The Nation | Vol. 32, No. 04 by nationmag

Photo by

Denis Doukhan

TEditorial

The Grinch who stole Christmas

2024 Canada Post version

by Will Nicholls

hrough rain, sleet or snow, the mail must be delivered. That’s certainly not true right now and it hasn’t been for a while. The timing of the 2024 Canada Post strike is disheartening and very Grinchy.

By the end of November an estimated 10 million parcels went undelivered. Ironically, one of the sticking points of the strike is parcel delivery.

To be sure, the strike isn’t hurting everyone. We can all imagine the round of high fives Amazon’s upper management are giving each other in anticipation of higher Xmas bonuses.

But that isn’t true for many small businesses, including home-based artisans. Already hit by Covid, the postal strike may be the last straw for many of them as Christmas purchases are a large part of their annual revenues.

Rural locations, including many First Nation communities, are hardest hit. Limited choices and merchandise in those places will see many trees looking understocked come Christmas is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications

EDITORIAL BOARD Lyle Stewart, Martin Siberok X. Kataquapit, P. Quinn, N. Fedosieieva, S. Larivière, H. Nicholls , 918-4200 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC., H2W 2R2

EDITORIAL & ADS: Tel.: 514-272-3077, Fax: 514-278-9914

ADS: Danielle Valade: ads@nationnews.ca; Donna Malthouse: donna@beesum.com $60 plus taxes, US: $90, Abroad: $110, Payable to beesum communications, all rights reserved, publication mail #40015005, issn #1206-2642

The James Bay Cree Communications Society, Circle Of Aboriginal Controlled Publishers, Magazines Canada Quebec Community Newspa www.nationnews.ca | facebook.com/NATIONnewsmagazine | Twitter: @creenation_news

December 13, 2024 www.nationnews.ca

Helping hands

by Serge Larivière

The forest fires of 2023 were devastating to trappers and hunters, who lost equipment and cabins to the infernos that spread throughout Eeyou Istchee.

The Cree Trappers’ Association and Cree Nation Government worked hard to inventory burnt cabins for each community – not only to assess damages, but to design a reconstruction plan. Preliminary information revealed that few cabins were properly insured, and that trappers would need financial help to rebuild the cabins they lost.

Partners on the land also witnessed the devastation. Normand Champigny, Chief Executive Officer of Quebec Precious Metals Corporation, a gold and lithium exploration company in the territory, saw it firsthand.

“In the fall of 2023, I flew for over 30 minutes by helicopter in the Wemindji and Eastmain areas and all I could see was burnt land and burnt cabins. The devastation was impressive, and extensive, and it struck me that we as partners and guests on the land had to do something,” Champigny told the recent Québec Mines + Énergie meeting in Quebec City.

With Jacynthe Lafond, external relations coordinator of Newmont Eleonore, the two are launching an ambitious fundraising initiative from companies operating in Eeyou Istchee to help speed reconstruction of destroyed cabins.

The Reconstruction Initiative Forest Fires Fund (RIFFF) started as a modest

way for mining companies to contribute to the effort, but the support has exceeded expectations.

“Almost everyone I spoke to agreed there was a need to help Cree hunters on the land. It was an easy sell from there to get their company involved,” said Champigny.

Newmont Éléonore immediately set the tone with a $50,000 contribution to the fund.

“When you work in Eeyou Istchee, you develop a sense of pride, even a sense of community,” explained Lafond. “We see hunters on the land all the time, so we could understand how difficult it would be to see the land and the cabins burnt. We could not stand aside – we had to help.”

Before long, added Champigny, several companies willing to help, but they needed an independent administrator.

“After speaking with various Cree in Eeyou Istchee, we asked the Cree Hunters Economic Security Board [CHESB], an organization with a solid reputation, to administer the monies that would be raised,” he said.

At a meeting in Montreal, Champigny explained the initiative to CHESB representatives. At their board meeting the same day, CHESB members unanimously passed a motion to be the fund’s independent administrator and to inject $400,000 into the effort.

The RIFFF is a partnership between the CHESB, the mining industry and the

Eeyou Istchee communities. Starting in 2025, the fund will help pay for the reconstruction of burnt cabins and complement the work underway by the CRA on the most impacted traplines. The CRA has been dealing with the issue ever since the fires started, and although they were able to gather some funds, the needs are larger than the resources, and without cabins, hunters cannot occupy the land.

Allan House, Chief Financial Officer at the CRA, stated, “Eeyou culture and language are strongly connected when our people are out on the land of Eeyou Istchee. Having a place/home in the heart of Eeyou Istchee is an essential need for our people. Our hunting grounds are our home.”

According to the information collected by the CNG’s Forestry Department, 11% of the land and nearly 60% of the traplines were affected by the fires.

“I am delighted that the CHESB and so many companies have agreed to contribute to this initiative,” said Champigny. “We hope that many other organizations will contribute.”

