Category: Archives

Any day now

My wife is expecting another son. The due date was January 15, but the doctors say it could be the week after. I’m hoping he will have arrived by the time you read this. Given the anticipation, it’s hard to […]

Take care in the cold

After a warm early Poo-poon (Cree for “winter”) here in northern Ontario, now we are paying for it with temperatures of minus 20 or lower. The other day we got dumped with a lot of Koon (Cree for “snow”) and, […]

State of the Cree Nation 2015: Grand Chief Coon Come reflects on the past year and looks ahead

State of the Cree Nation 2015: Grand Chief Coon Come reflects on the past year and looks ahead

The past year had more than its normal share of triumphs and tribulations for the Grand Chief of the Crees, Matthew Coon Come. Pushing Quebec to respect the Baril-Moses Agreement, winning an historic agreement with Val-d’Or to fight racism and […]

Johnny Wylde, Emilie Ruperthouse, Reynolds Ruperthouse, Kathy Ruperthouse and Joan Wylde

Reaching out for help: $40 000 reward for information on Sindy Ruperthouse

Just before Christmas, the Surêté du Québec issued a $40,000 reward for information regarding the whereabouts of missing Algonquin woman Sindy Ruperthouse. The 45-year-old Ruperthouse was last seen in April 2014 at a Val-d’Or hospital, where she was recovering from […]

The Legend of Massu told by Voyageur Memorial School Students

The Legend of Massu told by Voyageur Memorial School Students

Cycle Two teachers Stephanie Gordon (Grade 4) and Elaine Drouin (Grade 3) submitted a class project to the Nation completed by their students at Voyageur Memorial School in Mistissini. The teachers looked at the Cree legend of Maasu, presented a shortened version […]

Mistissini men’s group turns pain into a positive

Mistissini men’s group turns pain into a positive

Wayne Rabbitskin knows too well what can happen when you keep your pain and trauma inside: eight years ago, he lost his job and his house, and ended up homeless. Now Rabbitskin is a certified prevention specialist with Oujé-Bougoumou’s National […]

Breaking the silence – Quebec Native Women’s report on violence in the province

Breaking the silence – Quebec Native Women’s report on violence in the province

“What came up a lot in the report is how normalized violence is. People feel like it’s normal to have experienced violence, or to have been raped, or to have been abused.” Alana Boileau, Justice and Public Security Coordinator for […]

The road to ruin? Waswanipi continues fight against Broadback development

The road to ruin? Waswanipi continues fight against Broadback development

After considerable debate and a last-minute postponement, a date finally has been set for Waswanipi Council’s latest battle in the fight for new environmental protection measures throughout the Broadback Forest. The Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX) will hold […]

All lives matter

When Tina Lafontaine’s lifeless body was pulled from Winnipeg’s Red River 18 months ago, the 15-year-old’s tragic end helped serve to power calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women. As 2016 begins, Canada’s new Liberal government […]

We can all help make 2016 a good year

Happy New Year and welcome to 2016! As a First Nation person I can tell you that I feel very good about the coming new year. What a change in terms of my people right across the country starting a […]