Issuu 32-09

Celebrate the strength of iiyiyiuiyihtiwin.

Join us for a celebration of iiyiyiu knowledge, skills, and identity!

This momentous event allows us to demonstrate our iiyiyiu and iinuu knowledge, skills, and identity through a variety of events, games, and competitions.

Each school and adult centre will be sending delegations made up of students and employees to represent them, accompanied by Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

The events, games, and competitions will focus on:

The events, games, and competitions will focus on: iiyiyiu/iinuu ayimuwin, language iiyiyiu/iinuu iiyihtuuwin, traditions and practices

The events, games, and competitions will focus on:

The events, games, and competitions will focus on: iiyiyiu/iinuu ayimuwin, language

The events, games, and competitions will focus on:

iiyiyiu/iinuu ayimuwin, language

iiyiyiu/iinuu ayimuwin, language iiyiyiu/iinuu iiyihtuuwin, traditions and practices

iiyiyiu/iinuu iiyihtuuwin, traditions and practices

March 25-27, 2025

Mistissini, iinuu aschii

Photo by John Sanipass

by Will Nicholls

It’s no longer just a cry of “There’s gold in them thar hills.” While gold is certainly a fever for some hopeful miners, it’s not the only game in Eeyou Istchee these days.

The Canadian government recently made an announcement looking at assisting critical minerals work in Eeyou Istchee. Up to $39.8 million has been earmarked for some projects from the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, something I didn’t even know existed.

Of course, one wonders if US military grants to mining companies looking for rare earths and critical minerals will continue under President Trump.

The fund is looking at six projects located in Eeyou Istchee. The lucky companies are:

1) Up to $20 million for Critical Elements Lithium Corporation to construct a new main electrical station and relocate 4.2 kilometres of transmission line to service its Rose Lithium-Tantalum Mining Project.

2) Up to $1.1 million for Dumont Nickel to conduct a feasibility study to connect its nickel and cobalt project to

the Hydro-Québec grid via an eight-kilometre transmission line.

3) Up to $1.3 million for Sayona Nord Inc. to advance an approximately 55-kilometre transmission line that will provide electricity grid connection for their Moblan lithium project.

4) Up to $1.3 million for Cbay Minerals Inc to complete a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment to support the development of twolane gravel roads and 25-kV electrical powerlines connecting the Corner Bay and Devlin deposits near Chibougamau.

5) Up to $2.6 million for Commerce Resources to study the feasibility of an approximately 1,750-kilometre road that would connect the Ashram rare earths and fluorspar project. This infrastructure will support the increase of the production of rare earth elements and fluorspar from the Ashram Deposit in Nunavik.

6) Up to $13.5 million for Eskan Company, an Indigenous-owned company, to undertake a feasibility study to extend the Renard Mine access road by 87 kilometres toward lithium-based minerals projects.

“These projects, under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, will help expand Quebec’s sustainable critical minerals production, notably rare earths that are used in electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive and defence. Developments like this help mines get built faster, and they are a key element in seizing the generational opportunity before us. The Government of Canada is supporting projects that strengthen Canada’s supply chains, enhance our ability to be a reliable supplier of the critical minerals the world is demanding and foster economic growth while creating good jobs,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Jobs for Cree workers would be welcome as long as it is beneficial to Eeyou Istchee as a whole.

Now that you have been warned, interested stakeholders such as tallymen, local environmental officers and indeed, every Cree should be checking this out carefully to see what impacts this increase in activity will have on the land and its inhabitants, human and otherwise.

The Nation is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications EDITORIAL BOARD L.

W.

M. Siberok, Mr. N.

E.

EDITOR IN

Will Nicholls DIRECTOR OF FINANCES Linda Ludwick EDITORS Lyle Stewart, Martin Siberok MANAGING EDITOR Randy Mayer STORY COORDINATOR Patrick Quinn

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, P. Quinn, P. Quinn, A. Fz, S. Larivière DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Donna Malthouse, Danielle

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

of: The James Bay Cree Communications Society, Circle Of Aboriginal Controlled Publishers, Magazines Canada Quebec

Assn.

Newspapers Assn. Les Hebdos Sélect Du Québec. Funded [in part] by the Government of Canada. | www.nationnews.ca | facebook.com/NATIONnewsmagazine

Stewart,

Nicholls,

Diamond,

Webb

CHIEF

Valade

Trapping is a fundamental aspect of life for the Cree, but the number of people still willing to brave the wilderness in search of furs and meat has steadily fallen. Recognizing this, the Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) has launched an ambitious training program to revitalise beaver trapping across all Cree communities.