Currently, the CHESB has $400,000 to fund rebuilding efforts and provide administrative support. From the industry side, Newmont Éléonore will contribute $50,000 and another 16 other companies have each pledged $20,000, for a total so far of $770,000.

Mining companies join forces to help rebuild cabins burnt by 2023 fires

Department of Commerce and Industry

Cree language forum explores the

by Natalia Fedosieieva

The Gathering of the Cree Language forum, held in Gatineau November 26-27, brought together Cree education leaders and language researchers to explore how best to maintain and strengthen the mother tongue of Eeyou Istchee.

Jamie Moses, the Cree Nation’s first language commissioner, opened the forum by sharing his experience of learning Cree – by listening to his grandfather recount legends and stories each evening.

“Our Elders and their experience are valuable resources for the new generation,” Moses said.

Moses noted that the last survey on the status of Cree language was in 1989, and he worries that new data coming in 2025 will show diminished numbers of people who are fluent.

“We must act on the health of our language,” Moses insisted. At the same time, he believes the tone of the language discussion should change.

“At conferences and gatherings, we always talk about the number [of speakers] declining and blame the problem on our kids,” he said. “But we need to start suggesting ideas on how to overcome these challenges. We need to engage in partnerships and collaborate.”

Keynote speaker Lorna Williams, Professor Emeritus of Indigenous Education at the University of Victoria, is a Lil’wat of the St’at’yem’c First Nation at Mount Currie in British Columbia. Williams talked about her experience developing the first curriculum for teaching Ucwalmícwts, the language of her people.

Involved in community activities for 60 years, Williams was working on a dictionary for Ucwalmícwts when she under-

Beautiful speech

best practices of language revitalization

stood something “so powerful and so beautiful.”

“I could see the beauty of the variations of our language, the predictability of the changes and the nuances,” she explained. “Rather than being fearful of this diversity, we could see that we don’t have to be afraid. Our people are comfortable with variations.”

Williams believes every language articulates the values, the philosophy and the relationships that define a people. But the pressure of colonial governments to separate Indigenous people from their languages and their knowledge remains powerful.

“The motivation has to be really thought through,” she told the Nation “That is part of what the forum is about –to come up with inspiring ways to promote the language in the community and the family. People have to overcome a lot to keep their languages alive.”

To regenerate the use of a language, Williams suggests it is important to have a community plan. First, by assessing where members are with their language, and what they want from it.

“Those who come up with a long-term strategic plan need to be very aware of the position of their language within the framework of this colonized country – its relation to English and French.”

Williams underlines the role of residential schools in eradicating Indigenous culture. Because of that history, to revitalize a particular language it is necessary to use it in every part of family and community life. And “from the government side – they have work to do.”

“Indigenous languages get very little support from the federal government,” Williams said. “Not too many provinc-

es support Indigenous languages, there needs to be an arm that really works on funding and securing resources.”

According to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, she noted, the Cree language is comparatively strong and encouraged, and people are using it.

Cree School Board chairperson Sarah Pashagumskum said she believes Cree cultural and language programs are directly related to student success.

The CSB serves over 4,000 students in kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools, Pashagumskum noted, saying it is the Board’s responsibility to provide the cultural and language education that helps young people build their identity.

“This past year we implemented a new program in pre-kindergarten to improve proficiency in the Cree language,” she explained. “That program includes Elders in the classrooms, who work as mentors for teachers and as language supports for the students in early grades.”

For the Cree language to thrive, Pashagumskum says it is important to evaluate available resources and the clientele they can reach.

“That includes reaching out to community members, to parents, and the families of the students we serve to find out what we can do to support them in maintaining the Cree language within their homes,” she emphasized.

“For young people, it really is an important consideration. Students’ empowerment through focusing on identity is a success factor in the school, and those students are more likely to be successful if they have firm grounding in who they are, if they feel secure in their language and in their ability to use it.”

STRUGGLING WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD?

HAVE YOU COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR SENTENCE AND PROBATION?

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PARDON THAT SEALS YOUR RECORD

WE CAN HELP YOU!

If you are a Cree beneficiary, the Cree Nation Government (CNG) can help you to fill out the record suspension application and if you qualify for financial assistance, the CNG may pay the costs associated with the application.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REINTEGRATION OFFICER ON HOW TO APPLY:

Chisasibi: Eastmain: Mistissini: Nemaska: Ouje-bougoumou: Waskaganish: Waswanipi: Wemindji: Whapmagoostui:

819-855-2120

819-977-2400

418-923-2661

819-673-2400

418-745-2260

819-895-2126

819-753-2770

819-978-3300

819-929-3796

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Correctional Services Regional Office in Val d’or 819-874-2600 or contact your local Reintegration Officer

Pelletier elected new CHB chair

Jeannie Pelletier won 54% of the run-off vote on November 27, taking over the role of Cree Health Board chairperson from incumbent Bertie Wapachee. Pelletier has worked 28 years for the health board, the first half of her career as a nurse.

