population of about 1,300 was in decline long before the recent closure of a nearby mine, the new Cree settlement could help the local economy.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” Mapachee-Salt told the Nation.

Washaw Sibi leadership toured Cree communities in 2022, asking each to transfer one square kilometre of federal Category 1 lands to ensure rights and privileges guaranteed under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Mapachee-Salt is thankful that OujeBougoumou, Waskaganish, Wemindji and Whapmagoostui have agreed to the request while discussions continue with other communities.

“When we had four kilometres, we said let’s work with this,” stated Mapachee-Salt. “It’s large enough so we

went ahead and are doing what we can. There are still questions that we must settle with the communities that passed a resolution before truly moving on.”

If re-elected Chief October 12, Mapachee-Salt will speak about developments at the Annual General Assembly in Eastmain later that month.

Council is already considering names to lead the planning process. OujeBougoumou went through a similar process when establishing their community in the early 1990s, eventually choosing an award-winning design assisted by famed Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal.

“We’re going to be working on a timeline for everything we’re looking to accomplish,” Mapachee-Salt shared. “Hopefully in a few months we’ll know exactly how our planning will be.”

Washaw Sibi has always been identified as a distinct group that historically lived on land ranging from Hannah Bay at the mouth of the Harricana River to La Sarre. After the nearby trading post closed, they moved towards posts on both sides of the Quebec-Ontario border. When the Canadian government determined band affiliations many were forced to join Algonquin communities like Pikogan.

Hoping to have initial infrastructure established within two or three years, Mapachee-Salt feels it is urgent to secure a village before more Elders pass away.

“Every time someone passes away there’s sadness because they weren’t able to see it happen,” Mapachee-Salt said. “We’re continuing with that vision they had for a Cree community. Our Elders are very happy.”

While parts of Eeyou Istchee are still burning, regional fire marshal Lee-Roy Blacksmith said that fires are becoming less intense and “SOPFEU has withdrawn their troops” – waiting for them to be naturally extinguished. Remaining blazes are still observed by satellite and occasional flyovers to ensure communities are not endangered.

“You won’t see the fires on satellite because the humidity is high,” said Blacksmith. “People want to know if it’s safe to go to their camps. The restriction has been lifted. The roads are open but be cautious that the fires are still burning in those intense areas.”

As this unprecedented fire season winds down, the Cree Nation Government has launched a cabin damage assessment registry, in collaboration with the Cree Trappers’ Association and Niskamoon Corporation. Data gathered from reporting the extent of loss and damages to dwellings and other cultural infrastructure will support remediation efforts and the development of a regional comprehensive strategy.

With devastating impacts to numerous camps and traplines, land users have begun reflecting on the longterm repercussions to wildlife and the Cree way of life. Fred Tomatuk, chairperson of the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board (EMRWB), told the Nation he had concerns about the forest’s conditions since last winter’s freeze-up.

“There was no snow when it started freezing so there was a bed of permafrost where the snow sat,” said Tomatuk. “When things did start melting down, whatever melted by day was frozen in the night again. The fires went down four to five feet deep because the soil had never really gotten wet.”

According to traditional knowledge, winters need a warm spell to have good growth in the spring, but that didn’t happen this year. Tomatuk also knew something was wrong when another predictor of summer growth, the pussy willows, didn’t come out until nearly June instead of late March as usual.

“I keep a diary of weather observations,” said Tomatuk. “During the 41 days we were at our goose camp it only rained for 10 hours. Where the normal shoreline is [on the Eastmain River] you could see the rocks and mud flats. In early spring, I had about 500 sparrows on my yard –nothing was growing so they concentrated where they could find food.”

While he’s previously witnessed two forest fires that swept east to west, this summer’s destruction blazed an immense path north to south. No foliage or blueberries can now be seen along Eastmain’s access road from km 40 to 70, “only black soil and all kinds of rocks you never saw before.”

Since fires ripped through marshlands at nesting season, Tomatuk has observed almost no waterfowl, and an eerie silence has replaced the once plentiful frog song. He said smoke residue forms a slimy barrier on pond surfaces that pushes surviving life to hibernate in the depths. With fish catches a small fraction of their usual level, otter and mink lose their food sources, which is disastrous for the already struggling fur market.

Observing two moose on a small island of a burnt-out lake along with some beavers, Tomatuk worries where they will find food. The wildfires have upended the EMRWB’s fish research and programs that share harvests with the community. Land users who relied on berry harvests or materials for snowshoe-making are finding their economic prospects uncertain.

Assessing the losses

Cree Nation launches a cabin damage assessment registry

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“It means a total relocation of the wildlife,” Tomatuk lamented. “Coming back from evacuation, it broke my heart. I got emotional and cried a bit. I can only imagine how some of the Elders feel.”

Before the time of climate change, Waswanipi tallyman Paul Dixon said nomadic Cree hunters looked forward to a new world growing after a forest fire. Birch and aspen sprout up first, mixed deciduous bush that is ideal habitat for moose and smaller game. These are considered natural fire barriers by the Cree but unmarketable “weeds” by the forestry industry, which seeks more flammable spruce and pine.

