Celebrations
I think I heard “angels of the James Bay Highway” shout for joy when my namesake Josh at Cree Radio Network interviewed our Grand Chief regarding the $97,500,000 to redo the infamous JBH over the next five years. I have shared my concerns many times over the state of this highway. Thank goodness for Couillard’s Plan Nord and our CNG team.
“We” have successfully negotiated on this multi-million dollar deal. Am I happy? You bet! We now can purchase Porsches and glide blissfully into the northern skies of Eeyou Istchee without blowouts and leaps. You have exactly five years to save up cash and buy your dream car.
Since construction will not be without its frustrations, I urge you first to be thankful and also to leave your town early as you may encounter a few long delays. I hope they hire my good friend Martha Napton as a flag woman. Always nice to see her smiling and telling me, “beh’gatch bim’bwee!” I am actually excited about this project and I am sure that there will be great opportunities for our people. Get cracking!
By the time you read this I will be dancing somewhere to the beat of a powwow drum, but deep down I secretly wish for fiddle music instead. I’ll be celebrating my First Nation-hood along with my people across Canada. I am proud to be First Nations. I’ve walked into halls where racism was peoples’ friend. I’ve seen and heard much of everything. June 21 is Canada’s recognition for Aboriginal Peoples Day.
To us Eeyouch, First Nations is every day. I will continue to thrive as a First Nations man to become the best that I can be and show mankind that it not my feathers that will make me noble but simply being human will. One more thing: smoke signals are always thicker on that day so you’ll have to be patient to get your message.
June 24, I’ll be celebrating the birth of Saint John the Baptist (not the beheading, thank you) with my fellow melting-pot Quebecers. Usually Nemaska is very quiet on that day except for Camp Nemiscau where it tends to be not so quiet. I usually celebrate a good hour with Céline, Mitsou, Ginette Reno, Roch Voisine and Arcade Fire at home. That’s a playlist actually.
However, I hope to experience La Fête Nationale in Rimouski. I heard it was the place to be, though I’ll start with Chibougamau this year. I hope to see Mayor Cyr and dance the night away to Gerry Boulet’s “Toujours vivant” – my old teacher Daniel Lefebvre from the 1990s was an enthusiast and had us, Nemaska 1995 grads, learn many Québécois songs. “Provocante tu fais exprès” de Marjo – OMG don’t get me started. I think I plan to celebrate Quebec style – I wonder where Muguette will be?
In the end, we celebrate our culture, share our culture and we hope to continue to educate people of our rich history. We are First Peoples, we are blessed and let us always give thanks to our Creator. Happy Aboriginal Day!