“Time to reclaim our path, restore our health and rewrite our story,” shared Pelletier, highlighting the pillars of her campaign.

With her election, Cree women now lead the Grand Council of the Crees, the Cree health and school boards, and AirCreebec. Pelletier suggested, “As women, we have compassion, we’re nurturing and all the other gifts that we were given are probably what is needed at the present time.”

Her priorities include addressing the quality of medical travel, including potential changes at the Espresso Hotel where patients stay in Montreal, and improving workforce morale and management. During the campaign, she heard that people want more transparency and fairness in infrastructure.

The CHB thanked Wapachee “for his outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication during his term. His contributions have had a significant and lasting impact on our communities’ health and social services, and we are deeply grateful for his service.”

Pelletier plans to fully understand the current processes and human relations before making major changes. She told the Nation that her

time as a nurse taught her how to really listen.

“When you want to transform an organization, you have to understand first the needs and then the people you can leverage,” Pelletier said. “I like to learn and listen – we have to talk to people to find what works.”

AFN demands inquiry into policing

At the annual winter meeting of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), an emergency resolution called for a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing to address an “inter-related epidemic” of violence and death. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has made policing and public safety a priority since her election last year.

Since August, at least 10 First Nations people across Canada have died following interactions with police. While oversight bodies in multiple jurisdictions are investigating them, the AFN said these reviews “are being conducted in isolation of each other, which is not drawing conclusions as one inter-related epidemic.”

“We cannot accept the fact that police would investigate police,” said Ghislain

The situation has deteriorated in the past four years, with increased impaired driving, substance problems, vandalism, arson and break-ins

Picard, AFN regional chief for Quebec-Labrador. “That’s just a no-go.”

First Nations are also confronting chronic underfunding of their local police forces. Long Point First Nation in Quebec’s Abitibi-Témiscamingue region declared a state of emergency in November, saying an absence of support from the Sûreté Québec (SQ) has forced their community to fend for themselves.

“I have four daughters at home and I don’t feel safe for them once the sky goes dark,” said Steven Polson, a community councillor. “We just phone and phone ... but they don’t show up until the next day.”

Located 100 km from the nearest police station, Polson said the situation has deteriorated in the past four years, with increased impaired driving, substance problems, vandalism, arson and break-ins.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently sided with the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation in a police funding dispute with Quebec. The Court stated Quebec refused to consider the band council’s repeated requests to renegotiate funding for its police force, even though it knew the force didn’t have enough money.

Gift of Nature Mistissini’s Features

Patrick Quinn,

Nibiischii National Park created as protected areas expand by

Photos provided by Cree Nation of Mistissini Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Cree and Quebec governments announced the creation of Nibiischii National Park November 29. Located near Mistissini, the province’s first national park to be operated by a Cree community is a significant milestone for Eeyou Istchee’s protected areas.

As well as conserving old-growth forests and the habitat of 15 at-risk species, the new park will promote Cree heritage by protecting about 50 archaeological sites. It will provide access to some of the region’s most spectacular features, including Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Quebec.

“It is an honour to act as partners with Quebec to establish a park that is administered by the Cree community,” said Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty. “This process will help create a space that all

visitors can enjoy and that will showcase the beauty of the Eeyou Istchee region.”

The park will have a budget of $67 million over the next 10 years. As well, legal protection status is granted to 16,000 square kilometres in four areas adjacent to the park. This achievement culminates more than 20 years of discussions between Quebec and Mistissini, which Chief Michael Petawabano called “a testament to the strength and resilience of our people.”

Environment Minister Benoit Charette said the initiative aligns with Quebec’s 2030 Nature Plan, a framework for biodiversity conservation intended to involve First Nations and promote wilderness access.

The Cree Nation Government is launching a new round of community consultations for its ongoing work with the

province to expand protected areas. In November, the CNG began the first of four phases of visits to each Cree community, which will continue until early 2026.

CNG protected areas coordinator Chantal Otter Tétreault said community input is vital for the process –held in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) – of boundary refinement, expanding the protected area network and developing a management structure.

It continues the conservation process started in 2015 to ensure Cree priorities were upheld as Quebec pursues a development strategy to establish various categories of protection over half the province by 2035. For example, some areas may allow mines while limiting their environmental footprint and ensuring pathways for caribou and other wildlife.

About 80,000 square kilometres, or 30% of Eeyou Istchee, were tagged for potential conservation in 2018. Subsequent negotiations with Quebec through the Grande Alliance resulted in a 2020 announcement that 39,000 square kilometres would be designated protected areas.

New consultations framed by ecological and cultural knowledge also feature more supporting materials and specialized tools. Discussions will use previously developed maps as a starting point to refine selected areas and propose new ones.

Faten Kikano is principal director for research and international development at Montreal’s land-use consultancy firm BC2, which is helping design and guide the tour.

“First we ask communities to express their level of engagement in the management and governance of these protected areas,” Kikano explained. “Our role is to support the CNG in the moderation of engagement sessions and to produce reports that document the aspirations and needs of the communities.”