“When Smokey the Bear outlawed traditional burns, my ancestors moved traditional burns to the main canoe routes only on islands to create blueberry or bear hills,” shared Dixon. “Forestry cannot compare – heavy machinery destroys the earth; scarification destroys the rest. The land starts to erode because no trees are left to stabilize the ground.”

As Waswanipi is the Cree community most impacted by forestry, this summer’s fires have radically altered consultations with Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. Salvage planning began July 4 while fires were still burning in the region, a fast-track process to appease forestry companies desperate to get back to work.

“Once they’re authorized, they’re going to go into the green areas if we don’t have the salvage plans,” said forestry consultant Allan Saganash. “It’s

very important for us – we want them to stay away from the green areas. The amount of timber that burned in Eeyou Istchee is equal to nine annual forestry plans.”

However, industry wants to return to green areas next year, arguing burnt wood will be too damaged by insect infestation and isn’t accessible by road. Saganash said the Crees are filing complaints with the ministry to protest this wastage. While salvaging burnt timber is nothing new, having fires impact 36 of 62 traplines was unimaginable and Saganash believes the Paix des Braves agreement should be amended in response.

According to a clause in the agreement, seven traplines will close to logging for at least five years after this season because their protected area will be affected over 40%. This will put more harvesting pressure on the remaining traplines.

With Zone 17 almost completely burned, traplines in Zone 22 will be particularly active as the moose hunting season begins. The CTA is considering how to limit harvests of the declining moose population while supporting the many Cree hunters who lost their camps.

“There’s so much wildlife and habitats lost,” said Saganash. “It’s mind-boggling. They won’t be able to hunt in peace for at least five or six years but they’re still going out there. Even the guy whose trapline burned 100% will go out hunting with the hope there will be some moose in the green areas.”

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Blacksmith is an iron man

In August, Mistissini triathlete Neil Blacksmith conquered the Ironman Mont-Tremblant, a stop on the VinFast Ironman North America Series.

Blacksmith achieved a combined time of 13:00:25, ranking 632nd overall, 71st in his division, and 491st in terms of gender. The swim leg of the race took place in a breathtaking natural setting, framed by the mountains of the MontTremblant region.

Blacksmith’s path to the Ironman was challenging. Forest fires wreaked havoc on his training regimen, rendering swimming pools inaccessible. In response, Blacksmith adapted by swimming in open water and doing indoor workouts in his home gym to offset the adverse impacts of wildfire smoke on outdoor training.

The event’s swim event took place on Mont Tremblant’s picturesque lake, while the bike course took riders away from the resort area, guiding

them along a closed 90-kilometre route before transitioning to the run leg.

The run course was a two-loop route that led athletes through the historic Old Village of Tremblant, utilizing the region’s trail network. Aid stations were abundant along the way, ensuring runners had the necessary support to cover those final kilometres. The moderately rolling course enjoyed robust local crowd support.

This year represented a significant shift for Blacksmith as he transitioned from the Half Ironman to the Full Ironman competition. This leap demanded a heightened level of endurance and a fresh set of challenges.

Cree dialysis patients displaced during summer

A shortage of local medical services forced many Cree dialysis patients to travel to

Montreal for treatment this summer.

Cree communities such as Waskaganish experience high rates of kidney disease. Meanwhile, Waswanipi has insufficient hemodialysis treatment forcing some patients to Chisasibi, Chibougamau, Mistissini or Montreal for treatment.

To make matters worse, an outdated water supply system afflicted the dialysis unit at the Chisasibi hospital. When low water pressure began to interrupted dialysis treatments, the facility shut down to undergo repairs, forcing 21 patients to relocate to Montreal. In November, when the hospital plans to have further repairs, patients are expected to return south once again.

Wiichihituwin Director Helen Bélanger told the CBC that she had never seen so many patients flown to Montreal for dialysis treatment. Typically seeing about 35 hemodialysis clients, Bélanger claimed the number had risen to 85.

Efforts are being taken to provide Cree dialysis patients with better care. Last May, a home dialysis training centre opened in Waskaganish. Home dialysis has been reported to improve patients’ quality of life. Before this centre opened, aspiring home dialysis users needed to travel to Montreal for six weeks for training to use the technology.

Now, the Hope Centre –also called Ispeyimuunikamikw – offers two home dialysis techniques: peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. Specialized nurses deliver the training with help from nephrologists from the McGill University Health Centre.

Arrest made in arson cases

Chibougamau resident Brian Paré, 37, has been accused of lighting fires that may have exacerbated this summer’s wildfire chaos. Paré was charged September 11 with eight counts of arson after a Sûreté du Québec investigation that employed criminal profilers, behavior analysis specialists and forensic psychologists. He is suspected of lighting several more.

SQ Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu told a press conference that the “in-depth inquiry remains unyielding as we delve into potential links between the prime forest fires that besieged Chibougamau and Paré’s alleged actions.”

The SQ alleges the arson spree began May 31 and continued until September 5.

Gabriel says means “holy pages.”

When asked what motivated him, Gabriel’s answer was simple: “Language.”

