Forgiveness and celebration

by Curtis Bosum, Chief of Ouje-Bougoumou

I recently had the privilege of joining with our Elders who remember the time in our history when we lived across from Mistissini at a location that has come to be known as “Ouje Point”. I had the double pleasure of being able to paddle a canoe between “Ouje Point” and Mistissini and talk with an Elder about their recollections of those days.

Those were difficult times for our people. When the Hudson Bay Company closed its office in Chibougamau, some of our people came to Mistisissini and stayed at the Ouje-Bougoumou Point so that we could receive rations and also credits for the furs that our people harvested.

At one point our people were told by agents of the Department of Indian Affairs that if we wanted to continue receiving any benefits we would need to relocate to Mistissini. And some of our people did that. Although the people of Mistissini welcomed us, at the same time there were uncertainties. There was some confusion about the role and the purpose of our people being in Mistissini and this, in turn, created some misunderstandings and frustrations.

This situation was further complicated when, instead of recognizing Ouje-Bougoumou as a distinct Cree community, the Indian Affairs agents placed the names of the Ouje-Bougoumou people on the Mistissini band list when the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was being negotiated.

Our previous Ouje-Bougoumou leaders worked very hard for decades to correct the injustices done to our people. We spent many years struggling to have our right to a permanent community recognized by Quebec and Canada.

What struck me very deeply in my conversations with our Elders was how, in spite of the difficulties that our people encountered in that time, the important thing now for the people who lived through those times was not anger, not hard feelings, nor a desire for revenge. Our Elders have taught me the importance of moving on and not continuing to carry negativity with us.

Instead of those possible negative reactions, they taught me, and they have taught all of us, about forgiveness and about love. They have taught us about the power of reconciliation and how forgiveness and reconciliation make it possible for our communities to work together to achieve common goals, such as protecting and preserving our Cree culture and language.

Instead of negativity and hurt, our people have moved to forgiveness and celebration. By abandoning negativity, they have created for us the possibility of positive collaboration that can take us to new areas of success that will be to the lasting benefit of all our people.

I am grateful to our Elders – both in Ouje-Bougoumou and in Mistissini – for showing us the power of forgiveness and the courage to leave negativity in the past. And in so doing, for helping open a world of opportunities for us all.