Human rights
In a scathing report, the US-based group Human Rights Watch is denouncing Canada’s failures to meet its fiduciary responsibility toward First Nations and Inuit peoples.
Voices
ᐋ ᐄᔮᔨᐧᒫᓂᐧᐃᒡ
Strategies are needed
Critical minerals and materials are a concern for all of us on this planet as many are necessary for meeting both climate change objectives and defense needs. Especially rare-earth elements, like lithium and cobalt, which are used in everything from computers to all our household appliances that make our lives so much easier. Clean energy batteries, electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines cannot exist without them these days.
Navigating our housing crisis
A housing crisis is in full swing everywhere, especially in our communities where there’s always been housing issues. The birth rate up North is much higher than Quebec’s and housing departments don’t have the resources or the latitude necessary to keep up with our fast-growing communities. On top of that, many of our existing units need renovations or to be rebuilt entirely.
Back to the office
Okay, the holiday season is over and it’s time to get back to work. The number of people anxious about jumping out of bed and heading to the workplace was probably zero – the empty streets of our sleepy communities can attest to that. Unless it just before 9 am and the roads were finally active for about 10 minutes. Then the quiet sets back in and the community falls into the early work morning slumber. Finally, the first break arrives and lineups to get that weak but fresh cup of java at your local coffee-and-doughnut shop brings you out of your stupor and Monday morning blahs.
In our life
Over the holidays I went to Ottawa to see my mother and my brother Don. It was a difficult trip, as my father passed away during last year’s holiday. Any time you lose a family member it is difficult, and it lasts for far longer than a single turn around the sun.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.