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Voices
ᐋ ᐄᔮᔨᐧᒫᓂᐧᐃᒡ

The Trickster Is Online

In James Bay Cree mythology and legends, one of the recurring characters that comes up is the story of the trickster or wandering spirit. This a mysterious character that wanders around our world and takes on any form it wishes. It could be a man, a woman, a child, an Elder, or calls itself an older brother or a younger sibling. Sometimes it’s an animal, a bird or a tiny creature. It could just be a spirit that blows in the wind, that speaks from the forest or inhabits the earth or stones or water. Sometimes it’s a monster and sometimes it is a helpful being that saves people. Sometimes it is all intelligent, wise and all knowing and other times, it is as silly as child or as clumsy as a clown. In many of the stories, it could be a saviour or a bringer of death and destruction. We call him or her or it many things - as a spirit / god like being we have stories of Cheekapesh or Nanabush, and as a monster we call it Ochaskeechoo or Windigo.

Xavier Kataquapit

Back to the grind

Another year is out of the way, with all the holiday games, feasts and activities that filled the week after the big giveaway day. It was a good week, with the community and, lest we forget, those who were not able to be with loved ones around this special time. Yes, life goes on, full swing and roaring to go. And twenty-twenty-three already looks promising.

Sonny Orr

Staying positive

As the last seconds ticked down to the New Year, I reflected on what seemed to be most significant to us as a people. The top 10 countdown of events are here to review:

Sonny Orr

Laws and flaws

The New Year is already upon us. It seems like it comes faster each time we complete our annual trip around the sun. When you are young you can hardly wait to be a year older. Later in life, the years appear to pick up speed when we wish time would slow down.

Will Nicholls

Prepping for Christmas

I used to think that putting up Christmas decorations right after Halloween was rather early. But now, more than a month later, I realize the wisdom of that logic. It’s akin to shopping for presents before the December madness that has tortured us for the last century. Or you could think of it as the need to gather provisions before the cold weather arrives.

Sonny Orr

In memoriam

I was reading Christopher Curtis’ piece in his online publication The Rover about the passing of Alexandra de Kiewit, a Montreal advocate for people who use drugs, sex workers, and people living with HIV. I did not know Alexandra personally, but as an advocate for harm reduction and safe-use policies, I greatly admired her work.

Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

T’is the season to scam you, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

The holidays are upon us and for most it’s a time of joy, sharing and goodwill to all. However, some people believe sharing is a one-way street leading to their own doorstep. They want to take advantage of the goodwill that these holidays taught us to believe in.

Will Nicholls

Jingle all the way

It is hard to believe that Christmas 2022 and the holiday season is right around the corner. There are Christmas parades happening in most cities and towns right across the country. For many this is the first time since 2019 before the wretched Covid pandemic hit the world and stopped us all in our tracks. It is good to see Santa back on his sleigh running around the streets and greeting all the kids. We all need that idea of the goodness of Christmas and Santa this year.

Xavier Kataquapit

Winter is back

Ahh the cold crisp air, the strong winds whipping your breath away, the frozen fingers trying to zip up that cranky zipper, the baseball cap flying through the air… you know what I’m talking about – winter is back.

Sonny Orr

Thankful

It happened as I stepped off a bus in Montreal. There was this joyful yell near me. I looked over and saw one of the biggest smiles I have seen in a long time. The girl looks at me and shouts, “This is my first time in Canada. People here are so nice. I’m from Ukraine.”

Will Nicholls

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