Now in its second phase, the initiative aims to train 135 students across nine communities of the Eeyou Istchee region, with the intention of fostering new trappers and certified instructors. Taking place between mid-February and end of March, it goes beyond beaver trapping – it provides training in managing various fur-bearing animals, including fox, marten, lynx and wolf.

The first phase, which began in November 2024, introduced an advanced beaver management course in Waswanipi. Conducted in partnership with the Fédération des Trappeurs Gestionnaires du Québec (FTGQ), it focused on off-season beaver trapping, providing experienced tallymen and bushmen hands-on experience alongside active trappers.

Thomas Stevens, Special Projects Coordinator for the CTA, shared the long-term vision of the program. “We want our people to take over trapping operations that are currently done by people from down south,” said Stevens. “Over the years, beaver overpopulation has created issues along forestry and access roads, and it only makes sense for our own people – who know the land best – to manage this.”

The second phase focuses primarily on training within individual communities. Each will have 15 participants, and

Training trappers

CTA program promotes traditions while managing environmental challenges

by Aaron FZ

upon completion, they will receive certification recognised across Quebec.

“This isn’t just about giving people the skills to trap, it’s about giving them the ability to pass on that knowledge,” Stevens explained.

The CTA aims to restore a crucial aspect of Cree life where experienced hunters and trappers become teachers once again, ensuring their traditional skills continue to live on within the communities.

Beaver trapping has always played a pivotal role in Cree livelihoods. Trapping not only provided sustenance but was also central to trade, particularly during the fur trade era. However, as the market for fur declined in the late 20th century, and alternative employment opportunities arose, and fewer young people looked to trapping as a way of life.

And yet, trapping remains vital for the ecological balance of the northern landscape. Without active sustainable management, beaver populations can increase rapidly, leading to blocked waterways, flooded roads and damage to infrastructure. This is why the CTA sees this training initiative as both a cultural revival and a practical solution to ongoing environmental challenges.

“Our mandate at the CTA is to protect and promote our way of life,” Stevens said. “Trapping is part of our customs, our history, and it’s something that needs to be passed down. We need to maintain a balance – not just in nature, but in keeping our traditions alive.”

Despite strong support for the program, recruitment has proven to be a challenge. While some communities have filled their training spots, others have struggled to reach the 15-student

goal. “Interest in trapping is different from what it was 20 years ago,” Stevens admitted. “But we still see many young people eager to be out on the land, and that’s what we’re building on.”

Another challenge is the economic reality of the fur trade. The Covid pandemic severely impacted the industry, leading to a drop in fur prices and discouraging many from pursuing trapping as a profession.

“These days, many people are trapping beavers just for the meat, rather than selling the pelts,” Stevens noted.

However, there are signs of recovery in the market, and the CTA believes that strengthening trapping skills at this time will pay off in the long run, both culturally and economically.

The CTA’s long-term vision includes not only training but also ensuring that more trapping opportunities remain within the communities rather than being outsourced. Stevens sees a future where Cree trappers manage off-season beaver control along major roadways, such as the Bily Diamond Highway, providing both employment and environmental management.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “As more people get certified and gain experience, we’ll have a stronger network of trappers who can teach others and continue this way of life.”

For the CTA, this program is more than just a course – it is an investment in the survival of Cree traditions and an effort to ensure that trapping remains a living part of Cree identity. With the next phase of training underway, the hope is that beaver trapping, once a cornerstone of Cree culture, will once again be embraced by a new generation.

As Greenland draws international attention amidst a takeover push from US President Donald Trump, the independence movement is growing among its predominantly Inuit population. Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede aims to call for a referendum on independence if reelected on March 11.

“Greenland is for the Greenlandic people,” affirmed Egede. “We do not want to be Danish. We do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.”

While Greenland (known by its people as Kalaallit Nunaat) has been under Denmark’s rule for three centuries, many see the latest US expansionist rhetoric as an opportunity to advance its self-determination. After establishing Home Rule in 1979, Greenland passed its Self-Government Act in 2009, enabling control of mineral and oil rights and two representatives in Danish parliament.

In October, MP Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam was ordered to leave the parliament’s podium after refusing to translate her Greenlandic speech, which highlighted the estimated 4,500 women fitted with an intrauterine device (IUD) by Danish doctors between 1966 and 1970 without their knowledge or consent as a means to reduce Greenland’s population.

Egede later called this violation a “direct genocide” as more Greenlandic citizens spoke openly about the forced removal of Inuit children from their families and the ongoing systemic discrimination they face today. While conversations about this colonial history have long been repressed, the past year has brought significant changes.

“I definitely feel things are changing,” said Naja Dyrendom Graugaard, a Danish-Kalaaleq (Inuk) expert in past and present colonial relations. “Within the last half-year, there’s been a lot of protests against the forced removal of children. There’s also a movement to reclaim our cultural identity as a people, to bring back traditions that were repressed.”

