After years of intense training and support from his community and family, Neil Blacksmith has finally done what he set out to do. On June 26, the triathlete from the Cree Nation of Mistissini completed his first-ever Ironman 70.3 Challenge in Mont-Tremblant, finishing the grueling course with a time of 5:58:22.
Like most young hockey players in Quebec, Israel Mianscum grew up dreaming of one day wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey. He recently experienced the next best thing when he was invited to the team’s development camp, held July 10-13 in Brossard.
The Cree Nation Bears impressed at their first appearance at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Quebec City May 1-15. The Bears won their first two games at the prestigious tournament before being eliminated by an Italian team.
For anyone who has ever loved hockey, attending a Montreal Canadiens game against the arch-rival Toronto Maple Leafs on a Saturday night is a thrilling experience. The game played March 26 held special significance for Pakesso Mukash – he was singing the national anthem in Cree, French and English for the team’s inaugural Indigenous Celebration Night.
Mistissini and Waswanipi recently hosted end-of-season snowmobile races – the Mistissini Snowmobile Challenge March 11-13, and the Waswanipi Cross Country Challenge March 19-20.
Ouje-Bougoumou hosted the 2022 Snowmobile Challenge March 5-6, attracting over 175 racers and hundreds more onlookers for the annual race.
Brigette Lacquette continues to blaze new trails at hockey’s highest levels, both on and off the ice. In 2018 she was the first Indigenous woman to play for the Canadian Olympic team. Now Lacquette is a scout in the National Hockey League.
Nearly 300 people participated in the 25th Waswanipi Old Post Fishing Derby this year August 6-8, taking home over $125,000 in cash prizes.
Mistissini means big rock in the Cree language, and that’s the inspiration for the name of the community’s annual fishing derby, which took place July 23-25.
To promote physical activity and cultural connection over the months of pandemic restrictions, Wemindji’s local women’s association organized snowshoe and walking challenges this year. Then association president Angela Stewart had an idea for a woman-only fishing derby.
