Picking up ideas at the Outdoor, Hunting, Fishing and Camping Show
Hunting, trapping and fishing is a way of life for the Cree. There is no sport in the hunt for the Cree who live with the land. Constantly though Cree share knowledge and stories that relate to surviving in a better way. Survival doesn’t always mean living hand-to-mouth but can mean living well and healthy.
It means adapting new ideas and tools without changing the fundamental meaning of what it means to be a part of the land. That’s why Montreal’s Outdoor, Hunting, Fishing and Camping Show is always something to check out. Is there a better way to do make the Cree way of life easier on the people, the animals and the land? Seeing new and old ideas, tools and foods can inspire us.
My son Hunter loved the Koroc, which is a houseboat on pontoons. It’s perfect as a mobile fishing camp, complete with a kitchen and bathroom, though you’ll still need to provide your own bed or sleep on shore. It costs almost $80,000, but might be something to consider when bringing Elders on the lake.
Then there was the Cool Box, small shelters made from metal containers that can be used as ice-fishing huts or at hunting camps. Prices start at $39,000 making it a possibility to handle the overcrowding in First Nation communities. It can also be the first building for the business you just started. Check it out at coolbox.ca.
In terms of firearms this year, whether a shotgun or rifle, there wasn’t really anything new or exciting.
When I had gone out moose hunting with Curtis and Reggie Bosum, I was introduced to an electronic moose call. This year saw the Cocall-2 with six different moose sounds. At $170 some Cree just might want to continue bringing grandpa or grandma on those hunting trips to call them in.
Recall Design was showing off its handmade goose calls. Once again the Nation will be having a contest to win one of these babies. To enter send a high-resolution (over 1 MB) goose camp/hunt picture(s), a favourite goose, duck of bush recipe or a short tale from the blind. Send all entries to news@nationnews.ca with the subject heading “I want a goose call.”
Closer to home were two Cree booths offering the fishing trip of a lifetime. One newcomer to the show was the Broadback Fishing Camp, owned by Oujé-Bougoumou First Nation. They promised “The adventure of a lifetime”. On hand was Ron Simard, who said he would make sure of that with a twinkle in his eyes. I always thought you had to be older to have them twinkles, but perhaps I misjudged how old he was. Stay young in your heart, my friend.
A second booth was manned by Mistissini’s Andrew Coon. While many people might be familiar with the Cree fishing camps of Osprey Lodge (Mistissini Lake) and Louis Jolliet (Rupert River), there is a new twist. Last April, Mistissini First Nation was given full control of the Albanel-Mistassini and Waconichi Wildlife Reserve by the Quebec government and created the Nibiischii Corporation to handle the two fishing camps.
Space is limited so book early. For the Broadback Fishing Camp call 418-745-2519 or visit www.broadback.ca. For Mistissini Tourism Office call 418-923-3461 or visit mymistissini.com.