Standing firm

Now a professor at the University of Copenhagen, Graugaard pursued higher education in Canada before moving to Denmark for her PhD about a decade ago, when she would meet resistance for just mentioning the word decolonization. With colonial narratives swiftly eroding, she sees opportunities to meaningfully discuss the relationship between Denmark and Greenland.

“We have to be part of establishing what questions are important to discuss,” Graugaard asserted. “Sometimes media portrays one person from Greenland as a representative for all. It’s important to represent unity but also a diversity of voices, to show life in Greenland is as complex as anywhere.”

While polls show 84% of Greenlanders support independence, opinions vary widely about what that could mean. About a quarter of its current revenues come from Danish subsidies and the economy is largely dependent on fishery exports. Economic self-sufficiency is linked to resource extraction, sparking extensive debates about balancing environmental preservation.

Greenland’s mineral wealth has spurred US interest since the 19th century. The island’s strategic location led the US to take over Greenland’s defence in World War II and although a purchase offer for $100 million in 1946 was rejected, it was granted permission to establish military bases.

With the threat of Russian submarines and growing Chinese investment, Trump has said that US control of Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for international security. However, his administration has admitted that natural resources are the main attraction, particularly rare-earth minerals vital for electronic devices and the freshwater in its massive ice cap melting at nearly twice the volume as Antarctica.

Not only is there surging demand for water on the world market, but the “rock flour” beneath the ice cap has been found to have near-miraculous nutrient properties for restoring soil fertility. It has increased crop yields 30% to 50% with no processing and has immense potential for carbon storage.

“Climate change has the ability to bring opportunity and catastrophe,” suggested Graugaard. “It’s an important time to create a foundation for Greenland to decide the future of Greenland.”

With the US Congress unveiling a new bill to rename the country “Red, White and Blueland” (seriously) and Danish citizens responding with a satirical petition to buy California, Greenland has taken new actions to protect its political integrity. In early February, it introduced a law prohibiting foreign political donations and restricted land purchases by non-citizens who have lived there less than two years.

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As about 90% of the island’s 57,000 residents are Inuit, there have been past discussions about enabling co-management and restriction-free travel across the stretch of Arctic Ocean connecting it to Nunavut. Greenland’s Arctic strategy released last year proposed more human mobility, trade and communication with Canada, especially with Inuit Nunangat spanning the country’s north.

In 2022, Greenland and Nunavut signed a memorandum of understanding to bolster cooperation in culture, education, tourism, marine infrastructure, fisheries and green energy. Egede said, “Our Inuit voice, our traditions and our modern Arctic technical knowledge should be shared among us, ensuring our right to development.”

Last summer, an ocean expedition from the SOI Foundation took 20 predominantly Indigenous youth from Kalaallit Nunaat to Nunavut, providing local insights into climate change and conservation. Korey Lyons from Sistansisk First Nation said “emotions flowed like glaciers” as they witnessed polar bears hunt on shrinking sea ice.

“Traditional tattoos were banned until 2009 but now many youth in our group have traditional tattoos,” shared Mac White about the trip. “This shared understanding of the diversity of Arctic cultures really enriched our little community on the ship.”

Noting the processes of “internal decolonization” impacting many Greenlanders, Graugaard emphasized the importance of connecting across borders to develop bonds of solidarity. She said that Inuit and other Indigenous people worldwide are a source of strength and inspiration for youth in Kalaallit Nunaat.

Healing Support Fund

You are not alone. The Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice has launched a national Healing Fund to provide healing support funds to First Nations, Inuit and Metis survivors.

Kebaowek challenges radioactive dump

Police officers in Waskaganish responded to reports of stabbings and possible gunshots on January 25 at 7:45pm. On arrival, they encountered a vehicle carrying two individuals needing medical attention for stab wounds.

In early February, Kebaowek First Nation appeared in Federal Court alongside other organizations to challenge the federal government’s approval of a Species at Risk Permit for the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF), a proposed radioactive waste dump located near the Ottawa River.

This marks the third legal challenge against the controversial project, which is opposed byIndigenous nations, environmental organizations and more than 140 municipal-

ities. The NSDF site is located on unceded Algonquin territory on the Chalk River Laboratories property, about 180km northwest of Ottawa.

Less than 1km from the Ottawa River, a critical water source for millions of Quebec and Ontario citizens downstream, the project is alleged to pose significant environmental risks. The plaintiffs contend that the government has wrongly granted a permit that allows the destruction of endangered species and their habitats during the construction of the NSDF.

“For years, Kebaowek First Nation has spoken out against the inequities of the current process,” said Chief Lance Haymond. “The government’s decision to approve this dangerous project in an area so rich in biodiversity and cultural significance is unacceptable.”

