CBC.ca | Winschgaoug

Few people nominated so far for Grand Council elections

2013-05-22T20:15:00Z

This summer Cree will go to the polls on July 15th to elect who will lead them for the next several years. The nomination process was slow to get going. Melissa Natachequan spoke with Chief Returning officer Lawrence Jimiken as the deadline to nominate approached.

Chisasibi heritage centre almost complete

2013-05-21T17:32:24Z

The people of Chisasibi have not always lived in the community we know now. In the 1970s their world was turned upside down because of hydroelectric development and the people were relocated off of Fort George Island. For many years now they have been working on a heritage centre to tell that story. Centre director Margaret Fireman explains the project to Melissa Natachequan.
Margaret Fireman also took Melissa on a tour of the site where the new heritage centre will be located, and introduced her to some of the staff members.

Challenges of studying far from home

2013-05-16T17:22:19Z

Studying in a town far from home can be challenging for many Cree students. They have to prepare and make some tough decisions to achieve their educational goals. Loarraine Shecapio spoke with Cindy Neeposh about studying in Val d'Or at the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue.

1376 kilometres walked and 96 to go!

2013-05-16T17:06:22Z

Solomon Awashish from Mistissini is walking to stop violence in Eeyou Istchee. Every year Awashish completes a "virtual walk" covering the distance from his home to the location of the Grand Council annual assembly, where he makes a presentation about his cause. Melissa Natachequan spoke with him for an update on this year's walk.

David Kawapit joins Manitoba youth in Ottawa

2013-05-14T19:42:08Z

About 30 aboriginal youth from Manitoba arrived on Parliment Hill this week after a 48-day trek. The group known as Youth For Lakes walked more than 2,100 kilometres to raise awareness and put pressure on the federal government to protect waterways in Manitoba. As the Cree walkers of Nishiyuu reached their destination in March, these Manitoba youth were just starting out. They invited Nishiyuu founder David Kawapit of Whapmagoostui to join them for the last few kilometres of their journey. Joshua Loon spoke with David.

Message to a single mom

2013-05-10T15:35:02Z

Rachel Kawapit Sheshamush was raised by a single mother. Melissa Natachequan asked Rachel what she wanted to say to her mom on the occasion of Mother's Day.

Goose break starts early in Alfred, Ontario

2013-05-02T18:01:30Z

Over the past five to ten years more and more Crees have been heading to Ontario to get the hunt started. Betsy Longchap spoke with Waskaganish Chief Gordon Blackned while he was out in the fileds in Alfred, Ontario.

Goose break is lots of fun, but it's also hard work for both men and women. Betsy Longchap went to see some hunters and their families in Alfred, Ontario, and spoke with Anita Kitty about plucking and cleaning the geese.

Emily Cowboy of Waskaganish looks forward to her trip to Alfred, Ontario, each year. She and her two sons have been hunting in the fields and farmlands in the area. Betsy Longchap spoke with her at the Rouleau Hotel in Alfred.

Some hunters and their families return to Alfred every spring for the annual goose hunt. But, there are others who visited this spring for the first time. Lucy Trapper of Waskaganish is one of them. She spoke with Betsy Longchap about her experience.

Waskaganish elder's goose break safety message

2013-04-30T18:22:36Z

It's goose break and many hunters are out near the open waters or travelling on the ice to get to their hunting camps. Elder Billy Stephen of Waskaganish wants all hunters to be safe out there.

7-year-old shares goose break excitement

2013-04-26T15:16:38Z

The geese are leaving the fields of the south and are making their way up north. Children love this time of year, as many of them anticipate killing their first goose. Melissa Natachequan's little boy is one of them and he sure likes to talk about it, so she decided to record their conversation.

CWEIA supports call for inquiry into murdered and missing women

2013-04-24T16:27:09Z

The Cree Women of Eyou Istchee Association says it supports a call for a national inquiry into the issue of murdered and missing aboriginal women across Canada. The Native Women's Association of Canada estimates that 600 aboriginal women have disappeared or been killed since 1980. The Association says aboriginal women are five times more likely to die from violence than non-aboriginal women. In April, the association called for a national inquiry. Betsy Longchap spoke with the president of the CWEIA Virginia Wabano along with Irene Bearskin House.

Waskaganish teen completes puzzle in 35 sec

2013-04-19T14:35:07Z

Growing up we often have a favourite toy or game we like to play. For Antonio Stephen of Wakaganish, that hobby is solving the Rubik's cube. He's 14 years old and he can complete the basic puzzle in just 35 seconds. Melissa Natachequan spoke with him about his hobby.

Staying sober after Nishiyuu

2013-04-18T17:29:27Z

The Journey of Nishiyuu may be done, but the youth still have their life journey to continue with. Many of the young people on this Journey were there for healing. Ernie Mataham from Chisasibi was struggling with alcohol abuse. Melissa Natachequan spoke with Ernie about what he was going to do to continue on the path of sobriety once the journey was over.

Grand Council threatens court action if not included in uranium review

2013-04-15T16:56:04Z

Quebec's Grand Council of the Cree is reiterating it's call to be fully included in any review of the uranium industry. The leaders of Eeyou Istchee are threatening legal action if the Quebec government does not comply. In April, the province annouced it is planning to hold BAPE environmental review agency hearings into the industry. Melissa Natachequan spoke with Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come.

Hydro Quebec a long way from hiring targets set out in Paix des Braves

2013-04-15T16:47:54Z

The head of Niskamoon says they are a long way from the hiring targets created by the Paix des Braves. With the 2002 signing of that agreement, Hydro-Quebec agreed to hire a minimum of 150 qualified Cree employees by 2017, as long as they completed the required training. Betsy Longchap spoke with Violet Pechanos to get an update.

Nishiyuu Journey was also a path to healing

2013-04-09T15:19:58Z

The Nishiyuu Journey may be over but the youth who were on it are now back home and having to face what they left behind. Geordie Rupert, one of the Original 7 from Whapmagoostui, lost his 10-month-old son last summer and had turned to alcohol in his grief. Melissa Natachequan spoke with him at the end of the journey to find out how far he's come with his struggles.

Maryanne Rupert is Geordie's mom. Melissa Natachequan spoke with her about how she felt about her son being on this journey.