Before this centre opened, aspiring home dialysis users needed to travel to Montreal for six weeks for training to use the technology.

a magical

World ofWords

by Joshu Janke

Māori writer Witi Ihimaera reflects on his large body of work

Akind-looking man with a soft smile enters the McCord Stewart Museum’s theatre August 11 and bows to the crowd. He takes a moment to acknowledge everyone.

“I come from a village with a name that translates to, ‘where the eagles fly overhead’,” he says. “And now, when I look up at the eagles, I see that they are angry. They are screaming, screaming at us!”

He pauses, smiling again.

“The eagles are calling us to all unite, unite in the brotherhood, motherhood and sisterhood of humankind. Unite the sky with the earth, unite the inside with the outside, unite upward with the downward, unite all our genealogy and bring them forward from the dark, bring them forward from the very beginning of existence. Bring us all through to today, to this evening, and to this place, Montreal, where my ancestors will be laughing their heads off that Witi is here with you tonight.”

Witi Ihimaera is Māori from New Zealand, but this message of metaphysical unity was specifically directed towards his friends in the Northern Hemisphere.

“I go around the world repeating this all the time: you are lucky that Indigenous peoples are taking up the novel because this concept is foreign to us,” he stated, noting how performing arts, theatre and cinema favour the oral and performance traditions of Indigenous people.

Through the many readings, songs, jokes and dances he performed, Ihimaera’s skills beyond literature was clear, but his message to the next generation was a call for them to take up their own pens and write their own stories. He says that writing is a power that we all have, because we all have lived a life and memorized its story.

In 1972, Ihimaera became the first Māori writer to be published, releasing Pounamu Pounamu, a collection of short stories. Now 79, he is the author of 24 works. But it wasn’t easy. The choices he had to make still bring tears to his eyes.

Ihimaera told the Nation that as a young boy, he “was always running away from something.” This led to a focus on the intersection between memory, metaphysics and selfhood in

his works, as he looked for ways to create an “altered reality in which I could rediscover and establish myself in.”

By combining personal descriptions that flourish with emotional honesty, Ihimaera’s writing is enhanced with an absorbing tinge of magical realism. Often breaking into solo lyrical performance and never far from a laugh or a joke, Ihimaera gave a unique live performance, including dramatic readings from his texts and even a haka dance with a New Zealander from the crowd who Ihimaera welcomed onto the stage.

“I was raised to believe that inside my belly, both the physical and metaphysical existed. This made me believe that I was living in the Garden of Eden… a garden tainted by colonialism albeit,” he finished with a wry laugh.

“We have to grow beyond our parents when we grow up. This means we endure the terrible trauma of leaving the belly of the family, the all-encompassing Garden of Eden, and deciding to live your own life.”

He says that writing and “doing work outside of the belly” was “emotional compensation for running away from home.”

“My grandmothers always taught me that when I left, I would be entering a world that didn’t make sense, a world that had values that were not like ours. This inspired me to become a Māori author who always wanted to create an alternative fiction to the primary fiction that I was being taught in school and outside the belly of my family.”

“I have many, many grandmothers,” Ihimaera assured the audience with a laugh. “I come from a very small town in Waituhi. It was the grandmothers who looked after us when all the men went to go shearing, or into the city to work. They always said, ‘Witi! Go faster than we did, go further than we ever could. You can do more for the Indigenous people then we could ever do, so make sure you do it.’”

Ihimaera explained how colonialism has created a dilemma by blurring and trying to erase Indigenous ancestry of his people.

“Our homeland ancestry is French, but our land was colonized by English-speakers. This created a huge divide between our contem-

porary understanding of our culture and where are culture comes from within French Polynesia.

“Being Indigenous, I have this long line of ancestors stretching to the beginning of time with who I am accountable to, and with whom I have an explicit obligation to witnessing the Māori story with as much authority and authenticity as I can. Who are you accountable to?” he asked the audience.

So how does one begin writing? Ihimaera defined memory and forgiveness as the foundations of his work. “My books are a medical scan of my heart,” he explained, and this task “takes time and honesty” with oneself.

“The book I am writing already exists in the future, I simply have to connect the dots,” he stated, when asked about his upcoming memoir.

Māori Boy (2014), Native Son (2019) and Indigenous Envoy are the titles of his three memoirs, with the third still in production. The books represent the transitions the writer has taken in his life. “In a way, I am retelling the same story three times…. Because I am in a slow but steady state of change.”

He says that as he grows older and continues to write, he learns new things that make the design and substance of his memoir contrast in a teaching way. He says that Native Son is “a letter of forgiveness to my 12-year-old self.” He hopes to

pursue this path of self-forgiveness with his upcoming work, setting an example for others.

“When we have passed a certain age, the soul of the child we were and the souls of the dead from whom we have sprung, come to lavish all their riches and spells. I have been extremely privileged with all the riches and spells that I was given, allowing me to make my work provocative, invigorating, and captivating.”

Now he wants to pass on stories and skills to the next generation, as, he said, “an Indigenous envoy.”