The proposed dump location would force the clear-cutting of 37 hectares of mature forests and extensive blasting of a mountainside, threatening numerous species at risk, including warbler birds, the endangered Blanding’s turtle and the eastern wolf, a species of deep cultural significance to the Algonquin people.

Mukash accepts

role of Miss Eeyou/ Eenou Iskwaau

The Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association (CWEIA) announced that it supports the decision of Miss Eeyou/Eenou Iskwaau, Diane Coon Come of Mistissini, to step down from her role. CWEIA is passing the crown to the pageant’s first runner-up, Jade Mukash of Whapmagoostui,.

“Let us unite in a spirit of support and positivity for both Diane and Jade during this transition,” stated CWEIA. “The inauguration ceremony

ment, community development and cultural preservation.

“This is a special moment for my community as I’m the first Whapmagoostui Eeyou to hold the title,” shared Mukash. “I’m also the first mother to hold this title.”

New belpline for Indigenous women

A new 24/7 helpline is coming soon for Indigenous women in Quebec experiencing domestic or sexual violence. Available in English, French and several Indigenous languages, Espace Femmes Premières Nations Québec has worked on the project for nearly three years.

“If everyone believes in it, this phone line will change a lot of things,” said Marjolaine Étienne, president of Quebec Native Women. “Spousal, family and sexual violence, it’s still present, if not even more present right now. Indigenous women suffer in silence but it’s not right to keep it all inside.”

Martine Biron, minister responsible for the status of

A safer future

Cree Nation and Ontario fire departments launch unique fire prevention program

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Cree Nation partnered with Ontario fire departments on January 31 to launch a Fire Prevention Officer (FPO) Mentorship Program in Orillia, Ontario. With 10 FPOs from Cree communities working for a month in conjunction with 11 fire departments across Ontario, the program is the first of its kind in Canada.

“Fire prevention is so vital for our communities, especially with the unique challenges we face,” stated Cree Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty. “This mentorship program will give our Fire Prevention Officers the knowledge and support needed to better protect our communities and build a safer future for all in Eeyou Istchee.”

The Cree Nation faces similar high fire risks as do other First Nations, including overcrowded housing and socioeconomic inequities. A 2021 report found children living on a reserve in Ontario are 86 times more likely to die in a fire than those living elsewhere.

The most common causes of residential fires are lit smoking materials, unsupervised youth playing with lighters or matches, accidents during cooking, faulty wiring or overloaded circuits, and combustibles like clothing or furniture being too close to heating sources.

Fire prevention in Eeyou Istchee is overseen by the CNG’s capital works and services department, comprised of the fire marshal, fire prevention officer and fire protection administrator. When George Cox became regional FPO in 2014, he started implementing the fire prevention bylaw and coordinating with communities to hire local FPOs.

Last spring, Cox was working on a Fire Master Plan with Waswanay Consulting, touring Cree communities to gather information about potential risk issues. While FPOs were certified during their training program, it was determined they lacked mentorship opportunities once they returned to their communities.

Recognizing the language barrier in Quebec, Waswanay reached out to Ontario fire departments about organizing a mentorship program. They received a positive response from 11 municipal departments both large and small, from mid-size cities like Kingston, Kitchener and Windsor to smaller communities like Kawartha Lakes and Rama First Nation.

“We want them to be immersed in fire prevention, fire inspections and public education programs,” explained Cox. “I think the program is very exciting for our Cree Nation. We’ll benefit from other professionals who have been in fire prevention for over 20 or 30 years.”

Among other outcomes, Cree FPOs are expected to learn how early detection systems are established, data collection and collaboration for investigations, coordination of public education programs, budget management, evacuation plan reviews, and identifying hazards in both residential and commercial visits.

Photos by John Sanipass

The one-month mentorship experience is split into two-week increments, enabling each FPO to immerse themselves fully in the workings of their designated host department. This in-depth exposure to fire prevention practices will strengthen local capabilities in the Cree Nation while also establishing long-lasting relationships and knowledge exchange between participants.

“The FPOs are also certified as fire investigators, which gives them an understanding on how fires occur,” said Cox. “There are too many violations. Sometimes there are a lot of exits and fire protection systems that aren’t working. It’s up to the FPO to identify those hazards, inform the building owner and educate them to maintain their buildings.”

As burned buildings may have collapsed or emit toxic fumes, fire investigators wear safety equipment with specialized masks and may need to contact construction companies to remove debris. After determining the cause of fire, reports are sent to Cree insurance. Causes may be undetermined, accidental, natural or incendiary (intentional).

