Eyou Dipajimoon
with Roderick Rabbitskin

A Crown - First Nations Summit set for January 24th in Ottawa saw Prime minister Stephen Harper and several of his cabinet ministers meet with Chiefs from across Canada. Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come was there representing Eeyou Istchee. Roderick Rabbitskin spoke with him about what hoped would come out of the meeting.

January is a time when a lot of people decide to quit smoking. Smoking rates are higher in Eeyou Istchee than in the rest of Quebec, with 46 % of men and 37 % of women smoking regularly. That compares to 32 % of men in the rest of Quebec and 29 % of women. On the positive side, Crees in Eyou Istchee are smoking fewer cigarettes than smokers in the rest of the province. National non-smoking week is marked from January 16 to the 21st. Roderick Rabbitskin had Soloman Awashish, from Cree Public Health in studio, along with Flora Weische from CBC Nort and opened the phone lines to people who are trying to quit.

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Every year at Christmas time, there are many who celebrate the holidays. While people are celebrating, there are some who drink and then decide to get behind the wheel of a car. Last year, one young woman from Mistissini started something called "Call A buddy" in her community. It is a drive-home service for people who have had too much to drink. Two years ago, she was caught drinking and driving and lost her license. That is when she decided to launch the service.

Roderick Rabbitskin spoke with Christine Petawabeno of Mistissini. 
 

Roderick also spoke with Eeyou Eenou Police Force spokesperson Karl Simard.
 

The electricity has been out in two Cree communities since December 5th. Hydro Quebec has delivered more than 20 generators and diesel fuel to Chisasibi and Wemindji so that people can go back to their homes. Two transformerrs at the La Grande-1 station blew and cut off electricity to the two communities and reparations are underway. Roderick Rabbitskin spoke on Thursday afternoon with Jason Coonishish and Daisy House-Lameboy to get the latest.

Quebec premier Jean Charest, announced the Plan Nord this past spring. The 25-year project promises 80 billion dollars of development, all planned in the area in Quebec north of the 49th parallel. One of the first projects planned is an extension of route 167 north into the Otish Mountains near Mistissini. Mistissini Crees want contracts and jobs for their community members. They also want the contract to build the road to go to a Cree company. Roderick Rabbitskin spoke with Mistissini Chief Richard Shecapio to find out more.

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November saw the realization of a long held dream of the Cree Nation, with the official opening of the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute in Oujé-Bougoumou. The project has been in the works since the early 1990's, when a group of elders talked about a place where Cree traditional knowledge could be passed on to future generations. Betsy Longchap attended the opening and spoke with Abel Bosum, who was very involved in raising the funds to make Aanischaaukamikw a reality.

Betsy Longchap spoke with people at the opening about what it means to them.  

November is Crime Prevention Month in the community of Mistissini. Roderick Rabbitskin spoke with one of the organizers of the events, Marlene Matoush, to find out what was planned.