As part of a global effort to establish new protected areas in the world’s oceans, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas expedition leveraged extensive Cree involvement as it recently passed through James Bay. The two-month journey gathered valuable data to support the development of Indigenous-led marine conservation areas along the route.
As Nova Scotia advances legislation recognizing Mi’qmaw as its first language, the province has committed to developing a multi-year Mi’qmaw revitalization strategy.
Following an emotional week that saw Pope Francis make various statements expressing sorrow and shame for the role of Catholics in the residential school system, First Nations leaders are ready to move on to what happens next.
The First Nation tradition of cultural burnings was outlawed in British Columbia over a century ago, putting an end to a practice that helped Indigenous communities manage forests and forest fires for thousands of years.
Many across the region expressed disappointment that this year’s sports hunt for moose is suspended in Zone 17. Delivered by Ungava MNA Denis Lamothe, it came as a surprise to the Cree Nation Government, which criticized Quebec’s lack of consultation over potential solutions.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Cree Nation of Chisasibi announced it will pursue a search of grounds at residential school sites on Fort George Island. Following consultations with survivors and communities, Chisasibi will use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at former Anglican and Catholic schools.
One of the primary outcomes of last November’s initial Eeyou Tripartite Table, comprised of the Grand Chief and leaders of the school and health boards, was the recognition of the need for a regional special needs policy. The Table declared that 2022 would be the Year of Special Needs in Eeyou Istchee.
As graduation ceremonies were being planned at schools throughout Eeyou Istchee, two events in early June celebrated milestones in Cree post-secondary education that leveraged online resources to enable students to advance their studies close to home.
In December 2019, a couple blissful months before a global pandemic ravaged the world, Wanda Brascoupé was discussing with philanthropy experts how to better distribute resources to both on-reserve and urban Indigenous communities. Their conversations plotted out what would later become the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF).
Pikangikum First Nation, Sioux Lookout and other northwestern Ontario communities remain in crisis after water levels swamped the province throughout the month of May. As of June 3, 14 First Nations had declared a flooding emergency along with eight neighbouring municipalities. The Surface Water Monitoring Centre issued a provincial flood watch for the entirety of northwestern Ontario June 4.
