The discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School sent shock waves across the country and renewed calls for accountability for the thousands of Indigenous children who never returned home.
The Cree Nation Government and the Quebec government have officially designated 23 territorial reserves in Eeyou Istchee for inclusion in the Quebec Register of Protected Areas. These selected areas were first announced in December, almost doubling the legally protected portion of the territory from 12% to 23%.
Maggie Petawabano wasn’t exactly sure when her late husband Paul first got the urge to fly. She thinks it was when, as a boy, he became curious about all the planes flying in and out of Mistissini, carrying curious new goods, then disappearing again into the sky.
A toll-free tip line in Montreal is now available to help resolve cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG). The Iskweu Project, an initiative of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM), is promoting the number – 1-855-547-5938 – with ads on billboards and bus shelters around the city.
The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is awarding an honorary doctorate to Édith Cloutier, who they call “a dedicated ambassador of Indigenous identity and a defender of Indigenous rights.”
Many years of supporting Indigenous women through counselling and other advocacy work has taught Dr. Cathy Richardson/Kinewesquao that sometimes a small gesture can go a long way. A few weeks ago, she started a GoFundMe crowdsourcing campaign to help “get the boot off the neck” of Indigenous mothers.
As spring brings geese back to northern skies, the Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) is encouraging hunters to remain in Eeyou Istchee to avoid the risk of Covid-19 variants. For the second year in a row, the CTA is administering an emergency fund to help Cree families access their bush camps for Goose Break.
The Cree Nation is mourning the loss of John Mark, a former Chief of Wemindji who played a pioneering role in the establishment of many important entities in the Cree Nation, including Air Creebec.
It’s April, and across Eeyou Istchee the geese are returning as Cree communities prepare for Goose Break. In some communities, however, an early spring has created dangerous ice conditions. The Nation reached out to public safety officers and Cree Trappers’ Association (CTA) representatives in each community to find out if there had been any goose sightings or harvest and to get an update on safety issues.
The Canadian government has promised a national justice strategy to address the systemic discrimination and disproportionate incarceration of Indigenous and Black peoples. While it’s still unclear when this strategy will arrive, Justice Minister David Lametti has said the new approaches will advance Indigenous-led solutions with “true partnership”.
