Archive for January, 2014

Side by Side: Celebrating the highlights and retirement of two educational pioneers

Side by Side: Celebrating the highlights and retirement of two educational pioneers

In August 1979, 24-year-old college graduate Judy Campey boarded a northbound First Air flight from Quebec City. In this pre-Air Creebec era, taxi driver Sam Gunner met her at the Chibougamau airport. He drove her – and the local mail […]

Batshaw bans Cree? Cree mother worried for son in youth detention

Batshaw bans Cree? Cree mother worried for son in youth detention

A Cree mother says Batshaw youth protection will not allow her own son to speak in their mother tongue, even when he’s speaking to her. She also says the agency has confiscated culturally significant possessions. Jennifer (not her real name: […]

A year of embarrassments

As many people do, I reflect on the past year with leery eyes and see much turmoil and awful events that didn’t merit my attention. But, there were several embarrassing moments that will forever remain etched in a history that […]

Batshaw to work with Native women’s shelter to improve care for Aboriginal children

Batshaw to work with Native women’s shelter to improve care for Aboriginal children

For many Aboriginal people, the name “Batshaw Youth and Family Services” conjures feelings of dread, brought about by the huge number of Aboriginal children in youth protection and foster care. However, an agreement between Batshaw and the Montreal Native Women’s […]

Coon Come questions new mining law

The Quebec National Assembly’s vote to adopt Bill 70 earlier this month was met with concern buy several Aboriginal leaders, including Cree Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come. The PQ government bill, which amends several aspects of the province’s Mining Act, […]

R.I.P. Billy Jack

R.I.P. Billy Jack

Actor/director Tom Laughlin died December 12 from complications after contracting pneumonia. He was 82. Laughlin gained a huge cult following in the early 1970s after directing and starring in Billy Jack, a film about a half-breed Vietnam veteran who protected […]

Cree@large: Catching up with Santa

Cree@large: Catching up with Santa

His face and image is known throughout the world. Probably even better known than Miley Cyrus’s twerky mug. He is more beloved than Nelson Mandela and Elvis Presley combined. Yes, he has a slight weight problem but that hasn’t appeared […]

Waswanipi Chief Paul Gull

Waswanipi to manage construction of local hydro substation

Waswanipi’s rapid population and economic growth means that its power demands will soon outstrip Hydro-Québec’s local capacity. In a first for Eeyou Istchee, however, the community itself – through the Waswanipi Development Corporation – will manage the construction of a […]

Stornoway discusses Cree partnership, Renard Project

Stornoway discusses Cree partnership, Renard Project

While Stornaway Diamond Corporation spokesperson Ghislain Poirier insists that 2013 has been a “year of transitions,” the mining giant can boast of a successful relationship with their partners in the Renard Project, the Crees of Eeyou Istchee. “We are proud […]

Grand Council lawyer not impressed by Strateco’s latest ploy in the Matoush project

Grand Council lawyer not impressed by Strateco’s latest ploy in the Matoush project

Strateco Resources has filed suit against the Quebec government in an attempt to overturn its November 7 decision to refuse Strateco’s application for uranium exploration in Mistissini territory, citing Cree opposition to the project. The lawsuit, filed December 5, also […]