Thanks to the hard work of our employees and the collaboration of our many partners, we have successfully implemented many different programs, ranging from the training of Crees for skilled jobs with Hydro-Quebec (over 50 Crees now occupy permanent positions), the rejuvenation of Cree community and family fisheries, the support of numerous cultural activities including summer gatherings and the enhancement of goose hunting facilities. This is not to mention the hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile and ATV trails already built throughout Eeyou Istchee.
On its 20th anniversary, Niskamoon Corporation salutes The Nation magazine and wishes it many more years of success and positive change.
www.niskamoon.org
18-15—June 3, 2011
Editorial
Congrats to everyone at the Nation
by Will Nicholls Once a year I get to sing praises on how well the Nation has done in the past year. It is the time when the Quebec Community Newspapers Association holds its Better Newspaper Competition. This is when the Nation competes against other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal newspapers in Quebec.Rez Notes
Our message to the stars...
by Sonny Orr One of my favourite things to read are the silly old news stories you often find in grocery stores, declaring that Elvis Presley is still around. It’s hard not believe that Elvis may still be alive when you know that he still lives on in the digital or analog version and is probably one of the longer lasting artists still spewing music into the vastness of outer space via thousands of radio and television stations at any given time.News
A golden opportunity
Wemindji and mining giant Goldcorp agreed to set up new gold mine
Along with the business agreement, Goldcorp has also taken it upon itself to ensure the mine lives up to environmental standards not only of Quebec and Canada, but of the Cree Nation Mining Policy. The acceptance by Goldcorp to adhere to this policy is an important precedent for any future development in this industry.Ottawa’s going Native
First Innu MP Peter Penashue holds two cabinet portfolios
by Will Nicholls Peter Penashue became the first Innu ever elected to Parliament. His history-making journey didn’t end there as Prime Minister Steven Harper added him to his cabinet. Penashue in one fell swoop became the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada. Membership in the Privy Council is for life unless the Governor General withdraws the appointment.It’s all about the Plan
Quebec’s plan for the north pleases Crees but not everyone else
by Amy German After years in the making, Quebec premier Jean Charest finally unveiled the Plan Nord for provincial development north of the 49th parallel on May 9 to many cheers as well as a few jeers from some of the First Nations that will be affected by the plan.Resisting a Resist-A-Ball?
Cree fitness revolution keeps gaining steam despite bumps along the way
by Amy German In the last year, a revolutionary new fitness-and-wellness program has been the foundation for hundreds of Cree women to lose an exponential amount of weight throughout Eeyou Istchee.Walking for clean water
Mother Earth Water Walkers draw attention to the state of our polluted waters
by Irkar Beljaars Documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin once told me during an interview that access to clean water was a human right. That was the message that the Mother Earth Water Walk wants to draw awareness to – the continued polluting of our natural clean-water resources.Under the Northern Sky
Following the trail of my great-grandfather
by Xavier Kataquapit I recently travelled to the United Kingdom on a pilgrimage to find my great-grandfather's grave. The good news is that I found the white-stone marker bearing his name John Chookomolin although they had misspelled it Jakomolin. It was good to kneel at the place where he was buried and to feel the space around me.In Brief
Romeo Saganash named Natural Resources critic
As a nod to the growing influence of the Cree Nation, NDP leader Jack Layton appointed newly elected MP Romeo Saganash to the shadow cabinet as Natural Resources critic. Saganash will be carefully monitoring the work Conservative minister Joe Oliver does with the Natural Resources portfolio.Outgoing Auditor General addresses Aboriginal poverty
With her last kick at the can as Auditor General, Sheila Fraser delivered her final recommendations to the federal government regarding Canada’s greatest needs for change. Among them were swift recommendations to address Aboriginal poverty.Robbie Robertson awarded Order of Canada
After 50 years of rocking out and writing songs that shaped decades and generations, Six Nations of the Grand River rocker Robbie Robertson graced a stage he had never graced before when he received the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall May 27.IFAW dog clinics
The International Fund for Animal Welfare will be hosting veterinary dog clinics in two Cree communities. Vets at the clinics perform surgeries to spay or neuter dogs as well as vaccinations and other routine procedures.IFAW is in Waskaganish June 1, 2 and 3 (contact Ernest Blueboy or Darlene Cheechoo) and in Nemaska June 4 and 5 (contact George Swallow or Robbie Dick).
