From the February 21, 2011 edition of the Labradorian.Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Spring Walk Begins
The spring Snowshoe walk just began on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Because of the snow, the group started a day later due to lack of visibility across the lake. Here are some photos from the first day. There was a cold stretch leading up to the lake so the ice is pretty solid for corssing it. Since they began the weather has been quite mild, which is good walking weather. Please keep the group in your thoughts over the next days as they head towards Pants Lake in the Mealey Mountains!
Innu elder preparing for three-week snowshoe trek
This article appeared in the Labradorian January 31, 2011.
Click on the Title above to read the full article.
Click on the Title above to read the full article.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Spring Walk is coming Soon!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Walk to Gull Island 2010
We just finished walking to Gull Island on Tuesday. We walked for one week. We had a very good time. The weather was good, the land beautiful and my grandchildren were with me. Some of my children joined me for the last day. I will put up more pictures and write a little more later. I am very happy we were able to walk again this fall. It is so important that people know we are still opposing the damns. They are moving too fast, rushing to get started. They need to wait until the Innu have decided what we want. 
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Chruchill Development Beginning Prematurely
Letter to the Editor of "The Labradorian"
I’m very confused and angry. Why has the government and Hydro started preparing for the dams already? There has been no vote or referendum. The people have not agreed to this and yet it looks like the government is already starting. At Muskrat Falls they have started cutting trees and from the dump road they are making it new in order to bring their machines through. Aren’t they supposed to wait until the Innu people make a decision? This is our land and our river. The government should wait. No one has said, “Yes, go ahead.” Why are they starting so quickly? Every time when the government starts doing a new project, like with Voisey’s Bay and now with the Churchill River Dams, they always ask the Innu youth to come and work. But they are just using them so they won’t say anything. A lot of young people from Sheshatshiu are already working cutting trees at Muskrat. Young Innu people also went to work in Voisey’s, but now there are very few Innu working there. Several years ago with the low level flying protests, many people came together to talk and to fight. But money is so strong now; it has changed people’s minds. Now even the women want more money. Yet, the more money we get, the more we fight amongst ourselves.
This summer we went on the canoe trip again along the Mista-Shipu from August 24 to September 1. There were 6 canoes and 13 people. I’ve done this 13 years now. The canoe trip is not easy. It’s very difficult work, paddling long days. I’m not doing this just for fun; I’m doing this because it’s so important to me and important for the land and my people.
Every summer when I’ve gone on the canoe trip, I feel like I’m surrounded by human beings—the trees, river, mountains—all living, growing things. It hurts me to think about all these things dying. I know animals don’t talk, but I feel like they are saying they want to live. I think about all the people who have hunted and traveled along the Mista-Shipu for all these thousands of years. When the water floods from the dam, all this will be lost. I don’t want to see again what happened in Churchill Falls so many years ago. We lost so many things—burial grounds, Innu hunting areas and many animals. I want to protect the river for all the children. There are many, many children and will be more. I don’t know how many tears I’m going to cry if I see this dam built. When I started the canoe trips, I thought it would make a difference. I feel very sad now.
I’m very confused and angry. Why has the government and Hydro started preparing for the dams already? There has been no vote or referendum. The people have not agreed to this and yet it looks like the government is already starting. At Muskrat Falls they have started cutting trees and from the dump road they are making it new in order to bring their machines through. Aren’t they supposed to wait until the Innu people make a decision? This is our land and our river. The government should wait. No one has said, “Yes, go ahead.” Why are they starting so quickly? Every time when the government starts doing a new project, like with Voisey’s Bay and now with the Churchill River Dams, they always ask the Innu youth to come and work. But they are just using them so they won’t say anything. A lot of young people from Sheshatshiu are already working cutting trees at Muskrat. Young Innu people also went to work in Voisey’s, but now there are very few Innu working there. Several years ago with the low level flying protests, many people came together to talk and to fight. But money is so strong now; it has changed people’s minds. Now even the women want more money. Yet, the more money we get, the more we fight amongst ourselves.
This summer we went on the canoe trip again along the Mista-Shipu from August 24 to September 1. There were 6 canoes and 13 people. I’ve done this 13 years now. The canoe trip is not easy. It’s very difficult work, paddling long days. I’m not doing this just for fun; I’m doing this because it’s so important to me and important for the land and my people.
Every summer when I’ve gone on the canoe trip, I feel like I’m surrounded by human beings—the trees, river, mountains—all living, growing things. It hurts me to think about all these things dying. I know animals don’t talk, but I feel like they are saying they want to live. I think about all the people who have hunted and traveled along the Mista-Shipu for all these thousands of years. When the water floods from the dam, all this will be lost. I don’t want to see again what happened in Churchill Falls so many years ago. We lost so many things—burial grounds, Innu hunting areas and many animals. I want to protect the river for all the children. There are many, many children and will be more. I don’t know how many tears I’m going to cry if I see this dam built. When I started the canoe trips, I thought it would make a difference. I feel very sad now.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Starting on the Mista-Shipu
We started paddling yesterday from Churchill Falls. The weather was very good. I think it will be a good trip. We have a smaller group this year, 13 people in total, 6 canoes. I am happy these friends support me and are concerned about Mista-Shipu. The canoe trip is very important to me for maintaining the culture of my people and protecting the land. I was very sad that the Innu from my community who had hoped to come along weren't able to. Next week there is a gathering with 
the elders and it could be some wanted to stay home for that. The trip also happened at the same time that the community received money from the goverment, which might also be a reason. We are hoping to be back by early September. Please pray for us--for safety and a good trip.
the elders and it could be some wanted to stay home for that. The trip also happened at the same time that the community received money from the goverment, which might also be a reason. We are hoping to be back by early September. Please pray for us--for safety and a good trip.
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