Being an envoy means to be on a mission, to assume the position of messenger and representative of the people. “It’s

the reason I am here tonight,” Ihimaera remarked.

Ihimaera emphasized that despite the geographical distance between the New Zealand Māori and the Cree in Canada, “we are all fighting the same battle on the same team. We are fighting for a better future for all Indigenous people.”

“We in the Southern Hemisphere will take care of our side, the North must do their part as well. We must begin to think exponentially and ask ourselves, ‘who will look after the future if we do not?’”

Ihimaera noted how over-representation in prisons, higher rates of infant mortality, or even the quality of river water are effects of colonialism which

marginalize Indigenous people in both Canada and New Zealand.

“The Māori have always been concerned about the future and well-being of children,” he continued. “This is why we are looking very seriously and with concern at the stories coming to us from Canada about the discoveries [of the remains] of young people who went through residential schools.

“What happens in your country is of crucial importance to us, because we do not want to go in the same direction regarding the secrets that governments keep to themselves and their lack of understanding on the equality of people.”

“What happens in your country is of crucial importance to us, because we do not want to go in the same direction”

- Witi Ihimaera

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National Gathering on Unmarked Burials supports Fort George investigation

At the fifth National Gathering on Unmarked Burials, held in Montreal September 6-8, a Cree delegation shared their experiences searching former residential school sites on Fort George Island while learning from other communities and experts.

This was the first such gathering in Quebec, where special interlocutor Kimberly Murray said searches are not as far advanced as in some other provinces. Murray was given a two-year mandate by the federal government in June 2022 to provide recommendations for a legal framework in protecting burial sites and the identification and repatriation of missing children.

“The important role that these gatherings take is showing those best practices and bringing the experts together,” said Murray, who is Mohawk from Kanesatake. “All the experts talk about overlaying different technologies because some don’t work in certain areas.”

Murray plans to attend the upcoming Fort George residential school gathering, scheduled November 6-10, where she can hear from survivors and support search efforts at the island’s two former school sites. This annual healing gathering was moved from August after forest fires closed access roads.

“We’re trying to get them the funding they need,” Murray told the Nation. “I don’t think they’ve had access to the records yet. I know there’s a lot of records of Fort George in the National Centre of Truth and Reconciliation. Also, work with the church to get what they have – we keep finding more boxes of records.”

Work at Fort George is particularly complicated. The sites have become overgrown with brush and debris after the former school buildings were demolished when the community was relocated in 1979-80. While some of the area was cleared this summer, more needs to be done to improve the effectiveness of ground penetrating radar (GPR).

Residential school survivors George E. Pachano and his wife Marie Louise Chakapash Pachano have helped coordinate Chisasibi’s search for unmarked graves since the investigation was announced last summer. Gertie Neacappo was hired this June as residential school response coordinator and they’re hoping to hire a research specialist.

“Over the winter we started talking to survivors, taking their statements,” explained Pachano.

Where are they buried?

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photos provided by Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Chibougamau has once again raised the orange flag this year to show its support for the "Every Child Matters" movement and to raise awareness among citizens about the tragedy of Indigenous residential schools.

We invite the community to show solidarity by either adding an orange overlay to their Facebook profile picture, wearing orange clothing, or exploring the richness of First Nations culture.

“I wrote to different organizations, like the Anglican Church. The [Catholic] missionaries have their archives stored in Richelieu. They said they don’t have the resources to do that kind of research so we’re looking at getting somebody to go through the archives.”

When First Nations like Moose Factory that are beginning their searches ask for advice, Pachano suggests starting with survivor testimonies, which can ideally be cross-referenced with aerial maps and other records. With Fort George survivors often coming from Ontario or other regions, consultations that led Chisasibi to proceed with GPR have continued to yield stories.

“As much as possible we tried to reach out to the communities from Ontario or Lac Saint-Jean,” Pachano said. “We don’t have the means to go to every community. They’ll say there was something fishy and maybe you should look into it. They were seven years old back then, now these people are 70.”

Neacappo has been working with archaeologists this summer to map search areas at the former Anglican and Catholic schools. In July, two dogs and their handlers from the Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association searched the sites, trained to detect evidence of human remains.

“We were planning on having the dog team together with the GPR team but unfortunately they couldn’t come because of the road closures with the fires,” said Neacappo. “They couldn’t put the equipment on a plane. We only had the dog

team for two days. When they get tired, they stop.”

Earlier in the summer, the same dog teams had found evidence at the site of Montreal’s old Royal Victoria Hospital, in a search initiated by the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers). Neacappo hopes the GPR team will arrive in late September or early October and that the dogs can return another time to continue searching.

Another emerging technology involves a probe that detects the acidity of bodies underground. As Pachano was told there’s only one in Canada, they’re hoping to secure some time with it before winter. Even when ground disturbances are observed, they must be meticulously analyzed and cross-referenced before any conclusions can be drawn.

The national gathering enabled the Cree delegation to learn more about new search methods, data sovereignty and how other communities have approached their investigations. In a leadership panel called “Where to Begin,” Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty and other Chiefs asserted that the ultimate objective of finding bodies must be justice and that Canada’s indifference and inaction would be taken to the United Nations.

