Since its creation in 1974, the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre has been an innovative force for urban Indigenous issues. This autumn, several new initiatives that have been progressing for years are finally coming to fruition.
Crees gathered to mark the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30, which the federal government created this year to replace the informal Orange Shirt Day that had been held the same date to remember the tragedy and injustice of the residential school system.
The ninth summer of children’s literacy camps in Eeyou Istchee was celebrated as a return towards normalcy after a limited pandemic version last year. For four weeks in July, Frontier College organized summer learning opportunities for a total of 158 children in Whapmagoostui, Chisasibi, Wemindji, Waskaganish, Mistissini and Waswanipi.
Results from last winter’s aerial survey confirm fears that Eeyou Istchee’s moose population is significantly declining. A downward trend in moose numbers had been observed for several years by Cree hunters and in success rates reported by sports hunters.
With the slow but steady disappearance of eelgrass along the coasts of Hudson Bay and James Bay, the fall goose hunt is quickly declining. The thousands upon thousands of Canada Geese that used to feed on this special grass that grew from the Comb Islands in the south to Cape Jones in the north are increasingly migrating to better feeding areas.
It all started with an ice cream. Then came marriage, kids and grandchildren. And great-grandchildren. Lots of them. All told, according to the last count, at least 140 children have come from their union.
While most activities in Eeyou Istchee are again closed to outside visitors this summer, various communities hosted successful events in recent weeks that encouraged residents to reconnect and embrace their Cree cultural pride.
As the number of undocumented graves of former residential school students continues to climb across Canada, Indigenous communities have been coming together to grieve and seek solace in ceremony.
The Mi’kmaw communities of Acadia First Nation, Bear River First Nation and Potlotek First Nation have all developed moderate livelihood fisheries and have moved to implement them, both with and without government approval.
After a long winter of curfews and quarantines, this year’s Indigenous Day celebrations felt particularly well deserved. It was also a bittersweet day, as many events across Canada took time to honour the recent discovery of unmarked graves at a Kamloops residential school.
