Issuu 32-14 by nationmag

Earth Day

by Will Nicholls

Earth Day started in April 22, 1970, over 50 years ago. I remember so many Earth Days and the massive celebrations. Sadly those seem to be a thing of the past. This year especially as the day was overshadowed by religious holidays and elections here in Canada. Earth Day is meant to raise awareness of the need of the planet, cutting down on pollution, waste and generally ensuring our descendants have a world they can live in.

Looking at recent political platforms one party (guess who) has promised to fast-track environmental reviews, shortening the time to approve projects. Guess they are following in President Trumps footsteps. He has overturned many gains the environmental lobby achieved in past years. Trump is even looking at giving coal a comeback. That policy says we may be looking at acid rain again.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to AFN chiefs. Part of what he said upset more than a few. He is looking to repeal Bill C-69, which requires assessments for environmental, health, social and economic impacts and the rights of Indigenous people before a major resource or infrastructure project can begin. He feels Bill C-69 “makes it impossible to build the mines, pipelines and other major energy infrastructure Canada needs.”

A recent report indicated that 73 per cent of the 504 major resource and energy projects either planned or already being implemented are on or near Indigenous lands.

This is one reason he feels that Indigenous Peoples should be some of the richest in the world.

That piece of BS can be proven false by looking at the economic gap between Indigenous Peoples and the rest of Canadians and shows that it hasn’t panned out in the past.

Just like the safe drinking water for Indigenous communities. The date for all communities to have safe drinking water keeps getting pushed further and further away. Theres a state of emergency at Neskantaga First Nation. A flood brought water with a smell of fuel in it and this affected the local nursing station. About 130 people were evacuated to Thunder Bay. These were the ones who needed immediate medical services that the community couldn’t provide anymore. The community itself has been under a boil water advisory for the past 30 years. Chief Gary Quisess said his community

has “been forced to survive without the basic rights other communities take for granted.”

Kashechewan First Nation has also started evacuating people and declared a state of emergency. Timmins can expect about 250 people from that community. Hundreds from there will housed in hotels in the south. It’s a yearly migration that is supposed to end by moving the town of 2,000 to a new location by 2029. They have also had problems with water.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak to mark Earth Day stated this year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, calls on the world to unite behind renewable energy and triple global clean electricity generation by the year 2030.

One wonder when will Earth Day start seeing the crowds and the actions it once did.

The Nation is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications EDITORIAL BOARD L. Stewart, W. Nicholls, M. Siberok, Mr. N. Diamond, E. Webb EDITOR IN CHIEF 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, N. Fedosieieva, J. Janke, H. Nicholls DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Donna Malthouse, Danielle Valade THANKS TO: Air Creebec

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Cree communities and key organizations met in Mistissini March 27 to sign the Wanishkaakwh (“Wake Up”) Climate Declaration. Resulting from last year’s climate forum, it establishes 27 calls to action to respond to climate change in Eeyou Istchee.

The Nation spoke with Olivier Kölmel, the Cree Nation Government’s former climate change manager, just before leadership of the unit was transferred to Pernilla Talec.

“The Cree Nation is living climate justice,” asserted Kölmel. “It’s about resilience, a declaration of Cree sovereignty. It’s leadership and a pathway for others to follow. It solidifies that message understanding all communities are behind this.”

As well, a Cree Regional Climate Change Advisory Committee will now guide leadership on adaptation and mitigation measures that enhance climate

Waking Up

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

resilience, sustainable practices and collaboration with partners at all levels.

In March, the committee held a first “Training-the-Trainer” workshop on environmental emergency preparedness. Members from each community or regional entity looked at climate change adaptation considerations on both a regional and local level.

“Those members have an official mandate to carry climate action forward,” Kölmel said. “Phase 2 will focus more on coastal realities with scenario building. Phase 3 will focus more on inland.”

A year ago, 165 participants –including Cree representatives, federal and provincial governments and climate specialists – gathered at the Cree Regional Climate Forum in OujeBougoumou over three days. With the previous summer’s catastrophic forest fires fresh in everyone’s minds, the urgency of action rather than reaction was clear.

It resulted in policy recommendations addressing carbon rights, conservation finance, energy infrastructure and Indigenous-led emergency response planning.

As forests have significant capacity for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the Cree and other Indigenous nations are engaged in developing a federal offset protocol that creates incentives for conserva-

Sharing perspectives from diverse land users and experts in different fields will help develop innovative environmental stewardship, he noted. “We’re bringing Elders and land users to the table with community experts and public safety officers. The declaration is open for all across Eeyou Istchee to sign.”

Bosum and Moses awarded Coronation Medals

On April 9, former Cree Grand Chiefs Abel Bosum and Ted Moses were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, which recognizes individuals who made significant contributions to Canada.

“The awarding is a testament to their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to their communities and the Cree Nation,” stated the Grand Council of the Crees. “Their legacies continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations.”

As Chief of OujeBougoumou from 19841998, Bosum negotiated the agreement with Quebec and Canada that established the community’s present village. This came after many years of his peoples’ repeated displacements due to mining and forestry activities.

Serving as Grand Chief from 2017-2001, his leadership is recognized as instrumental in fostering sustainable development and preserving Cree heritage, for which Ouje-Bougoumou received a UNESCO award.

Moses was Grand Chief from 1984-87 and 1999-2005. He played a role in negotiating the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and, notably during his last term, the Paix des Braves Agreement.