BC2 works with the CNG and other Indigenous groups on numerous files, supporting a community-informed approach in the development of local initiatives. Representatives from NCC and the province will also attend meetings to hear concerns and help explain the decision-making process.

“In Chisasibi, people expressed frustration that their opinions were not heard or decisions weren’t taken into consideration,” Kikano observed. “Our message is you need to be there despite your frustration and it’s a kind of a top-down process. It’s important to document what you want and your relation to the land.”

Site data gathered by land users will be fed into NCC’s spatial modelling tools to produce various scenarios. Those will then be brought back to communities to confirm which areas best reflect their priorities. Different aspects can be weighted according to their relative significance.

“If a moose calving ground is rated a 10 versus a 6 for a water source, gathering spot or hunting route, we’ll integrate that data into these spatial tools to produce scenarios,” said BC2’s Jill Anne Lance. “There are other things to take into consideration – like wildlife habitat, species at risk and other criteria that even the Quebec government is looking at.”

Lance said it’s essential for tallymen whose traplines were selected in the initial process to participate in refining the protected area boundaries. Although land users often identify areas with personal or family significance, the consultations seek to validate whether these represent general community interests.

“The decisions are entirely made by the Cree community members participating in and leading this planning process”

- Christie Macdonald, NCC

“We’ll be honing our methodology so data really reflects the community at large, not just one or two people,” Lance said.

Initially agreeing to provide expertise in geographic information system (GIS) applications, the NCC became a close partner in defining Cree protected areas, meeting with leaders and land users in each community to fully understand their values and preferences. A different spatial planning

tool was employed in the more pristine north, compared to the more industrially disturbed southern territory.

Since the first round of conservation planning, these GIS tools have become more robust and user-friendly. They offer interactive maps with visual information summaries to explore multiple options. These are accessible to a wider range of professionals to help make adjustments related to biodiver-

sity or species distribution, watershed connectivity and other constraints.

“The decisions are entirely made by the Cree community members participating in and leading this planning process,” emphasized NCC’s Christie Macdonald. “NCC hopes that these data-driven tools help make the process easier and more efficient, ultimately leading to better conservation outcomes for the biodiversity and people of Eeyou Istchee.”

Wednesday December 25 (Christmas Day)

Thursday December 26 (Boxing Day)

Friday December 27

Monday December 30

Tuesday December 31

Wednesday January 1 (New Year’s Day)

Thursday January 2 (Bank Holiday)

Friday January 3

Indigenous

MoCreebec Eeyoud

MoCreebec Eeyoud EMPLOYMENT

MoCreebec Eeyoud EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

OPPORTUNITY

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOB POSTING

OPPORTUNITY

MoCreebec Eeyoud EMPLOYMENT

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOB POSTING

POSITION: DIRECTOR OF CREE LANGUAGE & CULTURE

SUMMARY: The department of Language & Culture will be responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of local programs to promote and strengthen our Y-dialect Cree language and culture. The director will work closely with relevant departments within our MoCreebec Eeyoud organization and with our clan representatives for the promotion of the Y-dialect Cree language & cultural activities. The director will also coordinate with other Y-dialect communities in Eastern James Bay for sharing of resources and methodologies, and to support the long-term language initiatives of the Cree Nation.

EDUCATION:

• University degree in education, Indigenous studies, or other relevant ﬁelds, or equivalent work experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Senior management experience

Senior management experience

• Work experience in indigenous community/First Nation administration, Indigenous language programming or advocacy, education, or other relevant ﬁelds

• Experience as a project manager

• Strong knowledge of social and cultural issues within the communities of the Cree Nation

• Proven success in maintaining strong communications, including the ability to facilitate eﬀectively

• Proven ability to be discreet and maintain conﬁdentiality

• Good attention to detail and accuracy

Proven ability to be discreet and maintain conﬁdentiality

• Good attention to detail and accuracy

• Good organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects

• Proven ability to demonstrate strong judgment in complex situations

• Proven ability to problem-solve, to think strategically, and to take initiative

Proven ability to problem-solve, to think strategically, and to take initiative

• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to adapt to a changing environment

• Proﬁciency in standard computer software and IT technology

• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to adapt to a changing environment

• Proﬁciency in standard computer software and IT technology

• Some proﬁciency in verbal Cree is an asset

• Proﬁciency in standard computer software and IT technology

• Some proﬁciency in verbal Cree is an asset

• Some proﬁciency in Cree Syllabics is an asset

• Some proﬁciency in verbal Cree is an asset

• Some proﬁciency in Cree Syllabics is an asset

Some proﬁciency in Cree Syllabics is an asset

• High level of English verbal and writing proﬁciency is essential.

TERM: Full-Time with six (6) month probationary period.

SALARY: $85,000 plus beneﬁts.

