Category: Culture and Tradition

Tea and Bannock: Love letter to Indigenous youth

Tea and Bannock: Love letter to Indigenous youth

  The thing I like the most about my work is connecting with other Indigenous youth. We are often seen as cold statistics about suicide, incarceration or child welfare. But the youth are truly out there organizing revolution, creating and […]

The Nation’s annual roundup of ways to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

The Nation’s annual roundup of ways to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

This June 21 marks Canada’s first official National Indigenous Peoples Day. Of course, it’s not a new day, nor a statutory holiday – just a name for a day. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the name-change announcement during last year’s […]

Scanned Document

Building on the past: honouring the architect of Oujé-Bougoumou’s first structure

A Shaputuan – sometimes spelled sabutan – is a traditional Cree longhouse shelter with a door on each end. One door represents a respect for knowledge passed forward from the Elders. The other symbolizes new kinds of learning taken out […]

Small Town, Big History: Waskaganish 350 in photos

Small Town, Big History: Waskaganish 350 in photos

Photos by Ian Diamond For four days in February the community of Waskaganish became the centre of all Eeyou Istchee as it commemorated its 350th anniversary. The community traces its modern history back to 1668, when Europeans arrived on its […]

Walter George Bosum  July 31, 1968 – February 11, 2018

Walter George Bosum July 31, 1968 – February 11, 2018

If you ever saw a group of people standing in a circle and Walter was in it, you would have heard them laughing. If you ever drove by his house, most likely, you would see a pair of legs sticking […]

Celebrating the last 350 years of Waskaganish

Celebrating the last 350 years of Waskaganish

On September 29, 1668, a small British ship called the Nonsuch anchored in Rupert Bay, at the mouth of the Rupert River. It wasn’t the first time Europeans had been there, says historian Dr. Joseph Jolly. Many believe Henry Hudson […]

The decline of the woodland caribou is everyone’s responsibility, says Grand Council

The decline of the woodland caribou is everyone’s responsibility, says Grand Council

The Grand Council of the Crees (GCC) is calling on every member of the Cree Nation to do their part to protect a dwindling herd of woodland caribou. In a recently adopted resolution, the GCC condemned caribou hunting in Eeyou […]

Where to give so that all Cree can enjoy the seasonal feast this holiday season

Where to give so that all Cree can enjoy the seasonal feast this holiday season

While sugar-plum fairies may be dancing in the minds of some children of the north come Christmas, for others it’s a time of worry that they won’t get to participate in part of the fun and joy that is Christmas. […]

Robin's Nest Opening Waswanipi Sept 25, 2017 Photo: K. Morrow

Waswanipi shelter offers a safe haven for abused women and children

  They say it takes a community to raise a child but the Cree have learned it takes one to protect women also. Robin’s Nest, a women’s shelter located in Waswanipi, opened its doors on September 25. Linda L. Shecapio, […]

Eeyou Istchee’s political women reflect on their experience

Eeyou Istchee’s political women reflect on their experience

Even as they are traditional wardens of the land and mothers to its children, women in Cree politics balance the responsibility of representing the people who have elected them into power. Inspired by the recent election of Mandy Gull as […]