Murray explained that initial government funding is insufficient for searches that may take at least a decade, in addition to mental wellness support and land repatriation issues. She believes searches should expand to any institution that Indigenous children were sent to, including hospitals and orphanages.

While Pachano and Neacappo were both impressed by the inspiring speeches and expert panels, the gathering was also a valuable opportunity to spark discussions that may provide leads towards locating missing family members.

“Two of my family members didn’t come home from residential school,” shared Neacappo. “I heard a recording from an Elder about how they passed away – they don’t know if they’re buried there. That’s what motivates me to find out.”

Seeking information on behalf of a Cree woman whose sister had a hospital appointment and was never heard from again, Pachano tried to jog the memory of a couple who had gone to the same residential school. He said the lady recognized the name and would try to check with other former classmates.

Whether it’s a promising lead “or another dead end,” the possibility of finding answers and providing families with a sense of closure motivates him to keep calling other survivors to discuss memories some would rather forget. Meeting survivors at this gathering helped him verify others’ stories, which will better focus ongoing search efforts at Fort George.

“A lot don’t want to rehash everything after 50, 60 years,” said Pachano. “Then there are other people who say my sister never came back, I’d like to eventually find out where they’re buried. We become the voice for people who don’t want to talk about it. That’s why I’m doing it.”

On this September 30th, let us mark the Truth and Reconciliation Day. This day exists to remind us of the truth about residential schools. This year one of the themes is returning the children to their homes.

FNEE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE HOPE OF HEALING, FOR A BRIGHTER AND MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE … BECAUSE EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

fnee.ca TO APPLY

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Doors open for Wabiguin Bearskin as Miss Teen Canada Ambassador

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After being crowned this year’s Miss Teen Canada Ambassador in April, Wabiguin Bearskin has embarked on an exciting journey to represent the Cree Nation at fashion shows around the world.

Ahead of this November’s Miss Teen Universe pageant in Orlando, Florida, the 14-year-old will be gracing runways from New York to Paris to Dubai throughout September. Amidst plans for over 200 fashion shows worldwide, she’s also slated to attend the Cree Nation’s Annual General Assembly in Eastmain on October 24.

“I’m most excited about the travelling and the experience,” Bearskin told the Nation. “I’ve loved travelling since I was a little girl. I’m also excited about New York because my grandparents are coming for the first time to my show, and it means a lot to me.”

Determined to be a supermodel since she was six, an opportunity to submit a short video skit when she was eight led to a successful audition in Ottawa. From the approximately 700 participants, she was selected as one of the top two or three to attend a prestigious showcase in Los Angeles.

“That’s where everything took flight,” recalled her mother, Stella (Masty) Mishtayabimiko. “When we went to Los Angeles, she had about 11 offers of agencies, which included Disney, Nickelodeon and Netflix. She worked with super elite model coaches and had the opportunity to attend a couple of workshops with producers from The Voice.”

While it was scary stepping on stage that first time, Bearskin felt reassured by her mom’s support and soon realized she was meant for this. Reading scripts and preparing for auditions has become a fun bonding activity for the family, who have always encouraged her to discover her real passion.

“I always tell her to be herself, not to pretend to be someone she’s not,” said Mishtayabimiko. “It’s just a way for us to connect. We have a lot of laughs. It’s

encouraging her creative or dramatic side to blossom.”

In the years after making a big splash in LA, the two travelled to auditions, acting classes and workshops around the continent. There have been discussions to appear in print ads and she was prepared to sign a Netflix contract before the show was unfortunately cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

“The best advice we got was when we met with Disney and Nickelodeon at a café,” Mishtayabimiko said. “They told her enjoy your life as a kid. Go out there and have fun because once the industry takes a hold of you it’s a lot of work. They want her to make some noise on social media, then they’ll come back to reach out for her.”

Becoming Miss Teen Canada Ambassador was unexpected. They had arrived at a fashion show in Toronto a day early and were persuaded by the pageant’s director to try out. Although Bearskin hadn’t prepared beforehand, her poise and thoughtful answers made an immediate impression.

“One of the proudest moments for me was when the judges asked her what she thought of the competition,” shared Mishtayabimiko. “She said: ‘For me this is not a competition – this is a bunch of young girls and women supporting and encouraging each other. We need more of that in this world.’ Everyone in the crowd was like ‘Wow.’”

Bearskin cried when she was announced the winner, so shocked to hear her name that it took a moment for her to collect the crown. Her message came from the heart, inspired by the pageant’s positive energy and how the girls were so nice to each other as they got their hair and makeup done.

“In Eeyou Istchee, you see girls being mean and gossiping about each other,” said Bearskin. “It was a very different environment, and I enjoyed it a lot. I realized I have to spread this message that girls have to empower each other instead of trying to break each other down.”

People can follow her upcoming events and contribute to Bearskin’s travel costs on her recently developed website, missteenambassador.ca. Her stated mission is to educate the world about the Cree Nation and advocate for mental health, special needs and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls awareness.