Please apply in writing, providing two most recent work references to:

Please apply in writing, providing two most recent work references to: Debbie Jolly – Employment Counselor P.O Box 4, Moose Factory, ON P0L 1W0 705-658-4769 ext. 2002 meu@mocreebec.com Fax: 705-658-4487

Please apply in writing, providing two most recent work references to:

Debbie Jolly – Employment Counselor

Debbie Jolly – Employment Counselor P.O Box 4, Moose Factory, ON P0L 1W0 705-658-4769 ext. 2002 meu@mocreebec.com Fax: 705-658-4487

P.O Box 4, Moose Factory, ON P0L 1W0 705-658-4769 ext. 2002 meu@mocreebec.com Fax: 705-658-4487

Please contact Debbie Jolly to request a copy of the full job description. CPIC & Vulnerable sector CPIC will be required.

FOR APPLICATIONS: JANUARY 31,

JANUARY 31, 2025 – 5:00 P.M.

ChristmasSpirits

Photos and Story by Will Nicholls

We should honour and respect those in our family or circle of friends who don’t drink. If you do imbibe, we should really try to keep them close at this time of year, when the police are at their most vigilant for intoxicated drivers. Most importantly, we should show designated drivers extra love in the hope they help save us sinners from harming or killing others on the road, not to mention ourselves.

Not everyone has that person around. So, if you don’t drink, why not offer taxi services to help those stuck for a lift a safe way home? Extra charges could include having a buddy drive the customer’s vehicle home for them.

Now, for you people who enjoy a drink or two, here’s my take on possible holiday spirits courtesy of the 2024 edition of La Grande Dégustation de Montréal.

First up was a five-year-old tequila called Chula Parranda. At $189.99, you can understand why this smooth-tasting tequila is like a Patron on velvet steroids. Don’t look for it at SAQ outlets, as it’s only available for order on the SAQ website. Unfortunately, the postal strike means it won’t be a Xmas spirit for you now. But it’s definitely something to consider in the future.

Not everyone can afford those prices or handle a tequila hangover. So let’s consider some good, non-expensive wine.

Alegrete, a white wine from Portugal at only $10.70, was a pleasant surprise. It goes well with ptarmigan or any fish. Personally, I might try it when I do mussels in a white wine sauce. It’s a nice relaxing wine sure to please anyone’s tongue.

A sparkling white wine that was a pleasure to taste was Villa Conchi Gava. As a very nice Brut, it has a fresh fruit flavour that is affordable at $17.75. Perfect for those wanting to raise a cheer on New Year’s Eve without breaking the budget and still getting kudos from the guests.

A red wine with a lot of taste is Spain’s Moraza Rioja Alta 2021. Worth all its $20.30 price, this wine complements any wild food you have cooking. It’s a dry wine with some acidity so that’s why you need a nice meal or some almonds or cashews to enjoy it to its fullest.

For those who prefer organic products and are willing to pay for it, check out the Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Goudelettes. A pinot noir from the Bourgogne region in France, it’s priced at $72. It’s tasty and vegan friendly for those few Crees who prefer to keep their diet animal-free

Something from this side of the pond is the Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are willing to shell out $81, this is an incredibly smooth red wine that is difficult to limit to a single glass. But it is a pleasure to take your time with while you savour every drop.

An old standby is Mumm’s Napa at $37.75. This sparkling rosé remains a great addition to any celebration. I have never had a complaint when I popped open a bottle. Just make sure you don’t point it at anyone or something fragile when you do, as the pressure seems to be a bit higher than with other sparkling wines. I swear you can taste California at its best with your first sip.

Carmel Road Monterey Chardonnay from California at $26.55 is well worth the price. With distinctive overtures of a caramel, it was a wonderful experience that had me asking the vendor to top off my glass. Great on its own, I was told that it’s also good with pasta. Try it out.

Walking around the endless display booths brought me to New Zealand’s offerings. My old go-to Oyster Bay is a great white wine that I’ve frequently used in mussel sauces. By the way, mussels are very healthy, low in fat, help with reducing cholesterol and heart diseases. Plus, they

Montreal’s wine and spirits exhibition offers every palate a perfect holiday taste

are tasty! After using a cup of the Oyster Bay in the sauce, I would save the rest of the bottle to serve at the meal. For those interested, I used the Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio Hawkes Bay, usually costing $20.90, which I considered a steal. At the show they had sweet rosé sparkling wine, a true delight both for the nose and the tongue at only $26.30.

As for champagne, bypass what everyone knows and go to Palmers &Co Brut Réserve. For a modest price of $81.75, I understood the part of the Bible that reads “like a thief in the night” after rolling a taste of it around my mouth. I was surprised and not prepared for this delightful experience.

I like to chill my red wines and thought I was unusual for doing so, but now it’s trendy. The Austrian red wine Weszeli Mystique is known as a great chilling choice. Some say that it’s good with watermelon and cold cuts but less so with barbecued meats. While most would prefer it in the summer, it could be a good choice for a romantic soak in a winter hot tub or in front of the fireplace. It’s a light organic wine with a chill price of $21.25.

