Saying good-bye to an old friend

On the evening of July 9, 2007....

I jumped at the opportunity to go fishing up the mighty Rupert River. The Rupert River is the not the biggest rivers that drain into James Bay, but probably the most impressive. Walking down to the river, I was amazed at the power and thunder of the rapids. The last time I was this close to the Rupert River, was about 12 years ago when my old friend Derek took me fishing. It was a wonderful evening.

http://www.reverencerupert.org/accueil.php?lg=en

Now, the community of Waskaganish is preparing for the death of their ancestral waterway. In a couple of years or so, they will no longer be able to travel the Rupert as their forefathers have. The community will have now entered agreements so that they will profit from the river for economic reasons. Unlike their ancestors who have profited from the river that we no longer understand.

The Rupert River will be diverted and changed forever. When I ask people how they feel about this, they answer as if they don't want to talk about it. They say, "I don't know." It reminds me as if a loved one is on their death bed and they just don't want to talk about the inevitable. In talking with a few people, I know that the community stuggles with this. I was told it's almost like a see-saw, sometimes they are all for it and other times they question it.

I understand though, our people need help and we have to look at ways of creating opportunities for our people. Not all of our nations have the luxury of having oil or diamonds. We do however; have land and resources to use to create those opportunities.

I'm happy for the incredible opportunities that the Cree's of Quebec have. But when we leverage our resources on such a large scale, like so many of our people have all across the county, I can't help but feel that we are walking on the edge of abusing the fact that we are stewards of the land, to protect the land for future generations.

Good-bye old friend.


A great view of Smokey Hill Rapids from trails that are hundreds of years old.

Here is Cathy and Cobra on the trail. We are walking from the rapids back to the truck.

What a catch! I still got it baby, I didn't have it long though, I let it go shortly after.