While Bearskin says her biggest dream is to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, she also hopes to one day take business classes in college and learn to speak and write in Cree. Her late great-grandmother gave Wabiguin her Cree name, which means “the first white flower to bloom in the spring, even when there is still some snow.”

After taking some time following the Miss Teen Canada pageant to finish her school year, establish her brand and reflect upon her new status, coming to the Cree princess pageant in Chisasibi in August reaffirmed for mother and daughter the significance of why they’re doing this.

“The love and support they showed her, I’m at a loss for words,” confessed Mishtayabimiko. “People were telling me I thought this was just a pageant but watching these girls grow and blossom is something else. We have to start supporting our youth and not talk about them in the future tense – they are important now.”

Danielle Sealhunter, who was crowned Miss Chisasibi, thanked Bearskin and her mother for organizing a pageant workshop that helped contestants overcome their stage fright. As Bearskin transforms global catwalks into platforms for inclusivity and cultural pride, she is showing younger Cree girls that they too can celebrate their uniqueness and achieve their dreams.

“It was so nice to see little girls come up to me because I was once that little girl,” Bearskin said. “Never let anyone tell you you’re not beautiful because you are. Anything is possible – you just have to put your mind to it. If it’s not hard, you’re not doing it right.”

If you are an Indigenous woman of Eeyou Istchee and you are seeking safety and support, we are here to help you!

white flower

Message for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day for all Canadians to acknowledge the harm caused by colonial assimilation policies against Indigenous Peoples in this country. Our Nation and our People continue to feel the impacts of these colonial policies, remnants of which can still be found even today in provincial and federal government services and institutions.

We must remain vigilant to ensure that this legacy and its impacts, including intergenerational trauma, are not forgotten or repeated. But as people, families and communities, we can grow, heal and become stronger. We must work together with Canada and Quebec and take the necessary steps towards reconciliation. This includes joint efforts to affirm our rights as recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to combat systemic racism.

On September 30th, 2023, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services of the Cree Nation Government acknowledges with respect and love those who have experienced the impacts of residential school and other colonial policies, and we honour with hope and trust those whose resilience, wisdom and inspiration leads us forward to a brighter and more just future.

To protect and nurture

by Will Nicholls

The Cree Youth Protection Commission started its work in Mistissini September 7 with the goal of overhauling the Youth Protection system to make it more responsive to Cree needs.

Led by former Cree Health and Social Services chairperson Bella Petawabano and psychologist Lorraine Spencer, founder of Siikuun healing retreat, the commission is consulting communities, Cree entities and provincial stakeholders.

One problem they are examining is that, out of the 1,187 reports that Youth Protection handled last year, seven out of 10 were not retained for various reasons. All of this overextended the current Youth Protection Service staff and created difficulties solving real problems.

“This is an important step in our process of evaluating the current laws and to adopt these laws to our own Cree culture and Cree values,” Mistissini Chief Michael Petawabano told the commission.

Petawabano pointed to an expanding population, the residential school legacy, the pandemic and the fire evacuations as stress points. He felt the across-the-board approach of the commission’s task force would help to keep things balanced and was shown to be effective in the past for the Cree Nation.

“We could all agree that we are long overdue to evaluate and integrate our culture and values in the child protection system, with the goal to improve the well-being of our Cree youth,” he said.

Current CBHSS chair Bertie Wapachee said, “Our future, as a nation, is determined by how we protect, provide, care for and nurture our children. Unfortunately, the current situation in Eeyou Istchee shows something is not working. “

Wapachee said Youth Protection has always been a priority for the CBHSS and “We need to reinforce culturally safe practices/ approaches and identify Cree principles in designing the new Cree program.”

When asked how this would be done, he said that the community consultations will have the “voices and perspectives” that will guide the board in this process. The next few months will see commissioners visiting each community and he hopes as many Cree as possible will participate in the consultations.

After the consultations are finished recommendations will be made to the board of directors of the CBHSS on proposed changes. Wapachee added that he was happy that Catherine Lemay, the National Director of Youth Protection in Quebec, is supporting the process.

Deputy Grand Chief Norman Wapachee said that the provincial and federal governments’ institutions of assimilation included more than residential schools. They took the Cree from the land and created a huge detrimental impact on them, and the policies of inclusion only added to that. As an example, he said that Ouje-Bougoumou had been relocated six times in a 50-year period to make room for development that they never wanted or were included in.

“We became known as squatters on provincial and federal lands and that had an impact on us,” Wapachee observed.

Cree task force to remake Youth Protection system launched in Mistissini

Then it was time for the speaker everyone was waiting for – Cindy Blackstock, the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. She has been instrumental in gaining recognition of Indigenous children on an equal basis with any other child in Canada.

Blackstock asked important questions about Cree ancestors. What did they want to have us know and do? Was it collecting and knowing certain answers but for than respect? Blackstock said she felt it was “The Great Forgetting… I hear echoes from the past.”

“They didn’t want to be defined by the pain,” she observed. “They preserved the teachings so that one day I would bring them forward… to address our obligations and duty to do more for our children.”

Blackstock also asked simply, what is the problem? Is it youth justice? Or child welfare?