Travelling from Waswanipi to Orillia as the first Cree FPO to participate in the program, John Sanipass encountered a huge blaze on his first day involving a 150-year-old downtown building, resulting in $4 million in damage. While Sanipass wasn’t involved in firefighting and provincial police took over the arson investigation, he gained invaluable experience watching the team respond and delegate duties.

inspections and believes it’s important to convey that following building codes and changing batteries in smoke alarms can save lives.

“We’re there to help the community, not being negative,” Sanipass asserted. “Every house has a wood-burning stove with the possibility of creating carbon monoxide, the silent killer. You can’t smell or see it. We need to prioritize getting everybody in the bush camps some protection.”

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors could have prevented the deaths of the “five great hunters” who perished in the Bussy Lake cabin fire in 2015. Sanipass learned how communities can introduce safety bylaws and suggested further legislation could be explored in Eeyou Istchee.

“You can get the training you need, but mentorship has so much more meaning to it”

- John Sanipass

“I was amazed at how much I learned in the two weeks I was there and I’m super excited to get out there for my next two weeks,” said Sanipass. “It opened my eyes to so many different processes in the fire departments from legislation to fire codes to bigger inspections on hotels and the Rama Casino.”

Sanipass is inspired to bring his experience back to Waswanipi, such as how to reach out to building owners for public education programs. He said FPOs struggle to gain cooperation with

While FPOs generally focus on Category 1A lands within communities, Cox’s office developed educational materials for camp maintenance following 2023’s disastrous wildfires. They worked with a company to create a custom-made “hazard cabin”, a model demonstrating how to reduce combustible sources around bush camps.

Sanipass hopes to learn about other situations when he returns to Orillia in July, such as the region’s cottages, which generally have less fire suppression. The region’s FPOs will share best practices from their initial visits at a meeting in March.

The program’s second mentee, George Napash, looks forward to bringing back fire safety knowledge from Oakville, one of Toronto’s most affluent suburbs. With a new hospital currently being developed in his community of Chisasibi, he’s especially interested in ensuring effective inspection of this emerging infrastructure.

“In the book you can get the training you need, but mentorship has so much more meaning to it,” Sanipass said. “You’re learning handson and get to be in the mix of what’s going on. I think we’ll be seeing other First Nations implement this in their fire departments.”

IS YOUR COMPANY

LOCATED IN EEYOU

ISTCHEE BAIE-JAMES?

The Société du Plan Nord invites you to participate in the 7th edition of Contractor/Supplier Day!

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 AT THE PETAAPIN YOUTH CENTER IN OUJÉ-BOUGOUMOU

Over 200 participants are expected, and hundreds of business meetings are planned! Conferences, panels and networking.

Interested in learning more? Visit jdofeibj.ca

Thank you to our gold partners

Growing Hope

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On January 21, the communities of Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuaraapik celebrated the grand opening of a new building for Minnie’s Hope. The newly relaunched social pediatrics centre is nearly twice the size of the original, which first opened in 2014, made possible by $5 million in donations from BMO Financial Group and the Hewitt Foundation.

The opening ceremony included music, guided tours and an evening feast. A week later, another ceremony was held at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. With expanded services and a larger team, Minnie’s Hope can now help 300 children and teens annually.

Dr. Johanne Morel has been a driving force behind Minnie’s Hope since its inception, stemming from a deep appreciation for the warm welcome given her as a general practitioner when first arriving in Chisasibi in the early 1980s. After becoming a pediatrician and working 20 years in Cree communities, she began feeling a certain dissatisfaction with her work’s impact.

“I’d sit in my airplane seat at the end of the week and ask myself what did this trip change?” Morel recalled. “In 2008, I was preparing to go to Nunavik and RadioCanada was running a story about how challenging life was for young Inuit people. I wondered is there anything more I could do?”

Morel consulted with Dr. Gilles Julien in Montreal, whose influential foundation was inspired by Inuit peoples to engage more with a child’s surrounding community. The concept was to bring together everybody with goodwill for the children around the same table – social services, schools and locals. Encouraged to pursue her direction, Morel was working in one of Julien’s clinics when she met with the late Lucie Bergeron, a trailblazer for all daycares in Eeyou Istchee.

Photos provided by Marianne Martin

Minnie’s Hope reopens bigger and better in Whapmagoostui

Excited by the project, Bergeron quickly secured funding from the Cree Nation Government, recruited an educator and formed a local board of directors. When an old church was offered, the new initiative moved into the chapel. Although the space was simple, Morel said, “It had a lovely atmosphere – people felt like it was grandma’s home.”

The centre was named in honour of Minnie Natachequan, who, along with their two Inuit-Cree sons, was killed by her domestic partner in 2008. At the opening ceremony in Montreal, Minnie’s sister Juliette Natachequan cut the ceremonial ribbon, which was made from caribou and seal skin with purple accents symbolizing advocacy against domestic violence.

