Nuuhchimi Wiinuu offers a new cultural experience in Oujé-Bougoumou

David and Anna Bosum of Oujé-Bougoumou realized a longtime dream April 1 with the official opening ceremony of their new eco-tourism site Nuuhcimi Wiinuu, located on Scott Lake about 20 kilometres from the community.

Nuuhchimi Wiinuu Cree Cultural Tours is the definition of a family business. David and Anna are teachers, guides and cultural instructors. Their son Thomas is company president while sons Harry and Willy handle marketing.

The facilities offer visitors lodging in traditional Cree dwellings, which can host couples, families, and larger school or corporate groups.

Another unique element of the new site is that it is eco-friendly, generating its heat and electricity from solar panels and using compostable toilets. All of the wood used for construction was carefully selected from the surrounding forest.

David and Anna Bosum have been organizing traditional activities, hosting tourists and sharing their knowledge of nature and their ancestors since the mid-1990s.

At the time Anna was Oujé-Bougoumou’s cultural coordinator while David was organizing cultural activities around the community. When Oujé’s new community infrastructure won two United Nations awards and international attention for its commitment to the environment and sustainable development, there was an explosion of interest in tourism in the region.

“That was when [my parents] noticed the opportunity to provide a tourism service,” Thomas Bosum told the Nation. “That’s when they first started planning this business. Culture to them came naturally, it’s something they’ve always really loved and valued.”

“It’s a major step for both of them,” he added. “It’s been over three years since they wanted a permanent site for their business. Before, they always moved around to find a place to provide their services. Now they’ve realized the vision they’ve had from the beginning.”

In winter, Nuuhchimi Wiinuu guests can participate in snowshoeing, ice fishing, trapping and traditional crafts while summer activities include hiking and canoeing. The Bosums are well established in the tourism industry with strong international customer relationships already in place.

“We have visitors from all over the world, especially from Europe and the US,” said Thomas. “[My parents] have a great relationship with the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. They have a group of students come every year and they’ve been our partners for maybe 10 years.”

Thomas also noted that with the new site Nuuhchimi Wiinuu would be able to expand to new markets.

“We’ll be continuing the services we’ve always provided, but now we’re going to start promoting more,” he said. “We plan on tapping into the snowmobile market, servicing the skidoo trails and offering overnight stays and we’ve partnered with the Broadback outfitting company. They’re going to charter their plane towards our site so now their clients will get to experience a day of Cree culture before they set out on their fishing excursions.” 

Supported by Eeyou Istchee Tourism, the Bosums also received financial support from the Regional Tourism Partnership Agreement program and its stakeholders – the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec, Eeyou Istchee Tourism, the Cree Nation Government and the Société de développement de la Baie-James.

Oujé-Bougoumou Chief Curtis Bosum, a cousin to the family, was on hand for the opening celebrations.

“For David and Anna, this is the fulfillment of a dream which they have held for a very long time,” said the Oujé chief. “To be able to establish a first-class facility where they can comfortably welcome the many guests who are interested in spending time with them in a traditional Cree setting. It is a place where David and Anna can share their wealth of knowledge of Cree culture and traditions, and where people can learn what it means to live in harmony with nature.”

Roughly translated, Nuuhchimi Wiinuu means “someone who’s always in the bush or out in the wilderness” and the Bosum family’s new site is a place where visitors will be able to immerse themselves in Cree culture.

“I’m happy that it’s finally a reality,” said Anna. “I’d like to thank Deb Williams and the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Vermont, the students from the University of Massachusetts and everyone else who’s been involved over the years.”