In the end, Blackstock said hearing Cree used so much at an event like this was uplifting as she knows most Indigenous languages are in danger of being lost.

Finally, Lemay said the Quebec government was on board with the Cree Youth Commission. She said the aspirations of the Cree was a “noble objective” in protecting Cree children. She also acknowledged that dealing with Indigenous children cannot be the same as for the rest of Quebec.

“The well-being of Indigenous children is inseparable from the culture, namely the relationship to the territory, the different notion of time, language, family models, history and spirituality, said Lemay.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

30 SEPTEMBRE, 2023

A DAY TO REMEMBER A MOMENT TO UNITE

UNE JOURNÉE POUR SE SOUVENIR UN MOMENT POUR S’UNIR

Wear orange to promote the “Make every child matter”

commemoration

Portons du orange afin de promouvoir la commémoration

« Que chaque enfant compte »

Rising star

Cree hockey player Israel Mianscum chases his NHL dream

by Sakib Hossain

In Mistissini, a young hockey sensation is making waves. Israel Mianscum, at just 20 years old, has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring athletes in the region. With every stride on the ice, he carries the dreams of his people and the legacy of Cree athletes who came before him.

Mianscum’s pursuit of hockey stardom is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in Mistissini, Mianscum was introduced to hockey at a young age. It didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the game, a passion that would drive him to strive for excellence on the ice.

Currently, Mianscum is making his mark in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the

Sherbrooke Phoenix. Last season, he recorded an impressive 61 points, with 30 goals and 31 assists, in only 65 games. His achievements on the ice have not gone unnoticed, earning him accolades and invitations that are paving the way to his dream – the NHL.

This included an invitation to the Detroit Red Wings development camp this past summer. It was here that he

got a taste of what it means to compete at the highest level of the sport.

“It was very fun; I had a good experience,” said Mianscum. “I saw how others played and that pushed me to play harder. I saw where I needed to be to make it [in the NHL]. There were people that encouraged and helped me like the coaches and scouts telling me what I need to work on.”

The Red Wings saw Mianscum’s potential and invited him back for the NHL Prospect Tournament, an event that showcases the skills and determination of young talents. This year, the tournament is hosted by the Detroit Red Wings September 14 -17 in Traverse City, Michigan. It’s a chance for Mianscum to prove himself once again and take a step closer to his NHL dream.

But the path to the NHL is not without its challenges. Mianscum knows that anything can happen in the world of professional hockey. Trades and changes in team dynamics are a part of the game, but he remains unwavering in his motivation.

“I skate, train, and watch my diet,” he emphasized. “Every summer, I become more motivated. Every year gets more important as you get older. I am working hard.”

Last season, he recorded an impressive 61 points, with 30 goals and 31 assists, in only 65 games

The Montreal Canadiens have also recognized Mianscum’s potential, inviting him to their development camp in July 2022. It’s a testament to his talent and dedication that he drew the attention of two NHL franchises in such a short span.

Stéphane Julien, a former head coach and general manager with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, has witnessed Mianscum’s growth firsthand.

“He’s one of the players I’ve seen progress the most in my coaching career in Sherbrooke,” said Julien. “He’s a very smart player. He is very strong on his skates. He can hit very hard. He has a pro shot. He’s got everything to be successful.”

Mianscum’s dedication to the sport extends beyond the rink. In the QMJHL, education is a significant component of a player’s development, and Mianscum has excelled in this aspect as well. Julien expressed his pride in Mianscum’s progress in school, highlighting his value as a role model for other young Cree hockey talents, both male and female.

Behind every successful athlete is a family that

believes in their dreams, and Mianscum is no exception. His parents, Louie and Tiffany, are his biggest fans and have always been by his side.

Tiffany NeeposhMianscum expressed her excitement, saying about her son’s achievements, “It feels surreal. We are excited, I’m very excited. We are grateful God gave us another opportunity for Israel to pursue his passion. I believe he can succeed and reach where he wants.”

Mianscum remains humble amidst his rising success. He expressed his gratitude to his supporters. “I want to thank everyone,” he said. “I see all your support. I feel it. Thank you for having my back.”

He particularly acknowledged the pivotal role his parents played: “My parents have been my greatest supporters. This wouldn’t be possible without them.”

As Mianscum continues his pursuit of an NHL career, he carries with him the support and pride of his community and serves as an inspiration for young athletes who dare to dream big.

“I saw how others played and that pushed me to play harder. I saw where I needed to be to make it [in the NHL]”

Crossword by Margie E. Burke

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.

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

SUDOKU

Previous

- Medium

No. 672

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

by Sonny Orr

Whew, what a summer… interrupted. It’s not a season that many would acquaint themselves with as being a hazardous time, but it was this year. The summer of scorching fires across the country made headlines and as I write, another natural disaster has hit elsewhere on the planet in the form of earthquakes. I shudder to think what that type of disaster would do to us up here in the North. Most likely a huge tsunami created by a giant burp in the mantle of northern America, most of which consists of rivers, lakes and all kinds of ice.