Registered as a non-profit organization, Minnie’s Hope started with 1.5 staff and only a few programs, including Head Start, which facilitates educational activities for young children and is run through daycares in the other eight Cree communities. Play groups include both Cree and Inuit children, nurturing a sense of belonging, confidence and unity in the unique community where the two cultures live side by side.

“We recognize we are supporting two distinct cultures,” director Marianne Martin told the Nation. “Even though we’re physically located in Whapmagoostui, all our programs are inclusive. We try as much as possible to have both Cree and Inuit educators.”

Beginning as a volunteer with the centre soon after it opened, Martin became its director in 2017. Morel said Martin has “believed in this project with all her heart” and can be found there almost every day. Besides the director position, there are currently four other core permanent staff: Cree and

Inuk clinical associates and educators, who provide guidance for the numerous part-time professionals that come from the south.

Since 2017, operations have swiftly grown to about 16 programs. Needs identified by the community inform the diverse range of services offered by specialists, such as speech and language therapy. With professionals visiting only occasionally, they would like to hire more local Cree and Inuit staff to support intervention plans.

There is sand therapy, a non-verbal method for small children to express their fears or needs by creating a picture in a sand tray with various available figurines. This psychotherapist also conducts safe and sound protocol (SSP), which uses filtered and coded music to calm the vagus nerve for those with anxiety.

“We have a group for Inuit children who live in at-risk situations,” said Morel. “We pick them up after school, offer them a warm lunch, cultural activities on the land. Someone from the community shows them how to set snares, build an igloo. We have walking out ceremonies for Cree children.”

When meeting a new family, a trusting relationship is first established over bannock and tea around the kitchen table, a warm atmosphere they wanted to carry over to the new building. While there is a section for medical care, Morel said it’s essentially a culturally safe playroom with lots of chairs.

The building’s colours reflect the horizon’s sandy hues and midnight blues. A wheelchair ramp provides new accessibility, and the multi-function room can be closed from the kitchen, allowing two or three programs simul-

taneously, which wasn’t previously possible.

“It’s very different from going to a clinical setting,” asserted Martin. “Maybe they don’t have a ride or babysitter – we offer to pick up and drop off. Bring all the kids. We have an educator who can keep them busy. It’s meeting the families where they’re at.”

Doing what’s best for the child has sometimes meant offering couples therapy to their parents or working with a team of therapists to help a teen pass a particular exam that was haunting them. Ten-year-old Legend Iserhoff spoke at the launch about how Minnie’s Hope helped her overcome eczema trauma, saying, “Thank you for helping me conquer my anxiety.”

Legend’s father Matthew Iserhoff explained that the music, art and other therapies from Minnie’s Hope complemented ceremonies and family activities as “another aspect of the holistic medicine wheel” that eventually helped his daughter overcome the social anxiety caused by her eczema.

“One of the wonderful things about it is it connects everyone here for the betterment of community,” Iserhoff said. “This is something needed in every Cree community.”

While Minnie’s Hope runs Makivvik’s Ungaluk Safer Communities program for 7- to 12-year-olds, they’re looking at adding programs to better meet teenagers’ needs. Morel suggested their new facilities could support a nutritional cooking program and one that supports young mothers.

“We have all kinds of activities in mind,” said Morel. “However, it will depend on the children we meet.”

A Ptarmigan ‘Wingfall’ Community

by Serge Larivière

WResearching

illow ptarmigan – waapihyeu in Cree, meaning white bird –are abundant again this year in Eeyou Istchee, and the phenomenon of their superabundance is gaining attention.

For the past five years, their numbers appear to be increasing steadily throughout Eeyou Istchee to the great pleasure of Cree hunters. The willow ptarmigan’s scientific name is Lagopus lagopus, meaning hare’s foot, a reference to their feather-covered feet which help them walk on snow.

Ptarmigan generate much enthusiasm from the hunting community because they arrive in late fall, stay all winter, and leave for the North in late April. They appear in great numbers at a time when other bush foods are more difficult to come by, and a traditional stew of ptarmigan is a delicacy that cannot be forgotten.

However, little is known about these majestic birds, so the Cree Nation Government is helping gather information on them. Partnering with Quebec’s Environment Ministry, CNG biologists are collecting data on harvested birds.

“We have a lot of questions about willow ptarmigan,” said CNG wildlife biologist Audrey Lauzon. “Willow ptarmigan is one of the ‘species of interest’ in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. We want to better understand the harvest so that they remain abundant for Cree hunters.”