An unexpected discovery was the JP. Chenet. A sparkling white wine from France, the genuine 24-carat gold parti-

cles floating in it left me no choice but to try it. Was there a worry that I was drinking gold? No, as we already have different minerals and metals in our bodies. The non-poisonous gold is for added cachet during the holidays. Not that much gold, mind you, as a bottle of JP. Chenet sells for $24.75 while one gram of the precious metal costs about $115. The taste and bouquet are acceptable, but offering guests a wine with a bit of gold in it is priceless.

A scotch for naughty boys and girls is the Bad na h-Achlaise Highland single malt. While I’m not usually a fan of smoky scotch this one was a game changer. The smokiness was not overpowering and actually brought out the reason why it costs $111.75. It melts over your taste buds and then smothers your entire mouth in a true taste experience. The scent goes through your nose right to the pleasure centres of your brain. An all-around joy for scotch lovers.

A fine and affordable blended scotch at $56.76 is Monkey Shoulder, which is aimed at the party crowd. While good on its own, their website suggests using it in several mixed drinks. It has won tons of awards and was a favourite at the show.

Available in Ontario and hopefully soon in Quebec is Shanky’s Whip, a dark

Irish whiskey that’s not for the timid. With something this great and challenging, drinking it should entitle us foreign afficionados to an Irish passport. Do yourself a favour if you’re in Ontario and pick up a bottle at $46.65 and see if you agree.

Something that I’ve enjoyed now and then but never kept on hand is gin. It can be great in cocktails but is rarely my first choice. The Willöe gin made here in Quebec made me question why. More and more, Quebec is starting to give the big boys in the spirits world a run for their money. Willöe gin is one of those in the race.

I’ve tasted great gins from England and even Holland but now the Quebec gin is right up there with them. I had no problem sipping the Willöe neat as it’s smooth with a taste to live for. At $52.50, it’s a keeper.

Also from Quebec is the Chic Choc black spiced rum at $39. It obviously had an experienced rum distiller teaching the staff how to create a great product. I would take it over Havana Club any day.

In the meantime, Happy Holidays and be safe. The Christmas spirits are there to enjoy, but so are your friends, family and community. Let’s make it something special for all of us.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR

LOCATION: LAVAL

SUMMARY

Reporting to and under the authority of the CCDC General Manager, the Construction Manager generally manages the construction of projects associated with his department. He assesses the associated engineering ﬁles in collaboration with the project managers and the estimation team and ensures the accuracy of all work undertaken, compliance with budgeted costs and pre-established schedules.

REQUIRMENTS

University degree in engineering or a related ﬁeld and training in project management are required;

A minimum of 10 to 15 years in the ﬁeld of construction project management including eight years of experience in supervising project management teams and in the construction of architectural, engineering and other projects and the supervision of consultants and/or contractors, in fund management and budgeting is required;

Must train his/her management team (including project managers) to identify contract costs in order to identify problems so that corrective measures can be applied;

Know how to inﬂuence and mobilize teams in achieving the objectives and results sought (team spirit and leadership)

Strong negotiation skills;

RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise a team of project managers, assistant project managers, and supervisory staff within the department.

Oversee the entire construction department.

Set annual objectives for employees and ensure regular monitoring of their progress.

Propose alternatives to improve team performance.

Organize and chair internal departmental meetings.

Report periodically to the president on departmental progress, project updates, costs, and objectives.

Travel to project sites to ensure proper department management.

BENEFITS

WHEN YOU BUY LOCAL,

ALL WIN!

Dreams take shape

Wapikoni Mobile marks 20 years of artistic mentorship for Indigenous youth by

Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wapikoni celebrated 20 years of empowering Indigenous youth with a gala event in Montreal’s Marché Bonsecours November 21. Performances and awardwinning film excerpts demonstrated the organization’s transformative impact.

“Wapikoni has given so many Indigenous youth a space to thrive, to be heard, and to reclaim their identity,” said new president Catherine Boivin. “This anniversary is a celebration of resilience and creativity.”

The non-profit is named for Wapikoni Awashish, a promising Atikamekw filmmaker who co-founder Manon Barbeau was working with in 2002 when she died in a car accident at age 20. Two years later, Barbeau launched Wapikoni – meaning “free-flowing flower” – with the Atikamekw Youth Council and partners like the National Film Board to give youth a place to create.

The nomadic workshop started in a holiday trailer with a sound studio installed in the shower. Mobility is key for isolated communities – the trailer has even travelled by boat to some locations. Bringing technical capacity to people with stories to tell builds their artistic skills, while elevating cultural knowledge and awareness of social issues.

Anishinaabe rapper Samian credits Wapikoni’s 2004 stop in Pikogan as a turning point in his

life. He’s now a Wapikoni spokesperson with music, photography and acting accolades.

“Wapikoni laid the foundation for a career built on pride and advocacy,” Samian told the Nation. “None of it would have been possible without this opportunity. It’s a beacon where dreams take shape and overlooked voices finally have the chance to be heard.”