Created to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023, Canada is issuing

30,000 medals to select members of the Canadian Armed Forces and individuals who attained an outstanding achievement that brings credit to the country.

Whiskeychan shares Cree culture in Paris

Cree artist Tim Whiskeychan made a big impact in France after being invited to teach Cree culture through art with students at Collège Josette et Maurice Audin in Vitry-surSeine, a suburb of Paris. A selftaught artist from Waskaganish, Whiskeychan has been creating for over 40 years.

“I was asked to teach art and share some of our culture and then have an exchange with the teachers and students,” said Whiskeychan. “I did some murals based on traditional items, artifacts. Then I would explain a bit about them and what’s the use of some items and why it’s important.”

A teacher at the school organized the initiative, flying him to Paris after months of correspondence. Whiskeychan demonstrated his mural techniques before helping the group of 30 middle school students make their own collaborative mural based on research projects about Indigenous cultures.

The group mural features a teepee surrounded by animals and the face of an Indigenous man. Whiskeychan talked about how his late father Jimmy, a talented artisan known for his tamarack goose decoys, inspired him to draw and paint Eeyou Istchee’s imagery.

“I was surprised they would see things beyond my expectation,” Whiskeychan said. “One girl made a bear with the fish, and the other one was a bear and a moose. They got their own culture to intertwine with Native culture because all the lines were connected. I think it looks like a territory.”

A master in figurative and abstract techniques in several artistic mediums, Whiskeychan designed a collector’s coin for the Royal Canadian Mint in 2014. He recently presented an exhibition of paintings in tribute to Québécois artist Jean-Paul Riopelle.

Kanesatake insists on self-governance

“The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake called upon federal and provincial governments to recognize its right to self-governance. This comes after its ethics commission confirmed the vacancies of the Grand Chief and Chief positions previously held by

Victor Bonspille and his sister Valerie Bonspille.

Since the 2021 election, Victor and Valerie Bonspille missed over 50 council meetings. The MCK declared their positions vacant on February 27, 2024, and enforced disciplinary measures. Despite this removal, they continued to misrepresent themselves as Grand Chief and Chief, allegedly hindering governance of crucial issues.

“Our electoral code is our customary law,” said Chief Serge Otsi Simon. “The resolution confirming the coming into force of the code bears Victor Bonspille’s signature, and he was elected twice, and removed, under that very code.”

The commission is composed of independent legal and governance experts with no affiliation to Kanesatake.

Victor Bonspille responded that missing meetings was due to toxic relationships with other council members and maintained previous allegations against former council members about misused pandemic relief funds.

The next general election is on July 31. The council called upon the federal and provincial governments to cease any engagement with Victor or Valerie Bonspille.

event’s logo to represent both the Cree and Anicinape Nations along with gold bars symbolizing the host community.

With Cree communities hosting tournaments nearly every weekend during broomball season, the organization leveraged the experience of local recreation departments.

middle of the week. I’m thankful for everyone’s contribution.”

“You’ve got to make an impression, making sure everything is organized accordingly and runs smooth,” Loon explained. “Without the help of the local communities, this wouldn’t have been a success. Parents took time off from work to bring their child down in the

Having played in national and international competitions, Namagoose recognizes the sport’s empowering influence. At events like the European championships in 2017, Namagoose met friends from all over the world. Last year, she was chosen along with Chisasibi’s Hailie Martinhunter to represent Team Canada at the North American Super Series held in Windsor, Ontario.

Another team composed of Cree and Algonquin women called the AlgonCrees won their first international tournament in Syracuse, New York, last year. In

October, the AlgonCrees claimed silver at the World Broomball Championships in France while Anishinabe Iskwewak, which also had Cree players, earned bronze.

After Lorraine Nottaway from Rapid Lake had the idea of assembling an all-Indigenous team, MayappoNeeposh helped find players from Waswanipi and Waskaganish. She also chose the team name when Nottaway’s suggestion of Fireballs for their powerful shots was rejected because of its association with the alcoholic drink.

The team’s jerseys include a light blue and pink ribbon with the

Florent Vollant’s legacy echoes Indigenous language celebration

“He knows music can bring people together. It goes beyond politics, beyond time. What he creates is a meeting place for nations – not just between the Québécois and the Innu, but among Indigenous nations too. He welcomes them into his studio and helps them feel at home.”

Inuk singer Elisapie, who skipped the Vancouver Juno Awards to perform Takua at the concert, described Vollant as a “gatherer” whose influence transcends music. “He gives off incredible energy. He brings peace. When I see him, I suddenly feel calm, yet he also gives off an incredible energy,” she said.

Atikamekw artist Ivan BoivinFlamand stated that this moment was impactful for all nations and all languages. “It fills me with pride to hear non-Indigenous artists singing in Innu – even though I’m Atikamekw from Manawan. It sends a message to the youth who don’t speak the language yet – if they can do it, you can too. I actually learned Innu through Florent and the people around him. That’s how close this all is.”

For Innu poet Rita Mestokosho, the moment symbolized Indigenous resilience. “Florent is a portage,” she said. “He’s made a path for others to follow – a crossing that welcomes everyone into the family.”

Chief Mike McKenzie of the Uashat mak Mani-Utenam Innu reflected on the broader cultural shift. “This event is a powerful symbol of how far we’ve come. We’re witnessing something extraordinary – a true exchange from nation to nation,” he said, before quoting Vollant’s 2021 ADISQ speech. “We’re not here just because we’re Indigenous. We’re here because we’re good.”