Eliane Grant, another wildlife biologist with the CNG, also follows the ptarmigan file. “The abundance of willow ptarmigan seems to increase every year, and they fly further south every year. This winter, I have friends in La Vérendrye wildlife reserve who say they have abundant ptarmigan on their traplines, something unusual for them. And we have reports of ptarmigan near Val-d’Or, Senneterre and other parts of Abitibi. So, we know it is not just a local phenomenon,” she explained.

Elsewhere in Quebec, willow ptarmigan have been observed as far south

as Chicoutimi, and to the east on the North Shore.

To better understand the harvest, biologists are collecting wings from harvested birds, so that the percentage of males and females, as well as the ratio of juveniles and adults, can be determined. Preliminary results suggest the adult-juvenile ratio is about 50%.

According to Maxime Lavoie, a wildlife biologist with the MELCCFP and project researcher, “Adult birds are identical in winter, and we can only tell males and females apart by a genetic test. For this reason, we collect wings, and then we can get DNA samples to identify the gender,” said Lavoie.

“Moreover, adult birds have totally white primary feathers, whereas juveniles often have primary feathers of a different colour, often with blotches of brown. This helps us differentiate adults from juveniles.”

The only previous study on ptarmigan was done in 2010-2012 by Michelle St-Gelais, a graduate student at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. St-Gelais found that most of the harvested ptarmigan during her research were females.

“So far, our results point that way as well,” said Lavoie.” From the wings we analyzed, over 90% of the birds harvested are female. We think females fly further south in winter to obtain better food, so that they can pile up surplus energy needed to lay eggs during nesting.”

In 2023-2024, researchers attached transmitters on five captured birds.

“We know ptarmigan are long-distance migratory birds, flying from their nesting grounds in the Arctic down into Eeyou Istchee during late fall, only to fly back north in early spring. However, we have little information on timing of migration, or flyway routes,” Lavoie said.

“Last year, our five birds with transmitters left for their northern migration at about the same time, around the first week of April. And they all flew straight

north. This year, we hope to put satellite transmitters on even more birds, especially in various parts of Eeyou Istchee so we can see if there are differences across the land.”

Mistissini’s Jane Voyageur is a wildlife technician who helped catch birds. Voyageur is a well-known and well-respected indohoo eenou, a Cree hunter, whose bush knowledge came in handy.

“We used small net guns to capture birds, right along the roadside near Nemaska,” she recounted. “We covered their heads with a small bag to reduce stress. We took some standard measurements, such as weight, and then attached a satellite transmitter on their backs like a backpack. Birds were then let free to fly away. It was amazing!”

Voyageur said Cree hunters value the ptarmigan for the meat.

“Ptarmigan are a major bush food for Eeyou/Eenou hunters in January, February and March, a time when there’s few other bush foods available in such abundance,” she said. “Most Eeyou/Eenou hunters harvest waapihyeu with .22 rifles or shotguns – and they are a great bird to harvest for young hunters.”

Lavoie said they are also investigating their population cycle. “Historically, ptarmigan numbers seem to cycle every eight to 12 years, and we have seen abundant populations the last five years. How long will this great abundance last? We do not know,” he admitted.

“One thing is for sure, collaboration from hunters is key,” Lavoie added. “We have received lots of wing samples from Cree hunters. If someone was to shoot a bird with a transmitter, we want to know.”

For more information, watch a YouTube video (in French) about the project at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RFInb2SraXo

the waapihyeu abundance in Eeyou Itschee

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

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

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

WHEN YOU BUY LOCAL, WE ALL WIN!

The bubble bath syndrome

by Sonny Orr

Lately, I’ve noticed that there’s been a surge in the number of men taking bubble baths after a long hard day at work, or outdoors. I wonder if that’s because we don’t have to squander our water as much as others do? Or is it the feeling you get when you relax in a bathtub filled with clean water, topped off with a creamy scented foam (plus a dash of pine sol) and scalding hot ready to melt away anything toxic on your body? These days, you can’t be sure of what material you soaked yourself in after coming out of the bath. So, a full body dryer is recommended as the better solution for being clean and toxic-free.

Not that I really care about taking baths. But it seems that once a decade a bath is doable since the skin does need some softening after 10 years of warding off back stabs and other annoying irritants that get under your skin. Washing is good for the soul, as all those sins just disappear. You re-emerge a devout, reborn human, until another decade passes, and the cleansing is repeated.

Of course, the daily shower should not be avoided. Just because soap bubbles are so alluring, it doesn’t mean that you don’t go without showering once month at the minimum. Take my word for it, cleanliness is next to godliness, because once you do, your skin will love you more than you love it.

As it seems, regular cleaning of the epidermis is suggested as well washing away other things like bacterium, mite poop, dead skin, eye crud, fingernail dirt, and earwax. Yes, a

complete makeover, providing you have enough fresh towels on hand for a second and third scrubbing.

