Voices

I’m dreaming of a safe and happy holiday

Holiday season is here, and you can see much excitement during this festive time. Different religions and cultures celebrate this period, and some don’t at all. I grew up in the remote community of Attawapiskat and through colonization and the invasion by Christian missionaries my people for many years ended up becoming swept up in either the Catholic or Protestant religions depending on who was doing the invading. We all became part of this religion and managed also to incorporate some of our own original traditions and culture. However, most of our traditions and cultural practices were banned and considered evil by these new religions.

Xavier Kataquapit

Warm thoughts in winter

The holidays “slid” by rapidly. Those toboggan rides with the grandchildren took some getting used to, as I am pretty sure that climbing back up the hill wasn’t in my contract. After a few runs – the going down part taking a few seconds versus the endless return trip – it made me appreciate the strength it takes to do this all day.

Sonny Orr

The year that wasn’t

It’s a strange thing to look back on a year’s events as if a period of 365.25 days is a self-contained phenomenon. As if human history in each January-to-December trip around the sun wasn’t part of a longer continuum of related events and evolution. On the last point, however, it’s not hard to see that the past year showed unmistakable signs of devolution.

Lyle Stewart

Tis the season of cash registers

The sound of Christmas and holidays is everywhere, making me wish for things I can’t afford and for time off from the daily workload. But the bells keep chiming (or tolling) to lift my spirits higher than usual. I suspect it’s subliminal uplifting music drifting in and out of my subconsciousness that is driving me to work harder.

Sonny Orr

We owe Gaza an apology

I truly feel like the Cree Nation has failed Palestinians, especially since October 7. It’s easy to sweep it under the rug that we don’t need to pay attention to what happens thousands of miles away from Eeyou Istchee, but I think it matters. Also, if our leadership can call for the observance of the death of Queen Elizabeth II through a minute of silence, I think it can – and should – position itself against genocide.

Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

Mind mush

I was working on my tent-frame cabin, which was due for some maintenance, to put some tiles on the wooden floor. When I gazed upwards to inspect my threadbare canvas roof, I noticed it had a long tear. Back in town that evening, I found someone tall enough to help me.

Sonny Orr

Take care on winter roads

Winter is fast approaching, and I worry about family members and friends in northern Ontario who deal with the treacherous conditions on our highways during the snowy season.

Xavier Kataquapit

Kitchi-Meegwetch Wab Kinew

I am feeling a little better about the state of democracy these days thanks to the election of Wab Kinew as Canada’s first Anishinabe Premier. He was elected recently with a majority government in Manitoba. So, congratulations to Wab and his New Democratic Party team and thanks to all those members of the voting public who made their decision based on values that have to do with social democratic ideals of sharing, openness, tolerance and caring for everyone, the environment and the future of our planet.

Xavier Kataquapit

As the season changes

It’s been a while since I got up before sunrise, but it’s getting easier with the shorter days. Looking over social media, I see that it snowed south of here, which is to be expected. At the 55th parallel, winter doesn’t usually set in until Halloween night, then the stone-cold wintry weather ices us in the following day. No November rain for us, it’s straight to skating.

Sonny Orr

Never Without Consent

In 1998, the Grand Council of the Crees published a book titled Never Without Consent: James Bay Crees Stand Against Forcible Inclusion into an Independent Quebec. This book looked the referendum on October 24, 1995, asking whether the Crees would join an independent Quebec if the province voted yes in the provincial referendum to be held a week later.

Will Nicholls

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