On September 1, Michelle O’Bonsawin of Odanak First Nation became the first Indigenous judge to serve on the Supreme Court of Canada. The fluently bilingual 48-year-old Abenaki was raised off-reserve in Hanmer, a small francophone community in northern Ontario.
The Grand Council of the Crees and the Cree Nation Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Canadian government September 14 initializing “exploratory discussions” to recognize MoCreebec Eeyoud as a distinct Indigenous community.
Waswanipi First Nation has chosen new leadership with the election of Chief Irene Neeposh and Deputy Chief Rhonda Oblin Cooper; both won on their first ballot with 54% and 57.7% of the vote respectively. In doing so, Waswanipi became the latest Cree Nation with an all-woman head office, after Chisasibi elected Chief Daisy House and Deputy Paula Napash in 2020.
Ahead of Quebec’s election October 3, the northernmost riding of Ungava is again shaping as one of the most competitive races in the province. In 2018, Coalition Avenir Québec candidate Denis Lamothe won by just 46 votes over the Parti Québécois candidate, with the Liberals and Québec solidaire not far behind.
To ensure the Cree language prevails across Eeyou Istchee, the Cree School Board and the Office of the Cree Language Commissioner are focussing on ways to preserve and promote the Cree language and culture in and outside school, among students and community members.
After a first round of voting ended neck and neck, Michael Petawabano was elected Chief of Mistissini and John S. Matoush as Deputy Chief in a run-off election.
A five-year, $1.1 billion regional agreement announced July 14 between the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) and the federal government will give 22 First Nations in Quebec financial control over their own education systems.
Before becoming Chief, Curtis Bosum worked in numerous capacities related to his community’s economic development, including as the Chief Executive Officer of its local development corporation. Earlier in his career, he was involved in organizing the opening of a vehicle dealership in Ottawa and served as general manager of a community-owned snowmobile dealership in Chibougamau.
At a tumultuous meeting of the Assembly of First Nations July 5, RoseAnne Archibald was reinstated as National Chief after being suspended by the AFN executive committee June 17 over complaints of abusing staff.
The Federal Court of Canada has certified a class-action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of off-reserve Indigenous children who were removed from their families and forced into non-Indigenous foster care between 1992 and 2019.