Wapikoni’s three trailers have visited over 55 communities, including stops in South America.They helped create more than 1,500 films and 900 musical works that have earned 261 international awards and developed talents of countless Indigenous collaborators.

“For the past five years, we have developed mentorship opportunities in big film projects,” noted director general Véronique Rankin. “The first step is making a short film, then they go to trainings and work to develop their skills.”

Each mobile studio is equipped with an editing station, sound studio, screening and projection area, HD cameras and microphones, and computers loaded with filmmaking software. “Mentor filmmakers” work with coordinators in each community, holding open houses and encouraging exploration.

Wakiponi is now featured in Montreal’s Place des Arts programming, while a Netflix partnership has yielded professional development. Longtime Wapikoni collaborator Sonia Bonspille-Boileau recently produced

Pour toi Flora, Radio-Canada’s first all-Indigenous series.

“We know we have an impact; not only Indigenous people but also non-Indigenous want more of our stories and music,” asserted Rankin.

Wapikoni visits 10 to 15 communities a year, returning to each the following year while adding a new destination. During the pandemic, they introduced a virtual studio that pairs creators with mentors at a distance.

“With this studio, we can be more present,” Rankin suggested. “Even if we don’t go to the community, they can apply, propose a project and be selected to one of our virtual studios.”

Community members of all ages may be the director or subject of Wapikoni creations – Chisasibi artist Dinah Sam’s 2020 five-minute documentary The Hands of an Elder advanced to international festivals. Sam later earned an internship on APTN’s Warrior Up.

“Working with Wapikoni opened my eyes to the industry,” Sam said. “The last festival [my film was] shown at was last year in Mexico – I am truly amazed it is still seen all over.”

Between August and October, the mobile studios touched down for stays in Chisasibi, Wemindji and Mistissini. Jason Swallow, who knocked on Wapikoni’s door to make a music video in 2013, was Mistissini’s local coordinator. His supporting role included time as a drone pilot.

“I felt nostalgic when they came back,” said Swallow. “Most of the kids go record some stuff or play around with

music in the trailer. Some sit around the tables and ask how the film industry works.”

Swallow turned his early experience with Wapikoni into full-time employment at the local James Bay Cree Communications Society radio station. Expertise gained on lighting and camera angles informed the short film project he developed with Wapikoni last year, Broken Reflections.

“They asked if I wanted to send it to film festivals,” Swallow noted. “Wapikoni does that for free. I got into three; I went to [Montreal’s] Fantasia in July. It showed that people like my stories.”

Each residency ends with a screening of new films and videos. On October 16 at Wemindji’s community hall, films by Leslie Mayappo Jr. and Clyde Visitor, Moses Stewart, Silas Katapatuk, Ashley Mark-Ottereyes and Mario Blackned were shown.

After writing scripts for three years, Mistissini’s Ezekiel Mianscum was ready for Wapikoni with Silent Shadows, about a youth trapped in the life of a hitman. The six-minute version was recently screened. Now Mianscum is working on a longer director’s cut with music by Franklin Moar (aka Vangorian) – and the sequel.

“It was surreal to watch something I’ve written be acted out,” said Mianscum. “I did the theme song. [Wapikoni] helped with the editing and the filming in early October. I want a career in this. It made my filmmaking dream come true.”

HMy favourite time of the year

The Great Christmas Market spreads the spirit of the season

ere’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.

by Hunter Nicholls, Youth Correspondent

ne of my favourite times of the year has to be Christmas. The trees, the ornaments, the colours are all very festive and joyful. It grants everyone great joy and I’m happy it exists.

PREVIOUS SOLUTION: Solution to Crossword:

The Great Christmas Market is a great place to visit in Montreal, which my father and I did on November 30. It looks very nice and the food available for purchase was great.

At the market, there is Nature Artisan, an infused maple syrup company. They use quality natural ingredients and offer a variety of infused maple syrup flavours such as smoked, chaga, whisky, spicy and coffee as well as regular maple syrup, with each having their own unique twist.

They have sizes of 100ml, 200ml and 250ml and prices going from $20, $24 and $32 respectively. Their glasses are recyclable and look attractive, as well as the syrup itself looking good and tasting delicious.

They don’t only sell maple syrup, they also have Smoked Montreal Spices, Herbal Tea and Chaga. Their Montreal Spices are all natural and come in two different blends, that being for chicken and steak. I thought their infused maple syrups were quite interesting and unique, and a wonderful idea.

Another interesting product I saw was chocoStyle, a chocolate boutique and factory. They offer premium choco-

lates, as well as macaroons, ice cream and pastries. They are very passionate about chocolates and other sweets –almost like Willy Wonka.

At chocoStyle, they offer tours of their facilities where they educate you on their history and the importance of chocolate in the economy. When visiting their production laboratory, you can taste chocolate varieties and learn about different working tools and machines. A minimum of four people is required for a tour. The tour seems very interesting.