Now for the good news. There were a few pageants that emphasized the youth’s ambitions, desires and general outlook on life that are on display for others to take pride in and notice the good side of life for a change. These are positive events that don’t care about beauty and aesthetic appeal like the ones Trump used to host, but more of the human side is presented. I like knowing that no matter who you are you can be a role model for others.

Back in the day we were encouraged to care for ourselves. General hygiene and athletics were combined with leadership skills and knowledge that were transferred to others outside of that group or community. Many times, we were seen as role models who could do anything that needed to be done in a way that could only be done by us, or so it seemed.

Later in life, those leadership skills and knowledge are still retained in the

class of 1974. Yep, 49 years ago. For many that is ancient, but for others it’s just a number. I like to think of it as a life that was measured by events and memories and slightly littered with a few recollections best forgotten.

I see that graduations are increasing, and this is great. It’s a good reminder to our leaders that the youth have to have a life to live for and a good future to grow up in. Yep, that means more schooling and education sites – maybe a local university. The days of sending your kids out to get an education should be over by now. This new generation will never feel the pain of being yanked away from their families and sent to a school far away, only to return as a stranger with new knowledge that was forced into their minds. Nope, no kid will have to endure that again and no family should be separated against their will.

My writing skills, which I learnt in grade school and how to type like a maniac in high school, made me into something I never knew was possible, a journalist for a fine publication like this

one. Life is full of mysteries. So, take note all those students out there trying to learn something helpful to use in life, don’t give up trying to understand why you need these skills, just learn them and figure out why later. You never know, you could be a scriptwriter or a superstar in the making, without ever planning to be one. There’s nothing wrong with a good plan for your life, so keep on planning for your future.

For those with lofty ambitions, remember they start at the bottom and work their way up, with a lot of turbulence. So, get ready for the ride of your life, which is your future. Remember that the future can be predicted if you plan ahead as you are in that future picture somewhere. Dreams are reality when you make them happen beyond your usual time-wasting daydreams. And if you have problems with trying to make that future happen, don’t confuse money as being the solution – money can only fix money problems.

Again, to everyone, make life happen for you and don’t wait for life to happen to you.

Dreams are reality when you make them happen beyond your usual time-wasting daydreams.

Under the Northern Sky

Time for an Indigenous prime minister

by Xavier Kataquapit

Ifeel like a survivor at times and there is good reason for that. As an Indigenous person living in this time and country, I have seen so much happen over the past four decades of my life. The sad reality is that I have lost many young and Elders close to me over the years through tragic situations.

No doubt about it I can point to colonization with issues like residential schools, racism, poverty, addictions and violence as causes of the hardships Indigenous people have faced over the past few hundred years. The problem is that things are not getting better fast enough. Too many of my people are still living difficult lives and we need to move quicker to make things better over the next decade.

It is up to all of us to be aware of the problems and challenges we are facing and to put in place real solutions that help us heal from the injustices of the past and focus on changing our world and in doing so making life on Mother Earth better for everyone. A report by Amnesty International points out that Indigenous peoples have a life expectancy that is 20 years lower than the non-Indigenous population. The reality is that we have high rates of poverty, malnutrition, unemployment and we suffer from all kinds of addictions that are more like epidemics in our First Nation communities right across Canada.

A lot of these issues result in people making mistakes and bad choices; the outcome is breaking the law and incarceration. Our jails in Canada are filled with Indigenous people at higher rates than those who are non-Indigenous. What could we possibly expect if our young people are growing up having to deal with extreme poverty, racism, addictions and a feeling of hopelessness?

One of the most important quotes I have ever seen was when reading Les Misérables by Victor Hugo many years ago. That quote hit me like a lightning bolt and has stayed with me ever since. It is: “If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed; the guilty one is not he who

commits the sin but he who causes the darkness.”

If you think about it, this quote challenges us to think more deeply as human beings to consider why things are like they are for so many of my people who have made and are making bad decisions. The problem is that we do not as a society really do our best to produce democracies that are dedicated to making life better for everyone. Most of us just don’t care if we are comfortable and have everything we want.

Although we are making some progress for Indigenous people over the past few decades, we still have not seen most treaties settled by governments and we still don’t have clean drinking water in many remote Indigenous communities.

To add insult to injury we have had to deal with impostors in the arts, business and academics claiming to be Indigenous to reap any rewards that have been afforded to my people by govern-

ments and organizations over the past few decades. It bothers and saddens me to see these pretendindians reaping the benefits of their deception and without governments, businesses and organizations checking the validity and proof of their connections to claiming Indigenous heritage. It is infuriating.

How are my people ever going to heal if this kind of situation continues. I see now that there is a movement across the planet where more right-wing and even fascist types of government are taking over and that scares me. We see signs of this creeping far right-wing fascism across this country, and I can’t imagine how things are going to get better for any of us with these nasty, racist, homophobic power brokers in place. What we need soon is an Indigenous prime minister and members of Parliament representing fair-minded and generous parties. Let’s get behind that idea.

We see signs of this creeping far right-wing fascism across this country, and I can’t imagine how things are going to get better for any of us with these nasty, racist, homophobic powerbrokers in place