Happy New Year and long live the Nation

Happy New Year, and let’s hope that it is going to be a really good 2014.

A lot of things happened this year, some were good and some less than fantastic. One of the good things is that the Nation celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Staying alive for 20 years in the publication business here in Canada is no easy feat. Newspapers and magazines come and go. In the last 20 years, the publication business has been hugely impacted by the growth of online media. Thankfully, the Nation has managed to adapt and evolve with the times. In addition to putting out a great magazine, the management and staff are also online with a dynamic, recently redesigned website.

First Nation magazines and newspapers across the country are very important to the Aboriginal population. These are the only publications that we can rely on to give First Nation people a voice in a reality where we are surrounded by media produced by the very rich and powerful. One of the reasons I got involved in media – indeed, the rational for the development of most of Aboriginal media – has to do with telling our own stories. Too often, mainstream media presents a negative image of First Nation people, if they’re not simply ignoring us. Thanks to publications like the Nation, we are able to have a voice and we can talk about issues that are important to us. The Nation also makes us feel proud about having something that is our own and that is mainly staffed by First Nation professionals.

When I started writing, one of the first publications to print my column was the Nation. At the time, I was really surprised that one of the editors, Neil Diamond, wanted my “Under The Northern Sky” column. I have to admit that part of the surprise had to do with the fact that I was even talking to somebody by the name of Neil Diamond, as I had always connected that name to a lot of pop tunes from the 1960s and 1970s made famous by a certain singer of the same name.

Thanks to Neil Diamond and the Nation, I got the opportunity to reach many people with my words. It was always a pleasure to work with Neil and the staff over the years. I was also happy to see him pursue his other career as a filmmaker. He has enjoyed much success with what has become one of my favourite documentaries Reel Injun.

From start to finish, the Nation is always a good read. Only a Native person could appreciate all of the interesting advertisements found in the classified section. I really enjoyed working with the wonderful people at the Nation over the past decade and more. Hats off to the visionary people who founded the Nation, including Catherine Bainbridge, Will Nicholls, Linda Ludwick and Ernie Webb. I have always appreciated the relationship and rapport I have had with the staff. These days, I am in touch with Will Nicholls who has a great sense of humour and writes so well. I always look for his editorial when I pick up my Nation. I also enjoy the regular column by Sonny Orr, which always has a good message in his well-crafted words.

Over the years I have been the recipient of writing awards from the Quebec Community Newspaper Association (QCNA). I have the Nation to thank for that.

I look forward to writing for many more years for the Nation and reading news from an Aboriginal perspective from this magazine. Chi-Meegwetch Do-Deh-Mak (Thanks very much, my friends). Long live the Nation!