Mistissini snowmobile accident claims the life of Nianne Joy Coonishish
A fatal snowmobiling accident involving two young Cree riders cast a sombre mood over the community of Mistissini as it prepared for its annual snowmobile competition.
News
ᑎᐹᒋᒧᐧᐃᓐ
Looking Back at the Year 2023 in the Cree Nation
As we speed along in 2024, the Nation looks back at an eventful 2023 to commemorate the impressive progress of the Cree Nation and highlight other major Indigenous stories of the year. Along with historic achievements across Eeyou Istchee, last summer saw the region’s most catastrophic wildfires ever. Let’s hope that story isn’t repeated this year.
Cree-Innu reaffirm caribou harvesting agreement
Leaders of the Cree and Innu Nations met in a summit meeting in Chisasibi in late January to renew the “Common understanding of Nation-to-Nation on Atiku (caribou)” – an agreement that allows the Innu Nation to hunt a total of 50 caribou from the Leaf River herd this year. Summit speakers said the agreement prioritizes food security and the maintenance of traditional land practices such as a safe caribou harvest.
Cree School Board launches Department of Higher Learning
As more options become available in the region for the growing number of Cree students interested in post-secondary education, the Cree School Board has launched a new department dedicated to higher learning.
Quebec’s CAVAC unveils a culturally adapted guide
Quebec’s Crime Victims Assistance Centre (CAVAC) has unveiled a groundbreaking guide tailored specifically to offering culturally safe services to Indigenous individuals. The development of this guide marks a significant step forward in acknowledging and addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by Indigenous communities within the legal framework.
UN meetings press Indigenous solutions to international issues
The Cree Nation met with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in mid-October. Türk visited Ottawa to discuss general issues ahead of an in-depth review of Canada’s human rights situation in November, an exercise applied to most countries every four years.
New Chief Gaston Cooper shares plans for Ouje-Bougoumou
After a voting day nail-biter on August 14, Gaston Cooper was elected Chief of Ouje-Bougoumou over former Deputy Chief Lance Cooper. Angel Mianscum was elected Deputy Chief ahead of Harry Bosum.
Cascading Hazards
While cooler and rainy October weather is dampening the remaining blazes in Eeyou Istchee, an exceptionally hot and dry September sparked flareups near Wemindji’s access road and forced it to close again as the month ended.
Indigenous Fire Safety Conference sparks calls for national strategy
As still smouldering fires are left for the changing seasons to extinguish, Indigenous firefighters and emergency coordinators across Canada are looking back at this summer’s disastrous wildfires to improve future responses.
Cree Nation launches a cabin damage assessment registry
While parts of Eeyou Istchee are still burning, regional fire marshal Lee-Roy Blacksmith said that fires are becoming less intense and “SOPFEU has withdrawn their troops” – waiting for them to be naturally extinguished. Remaining blazes are still observed by satellite and occasional flyovers to ensure communities are not endangered.