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“It’s a long process. It’s a touchy and complicated issue. But as a leader one has to assume a role in addressing it. It’s something that does not come overnight. It involves working together with other people, including the community and health professionals.”
The OUJE-BOUGOUMOU contamination issue has been a topic of concern across Eeyou Istchee. People are getting cancer, fish are turning up with grotesque sores on their bodies, and the Quebec government has turned a blind eye to it all.
“It’s one of the challenges that are before us. In collaboration with the elected authority in OUJE-BOUGOUMOU, we have engaged internationally recognized experts to carry out an extensive public health study.”
Although Moses said that he has not seen the final results of the environmental study, he doesn’t believe that there is a crisis in OJ.
“The health study to date has indicated that the population of OJ doesn’t have high levels of contamination and they are not at any more risk than the population of Nemaska. So we don’t consider it as a health crisis. However we are awaiting the report on the risk levels associated with particular places.”
Moses continued, “With the support of the Grand Council, the court proceedings against the mining companies to protect Eeyou Eenou rights and recourses relating to this issue have been initiated by OUJE-BOUGOUMOU. I support that initiative.”
On August 15, the Washaw Sibi Eeyou, who were recognized a couple of years ago as the tenth Cree community, walked to the former campground of Joulac in hopes of pressuring the government into giving them a land base by pitching tents on what used to be their traditional territory. The Nation asked Moses where he stands.
“I work very closely with the leadership of Washaw Sibi and I’m very sympathetic with their situation,” said Moses. Although he stopped short of committing new money to their cause, he said he would do what was in his power as leader to help them in any way he can.
“They have expressed to me that they intend to pursue a future whereby they can relocate and re-establish themselves within their traplines and their own community. We support them to the extent we can. We will call upon both governments to ensure they have proper facilities and services and protect their language and culture.”
The MoCreebec people of Moosonee were left out of the last Grand Council election because there was no ballot box in the community. “This year we made sure that they had a ballot box so they can exercise their right to vote,” said Moses. “We can’t have a ballot box or poll everywhere because sometimes it’s difficult to know how many Crees there are. This year they can vote by mail, too.”
Moses says he is the best candidate for the job because of “My experience in negotiations. There isn’t a year that’s gone by that I was not involved in any negotiations since 1974, which have lead to many agreements and arrangements. I’ve been Grand Chief for nine years and have advocated the rights of my people including Aboriginal and Indigenous rights here in Canada, and internationally.
“As well as my credibility with the governments of Quebec and Canada and Hydro-Quebec. Sometimes special arrangements and new initiatives are not necessarily on account of a written-up document, but who the individual is that’s leading the Cree Nation or Aboriginal group.”
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