Archive for November, 2015

Celebrating 40 years since the JBNQA: the Cree still protect their land

Celebrating 40 years since the JBNQA: the Cree still protect their land

This year marks the 40 anniversary of the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). According to Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come the moment is an important milestone and a time for reflection. “In celebrating the 40th […]

2015 Christmas Shopping Guide: A look at what’s hot for the cold season

2015 Christmas Shopping Guide: A look at what’s hot for the cold season

With the holiday season jingling bells and cash registers throughout Eeyou Istchee, many are scouring the Internet in search of the perfect gift or planning a trip south to fill up their Santa sacks. The challenge can be finding the time […]

Band-aid solutions: Grand Chief critiques Quebec’s response to Val d’Or crisis

Band-aid solutions: Grand Chief critiques Quebec’s response to Val d’Or crisis

A month has passed since the Radio-Canada program Enqûete aired stunning allegations of abuse by SQ officers against Aboriginal women in Val-d’Or. Though the initial upheaval has passed, discussions about the matter among politicians are continuing. As this issue of […]

One night in Paris

My night in Paris started with my friend and I getting a bit lost on Boulevard Henri IV while looking for the Bastille. From our pause on the corner we were looking at a map in the middle of the […]

Special Assembly for Wildlife and Habitat

Special Assembly for Wildlife and Habitat

A special assembly in Chisasibi November 3-5 discussed wildlife and habitat issues in the James Bay region and heard about the Cree Nation Government’s vision for land use, marine habitat and protected areas in Eeyou Istchee. Isaac Voyageur, Director of […]

Remembrance

It has been 40 years since the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) was signed. I remember those days, which had a vast influence over how Cree economics, politics and culture have developed to this day. Something precious was […]

Of Spies and Men

A lot has happened since the last time I checked out the social climate of the world. In a whirlwind month of November, Friday the 13th became a day known worldwide for terrorist attacks against the people and values of […]

Mistissini business owner says development conference produced no plans

Mistissini business owner says development conference produced no plans

The Eeyou-Eenou Economic Development Conference brought together business people and government workers to discuss ways to improve economic prospects in E­eyou Istchee. But one businessperson who attended the November 10-11 event at the Neoskweskau Sports Complex in Mistissini came away […]

Regional Chief  Ghislain Picard and Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come

Val-d’Or allegations throw Quebec into a crisis

Twenty five years ago this month, a 17-year-old Cree man named Neil Stonechild was picked up by Saskatoon police, driven out to the edge of the city, and left there. Temperatures were below minus 25ºC, and Stonechild’s frozen body, wearing […]

Quebec Chiefs sit down with Premier Couillard

Quebec Chiefs sit down with Premier Couillard

The media frenzy surrounding Premier Philippe Couillard’s meeting and press conference with several chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) in Montreal November 4 spoke volumes about the urgency – and opportunity – to repair […]