A strong stand for the Cree hunter – Paul Dixon

At this critical time, a reassessment of the past is needed to reinforce a future that we as a people want to see. Since the 1930s, when the Cree involvement as slaves-on-chains in forestry began it can rightly be said, our ancestors were ambushed, manipulated by non-Aboriginal companies in the boreal forests and forced to accept forestry as a white man’s business in Indian territory. Where Crees saw forests, newcomers saw forestry and their vision would be the new order. Everything snowballed from there.

Once logging companies – with support from Indian Affairs agents – got a foot in the door at a time settlers thought the land belonged to nobody, Crees became servants, subjects of Indian Affairs agents. Then, leading up to my generation (I was 18, when the 1975 JBNQA was signed), Indian agents were still around. It seems nothing has changed today. The only thing real in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement is development – nothing else. I hope COMEX proves me wrong. Refer to the letter from Chief Saganash to Ottawa dated August 3, 1936 – our first complaint of the impacts of “development.”

Before the advent of treaties and after, concerning beaver preserves then and the trapline system today, a tallyman or any other generation had NO authority to have traplines destroyed or depleted for any reason at all, short- or long-term. Tallymen (stewards) are NOT supposed to receive compensation in regard to development on traplines. If this is the case, there is something wrong in our system and WE need to fix it because somebody or some group is taking advantage of this. Not only that, there are other ways of doing things to reach a better outcome than what we have now. As a tallyman taught by my late grandfather and father – who in return, were taught by their forefathers – I should know.

Keep in mind, the Cree word for development is “to destroy.” The term “sustainable development” is a deadly joke to a Cree hunting society. As Cree hunters, there is no concept for “development” or “where one generation gets rich and leaves nothing for the next.” Also, you cannot tell a tallyman or an Elder in Cree, “We need to consult with you for development on the land” without telling him, “Your destiny as a hunting society will be in the hands of development now.”

My ancestors – Waswanipi Crees – have always led a nomadic life in the boreal forests, right up to my generation. And now everybody wants to abandon us while the battle rages on in the boreal forests. Waswanipi Cree traplines have the most non-Native forestry and mining activity in a territory already criss-crossed by hydro lines. We don’t want to become beggars and squatters on lands we hold title to and nobody should force us.

Cash rewards to a tallyman for accepting so-called development on traplines are not supposed to be entertained by Crees, a hunting society. We have a hunting bylaw, but our ancestors have an oral tradition. They had set principles – non-written rules – we’re all expected to live by and promote to future generations. The only responsibility a tallyman holds is to protect the trapline and the animals that gave their lives so Crees could live. It is not private property.

But forestry companies are always ready to con a tallyman with cash and other rewards so as to have their way with them, the oldest and dirtiest trick in the book. It’s like throwing the dog a bone to get it to wag its tail. My ancestors never took rewards. I stand with my ancestors on this as tallyman today. Only local government can intervene where forestry companies want to entice tallymen with rewards in order to divide, conquer and destroy the Crees.

Now mining companies are set to interrupt our lives using the same unfair strategies forestry used, from which we might never recover. Ever wonder why Waswanipi wanted to make this into a court case back in 1987? We were there with a busload of protesters. Grand Council and Cree leaders who were involved still regret that we missed the opportunity of a lifetime back then. The year 1987 will haunt me forever as a trapper. Again in 1998-99 Waswanipi did not want to settle the forestry lawsuit out of court. It’s illegal and unconstitutional what’s happening today on our ancestral lands with forestry and mining. Forestry has always been the cheapest and fastest way to make money here in the north.

Forestry’s afterthought for the environment is like cutting all the banana trees and still expecting to see a monkey in a tree eating a banana the next day. Besides forestry permits, there are 18 other user permits given out on a single trapline, from the sport-hunters-cabin-permit to exploration and mining permits, and the never-ending list goes on.

As a Cree trapper, I get scared. Some Waswanipi Crees are forced to abandon the traplines – like my family – because of clear-cutting and the shortage of animals it causes. This in turn dramatically affects the guaranteed level of Cree harvest in the JBNQA, Section 24. In other words, a breach of contract.

I have done the small and big game capture reports for the past 22 years. I did warn Quebec officials and the CNG, that Waswanipi Crees might challenge them using Section 24 of the JBNQA to protect their way of life. The COMEX process just might force us to do so.

Where will we hunt in the future? I hear this all the time from Cree people in general assemblies, at our offices, out in the street, out on the land, in town. People are always protesting and will continue to protest until things change, this I know. For the youth, protesting is a way to let out frustrations but I can no longer hold them back and am very afraid they might start using violence.

There is another option to solve the impasse we are at as a Nation; please, read on and get ready to fight for life. I say this because we Crees are one of the very few “hunting societies” remaining on this earth. The industrialized world destroys hunting societies if they do not surrender or assimilate. I find nothing wrong in respecting the way our ancestors lived, and lived healthy and long lives, often over 100 years.

Study carefully what Section 24 of the JBNQA states. Here is my take: the people of Waswanipi can and should apply for this section. They have every right to take governments to court for any prejudice caused by the breach of the terms of Section 24 of the JBNQA – in other words, guaranteed levels of Cree harvest.

Waswanipi needs to take action now. We have been worried too long about the state of our traplines and the children’s future. In the meantime, let’s wait for COMEX’s decision. This is my advice and request to WCFN as a tallyman and a concerned member.