You may wonder whether I work six-week shifts in a coal mine? No, it’s just that I have only one place to wash in the house. Plus I’m the only male in the household, which means I have limited and fleeting access to the bathroom. If I’m lucky, I can get a time slot before 6am once a month, depending on whether that last itch is still there or somehow, magically disappeared when I used the rake to calm down the intense distraction of dry, itchy skin.

As far as soaps go, I prefer any scent that doesn’t smell like strawberry or anything edible for that matter. I prefer simple shampoo, with no need for conditioners or harsh soaps that remove all oils and double as engine oil spill cleaner. I use only one towel, as I believe in saving the planet one laundry pod at a time. The only issue I have is maintaining my toenails, because sometimes I have to use bolt cutters to get that perfect pedicure.

And to top it all off, I shave the aging white stubble that passes for caribou moss on my face a few times before the blade gets too dull. Usually, I don’t skimp on the razor blades, but at 60 bucks for a three pack, I try to get at least 10 uses per blade.

Now everyone knows my hygienic cycle which I break once a decade for a bubble bath. It’s the key in maintaining that nature will never be spoiled by this phosphate-free non-soapster beatnik, until the next time.

Under the Northern Sky

by Xavier Kataquapit

Attawapiskat First Nation is my home community. It was where I was born and raised with my family. When I think about where I grew up, I feel like I came from some different country or part of the world that is not part of Canada at all. It was so different to everything I later learned about that was outside my community.

My first language is Inineemoon, or, as it’s known in the English language, “Cree”. We never referred to ourselves as “Cree”. That was a descriptor that was applied to us by European cultures. We knew ourselves and our people as Ininew, our word for “people” and our language as Inineemoon, which translates as “language of the people”.

The language that we spoke was specifically the James Bay west coast Omushkegowuk dialect that both my parents used all their lives. My parents Marius and Susan Kataquapit were survivors of the residential school system from the 1950s and 1960s and they were taught the English and French languages. Although they had what would be considered an education by the government, they didn’t learn much from that supposed system of schooling and when they returned to their families, they all exclusively spoke Inineemoon. The residential school system was more about assimilation, abuse and terror.

When I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and into the 1990s, almost everyone in the community exclusively spoke Inineemoon. It was strange for us to even consider speaking to my parents any other way. It was even more foreign if I didn’t speak Inineemoon to my grandmother or the Elders.

Even the name of our community was adjusted by European mapmakers and officials. We call our river Kattawapiskak Seepee. Seepee is our word for “river”. Kattawapiskak is a description of the river where it cuts through high rocky shorelines. Kattawak literally just means, a gap or a space between two things. So, the description just means, a river between the rocks. When European mapmakers and explorers heard the name, all they could hear was heavily inflected Inineemoon and wrote the name down as Attawapiskat.

As a boy, my community reflected how our people were organized before they settled in modern Attawapiskat. The inland people who came from the interior or head waters of the river, lived primarily on the west end of town. The people from the northern rivers like my mother’s Paulmartin-Rose family lived on the east end of town. My dad’s Kataquapit family primarily settled in the centre because their main trapping, hunting and fishing territories had historically been on the Attawapiskat River.

The whole west coast of James Bay had always been my people’s lands because they needed to cover this territory to survive. If food could not be gathered in one area, people moved to new rivers, lakes and waterways to sustain themselves. This is the main reason why our treaty lands became so complicated.

When Treaty #9 was initially signed by Indigenous communities in 1905-1906, it only included settlements south of the Albany River which didn’t include Attawapiskat. My home community didn’t become part of the Treaty until adhesions

were made to this agreement in 1930. Due to how my ancestors knew where the best lands and rivers were located, they settled our treaty territory on the banks of the Ekwan River, 140 kilometres inland from the James Bay coast.

The Ekwan River is known as a great waterway that is rich in resources for food and gathering. However, due to the valued access of James Bay and to shipping traffic further along the saltwater ocean, missionaries and fur traders encouraged the settlement on the present-day location of Attawapiskat closer to the coast.

To people like my parents and their generation, none of this mattered. They continued to travel up and down the James Bay coast to the hunting, fishing and trapping areas that their relatives and ancestors had always accessed. This has always been the contentious argument that Indigenous people have always presented to outside forces that would like to access traditional territories for hydro power, mining or forestry.

Industry and government have always viewed this land as empty and do not really care how they alter or disturb the land. However, for the people who have always called this their home, we do not view the land for what it can immediately provide in material wealth but instead see what we can leave behind for future generations to enjoy.

No matter what happens or who develops the North, the Omushkegowuk Ininew will still be there. These are the lands of our ancestors and the place we call home.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook