In Eeyou Istchee’s other big summer election, Sarah Pash was re-elected chairperson of the Cree School Board (CSB) July 28, edging long-time director general Abraham Jolly by a slim margin of 111 votes.
The appointment of Inuit leader Mary Simon as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General July 6 came at a judicious moment.
The Cree Health Board said that until more people get vaccinated, including young children, Covid prevention measures would remain in place, especially with the spread of new variants. The health board also encouraged people to take advantage of newer, less-intrusive gargle testing available at all community clinics when returning to Eeyou Istchee.
Two weeks after the remains of 215 children were discovered at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Grand Council of the Cree has demanded full cooperation from governments and organizations to support healing in Eeyou Istchee.
Yearly floods returned to communities along the western coast of James Bay, with Kashechewan and Fort Albany once again seeing community members move out onto the land to wait out rising waters.
The Cree Nation has once again affirmed its firm opposition to uranium development within Eeyou Istchee. While this position would seem self-evident by now, the resolution passed on May 26 responded to an announcement that the Matoush Uranium Project had been acquired by junior mining company International Consolidated Uranium.
The Cree Health Board says the battle against Covid-19 is “improving significantly” in Quebec and across Canada due to a combination of vaccinations, restrictions and preventative health measures.
After another community member’s life was taken by a collision on Route 109 near Amos, the Abitibiwinni First Nation organized a protest May 17 to demand immediate improvement to the highway’s safety. About 100 people marched from the community of Pikogan towards the office of Quebec MNA Suzanne Blais in Amos.
Canada passed a landmark in vaccination distribution, as over half of all eligible adults received their first vaccination, with 4.5% of the population being fully vaccinated.
Quebec has approved the Pfizer vaccine for youth aged 12-17, saying that a first dose would be available for all children by the end of June. A second vaccination could be available by the start of classes in the fall.