There is a variety of sweets that seem quite gourmet, and the facilities look quite fancy although they are a little expensive. It was all very cheerful and nice.

The final business that I would like to talk about is Paddhawan Suds. They

make high-quality, handmade natural soaps tailored for sensitive skin.

They also make bath bombs, which have a toy inside after being used. To make the bath bombs, they add the ingredients into a mould before inserting the toy to ensure it’s tight. After 24 hours they hand paint and wrap them. They make bath bombs of many different loveable franchises, with some of my favourites being Jujutsu Kaisen, Naruto and Pokemon.

I found Paddhawan Suds very cool, and I would recommend getting their products.

These all further go to show how much effort people put into making Christmas enjoyable. I’m excited for Christmas this year and I hope everyone will enjoy the joyous season as much as I will.

No. 731

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Welcoming the Holiday Season and the New Year with Resilience

As we welcome the New Year, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay sends heartfelt wishes to all families across Eeyou Istchee. This season is a time to reﬂect on our shared strength, resilience, and the deep connections that tie us to one another, our traditions, and our land.

In these cold winter months, may the warmth of love, laughter, and community care ﬁll your homes and hearts. As we look to the year ahead, we stand united in hope and healing, ready to continue supporting and uplifting one another.

Wishing you peace, health, and joy.

Achieve your entrepreneurial dream through

Under the Northern Sky

For my brother Philip

by Xavier Kataquapit

I’m dedicating this column to my late brother Philip Kataquapit, who passed away on Christmas Day in 1990 at the age of 16.

Philip was a very charismatic character. Everyone loved him and wanted to be around him. I always felt that he was a great combination of so many characters in our family all rolled up in one person. He was handsome, slender and tall like the men on mom’s side of the family. He was exciting, quick witted, funny and ready to laugh like dad’s side of the family. Guys wanted to be his friend. Girls hovered around him because he was a handsome, confident young man. He was well connected with our traditional culture as dad had often taken him out hunting, trapping and fishing from the time he was very young.

Philip was the youngest of my four older brothers with Lawrence being the eldest, then Mario, Anthony and lastly Philip. I and my younger brothers Joseph and Paul always looked up to our older siblings as real traditional hunters who knew how to survive on the land. Philip was theatrical and sensitive and could easily send my mom Susan and sisters Jackie and Janie into fits of laughter. He was the type of guy who lit up the room when he walked in.

Whenever I think of him, I see him in so many different ways. He will always be my older brother, so I always see him as wiser and smarter than me. Now 34 years later, I think of him as a young 16-year-old who was getting ready for the world.

Like all our Christmases when I was growing up, 1990 was a chaotic mess of activity. Philip took part in it all as a teenager and like many of us, impervious to the dangers surrounding us in the middle of the wilderness during freezing weather. In the midst of Christmas party culture, Philip innocently grabbed a snowmachine on Christmas Eve to visit his friends in Kashechewan, 90 kilometres to the south. The winter road was still a very rough road back then, but it was a path that he had gone on with our dad several times.

He left the community on his own with the confidence he had been taught about living on the land, but he was unprepared and ill equipped for this freezing ride. He ran out of fuel a third of the way and ended up near the Kapiskau River which dad had taken him and my brothers hunting to years before. He knew there were hunting cabins nearby, so he made his way there to shelter himself from the cold. He arrived at the cabins with nothing and no way to keep warm.

Christmas Day arrived without Philip. My parents and family were worried, but they thought he must be overnighting at a friend’s home in town. It didn’t take long for everyone to sound the alarm that he was missing. Search parties started wandering the community and then fanned out further. They found his abandoned snowmachine a day later and soon after discovered his final resting place at the hunting camp.

I was only 14 and suddenly my life had taken a dark turn, and everything was just a blur in time. I was numbed to the point that all I could do was carry on but with a sadness and guilt that tore at me.

My entire family changed that day. But thankfully my parents were soon comforted because our family was growing with dozens of grandchildren. This made things easier although Christmas had become a bizarre mix of joy and deep sadness.

My siblings and I will never forget our brother Philip. So many of our relatives and friends all along the James Bay coast will never forget him. He was loved by so many in the short time he was with us. My brother’s memory and so many other tragedies that my family and others had to endure this time of year is the reason why I am always adamant about reminding everyone of the dangers of addictions, alcoholism or abuse and taking risks in the freezing cold. What seems like casual partying can take tragic turns. These days I worry about all those teens as I realize the risk that one little pill laced with a tiny amount of fentanyl can easily kill.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas but with the memory of my amazing brother Philip, I urge everyone to be easy with each other and watch out for one another during this festive but chaotic time of the year.

As we enter another holiday season, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a warm holiday, ﬁlled with festivities, good food and quality time with loved ones and family

We encourage you to stay safe and we wish you a very happy New Year! The New Year also marks the 50th year of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. We have accomplished much over the last 50 years and look forward to what the future will bring

Happy Holidays!