This summer, young people in Nemaska and Waskaganish participated in canoe brigades that helped them build outdoor skills, strengthen friendships and bring back traditional regional paddling initiatives.
At its 37th Annual General Assembly held in Mistissini August 6-8, the Cree Nation Youth Council resolved to reinstate the regional youth canoe brigade as part of ongoing cultural and summer programming.
The initiative aims to reconnect Eeyou Istchee youth with ancestral waterways and traditional travel routes to encourage outdoor participation, teamwork and cultural learning during the summer.
While the regional framework is being finalized, local canoe programs were already underway across Eeyou Istchee. In Nemaska, the Youth Council organized a summer brigade that paddled to the Old Nemaska gathering, June 21-30.
Assistant head guide Arthur Esau says canoeing is more than a summer activity; it is a family tradition and a way of staying connected to the land knowledge and Cree traditions. He said the trip included 12 participants over two weeks.
“I’ve been paddling for about five years,” Esau stated. “And I’ve been guiding for about two years now.”
He said the journey offered the participants both challenging and rewarding moments, as they spent long hours on the water, including one particularly hot day when they paddled the Rupert River for over eight hours.
“The water was very cool,” he added. “Nice and warm, the route from Old Nemaska to Nemaska covered probably around 40 to 50 kilometres.”
One of the most difficult parts of the trip came when the group had to paddle through open water in strong winds. While “kind of dangerous,” Esau said the experience was interesting and impressive.
The canoe brigade was an opportunity for several first-time canoeists, who Esau said quickly became capable paddlers.
“They’re very good,” he said. “When we were paddling around for fun before our departure, I told my participants to practice. So, they sat at the back of the canoe, and they were paddling so good!”
The connection to canoeing tradition runs deep in Esau’s family. His great-grandfather, Alec Weistche, was a head guide for 35 years. Esau said he learned paddling from him at an early age, and his great-grandfather continue to influence him even after his passing in 2019.
“He would usually say, ‘If you are determined, it can be done,’” Esau recalled. “So, I’m following my great-grandfather’s path. All my family has been paddling since they were young. It is important to keep the tradition alive for the coming years.”
Esau plans to return to the canoe brigade every year. He sees this activity as a way to build skills and connect with the land and history.
Nemaska Youth Chief Brittany Moar said the traditional canoe route is more than a trip, it is a rite of passage, a teaching and “a reminder of who we are.”
On August 1, Waskaganish youth took part in the 37th Annual Canoe Brigade focused on land-based learning, cultural connection and spending time together on the territory.
According to the Waskaganish Youth Department, the journey began beside Kanio Kashee Lodge, as youth gathered to paddle, learn and share an experience rooted in Cree traditional knowledge and land-based skills.