Roundtable Rock Stars
Greetings from Wemindji! The Roundtable on Capacity Building will have traveled to more than half of the Eeyou towns by the time this hits the stands. I am telling you these trips into your communities have been incredibly educational. We have had the privilege to work with the Cree Nation’s elite. We have been fed, and I, being a picky eater nowadays, have never missed a feast filled with meat and nothing but meat – Phyllis Belanger, a wonderful cook at Waswanipi Elders Lodge would lovingly prepare my veggie meals! A true delight for one’s meatless soul!
Louise Saganash, CHRD’s “Capitaine” has been leading the Roundtable pack and we haven’t stopped rocking the sports complex. If you haven’t heard of the Roundtable on Capacity Building tour please open a Facebook account, or tune in your radio because we are live on JBCCS. My favourite time is when we have our full-day sessions with the high school students. I see so much potential in our youth and I know there are history makers in the crowd and future goofy comedians!
Recently we finished Waskaganish. As you may recall in my last column, I mentioned my stay in Waskaganish and that was almost 15 years ago. I couldn’t believe half of the teachers I met are still in the Skag. Some have married Crees. To Robert Désilets, Ingrid McNeil, Jocelyn Genier (Hester), Marie Josée Beaudoin, Alain Lajoie, merci beaucoup pour votre passion, votre dévouement et pour avoir enseigné nos jeunes pendant toutes ces années. I applaud all teachers across Eeyou/Eenou Istchee.
Dr. David Suzuki was in Nemaska just the other day as a special guest for the Roundtable. He is nothing fancy, but what a speaker. The Nature of Things legend has not lost his touch for his love of the wild. His rider included a short ice fishing expedition on Champion Lake. Suzuki’s Nemaska fishing guide, Jim Blackned, took him under his wing. Other famous stars such as singer David Hart and CFL great J.R. LaRose also took in the fishing day pass. I wonder if they caught any namehbee.
During my busy schedule, I had the honour to fly to Whapmagoostui and speak at the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute’s Mind’s Eye theatrical play and book launch. The actors are amazing and I am so proud of our Cree actors. Buckley Petawabano will be proud. Emily Masty’s 30-year collaboration with Susan Marshall of the Mind’s Eye book is a great achievement in our nation. Some of the stories are merciless, yet captivating. This book of legends and theatrical play is not one to be missed. Check your local listings or posters.
Our great nation is filled with talent that makes our nation what it is. We are busy. We are taking initiative to bring good insightful information to all of you. We have dynamic influential speakers who have graced their presence within the Roundtable tours. Robert Kanatewat of Chisasibi, one of the JBNQA negotiators, has been an inspiration to all of us as he has traveled almost to every community with us. I think of him as the Godfather of the JBNQA signatories. Truly grateful that he still rocks them jeans!
The future looks bright. We have stories to tell, young leaders to build, Elders to teach us. We are in good hands. Let your mind’s eye always look forward.